A fine read, even if you, like me, haven't read the earlier installments in the series. Told primarily from the POV of DI Louise Blackwell, it's also the story of Fiona, who is living in a communal setting with her son and worrying, with justification. While this is very much about the investigation into a cult and the sacrifice of a child, it's also a well done look at the struggles of balancing personal and professional lives. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. I'll look for Brolly again.

This is book 7 in the series, and picks up after the events of The Bridge, with Louise coming back from maternity leave after the arrival of baby Jack. She is now a full time working mother, with her nice, now adopted daughter in school, and a baby in daycare. With Thomas away for work, she struggles to juggle work, a case that seems to be much more than just finding of some bones, and the thoughts of maybe it's time to leave the force and be a full time mother. But policing is in her blood, and as much as she wants to leave, the new case has her in it's grip, and as one set of bones leads to another possible murder, and a missing witness, getting into the cult/organization is key to solving more than one case. With a roller-coaster ending, fans of the series will love this book, and new readers will be entranced by this new Louise!

A good police procedural, Louise returns from maternity leave and immediately caught up in a "cold"case where the bones of a child are found in a cave. With a little detective work, it appears that the child was tortured and sacrificed 10 years ago by a cult based in the area. The book covers the investigation, but also the possibility of another sacrifice at the summer solstice which is coming up. The book is told from the point of view of Louise and includes her problems with juggling childcare and the long hours she needs to put in for the investigation. Some chapters are told by Fi, the mother of Max who is perhaps being groomed by members of the sect. There are lots of characters and although the book is not too long, my attention drifted off at times. When characters reappeared, I had trouble thinking about their role earlier in the book.
The author does make a good job of portraying the dilemma's of Louise's life as a working mother and partner. The investigation is interesting and the suspense builds up towards the end. Miles, her co-worker, did not seem to have much personality though . A good read overall . Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

DI Louise Blackwell #7

In a cave near Weston, potholers discover what they think are humana remains. The bones are identified as belonging to Hugo Latchford, a boy who went missing a decade ago, and whose parents belonged to a quasi-religious cult masquerading as environmental activists. It's not long before rumours that he was sacrificed in a midsummer ritual resurface. Returning to duty from maternity leave, DI Louise Blackwell finds herself leading the investigation, soon discovering that Hugo's parents are still alive and the cult very much active. As she begins to fathom the ghoulish depths of the group's pagan beliefs, new mother Louise is profoundly disturbed by the case. And with Summer Solstice fast approaching, she is faced with the terrifying prospect that the group might be preparing for their next sacrifice.

When potholers find remains that look like human bones, Detective Louise Blackwell and her new partner are called in to investigate. The rumours have started, is there a connection to the quasi-religious cult group who masquerade as environmental activists? Summer Solstice is fast approaching. Louise is just back from maternity leave, and she struggles to cope with the thought of a child being sacrificed, but she's determined to find out what is behind it all. We also get some background on Louise's family. There are some scenes about child torture and sacrifice.

Published 17th September 2024

I read my first Matt Brolly book earlier this year (The Alliance), which I loved! So when I saw The Solstice ARC I grabbed it asap. This is book 7 in the series, but my first Detective Louise Blackwell reading experience. It can be read as a standalone and provided information from previous books throughout.

I really enjoy the author’s writing. It grabs my attention in the beginning and holds it throughout the whole story. POV is mostly told through Louise, but also a sprinkling of chapters from Fiona’s POV. Fiona is living in a commune with her son. After the bones of a boy are found and are linked to the “environmental group” she fears her son may be in danger. Her chapters felt suspenseful. I felt her fear and was holding my breath hoping she and her son would stay safe.

This book did a great job of conveying the difficulties of returning to work after maternity leave and the mental gymnastics of leaving the workforce, pursuing a promotion, and balance work/family in the meantime. The book also dives into the roadblocks and red tape detectives run into. As soon as Detective Blackwell may be on the right path she needs to find enough proof to get the okay to pursue her gut feelings. But time is of the essence. A suspected sacrifice is thought to take place on the solstice and every second counts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Pub Date Sep 17 2024

A sense of urgency, plenty of suspense, and a chilling prologue immediately captured my interest and kept me rapidly reading The Solstice by Matt Brolly. This is the seventy 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, it is primarily from that of Louise.

Two men exploring a cave near Weston discover bones they believe are human. Forensics confirms this and eventually the bones are identified as Hugo Latchford, a boy who disappeared a decade ago. He was living with foster parents at the time and his biological parents had joined a quasi-religious group whose members were also environmental activists.

Louise has just returned to work following the birth of her son and ends up leading the investigation. Balancing her family life with mentoring a new detective constable, animosity from a detective inspector with another group, and interviewees who are close-mouthed, lying, or afraid, Louise feels pulled in multiple directions.

Louise tends to immerse herself in her cases. She’s hard-working, dedicated, and focused. In this story, she also grapples with how a child’s death affects her now that she’s a mother. 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. Her friend and colleague Tracey plays a minor role in the background. I missed her interactions with Detective Sergeant Greg Farrell, but enjoyed getting introduced to Detective Constable Miles Boothroyd.

Once again, this author starts with a prologue that immediately grabs a reader’s attention and pulls them into the story. Throughout most of the story, these is a feeling of dread as the investigators try to make sense of what has happened and what may happen during the solstice celebration. The story is thought-provoking. I wondered how many people have been lured into giving up everything and joining a group such as the one featured in this story. While the story ensnared me from the beginning, the ending was action-packed and shocking. My only quibble was that a major life decision wasn’t made in the epilogue. Readers are left hanging until the next book. This was a sub-plot throughout the novel and I felt it should have been resolved.

Despite this, the novel is gripping, gritty, atmospheric, and chilling with complex characters and a multi-layered plot. This story contains spoilers for earlier books in the series so I recommend reading them in order. Those who enjoy police procedurals and British crime dramas will likely enjoy this series.

Thomas & Mercer and Matt Brolly provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for September 17, 2024.

Really atmospheric and evocative mystery based on a cult and human sacrifices of children. The action is well paced, engaging and suspenseful and made a compelling read. The characters are stealthily and expertly developed and I felt engaged with the main investing police officer. Her human qualities were really amplified by the relatable forces of the guilt of a mother pursuing a career and having to lean heavily on others for childcare and missing out key bonding time with her own children to save others and for her to give her job the best. I loved the mysterious feel and the sinister undertones of what on the surface was a commune vibe centred on what is best for the environment and the earth. Plausible and soaked in real history, often the possible and echoes of the past and indeed present make for the scariest themes. Thought provoking but also great entertainment. I have loved books by this author previously and certainly wasn’t disappointed this time.

In her latest case, Detective Blackwood delves into the mystery of ancient bones discovered in a cave, scrutinizing a local commune whose members are reticent to cooperate. The author's writing captivates from the outset, weaving a narrative that seizes the reader's attention and sustains it to the final page. Blackwood, as a character, is endearing, resolute, and persistent, yet she grapples with the common struggle of balancing personal and professional life. Her character growth is a highlight of the story. The addition of a new Detective Constable is a welcome one, and I'm eager to see his role expand in subsequent novels. The plot is impressively credible and intricately crafted, with multiple storylines that converge seamlessly as the tale unfolds, culminating in a desperate race to save a young boy's life. The book's final segment is particularly riveting, and the resolution is satisfying. For fans of police procedurals, this book comes highly recommended, though newcomers to the author's work should consider starting from the beginning of the series to fully appreciate the characters and their backstories.

This was a really engaging read that I couldn’t put down. I had to know what was going to happen!
I actually haven’t the other books in this series but I will now. I don’t feel it lost anything from not having read the previous books.

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

This was my first Matt Brolly book and my introduction to DI Louise Blackwell. This book can definitely be read as a standalone and I'd thoroughly recommend it.

I want to say it almost borders on a cosy crime for me, even though there's sacrifice etc. It's an easy read. There's nothing too taxing, but it has a really satisfying build up and conclusion. The characters are all very real and the writing is very concise.

It wasn't the most complex and compelling plot I've ever come across, but it didn't need to be. The formula and storyline worked and it worked well.

I am a fan of this authors DI Blackwell series and The Solstice is a very good and enjoyable book to read.

Blackwood investigates a case where historic bones are found in a cave and she looks closely at a local commune group where members are less than willing to speak to her. As always the authors writing style is engaging, easy to follow and I was drawn straight into the story which grabbed my attention and interest quickly and held it until the last page. Blackwood is very likeable, determined and tenacious and is struggling to balance her home and work life. It is good to see her character develop. I really like the new DC and hope to see more of him in future books. I think the plot is very good, all to believeable and well thought out with lots of threads that slowly come together and tie up as the book progresses and Blackwood and her team find themselves in a race against time to save a young boys life. The last quarter of the book is a very engrossing read, and I like how the story ended. If you like police procedurals I'd recommend this although if you're new to this author I think its best to read the series in order so you know the characters and their histories from the start.

4 stars

The Solstice by Matt Brolly is a good story with good characters. Human remains are found in a cave, and the bones are identified as belonging to Hugo Latchford, a boy who went missing a decade ago, and whose parents belonged to a quasi-religious cult masquerading as environmental activists. It’s not long before rumors that he was sacrificed in a midsummer ritual resurface.

Returning to duty from maternity leave, DI Louise Blackwell finds herself leading the investigation, soon discovering that Hugo’s parents are still alive and the cult very much still active.

DI Blackwell is juggling returning from maternity leave and feeling conflicting emotions about juggling her work and home life. She is also interviewing for a promotion to DCI.

I really like Louise's new partner, Miles, and I can't wait to see what will happen with him next. I am also looking forward to seeing what Lousie decides about the DCI promotion or what she will do next.

I enjoyed how the author unraveled this story and mystery and all the intricate red herrings and leads that finally come to an explosive ending. The story was tense.

I would recommend this book, this author, and this series.

#TheSolstice #NetGalley @AmazonPub @MattBrollyUK

Although this is book 7 in the DI Louise Blackwell series it could easily be read as a stand-alone, however as it is a brilliant series, you would be missing out on six other great reads. In this instalment we have an excellent new character - Miles. Miles is very enthusiastic, and likeable, and I really enjoyed the chemistry between Miles and Louise. The plot is suspenseful and well written, and whilst the tale deals with historic murders, it held my attention throughout. The ever-present tension leads to a surprise lead villain, and a satisfying conclusion.

This is my first novel by Matt Brolly and what an exciting read. DI Louise Blackwell is back at work after her maternity leave when she is handed the case of bones being found in a cave. Whilst juggling childcare, she and her detective partner Miles take on the case which they discover is related to a cold case from years ago of a 10 year old boy going missing. The caves are used by worshippers and there is a 'cult' nearby, but trying to get answers from them is hard. A great story and loved the characters. Although this is the 7th novel featuring Louise Blackwell, it is a great stand alone!!

When cavers discover what they think are human bones, Louise Blackwell and her new partner (The hunky-sounding Miles) take the case. Eventually, the bones are identified as belonging to Hugo Latchford, who went missing a decade ago, and whose parents belonged to a quasi-religious cult/environmental activists.

It's not long before rumors start flying that there is a tie-in to Summer Solstice, which is near. Is another young boy about to lose his life?

Something I was grateful for was when the book would leave the darker aspects behind for a bit, and concentrate on Louise and her family. I loved her parents, her husband, and her children a lot!

Trigger Warning: There is reference to child sacrifice.

The Solstice can be read as a standalone. (I'll confess to having jumped into the series at book 5.) I happily recommend this book and the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell Series!

BIG thanks to both #ThomasAndMercer and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of <i>The Solstice</i>. This book is #7 in the #DetectiveLouiseBlackwellSeries; and has an expected publication date of September 17, 2024.

#MattBrolly

Although this is book 7 in the Detective Louise Blackwell series it could easily be read as a stand alone. It is such a good read with it's intricate and interesting plotting although some reader discretion is advised due to some dark aspects of the book. The characterisation is excellent and I like the new addition of Miles, he will make a good team member. The pacing is steady throughout, building up to a satisfying conclusion, which makes this another excellent read from the author. I really enjoyed the read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

Nice to have DI Louise Blackwell back in action after her maternity leave.She is understandably anxious about leaving both of the children, but she knows she needs to work. The fact that her next case involves children only brings it home to her even more what she and her family are missing out on, in quality time with them and watching them grow up. It’s a nice steady investigation, just as it would be in real life. I like Miles, a new addition to the team, and that Robbo is back too. There are naturally some dark scenes due to the subject matter, but we also get snippets of Louise’s home life to break the tension. There is nothing too graphic about what has happened to the victims, more is left to your imagination, which is always good.. im always keen to read what ever this author comes up with and this definitely hasn’t disappointed. 4 1/2⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is #7 in the DI Louise Blackwell series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. I’ve read the whole series so far and it was great to be back with Louise, her colleagues, and her family again.

The series is set in and around the Weston-super-Mare area. Louise is just back from maternity leave following the birth of her son, Jack. She has also adopted her late brother’s young daughter, Emily, and her partner, Thomas, is an ex-police officer so he totally understands the commitment her job requires.

The bones of a child are found in a cave, making the case particularly poignant to Louise as a mother herself. She has a new work partner, Miles, and they discover the identity of the dead child and that there was a link to a cult. Then another child goes missing and they’re in a race against time to find him before the Solstice.

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

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

This is such a great addition to this series. I love it. Each book is better. 5***** and would recommend it to anyone

I always look forward to the latest Matt Brolly especially the DI Blackwell series. This book did not disappoint. I loved the way he develops his characters and all the twists and turns in the storyline.
I would thoroughly recommend this book and am happy to give 5 stars.