Stig Abell

A PERFECT DAY. A TWISTED CRIME. THE AWARD-WINNING JAKE JACKSON SERIES RETURNS… 'This series is irresistible' LEE CHILD 'Atmospheric and chilling' ELLY GRIFFITHS 'Totally immersive' ANN CLEEVES 'My favourite new crime series' LUCY FOLEY 'Highly recommend' KARIN SLAUGHTER A beautiful summer day When young nurse Claire Davidson goes missing on the riverbank, the only clues left behind are her phone and shoes. A mystery that sweeps the nation People disappear all the time, but this case sparks an online frenzy. Amateur investigators descend on the rural idyll. Is Claire Davidson just the story of a swim that went wrong, or could there be truth to the conspiracies? A killer growing bolder Then another woman is discovered dead in the river. Jake Jackson, a former detective who came to the countryside searching for peace, must investigate before more lives are lost. What readers are saying about A Twist in the River 'A great read that moves along quickly' 5 stars 'Well written with believable characters and a fast moving plot' 5 stars 'In the crowded market of crime drama, and murder mysteries, these Jake Jackson books are refreshingly different' 5 stars 'I love the beautiful descriptions of Little Sky' 5 stars 'Reading this book is like visiting family, as you get to know all the characters so well' 5 stars 'An engaging read, well paced and peopled with interesting characters' 5 stars 'I love hearing the adventures of Jake and these books always gives me a sense of calm' 5 stars 'A must-read for anyone seeking an immersive and intelligent crime novel' 5 stars 'Very engaging, well written and very atmospheric – I couldn't put it down' 5 stars

'This series is irresistible' LEE CHILD ‘An immersive, intelligent delight' LUCY FOLEY 'The Jake Jackson books get better and better' ELLY GRIFFITHS ‘Highly recommend’ KARIN SLAUGHTER 'A pleasure' BERNARD CORNWELL A beautiful landscape… It began as the project of a lifetime. A group of archaeologists uncovering the remains of a Roman settlement in the English countryside. A looming threat… But strange threatening letters shatter the idyll, and former detective Jake Jackson is pulled in to investigate. A killer closing in… Then a murder. And now the race is on for Jake to find the killer, before they strike again… READERS LOVE THE BURIAL PLACE… ‘Unputdownable’ ? ‘I’m getting withdrawal symptoms already and looking forward to another book coming out. Soon please!’ ? ‘A mysterious thriller that is both beautiful and terrifying at the same time’ ? ‘A brilliant book that any mystery fan will love’ ? ‘The descriptions blow my mind, and make me want to live off the grid in a small village somewhere’ ? ‘Compelling and didn’t want it to end!’ ? ‘A gripping and atmospheric thriller that delves into the darker aspects of human nature. Abell’s writing is sharp, with an engaging narrative that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish’ ? ‘I'm rapidly becoming a big fan of this series! It's beautifully drawn, the setting is fantastic and the personal relationships just work for me. Can't wait for the next one’ ? ‘Kept me up at night as I read just one more chapter’ ? ‘I have loved all the books set in Little Sky but I really enjoyed this one set against an archaeological dig’ ? ‘Bucket loads of atmosphere on every page from the suspicious letters, the ancient artefacts, the strange and eerie folly and the unprovoked attacks’ ? ‘The story moves apace and there are twists that will have you suspecting everyone in turn!’ ? ‘Intriguing from the start’ ? ‘My first 5-star read of 2025’ ?

For a whole year on his train to work, Stig Abell read books from across genres and time periods. Then he wrote about them, and their impact on our culture and his own life. 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. Things I Learned on the 6.28 has been written for the reader in all of us.