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.

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.

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.

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.

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.