Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
Another excellent book in the DI Louise Blackwell series, I enjoyed it thoroughly.
I love the fact there's so much of Louise's family life in the stories, it makes for a much more immersive read.
Louise gets involved in a painful case: the bones of a young boy are found in a cave and she starts looking into a cult-like group. She suspects there are rituals that include the sacrifices of children. This affects her deeply as she's just come off maternity leave.
A word of warning: the depictions of the cruel rituals are painful.
Other than that, the book is excellent, a great, suspenseful read. Highly recommended!

4* Decent tale, not tons of detective work, but solid and interesting.


Being new to the series, I felt that there was enough to clue me in about the characters that I wasn't lost. Nor was I bogged down in TMI. For the most.

Quite a bit of the tale included stuff that all working mums in charge of childcare go through, especially ones just returning to work, amd it began to feel repetitive. It didn't really feel like her kids were at the forefront of Louise's mind, and she didn't sound like a natural parent. She wasn't neglectful but without the babysitter, husband and grandparents, there's no way she could do this job as it needs to be. It was kind of an eye-rolling moment when talk of promotion was 'sold' as the hours being easier and more convenient. Hmm. Middle Management bodies on chairs spring to mind.

The storyline itself was decent, without too many TSTL moments, and with someone who'd seemed innocuous actually one of the fanatic cult members. That was a shocker, as was the reveal of 2 identities, but not tidying up the various threads and not telling us what happened to the bad guys, or to the ones who escaped the cult, was a bit anticlimactic. These guys were beyond your average wrongdoers, so it felt like more was needed. Still, it was a very good read with some really worthy takedowns, one that I didn't want to put down.

ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for my reading pleasure.

DI Louise Blackwell has just returned to the force from maternity leave when the bones of a small child are found walled into a cave. This case will be difficult for Louise because she is raising her young niece aa well as her baby son and has contemplated not returning to the job she has loved. However, she and her new partner Miles have linked the bones of a young boy to other similar cases over a period of decades. They also suspect that these horrific murders are related to a The Verdant Cycle, a camp of would be Druids who believe in the sanctity of the earth and other less wholesome practices. Louise and Miles’ work is slowed by an officer who is part of a detailed financial investigation of the group and has difficulty prioritizing the death of a child over theft and embezzlement. Louise’s personal life begins to interfere but not limit her work. She’s often late to pick up the children and has to work on weekends. At the same time, she is nominated for a significant promotion. Louise is deciding between career success and becoming a stay at home parent as she races to find a kidnapped child before it is too late.

I will read anything Matt Brolly writes. Not only does he create accurate and suspenseful police procedurals, he adds the personal crises his characters face. The Solstice is no exception. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Matt Brolly for this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my copy of The Solstice by Matt Brolly
Detective Louise Blackwell is trying to balance being back at work with juggling childcare for her children and she isn't finding it easy.
Thrown straight into a new case, she struggles to juggle everything.
I personally think this one was more about Louise than the case. I prefer to have less about the detectives soul searching and more about the case.

This was another excellent book in the Louise Blackwell series. As in previous books, it is a blend of the detective’s work and home lives. This time around, however, home life includes her young son and her reluctance at leaving him to return to work. The case she’s working on doesn’t help since it involves the discovery of bones belonging to a child who disappeared 10 years ago.

The blending of police procedural and the personal life of the main character is very successful. The supporting characters are interesting, the pacing is fast and the mystery is satisfying.

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

I love this series, and i’m always excited when a new book is published! This didn’t disappoint me! Great storyline with twists and turns and a fast paced page turner! Love Louise and her background story as i’ve followed her family from the first book!

A must read series

DI Louise Blackwell has just returned to work after her maternity leave.
The bones of a young boy have been found in a cave by potholers, and it is found that a young boy went missing a decade previously.
It is believed that the child was offered as a sacrifice by a local cult.
Louise has to find out who the members of the cult are before any other children go missing.

A chilling thought - human sacrifice.
This is the second book I have read in this series. A little late to the party, but this can be read as a standalone.
I love a good British Police Procedural, and with a strong, capable female lead, it is even better.
I love the introduction of the rookie cop, he is willing to learn and is enthusiastic. I think he will go far in the team.
Just love a well plotted, suspenseful Police Procedural.

Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read this book.

What another fantastic instalment in the DI Louise Blackwell series although you can read it as a standalone. A really gripping storyline that had you captivated from the off and nice to see less personal stuff in this book too, concentrating instead on the 'crime'. Nice to see the familiar characters back again and I liked Miles, the new DC introduced into this book. I do hope this isn't the last one! Highly recommended!!!

Another excellent entry in the Louise Blackwell series. Many things have changed in her life, which is something I like about these books. Louise is coming back from maternity leave just to go straight into a case that hits close to her heart. The remains of a missing child are found in a cave and the clues point to a cult. Louise, as usual, will have to find the answers in a pool of suspects, while trying to navigate the office politics. As I mentioned earlier, I really enjoy how her life is changing continuously, as happens with real people. Her relationships, and priorities, are not the same as the first books. The plot is very suspenseful and well written. I loved the chemistry between Louise and her new rookie, an overenthusiastic young officer who makes mistakes, but is mostly learning. Some parts were very suspenseful and, while I saw one of the twists coming, the identity of the main baddie eluded me. I can’t wait to see what’s next for DI Blackwell.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Thomas & Mercer.

Another great story based on DI Louise Blackwell. Twists and turns throughout.
This is one of a series and reading the earlier books would be helpful.

Looking forward to more from Matt Brolly

Well, I'm surprised with this one. I've never read or even heard of this author before or this title, and I didn't know exactly what to expect from this book, but I liked it. It was way darker than I could have thought. It is marketed as a thriller, but I'd say that horror fans should consider picking this one up, too.

When the bones of a child are discovered deep inside a cave, the occult behaviors of a quasi environmental commune are exposed. Is human sacrifice a part of their rituals? With the solstice fast approaching, DI Blackwell and her new partner race against time to uncover their secrets and save the life of another child.This case sees the return to work after maternity leave for Louise and with the pressures of child care and the case, she has some personal decisions to make.

This is the seventh in the DI Louise Blackwell series. Although it is the fourth one I have read, it does work as a standalone. It is yet another fast paced, well plotted addition to the series.

I like the character of Louise, a strong female leader. Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy this book and want to read some of the prior in the series

A thrilling page turner as you would expect from this author, who hasn't let me down yet when it comes to a good thriller. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

DI Louise Blackwell is returning to the police force after maternity leave. Two cavers have found some bones which are found to belong to a child that disappeared some years ago. There's a cult which claims its members just want to get back to nature, but Louise and her colleague from London, DI Pepperstone, think there is something more sinister going on. As horrifying as it seems, could these people be sacrificing children? Louise will stop at nothing to find the truth. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This gripping story had me addicted from page one. It is the harrowing tale of the historic murder of a young boy with the possibility that this heinous crime is only one in a series of human sacrifices. The fact that there is a suggestion that these murders are still being carried out meant that the book started at a gallop and the pace never let up throughout the story. It is one in a series of police procedurals but could easily be read as a standalone. Be warned though,, as soon as you finish with this read you will be looking to purchase the author's back catalogue.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book