The Graveyard

by Stewart Giles

THE GRAVEYARD (Detective Jason Smith #34) by Stewart Giles

From bestselling Stewart Giles comes another brilliant addition to the Detective Jason Smith series.
The Graveyard isn't an ordinary burial ground. This is a place where the fates of those who are yet to be dead and buried is sealed.

In the run up to Christmas, two, apparently unconnected deaths capture the attention of Detective Smith and the team. The brutal murder of a grandmother, and a woman slain in her kitchen mean that all plans for the festive season are cancelled.
When a man jumps out of a hotel window, soon afterwards, Smith quickly connects the dots.
This is not going to be a normal investigation.
The Graveyard is going to give Smith bad dreams for years.

BOOKS BY STEWART GILES
DS JASON SMITH SERIES
Book 0.5 - Phobia
Book 1 - Smith
Book 2 - Boomerang
Book 3 - Ladybird
Book 4 - Occam’s Razor
Book 5 - Harlequin
Book 6 - Selene
Book 7 - Horsemen
Book 8 - Unworthy
Book 9 – Venom
Book 10 – Severed
Book 11 – Demons
Book 12 - Deadeye
Book 13 - Motive
Book 14 – Australia
Book 16 – Wishbone
Book 17 – Ghosts
Book 18 – The Scarecrow
Book 19 – The Bluesman
Book 20 – The Librarian
Book 21 – The Viaduct
Book 22 – The Twin
Book 23 – The Dogwalker
Book 24 – The Flytrap
Book 25 – The Electrician
Book 26 – The Cellar
Book 27 – The Loner
Book 28 – The Painter
Book 29 – The Hitchhiker
Book 30 – The Creed
Book 31 – The Workshop
Book 32 - The Preacher
Book 33 - The Professor
Book 34 - The Graveyard
Book 35 - The Optician

DI O’REILLY MYSTERIES
Book 1 - Blood on the Island
Book 2 - Lies on the Island
Book 3 - Fear on the Island
Book 4 - Malice on the Island
Book 5 – Revenge on the Island
Book 6 – Christmas on the Island
Book 7 – Silence on the Island
Book 8 – Secrets on the Island
Book 9 – Chaos on the Island
Book 10 - Sadness on the Island
Book 11 – Danger on the Island
Book 12 – Evil on the Island
Book 13 – Fire on the Island
Book 14 – Madness on the Island
Book 15 - Fury on the Island
Book 16 - Sickness on the Island

DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1-The Beekeeper
Book 2-The Perfect Murder
Book 3-The Backpacker

DS JASON SMITH &DC HARRIET TAYLOR SERIES
Book 1 - The Enigma
Book 2 – Dropzone
Book 3 – The Raven Girl

THE MIRANDA TRILOGY (psychological thrillers)
Miranda
Mistress
Medusa

STANDALONE NOVELS
Horror - The Divide
Thriller - The Ghostwriter
Thriller – The Guests

294 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2025

About the author

After reading English at 3 Universities and graduating from none of them, I set off travelling around the world with my wife, Ann, finally settling in South Africa, where we still live. After Ann dropped a rather large speaker on my head I came up with the idea for a detective series. DS Jason Smith was born. Smith, the first in the series was finished a few months later. 3 years and 8 DS Smith books later, Joffe Books wondered if I would be interested in working with them. As a self-published author, I agreed. However, we decided on a new series - the DC Harriet Taylor Cornwall series. The Beekeeper hit the shelves and hit the number one spot in Australia. The second in the series, The Perfect Murder did just as well. The third in the series, The Backpacker I have self-published and is now available.

Reviews

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

THE GRAVEYARD by Stewart Giles.
Detective Jason Smith book 34.
Oh my God. Another brilliant read from stewart. I absolutely love Smith series. This is one series I don't want to end. I love Smith and the team. Erica, Rupert, Kerry, Harry and Baldwin. Porter and Barry are back. I had no clue who the killer was. Just lots of suspects. I love how this was gory. I couldn't put it down. I read in two sittings. I'm looking forward to the optician. I definitely recommend this series. Start from book one.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the events of his last case, DS Jason Smith is facing a disciplinary hearing and worrying whether he will still have a job at the end of it. At least he is saved from the prospect of a cosy family Christmas, a time that carries bad memories for him, by a new investigation for DI Oliver Smyth’s team of Smith, his wife DS Erica Whitton, DS Rupert Bridge, PC Baldwin, and DCs Kerry King and Harry Moore at York CID. And what a strange and bizarre one it is too. A grandmother is murdered in her own kitchen, in front of her small granddaughter who is too traumatized to remember a thing. Then soon after a woman is found also murdered in a very similar manner. The only thing that connects them is the appearance of a courier and a clearly very well planned and executed crime. With a third odd and very nasty death added in, Smith knows that these killings are anything but routine cases. But what’s the motive for the deaths of these seemingly unrelated victims? Getting to the root of that will unlock the whole investigation for Smith.
This is back to the more usual grisly type of murders that the team have become highly skilled at solving, and it was great to see involvement from Porter Klaus and Barry Stone again, with their unorthodox but incredibly useful and effective methods. I do hope they both become regulars in this series. It’s a super addition to this long running series which never fails to produce new and inventive twisty plots and is a firm favourite of mine. I’m looking forward to the next story, The Optician, due out in September 2025.

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant addition to the Detective Jason Smith series. Although book 34 they do work perfectly as stand alone.

This is a very hard case for Smith especially on the back of the last case which completely drained him. A woman is murdered and her young granddaughter is a witness. The team are horrified at the evilness but the murderer is just getting started. As more bodies are discovered the team are wondering if this is going to be the case to defeat Smith. No motive, no clues and a race against time to make progress before someone else dies.

This is an absolutely gripping roller coaster of a read that had me turning page after page each one adding to the suspense. I can honestly say I really had no idea how this was going to end or who was behind the murders - another absolutely brilliant book. Stewart Giles has really upped his game with this book.

As always I loved catching up with the characters and their lives and I absolutely love how Fran and Laura are developing into amazing characters that are guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.

A great read and I can't wait for the next book in this brilliant series.

5 stars from me.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 5 out of 5]

DS Jason Smith is preoccupied by a disciplinary hearing at work and the prospect of a family Christmas at home. Two unrelated murders give him a distraction...
The Graveyard is the 34th book in the brilliant DS Smith series. There are mentions of events in earlier books but no spoilers.
Smith usually uses work to avoid Christmas due to a devastating experience in the past but this year his wife wants him to be at home. A murder case gives him a good excuse!
The first victim is a grandmother caring for her young granddaughter. The little girl is unharmed but obviously traumatised. Next a woman who has had multiple affairs is killed and it appears to be the same murderer but what possible connection could there be?
As always, the pace is fast and the plot is dialogue led to help bring the characters to life. The majority of the plot is delivered to show the police investigation but there are also chapters that show the victims and other characters which builds tension as we anticipate what will happen next.
The Graveyard is a fab new addition to this excellent series.

[Misfits farm · Rating 5 out of 5]

A woman is murdered with her daughter watching by a man appearing to be a courier. When the same man is seen in the vicinity of another murder, Smith has his hands full. It’s almost Christmas in York and most people are prepping and pulling away from work, but when there are multiple murders to solve, Smith and his team are full on. Who would be doing this and why? Something very strange is going on.

I'm in awe of Stewart and his imagination. Each and every time there is a captivating plot with twists which are so cleverly thought out and keep the pages ever turning faster. I race through these as I can't wait to find out what happens and despite the subject matter, it's a very easy read (there are some gory references as to what's happened but nothing too graphic) and one that has even upset Smith as it’s a little techno for him. A belter of a read, one that kept me up to finish it. Wow, just wow!

[Vix · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded to 5 for Goodreads.

Book 34 in the Detective Jason Smith series.

Creepy killings, the fact the murderer was so clinical was scary - and how it starts is heart-breaking for one character.

I loved the unravelling of this crime as it was unusual, and actually ended up being much more cold and horrible considering the motive.

I like the way Stewart is trying to incorporate more of the cyber world into the old fashioned police methods of investigation.

Had a bit of confusion over some smaller reactions and comments towards the end of the book, which seemed out of character.

Overall, another Jason Smith book that had me tearing through the pages - can't wait for the next.

*I received a complimentary copy of the e-book from Books 'n' All Promotions and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jason is still feeling flat after a difficult case and Christmas is here when he gets drawn into another troubling case. Janet Downing is brutally murdered in front of her young granddaughter who is left alive even though she’s a witness. Christmas is cancelled for Jason and his team as they try to find the killer. Under hypnosis the child freaks out upon hearing Jason’s voice. Is this brutal killer a fellow Australian. Soon he has more murders all completely different but are they all connected. Another difficult time for Jason. Another great read from Stewart. If you’ve not read Jason Smith before you’re luckily there are now 34 cases to choose from and I recommend them all but it could also be read as a standalone too.

[K.M. Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when you think that maybe this series is starting to run its course, because you’re just not sure how many more cases Smith can do that will keep your interest… BAM! Giles has pulled it out the bag! Out of all 34 books I have to say I think this was the best book so far. Smith’s always had the free spirit attitude, but in this it was like really was on a crusade and I loved that attitude. Event the comedy one liners from Smyth that the writer probably didn’t realise, but it was a bit like the boss was like, “here we go again.” That aside, the story was captivating. I enjoyed it. It kept me on the edge of my seat reading. I hardly read during the day anymore, but this one had me reaching for my kindle during my little one’s nap time. Well done, Stewart! I can’t wait for the next.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 5 out of 5]

With DS Jason Smith book thirty four.
Brutal murders and a run up to Christmas not Smiths favourite time of year, the graveyard is not a normal burial ground and this is not a normal investigation.
This will give Smith bad dreams for a very long time.
With another new character joining the team from Leeds its another fan for Smith he really can't understand the attraction.
So what are the piece's in the puzzle to make the graveyard site make them fit?
And it giving him the creeps.
So dark, so twisted, so good,
This is no normal Graveyard story with zombies and ghosts this for me was a totally unexpected read for me from this author once again.
I loved it full stop.

[S Nicholls · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lull in the series where the main character was less arrogant and there was more interaction with the other characters which made for much better reading
However with this book the "old" Jason was back with a vengence and it is so annoying, I don't care how good a detective he is supposed to be his flagrant disregard for authority, people's opinions and feelings not to mention his language make him a d**khead and it really spoils things
Yes he has his moments but they are far outweighed by his arrogant attitude

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a rather unorthodox investigation for Smith. There are five suspicious deaths which appear to be connected. What makes it so special for me is the amount of background information given about each victim. This draws on the emotional heartstrings, making it all the more memorable after I have finished reading. Memories of the Live Aid concert come flooding back.
I liked how a description of The Graveyard features in the book.
Highly recommended.

[JA · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific

I love these books. This is a great series that just gets better. The characters have become old friends now and I can't wait for the next adventure. Keep them coming.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Graveyard by Stewart Giles is book 34 in the DS Jason Smith series. Janet Downing answers the door to a courier. That was the start of a terrifying ordeal for her. But it doesn’t stop there as the assassin works away. The author’s imagination is in fine form. I don’t know where he gets his ideas from, but these books certainly entertain. Along with the murders there is humour to lighten the read. The characters, which are quite varied, add to the story with their different quirks. There are twists and turns throughout and it certainly is an intriguing story. A great read.