The Solstice (Detective Louise Blackwell #7) By Matt Brolly

Description from Goodreads:

"As the Summer Solstice nears, who will be the next target? A dark thriller from the bestselling author of the DI Louise Blackwell series.

In a cave near Weston, potholers discover what they think are human 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 still 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 the Summer Solstice fast approaching, she’s faced with the terrifying prospect that the group might be preparing for their next sacrifice…"

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I have read a couple of this series and have enjoyed them both and this was no exception; I think it can be read as a standalone so don't worry if you haven't read any of the previous ones.

With fantastic characters, a riveting story, oodles of tension, twists and turns and all written at a great pace, this is a great book that I devoured in a day.  I was on holiday at the time so didn't have the daily grind to contend with and I was able to sit in the sun and just enjoy being drawn into this intriguing story from start to finish with minimal interruptions.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book to lovers of excellent thrillers and I can't wait for the next instalment to find out what's next for Detective Louise Blackwell.

Thanks to the author, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Solstice.

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Other books by Matt Brolly I have read and reviewed:

The Mark (Detective Louise Blackwell #4)

The Bridge (Detective Louise Blackwell #6)

The Bridge (Detective Louise Blackwell #6) by Matt Brolly

 

Synopsis from Goodreads:

"Accident?

Dangerous game gone wrong?

Or murder?

DI Blackwell faces her toughest case yet.

When the body of a young woman is discovered in a shipping 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 video camera with a live feed was filming her from a hidden compartment.

Someone watched her die. Slowly.

DI Louise Blackwell is ten weeks pregnant, a fact she has largely kept 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 that some of them are still alive.

As she scours historic missing-persons cases looking for a pattern to the abductions, Blackwell finds herself in a race against time to uncover the voyeuristic killer’s motive and stop any more women becoming caught in the cruel and deadly game. But with every step being closely monitored, can she outwit a murderer whose method means staying hidden?"

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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.

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Check out my review of The Mark book 4 in the Louise Blackwell series:

The Mark (Detective Louise Blackwell #4) by Matt Brolly

 

🌟🌟🌟 Due to be published 23-Nov-2021 🌟🌟🌟

Description from Goodreads:

"Brutal attacks. A sinister conspiracy. Time is running out.

In the quiet seaside town of Weston-super-Mare, a man is found unconscious on the beach with a strange symbol carved into his skin. The victim―a local drug addict―has no recollection of who attacked him or how he got there.

The sleepy coastal community is sent into shock. And when another victim branded with the same vicious mark dies from his wounds, DI Louise Blackwell realises she is dealing with a sadistic serial killer.

But why is the twisted attacker targeting Weston’s most vulnerable people? And what is the meaning behind the mysterious symbol? Still struggling to overcome her own demons in the wake of her brother’s death, Blackwell must stay one step ahead of both the killer and corrupt DCI Finch, whose meddling in the investigation makes her more determined than ever to bring him down for good.

As the body count rises, and her feud with Finch puts her own life in danger, Blackwell faces a race against time to discover the dark crime that unites the victims and put an end to the carnage―before someone puts an end to her."

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Having not read any of the previous books in this series, I wasn't quite sure what to expect but what I got was a very engaging and enthralling story.

I don't think you have to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this but I recognise that there is a lot of history that is missing, particularly when it comes to the difficulties DI Blackwell has with her superior, however, I feel the author provides enough of the back-story to get you up to speed.

DI Blackwell is an interesting and complex character; she has her issues (who doesn't!) but her determination, strength and fortitude shines through in this multi-threaded story.  The cast of supporting characters are equally as good and all have their place and their own stories.  As I said, this is a multi-threaded story but the underlying plot is the branding attacks which ultimately turns into murder.  Told from both DI Blackwell's and the killer's point of view, this provides a comprehensive view of the case and into the mind and motivations of the killer.

With scenes of peril, descriptions of violence and body modification that some may find difficult, and brimming with suspense and a host of suspects, this is a book that's easy to get your teeth into and I need to thank Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for an honest, unbiased and unedited review.

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