In a beautiful village, a terrible storm is brewing?

A rural paradise?

Detective Jake Jackson moved to the countryside for a quieter life.

A shocking secret?

But the return of an old case shatters the calm, and pulls him into a shadowy group that caters to the darkest desires of the rich and famous.

An enemy closes in?

As the web around Jake tightens, he’s about to learn just how far some people will go to protect their secrets.

Praise for Death in a Lonely Place

‘Loved this. Multiple layers of delight for crime fiction fans’ Lee Child, creator of Jack Reacher

‘Abell is a skilled storyteller and it’s easy to fall into the pages of Death in a Lonely Place. Highly recommend’ Karin Slaughter, creator of Will Trent

‘An immersive, intelligent delight with huge atmosphere and heart. My favourite new crime series’ Lucy Foley, author of The Paris Apartment

‘Utterly beautiful descriptive prose that brings Jake Jackson’s world to life’ Jane Casey, author of the Maeve Kerrigan series

‘A darkly elegant, thrilling, escapist slice of countryside crime’ Chris Whitaker, author of We Begin at the End

‘A wonderful tale, magnificently told’ Sam Holland, author of The Echo Man

‘Beautifully written, as ever, and with a twist that truly knocked me sideways’ Andrew Taylor, author of The Ashes of London

‘Very recommendable’ Financial Times

‘It is a pleasure to be back in the company of Jackson and co’ Observer

Winner of the 2024 CrimeFest Debut Crime Novel of the Year!

A detective ready for a new life
Jake Jackson, high-flying ex-city detective, inherits a rural retreat from his reclusive uncle. It’s the perfect chance to start anew.

A death that disrupts everything
But then the local annual treasure hunt spirals into terror when a young woman’s bones are discovered. Suddenly, Jake is back to being a detective, as he tries to unearth a dangerous killer in this most unlikely of settings.

Praise for Death Under a Little Sky

‘Tense but patient, fast but thoughtful, and twisty but substantial – this is a truly excellent debut, and I want the next installment now‘ Lee Child

‘I LOVED this. I found it totally immersive, and couldn’t wait to squeeze some time from my day to return to it. The writing is very classy and the conclusion came as a surprise, which is always a treat’ Ann Cleeves

‘Gloriously atmospheric and masterfully plotted with such a strong sense of place, this is a huge treat for crime fiction lovers. I can’t wait for the next instalment!’ Lucy Foley

‘Stylish?a more than promising debut’ The Times

‘Stylishly written by a skilled wordsmith, and an absorbing tale’ Sun

‘A vivid, atmospheric debut’ Daily Mail

‘A cosy crime read with an appealing protagonist’ Guardian

“Stylishly written by a master wordsmith, and an absorbing tale”
The Sun

“A more than promising debut”
The Times

“A tense and twisty crime thriller”
inews

A detective ready for a new life?
For years, Jake Jackson has been a high-flying detective in London. But then one day he receives a letter from his reclusive uncle – he has left Jake his property in the middle of the countryside. For Jake, it is the perfect opportunity for a fresh start.

A rural idyll the stuff of dreams?
At first, life in the middle of nowhere is everything Jake could wish for. His new home is beautiful, his surroundings are stunning, and he enjoys getting back to nature.

A death that disrupts everything?
But then, what starts as a fun village treasure hunt turns deadly, when a young woman’s bones are discovered. And Jake is thrust once again into the role of detective, as he tries to unearth a dangerous killer in this most unlikely of settings.

The result is a work of many things: a brisk guide to the canon of Western literature; an intimate engagement with writers from Shakespeare to JK Rowling, Marcel Proust to Zora Neale Hurston; a wise and funny celebration of the power of words; and a meditation on mental unrest and how to tackle it. It will help you discover new books to love, give you the confidence to give up on those that you don’t, and remind you of ones that you already do.

What to Read Next has been written for the reader in all of us.