The Crossing

This is the first in a new series for Matt Brolly and I haven’t read any of his work before, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. I liked the character of Louise - broken from a past history with her last boss Finch, but was still a strong and determined character. You can see the re-emergence of her personality as the story progresses, finally get the strength to confront her history and have the self-confidence in her abilities.

.

The protagonist Geoff I couldn’t help but feel a bit sorry for him. He felt let down all his life in regard to an event in his childhood, something which should have been acknowledged and dealt with at the time. He is someone who has been bullied his whole life and comes across as being sad and lonely. He is just messed up but with the desire to commit murder - a horrifying combination!

.

Although the plot of stigmata has been done numerous times before I still enjoyed the narrative and the dramatic ending was chilling.

.

This book was chilling, thought-provoking and fast paced! I would certainly be interested in reading the second book when it is released.

2 stars

Not as good as his Michael Lambert books. There is too much angst about Louise's past and her demons. She was written as weak and emotional – certainly not a strong woman. Not someone I'd see as a SIO on an important murder case.

Not a bad book, just not my style.

I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for forwarding to me a copy of this book for me to read and review.

Weston super Mare. The body of an elderly woman on a beach. Newly transferred DI Louise Blackwell's first case in her new job.

A priest is found murdered in a local church with similar injuries. A killer with a vendetta. Who, and why?

An excellent read, hope there'll be many more in the series

A good start to a new series for Matt Brolly. It's always a good sign when you are constantly looking for a few spare minutes so you can read a few more pages.

Definitely sets things up to be a good ongoing series so I'll certainly be looking out for the next.

And if you haven't read any of his other books give them a go, you might just be glad you did

Before reviewing this title, I first have to confess I’m quite fond of British crime dramas. The cover and description of The Crossing immediately evoked shows such as Broadchurch and Happy Valley, leading me to happily delve into its pages.

In the fallout of the last case she worked at Bristol’s Major Investigation Team, DI Louise Blackwell was summarily transferred to the small seaside town of Weston while her manipulative narcissistic ex-partner, Timothy Finch, enjoyed a promotion to DCI.

Eighteen months after her arrival, DI Blackwell encounters her first major case when the bled out body of a woman, with uncharacteristic injuries, is found laying on a beach. The first in a series of grisly murders that will shake the town and its inhabitants.

All that I love in a good British drama is present in this book. The author’s attention to detail allows us to get intimate knowledge of not only the main character and her family, but also of the supporting cast. Along the pages, even the town itself comes alive as a character of its own.

The murderer isn’t your classic two dimensional psychopath, either. His slowly revealed motives, rooted in his childhood, his relationship with his father and the church, bring us to a point where we can’t help but to feel some empathy, in spite of his despicable acts.

The expertly written investigation, keeping us constantly guessing alongside the detectives, leads to a riveting ending in which the full meaning of the book’s title is finally revealed.

This appears to be the first book in a new series by bestselling author Matt Brolly, and I, for myself, can’t wait to visit the town of Weston again.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing’s Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.

The Crossing is the first in a new series featuring Detective Louise Blackwell by Matt Brolly. The Crossing begins with the brutal murder of a pensioner, an older, retired woman with no known enemies. Among other injuries are two puncture wounds in her wrists. Then an elderly Catholic priest is also found murdered in a grisly manner. Are the murders random or selected for a personal reason?

Shocked at the murder of two elderly and seemingly good people, Louise struggles to find the connection. Louise is also being harassed by a former partner who seems determined to see her fail. (I despised him!)

Since it is the first in a new series, some of the characters are being introduced and will probably be developed further in successive books.

NetGalley/Amazon Publishing
British Detectives. Feb. 15, 2020.

Firstly, I would like to thank Mr. Matt Brolly, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley UK for giving me the opportunity to review The Crossing ahead of its publishing day.
This is the first book I am reading of Matt Brolly but I look forward to catching up on his previous books and future books in this serie.
With compelling writing and showing his criminal law knowledge, the book was chilling and exciting. Although I felt it was slow paced at the beginning The Crossing gets more and more exhilarating after each chapter and although you know the who, you cannot stop reading until you understand the why.
DI Backwell’s personal side and emotions were so well portrait and explored that made her a relatable character, with “normal life” issues and professional problems. The plot was interesting and I would like to see future books to learn more about the other characters in the squad.
Although the main theme of this book has been explored previously, Mr Brolly gives it a new breath and the ending is tied perfectly.
Looking forward to further books in this series and would definitely recommend this book to everyone that enjoys a good thriller and crime book, following the detectives solving caseswhilst getting glimpses of the criminal’s mind.

Just finished reading The Crossing and thought it was excellent. I loved how the characters of DI Blackwell and the perpetrator are developed throughout the book against the backdrop of Weston-super-mare and cannot wait to read more in this series.

Keeps you gripped throughout, interweaving the case and DI Blackwell’s own personal turmoils as she tries to solve the murders.

Definitely a must read!

Difficult mystery for the detectives to solve,not many clues and no clear link between victims. Good characters and a story which moved quickly along.

Wasn't sure about this to start with but after a chapter ot two I was hooked. Hopefully there will be a book 2?

The Crossing is the first book l have read by Matt Brolly. I enjoyed reading it but felt there was an overload of information about Detective Louise Blackwell. I felt this may have been better spread out over the next few books rather than everything at once. The story was a decent enough police procedural that I followed eagerly. The reader knows the murderer from the start which is slightly different to other books of this genre.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book

Thrilling story line. Easy read. Looking forward to more from Matt Brolly..
Thanks for the opportunity..

Now based in Weston Super Mare, DI Louise Blackwell is still trying to get back on track after being reprimanded for an incident where a man died. With her partner, Tim Finch giving a totally different version of events, it’s Louise that gets blamed, and misses out on promotion. Her first murder case in Weston is an elderly lady who has been tortured. Next a priest is murdered, and has similar injuries. Her boss trusts her judgement, but Tim, now the DCI in charge of the Bristol based Murder Incident Team, tries to unnerve Louise, and tries to get her thrown off the case.
For me this book was a slow burner, and at times the harassment of Louise by Finch seemed unnecessary. The writing is really well done, very descriptive and the characters well rounded, apart from Finch. The storm scenes were excellent and towards the end, although you know who the killer is, it was still a nail biting ending.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for an ARC copy in return for an honest review

Great story, despite the religious over tones kept me enthralled from the beginning to the end. A fascinating story line well worth a read. I look forward to catching up with the authors DCI Lambert series in the future

Great start to another detective series to add to my ‘must read’ list.

I enjoyed the plot and found it engaging, the lost star is due to how the female character is portrayed. I didn’t find her believable in the role and there was a lot of focus on her past which I understand is probably set up for the future novels but it felt too much all at once.

A new Matt Brolly book.

Crack open the book and dive right in, you know it is going to meet or exceed your expectations and this one most certainly does.

The plot is well thought out and is well-developed. Using Weston-super-mare as the setting was different and brought back memories of past holidays.

A very enjoyable read.

Good mystery which gives us inside in the killer's mind. Well written. Heroine gains confidence over the course of the story.

A fast paced police procedural with a well written plotline but for me this book lacks originality; another strong willed female protagonist with a messed up past.

THE CROSSING by Matt Brolly is a police procedural and the first book in the Detective Inspector (DI) Louise Blackwell series. It is set most in and near Weston-super-Mare in England. When the body of an older woman is found on a beach, DI Blackwell becomes the senior investigating officer. As Louise and her team work to identify and capture the murderer there are also personal issues that are weaved into the story line.

While this book is a police procedural, the reader knows who the killer is in the first chapter as some of the chapters are from his viewpoint. The plot is driven by the police working through the clues and the killer’s activities and motivations. There is a lot more going on under the surface. Other themes running through the story line include work relationships, the drive to succeed, corruption, infidelity, loneliness, aging, friendship, family, dealing with grief, and much more. These other themes enhanced the plot.

The characters are compelling, fascinating, and felt three-dimensional. There was enough at stake to keep me engaged throughout the story. The world-building was absolutely fantastic and gave a clear sense of place.
Overall, the plot was creative, absorbing and well-paced. I would recommend it to those that enjoy police procedurals and British crime dramas. I look forward to reading the next book in this series as well as checking out his DCI Michael Lambert series.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and Matt Brolly for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way.

I would like to begin by thanking Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read this book. I tried to like this book, reread I g chapters hoping I had missed something but I simply did not like this book. The description sounded great and I love murder mystery/police stories but this one was flat. I found nothing to like about Louise or to dislike about Geoff. Perhaps it was the lack of description or details but they were boring and there was nothing about them to make me care. The story didn’t flow well and it seemed like the author had made bulletin points for this book and just put them together without taking the time to create the characters. I see the other series by this author has great reviews and I will certainly give them a read but this one was a miss.

This is the first Matt Brolly novel I have read and I've now added him to my list of writers to look out for.
As police procedural thrillers go its up there with the good ones.
Tense, well written and absorbing, I did struggle to put it down.
Many thanks

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of The Crossing, the first novel to feature DI Louise Blackwell, set in the English resort town of Weston-super-Mare.

When the mutilated body of pensioner Veronica Lloyd is found on the beach Louise is keen to get stuck into her first real murder investigation in Weston. When the body of a priest, known to Veronica, is found with similar injuries there is no doubt that they are hunting a killer with an agenda.

I thoroughly enjoyed Mr Brolly’s Michael Lambert series and was looking for to The Crossing. Unfortunately it is more a psychological thriller than a police procedural and not really to my taste. I should underline, however, that my rating reflects my personal reading taste rather than the quality of the novel which has a clear plot and crisp writing. The novel switches point of view between DI Louise Blackwell and the killer who is identified immediately and unambiguously as Geoff Simmons with the odd chapter on a missing person case in St Ives whose relevance is obvious. The only thing missing is the detail behind the motive. I like the hunt in a police procedural and don’t enjoy either reading about a killer’s motivation and actions in the course of the novel or the police’s efforts at catch up. I don’t have the kind of mind that appreciates the nuance of this approach. As a result I’ve finished the novel but it didn’t hold my attention or make me forego other activities to pick it up (my standard for a good book). On the other hand I do think that if this is your kind of reading matter you will be impressed by it and its mixture of procedure, character study, strong plot and action.

Geoff Simmons is, to use a technical term, a nutter with certain delusions. I couldn’t care less about an examination of his motivations or actions as there is nothing fresh that can be written about this type of character. If he interests you I can report that he is well drawn with a certain naivety in his makeup. Louise Blackwell is a character I could come to like if she would drop the paranoia and join the team. 18 months ago her fellow officer lied about his actions, resulting in a promotion for him and exile from the MIT in Bristol to Weston for her. She suspects he is still trying to sabotage her career. As this situation is not resolved in this novel it looks like it will be an ongoing thread.

The Crossing is not to my taste but will surely please many other readers with different tastes.

This is the first book in a promising police procedural, featuring DI Louise Blackwell and set in Weston Super Mare. We know who the killer is from the beginning but this never detracted from the absorbing and well written plot. This is a very good crime drama which I have no hesitation in recommending. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

This is a grim story of serial killers, stalkers, and a host of unpleasant people that is told far too much by interior dialog. Detective Louise Blackwell does not register as real to me. I did not like the book and did not finish.

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series by Matt Brolly.

I’ll tell you one thing, Matt Brolly sure makes it easy to dislike one of his characters. One of Louise’s foils when this starts off is a colleague who made her look bad months earlier and then took the position she was a shoe-in for. Now, he is continually harassing her. What a schmuck! Since this is only book one, and I am sure the struggle between them will not be solved in quick measure. I really can’t wait for the story that reveals this character’s true colors. Most of the police force seem to have blinders on where this character is concerned.

So, when a ritual killing turns up in her new backyard, the higher ups in the police department want to call in those they think are more knowledgable and of course, that team is headed up by Louise’s old nemesis.

With the pressure on, Louise is out to prove to herself and her colleagues that she can solve this complex case. It is a super gripping read. Get ready to stay up late to finish this if you read late in the evening.

Definitely excited by this new series by Brolly. I also enjoy his other series, DCI Michael Lambert. I love finding new to me authors who put out such great work. This is a series I will continue to pick up in the future. So good!

If you love a good mystery suspense thriller or detective fiction/police procedural, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

As a long-time reader of police procedurals, I was interested in this book by an author new to me.
The main character is a female detective inspector who has been transferred to Weston Super Mare after being wrongly accused of a reckless act in her previous job in Bristol.
The plot is interesting in that the murderer is revealed early on in the book and the plot follows the action from both points of view. There are a number of personal insights into the the lives of the police team involved and also a hangover from her previous post in Bristol.
I consider this to be a good addition to the genre and will read the next in the series as well as the authors previous series with a different DI called Lambert

Matt Brolly's new series starts off with a literal bang as he introduces DI Louise Blackwell. The author of the DCI Lambert series plus other stand-alones has given readers a strong female protagonist to follow. Send to CID in Weston-super-Mare after the events in the first chapter, Louise is trying to establish herself with a new team when she's handed her first murder case.

A woman has been found under the pier on the beach, her injuries unusual. This is just the start of a string of unusual murders, and it's soon clear they are seeking someone out for his own kind of revenge.

The killer is known to the reader but not to Louise as the plot becomes more and more twisted until his motive is established. While a life hangs in the balance, Louise tries to navigate around a former team member who is out to bring her down.

A strong opening with a lead character readers will want to follow.

I love Matt Brolly’s work, and this book, the first in a new series is not a disappointment in any way. Set in Weston super Mare, it is an excellent thriller with an excellent plot and well drawn characters. I hope Matt writes another on in this series

Weston-Super-Mare is the setting for the new series by Matt Brolly starring DI Louise Blackwell

In addition to being a scene setter this police crime procedural novel manages to fit in a lot of action and has a decent pace to it.

I enjoyed the various twists and turns and will definitely keep an eye out for book 2.

Recommended

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.

The Crossing is a fairly typical British police procedural and is the first in what I hope will become a series. There was a lot of getting to know characters and places, but by the end they were beginning to feel familiar and I didn’t want to say good bye.

DI Louise Blackwell transferred from a large metropolitan police department to a small seaside town eighteen months ago and is still trying to fit in. When two people are murdered, she is put in charge of the investigation. Along with the police work, we are also privy to glimpses into Louise’s private life. For me, these glimpses are what bring this type of book to life; getting to know the people behind the warrant cards.

There are several other things about this book that I really liked. First, the reader knew who the murderer was from the beginning. What we didn’t know was why. Learning his story as the police were building their case, seeing a clever cat and mouse game unfold made for some interesting reading. I also enjoyed the setting. I think I actually felt the cold and almost constant rain of this bleak tourist town during the winter as if the weather were another character.

I enjoyed this book and hope there is more to Louise’s story. At first I did have my doubts about it. I was afraid the backstory concerning her former partner would become too much of a distraction. I think, in the end, it may have added to the book, but I do hope it is resolved soon and not something that is carried on for several books.

The body of an elderly woman found on the beach. The body of a priest discovered in the church confessional. Both murders are committed days apart and seem to be unconnected. Newly transferred DI Louise Blackwell is still reeling from the betrayal that led to her transfer to the small English beach town of Weston-super-Mare. Now she faces pressure to solve the crimes quickly before DI Finch, her nemesis from the past, takes over the case.

Lurking below the surface of the picturesque town is a long buried evil. As Louise and her fellow officers try to find the links between the killings and a long ago accidental church fire, the murderer is already planning more deaths. The well constructed plot leads to an unforgettable conclusion, leaving the reader eager for the next book in this series.

The Crossing is a welcome edition to the English police procedural genre. Weston-super-Mare and its residents come to life in Matt Brolly’s descriptions. Louise’s struggles to retain control of the investigation are real, as is her frustration with DI Finch’s interference. You will read this book quickly and look forward to Louise Blackwell’s next case. 5 stars.

The Crossing is a British crime drama which is not badly done, just not great. The story could be interesting but I was distracted by the inner voice of DI Louise Blackwell. She has so many problems, not the least her inability to effectively deal with her former partner. Here’s the deal, she was stabbed in the back by him and savaged by her superiors. Well you had to believe one or the other and why not the Alpha male. Bottom line the guy makes DCI and the female gets booted to the boonies, the outer environs. Now what would a righteous woman, who happens to be a wrongly accused police officer, do? In my story she subscribes to the position that is is pointless to get even, she needs to get ahead and she has to do it from the strongest feminine perspective. That was the issue - her voice and thoughts never rang true - It felt as if she was written by a man who wasn’t fully able to get into the mind of a this female. Brolly never gave her the uppercut she deserved to throw.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy.

I have never read this author before but would definitely read his next offering. Intriguing storyline. Great characters. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

The Crossing by Matt Brolly. First book in a new police procedural series featuring DI Louise Blackwell. Her first case on the job is interwoven with DI Blackwell's personal turmoil. There was a lot of focus on her past which at times detracted from the investigation. The killer is known from the beginning and the investigation reveals his motives in a well written and intriguing plot. Looking forward to the next book in the series and revisiting DI Blackwell's squad.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Louise is the new kid on the block, after a disastrous case sees her leave her old police station. She is trying desperately to concentrate on being head of the current case, which happens to involve ritualistic killing, but her past haunts her still and it is hard to keep her cool.

I liked the character of Louise, she was certainly real and flawed, just as you might expect a police officer to be. I liked the secondary characters too, and Finch was just awful. I could smell the smarminess coming off him, the author did a great job with him. I also liked the way that we knew who the killer was early on, and then we could just enjoy reading about the police putting the pieces together from there. That format worked in this book.

Solid police procedural, looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

I’ve not read any of the author’s previous books, but this one has inspired me to check them out.

Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell has been transferred from Bristol to the seaside town of Weston-super-Mare. When an older woman is found murdered, Louise is put in charge of the investigation which quickly becomes more complicated when an elderly priest is killed. Both bodies have similar injuries, and there are suspicions that there may be more victims to come. Louise is anxious to prove herself in this, her first, murder case since her transfer.

Louise’s life, both professional and personal, is developed. Her transfer from Bristol is the result of an unfair judgment in a previous case, so she must deal with this demotion. She does not feel at home in Weston and is not fully comfortable with her colleagues. Louise is trying to escape the influence of a previous partner whom she knows will try to insert himself into her current investigation if she does not solve it quickly. And there are concerns about her widowed brother whose struggles are putting his daughter’s welfare in jeopardy.

The narrative alternates between Louise’s perspective and that of the murderer. His identity is revealed early in the book, but the reason for his actions is not. There are clues from the beginning; for example, there are statements like “The warmth and security made him sentimental, made him forget what his mother had done” and “He had to save his father.” Much of my interest in the book lay in trying to put together all the clues to figure out the motivation. This structure made me think of episodes of Criminal Minds.

There were a couple of issues that bothered me. After the discovery at the first victim’s home, wouldn’t a toxicology report be requested? There is an autopsy but never any reference to a toxicology screen. And that discovery is never explained. There is also some awkward diction; in Chapter 11, the word “object” is used three times: “He ran his hand across one part of the object” and “he would have to wait until nearer the time to complete the object” and “he spent another hour working on the object before locking up.” The word is used several times throughout the book. Obviously, the point is not to identify the object because it is central to Geoffrey’s plans, but perhaps just a reference to a wood-working project would have been better.

I read the book in one day; it is a quick but absorbing read. I will certainly read The Descent, the next book in the series which I understand is due for release this summer.

Note: I received a digital galley from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Crossing is the first instalment in a new police procedural series featuring Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell and set in Weston-super-Mare, a seaside town in Somerset, England. When the brutally disfigured body of elderly Veronica Lloyd is discovered on the beach, DI Blackwell lands this as her first case since being transferred from Bristol’s Major Investigation Team (MIT) eighteenth months prior. Then, a few days later, another body turns up. This time the victim is Catholic priest Father Mulligan who was found in the confessional box having just taken Mass. From analysing the bodies and the crime scenes Louise believes the two chilling murders could be linked and both the handiwork of a single perpetrator who appears to have a vendetta. She is under intense pressure to solve the case quickly before her nemesis DI Finch is handed it; he is the one who betrayed her leading to her eventual transferal to Weston and seems determined to sabotage her career. Can she manage to locate the killer before another body drops?

This book was structured in an original and unusual way as you know the killer's identity from relatively early on and this allows us to read chapters from his perspective as well as Louise’s. What drives the plot forward is instead the uncovering of the killer's motivations for committing the crimes, his actions and the polices efforts to locate and apprehend him. Despite this, I found it just as compulsive and gripping as conventional police procedurals and raced through it. It's cleverly plotted with plenty of action and suspense and is well written with a cast of intriguing characters; Finch and Louise were both nicely developed. The seaside setting added a different atmosphere to most procedurals and I enjoyed the descriptions which were vivid and stark. The cat and mouse game between the perpetrator and the police was completely captivating as you know they are in a race against time before he strikes again and another life is lost. A superb read. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Amazon for an ARC.

DI Louise Blackwell has been shifted the backwaters of Weston-super-Mare after a disputed police shooting, and is not doing well away from the big city of Bristol where she was moving up the ranks. Now she’s a small fish in a smaller pond and the body of Veronica Lloyd, found murdered on the beach, is her first case here. A second murder of the old local priest raises questions in her mind about the connections, as both were pierced through their palms and wrists. It’s not until a mysterious monsignor nudges her towards St Bernadette’s church that what seemed like unlikely clues start to form a possible motive.
As the crimes escalate with still no decent suspects discovered, the pressure to take the case off Blackwell increases, most especially in the form of DCI Finch who has been harassing her since their involvement in the shooting. Now he tries to horn in and use his influence to further disrupt her career. Which of her fellow detectives can she trust to help her?
Brolly does a good job of creating a female detective in a position of powerlessness against someone who is out to discredit her. We understand her self-doubt and insecurity in the face of harassment, and the efforts she goes to to keep faith with herself and her investigative skills, without it becoming melodramatic. The fact that she does have male officers and a boss who back her and trust her judgement makes the situation more realistic, not less. Like many crime fiction protagonists, Louise is alone and lonely, but thankfully not jumping out of character into stupid decisions, learning from past mistakes.
My personal preference is for novels that don’t go into the point of view of the killer – I like the detection and the mystery more that way. But Brolly does create a villain whose obsessions are well explored and those chapters don’t give too much away in terms of tension. A good read, and I’ll look out for more his books.
https://sherrylclark.blogspot.com/2020/02/book-review-crossing-by-matt-brolly.html

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read and review this book.

I like British police mysteries, and this book was a good example of how these stories usually play out. However, this book gave us the viewpoint of the police and the killer at the same time, making it a true game of ‘cat and mouse’.

DI Louise Blackwell finds herself in the small town of Weston-super-Mare, because her former partner ‘threw her under the bus’ on a previous case. When an older woman’s body is found on the beach, Louise is again in charge of a murder investigation, that forces her to manage the team that all know about her past.

As the team struggles to find the killer, additional victims are discovered and more connections to events in the past are uncovered. As clues become known, everything seems to show a connection between victims, and DI Blackwell must dig deeper to find the killer.

This book is a great read, starting high action with Louise and Finch's last case together then diving the reader straight into an intense investigation years later. While the primary plot centers around the multiple homicides, there's an underlying subplot of harassment and intimidation when the reader learns Louise has been receiving texts from an unknown number. The first half of the book has good build up and background context, though there were moments of boredom - mostly around Louise brooding. The second half of the book was full of action and incredibly difficult to put down without reading straight through.

The only place where this book was a bit of a let down was character dimensionality. While I found Louise very likeable and despised Finch, most of the other characters I felt pretty neutral about. The ones I did care for seemed a little one-dimensional. Information given about the killer's background didn't provide solid foundation for his actions in my opinion, and while I thought him fascinating I didn't form much emotional connection / sympathy for Geoff despite his background. It also bugs me that we never quite learn why Finch acts the way he does except to attribute it to a severe personality flaw.

These points were, however, outweighed by the highlights and I really enjoyed the book for what it was - a solid suspenseful crime mystery/thriller. The ending was fast paced and sucked me in, securing an extra 0.5 star reflected in the rating I'm giving (edit: though unfortunately not all platforms support half stars so I'm rounding up in that case). I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a 'cozy' small town killer crime book that's a straightforward, easy read.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This is a really good read. There is plenty of action and suspense and some interesting characters. It is definitely a page turner and I hope that there are more books to come in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I'm sorry to say that I could not even finish this book, and I hate to leave a bad review.
Maybe it was just me, but I felt the style of writing was kind of childish, again I'm so sorry. I am well used to reading Police procedurals and was a civvy for 12 years in the Police, so when I read books that aren't that factual on Police procedures, I struggle. But my main problem was how its written, the story was actually good but i just could not get past the writing style.
Please accept my apologies for the negative review.

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

The body of elderly Veronica Lloyd is found on the beach in Weston-super-Mare and shortly after Father Mulligan’s body is left in the confessional box following his taking Mass. These murders appear to be connected and DI Louise Blackwell is asked to investigate. Louise was transferred from the MIT in Bristol eighteen months ago under a somewhat dark cloud and has a lot to prove to her new team. Can she discover the identity of the murderer before someone else is killed?

I was keen to read ‘The Crossing’ as I enjoy police thrillers and like to get in at the start of a new series so I can watch the characters develop but unfortunately I found this one flat, unremarkable and uninteresting. I didn’t like the character of Louise who to my mind did a disservice to any female in the police force as she came across more as a caricature than a real person. Knowing the identity of the murderer from the beginning and guessing why the murders had been committed took away a lot of the excitement and left me feeling that I didn’t really care. After seeing the reviews I’m sure a lot of readers will have enjoyed this novel but I’m afraid it just wasn’t for me.

Matt Brolly hit it out of again! This is my second book by this author and he does not disappoint. If you want a fast pace action packed book you can pretty much guarantee you’re going to get it with one of his.

The first book in a new series! You will be hooked.

We have Louise Blackwell A detective who feels she has something to prove. A fellow detective has it in for her. When a mass murderer is on the loose in her small town, she will not stop until she finds him. Although she has a past that haunts her I felt she was a strong woman.

Then we have Geoff who I feel never quite grew up. Living in his fathers shadow. He will make those who tore his father down pay!

If you have not read a book by this author yet wait no more!!! Pick one up!

Great new series from best selling author Matt Brolly. I live near Weston-Super-Mare and this book perfectly sums up the desolation of the place in the winter months. Great start to a new series about DI Louise Blackwell, a realistic detective with an interesting back story. Great plotting, although I personally don't like hearing the murderer's viewpoint. Look forward to the next one.

The Missing Link...?
The first in the Detective Louise Blackwell series. Western-super-Mare, a body on the beach and a new case for the newly transferred Detective Blackwell. It soon transpires, however, that this killing isn't random when more bodies are discovered. Can Louise find the missing link between the victims and prevent more deaths?
Well written crime with a solid cast and a likeable protagonist in the Detective.

I've never read anything by this author before, but I've heard such good things. So when I saw this was the start of a new series, I jumped at the chance to read it.
I do like a well written crime story and this seemed to fit the bill. On the whole, it was a good story, solid characters, that sort of thing.
Unfortunately, I found it a bit difficult to keep my mind focused. It was tricky to follow at times as it didn't feel like it flowed quite as well as it could have.
I will definitely read the authors previous books and hope that in the next installment of this particular series, that all those little things will be ironed out.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and netgalley for my arc. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

EXCERPT: The smell of the place would never leave Louise. The farm was divided into a series of metallic barns and as they entered the outer shed she was hit by an unimaginable stench, the decay and waste of decades of animals. The ground appeared to move as she shone her torch over the various swarming mounds lining the barn floor, and she had to turn away and retch.

'Louise,' said Finch, his voice low and unnerved.

Louise battled her nausea and returned to the matter in hand. Finch was in one corner of the barn, his torch shining on the corpses of the missing mother and daughter.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: When a body is discovered, bled dry on a beach, the sleepy seaside town of Weston-super-Mare wakes up to a nightmare. For Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell, recently transferred to the town she last saw as a child, it’s her first case on the job.

The victim—Veronica Lloyd, an elderly volunteer at a local church—has puncture wounds to her hands. When a priest is found killed in a nearby church in a similarly grisly condition, it becomes clear that Blackwell is dealing with a righteous and bloody murderer. But the victims aren’t random. The killer has a vendetta and is hell-bent on exacting twisted revenge for a dark secret dating back years—and there are more murders planned.

As the body count rises, Blackwell faces a race against time to solve the mystery of the murderer’s identity and put an end to the carnage. She thought she knew Weston, but the town holds more secrets than she’d ever have imagined. Who can she trust and who knows more than they are letting on?

She must discover the crimes that unite the victims—before it’s too late.

MY THOUGHTS: I am a great fan of Matt Brolly's Michael Lambert series and was excited about this new series. Having just closed the covers on The Crossing, I must admit to feeling a little disappointed. It doesn't flow easily, as Brolly's writing usually does. Instead it staggers along, disjointed and floundering in parts.

The story is told mainly from Louise's point of view, the killer - whose identity is revealed from the start - and another case that is running concurrently in St Ives, the relevance of which is immediately apparent.

There is a definite lack of suspense, which is a pity. The story is, I think, trying to cross into too many genres, perhaps to appeal to a wider audience. But, for me, it doesn't work. It just muddies the waters.

Unusually for Brolly, I didn't find the characters well depicted. I felt no connection to any of them and Louise's whining inner monologue on Finch and his past treatment of her quickly became wearing. In fact, she is pretty stereotypical of the current trend in female detectives...

I know Matt Brolly can write brilliantly. I am hoping to see evidence of that in the next book in this series.

😕😐😕

#TheCrossing #NetGalley

THE AUTHOR: Following his law degree where he developed an interest in criminal law, Matt Brolly completed his Masters in Creative Writing at Glasgow University.

He is the bestselling author of the DCI Lambert crime novels, Dead Eyed, Dead Lucky and Dead Embers. The fourth in the series, Dead Time, was released by Canelo in May 2018. In addition he is the author of the acclaimed near future crime novel, Zero.

2019 will see a new thriller, The Controller, released by Oblong Books and in 2020 the first of a new crime series set in the West Country of the UK will be released by Thomas Mercer(Amazon Publishing)

Matt also writes children's books as M.J. Brolly. His first children's book, The Sleeping Bug, is released by Oblong Books in December 2018.

Matt lives in London with his wife and their two young children.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Crossing by Matt Brolly for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage

The Crossing
I received a copy from Net Galley. I loved this book. I found the characters interesting, the plot captivating and subplots intriguing. I will definitely read more in this series.

New author for me can’t wait to catch up .This book is tense well written drew me in from first pages.A multilayered plot that kept me turning the pages.#netgalley#amazonuk

The Crossing by Matt Brolly is the first book in the new Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series and is set most in and near Weston-super-Mare in England. A body of an older woman is found on a local beach and Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell becomes the senior investigating officer. Louise and her team start to investigate the identity of the woman.

Will they find out who she is and how she got there?

A few days later, another body is found, a Catholic Priest. He was found in the confessional box of the local church. He had just taken Mass. The priest was known as Father Mulligan. Could these murders be linked and in what way?

Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell and her team have to work quickly before another body is found.

Can the solve these murders in time?

I Highly recommend this book and look forward reading more by Matt Brolly in the future. Especially as Matt Brolly is a new author to me and looking forward to read the next book to this series.

Big Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and Matt Brolly for a digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley and the opportunity to provide an honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way

I received a free electronic ARC copy of this British police procedural from Netgalley, Matt Brolly, and Amazon Publishing UK. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I will happily add Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell to my must-reads list. This is the first of this series by Brolly - I can't wait for number 2.

DI Louise Blackwell is thirty-something, has one brother, a recent widower, and the father of a five-year-old daughter, Emily. Her brother Paul isn't handling life well at all, and Louise and their parents are often required to step into the breach at the home of Paul and Emily. Louise is historically not catching many breaks.

Two years ago Louise's partner at MIT in Bristol and surrounds, is DI Finch. Together they worked the case of serial killer Max Walton, a trail they had been investigating for over a year. It is at last solved, but Finch has placed Louise in a career-killing position. Knowing they are at the scene of a fresh kill and they are finally closing in on their serial killer, Finch indicates Walton is carrying and asks Louise for cover as he moves in to restrain him. Tripping and falling, Finch shouts that Walton is holding, and as the killer's hand comes up from the shadows Louise shoots him. These were the facts, details that later Finch will deny. Under Oath. Of course, Louise takes the hit for killing an unarmed suspect and is lucky to be allowed to stay on in the police force at all. She gets transferred to the small rural coastal precinct of Weston-super-Mare and will most likely be stalled as a DI for the next twenty years. Her friend Tracey Pugh gets a job advancement to DI and takes Louise's place at MIT, and Finch receives accolades and advancement to DCI for his part in capturing Walton. And he is currently texting her most evenings with snips and challenges and signing them 'a friend'.

But Louise has to get past all that. Eighteen months later and despite its size and level of obscurity, Weston has its own killer running amuck. And he is vicious as he brutalizes his elderly victims for days before he finally kills them.

We know our bad guy fairly early into this tale. Geoff was a bullied and abused child who worshiped his father and was exposed to and leaned heavily upon the ceremony and rituals of Saint Bernadette's Church to comfort himself. Geoff goes off his rocker when his father commits suicide. Suicides never get to heaven, they are in purgatory forever... This is unacceptable. Knowing they will eventually be back together is all that keeps Geoff sane.

Geoff's obsession with the stations of the cross is not apparent during the investigation of the first and second victims, Veronica Lloyd and Father Mulligan. Veronica was a single retired school teacher. Father Mulligan, formerly the priest of St. Barts, was semi-retired and assisted Father Riley, the current priest at the second Catholic place of worship in Weston, St. Michael's. Father Riley is young, green and new to the area, but Monsignor Ashley was more helpful, as he had been working in the Weston area for many years, and as Louise uncovers the only fact that their two victims seem to have in common was their place of worship, St. Bernadette's, back in the 1980s, Monsignor Ashley brings into play other possible witnesses/or/victims from that era. Father Lanegan, who was the young priest at St. Barts in the 1980s had subsequently left the priesthood and settled into civilian life in the nearby community of St. Ives. But he has been missing for some time - a couple of weeks anyway, according to his elderly cleaner who reported him as a missing person. And it was rumored, Louise is told by older, mostly widowed parishioners, that Father Lanegan and Veronica Lloyd were involved in an affair back then.

And Finch, now a DCI with the Major Investigation Team in Bristol, comes calling, undermining Louise at every turn and attempting to squeeze her out of the investigation altogether. Because this will be a headline-grabbing criminal case and those headlines should be all his...

Parts of this story relies on a bit of back knowledge of the workings of the Catholic Church 40 years ago. It is all explained well but it helps if you understand the Stations of the Cross and the process of bringing children into the pageantry of traditional Catholic services. It is not, however necessary, nor is it a religious book per se.

After being let down by her police partner Tim Finch,Louise Blackwell is moved from her position in Bristol & sent to Weston-super-mare- a sleepy place in Winter, a contrast to her summer days spent there as a child. When an elderly woman is found on the beach with unusual wounds she finds herself as SIO in her first murder case in her new posting. When an elderly priest is found dead in his confessional with similar wounds it looks like they have a serial killer on their hands & Finch seems determined to unsettle her.

This is the beginning of a new police procedural series & I hope it continues to be as good as this first one. The reader knows from the start who the murderer is & sees things from his angle. There are lots of things to keep the reader guessing & the setting & characters are well described & engaging- I could feel the rain & the wind!

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book- I am already looking forward to the next one.

Just finished reading The Crossing and thought it was excellent. I loved how the characters of DI Blackwell and the perpetrator are developed throughout the book against the backdrop of Weston-super-mare and cannot wait to read more in this series.

This is the first novel i have read by Matt Brolly but it won't be the last as i was quite taken with his writting style and the characters he has created, The main reason I requested this book was because it is based in Weston-super mare which isn't far from me and he'd done his homework by knowing we affectionately call it Weston on mud and how the tide never seems to be in, which all added to the reading for me.
The book is the first of a series featuring DI Louise Blackwell a detective from Bristoll who basically gets stithed up by he ex work colleague and lover, So in disgrace she moves to Weston and when a body of a old lady is found on the beach she gets to use her experience as the SIO of a murder, but with hardly any clues and the top brass breathing down her neck its not going to be easy.

The novel itself reminded me of columbo where unusally the culprit is revealled very early on but it slowly reveals the reasoning behind the crime and Louise's reasons for moving and frustration of rtrying to catch the murderer before her ex iis put in charge. I look forward to more in this series as I think problems will escalate for Louise in the future.

I love Matt Brolly. He has a real knack of pulling you into the story and making you believe. Love Louise. I can't wait to hear more stories,especially as I live in Weston Super Mare and I drive through all the places that are mentioned as well as the few from Bristol, where I had lived all of my life until last year.

A fantastic read, a great story line which is easy to follow and had me gripped throughout. I am looking forward to reading more books by Matt

This is a straight-forward police procedural set in the coastal town of Weston-Super-Mare. DI Louise Blackwell has been transferred following the shooting of an unarmed man during a police raid. After a dead woman is found on the beach, Louise gets her first chance to take charge of an investigation in her new posting. Still trying to figure out her team and her boss, her life is complicated by anonymous text messages that she believes are coming from her former partner who seems to want her thoroughly discredited.

It took me a while to get into this book, and I originally put it down about a third of the way through. After a break, I picked it back up and got hooked by the story. In short, I enjoyed the last two-thirds of the book more than the beginning. I'm willing to give DI Blackwell another go when she reappears in book 2.

Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC.

The crossing by Matt brolly.
When a body is discovered, bled dry on a beach, the sleepy seaside town of Weston-super-Mare wakes up to a nightmare. For Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell, recently transferred to the town she last saw as a child, it’s her first case on the job.
A very good read. Good story. Gory in some places. 4*.

A strong start to what could be a good series. I think there is great potential in Louise and her team. However it was pretty slow going and I felt Louise was typical of the angst female detective currently popular. It just ended up being a bit much, however hopefully now this has been explained in the first instalment, it won’t be a recurring theme in the following book. I’ll certainly read more from Louise and her team.

Thank you Netgalley & Amazon Publishing UK.

This is a new series from Brolly, who you know from his DCI Lambert series, and like that series, it is one I'll be reading every book in! Blackwell is still adjusting to being back on her home turf, after years spent 'in town' as part of a Major team. She is still licking her proverbial wounds from workplace issues, that forced her to flee, when she gets the opportunity to show just what she is capable of doing. And then her old job comes back to haunt her. She is a bit flawed (like Lambert), but very likable, and it's refreshing to see a female lead in a police procedural with honest emotions. If you like British police procedurals, be sure to pick up this one!

This is a real spine tingler of a story which does get quite gory in the description of the victims' bodies. Although the reader knows the identity of the killer from the beginning does not take away from the tension because it is obvious that he has some very complex reasons for the murders. I assume the author is a Catholic himself, if not he has researched the subject thoroughly. So many authors make the mistake of describing the religion as if it is the 1950s. Here we see priests known by their Christian names and special Masses for small children as well as a culture of openness, none of the secrecy and fear that existed in the past.. In other words an accurate description of the modern Catholic faith. All in all a very enjoyable read.

This is the beginning of a great new police procedural series. Vividly atmospheric, it is a well crafted story. The characters are well developed and I look forward to reading more about DI Louise Blackwell.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Had a big debate with myself about wether to give this 4 or 5 stars, would like to give 4.5! It has a good storyline and I wanted to keep reading to see how it unfolded and revealed the tale behind the serial killer being hunted. The main police characters were well described, I felt I knew them and could see this as a TV crime drama in the future.

The Crossing by Matt Brolly is about a body found on a beach in a sleepy seaside town. It’s the first case for Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell. The victim was an elderly lady, church volunteer, with puncture wounds to her hands. Next a priest is killed in a nearby church. Somehow they are connected! Blackwell has to find a deadly killer before another person is killed. This was my first Matt Brolly book and I enjoyed it very much. There was a serial killer out there in the seacoast town targeting the church and its parishioners. Very good book! Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced reader’s copy for a review.

It is SO satisfying to discover a new police procedural series featuring a strong plot, an engaging protagonist, and a beautiful and atmospheric setting.

I'm certain that any reader who enjoys police procedurals will find "The Crossing" a compelling read.  I truly enjoyed making the acquaintance of Detective Louise Blackwell of the Avon & Somerset Police. She is lonely, turns to alcohol rather too often, and is quirky and charismatic in equal measure.

The plot featured a troubled mind in a man whose strict Catholic upbringing colored his entire life - not is a good way.

The settings - Weston-super-Mare, a seaside town in Somerset, England and the forbidding island of Steep Holm, in the Bristol Channel added much to the narrative.

The title was fitting in three profound ways. Louise had to 'cross' the Avonmouth Bridge to travel from her family's homes to her new home, the criminal 'crossed' the water from Weston to Steep Holm several times in the story, AND.... well you'll just have to read the novel to find out the third way that the title fits so perfectly.

In case you haven't yet guessed, I loved "The Crossing" and can't wait to read the next novel in the Louise Blackwell series which is called "The Descent". Highly recommended!

This is a new series from Brolly, who you know from his DCI Lambert series, and like that series, it is one I'll be reading every book in! Blackwell is still adjusting to being back on her home turf, after years spent 'in town' as part of a Major team. She is still licking her proverbial wounds from workplace issues, that forced her to flee, when she gets the opportunity to show just what she is capable of doing. And then her old job comes back to haunt her. She is a bit flawed (like Lambert), but very likable, and it's refreshing to see a female lead in a police procedural with honest emotions. If you like British police procedurals, be sure to pick up this one!

*Many thanks to Matt Brolly, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
A good start to a precedurial series. I would say one thing which impeded my enjoyment was the amount of information to digest.

A great, thrilling read, which will keep you entertained throughout. A good one sitting read, get the nibbles ready, close the door, and read!