Death in a Lonely Place (Jake Jackson, #2)

by Stig Abell

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Death in a Lonely Place is the 2nd Jake Jackson procedural mystery thriller by Stig Abell. Released 2nd July 2024 by HarperCollins on their Perennial imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. 

This is a very well written book with a believable cast of well rendered characters. Featuring an ex-met detective living off grid and isolated, this time instead of local village corruption, he's pitted against an evil shadowy cabal of ruthless oligarchs who can (literally) buy anything their twisted hearts desire. Absolute power has corrupted them absolutely and Jake & co. are determined to put an end to No Taboo and their nefarious skullduggery.

One of the features of the series is the MC's love of vintage and classic mystery. This is a bibliophile's dream, because the books are liberally peppered with name-drops to chase down after finishing this mystery.

There are some trigger warnings, liberal amounts of sexual content (descriptions and staging in spicy scenes are notoriously difficult, and some of the ones included here really didn't work very well and would've been more suited to a retro bodice ripper romance, honestly), child abduction and abuse, murder, etc... nothing is too depraved for these monsters. 

Three and a half stars. Generally well written otherwise. The romance bits can be skimmed over. Continuing series, which would make a good choice for a short binge or buddy read. The first book in the series is the better by comparison, but they're both quite readable.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.