This is the sixth in the DI Louise Blackwell series. A desiccated female body is found confined in a shipping container. Is it immigration smuggling or human trafficking? The presence of a live feed video camera suggests some other heinous crime. It is up to Louise and her associates to uncover the perpetrator before other lives are lost. All this while balancing the morning sickness of and worry about the first trimester of her pregnancy and personal issues involving building a life with her partner, Tom and providing a nurturing, supportive environment for her parentless niece, Emily.

Without revealing any spoilers, the crime/deviancy at the center of this book is dark and, despite the many mysteries and thrillers I have read, a new one for me. This book is a fast, engrossing read with a well crafted plot. Brolly’s descriptive writing is quite evocative; I could feel the discomfort and pain of the victims as I read.

I like the character of Louise, a strong female leader, with a capable, supportive team behind her. Although this would work as a standalone, there are frequent references to the case at the center of the prior book, The Pier. While Brolly does a good job of filling in some of the background information, it might be more satisfying to read that one as well.

Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy this book, as well as the entire series.

"These things were so often cyclical. The abused becoming the abuser."

Terrific read featuring DI Louise Blackwell, #TheBridge is sixth in this series. While it appears much has happened to Louise in the first 5, Brolly does an excellent job catching us up as necessary, with details to bring us up to date and explain who Louise is. This particular story takes many twists and turns, with a stunning ending that I did not see coming. Well plotted, well written and some ick factor, and I learned a thing or two about claustrophilia (of which, I must admit, I had never heard, and still can't quite wrap my head around). Also, Brolly creates quite a realistic picture of Louise's morning sickness, I almost felt nauseous a few times myself! Highly recommend!

P.S. Thanks to #netgalley for the ARC.

What a great book! Although this is number 6 in the series, I think it can be read as a standalone quite successfully.

The story starts with the discovery of a young woman's body in a shipping container. Initial thoughts are this is a tragic case of human trafficking gone wrong but when a camera is discovered and the investigation delves deeper, the case turns into something else altogether and when more people start to go missing, Detective Blackwell and her team know they are running out of time.

Written at a good pace, with fantastic characters, a great storyline full of tension, this is a great addition to the series and I must thank the author, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Bridge.

It is great to read another Louise Blackwell book again, I have missed her!

The start of the book sees Louise trying to figure out what the story was with Aisha, a young woman who was found in a shipping container. It looks a little like illegal migrant smuggling, however, the container was due to be shipped out, not in, and there are cameras which recorded every minute of her distress. A very nasty case and one that needs to be solved sooner rather than later. However, Louise is newly pregnant and morning sickness has made an appearance which isn't great at the best of times but when you are dealing with confronting crimes, it is even harder.

I liked this book because despite the central theme of it, Louise and Tom are just lovely throughout and Louise's niece Emily seems like such a sweetie too. There is light and shade, which is always appreciated by this reader.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

The Bridge is the sixth instalment in the Detective Inspector (DI) Louise Blackwell series set in Weston-super-Mare. This time we initially believe we are being taken into the murky world of human trafficking when bodies are discovered in a shipping container on the dockside. With a whole plethora of nefarious characters looking to make a quick buck by sneaking illegal immigrants into the country and enough of those desperate enough to endure almost torturous conditions aboard a ship as human cargo usually for a sustained amount of time, it isn't any wonder we have ended up with deceased individuals. But this is not that kind of crime. It is far more personal. It runs far deeper than police initially believe. This container had cameras and was shipping out rather than arriving. Once again you can rely on Brolly to pen a top notch, twisty, suspenseful and incredibly topical thriller that moves at just the right pace as the investigation unravels the what, the who and the why behind the crime. Disturbing, compulsive and an easy read.

Thank you to #Netgalley and #Thomas & Mercer for my copy of #TheBridge by #MattBrolly
The book centres around DI Louise Blackwell and her team in Bristol. On a routine check of shipping containers at the docks a young woman is found dead. She was in a very small walled area of a container and signs were she had been there for some time. Was it that the people smugglers hadn’t come to collect, but this was container was leaving the country.
The investigation leads them to some very murky places and some dubious practises.
I thought the book dwelt too much on the detectives pregnancy and personal life, and the book was slow in places.

3.5 stars, rounded down
The Bridge is the sixth in the Louise Blackwell series. But it’s the first I’ve read and it works fine as a stand-alone. Louise is called on a Sunday to investigate a dead body found in a shipping container. But this isn’t a case of an immigrant who died in crossing. The container was due to be shipped out. And there was a camera recording her last days.
Louise is an interesting detective and I found her personality engaging. She’s 10 weeks pregnant but hasn’t told anyone yet. She’s still involved with the father but they don’t yet live together. And while her parents are raising her ten year old niece, she’s thinking of adopting the girl. Brolly does a good job expressing Louise’s concern over how the unpredictable hours of her job will work once she’s a parent. She’s already dealing with some of that guilt with her niece. But it did irritate me that every chapter seemed to have a reference to Louise cupping her belly.
The plot tackles a potential deviancy as a potential cause of the death.
Meanwhile, a married man has gone missing and the reader is a witness to the wife’s days searching for him and slowly dissolving into worry and grief.
The book moved at a steady pace and was believable, requiring no big leaps of faith.
This was a decent police procedural but nothing special. While I didn’t see the resolution coming, the reasoning behind the criminal’s actions was standard fare. I liked Louise, so I will continue with the series and may even go back to earlier books.
My thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

DI Louise Blackwell is called to Avonmouth docks where a body has been discovered in the enclosed section of a container. Was this tragedy caused by someone trying to enter the UK illegally? It's a logical thought, but when the ship's manifest shows the container is outward bound the situation has more sinister implications.
DI Blackwell is struggling with the early weeks of her pregnancy, but now must concentrate on this puzzling case. She knows the rules and tries as much as possible to conceal her condition with its accompanying bouts of sickness. The team get to work - door to door visits, interviews and DNA samples. It's a tough case, with little to go on, but Louise is determined to give it her best shot, despite the baby and other issues in her personal life.
The Bridge is a real page turner, it draws you and and shocks in equal measures. Louise is dealing with a particularly horrific crime and when she learns other victims may be still out there, it becomes a race against time. A well executed novel with great characters and a gripping plot. This is my first Matt Brolly novel, but it definitely won't be the last.
My thanks to Matt Brolly, Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for an ARC of The Bridge in exchange for an honest review.

The Bridge is the sixth book in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series. I have read three in the series. It is a wonderful story that follows Louise Blackwell as works in the police department.

The body of a young woman is found in a shipping container. Louise and her team investigate this with the idea that she was staying inside the container. But the evidence shows the container was due to ship out, and a video camera with a live feed was filming her. Who and why would anyone do this.

DI Louise Blackwell has recently found that she is ten weeks pregnant, and trying to keep this to herself and Thomas for now which is becoming difficult to hide with morning sickness overshadowing the event.

Louise will have her hands full with doing her job and the prospect of a new family on its way.

I really like this series. Louise works hard at her job and now faced with a later in life pregnancy she has more on her plate than usual.

4.5 stars rounded up.

Detective Louise Balckwell #6

When the body of a young woman is discovered in a fishing container in Bristol, the police suspect she was an illegal immigrant whose death was a tragic accident. But their theory is shot down by two pieces of evidence: the container was due to ship out, not in; and, even more sinister, a vides camera with a live feed was filming her from a hidden compartment. Someone watched her die slowly. DCI Louise Blackwell is ten weeks pregnant, a fact she has kept largely to herself, and between bouts of morning sickness she now has a murder to investigate. While the docks offer few other clues, the discovery of more live feeds convinces Blackwell that there are other trapped women.... and some of them are still alive.

So much was happening at work and at home for DCI Louise Blackwel. The book has two main storylines which eventually join together. The plotlines are current and easy to follow. The characters are well developed. The book is descriptively written. The pace is fast, the storyline is dark and horrifying. I was hooked, I did not want to put the book down, so I continued reading into the small hours to get it finished. This series keeps getting better. This book can be read as a standalone.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingUK ##and the author #MattBrolly for my ARC of #TheBridge in exchange for an honest review.

This is book 6 of the series, and an interesting look into Louise's character, as she focuses on being pregnant, deciding whether to stay with the father of her child, and what is next in her life. Being pregnant hasn't stopped Louise, btu now with the birth soon, she has to face facts that it is no longer just taking care of herself, but she has someone else to look after now. As the case that appears to be an accident evolves into something much more sinister, Louise will have to use all her wits to keep herself, her baby and her partner safe. It's an interesting mystery. but also a look at how the next book may evolve the series, with the birth of Louise's child. brolly deftly offers a way to to change up the series both with the birth and the consequences after. This book may surprise fans of the series, but it's also a good stand alone entry into the series for new readers to it

I listened to the first 5 books in the series to get ready for this ARC and I am not the least bit disappointed that I did. This series rocks and I love DI Blackwell! Actually, I really love all the players in these books. Matt Brolly really brings them alive on the page and it's like they are now your friends and you are invested in what happens to them! I can't wait to see what happens in the the next book.

This installment was a weird one with some twists and turns. I can't imagine being locked up in a tiny space for days on end. Shiver!

#TheBridge
#NetGalley

The story begins with the discovery of a dead woman in a tiny, enclosed space in a shipping container. At first it looks like a case of people smuggling gone wrong, but then they discover a hidden camera. As other people start to go missing the race is on to discover who is doing this and why someone would want to make other human beings suffer so badly.

Most of the book is written from the point of view of Inspector Louise Blackwell. She is in the first trimester of her first baby and is trying to cope with morning sickness and worry about the bay's progress. She is also aware that this will be her last case spent away from a desk as the police have strict safety rules about women working while pregnant.

The book was tense. Louise has a lot to worry about and it worried me too! It was quite brutal at times, and I skimmed a couple of the more disgusting bits. The ending was realistic, restrained and totally appropriate. Altogether an interesting read with some nice characters and clever policework. Four stars.

Another great story in this series. DI Louise Blackwell may be facing the biggest challenge in her life - she is pregnant, and very much afraid of the changes she'll have to do in her life. She's also leading the search for the person responsible for letting a woman die of starvation in a container left in the port. Her investigation will lead her more and more into a community of freakish habits, whose participants (most of them, at least) have sad stories in their past that lead them to their present behavior. Finding the culprit, understanding their reasons, and putting them behind bars will be a herculean task when mixed together with her personal issues. Great plot, and a well-written story.
I thank Mr. Brolly, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Bridge’ book 6 in the Detective Louise Blackwell series written by Matt Brolly, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

DI Louise Blackwell of the Major Crimes Unit is taking a Sunday morning stroll with her parents and niece when DS Greg Farrell calls her back to work as the body of a woman has been found in a shipping container at Avonmouth Docks. This is a particularly gruesome case made more so as someone has set up a camera in the container so they can watch her die. DI Blackwell is going to find this investigation particularly tough as she’s three months’ pregnant with her boyfriend and ex-colleague Thomas Ireland but as she’s a mature first-time mother she won’t tell anyone until she’s had a scan.

Although this is the sixth in the series I’ve only read book one and as I didn’t really enjoy it I avoided the others, so when I started reading ‘The Bridge’ I’m surprised that I’ve actually enjoyed it. There are two themes running through this thriller, the first being the woman in the container and the second a missing man, Patrick Longstaff, whose wife Julie is worried at his absence. As the cases are investigated there appears to be a connection that isn’t immediately apparent and it’s only towards the end that we learn what it is. There’s a fair bit of excitement, drama and suspense with a conclusion that ties up all of the loose ends and that’s kept me attached to my Kindle. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.

Always excited to read a new Matt Brolly novel and The Bridge (no idea why it was called that) but as much as I enjoyed the police investigation side which was quite disturbing, seriously what is wrong with some people, the only niggle I had was I got a bit fed up of the amount of times it was mentioned that Louise put her hand on her stomach etc, I get it, she’s pregnant but I wish it hadn’t been added to the story, as you know the next book, if there is one will be Louise trying to juggle motherhood and having a career and the reason I liked Louise was because she was always so focused I’m not sure motherhood will work but time will tell.

Plenty of suspense, a constant sense of urgency, and a state of disquietude combined with great characters and a well-written plot make this novel a must read for those who enjoy police procedurals. Matt Brolly’s The Bridge is the sixth book in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series set in and near the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare in England. While the tale occasionally switches points of view to the killer and one other person, it is primarily from that of Louise.

A body of a young woman is discovered in a shipping container in Bristol. The police initially believe she was an illegal immigrant whose death was an accident. However, that belief changes to murder when they find the shipping container was due to be shipped out and a video camera with a live feed was filming her. Someone watched her die. Louise Blackwell gets the case. Are there others trapped? Are any of them alive?

Louise is a hard-working, diligent, resilient, and fascinating individual who has finally learned to delegate. She is respected by many, and her fighting for what is right inspires loyalty in her co-workers. Her struggle for work/life balance makes her feel more realistic. The other characters are a mix of new and familiar faces and are well-drawn. I especially enjoyed the growth that Detective Sergeant Greg Farrell achieved in this novel. Overall, the characterization is excellent. Even some of the secondary characters grow immensely.

A chilling and riveting opening scene will immediately pull most readers into the story. The narrative is suspenseful with a creative, absorbing, complex, and well-paced plot with some twists that will keep a reader guessing. The plot is multi-layered which keeps readers fully engaged. Brolly brings the layers together in this dynamic thriller. The high stakes kept me engaged throughout the story. The people in the story came to life, and I was cheering on the police as they searched desperately for those responsible for those responsible for the confinement and death of the victim. The author successfully weaves work relationships, personal relationships, family dynamics, the drive to succeed, murder, and much more in this installment of the series.

Overall, this was a gripping, gritty, and chilling story with complex characters. It’s intense and dramatic and kept this reader turning the pages. It’s also my favorite of the series. I would recommend it to those who enjoy police procedurals and British crime dramas. This book works well as a standalone novel. However, Louise’s background and relationship dynamics are best fully understood by reading earlier novels in the series.

Amazon Publishing UK – Thomas and Mercer and Matt Brolly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for August 08, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

This is book 6 in the DI Louise Blackwell series, and I will admit to having missed a few, this wasn’t a problem as the author gives enough backstory to allow events and relationships to make sense.

The novel flows at a steady pace and focusses on Louise’s personal life as much as the crimes she is investigating. Louise is three-month pregnant, and a lot of the tale revolves around that element, something I did find a little tiresome in places. For the crimes, DI Blackwell and her team are dealing with two current and relevant topics: human trafficking and the perils of the internet. I liked the separate threads, mostly because I had no idea where the plot was going or how everything would tie up… These two storylines are eventually joined by a very clever twist.

All in all, an enjoyable read, if a bit slow in places.

DI Louise Blackwell faces a challenging case when the body of a young woman is found in a shipping container. The victim was being filmed and the container was due to ship out, not in.

As she investigates what led Aisha Hashim to Bristol, Louise finds evidence of a practice called claustrophilia. This is when someone takes abnormal pleasure at being in a confined space.

There is a second storyline of a woman whose husband goes missing after they have a row and she tells him she wants a divorce.

Although initially the two stories don't appear to be linked, there is a connection. Louise and her team's persistence pays off, but will they be in time before more victims meet the same fate as Aisha?

The story also deals with the uncertainty in Louise's personal life. Now in a relationship with former colleague Thomas Ireland, Louise is three months pregnant but a scan reveals possible health issues with the unborn child.

As ever, Matt Brolly skilfully weaves together the personal and professional aspects of Louise's story, showing her vulnerability as well as tenacity and resolve in solving a complex and disturbing case. There is a palpable sense of tension throughout.

This has been an excellent series and deserves to be read from the start.

I received a free digital ARC of this book via Amazon Publishing UK, and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I do love this series by Matt Brolly. A excellent detective story with all the twists and turns we have come to expect.

Louis is an excellent main character, love her development, and catching up with her life.


Well written, excellent pacing, a real page turner

Looking forward to the next instalment