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DI Jake Sawyer #3
The Dying Light
An unthinkable evil. An unbearable secret.
Jake Sawyer is out in the cold. As winter descends on the Peak District, he finds himself suspended from the force, accused of murder.
When two young children go missing, feared abducted, Sawyer must improvise to help solve the mystery. And as the bodies of adults appear in remote locations, he suspects a chilling connection to the missing children.
With time running out on his bail, Sawyer must fight, not only to crack the cases, but also to clear his name.
But then his world is ripped open as he finally uncovers the unbelievable truth behind his mother’s murder.
A truth that leads him to question everything he thought he knew.
A pacy British detective murder mystery with twists, dark humour and a compelling lead character whose backstory continues through the series. Set within the dramatic Peak District.
Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, MJ Arlidge and Karin Slaughter.
_______________________________________________
Praise for A Dying
★★★★★ “Another fantastic story in this series.”
★★★★★ “Jake Sawyer is a fascinating character.”
★★★★★ “Goes from strength to strength.”
★★★★★ “Full of twists and turns.”
★★★★★ “Engrossing and moreish.”
★★★★★ “A brilliant read.”
★★★★★ “Fabulous.”
★★★★★ “Twisty.”
★★★★★ “The beautiful landscape is so well defined it’s like another character.”
★★★★★ “Keeps you guessing right until the end.”
★★★★★ “A captivating police procedural.”
★★★★★ “The characters are all fleshed out and develop credibly.”
★★★★★ “Read the first two. You will be pulled into the series.”
★★★★★ “A fast-paced mystery.”
★★★★★ “Wonderful.”
★★★★★ “One of the most compelling mysteries published this year.”
★★★★★ “Jake Sawyer is engaging, smart, of barbed tongue, and driven.”
★★★★★ “Fabulous dialogue, and not a flaccid phrase.”
★★★★★ “Mesmerising.”
★★★★★ “Characters so well written they jump off the page.”
★★★★★ “Kept me reading long after bedtime.”
★★★★★ “Can’t wait for the next one.”
____________________________________________________
Praise for Andrew
★★★★★ "Prose that gets under your flesh and into your bones."
★★★★★ "Taut and compelling. Not a wasted word."
★★★★★ "Plot and character perfectly intertwined."
★★★★★ "Keeps you reading through the night."
★★★★★ "Poetic and utterly gripping."
Jake Sawyer is out in the cold. As winter descends on the Peak District, he finds himself suspended from the force, accused of murder.
When two young children go missing, feared abducted, Sawyer must improvise to help solve the mystery. And as the bodies of adults appear in remote locations, he suspects a chilling connection to the missing children.
With time running out on his bail, Sawyer must fight, not only to crack the cases, but also to clear his name.
But then his world is ripped open as he finally uncovers the unbelievable truth behind his mother’s murder.
A truth that leads him to question everything he thought he knew.
A pacy British detective murder mystery with twists, dark humour and a compelling lead character whose backstory continues through the series. Set within the dramatic Peak District.
Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Ian Rankin, MJ Arlidge and Karin Slaughter.
_______________________________________________
Praise for A Dying
★★★★★ “Another fantastic story in this series.”
★★★★★ “Jake Sawyer is a fascinating character.”
★★★★★ “Goes from strength to strength.”
★★★★★ “Full of twists and turns.”
★★★★★ “Engrossing and moreish.”
★★★★★ “A brilliant read.”
★★★★★ “Fabulous.”
★★★★★ “Twisty.”
★★★★★ “The beautiful landscape is so well defined it’s like another character.”
★★★★★ “Keeps you guessing right until the end.”
★★★★★ “A captivating police procedural.”
★★★★★ “The characters are all fleshed out and develop credibly.”
★★★★★ “Read the first two. You will be pulled into the series.”
★★★★★ “A fast-paced mystery.”
★★★★★ “Wonderful.”
★★★★★ “One of the most compelling mysteries published this year.”
★★★★★ “Jake Sawyer is engaging, smart, of barbed tongue, and driven.”
★★★★★ “Fabulous dialogue, and not a flaccid phrase.”
★★★★★ “Mesmerising.”
★★★★★ “Characters so well written they jump off the page.”
★★★★★ “Kept me reading long after bedtime.”
★★★★★ “Can’t wait for the next one.”
____________________________________________________
Praise for Andrew
★★★★★ "Prose that gets under your flesh and into your bones."
★★★★★ "Taut and compelling. Not a wasted word."
★★★★★ "Plot and character perfectly intertwined."
★★★★★ "Keeps you reading through the night."
★★★★★ "Poetic and utterly gripping."
396 pages, Paperback
Published July 1, 2025
About the author
Andrew Lowe
31 books65 followersAndrew Lowe was born in the North of England, back when it was okay to play outside and people ate trifle a lot.
He has written for The Guardian and Sunday Times, and contributed to numerous books on film, music, TV, videogames, sex and shin splints.
The Ghost is his first novel.
He has written for The Guardian and Sunday Times, and contributed to numerous books on film, music, TV, videogames, sex and shin splints.
The Ghost is his first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 5, 2026
Great detective story with Jake Sawyer trying to prove his innocence in a murder close to home and still working on cases from the outside and supporting his team with his findings
June 15, 2019
This is the third book in the DI Jake Sawyer series. It sees the main character DI Jake Sawyer suspended from duty and being accused of murder. Murder of the man, recently released from jail, who had been found guilty of killing his mother and almost killing Jake and his brother Michael, as well as their dog, when they were children. Jake has no sense of fear and has been told this could be a result of the injuries he sustained as a child, when his mother was killed in front of them. He takes risks and is not used to taking orders, whilst doing his job, preferring to be the lead.
In this story, two local children have gone missing, one some months ago and the other just that week. Jake is no longer allowed to be involved and has no warrant card whilst he is suspended. But he manages to get his foot into the investigations, from the outside, through his contacts on the force. He even uses a few underhand methods to keep up with news. To add to the case load at the police station, they also have adult murders cropping up on their patch, with bodies being left in remote locations. Killed by an unusual method and trying to find out what connection if any there may be between the victims. More bodies start to pile up as more children are abducted.
Jake has to try to find out if there is any connection between the child abductions and the adult murders. He also gets mixed up with a gangland boss, the soon to be ex-husband of the mother of Luka, a young boy he saved from some local caves in a previous book. This puts his life in danger and a few unfriendly nocturnal visitors passing by. Trying to take down one villain and ending up putting others at risk. Something he is often accused of, due to his own lack of fear.
The end of the book is certainly a shocker and a complete surprise! Jake finally finds out the truth of what happened all those years ago, when his mother was killed. He finds out who was responsible and it seems he wasn’t the only one that knew this. His sanity will be under huge stress, as the truth is finally revealed and his world as he knows it will be ripped apart! Another fantastic story in this series. Even though Jake is suspended and under suspicion of murder, he still manages to insert himself into the current cases and has a huge hand in them being solved.
He can’t be put down easily and has his own way of doing his job and running his life. His move from the Met to the Peak District, was a great aid to him in being able to investigate his mother’s murder, not that he can say that was a reason for his move. Other clashes were also to blame. Now he has finally got closure on one part of his life, but how he will react to it and what will come next, I can’t wait to see. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above. I loved it and even bought a copy for myself. I would highly recommend it to others.
In this story, two local children have gone missing, one some months ago and the other just that week. Jake is no longer allowed to be involved and has no warrant card whilst he is suspended. But he manages to get his foot into the investigations, from the outside, through his contacts on the force. He even uses a few underhand methods to keep up with news. To add to the case load at the police station, they also have adult murders cropping up on their patch, with bodies being left in remote locations. Killed by an unusual method and trying to find out what connection if any there may be between the victims. More bodies start to pile up as more children are abducted.
Jake has to try to find out if there is any connection between the child abductions and the adult murders. He also gets mixed up with a gangland boss, the soon to be ex-husband of the mother of Luka, a young boy he saved from some local caves in a previous book. This puts his life in danger and a few unfriendly nocturnal visitors passing by. Trying to take down one villain and ending up putting others at risk. Something he is often accused of, due to his own lack of fear.
The end of the book is certainly a shocker and a complete surprise! Jake finally finds out the truth of what happened all those years ago, when his mother was killed. He finds out who was responsible and it seems he wasn’t the only one that knew this. His sanity will be under huge stress, as the truth is finally revealed and his world as he knows it will be ripped apart! Another fantastic story in this series. Even though Jake is suspended and under suspicion of murder, he still manages to insert himself into the current cases and has a huge hand in them being solved.
He can’t be put down easily and has his own way of doing his job and running his life. His move from the Met to the Peak District, was a great aid to him in being able to investigate his mother’s murder, not that he can say that was a reason for his move. Other clashes were also to blame. Now he has finally got closure on one part of his life, but how he will react to it and what will come next, I can’t wait to see. I received an ARC copy of this book from Hidden Gems and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above. I loved it and even bought a copy for myself. I would highly recommend it to others.
March 1, 2024
This was excellent. After reading the previous books, Jake is continuing his investigation into his mother's murder but is somewhat sidetracked when following on from events in the last book, he finds himself under investigation for murder. At the same time, he has a target on his back from a nasty piece of work. Alongside all of this, some children are being abducted and several men are being murdered, so there's a lot going on here.
This was a riveting read. Jake is troubled but likeable and goes to extreme measures to still partake in the police investigations into the killings and abductions, albeit remotely. I totally immersed myself in events and soon finished the book. There's a lot of personal anguish here, and a shocking reveal comes to the fore at the end. I'm already pining for the next book.
This was a riveting read. Jake is troubled but likeable and goes to extreme measures to still partake in the police investigations into the killings and abductions, albeit remotely. I totally immersed myself in events and soon finished the book. There's a lot of personal anguish here, and a shocking reveal comes to the fore at the end. I'm already pining for the next book.
September 22, 2025
Mr Lowe's #3 in the Jake Sawyer series doesn't disappoint. This time Sawyer is suspended from police duties - and indeed is charged with murder no less - but is still driven to investigate a spate of killings which coincide with local child abductions. Unsurprisingly, and to the concern of his colleagues, he plays a key part in justice being served. This whilst tangling with dangerous local thugs and his own demons. (Though once more this brilliant detective is seen to make a schoolboy error, this time blundering into a showdown that a normal copper would have avoided.) The gifted though over-confident Sawyer character drives the stories - he's always poking his nose in when his colleagues play by the book and accepted procedures. And the author again manages to juggle several threads expertly without losing this reader (who is easily lost).
June 18, 2019
This book by Andrew Lowe was more than just a detective story, it was also a story about rebuilding your life and moving on from tragic events in the past. Therefore, the story contained a very emotionally driven subplot for the major characters. The story moved with good pace and definitely held the attention of the reader from start to finish as the puzzle of who murdered and who kidnapped was being solved. Not having read any of the prior books did feel like a small disadvantage due to prior references, as well as where the main character, DI Sawyer, was introduced from. I would not hesitate to add any of those books to my TBR. This is a voluntary review of an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from Hidden Gems Books.
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June 20, 2019A captivating police procedural
The books in this series are not independent. Please read books one and two before this one.
Detective Inspector Jake Sawyer has been investigating his mother's murder when he was a child, thirty years ago. Officially, the murder was solved, but Sawyer believes the conviction was railroaded. Now he and his acquaintances are being targeted.
The characters are all fleshed out and develop credibly. The plot grabs your attention and keeps you engaged.
I read an ARC of this book. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The is an engrossing, very well written book, just like the previous two. It is British English, so it is a great vocabulary expander for those on the US side of the pond.
The books in this series are not independent. Please read books one and two before this one.
Detective Inspector Jake Sawyer has been investigating his mother's murder when he was a child, thirty years ago. Officially, the murder was solved, but Sawyer believes the conviction was railroaded. Now he and his acquaintances are being targeted.
The characters are all fleshed out and develop credibly. The plot grabs your attention and keeps you engaged.
I read an ARC of this book. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The is an engrossing, very well written book, just like the previous two. It is British English, so it is a great vocabulary expander for those on the US side of the pond.
June 24, 2019
I enjoyed this book, though I'll admit that I didn't read the first 2 (assumed it would be a standalone as so many detective books are nowadays, my bad) and therefore had to figure a lot of things out along the way, which made it somewhat difficult. Sawyer having to deal with his own personal case and being suspended while also still wanting to do his job and help out with current investigations made for an interesting story, and I like how the author managed to weave it all together so seamlessly given all the various characters and subplots involved.
4 stars, and I'll definitely add this author to my list to keep an eye on
*Free copy provided by Hidden Gems, which I voluntarily chose to review*
4 stars, and I'll definitely add this author to my list to keep an eye on
*Free copy provided by Hidden Gems, which I voluntarily chose to review*
June 16, 2019
Jake Sawyer is a DI who has been accused of murder and suspended from the force. When two young children are reported missing, they fear they were abducted Jake can't help but try and investigate this...even while his time on his bail is running out. Then adult bodies start appearing, and Jake thinks it has something to do with the missing children, but when he finds the truth about his own mother's murder thirty years ago it threatens his own sanity. How will it end? Read the book to find out. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
November 11, 2020
Jake's backstory continues, as the search for his mother's killer concludes! I thought i had it figured out but there was a twist i wasnt expecting. Loved it!
I think this book is my favorite so far as Jake has been ousted from the police so has to improvise to get his info on the current investigation AND keep one step ahead of Dale (not me!) and his cronies.
These books get better and better. Onto the next!
I think this book is my favorite so far as Jake has been ousted from the police so has to improvise to get his info on the current investigation AND keep one step ahead of Dale (not me!) and his cronies.
These books get better and better. Onto the next!
June 13, 2019
DI Jake Sawyer tries to find a serial killer at a time when he, himself, is suspended from the force under suspicion of murder. The plot is great, flows nicely, and is full of action. Sawyer himself is charming and brilliant.
This is a book that you will keep reading long past you should have gone to bed.
This is a book that you will keep reading long past you should have gone to bed.
June 12, 2019
A brilliant entry into the mystery stakes. The third Detective Inspector Jake Sawyer mystery bills a hero who is lively, intelligent, fit, and obsessed with justice. The plot is fiery, the locales are wonderful, and the prose is robust and lean. Can't wait for the next one!
June 18, 2023
I’m hooked!
This series has become addictive. Even though at times events are a little unrealistic, I love the story. Jake Sawyer is a complex and interesting protagonist. Great characters all round. Good writing and an engaging plot.
This series has become addictive. Even though at times events are a little unrealistic, I love the story. Jake Sawyer is a complex and interesting protagonist. Great characters all round. Good writing and an engaging plot.
March 17, 2024
Humdinger of a read
Enjoying Jake Sawyer so much. Totally addictive read. Can highly recommend. Holds your interest like a magnet.5* read.
If you haven't read this series then you're missing out bigtime.
Enjoying Jake Sawyer so much. Totally addictive read. Can highly recommend. Holds your interest like a magnet.5* read.
If you haven't read this series then you're missing out bigtime.
November 13, 2025
The story of Jake continues, with a lot of wrap up in this book about his personal life. And a definite twist. Along with Sawyer's story, there are of course crimes to solve. Children being kidnapped, murder, drugs. Well done in this series.
July 1, 2019
An amazing story. PI Jake is relieved of duty and accused of murder. How does he get out of this ? A suspenseful story to the end.
February 21, 2024
I have read book 1 ,2, and 3. This book might be my favorite. It definitely tied up several items from the first book with a big bow.
I like this series and will read more Jake Sawyer books.
I like this series and will read more Jake Sawyer books.
May 25, 2025
Gripping
Another gripping story in the make Sawyer series .I have already downloaded the next one and can't wait to get started
Another gripping story in the make Sawyer series .I have already downloaded the next one and can't wait to get started
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews