The Pier is the latest book starring DI Louise Blackwell by Matt Brolly and it is another worthy addition to what is a solid and enjoyable police procedural series.

My only minor gripe being that I found the ending slightly rushed compared to what had happened beforehand and would have preferred more focus on the court case. That aside this book is still recommended.

This is the first Matt Brolly book I’ve read and have now already downloaded the rest in the series. What a great story! I’ve lived in Weston super mare so it all felt very real to me, great research and true to the town in many ways.
Very easy book to get involved in, great characters, good story line, not too gory or too many twists and turns. I’d thoroughly recommend it…now I’m off to read the first book in the series, I’m hooked!

Thank you to the author, the publishers and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

This may be #5 in the DCI Louise Blackwell series but it is the first one I’ve read. I enjoyed it so much I’ll go back and read the first four. It wasn’t necessary to have read the earlier books to enjoy this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I was reluctant to even start The Pier since I felt it was time for Matt Brolly to finish up the Blackwell storyline. However, much to my surprise he managed to make the characters finely drawn and my concern for them continued. The plot itself was compelling and the ending quite satisfying. Amazingly, he was able to close the DI Blackwell chapter which has taken us through 4 mysteries, yet still leave room for a fifth addition.

I love the Di louise blackwell series, i was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next. Its fast paced, lots of twists. Someone is planting bombs around weston the first one is placed as louise's nieces school, it turns out to be a false alarm. There are letters accompanying the bombs sayi g louise must pay for her crimes. What are they? Finch who was louises boss is in prison after being found out to be corrupt., He is still trying to get the upper hand.. does he succeed?...... or does louise and the team sort him out? ...... highley recommend

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Another great read from this author, fast paced and had me hooked from beginning to end. Would recommend.

Another epic instalment from Matt Brolly, DI Louise Blackwell is up to her neck in bombs, court cases and her relationships but as alway Louise is determined to get her man. It’s difficult to write a review for it without giving too much away, just know it is good & it certainly puts Weston-super-Mare on the map & the body count is rising steadily.
Although this is a follow on to the other Blackwell series there are only a few mentions of previous books so it’s not to distracting if you haven’t read one before.

This is the fifth book in the DI Louise Blackwell series. There are a few plot lines running through this one. After a prologue which foreshadows a dramatic showdown, the action starts with a bomb threat at Louise’s niece Emily’s school. It turns out to be a hoax but the bomb threat is real, more bombs are promised and it seems this crime spree is directly targeting Louise. There are indeed more bombs but Louise is at a loss over what it all has to do with her.

Meanwhile former DCI Tim Finch is in remand awaiting trial for attempted murder and a string of other offences. But he still has a lot of contacts - basically he has dirt on enough people to ensure their cooperation. And what he really wants is payback on Louise for being the only woman he targeted that he couldn’t break. Yes, he’s a real charmer! Finch tries to make trouble for Louise by trying to implicate her current boyfriend, former police officer Thomas Ireland, in drug peddling.

In addition to all that, Louise is also being threatened with being sued over the ‘wrongful’ death of Max Walton, a serial killer, whom she shot dead on the orders of Finch right at the start of the series. Finch had told her he had a gun but it turned out he was unarmed. Finch never backed her up and tried to get her to quit the force but Louise was cleared of wrongdoing and didn’t buckle under Finch’s pressure. This only made Finch more determined to destroy her.

So a lot going on in this story which kept my interest throughout. Louise’s current boss, DCI Robinson is very supportive and the team of lovely relatable characters work very well together. A few of them go ‘off piste’ to try and clear Thomas’s name. This was a tricky one to solve as there was more than one bad guy and a surprise puppet master. Louise also has a surprise in store for us at the end of the book but my lips are sealed on that. This whole series has been fun to read. Many thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

Another great addition to the DI Louise Blackwell series. Plenty of action and twists to keep me reading, I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. I love the relationship between Louise and her colleagues and the fractious one with her mum. Although this can be read as a standalone I feel it’s better to read from the beginning so you get the background story. This series is fantastic, please keep them coming Mr Brolly.

DI Louise Blackwell number five.

Louise is now working out of Portishead (Bristol) at the headquarters of Avon/Somerset please and she’s leading her own team. The day is shattered by phone call about an explosive device at a primary school in Weston-super-Mare, the school her niece Emily attends. When the device is discovered there is a note attached threatening Louise. Meanwhile, ex-DCI Tim Finch is in prison awaiting a trial date and he is as ruthless and “charming“ as ever and making connections he can utilise and manipulating those he has a hold over. In addition, there is a blast from the past when Max Walton’s nephew (Book 1) pursues a private prosecution against Louise for his uncles shooting. As usual, Louise has a lot on her plate and it’s only going to get worse and is it possible Finch’s sticky fingers are involved?

Well, I think it’s fair to say there is a lot going on in this one, it’s a busy plot but it is fast paced and an easy read and there is definitely never a dull moment. There is everything from a revenge spree to power dynamics and battles, dishonesty if not corruption with the ever present terrorism threat. The settings are really excellent and the author uses them effectively in the storyline.

The characterisation is very effective, I like Louise though understandably she can keep people at arms length. Her boss Robertson is fantastic and the rest of the team are very likeable. Some characters make your fists clinch, Finch (obviously) but journalist Tania Elliot oversteps many a mark, just staying on the right side of the law.

Whilst it is a good police procedural there is some repetition especially via some of Finch’s perspective which goes round and round and we don’t learn anything new. I had hoped the Finch storyline would be over by now but it rumbles on into book 5 and I really hope this is it as in my opinion it has exhausted itself! There is some over explanation too, though some of that in fairness is to allow readers to drop into this instalment without having read the previous four. They are however worth reading and this is a series that I’ll happily keep on reading. The ultimate ending gives a much needed smile!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Amazon Publishing UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Another great Detective Louise Blackwell story.
I have read all of this series and this is an excellent continuation.
Loved the ending.

A bomb threat to a local elementary school. Arson. Murder. What do these crimes have in common? Notes were left at the crime scenes warning DI Louise Blackwell that more (and worse) is to come and she is to blame. Could any of this be related to her nemesis and former supervisor Tim Finch? That doesn’t seem possible because Finch is in prison, awaiting trial for attempted murder. Louise and her team have few clues and only a short time before another planned bomb threat. Their frantic, dedicated work alternates by chapters with Finch’s devious plans to control the trial results from his jail cell.

The Pier is the fifth in this superb police procedural series by Matt Brolly, although this, like its predecessors, can be read as a standalone thriller. This series has everything a reader of English police procedurals could want. An atmospheric location in Weston-super-Mare, characters whose bonds grow closer and a fast-paced plot. I’m looking forward to what comes next! 5 stars.

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

This series is fabulous; I just love Louise and her colleagues. The relationship between Loise and her mother is so believable, all the little jibes and tensions. The sense of place is fantastic too, Weston Super Mare is shown in all its glory, but doesn’t brush over the seediness. The plotting is very good too. Please keep Louise going Mr Brolly, these books are all five star reads.

First things first, I believe this series should absolutely be read in order and I don’t recommend jumping in on book 5 like I did. However the writing was great, the story very detailed with lots of plot points and the book moves along quickly. I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had more of a backstory to not only Louise but also her entourage of characters. I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is #5 in the DI Louise Blackwell series, but it can easily be read as a standalone without feeling you’ve missed something. Having read and enjoyed the previous books in this series, I was really looking forward to the next one, and it didn’t disappoint.

The series is set in and around the Weston-super-Mare area. DI Blackwell has a boyfriend, Thomas, who used to be a police officer but now works as a security consultant. Life seems to be going well for Louise until a suspicious package is found in a primary school – the one that her niece attends – but it’s defused in time. A second bomb goes off at a caravan park and the finger of guilt is pointed at the school’s caretaker who also works at the caravan park.

There are notes naming Louise and saying that she won’t be so lucky next time, and her only real enemy is ex-DCI Tim Finch, who is currently on remand awaiting trial for attempted murder, amongst other things. Could he be involved from inside prison? Then Thomas is also targeted at his place of work but the school caretaker has taken his own life, so there must be an accomplice.

The race against time finishes up at the pier in Weston-super-Mare but can they find the culprit before carnage occurs?

A brilliant, gripping read which I’d highly recommend.

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

Thanks to Netgalley i’ve been able to read this book which is from a series i really enjoy! Another fast paced book, highlighting Louise her work colleagues and family. This book had me guessing throughout and ended with a lovely surprise ( which i had guessed) looking forward to the next book

Matt Brolly has an established team of police officers who the reader by now feels familiar with and this book is another extension of our peel into their lives, not professionally and personally.

As is normal for Mr Brolly, he takes the reader on a detective genre storyline with the human lives of the people concerned having an equal billing in the experience, but not taking anything away from the procedural elements of the investigation

A lovely twist / hook at the end to finish with and to leave the reader keenly looking forward to the next release

Yet another fantastic story to add to the books. Kept me interested for hours. Also I often visit Weston super mare during the summer so I feel like I'm actually stood exactly where the characters are

Mystery and intrigue...murder and mayhem...what will happen next? Family and friends...love and romance...where will the next explosion happen? This book is written by a talented and gifted author. It is a cannot put down book. I did not guess what would happen next...it was surprising...The red herrings were obvious...the characters likable...some not so much...The book was sent to me by Netgalley for review...Although she story did move somewhat slowly, at times, it was a great read.

The Pier by Matt Brolly is a good mystery and police procedural with a hint of romance. The story started well but lagged a bit in the middle; however, the story was engaging with a good mixture of believable scenes, actions, and information about the characters' personal lives. I enjoyed getting to know the characters. The relationships between Louise and her colleagues and family were done well. The story felt relatively fast-paced for the most part. The story had a "happy ending."

Even though this was not my favorite book, I will read more of this series and from this author.

#ThePier #NetGalley @AmazonPub