I had read several books from Matt Brolly and this one is right up there.

Thoroughly enjoyable. Gripping.

I feel like I have missed a book in this series as I’m very confused what is going on. Due to this I DNF’d this book as I couldn’t get into it and wasn’t entirely sure what was happening.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Amazon Publishing UK - Thomas & Mercer for the electronic copy.

This is the third book in the DI Louise Blackwell series. I haven't read the previous ones but there are enough references to her previous cases to understand what's been going on.

Set around Cheddar Gorge, Louise has returned to work following the murder of her brother Paul (her niece Emily apparently witnessed it), to be asked to investigate the killing of feral sheep in the fields above the gorge. Although initially thinking this was some kind of joke, examination of the sheep concluded that their throats had been ripped apart by a hunting knife. Shortly after, a dog walker is attacked on the cliff path by a knifeman but only had superficial defensive wounds as the attacker ran off. This is followed by an eleven year old girl disappearing whilst walking home. Louise is desperate to find some connection, some clue as to motive. Could this all be about scuppering the proposed development being considered by the Council? As the search for the girl continues we intermittently have narrative from the perpetrator's point of view. Then a nine month old boy is abducted from his bedroom.
Throughout, the narrative gives prominence to Richard Hoxton who works for Walsh Developments and entertains the influential investors the development needs. I'm really not sure why he was included at all - the reader learns more about his character than is warranted.

I'm afraid that I didn't really enjoy this book. It was laborious reading with Louise constantly drawing parallels between the missing girl and her niece, her mother's drinking with that of her brother and Hoxton. Also her angst about the possibility of her brother's murder remaining unsolved.
Lots of repetitiveness but very little characterising, apart from Hoxton. All seemed rather disjointed to me.

What would you do if your sworn enemy was the one overseeing your brother's murder inquiry? What if you're a copy returning to duty after trauma, and being closely watched? For Louise, all of this comes to a head in this next installment of the series, where she has to tread carefully on multiple fronts, when what seems to be a simple sheep death evolves into something much more sinister, with connections in politics and government. It's a race against time to stop a kidnapper and keep her brother's killer from walking free.

The Gorge is the latest instalment of the crime series featuring DI Louise Blackwell.

After 5 months away from work, Louise returns to be assigned a mysterious case set around Cheddar Gorge. Some feral sheep have been brutally slaughtered and this is soon followed by a seemingly random attack on a dog walker.

The stakes are raised when an 11-year-old girl and then a baby boy go missing.

As well as the attacks and the missing children, Louise is still struggling with her mental health following the murder of her brother, which isn't helped by the prospect of the case being shelved. She is supposed to keep away but can't help getting involved, which brings her into conflict with her former colleague, the slimy and narcissistic Tim Finch.

A commune and a proposed development provide a back story, as well as a possible romantic interest for Louise. Her niece, Emily, is also featured, as the little girl struggles to move forward and Louise's parents are also finding it hard. The little girl may hold the vital clue to who killed her father.

As with the previous novels, we gain an insight into the mind of the individual that Louise and her team are hunting. When a crucial piece of information is fed to her, Louise has to act quickly.

This story took a little while to get going, but I enjoyed it and was keen to see how everything ended up. The back story developed further, including one encounter where Louise very nearly gives Finch what he deserves. I suspect this is a story that will keep for a while yet, although will be delighted to see Finch finally get his comeuppance.

Now that the case around her brother's murder has been resolved, Louise is able to move on with her life and I look forward to seeing what the author has planned next.

I was sent an advance review copy of this book by Amazon Publishing UK, in return for an honest appraisal.

Detective Louise Blackwell is just back to work after being on extended leave after her last case & the murder of her brother. Her first case looks like a bit of a comedown after the cases she used to deal with. The 'murder' of some rare breed sheep only seems to be getting attention as some locals play golf with some high up cops! However when a man is attacked & his wounds match the sheep it could be more serious. Cheddar Gorge is famous for its caves & the scenic area. There are plans for a development in the area & emotions are running high. How much does this have to do with these events. When a young girl goes missing the stakes are raised. Louise works to find her whilst still trying to find out who was responsible for her brother's death.

This is an excellent police procedural series. It could be read as a stand alone but really works best as part of the series. I like Louise & keep hoping that she catches a break sometime soon! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

The Gorge by Matt Brolly is a police procedural set in England featuring DI Louise Blackwell. Blackwell is just back to work after a five month leave. She had tricked the department psychologist: she was probably not as ready as she should be. Five months ago she had been almost killed in a fire rescuing a couple of people. She had also shot someone who had turned pout to be unarmed. She had done that at the behest of another officer, Finch, who had lied when the time came, and gotten Blackwell dismissed from the Major Investigation Team and sent down to Weston, She still had her job, though. Five months ago had also seen her brother killed in Cornwall: 17 stab wounds, in front of his six-year-old daughter. That investigation was still ongoing, although she was not allowed to be involved. That was Farrell, her friend. Her first morning in she was called to investigate the killings of three wild sheep. OK, not the most exciting crime, but their throats had been cut, with an interesting knife. This crime was followed in quick succession by the attack, apparently with the same knife, on a man who had been hiking, an 11-year-old girl was abducted, and a nine-month-old boy. They were related but she couldn't quite put her finger on the connection. There were lots of leads to follow, with Finch assigned to her team and intimidating Farrell.

Louise is at heart a family-oriented woman. She loves and worries about her parents and her five-year-old niece. She is also goal-oriented and loves her work. She can't let the murder of her brother go either, despite the fact the police are about to shelve the case. She is empathetic as she investigates, finding a shelter for an abused woman, sitting with the parents of a missing child, as examples. The story is a busy one with at least two crimes being investigated. There is also a touch of ecological awareness and a bit of business with a commune full of protestors. It is a well-rounded story, which brings most of the people involved, closure. The crimes get solved, but people are still hurt. It is all so real...just like life. I enjoyed the read.

I was invited to read a free ARC of The Gorge by Netgalley. All opinions contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #thegorge

When Louise Blackwell returns to work after enforced sick leave she is warned off investigating her brother’s murder and put to work on a more recent case involving the slaughter of wild sheep. Both investigations ratchet up and Louise finds herself facing an old adversary. A riveting read.

The third in the DI Louise Blackwell series, it begins with her trying to deal with her brother's murder. Upon her return to work, her first case is a complaint regarding the slaughter of wild sheep at Cheddar Gorge. With a backdrop of antagonism from a former colleague, a development application for Cheddar Gorge and mystery occurrences happening, the investigation begins. Having not read any of the prior books was a disadvantage as the character development therein is lost to first time readers. Although an acceptable police procedure, the mystery and folklore basis of the story was not all that gripping. Unfortunately, only a passable two-and-a half-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes.

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.

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.

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 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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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!!