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10 hours, 44 minutes

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?

Slipping effortlessly between two intertwining mysteries, Jane Adams has crafted a police procedural like no other. Her unique blend of intrigue, mystery, and history will captivate fans of Kate Mosse, Barbara Erskine, Alex North, Ruth Ware, Bridget Collins, Jessie Burton, Mark Edwards, and Stephen King.

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First published April 21, 2021

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About the author

Jane A. Adams

59 books151 followers
Some of her early books were published under the name of Jane Adams. This should not be confused with this Jane Adams who is a different author.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
Profile Image for Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr.
3,266 reviews36.5k followers
May 16, 2022
2.5/2.75

"THREE VICTIMS. TWO MILLENNIA. ONE TIMELESS WEAPON."

Intriguing gotcha statement. This drew me in.

Detective Rozlyn Priest finds herself at the edge of an ancient grave. There should be old bones in the grave, so it is shocking when Charlie Higgins, a petty criminal is dead in the grave instead killed by an ancient spear. Then she starts having visions...

This book is told in duo timelines - the current day and the dark ages. The beginning was interesting, and I slowly began to lose interest in the book. I chalk this up to it just wasn't the book for me. Many are enjoying it, so please read their reviews as well.


Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com

Profile Image for "Avonna.
1,462 reviews588 followers
April 23, 2021
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com

BURY ME DEEP (Detective Rozlyn Priest Book #1) by Jane A. Adams is the story of a historical crime set in the Dark Ages intertwined with a present-day crime mystery/thriller/suspense with a bit of paranormal thrown into the mix. It sounds as though all of this could be a mess, but the author brings it all together in a unique, well woven plot with an intelligent and intriguing protagonist.

Detective Rozlyn Priest is called to the scene of an archeological dig where she identifies the body of one of her petty informants, Charles Higgins dead in ditch on the site. Charlie was not killed at the site, but he was stabbed through the heart with a spear from the Dark Ages.

As Rozlyn investigates, she feels remorse at not knowing Charlie better and vows to discover his killer. As she works the case, she has visions and vivid dreams of the area from long ago and a flame-haired Saxon warrior who shares her quest for justice.

This is such a unique read with its dual timelines, crimes and investigations. The author’s writing pulled me into both intertwining stories with fully fleshed main characters from the past and present. Both timelines have plenty of twists and red herrings which kept me turning the pages all the way to the satisfying conclusion.

This is a wonderfully unique, entertaining and satisfying introduction to a new protagonist I am looking forward to following on future adventures.
Profile Image for The Sassy Bookworm.
4,058 reviews2,869 followers
May 13, 2021
⭐⭐

I struggled with this book from beginning to end. It wasn't a badly written book. My issue mostly was that I didn't feel like the dual timeline meshed well at all. The connection between both timelines felt weak at best. And the present-day story was slow, boring and the characters flat. That said, I enjoyed the historical story much more, and ultimately it was that kept me reading.

**Arc Via NetGalley**
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,708 followers
April 16, 2021
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.

3.5 - 4.0 STARS
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,658 reviews1,690 followers
April 21, 2021
Rozlyn Priest #1

Threadingford dig site, present day: Detective Rozlyn 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, ancient 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.

This 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. The story is a mixture of historical fiction and a police procedural, both genres I love. The characters area 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 for Detective Rozlyn Priest.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #JoffeBooks and the author #JaneAdams for my ARC of #BuryMeDeep in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for 8stitches 9lives.
2,853 reviews1,723 followers
April 21, 2021
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.
Profile Image for Bandit.
4,949 reviews579 followers
January 1, 2022
I’ve read Adams before and quite enjoyed her writing. This is all from 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.
Profile Image for Bonnye Reed.
4,697 reviews110 followers
December 1, 2021
It took me a while to get involved in this duel time frame - 9th century and present-day is a stretch I'm not familiar with until this fall - but once I found my feet this book was very engaging. Up till now my duel times reads have been set around a century or two difference at most, and the links between the stories are much easier to follow. I think on a second reading it will be much more entertaining. I have thoroughly enjoyed Jane Adams in the past.
And Rozlyn Priest is a character I want to understand. I enjoyed her and the interactions with her associates so look forward to more from this author.
Profile Image for Poptart19 (the name’s ren).
1,096 reviews7 followers
May 5, 2021
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!]
Profile Image for Wonda.
1,146 reviews9 followers
August 25, 2022
Apparently, not for me! Bored and so very slowly told!
Profile Image for Angela.
524 reviews43 followers
June 17, 2021
“Bury Me Deep” is written in dual time frames – present day and the 9th century, when King Alfred was trying to unify England. Both involve mystery and murder, with an archaeological find and the land itself being the link between the 21st and 9th centuries.

Detective Inspector Rozlyn Priest is called to attend the discovery of a dead man at the Theadingfold dig. This is not an ages old body, but someone that D.I. Priest knew – a small time criminal named Charlie Higgins. When the murder weapon is found, it becomes obvious that Charlie was killed by a single thrust of a spear that had been made centuries earlier. This is the beginning of the present-day mystery: why was Charlie killed, by whom and where had the ancient spear come from?

In the 9th century, the story features the events that follow the arrival of Treven and Hugh de Vries at Theadingfold. Both were warriors who had fought for King Alfred and they had been sent to the region by the king to take over and manage property in the area. They are not welcomed by the Scrivener brothers, who had been overseeing the land. It was not long before Hugh was becoming familiar with the wife of one of the brothers - a fatal and misjudged liaison.

The two stories intertwine throughout the book. There are elements of the supernatural in the novel and overall, they enhance the story in my opinion.

I enjoyed “Bury Me Deep”, which is well written and carefully plotted. The characters have depth to them and I will certainly look out for more Rozlyn Priest novels.

Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe books for the chance to read and review this book.
Profile Image for Lindsay Nixon.
Author 22 books798 followers
April 30, 2022
DNF slow and boring. I normally like dial timelines but the connection here isn’t engaging. The historical timeline is more interesting, but not enough to keep me reading

Thanks netgalley for my ARC.
Profile Image for M.R.K M.R.K.
Author 1 book24 followers
April 6, 2023
Great plot twist! Although I am not much into this genre of books but I've quite enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Tracey.
Author 15 books17 followers
April 23, 2021
A good concept but...

It's very rare I buy a book I cannot read. This is one of those rare occasions.
The concept really appealed to me : half the book in the present day, and the other half set in the 600's.
Unfortunately I just couldn't get into it no matter how hard I tried.
Others may enjoy this book. Unfortunately it wasn't for me.
Profile Image for Linda.
470 reviews
April 20, 2021
As a long-term fan of Jane Adams, I was delighted to discover she had a new series, so when Joffe Books sent this first one to me to read and review I was very keen to get stuck in. I confess that I found the beginning rather strange, and it took me a while to get into it as I couldn’t really see where it was going. However, quite suddenly, it started to become interesting and make sense, and I found it hard to put down.

The story was carefully woven between the present and the deep past, until eventually the two eras started to grow closer and eventually merge. It was fascinating and very well imagined. I found it fascinating the way that the link between the two time periods became more intertwined and weirdly proved important to the story in a very intricate way. There were a lot of immensely descriptive passages that brought the story to life. In some ways, there were two separate plots, which were both interesting and I could quite happily have allowed myself to be taken into the historical side of it as it’s a story that I feel could be well told. The main plot was both enthralling and complex, with many strands to it and it took quite a bit of unravelling. However, there were not as many twists as normal and, apart from an increase of pace towards the end – which in itself was intriguing – the ending was quite gentle and conclusive.

For me, the character of Roslyn Priest took a while to become likeable, but by the end I started to feel more engaged by her and am looking forward to reading more of her story.

This is an interesting twist to the normal police detective novels, with a deeply historical and mystical side to it that I found fascinating. This is something that has become consistent with other Jane Adams novels, and that’s what makes me enjoy her stories so much.
Profile Image for Hannelore Cheney.
1,553 reviews30 followers
April 13, 2021
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.
Profile Image for Angela.
261 reviews
April 17, 2021
Many thanks to the Netgalley and Joffe Books for the ACR in exchange my review voluntarily.

This book is so different and well-written. There were two timelines between today and the past. A woman was murdered in the past linking to the present time. It's very intriguing that the timelines were interwoven along with it. I enjoyed reading it very much. Actually it was historical mystery not really detective mystery. There was half police procedural and half historical fiction. I absolutely loved it that the author mastered her genius skills to give this unusual historical detective novel. Really it's a bit complex and fascinating. I was absorbed from the first page and it's so gripping and I couldn't put it down. In fact, I am not fan of historical novel with two timelines going, but this one was written very good that had me addictive to read.
Profile Image for Aileen  (Ailz) Grist.
748 reviews15 followers
April 12, 2021
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.
Profile Image for Booklover BEV.
1,724 reviews53 followers
April 14, 2021
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.
Profile Image for Cindy(groundedinreads).
649 reviews1 follower
April 22, 2022
This was an interesting read for me because I love police procedurals and I love historical fiction so this was a great mashup! I started this book long ago, but it started out rather slow for me so I put it aside and then just recently got back to it. I really like the author’s writing style and once I got the feel of the book, I was intrigued to see how the different time periods were going to merge! So glad I stuck with it! I’m looking forward to her next book! 3.5 stars
Profile Image for Carol.
334 reviews4 followers
April 16, 2021
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.
Profile Image for Kat(her)ine.
96 reviews11 followers
March 29, 2022
This book was just okay for me. It didn't really keep my attention and I have a hard time remembering anything I liked or that stuck out to me.
Profile Image for Quinn Ellory.
107 reviews1 follower
October 2, 2021
When the body of a minor informant and petty criminal ends up in at an archaeological dig in Theadingford, Rozlyn Priest wonders who would go to the trouble to murder Charlie Higgins. Long known to her as a man full of misinformation and more of a hindrance than a help, she can't imagine a reason anyone would want him dead. When the murder weapon turns out to be an Anglo-Saxon spear, in perfect condition and never recorded as an archaeological find, she realizes her murder may be the tail end of something much bigger.

The spear once belonged to Treven, King's Thegn of the vill of Theading in the ninth century. When he arrives with his Shire Reeve, Hugh de Vries, he has every expectation of providing the people with stability and justice after long years of war. He is loyal to King Aelfred, and has plans to use this time of peace to secure the land and the people for his king. Soon after he arrives, however, the daughter of a prominent family and wife of a local farmer is found with her head bashed in after leaving for a tryst with Hugh. Treven must determine if Hugh is guilty of the crime, and if not, who is. Drawn into not only this murder, but the earlier disappearance of the woman's sister, Treven has to use his skills and judgment, honed by experience on the battlefield, to unravel the crimes.

As both Treven and Rozlyn confront misconceptions about those around them, the more they realize they committed errors of misjudgment. Rozlyn's investigation uncovers links to human trafficking and the antiquities black market. Treven's leads him to the truth about his companion in arms. Neither are resolved to any degree of satisfaction for the reader.

This book started off with so much promise. Rozlyn is a strong female character. She has grit, determination, and does not back down from confrontation. With sharp wits and keep investigative skills she seems an unlikely person to need psychic abilities to solve crimes. In all fairness, she is not comfortable with these traits and does not seek them out. But the way these traits are written in the narrative makes them seem contrived. They are not necessary to solve the crime, and they don't add depth to the story or complexity to the characters. Metaphysical components may be popular in stories that bridge past and present. At times, they seem ubiquitous. But Rozlyn Priest is a character for whom these abilities seem wholly unnecessary.

This is a bold book. It links the elements of mystery, mysticism, and history with a fearless but vulnerable female detective at the center. Unfortunately, the book halts abruptly, trailing off into an epilogue in which nothing is truly resolved. You don't really know who did what to whom and when. There are future books featuring Detective Priest in the works, so perhaps more finality comes in these editions.

If you like your mysteries with a touch of the woo-woo, you will enjoy Bury Me Deep. If you prefer a more scientific approach to issues of crime, time, and history you might want to look elsewhere. This is not a badly written book, but it lacks the complexity and depth to appeal to both sets of readers.
Profile Image for Alyson Read.
1,161 reviews56 followers
April 27, 2021
This is a story set in two timelines centuries apart, one in the present day featuring DI Rozlyn Priest, and the other in the year 878 set in and around Theadingford Manor, an estate located deep in the valley two miles from the Anglo-Saxon village of Theading. New lord Treven, accompanied by the king’s appointed Shire Reeve Hugh De Vries, has been given the land by the grateful King Aelfred whom he fought beside and learns that one of the old steward’s daughters Allis has disappeared, presumed run off with another man or killed. Her sister Cate knows what happened but cannot tell. When another woman is attacked and dies, Treven will need to find the truth in his world just as Roz does in hers and he is curious about the strange visions he has. In the present day the remains of the estate are now being excavated by archaeologists and this has become the dump site for a murder victim. Roz is called to the scene where the victim, Charlie Higgins, has been found with a single powerful and very accurate stab wound. He was a small time and pretty unsuccessful snout she had used for several years. The murder weapon, an ancient spear from the Dark Ages but definitely not from the dig site, is found nearby, dropped by the killer as he made his way back to his car to flee the scene. Roz feels almost a personal responsibility for the death, especially when she learns Charlie thought he was onto something “big” and was keen to please her. As she digs deeper, she discovers much she didn’t know about Charlie and realizes just how big and dangerous this case is, while she also starts to experience strange echoes from the past. Will both Treven and Roz be able to solve their respective mysteries without further bloodshed?
I have to say I loved the present day aspect of this but found the historical side and dream sequences quite heavy and detailed at times, and it took me quite a while to get into the story. Once the two threads started to intertwine, it produced an interesting twist on a police procedural novel with a historical and mystical flavour. I will be keen to see how the series proceeds. 4*
Profile Image for Amanda.
2,026 reviews56 followers
April 25, 2021
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*.
Profile Image for loopyloulaura.
1,536 reviews22 followers
May 13, 2021
Present day: a police informer or 'snitch' is found murdered at an archaeological dig. The murder weapon of a medieval spear is nearby. 878 AD King Alfred has sent a law enforcer to Theading but murder takes place and his former battlefield comrade is prime suspect...
Bury Me Deep is a dual timeline novel, an intriguing mix of police procedural novel and historical murder muytery. There is also a hint of supernatural as the two timelines collide through dreams and visions.
It took me a little while to get into the plot as the two timelines jumped about a bit in the opening chapters so I couldn't settle into either era. The middle was excellent and dramatic. I found myself completely swept up in both timelines and interested in the comparison of the present day with the Anglo Saxon era as well as the connection of the murder weapon. The ending fizzled out a little for me but I'm looking forward to the next in the series to see where the author takes the characters from here...
Rozlyn's character felt solid and dependable although her dreams cause her to doubt herself. She feels responsible for Charlie's murder and is determined to bring his killer to justice, using some of her more unsavoury contacts to help the search. She pushes boundaries if she feels that the ends justifies the means, but this leads to danger and puts her at odds with her superior officers.
Meanwhile the ninth century characters also had an authenticity. Trying to survive and bring security and peace to a turbulent nation, the pagan and Christian religions battling for spiritual dominance. I found it easy to identify with Treven who seems to have a modern and pragmatic outlook which makes him likeable.
Bury Me Deep gave a fascinating and contrasting study of justice across two time periods, and overall I enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Bel lvndrgms3.
676 reviews68 followers
June 9, 2022
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: mystery
CW: brief description of animal cruelty (mice) at a crime scene

I love my mysteries, but sometimes I want something just a little out of the ordinary. 𝘽𝙪𝙧𝙮 𝙈𝙚 𝘿𝙚𝙚𝙥’𝙨 dual timeline - present day and wait for it…9th century England - feels a lot like that. I’m a fan of dual timelines, love seeing how they connect, and while it seemed like a stretch I was willing to go along with it.

Briefly…the body of a petty criminal is discovered at an archaeological dig site; the victim killed with an ancient relic. From there the story flips back and forth between two deaths (the other back in the 9th century) and how the characters in each timeline are uncovering the killer.

I liked Roslyn’s character. She’s thoughtful, methodical, and unafraid to piss people off as she does her job. I also liked the mystery of the 9th century killer and how they meted out justice back then. It’s the murder weapon that links the two deaths and timelines. It’s a bit of a feeble link, until the author subtly and without much fanfare exposes Roslyn’s unique ability to sense things about objects. People, this gave me the chills! Do you know how many times I’ve wondered how awesome it would be to touch a tree that’s at least a hundred years old and be able to see the history it’s witnessed? Anyway, after that detail I was more accepting of the plot.

I listened to the audiobook which was well done, but I think I’d’ve liked to have read the book as well to keep better track of details within the individual timelines. Nonetheless, this was a decent mystery with a strong protagonist and an interesting rotation of side characters. It’s my first time reading this author. I enjoyed it and would read book 2.

Many thanks to @NetGalley and @dreamscape_media for my review copy.
1,099 reviews23 followers
May 3, 2021
Thanks to the author, Joffe Books and Netgalley for allowing me the opportunity to read Bury Me Deep. I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I'm a sucker for the dual-timeline mystery format (where there are two interconnected plots, one in the distant past and one in the present). This employed it well.
I will admit that, like the protagonist, I have little interest in early British history. Like, none, actually. So I wasn't as interested in the past portions of the story. There was nothing wrong with those parts- they were well written and the characters were surprisingly well-developed, given their limited airtime (page time? I'm not sure what the correct term is, but you get the idea). But I just couldn't get into it. That's on me, not the writer.
I was more interested in the present. I like the protagonist, who I was happy to find wasn't of the "maladjusted, messy maverick" variety, and I liked Jenny, her sidekick, and the local community-minded crime boss. The best character, though, was Mouse Man, who genuinely tugged at my heartstrings. That one scene with his wee rodent companions... oof.
The mystery was interesting enough. Archaeology, greed and murder, with some intimidation and other criminal activities thrown in.
There was also a supernatural element. I'm not so sure about it. I think it has the potential to be an interesting part of future stories, but the, I guess, dream sequences? in this one felt clunky and awkward The dialogue didn't work. It's a shame, because it's a fun concept, but I do think that aspect will be ironed out in future books.
Overall, I enjoyed it and would definitely read a sequel.
Profile Image for Brit Andrews.
355 reviews21 followers
April 29, 2022
An interesting tale of two different mysteries that occur in two vastly different time. Detective Roslyn Priest in present day is looking into the murder of Charlie Higgins a man she thought she knew but finds she barely knew anything about him at all. He was murdered with a spear and left on at the site of a archeological dig. During the course off the investigation she finds that Charlie may have gotten himself tangled in things he shouldn’t have while trying to help someone. Feeling like she herself let Charlie down by never really paying attention she is determined to sewed justice for him.

In the year 878 (in the same area that Rozlyn is in during present day) Treven has been given the run of some land after a war by his king. While he was just trying to make things work out with the locals the murders of a beloved young woman and accusations made against his friend rather complicate things. So does the weird dreams that he’s been having where a strange woman dressed in strange clothes keeps appearing. Her name is Rozlyn.

While Rozlyn is trying to solve her case in the past Treven is trying to do the same. The fact that they keep seeing each other in their dreams is just another odd complication for them both. Though unlike Rozlyn Treven happens to be a lot more open minded about these oddities. The story goes back and forth between their two cases while they try to figure out what happened.

I’ve never read the author’s work before but I did really like this. It was definitely interesting and now I’m anxious to see if they communicate with each other again as the series goes on.
Profile Image for J Kromrie.
2,514 reviews49 followers
January 21, 2024
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC. Although this review is for the audiobook, it applies equally to the novel.

Bury Me Deep by Jane Adams is a captivating audiobook that blends historical crime, mystery, and paranormal elements.

The talented Sarah Linton is the audiobook narrator, and she delivers a superb performance that brings the characters to life, conveying the emotions and the tension of the story with her voice, making the listener feel immersed in the action.

The story follows Detective Rozlyn Priest, who is called to investigate a murder at an ancient dig site. She discovers that the victim is Charlie Higgins, a petty criminal she once helped. He is killed with a spear that belongs to the Dark Ages, and Roz soon realizes that she is somehow connected to his death. She also starts having visions of a flame-haired Saxon warrior who shares her thirst for justice.

The book alternates between two timelines: the present day and the Dark Ages. The author skillfully weaves in historical details and facts about the Saxon culture and society, making the story more realistic and engaging. The book also explores themes such as identity, loyalty, revenge, and destiny.

Bury Me Deep is a thrilling and original audiobook that is a good choice for fans of Alex North, Ruth Ware, Mark Edwards and Stephen King.

If you are looking for an audiobook or a novel that combines crime fiction with history and paranormal elements, you should check out Bury Me Deep by Jane Adams.
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