The Gorge

Thanks you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
This, the third in the DI Louise Blackwell series and the best yet, I really enjoyed it.  I'm liking her better with each book.
It starts off with her being sent out to attend and investigate the brutal killing of feral sheep.  At the same time she's still trying to find out who murdered her brother.  Her little niece is with her parents, still traumatized having seen her father killed.
Then there's an attack on a man, and the kidnappings of two children; keeping her and the team busy and with very little sleep.
I loved the description of the area, sounds wonderful.
The ending is very tense and satisfying.  And I am excited about the addition of Molly at the end, every book needs a dog!  Definitely recommended.

I’ve been lucky enough to read the other two books in this series! I’m a real fan of Matt Brolly, I love his style of writing and his books are easy to read, believable and leave you wanting more! I hope there’s going to be book number 4 as I would really like Louise to find love! I’ll cross my fingers.

A new Louise Blackwell thriller set in Weston, Portishead and Cheddar Gorge areas.
Louise has returned to work after her brother’s violent death. Louise feels guilty and is quietly determined to find the killer despite the resistance of her current boss and her ex boss DCI Finch ( who had lied about her in a previous case).
Louise’s first case back is the attack/murder of wild sheep - but then a young girl goes missing and Louise is convinced they are connected. 
I the midst of this there is aggro between the locals, a commune and a developer.
Louise and the team struggle to find the missing girl but Louise finds clues to her brother’s attacker and helps her ex colleague Greg Farrell investigate.
A baby goes missing bringing  more support for her team.
A good police procedural novel, a bit slow at times but enjoyable.
3.5 stars ⭐️ 
Thanks to #Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

The Louise Blackwell series keeps getting better.  After the murder of her brother, Louise is torn between her official investigations into missing children and making sure that her brother's case doesn't get shelved.  On the personal front, Louise's mother is drinking too much and her  young niece is striking out at her grandparents. Matt Brolly keeps all the threads in hand and delivers a compelling story.  Don't miss this one.

Thanks to Thomas Mercer for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

DI Louise Blackwell’s professional and personal lives collide in The Gorge, the third in this excellent series by best selling author Matt Brolly. Louise has not recovered from her brother Paul’s murder. Placed on leave because of her involvement in the case, she has helped care for her orphaned niece Emily and support her parents who are now Emily’s caregivers. On her first day back at work, she’s sent to investigate the barbaric killing of wild sheep at nearby Cheddar Gorge. Villagers think the dead sheep might be somehow related to a battle over a new planned development at the gorge. Louise isn’t sure how the two can be related. Then a man is attacked and, days later, a girl is kidnapped.

As Louise tries to find the connection between these escalating events, she is also helping Greg Farrell, her former partner, investigate her brother’s death although she knows her actions may jeopardize the case. Her former supervisor, DCI Finch, continues to torment Louise, hoping she’ll leave her position. Her interference in this case may give him cause.

This series just keeps getting better. The Gorge can be read as a stand-alone police procedural although I would recommend reading the earlier mysteries for the character development. The location, Cheddar Gorge, dominates. The hills, the caves, Jacob’s Ladder are atmospheric and evocative. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Matt Brolly for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley the publisher and author for this ARC.  

Matt Brolly is a fairly new author to me and I enjoyed reading his previous book in the DI Louise Blackwell series.   I thought this book was a great follow on from that.   The author has a good style of writing which captured and held my attention all the way through.   I loved the glimpses into DI Blackwell’s home and private life and reading of her working relationships and growing friendships with colleagues.  As a character DI Blackwell is really growing on me, as are the team she works with.   There were several story threads here which I particularly enjoyed, as well DI Blackwell following up on a murder that is personal to her.   I don’t know the area the book is set in very well, and after reading Matt Brolly’s descriptions can picture it in my mind.   Overall, a good mystery read that I would recommend.  Hope there is another book to follow.

I'm a Matt Brolly fan so was delighted to receive an advance copy of The Gorge - the third in the Louise Blackwell trilogy. 

I enjoy these books immensely - from the setting of the West Country to the kick-ass, Blackwell herself. I would have liked more attention on the relationships between the police characters in this book but ultimately, it's a solid police procedural.

This is the third book in the DI Louise Blackwell series, set in Weston/Portishead. In this particular book most of the action takes place in Cheddar and Cheddar Gorge. Louise is back at work after an enforced leave following the murder of her brother in the previous book. Her first case is to investigate the death of three wild sheep (yes, sheep) which had their throats slashed. The next day a man walking his dog is attacked and has his arms nastily slashed. It’s not long before an 11 year old girl disappears. Louise is alarmed by this escalation.

Everyone is wondering if this is related to a proposed development at the gorge. A man called Richard Hoxton has the job of smoothing ruffled feathers and wining the dining the potential investors. But he has a drinking problem and initially dismisses the feeling that someone has been watching them during a night time exploration of the caves, a bit of drunken revelry. But Hoxton is uncomfortable about his job and doesn’t trust his drunken self so he ignores what turns out to be pivotal to the case.

At the same time Louise has been informed that the investigation into the death of her brother will soon be scaled right back. She cannot legitimately look into this but co-opts the help of Farrell, a detective out of Portishead working for her nemesis and former boss DCI Finch. He is a piece of work! So Farrell does a bit of digging and finds a new lead.

Back at the gorge, a young boy has now been kidnapped and the stakes are rising in this strange and disturbing case. It was actually a good plot and could have been really exciting but somehow the pace and drama that I have come to expect from Matt Brolly’s books seemed a bit lacking. I found this book to be somewhat plodding and I had trouble concentrating. However, Louise has a few wins this time so maybe she will be in a better place in the next story. The characters are good too, it just needed a bit more oomph! Thanks to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Matt Brolly for providing me with a copy of the book to review. My opinions are my own.

An Intriguing New Case.....
Book three in the Detective Louise Blackwell series finds the DI with an intriguing new case which very quickly spirals out of control. Engaging throughout with a believable cast populating the plot as well as realistic backdrop descriptions.  A solid and satisfying read.

The third book in the DI Louise Blackwell series and once again it doesn’t disappoint.

Back at work after her brother’s murder, her first case involving the death of some wild sheep seems innocent enough, however things develop quickly when a man is attacked and then a young girl disappears.... are they connected and do unwanted local building development plans have a role to play or is something else more sinister going on.

Matt Brolly takes you on a highly descriptive journey around Cheddar Gorge and the surrounding areas with the landscape playing just as important a role as any of the main characters. 

Blackwell’s personal life, as she battles with the aftermath of her brother’s murder and her relationship with both her parents and niece, continues to reenforce how brilliant this author is with his characters development and raises the bar from some of the other crime books available.

Another fabulous police procedural from Matt Brolly starting Louise Blackwell and set around Weston Super Mare. Great plot and characters, especially the recurring police. This book had an end of the line feeling, but I’m really hoping there is more to come in this series. The star of this book though has to be the setting. Cheddar is beautifully described, capturing the stark beauty and immense claustrophobia of the place.

Thank you to NetGalley,, Matt Brolley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read The Gorge.

This is the third book in the Detective Louise Blackwell crime series. I have not read the first two books in the series, but I did not feel like I missed out on anything coming in this late into the novels. It was not necessary to have read the previous books and The Gorge can be read as a stand alone. 

The Gorge was well written and by the great descriptions I could picture the scenery where the action was taking place. 

I am now looking forward to the next book in the series and I will seek out the previous two novels and try to catch up in order.

This is the third book in the DI Louise Blackwell series, but it can easily be read as a standalone without feeling you’ve missed something.

The series is set in the Weston-super-Mare area, with this story focussing in and around Cheddar Gorge.  Some sheep are attacked and killed, a walker is attacked with a knife (but, fortunately, his injuries are not life-threatening), a young schoolgirl goes missing, then a small baby is snatched from his cot. It seems that all these events are related and whilst DI Blackwell is investigating the cases, she’s also – unofficially – trying to get to the bottom of her brother’s recent murder.

In DI Blackwell’s personal life, she is very worried about her young niece who is now orphaned and in the guardianship of her grandparents.  Little Emily is showing some concerning behaviours, but a little bit of assistance from her puts the final piece into the jigsaw puzzle of her dad’s murder.

This is one of those books that you read in a short space of time because you can’t put it down, then get to the last page and wish there was more!  A fantastic read that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Matt Brolly has brought us another Detective Louise Blackwell novel who is back for  another cracking crime story, this time she finds herself in scenic Cheddar she's initially  called out to the murder of some rare sheep but that's just the start of her troubles, I like these novels as they are set quite locally to me and I like the characters although having read the previous novels it does get a bit repetitive when the text keeps referring back to louises dislike of her old boss, I know why it's done but I find it annoying. But what amazed me most was the fact she climbs up Jacobs ladder three times in a day,  I did it once and it nearly killed me lol.

THERE ARE MINOR SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW (nothing major)

This was a pleasure to read - having not come across the author before, it appears that Brolly is a talented author who knows how to tell a story. It isn't one of those "unputdownable" books that keeps you reading into the early hours, but it is certainly very readable and very enjoyable. A little more description of the places mentioned in the book would not have gone amiss, though.

The book starts with the death of a couple of feral sheep - there doesn't seem to be any particular reason for this and it appears that the author only included this event as a means of easing his character DI Blackwell back into work after an extended period of leave due to her brother's murder. 

I had not read the previous two books in this series, but enough back story is given to allow the reader to understand Blackwell's situation. In fact, I would suggest that if you want to read the first two, avoid this one until you have done so. It's too late for me now - but I will definitely come back for more when they are published.

This feels like the conclusion of the 3 book series. Louise and the cast return with both a baffling new case and the on going investigation into her brother's murder. We see Louise pulled in several different directions while trying to deal with everything.

A good thriller with a few twists. Well drawn character's. This is the first Matt Brolly novel I have read but it won't be the last.

I was first introduced to Matt Brolly here on NetGalley. I must admit he has become one of my favorite authors.

This series is fantastic! Filled with family drama and a murder (was it a person there?). And of course, the feud with Finch is ongoing. I look forward to more. This can't possibly be the end for DI Louise Blackwell!

After a forced sick-leave, DI Blackwell returns to work. Her first case feels like a joke. Someone has killed 3 feral sheep in Cheddar Gorge, a picturesque village in an area of outstanding beauty. It’s not a case that normally involves the CID, but there’s pressure from some councillors that are golfing buddies of the Chief Constable and they have to take it seriously. The matter escalates when a couple of days later, a dog walker is attacked at the same location with a similar knife. It’s now a case of attempted murder. Then, an 11-year-old girl goes missing. There are several groups of with various interests in the area: an investment company wants to build luxury flats, the National Trust wants to keep things as they are, local landowners like to make a killing selling their land, and the local tourist industry sits amid all this. Louise’s nemesis, DCI Finch turns up and tries to snatch this case away from her.

While all that is going on, Louise is told that the murder investigation into her brother’s death is going to be shelved as there are no leads or tips. Although she’s warned to keep out of it, she does her own bit of investigating.



I requested this book after reading a raving review. Unfortunately, I’m a bit disappointed as it took me a while to get into the story. At first, I had trouble connecting to the main character but that changed when she more or less adopted the dog of the assault victim.

A character that piqued my interest is Richard Hoxton. Although he works for the property developer, he seems to have a moral compass. Not only does he understand the grievances of the local people, he genuinely believes that his boss is the best choice to build houses in the area. I’m not so sure about Walsh’s intentions but I developed sympathy for Jennings when he asks Louise to go on a date. He does have a drinking problem; he’s a functioning alcoholic but suffers from blackouts. This is not in his favour as far as Louise is concerned as she has more than her fair share of alcoholism in her family history.

The story moves but slow and meanders about without much happening, apart from the crimes that is.

Although this is the 3rd book in this series, I could follow the narrative without any problems. There’s a lot of information about the previous cases that give an insight into the problems Louise has. But I would advise the author to use a different editor as I found several plot holes (what happens to the dog, does he go back to his owner, where and when or where does he stay when she’s working? At a given time Hoxton calls Louise and needs to meet her to give info but this doesn’t seem to happen and in the next line she seems to act on some undisclosed information) Rather shoddy work. I’m sorry to say that it’s rather mediocre as far as the intrigue as well. It feels as if he used a template and a checklist but couldn’t sew the whole thing properly together.

I liked the description of the area and the local history, which seems to be authentic as far as I know. The picture on the cover depicts the gorge in question, I suppose.

I thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free ARC, this is my honest and unbiased review of it.

This is the third in a series but can be easily read as a standalone.  I enjoyed the character development and enjoyed seeing how all the threads came together.

Another great read in this series, they are getting better everytime. Once I started reading didn't want to stop. Looking forward to reading more.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of The Gorge, the third novel to feature DI Louise Blackwell of the Weston-super-Mare Police.

Louise returns to duty after 5 months leave due to the murder of her brother, Paul, and is asked to investigate the death of three wild sheep at Cheddar Gorge, which appear to have had their throats cut. Then, in short order, a man is attacked and a young girl disappears in the same area.

I enjoyed The Gorge in parts, but it’s a slow read that doesn’t go very far and it didn’t really hold my attention until the last few chapters where things heat up. The plot has three main strands, the events in Cheddar which is Louise’s case, the investigation into her brother’s murder that she’s supposed to stay away from, and her ongoing feud with DCI Tim Finch which has featured in all three novels. This and the novel being told from various points of view give it a choppy, disjointed feel with the reader unable to settle in to a straight narrative. The events in Cheddar are a good and interesting premise and could have been made into an engrossing read, but the unnamed perpetrator’s voice destroys much of the mystery and the constant switching to the other plot strands diminishes the possibility of engrossment.

The reasons for the antagonism between Louise and DCI Finch are well documented in the previous novels so it’s getting tiresome and becoming an unnecessary distraction. He’s a nasty man whose petty vindictiveness is getting worse. I just wish he’d get his comeuppance and we could all move on and be able to concentrate on Louise’s investigations. Louise, on the other hand, is portrayed as a bit of a sad character. Her work life is a bit of a misery because of Finch, she has few friends and no social life because Finch has given her trust issues and she spends most of her free time trying to sort out Paul’s 6 year old daughter, Emily’s problems. It’s dreary.

The Gorge is a solid read but it’s more character driven than I like in a procedural.

The Gorge by Matt Brolly is a police procedural and the third book in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series. The author brings plenty of suspense and lots of atmosphere to this story set mostly in and near Weston-super-Mare and the village of Cheddar in England. The tale has two points of view; primarily that of Louise but with a few short sections from the mind of a criminal

Louise returns to work after five months of recovery from her last case. A murder investigation is about to be shelved that she feels needs closure and may not have been thoroughly scrutinized. On top of that, her niece, who is living with Louise’s parents is acting up. When her first case back is the slaughter of some sheep, she thinks she will be easing back into work. But when this escalates to something even more menacing, Louise has her work cut out for her.

Louise is a fascinating character and felt three-dimensional. She isn’t very politically savvy at work, but she fights for what is right and inspires loyalty in her co-workers. She’s also highly intelligent and has a dry sense of humor. The work/life balance that she faces is what many workers face every day. This added realism and kept me thoroughly engaged in both facets of her life.

The plot is driven by the police working through the clues. There is a lot more going on under the surface, though. Themes running through the story line include work relationships, the drive to succeed, grief, loneliness, loyalty, mental health, family, alcoholism, and much more. 

There was enough at stake to keep me engaged throughout the story. The world-building was absolutely fantastic and gave a clear sense of place. I felt like I was walking up and down the steps of Jacob’s Ladder multiple times with Louise and then joining her on the cliff walk. While the main mystery was resolved in the book, there is a thread for future books in the series. There is some background given in this book, but the series is best read in order. Louise’s full background is shared in book one and helps shed light on her situation and mind-frame in the following books. 

Overall, the plot was creative, absorbing and well-paced. I would recommend it to those who enjoy police procedurals and British crime dramas. I look forward to reading the next book in this series as well as checking out this author’s DCI Michael Lambert series.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Matt Brolly for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for February 25, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

DI Louise Blackwell has been on several months leave after her near escape from a deadly fire followed by the brutal murder of her brother Paul. Her first case back at work at Weston CID has her investigating the brutal killing of several sheep in the Mendip hills near the tourist village of Cheddar. Although at first glance it doesn’t look like a case requiring CID, the sheep were definitely killed by a human and not an animal and Louise knows the killer could escalate to more severe crimes. The next day a dog walker is attacked in the same area by a man wielding a knife but manages to fend him off. When a young girl is kidnapped a few days later the police don’t know whether her disappearance is linked to the previous attacks, but clearly, they need to work fast to find her.

The area around Cheddar is famous for its gorges and limestone caves and is a popular tourist destination. The evocative description of the caves and the clifftop walks add atmosphere to the setting of this novel and I felt I got to know the area well, particularly the 274 steps of Jacob’s ladder, the pathway to the clifftop, which Louise had to trek up and down many times to investigate all the crime scenes. 

This was a slow build of a police procedural as the police gradually try to work out who is responsible for the killings and the kidnapping. One theory they follow up is that someone is trying to put off investors in a controversial housing development in the area and a local commune of environmentalists come under scrutiny. 

Although fully engaged in locating the missing child, Louise’s mind can’t help being distracted by the investigation into her brother’s murder by the major crime unit. She can’t help feeling they are missing a vital lead in the case but is unable to bring this up with the lead detective, DCI Tim Finch who was the reason for her transfer from major crime to Weston CID, and takes every opportunity he can in interfere in her investigations or shower her with snide comments. Finch is a nasty, controlling piece of work who has his whole team under his thumb and I’d like to hope Brolly is plotting his fall from grace soon as his constant sniping at Louise is becoming annoying. 

Overall, this is a good addition to the series. With some changes to her family situation so Louise can be closer to Paul’s young daughter Emily, we should see Louise well settled in at Weston in the next episode.

Any book by this author is a good bet, and this series is quite good. This has good characters, an interesting plot and more action than the other books in the series. Recommended for crime/thriller fans.

I really appreciate the ARC for review!!

DI Louise Blackwell is just back on the job after a five month break following the brutal murder of her brother.  When she’s told her first case involves some dead sheep, she thinks the others at the station are winding her up. But then a man walking his dog is slashed with the same kind of knife, and things get really alarming when 2 children are abducted. Could it be related to a developer’s feud with local environmentalists? I was unfamiliar with this author, but would recommend this edge-of-your-seat thriller to anyone who enjoys British police procedurals. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This is the third book in the Detective Louise Blackwell series and is very much a continuation of the previous ones. Louise’s problems have followed her from the previous books into this one and the feud Finch has with her is still a large part of the story. I’m beginning to find this vendetta tiresome and think it’s time to resolve it. 

The new case Louise is assigned starts off with the slaughter of wild sheep and becomes progressively more serious. While the case is interesting and the setting lovely, the pacing of the book seems off. Louise is continually running from investigating her case to investigating her brother’s murder and then,  suddenly, there’s a chapter from the suspect’s viewpoint. Add in the conflict with Finch and the story becomes scattered and less than satisfying. 

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

The Gorge review
This is the third in the Detective Louise Blackwell series. It takes place in the mysterious area of Cheddar Gorge in western England. Louise was just returning from leave after the savage murder of her brother, Paul, when she was called in to investigate the slaughter of some wild goats in a wooded area. Next a man was brutally killed in the same manner as the goats. Louise began to fear a serial killer after a young girl went missing in that same area days later.
There also had been controversy between the local environmentalists  and a developer hoping to capitalize on the beauty of this area popular with tourists.
Louise and her team had to solve these cases while she was working covertly to keep the investigation of her brother’s death alive. 
This is a fast paced story and gives the reader an idea of the natural beauty of this remote location in England. It is peppered with many colloquialisms that non Brits may find confusing. However I enjoyed it.
I received this ARC from the publisher and Net Galley  in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in a series, and normally I don't start on a book in a series before reading the previous books but the blurb was so good I had to jump in. The story continues from the previous books and even though there's enough to make sense of what happened previously it was still jarring to jump in the middle of the story, I'd suggest reading the previous books before getting into this one.

I loved the plot and the overall feel of the book. It's a very atmospheric, and interesting police procedural with multiple storylines overlapping each other. I just found it a bit slow, and predictable at times wasn't able to hold my attention for long and I kinda struggled to finish it. I'm glad that I continued anyway, because this certainly picked up several times, and shows potential for the nest book in this series. Just lacks some juice but overall enjoyable!

Thanks to Netgalley, author, and publishers for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

A story based in and around Cheddar Gorge and its caves. I can’t think for the life of me why anyone would even consider exploring these dark places. However the location leads to a great story where the only murders appears to be that of a few wild sheep! DI Louise Blackwell despite her family and career problems leads her team to a surprising conclusion to the case.

DI Louise Blackwell is back to work after being placed on leave following the death of her brother, Paul. Her first case upon returning to work has to do with the slaughter of sheep which is puzzling to her. As she continues her investigation, she’s immediately called to a murder and a child’s disappearance. From then on, things begin to unravel rapidly. No one knows anything, and if they do, they’re not telling. It’s all about the secrets people keep and the repercussions that follow.

The book didn’t immediately “grab” me, but I decided to go for it and I was glad I did. It’s scary, it’s full of twists and turns, and the trip was worth it. Thank you #NetGalley for giving me the AC of this! And I highly recommend it!

The third book in the series with Louise Blackwell. This book can be read as a standalone, but it is far better to read the books in order. 

DI Louise Blackwell is back at work but finding it tough going after her brother's death. She now has a fatherless niece to contend with as well, and of course this little girl is traumatised. Luckily, Louise has a good team around her at work and she is eased back in with a case of slaughtered sheep; traumatic for all concerned but at least not a person. Not yet anyway. Of course, that is only the tip of the iceberg and by the time this book is finished, you will be getting caught up in the story of a rather nasty piece of work and the hope that Louise and her team can stop them. Unfortunately, she still has to put up with Finch.

I don't know much about the area in which this book is set, but it sounded rather atmospheric and the author very skilfully describes the surrounds very well. 

Excellent police procedural.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

This is a very good police procedural, and book three in the DI Louise Blackwell series. I love the characterisation of Louise. she's gutsy and intelligent, with a sense of humour. Whilst trying to find the person who murdered her brother, she becomes involved in the disappearance of a young girl. The book is well plotted and has a steady pace, I would recommend reading the books in order, and some lovely descriptions of the local area. Overall, I enjoyed the read and would recommend this series. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

The Gorge is the third instalment in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series, set in and around Weston-super-Mare, Portishead and the small village of Cheddar. DI Blackwell returns to work at Weston CID having been on five months enforced leave to recover after a near death experience escaping from a deadly fire shortly followed by the brutal murder of her brother Paul. Her mental scars are still very much raw and she is struggling and now helps care for her fatherless, traumatised and grieving niece by supporting her parents who have now become Emily's full-time caregivers. On her first case back she's called in to investigate the ruthless slaughtering of several sheep in the Mendip Hills near the scenic village of Cheddar and Cheddar Gorge. The three wild sheep had their throats slashed from side to side. She soon ascertains that the sheep were killed by a human as opposed to an animal and the fact that it's well known that killers usually choose an animal for their first few kills they can quickly escalate to slaying people. And escalate they do. The following day a dog walker is savagely attacked by a man bearing a knife in the same location, but luckily he manages to get the better of the perpetrator but not before receiving slashing injuries to his arms. 

Then an 11 year old girl goes missing yet the police don't know for sure that the abduction is linked to the other crimes but they must put all of their manpower into finding her. Could these crimes be related to a divisive, unwanted and proposed building development at the gorge or is this something else entirely? This is a riveting, compulsive and nerve-shredding police procedural with enough drama and intensity to keep you gripped through to the end. The way the multiple plot threads converge is adeptly executed and involves a lot of clever thinking which helps to make this such a scintillating read. Louise and colleagues are a solid and efficient team who pull no punches and trust their instincts. This is very much a palpably tense and action-packed thriller. The stunning surroundings were richly described so much so that they almost became a character in their own right and the intertwining of the main plot, including the killing of the sheep, the attacks and the abductions, and the developments going on in Louise’s personal life are equally fascinating with Louise distraught that the police are planning to scale back the investigation into her brother’s murder and of course she's still dealing with her boss DCI Finch. An entertaining and enthralling, clever and engrossing read, which is a nailbiting page-turner from the get-go. Highly recommended.

The third in Matt Brolly's D.I. Louise Blackwell series, The Gorge is a great read, with complex and relatable characters and an evocative setting.
D.I. Louise Blackwell is just returning to work after five months' medical leave, and is still reeling from the murder of her brother, Paul, and the effect this has had on her family, especially her 6-year-old niece, Emily. She's finding it hard to maintain professional distance from the continuing investigation into Paul's death, which has yet to find a perpetrator.
On her first morning back, Louise is called from Weston-super-Mare to the nearby picturesque Cheddar Gorge (of cheese fame), where several wild Soay sheep have been brutally slaughtered overnight. At first, she thinks the assignment is a wind-up, but soon feels the sinister undercurrents of the crime. Before long, a man walking his dog has been attacked by a concealed assailant, then a local girl goes missing while walking the same clifftop path. D.I. Blackwell is now SIO of a major incident, putting her at loggerheads with her nemesis, the manipulative and underhanded D.C.I. Tim Finch. When a 9-month-old baby is taken from his home, the stakes are raised even higher, as Blackwell and her team race against time to identify the criminal.
While The Gorge is well paced and plotted, and features an engaging cast of characters, the standout for me was the way Matt Brolly incorporated the mysterious and picturesque setting of the Cheddar Gorge and caves. Having lived in the area for a while as a child, I found his writing really brought back the feel of the place to me - it's an atmospheric backdrop for a stalking malefactor to lurk, using the extensive limestone cave systems or slinking around in the fog which descends from the Mendip Hills.
The character of D.I. Louise Blackwell is well-developed and convincing, as she struggles to balance the pressures of her job with her family responsibilities (her aging parents have taken over the guardianship of her demanding 6-year-old niece). She's suffered career setbacks in the recent past, largely orchestrated by her former superior officer, D.C.I. Finch. She's aware of the danger associated with investigating her brother's death herself, but remains persistant, which is understandable in the circumstances. I wonder whether Finch will receive his comeuppance in a future instalment in the series, as it seems that Louise Blackwell's skills and abilities are wasted in a regional posting, rather than the MIT (Major Incident Team), of which she was once a member.
The Gorge was a stimulating and enthralling read, which I have no hesitation in recommending to readers who love well-written police mystery-thrillers and great characters.
My thanks to the author, Matt Brolly, publishers Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.