Thank you to Netgalley and Joffe Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.  

There were parts of this book that I loved, and parts that I really struggled with.  I loved Detective Rozlyn Priest, and her small band of misfits. Detective Priest is struggling to fit in and to understand the world she lives in.  She is a good police officer, but doesn't find camaraderie with her fellow officers, and has no close friends nearby. When her Confidential Informant Charlie Higgins is killed in an odd manner, she won't rest until the killer is found.  In fact, Charlie is found, dead of a stab wound and the murder weapon is found to be a thousand year old spear.  Charlies is also found on the top of a archeological dig where they might just be more dead bodies (of the historical type, not modern murders). Detective Priest works with a number of eccentrics & criminals in order to solve this crime, and she even has some help from the past. 

Intertwined with Detective Priest's story, is a story set in the 9th century, and for me, this is were the story begins to become decidedly less interesting.  The murder weapon from modern times, is connected to Treven, an nobleman new to the area, who has been given the area to rule.  Someone is murdered, and he must use ancient forensics and trial methodology in order to determine who the real murderer is.  I found this whole section interesting in theory, but I had no real connection or even liking for any of the main characters, and I had no investment in Treven's difficulties.  Treven's friend Hugh also has a relationship with a 16 year-old-girl, which while common in those days, made me, as a modern reader, very uncomfortable.

I have been a fan of Jane’s work for a little while now. I haven’t quite caught up with everything that she has written to date but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Bury Me Deep’ and it certainly sounded like another thrilling read. Well it was certainly that and so much more. Overall I did enjoy reading ‘Bury Me Deep’ but more about that in a bit.
I have to be honest and say that it took me a while to get into ‘Bury Me Deep’ for some reason. I did get into it eventually and then I was away. This wasn’t a book that I could read over the course of a single day but I did binge read it over the space of three days. I would become so wrapped up in the story that I would lose all track of time and just how quickly the pages were turning. I found ‘Bury Me Deep’ to be an interesting read, which certainly kept me guessing.
‘Bury Me Deep’ is well written. Jane has the knack of being able to grab your attention and draw you into a compelling story. The story in ‘Bury Me Deep’ is written using different timelines. One timeline describes things as they happen in the present day and the other timeline describes things as they happened hundreds of years ago. Now for me, the present day timeline was fine and whilst reading during the present day timeline I couldn’t put the book down but I found it difficult to get into the other timeline. I love history but my interests lie with modern history rather than hundreds of years ago history. The two timelines do interlink well and the story certainly flows. Reading ‘Bury Me Deep’ certainly felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way.
In short and overall I did enjoy reading ‘Bury Me Deep’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Jane’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

A different narrative involving time lines millennia apart. I liked the older version more. The plot is deftly handled and the pace is maintained throughout. The main characters are all good, though some of the minor characters are exaggerated. A very good read.

Bury Me Deep is the first instalment in the Detective Rozlyn Priest series, set in and around Theadingford Manor, an estate located deep in the valley two miles from the village of Theading. Who would want to kill Charlie Higgins? Charlie was a man you’d pass on a narrow staircase and still not see. Nonetheless, someone has gone to the trouble not just of killing him, but of dumping his body in a newly excavated grave on an Anglo-Saxon dig. Stranger still was their choice of murder weapon, an antique spear, contemporary with the dig, but definitely not from the site. He had been struck in a swift, single, powerful and deadly accurate thwack. DI Rozlyn Priest takes Charlie’s murder personally. Charlie had been an informant of hers since Rozlyn’s early days in the police force, and she feels insulted by this untimely removal. As she investigates and learns more about the Charlie Higgins she didn’t know, her sense of outrage deepens, as does her realization that Charlie was poking his nose – on her behalf- into something far bigger than Rozlyn would ever have supposed possible. Soon, Rozlyn is in as deep water as Charlie Higgins ever was, and she is in danger of drowning. She has never had any truck with ghosts or even ghostly echoes and atmospheres, but strange things are certainly happening to her now.

Theadingford, 878. After being given the land by King Aelfred, Treven must find a way to dispense justice in his own rapidly changing world. A noblewoman has been killed. Could it have been her temperamental husband, or the womanizing Hugh de Vries, Treven’s friend from the battlefields? Set apart by a thousand years of history, Rozlyn and Treven are facing very similar dilemmas. How will their story end? This is a riveting and enthralling read from the moment you pick it up, and although it differs slightly from Adams’s previous police procedurals, in that it is steeped in rich and fascinating history, we are taken on a thrilling historic adventure. That said, for those who do not enjoy history it may be a little heavy on the detail. Alternating seamlessly between the ninth century and present day, there is plenty of action, drama, wicked twists and turns and great use of red herrings/misdirection. It's an absorbing and interesting historical crime novel full of the unique and intense atmosphere of the Dark Ages and a mystery that captures you hook, line and sinker. Complex and multilayered, I found this to be an original mystery with a well-woven plot featuring a protagonist I can't wait to learn more about in future books; Rozlyn is a ballsy and intriguing character. Highly recommended.

Intriguing Mystery...
Spanning dual timelines, an intriguing murder mystery with a difference. There is nothing ancient about the body discovered in a grave on the Theadingford dig site - apart, that is, from the grave itself and the murder weapon. Neatly narrated with credible characters and a compelling storyline. A solid read.

This is something different and a story to get immersed in. A murder mystery set in dark ages alongside a present day murder case. Cleverly crafted. Good descriptionsand so many parallels between present and past. I especially liked mouse man with his cages of rodents! Looking forward to see how the series develops.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for my digital copy.

The beginning of a new crime fiction series is always a treat. This one combines crime fiction, mystery, and history... maybe a little paranormal, as well.

Detective Rozlyn Priest is called to an ancient grave. Inside the grave is a man well-known to her. Upon more investigation, the man shows he was slashed with a spear that belongs in the Dark Ages. Was he killed because of his contact with Priest? Did he know or see something he should not have?

Things get real strange when Priest starts hallucinating about a red-haired Saxon warrior who shares her thirst for justice.

The book bounces back between Year of Grace 878 ... where a vicious crime was committed ... and today ..where another vicious crime was committed. To get justice, will she have to solve two crimes many, many years apart?

There is a lot of historical reading taking up about half of the book. I'm not a big fan of historical mysteries, so I wasn't as enthused as I usually am with this author's writings. However, it was well-written, with mystery and suspense starting from the very first. Characters are solidly drawn. I look forward to see where Detective Priest goes from here.

Many thanks to the author/ Joffe Books / Books n All Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this historical mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

detective Rozlyn Priest Book One.
Oh WOW what a start to a new trilogy getting to know all these new characters.
This book is so different from this author with a anglo saxon story line of historical mystery, and it is unique, set in two timelines and you do grow to like Rozlyn as you keep reading on and get very addictive to carry on chapter after chapter, I wasn't at first sure about this read but oh I must say I am so glad I gave it a chance to read.
It got the big thumbs up from me and is totally different written by this amazing author.

THREE VICTIMS. TWO MILLENNIA. ONE TIMELESS WEAPON.
Theadingford dig site, present-day. Detective Rozlyn Priest never expected to find herself here. Teetering on the brink of an ancient grave. She takes a breath, willing herself to look down. Old bones, broken relics. That’s what should be buried here. Not the dead man staring back at her now. He is Charlie Higgins, a petty criminal Roz once called on for help. Is she the reason he’s dead? Slashed with a spear that belongs in the Dark Ages? Roz won’t rest until she finds the truth. But her investigation is leading nowhere. And now she’s seeing things — visions of a flame-haired Saxon warrior who shares her thirst for justice. But just how much deeper is Roz prepared to dig?

I enjoyed this, it was different, intriguing, well written and perhaps not what I would usually go for. There was the historical interest and then the modern detective mystery to unravel. Engaging characters with a strong sense of time and place. This is the first time I have read any Jane Adams but I will be looking at her other books.

THREE VICTIMS. TWO MILLENNIA. ONE TIMELESS WEAPON.
I have honestly never read a book like this! It was unusual but great at the same time!
This is a bit of historical fiction with some added police procedural! Crazy huh? But its amazing who would have honestly thought!
I would recommend grabbing this one and giving it a go! It was a really good read!

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
Jane Adams is one of my go-to authors and, as usual, I thoroughly enjoyed the read. It's a mystery/fantasy set in two timelines: today and the year 878. The two main protagonists are Rozlyn, the detective investigating a murder in the present and Treven, Lord of Theadingford, investigating the murder of a young woman in 878. Both of them have disturbing dreams in which they are aware of each other and eventually interact.
Rozlyn is a bit of a loner and as the book progresses you get to know her more and more, promising an interesting and likeable character who has psychic powers, but refuses to delve into that idea, dismissing it as 'just dreams'. I found Treven very appealing, but have a feeling he won't return in a second in the series...if there is a second book? I sure hope so!
I loved reading the chapters set in 878, the fascinating glimpse of life in those times were so enjoyable.
Here's hoping it's the beginning of a series! Highly recommended.

Rozlyn Priest #1

Threadingford dig site, present day: Detective Roslyn Priest never expected to find herself here. Teatering on the brink of an ancient grave. She takes a breath, willing herself to look down. Old bones, broken relics, that's what should be buried here. Not the dead man staring back at her. He is Charlie Higgins, a petty criminal Rozlyn once called for help.

The story is told over a duel timeline: The past is set in 878 CE, around the time of King Alfred the Great. The present day is at an archaeological dig. This story is a mixture of historical fiction and a police procedural, both genres I love. The characters are a mixed bunch, some might call them unique. I loved the historic mix to this book. It held my attention throughout. It's a mysteriously addictive read. The plotline is thoroughly intriguing with it's interwoven timelines. I'm looking forward to reading what's in store nest for Detective Roslyn Priest.

I would like to thank #NetGalley. #JoffeBooks and the author #JaneAdams for my ARC of #BuryMeDeep in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read Adams before and quite enjoyed her writing. This is all form the same publisher, a small to midsize press that seems to specialize in the respectably average mysteries and Adams certainly stands out, quality wise. In this book I’d say her main success are the side characters, because for me engaging characters are kind of a necessity for proper reading enjoyment.
The rest of the book is…well, it’s interesting and quite different from the other author’s books I’ve read. For one thing it’s split more or less right down the middle and then shuffled together, so you get two mysteries in one book. And they are weirdly and tenuously connected, outside of geography and object matter.
I appreciate that more so than love it. Frankly, I kinda found it distracting, as in the Anglo Saxon storyline distracted me from the preferred present day one. Mind you, both are interesting in their own way, but they might have been, or maybe for me should have been, two separate books. The dream connection was much too odd and seemingly incongruous with the otherwise proper by the book police procedural mystery. Guess that’s the idea, something to make one detective series stand out from the other for an author who’s made a career of writing those. It just wasn’t a personal favorite, literary trick wise.
It’s actually odd I didn’t really get into the historical one, I love historical fiction. Odd indeed.
Anyway, so two mysteries, epochs away, connected by a murder weapon. Which in the past was just a quality spear and in the present is a highly valuable historical artifact collectors would go crazy over. Someone goes crazy anyway and a nice man ends up dead and a proper investigation gets on the way. Detecting, detecting away.
To be honest, the mystery itself didn’t really wow me, in either timeline, I mostly just enjoyed the writing and specifically the character writing, which may not be the first or the most important thing some genre fans look for, but for me it’s really important and here was enough to maintain my attention. Plus it’s all ever so pleasantly British. Fans of historical mysteries especially would probably enjoy this one. I’ve read a variety of historical mysteries and this was my first Anglo Saxon one, so there’s that. So yeah, there you go. Many secrets. Buried. Obviously, they are, this is an archeological mystery, not just an easy pun opportunity. I’m even going to take the high road and abstain. No shovel jokes at all. Thanks Netgalley.

An enjoyable read. Well developed characters and enough plot to keep interest going.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Rozlyn Priest discovers the body a very modern petty thief in an ancient grace, apparently killed by an equally ancient spear. Roz knows the man and once need his assistance; she can’t help wonder if she’s the reason he’s dead and she vows not to rest until she uncovers the truth surrounding his death. Taking place between the year 800 and the present, the storyline goes back and forth between the two time periods. This book wants to be both a mystery and a time slip story, but unfortunately it just doesn’t work well; leaving both time lines lacking depth

What an unusual book, what a good book. Set in two timelines - each with links to the other. One of the links is murder. A woman's murder in the time of King Alfred the Great, and a small time informer in the present day -
the first one happened near Theadingford and the the second found in the archaelogical dig of the area.

Loved it an unusual detective with unusual skills.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

4 stars

Two murder mysteries connected through time by the land, told in two parts simultaneously: one connected to a present day archaeological dig, & one that happened in an Anglo-Saxon settlement on the same site in 878 CE. There’s a subtle supernatural twist, organized crime, black market dealings, history, a crime that tears apart a close friendship, and, of course, murder.

[What I liked:]

•At first I bristled when Rozlyn, the MC, said didn’t care for history (I mean the book centers on history & archaeology, one of the reasons I picked it up), but it was a clever set-up: her ignorance of the local history is a framework for filling in the reader.

•The prose is nice, & some of the setting descriptions are downright gorgeous!

•I’ve never read a book quite like this. It’s half police procedural, half historical fiction with the flavor of a Rosemary Sutcliffe novel, but with a supernatural twist. It’s definitely not in the “paranormal thriller” genre. It’s more of a “thinning of the veil” situation, wyrd twisting time in a certain location where the land has a memory. If that makes any sense. But it was cool, not gimmicky imo. It really fit the mood of the book. I usually dislike books with two storylines/timelines going, but the historical fiction part is so well done I really think it added to the book.

•There are some unique characters, including Big Frank, Mouse Man, Ethan, & a pragmatic abbot.

•There was some nice reflection on the value of community & what it means, & what justice truly means in a complex world.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•I would’ve liked some more character development for Rozlyn especially. I connected much better with Treven, as far as his hopes & dreams & what motivated him. Rozlyn does have a bit of personal growth, but I got no sense of what she enjoys in life, what she values, what she looks forward to or fears...she just kinda floated along, doing her job because that’s what she did.

•The antiquities angle was interesting, but otherwise the present day mystery wasn’t very suspenseful or exciting, & the goings on in the houses/with Clara felt kinda out of place with the rest of the plot. The 9th C. murder mystery was much more compelling & skillfully constructed, & the weaknesses of the present day plot showed in contrast.

CW: murder, domestic violence, infidelity, physical assault, “trial by iron & fire” (deliberate maiming of an accused criminal as a trial by “divine justice”)

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]