The Descent

Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell #2

by Matt Brolly

Were they pushed to the edge—or over it?

In the quiet coastal town of Weston-super-Mare, a body is discovered at the foot of a cliff just months after a near-identical tragedy—and Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell can’t believe it could be a coincidence.

Next to the body, she discovers a note that echoes one found beside the first: Death is not the end. Louise is certain that behind these desperate acts someone is pulling the strings, but how many more will plunge to their demise before she can find out who—and why?

Struggling to stay focused under the strain of her troubled brother’s disappearance with his young daughter, Louise hits a much-needed breakthrough when a third tragedy points to the involvement of a charismatic cult leader. The suspect is within her sights, but he knows she’s on to him…

Short on proof and with the body count rising, can Louise intercept his deadly mission—or has she taken on an unbeatable foe?

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, British Literature, Detective

Audio CD

First published July 23, 2020

About the author

Matt Brolly is the Amazon number one bestselling author of the DI Blackwell novels set in Weston-supper-Mare, as well as the DCI Lambert crime novels, the acclaimed near future crime novel, Zero, and the US thriller, The Controller.

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

Matt lives in London with his wife and their young children. You can find out more about Matt at his website www.mattbrolly.com or by following him on twitter: @MattBrollyUK


Matt Brolly books in order:

DI Blackwell:

The Crossing (Feb 2020)
The Descent (July 2020)
The Gorge (March 2021)
The Mark (out November 2021)

DCI Lambert Series

Dead Water (prequel released August 2019)
Dead Eyed
Dead Lucky
Dead Embers
Dead Time

Other books

Zero
The Controller

For children (as M.J. Brolly)

The Sleeping Bug

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE DESCENT by Matt Brolly is a police procedural and the second book in the Detective Inspector (DI) Louise Blackwell series. It is set most in and near Weston-super-Mare in England. This series is best read in order. Louise’s background is shared in book one and helps shed light on her situation and mind-frame in book two. The story has two points of view; that of Louise and a few chapters from Amy’s POV. Amy works at a diner, lives in a run-down bedsit, and is grappling with grief.

When multiple suicides occur, DI Blackwell is called to the scene. When it appears that they may be linked, Louise works hard to discover what is occurring while trying to balance that with family troubles. The work/life balance that she faces is what many workers face every day. This added to the realism and kept me thoroughly engaged in both facets of her life.

The plot is driven by the police working through the clues. There is a lot more going on under the surface. The mystery around the suicides was somewhat unique and different from many other books using this type of story line. Other themes running through the story line include work relationships, the drive to succeed, grief, loneliness, friendship, family, alcoholism, drugs, gambling and much more.

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. While the main mystery and the family issues were resolved in the book, there are several open threads for future books in the series.

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 this author’s 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.

[Sandysbookaday (on indefinite hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

EXCERPT: From her spot on the dry grass of the churchyard, Amy glanced at Jay,trying not to make it look obvious. He was older than everyone else in the group and certainly more relaxed. There was an easiness to his long-limbed body; a sense of grace that belonged to a dancer. He sat on the other side of the fire, his arms wrapped around Claire. This in itself didn't mean that Claire would be chosen tonight, but if last month's events were anything to go by then she would be the one. The thought brought with it a mixture of jealousy and relief. Amy's time would come, but sitting here overlooking the town with its glittering lights, the sea for once at full tide, she began to doubt herself.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: In the quiet coastal town of Weston-super-Mare, a body is discovered at the foot of a cliff just months after a near-identical tragedy—and Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell can’t believe it could be a coincidence.

Next to the body, she discovers a note that echoes one found beside the first: Death is not the end. Louise is certain that behind these desperate acts someone is pulling the strings, but how many more will plunge to their demise before she can find out who—and why?

Struggling to stay focused under the strain of her troubled brother’s disappearance with his young daughter, Louise hits a much-needed breakthrough when a third tragedy points to the involvement of a charismatic cult leader. The suspect is within her sights, but he knows she’s on to him…

Short on proof and with the body count rising, can Louise intercept his deadly mission—or has she taken on an unbeatable foe?

MY THOUGHTS: The Descent by Matt Brolly is the second book in his Detective Louise Blackstock series. I have read the majority of Brolly's books and loved his DI Michael Lambert series. Unfortunately I was not so impressed by The Crossing, the first in the Louise Blackstock series, and I am even less impressed with the Descent.

The story is told by Louise, struggling with both family issues and her career. I made the comment in my review of The Crossing that 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 see no reason to change one word of that comment in regards to The Descent.

Louise spends a lot of time engaging in 'naval gazing' and 'if only I had/hadn't....' which quickly becomes tiresome in its repetitiveness. There's no development of any of the supporting characters, even the thread involving her family is repetitive. Now I am becoming repetitive. Maybe it's catching!

Despite the claim on the cover, this is definitely not a thriller. I found it slow moving and lacking in suspense.

I expected more from Matt Brolly, and I won't be reading any more of this particular series. Which doesn't mean that I won't be reading other books by this author.

🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️.6

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. 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 Descent 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, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second episode in Matt Brolly's new series featuring DI Louise Blackwell opens with the suicide of a young woman. Louise discovers a number of similarities to an earlier death and is hesitant to sign off the case as a suicide. As she struggles to find more evidence of a link and tries to stop the press sensationalizing the deaths, she is concerned there may be more cases. She's also distracted from the case by her brother Paul's behaviour. Recently widowed, he has taken to drinking during the day and Louise is concerned that her niece, five year old Emily may be at risk.

The unusual plot made for an engaging read with some interesting characters including a young woman who relates some chapters from her point of view. Louise's life needs a bit of improvement. She's lonely and stressed after being moved out of the major incidents team at Bristol to a smaller station at Weston after a dispute with a fellow officer and feels she isn't liked my most of her new colleagues. Her work is also being impacted by worrying about her brother and niece, to the point where it became overly repetitive. The ending of the book suggests that there will be changes for Louise in the future but whether they will be for better or worse we'll just and to wait and see. 3.5★

With thanks to Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for a copy of the book to read

[Darryl Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Descent" by Matt Brolly is this author’s second book in the Detective Louise Blackwell series. In this case, Louise is investigating the death, on the face of it a suicide, of a woman found at the bottom of a cliff in England’s quiet coastal town of Weston-super-Mare. A note was found with the corpse which was worded the same as one found by another body some months earlier. While these cases appear to be suicide, Louise finds the method of death and the notes found with the bodies too much of a coincidence to ignore. What is going on? When further, similar deaths occur, there is no doubt that Louise’s suspicions are well-founded. But who, or what is behind them? Past incidents and relationships have left Louise hampered by her own insecurities. She is also concerned for her brother, Paul and his daughter, Emily who have gone missing. Paul’s descent into alcoholism following his wife’s death was troubling enough but their disappearance is a further distraction she does not need right now. When she discovers what happened to the girls, Louise will stop at nothing to prevent further deaths.

"The Descent" is an unusual story for a murder/mystery/suspense novel. Were there murders at all? Everything points to suicide. If there is a killer out there, who could it possibly be, given that there does not appear to be link between any of the dead girls? Matt Brolly keeps the intrigue going throughout, making the novel a real page-turner. He has carried out an impressive amount of research as he covers a subject that cannot be alluded to here as it would be spoiler. Suffice to say, the plot is a clever one and rather unique. The story is character- driven, Louise’s persona delved into a little deeper as the series moves forward. The dead girls too, are three-dimensional real people and will gain the reader’s sympathy. Police procedure is flawless and the dialogue is realistic, especially the banter between Louise and other police officers. "The Descent" is an intelligently-written, unusual and gripping read.

[Linda Strong · Rating 4 out of 5]

A woman is found at the bottom of a cliff. General consensus is that this is a case of suicide. DI Louise Blackwell isn't convinced. Next to the body is a note ... Death is not the end.

Months earlier, another young woman was found at the bottom on a different cliff.. and there was a note there, too.

Blackwell is certain that someone is behind these acts, someone pulling the strings turning these cases into murder. How many others have not been discovered ... or marked as suicides? How many more will follow?

When a third woman is found, Blackwell sets her eyes on what she feels is the prime suspect. But she has no proof .. and no one is talking.

Simultaneously, Blackwell has family issues. Her brother has been drinking quite heavily since the death of his wife, and his young daughter is bearing the brunt of his negligence.

The plot is tightly woven between the deaths and Blackwell's personal life. It's well written with a twist that is totally unexpected. The characters are deftly drawn and I loved the interaction between Louise and her family, and the women and the prime subject.

Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Louise Blackwell #2

Set in Weston-Super-Mare: A body has been discovered at the foot of a cliff just months after a near identical tragedy. DI Louise Blackwell doesn't nelken E it could be a coincidence. There's a note next to the body that echoes the one found beside the first: Death is not the end. How many more will die before Louise can find out who is behind it all.

Louise is convinced there is a link to the women's deaths and she's determined to find out what it is. She's also,dealing with her brother who's life is on a downward spiral after the death of his wife. This is a well written police procedural. I haven't read the first book in this series but it did read well as a standalone. The story is told from Louise and Amy's point of view. This was an interesting read due to its unusual plotline.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Matt Brolly for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Dana-Adriana B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A body is discovered at the foot of a cliff, and then another one and another one. Detective Inspector Blackwell knows that it cannot be a coincidence, but then a personal problem is getting in her way. She needs to find her missing brother with his daughter.
Thank you Netgalley and thanks to the Publisher for this opportunity.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second outing for Matt Brolly’s latest protagonist, DI Louise Blackwell. A body is found at the foot of a cliff in the coastal town of Weston. Everything points to suicide, there is even a note. Nonetheless Louise does the necessary checks. She is also aware that, just a few months ago, there was a very similar death - also an apparent suicide. But when she compares the suicide notes she realises that they have one line in common “death is not the end.” Interesting! So when a third, similar, death is discovered with a similar note, Louise is certain that they are linked. Unfortunately she has no idea how. An eagle-eyed detective finds CCTV evidence of the woman in the company of a man. Finally - a potential suspect

While this is going on Louise also has to contend with a brother (Paul) who has gone totally off the rails with his drinking - thereby neglecting his five year old daughter and Louise’s niece, Emily. However, when Paul disappears with Emily and nobody knows where they are, or if they are safe, Louise’s stress levels skyrocket. She is torn between her professional and familial responsibilities and is in danger of losing objectivity.

This was a terrific story that could be awfully real, for both plot lines, but I don’t want to give anything away. While suspenseful at times, I did find the narrative a bit repetitive around Louise’s dilemma of job versus family. For an engaging story with realistic and mostly likeable characters, it could have been improved with less repetition and hand-wringing. Nevertheless I really enjoyed reading this. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Matt Brolly for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Xavier Hugonet · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Descent is the second book in the DI Louise Blackwell series by author Matt Brolly. It’s a british police procedural, and a psychological thriller.

It’s now been two years since DI Blackwell got summarily transferred from Bristol’s Major Investigation Team to the small coastal town of Weston-Super-Mare following a deadly setup by her former partner, who was angling for a promotion. Weston-super-Mare is her childhood town, and her parents, her recently widowed brother and her niece all live in the area.

In spite of her success in her first major case six months prior, and a generally supportive DCI, Louise Blackwell still hasn’t put her partner’s treason behind her. She’s as paranoid as when we first met her. As a result, she has trouble making herself at ease with her team. She keeps to herself, hides her personal life from her colleagues, made very few friends among them, and generally trusts no one. Her career has been derailed and, bitter about it, Louise Blackwell would like to get it back on track. All the while, she’s certain other parties will do everything in their power to prevent it. And, as if to prove her right, the harassment from her manipulative narcissistic ex-partner, DCI Finch, starts again. It seems to the reader that she’ll never get rid of him interfering with her life, her team, and her cases.

The new case begins when the body of a young woman is discovered at the foot of a cliff, mere weeks after a similar suicide. When a third woman kills herself in the same fashion, fear of a suicide epidemic creeps in. Then, impossible coincidences link the deaths together, leading them to be all deemed suspicious. But, the investigation of serial deaths all appearing to have been voluntary is tricky. The team has no motive to work from, and no profile of a suspect that might not even exist.

However, the reader gets more insight in these events. Once again, in what seems to be a feature of this series, the perp is known to us from the very start. The narration alternates chapters between DI Blackwell and her team’s investigation, and the point of view of a potential victim to be. We don’t get the point of view of the killer as in the first book. He is nonetheless omnipresent, his strong psychological hold on his entourage weighing heavily even on the reader.

Don’t let the absence of mystery deter you. As with any good Columbo episode, the story is all about the journey, and not the destination.

As I expected, this book proves to be a very welcome return to the town of Weston-super-Mare. The writing and depiction of the locales and inhabitants is as atmospheric as the first time around. The sea, piers, cliffs and islands are as we left them. Adding to the already oppressive mood, voluntarily or not, the victims, the woods, sycamore trees and a mysterious « waiting room » are also highly reminiscent of David Lynch’s masterpiece, Twin Peaks.

The Descent is a deeply psychological thriller, even more so than The Crossing, especially due to the somber motivation and methods of the perpetrator. This psychological aspect bleeds into Louise Blackwell’s personal life, as she cannot help but see parallels between the early lives of the victims and the current situation of her niece, Emily. Unable to cope with the death of his wife, Emily’s father, Paul, fell off the wagon. His alcoholism leads him to neglect his daughter, and his behavior gets increasingly erratic. And, we can guess early that this distressing personal situation won’t be without consequences on Louise Blackwell’s work.

There was only one good possible ending to this story, and Matt Brolly doesn’t disappoint. He leaves us with many questions to ponder, some of an existential nature. As for DI Blackwell and her many problems, the ending only brings us to eagerly expect the next entry in the series.

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

[Kerrin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting police procedural story of mysterious & tragic deaths of.women initially written off as suicides until a 3rd female victim is found dead in a similar manner to the first two women with a suicide note that is nearly identical to the other notes. DI Louise Blackwell takes an interest in the commonalities of the deaths which unfolds into a string of serial criminal behavior.

The character of the perpetrator is mainly described by his chief adorning fan, Amy which the author goes into great lengths in detail to describe her troubled mind and desperate soul reaching for love no matter how twisted that “love” may be. In the meantime, Blackwell gathers facts & evidence enabling the police to try to intervene in a horrific mass tragedy.

DI Blackwell faces her own personal struggles which distracts her from her investigation. It could be that DI Blackwell needs some time off to attend to troubling family matters, but she first doggedly has to finish what she investigates which results in apprehending the culprit and saving a couple lives.

[Valleri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Death is not the end.

I liked this book a LOT! Louise was a strong lead character without being SuperWoman, which I appreciated. I think we can all relate to her struggle to be there for her family PLUS give her all to her job. The job-related storyline was unique, as well as fascinating. Manipulative leaders in cults have been done in other books but this book had an intriguing slant that kept me engaged from page one.

I'm thrilled to have won this Kindle in a giveaway and I'm very much looking forward to reading more by this author!

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

When a suspected suicide is found at the bottom of a cliff Louise is suspicious as the circumstances, including the suicide note, are very similar to a previous death. When another body is found and the Press have dubbed Weston-super-Mare “suicide by the sea” Louise starts to suspect there may be some kind of cult at work but her mind isn’t entirely on the investigation as her troubled brother, Paul, has disappeared with his young daughter, Emily and he’s in no fit state to look after her.

I enjoyed The Descent which has a stronger plot line and a more compulsive hook than its predecessor, The Crossing, which I wasn’t overly enthused by. It is mostly told from the points of view of Louise Blackwell and Amy, a woman with knowledge of the deaths. I liked the comparison between the two points of view, Louise’s struggle to understand what is happening and Amy’s inner conflict about what she knows to be happening. I think Amy wins the most interesting story competition as her story has the forward momentum while Louise seems stuck in the rut of little knowledge and going over the same things. I also have to say that I found her inaction over he brother’s behaviour less than credible given she is a senior police officer.

Manipulative cults and their leaders are not unknown in crime fiction but I liked the slant the author put on this tale. I found it interesting and strangely compulsive when viewed through Amy’s eyes. I liked her ambivalence, clear sighted one minute and true believer the next. It’s well done. I also really liked the final deconstruction of the leader’s motives and the way it stripped away all the mysticism. That was very satisfying.

The Descent is a good read that I can recommend.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had a couple of problems with the previous book, the main one was everything was just so bleak. I wasn’t sure if I could face the next book, but there were signs that Louise had moved on a little and the next one might be a bit brighter.

This book starts with a prologue, by the time I had finished this I was already depressed and it didn’t get any better when we met Louise again. Her niece’s situation has got worse, she has an attraction to Thomas, which isn’t returned and she is still grieving after her previous job. There is very little of the normal interaction that you might expect between colleagues as the author has made nearly all of them wary of Louise. Then to add the cherry to the top of the cake, DCI Finch reappears.

There is no contrast in this book, everything is just depressing and in the end I decided this series wasn’t for me and I just had to give up.

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very gripping read, The Descent’s depressing vibe came mostly from Louise’s personal life. Amy’s POV was sad but not as gritting, though. One thing that hits me in this book is the subject of suicide and how people have different perception on the issue. For some people, suicide is a sin. It’s not something you want to talk about or promote. But in my opinion, death is inevitable and I do understand when someone is too hurt to continue. It’s their choice not us. I would not and will never judge anyone’s decision....if that’s what they really want.

[Jennifer (Jaye) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5 Stars*

This book is much faster paced than book one. We are starting to get a feel about the character of DI Louise Blackwell, she is trying to keep her job after an event whilst working for the MIT department which saw her being transferred to a much quieter station. Every case she takes her ex nemesis from MIT is always trying to take it away from her, whilst trying to make her look incompetent.

This case seemingly looks like a suicide and when there is another death in similar circumstances Louise’s gut is interested.

When samples of both victims come back with traces of the same drug in their hair she digs further.

Whilst investigating a third body turns up a link to a man Jay Chappell who was seen with one of the victims on cctv. This man is as cool as a cucumber and charismatic Louise knows what her gut is telling her. But how does she prove it. He knows she is on to him but he feels as if he is bulletproof

Now she suspects it’s murder rather than suicide she knows there is more to it. Jay Chappell preys on weak and vulnerable young women, he drugs them with a tea which takes them to “another world’ he wants them all to “move on” and dresses it up as if it’s their choice. This seems to give him a buzz and as each girl chooses when they want to “move on” Jay’s internal excitement grows.

Now he knows Louise will not give up and the Police are getting a step closer he changes the way the third victim dies. One person in his strange group of admirers is battling with doubts.

Will Louise find the proof and evidence she needs for a safe conviction? At the same time she is battling personal demons within her family which is starting to interfere with her work? Will the person close to Jay Chappell stay loyal to him……. With so much on her plate will Louise rise to the challenge?…….

[Fictionophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louise Blackwell makes for an engaging protagonist, and the beautiful and atmospheric setting is an added bonus. In this book we learn more about what makes Louise tick. Conflicted and intriguing in equal measure, Detective Louise Blackwell of the Avon & Somerset Police is fast becoming a favourite series character of mine in this her second outing. Louise is fighting herself in this novel, trying to be there 100% for her work as well as for her family. As one would expect, she fails and mistakes are made. It is distressing to realize that Louise does not trust her own judgement.

This plot featured social outcasts and a charismatic man who preyed upon their vulnerabilities. It was so disturbing to be reminded that there are many people we see every day who are 'invisible', people who have no one to really miss them if they were to disappear.... How lonely and desperate they must be.

The setting - Weston-super-Mare, a seaside tourist town in Somerset, England and the backstory of the protagonist added much to the narrative.

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

For this and over 600 more reviews visit: https://fictionophile.com/

[Laura Zarzyńska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Początek ciekawy, ale zakończenie trochę nie daje satysfakcji

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,5⭐️

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louise Blackwell is struggling. Her brother, who lost his wife fairly recently is drinking heavily & she & her parents are worried about how her niece is being cared for. At work things have not been easy since she was posted to Weston super Mare after a case went wrong. However she knows that was not her fault & she will always try her best to get justice for victims. When the body of a young girl is found at the base of a cliff, suicide is the first thought. However Louise is not convinced. A note finishing with'Death is not the end'in more than one case she is sure she is onto something.

The story is told from Louise's perspective & from the perspective of Amy- a lonely depressed young woman who grieves for the death of the baby she gave up.

This is a fast paced police procedural with interesting characters. It is the second in the series & is best read in order although it would work as a 'stand alone' only maybe not so well. I really enjoyed it & look forward to the next one. Thanks to Netgalley & te publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[Ali Mason · Rating 1 out of 5]

I find the positive reviews for this book baffling. I have the utmost respect for anyone who writes a novel, which is an achievement in itself. And I don’t want to be rude about a book that someone has put a lot of work into. But I just wanted to try to balance out some of the positive reviews which I simply don’t understand

I read the first book in this series and thought it was an interesting story badly told. I can’t think for the life of me why I read the second one now, other than a sheer lack of imagination on my part. The writing has progressed from the at times comically bad prose of the first book to ploddingly awful in the second. He repeats the same points over and over again, makes basic mistakes and continuity errors. There is zero distinction between any of the characters, especially the victims, and no psychological insight other than the most basic.

Your best bet is to read it out loud in a Martin Fishback voice and wonder if this is where Fergus Craig got the inspiration from. Other than that there’s just nothing to recommend this at all.

[Shawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story line!

I liked how you got information about the characters but not too much. Also the book had just enough characters where you could keep track of each storyline

[Louise (Bookmarks and Stages blog) Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book asks, did she jump, did she not? What are the strange notes?

The book is well-crafted as there is time to get to know the area, the characters and the story feels really well developed.

The prologue gives a great feel to Weston-Super-Mare, the setting of this book. So, even, if you haven’t physically travelled there before, you certainly can with ease with this book.

Amy Carlisle is one of the main characters , who is also within a group with Jay and Megan. Megan has been sleeping rough in Bristol (perfectly reasonable to travel from Bristol to Weston-Super-Mare).
Jay, Megan and Amy belong to a group to talk about their experiences of homelessness over tea that is not your normal breakfast tea and has unusual, interesting effects. It’s a great beginning to set the scene and introduce the chararcters before, in chapter one, readers meet, DI Louise Blackwell and her niece – Emily and within this family there’s domestic strife as all isn’t as harmonious as it could be.

The unfolding story is emotional and is well-written as it throws up social issues and also the crime itself, all intertwined to paint a picture of what’s really going on in terms of the mystery and today’s society.

There’s a body of a young woman discovered, presumed suicide by jumping, since a note is left. The crime scene on the backdrop of the sea and sand of Weston-Supermare creates a good setting and pace, which makes it a book that you can sit back and relax with. The characters are ones that it was a pleasure to get to know and there’s a nice building up of the town and the areas where the book is set. There are also little bits about issues, such as the run-down high street that is thought-provoking of some human activity as it shows it used to be busy but hardly anyone uses it anymore, so it became shabby and many shops closed.
As the story moves on, so does the body count and the notes as the intrigue builds to whether notes that have also appeared before are connected or not. Matt Brolly is good at creating the mood and really humanising his characters with emotion and natural worry in case mistakes were made and wraps them all up well amongst the case itself.

The writing is well-rounded and done well, with characters to really get into and there’s enough to keep people guessing. It does feel between police procedural and thriller in some ways in its detailing, but all the same, it is a book that readers can really get into and makes the writing well rounded. It also means you can really get to know the surroundings, the issues and the people that make up this story in Weston-Super-Mare.

[Kerrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters and scenarios in this series are building nicely. DI Louise Blackwell is a believable character, surrounded by characters who were established in the first in this police procedural series, THE CROSSING 

Blackwell has to fight hard as her boss puts pressure on her to solve a difficult case in the shortest possible time. 

Meanwhile she is distracted as her brother goes missing with his young daughter, and then it is revealed that he has severe gambling debts as well as a drinking problem. Louise is torn between giving her all to her job, and the thought that her young niece is in danger.

This looks a good series to follow.

[Flapper72 · Rating 5 out of 5]

So there are two, and then three young women who died by suicide. Really? Is this another awful cluster of young people taking their own lives or is there something more to it. And then a drug is isolated in two, and three, of the young women's hair. DMT (yes, I had to google it too). A psychotropic effect; users can have quite specific experiences. So, is it suicide. And, in the background, we hear more about Louise and her life - her parents, alcoholic widowed brother and niece. I found Louise quite a flat, boring character in the first book but she's growing on me as is her 'back story'. I'll want to find out what happens to her in the next book .

[Nicky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book two and I’m getting to be a fan of the understated main character DSI Louise Blackwell. She’s always second guessing herself and her colleague/nemesis from a previous case keeps trying to undermine her both professionally and personally but she keeps on doggedly determined to solve her latest case. I find her lack of self interest and confidence endearing and I’m hoping more of her colleagues will eventually realise what an asset she is and the annoyance of her previous colleague getting under her feet at every opportunity will be dealt with.

[bev allman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book featuring DI Louise Blackwell by Matt Brolly. Set in Weston Super Mare, Louise who has recently transferred to Weston is investigation a series of suicides. The suicides, all women, have the same tag line in their suicide note. What makes it worse; these women all want to die, but are they doing so willingly?? Great police procedurals and lots of clues. I loved this book, well written and have characters that you can relate to. Louise also has family problems, her brother Paul, recently bereaved is having trouble coping alone with his young daughter Emily. Very Gripping and sad. There should be an addendum of the Samaritans phone number, for those affected by this storyline. A must read. I will be reading the first in this series and future novels by this author.

[Sandra Knapp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good! I had not read the first book of this series, but it stood alone just great. I was engaged from page 1, and it never let up. Fast paced, and not a moment's pause, the action just moved steadily to a tragic end for some, a new beginning for others, completely satisfying for this reader. I will be looking for more from this writer, most definitely, even if that means reading the books out of order!

Would I recommend it? Most definitely!

[Juuli · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5
Pagan võtaks, Matt Brolly, sa said mu jälle õnge otsa. See ei ole enam isegi naljakas. Sarja esimese raamatu puhul arvasin ma, et see oli lihtsalt juhus, kus ma nautisin lugu, milles mõrvar oli algusest peale teada. Ei olnud. Autor teab, kuidas panna sind tegelastele kaasa elama, murrab su südame, annab lootust, purustab siis selle, näitab elu kõige kurvemaid tahke ja sealjuures ületab kirjapandu kõik su ootused.

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again Matt Brolly has done it for me. I am truly enjoying these who done it's. If you love a good detective novel this is yours! This book could be read as a stand alone, they do give you enough back story to more forward. But I recommend starting with the first book. Some of the pieces will fit much better.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mental health and suicide

This is a difficult book to review as mental health, such as depression and similar issues abound. This discusses and focuses on people who are lonely, easily manipulated, have suicidal thoughts can be preyed upon by sheep in wolfs clothing as the cliché says.

Very poignant