The Gorge

Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell #3

by Matt Brolly

DI Louise Blackwell is still reeling from her brother Paul's murder when she is brought back from enforced leave and tasked with solving a strange new case—the slaughter of wild sheep at Cheddar Gorge, a place shrouded in mystery and folklore.

When a man is brutally attacked with a machete on the clifftop and a young girl disappears, Louise realises that the horror is just beginning. Rumours of a mythical presence near the gorge are spreading fast, and why is a local environmental cult resisting all attempts to solve the case? With the investigation into Paul's death about to be shelved and her bereaved niece to care for, Louise is under pressure—and running out of time. Can she find the girl and catch the kidnapper before her worst fears come true?

Drawn deeper into the dark and shocking truth behind the crimes, she soon finds she isn't the only one with secrets to hide.

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

331 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2021

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 Gorge by Matt Brolly is a police procedural and the third book in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series. The author brings plenty of suspense and lots of atmosphere to this story set mostly in and near Weston-super-Mare and the village of Cheddar in England. The tale has two points of view; primarily that of Louise but with a few short sections from the mind of a criminal.

Louise returns to work after five months of recovery from her last case. A murder investigation is about to be shelved that she feels needs closure and may not have been thoroughly scrutinized. On top of that, her niece, who is living with Louise’s parents is acting up. When her first case back is the slaughter of some sheep, she thinks she will be easing back into work. But when this escalates to something even more menacing, Louise has her work cut out for her.

Louise is a fascinating character and felt three-dimensional. She isn’t very politically savvy at work, but she fights for what is right and inspires loyalty in her co-workers. She’s also highly intelligent and has a dry sense of humor. The work/life balance that she faces is what many workers face every day. This added 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, though. Themes running through the story line include work relationships, the drive to succeed, grief, loneliness, loyalty, mental health, family, alcoholism, and much more.

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. I felt like I was walking up and down the steps of Jacob’s Ladder multiple times with Louise and then joining her on the cliff walk. While the main mystery was resolved in the book, there is a thread for future books in the series. There is some background given in this book, but the series is best read in order. Louise’s full background is shared in book one and helps shed light on her situation and mind-frame in the following books.
Overall, the plot was creative, absorbing and well-paced. I would recommend it to those who 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. Publication date is currently set for February 25, 2021. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Louise Blackwell has been on several months leave after her near escape from a deadly fire followed by the brutal murder of her brother Paul. Her first case back at work at Weston CID has her investigating the brutal killing of several sheep in the Mendip hills near the tourist village of Cheddar. Although at first glance it doesn’t look like a case requiring CID, the sheep were definitely killed by a human and not an animal and Louise knows the killer could escalate to more severe crimes. The next day a dog walker is attacked in the same area by a man wielding a knife but manages to fend him off. When a young girl is kidnapped a few days later the police don’t know whether her disappearance is linked to the previous attacks, but clearly, they need to work fast to find her.

The area around Cheddar is famous for its gorges and limestone caves and is a popular tourist destination. The evocative description of the caves and the clifftop walks add atmosphere to the setting of this novel and I felt I got to know the area well, particularly the 274 steps of Jacob’s ladder, the pathway to the clifftop, which Louise had to trek up and down many times to investigate all the crime scenes.

This was a slow build of a police procedural as the police gradually try to work out who is responsible for the killings and the kidnapping. One theory they follow up is that someone is trying to put off investors in a controversial housing development in the area and a local commune of environmentalists come under scrutiny.

Although fully engaged in locating the missing child, Louise’s mind can’t help being distracted by the investigation into her brother’s murder by the major crime unit. She can’t help feeling they are missing a vital lead in the case but is unable to bring this up with the lead detective, DCI Tim Finch who was the reason for her transfer from major crime to Weston CID, and takes every opportunity he can in interfere in her investigations or shower her with snide comments. Finch is a nasty, controlling piece of work who has his whole team under his thumb and I’d like to hope Brolly is plotting his fall from grace soon as his constant sniping at Louise is becoming annoying.

Overall, this is a good addition to the series. With some changes to her family situation so Louise can be closer to Paul’s young daughter Emily, we should see Louise well settled in at Weston in the next episode.

With thanks to Amazon UK and Netgalley for a copy to read

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the DI Louise Blackwell series, set in Weston/Portishead. In this particular book most of the action takes place in Cheddar and Cheddar Gorge. Louise is back at work after an enforced leave following the murder of her brother in the previous book. Her first case is to investigate the death of three wild sheep (yes, sheep) which had their throats slashed. The next day a man walking his dog is attacked and has his arms nastily slashed. It’s not long before an 11 year old girl disappears. Louise is alarmed by this escalation.

Everyone is wondering if this is related to a proposed development at the gorge. A man called Richard Hoxton has the job of smoothing ruffled feathers and wining the dining the potential investors. But he has a drinking problem and initially dismisses the feeling that someone has been watching them during a night time exploration of the caves, a bit of drunken revelry. But Hoxton is uncomfortable about his job and doesn’t trust his drunken self so he ignores what turns out to be pivotal to the case.

At the same time Louise has been informed that the investigation into the death of her brother will soon be scaled right back. She cannot legitimately look into this but co-opts the help of Farrell, a detective out of Portishead working for her nemesis and former boss DCI Finch. He is a piece of work! So Farrell does a bit of digging and finds a new lead.

Back at the gorge, a young boy has now been kidnapped and the stakes are rising in this strange and disturbing case. It was actually a good plot and could have been really exciting but somehow the pace and drama that I have come to expect from Matt Brolly’s books seemed a bit lacking. I found this book to be somewhat plodding and I had trouble concentrating. However, Louise has a few wins this time so maybe she will be in a better place in the next story. The characters are good too, it just needed a bit more oomph! Thanks to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Matt Brolly for providing me with a copy of the book to review. My opinions are my own.

[Carole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gorge by Matt Brolly is third in the DI Louise Blackwell series. The DI’s brother was murdered in the second instalment and detection continues in this story as well as a whole other series of crimes. DI Blackwell is assigned to the investigation of the death of wild sheep found in the Cheddar Gorge in Somerset, UK. Their throats have been slashed and the crime soon leads to crimes against humans. A man is accosted on the trail and is injured by an unknown assailant and police think this may be related to the wild sheep. A young girl then disappears on the same trail, without a trace, leaving the DI and her people completely at a loss to solve these crimes. Who is this culprit? How is he managing to avoid detection? Will there be more serious crimes around the gorge? The murder of DI Blackwell’s brother is an important part of this mystery but I found it made the plot confusing, with a whole other series of offences occurring simultaneously. This led to numerous characters who were at times difficult to keep track of. The DI appeared to be so busy that she almost never slept, making her job seem unrealistic. If you like plenty of action with your mysteries, The Gorge is for you. Highly recommended. Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK, NetGalley and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third in Matt Brolly's D.I. Louise Blackwell series, The Gorge is a great read, with complex and relatable characters and an evocative setting.
D.I. Louise Blackwell is just returning to work after five months' medical leave, and is still reeling from the murder of her brother, Paul, and the effect this has had on her family, especially her 6-year-old niece, Emily. She's finding it hard to maintain professional distance from the continuing investigation into Paul's death, which has yet to identify a perpetrator.
On her first morning back, Louise is called from Weston-super-Mare to the nearby picturesque Cheddar Gorge (of cheese fame), where several wild Soay sheep have been brutally slaughtered overnight. At first, she thinks the assignment is a wind-up, but soon feels the sinister undercurrents of the crime. Before long, a man walking his dog has been attacked by a concealed assailant, then a local girl goes missing while walking the same clifftop path. D.I. Blackwell finds herself SIO of a major incident, putting her at loggerheads with her nemesis, the manipulative and underhanded D.C.I. Tim Finch. When a 9-month-old baby is taken from his home, the stakes are raised even higher, as Blackwell and her team race against time to identify the criminal.
While The Gorge is well paced and plotted, and features an engaging cast of characters, the standout for me was the way Matt Brolly incorporated the mysterious and picturesque setting of the Cheddar Gorge and caves. Having lived in the area for a while as a child, I found his writing really brought back the feel of the place to me - it's an atmospheric backdrop for a stalking malefactor to lurk, using the extensive limestone cave systems or slinking around in the fog which descends from the Mendip Hills.
The character of D.I. Louise Blackwell is well-developed and convincing, as she struggles to balance the pressures of her job with her family responsibilities (her aging parents have taken over the guardianship of her traumatised and demanding 6-year-old niece). She's suffered career setbacks in the recent past, largely orchestrated by her former superior officer, D.C.I. Finch. She's aware of the danger associated with investigating her brother's death herself, but remains persistant, which is understandable in the circumstances. I wonder whether Finch will receive his comeuppance in a future instalment in the series, as it seems that Louise Blackwell's skills and abilities are wasted in a regional posting, rather than the MIT (Major Incident Team), of which she was once a member.
The Gorge was a stimulating and enthralling read, which I have no hesitation in recommending to readers who love well-written police mystery-thrillers and great characters.
My thanks to the author, Matt Brolly, publishers Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

[Mick Dubois · Rating 3 out of 5]

After a forced sick-leave, DI Blackwell returns to work. Her first case feels like a joke. Someone has killed 3 feral sheep in Cheddar Gorge, a picturesque village in an area of outstanding beauty. It’s not a case that normally involves the CID, but there’s pressure from some councillors that are golfing buddies of the Chief Constable and they have to take it seriously. The matter escalates when a couple of days later, a dog walker is attacked at the same location with a similar knife. It’s now a case of attempted murder. Then, an 11-year-old girl goes missing. There are several groups of with various interests in the area: an investment company wants to build luxury flats, the National Trust wants to keep things as they are, local landowners like to make a killing selling their land, and the local tourist industry sits amid all this. Louise’s nemesis, DCI Finch turns up and tries to snatch this case away from her.

While all that is going on, Louise is told that the murder investigation into her brother’s death is going to be shelved as there are no leads or tips. Although she’s warned to keep out of it, she does her own bit of investigating.



I requested this book after reading a raving review. Unfortunately, I’m a bit disappointed as it took me a while to get into the story. At first, I had trouble connecting to the main character but that changed when she more or less adopted the dog of the assault victim.

A character that piqued my interest is Richard Hoxton. Although he works for the property developer, he seems to have a moral compass. Not only does he understand the grievances of the local people, he genuinely believes that his boss is the best choice to build houses in the area. I’m not so sure about Walsh’s intentions but I developed sympathy for Jennings when he asks Louise to go on a date. He does have a drinking problem; he’s a functioning alcoholic but suffers from blackouts. This is not in his favour as far as Louise is concerned as she has more than her fair share of alcoholism in her family history.

The story moves but slow and meanders about without much happening, apart from the crimes that is.

Although this is the 3rd book in this series, I could follow the narrative without any problems. There’s a lot of information about the previous cases that give an insight into the problems Louise has. But I would advise the author to use a different editor as I found several plot holes (what happens to the dog, does he go back to his owner, where and when or where does he stay when she’s working? At a given time Hoxton calls Louise and needs to meet her to give info but this doesn’t seem to happen and in the next line she seems to act on some undisclosed information) Rather shoddy work. I’m sorry to say that it’s rather mediocre as far as the intrigue as well. It feels as if he used a template and a checklist but couldn’t sew the whole thing properly together.

I liked the description of the area and the local history, which seems to be authentic as far as I know. The picture on the cover depicts the gorge in question, I suppose.

I thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the free ARC, this is my honest and unbiased review of it.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gorge is the third instalment in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series, set in and around Weston-super-Mare, Portishead and the small village of Cheddar. DI Blackwell returns to work at Weston CID having been on five months enforced leave to recover after a near death experience escaping from a deadly fire shortly followed by the brutal murder of her brother Paul. Her mental scars are still very much raw and she is struggling and now helps care for her fatherless, traumatised and grieving niece by supporting her parents who have now become Emily's full-time caregivers. On her first case back she's called in to investigate the ruthless slaughtering of several sheep in the Mendip Hills near the scenic village of Cheddar and Cheddar Gorge. The three wild sheep had their throats slashed from side to side. She soon ascertains that the sheep were killed by a human as opposed to an animal and the fact that it's well known that killers usually choose an animal for their first few kills they can quickly escalate to slaying people. And escalate they do. The following day a dog walker is savagely attacked by a man bearing a knife in the same location, but luckily he manages to get the better of the perpetrator but not before receiving slashing injuries to his arms.

Then an 11 year old girl goes missing yet the police don't know for sure that the abduction is linked to the other crimes but they must put all of their manpower into finding her. Could these crimes be related to a divisive, unwanted and proposed building development at the gorge or is this something else entirely? This is a riveting, compulsive and nerve-shredding police procedural with enough drama and intensity to keep you gripped through to the end. The way the multiple plot threads converge is adeptly executed and involves a lot of clever thinking which helps to make this such a scintillating read. Louise and colleagues are a solid and efficient team who pull no punches and trust their instincts. This is very much a palpably tense and action-packed thriller. The stunning surroundings were richly described so much so that they almost became a character in their own right and the intertwining of the main plot, including the killing of the sheep, the attacks and the abductions, and the developments going on in Louise’s personal life are equally fascinating with Louise distraught that the police are planning to scale back the investigation into her brother’s murder and of course she's still dealing with her boss DCI Finch. An entertaining and enthralling, clever and engrossing read, which is a nailbiting page-turner from the get-go. Highly recommended.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Louise Blackwell is just back on the job after a five month break following the brutal murder of her brother. When she’s told her first case involves some dead sheep, she thinks the others at the station are winding her up. But then a man walking his dog is slashed with the same kind of knife, and things get really alarming when 2 children are abducted. Could it be related to a developer’s feud with local environmentalists? I was unfamiliar with this author, but would recommend this edge-of-your-seat thriller to anyone who enjoys British police procedurals. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Mike · Rating 2 out of 5]

The third in the DI Louise Blackwell series, it begins with her trying to deal with her brother's murder. Upon her return to work, her first case is a complaint regarding the slaughter of wild sheep at Cheddar Gorge. With a backdrop of antagonism from a former colleague, a development application for Cheddar Gorge and mystery occurrences happening, the investigation begins. Having not read any of the prior books was a disadvantage as the character development therein is lost to first time readers. Although an acceptable police procedure, the mystery and folklore basis of the story was not all that gripping. Unfortunately, only a passable two-and-a half-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes.

[Roxanne Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Louise Blackwell series keeps getting better. After the murder of her brother, Louise is torn between her official investigations into missing children and making sure that her brother's case doesn't get shelved. On the personal front, Louise's mother is drinking too much and her young niece is striking out at her grandparents. Matt Brolly keeps all the threads in hand and delivers a compelling story. Don't miss this one.

Thanks to Thomas Mercer for access to a digital ARC via NetGalley.

[Shereadbookblog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in the DI Louise Blackwell series; it is the first I have read. Louise has just returned to duty after the still unsolved murder of her brother. Her first case, much to her chagrin, is the slaughter of some wild sheep. Soon this case mushrooms into something far more dangerous. As lead officer on the case, she balances it with her investigation into her brother’s death, something she knows she shouldn’t be doing and something which just might get her into trouble.

Louise is a strong female character and this book is a fast engrossing read. Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy The Gorge. An added bonus is the vivid description of the Cheddar countryside, its gorge and caves, and the surrounding Mendip Hills.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the DI Louise Blackwell series, but it can easily be read as a standalone without feeling you’ve missed something.

The series is set in the Weston-super-Mare area, with this story focussing in and around Cheddar Gorge. Some sheep are attacked and killed, a walker is attacked with a knife (but, fortunately, his injuries are not life-threatening), a young schoolgirl goes missing, then a small baby is snatched from his cot. It seems that all these events are related and whilst DI Blackwell is investigating the cases, she’s also – unofficially – trying to get to the bottom of her brother’s recent murder.

In DI Blackwell’s personal life, she is very worried about her young niece who is now orphaned and in the guardianship of her grandparents. Little Emily is showing some concerning behaviours, but a little bit of assistance from her puts the final piece into the jigsaw puzzle of her dad’s murder.

This is one of those books that you read in a short space of time because you can’t put it down, then get to the last page and wish there was more! A fantastic read that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

Louise returns to duty after 5 months leave due to the murder of her brother, Paul, and is asked to investigate the death of three wild sheep at Cheddar Gorge, which appear to have had their throats cut. Then, in short order, a man is attacked and a young girl disappears in the same area.

I enjoyed The Gorge in parts, but it’s a slow read that doesn’t go very far and it didn’t really hold my attention until the last few chapters where things heat up. The plot has three main strands, the events in Cheddar which is Louise’s case, the investigation into her brother’s murder that she’s supposed to stay away from, and her ongoing feud with DCI Tim Finch which has featured in all three novels. This and the novel being told from various points of view give it a choppy, disjointed feel with the reader unable to settle in to a straight narrative. The events in Cheddar are a good and interesting premise and could have been made into an engrossing read, but the unnamed perpetrator’s voice destroys much of the mystery and the constant switching to the other plot strands diminishes the possibility of engrossment.

The reasons for the antagonism between Louise and DCI Finch are well documented in the previous novels so it’s getting tiresome and becoming an unnecessary distraction. He’s a nasty man whose petty vindictiveness is getting worse. I just wish he’d get his comeuppance and we could all move on and be able to concentrate on Louise’s investigations. Louise, on the other hand, is portrayed as a bit of a sad character. Her work life is a bit of a misery because of Finch, she has few friends and no social life because Finch has given her trust issues and she spends most of her free time trying to sort out Paul’s 6 year old daughter, Emily’s problems. It’s dreary.

The Gorge is a solid read but it’s more character driven than I like in a procedural.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I have some mixed feelings about this book.

While I did like the personal side of it and how Louise's life moves forward I'm already sick and tired of Finch as a character. I can't see the back of him soon enough!

The mystery side of things started out really intriguing, but the point-of-view chapters telling the story of the person behind everything was once again the weakest links for me, personally.
They do give you context for the crimes that you otherwise wouldn't get, but if I'd skipped them, I wouldn't really have missed much, if anything.

I've started to suspect the author is quite fond of mentally disturbed killers.
This one eventually plays out the full "Insane Card" - which is one of my least favourite ones. I mean, sure... Is it possible to run around and slaughter sheep, then move on to people, and kidnapping while having a psychotic episode? Uhm... Probably.
But is it likely??? Ehhh... It sure as Hell didn't feel that way.

I feel like I'm sucked in by this series at the moment though, so I will keep going with book #4.

[Triinu · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Brian Deegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

5th Matt Brolly book I have read and the 3rd of the Detective Louise Blackwell Series ..

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

325 pages

3 and 1 / 2 stars

This is a well written and plotted novel as are all of Matt Brolly's books. I did have problems in some areas that I felt had poor transitions. I was heartened to see that Louise's misgivings about returning to work were exaggerated. She gets on well with her team and they seem to respect her as well. I did not like this book as much as I usually do with Mr. Brolly's novels. It just didn't click for me as his others books have.

We see DI Louise Blackwell returning to work after a leave of several months. Her first case is one of murdered sheep. Some wild sheep have been killed by some individual. Of course, Louise gets ribbed about this by her colleagues.

At the same time, she is frustrated with the pace of the investigation into her brother's murder. And her young six-year old niece is acting out and Louise is quite concerned about her.

Two days later a man is attacked with a machete. He reports that the “man” was breathing weird and looked misshapen. Then, a young girl goes missing. Are all these events related? Just what is going on? All this seems pretty extreme for the environmentalists who have been active in the area trying to stop a development project.

I want to thank GoodReads for forwarding to me a copy of this book as the result of being a winner in their giveaway. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Alison JH Tull · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly Recommend Matt Brolly again

Again brilliantly researched location wise,although being from the area Clevedon Beach definitely doesn't have sand,muddy water and pebbles!!The beautiful Victorian Pier has also been totally rebuilt after its collapse! I would suggest that readers read the book containing Paul's murder first for some background into Louise's family history. Only a personal small criticism,maybe due to my lack of concentration but I did find myself getting mixed up with which male was which! A definate good read again from Matt Brolly 😍

[Hazel · Rating 2 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Amazon Publishing UK - Thomas & Mercer for the electronic copy.

This is the third book in the DI Louise Blackwell series. I haven't read the previous ones but there are enough references to her previous cases to understand what's been going on.

Set around Cheddar Gorge, Louise has returned to work following the murder of her brother Paul (her niece Emily apparently witnessed it), to be asked to investigate the killing of feral sheep in the fields above the gorge. Although initially thinking this was some kind of joke, examination of the sheep concluded that their throats had been ripped apart by a hunting knife. Shortly after, a dog walker is attacked on the cliff path by a knifeman but only had superficial defensive wounds as the attacker ran off. This is followed by an eleven year old girl disappearing whilst walking home. Louise is desperate to find some connection, some clue as to motive. Could this all be about scuppering the proposed development being considered by the Council? As the search for the girl continues we intermittently have narrative from the perpetrator's point of view. Then a nine month old boy is abducted from his bedroom.
Throughout, the narrative gives prominence to Richard Hoxton who works for Walsh Developments and entertains the influential investors the development needs. I'm really not sure why he was included at all - the reader learns more about his character than is warranted.

I'm afraid that I didn't really enjoy this book. It was laborious reading with Louise constantly drawing parallels between the missing girl and her niece, her mother's drinking with that of her brother and Hoxton. Also her angst about the possibility of her brother's murder remaining unsolved.
Lots of repetitiveness but very little characterising, apart from Hoxton. All seemed rather disjointed to me.

[Clifford Nutley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t feel this book gripping and with a thin plot it isn’t one that I would recommend.
The story wasn’t convincing and although I gave it 3 stars it doesn’t deserve anything higher.
Should there be a 4th. in the series I doubt I’d bother reading it.

[Syeda Sumayya Tariq · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in a series, and normally I don't start on a book in a series before reading the previous books but the blurb was so good I had to jump in. The story continues from the previous books and even though there's enough to make sense of what happened previously it was still jarring to jump in the middle of the story, I'd suggest reading the previous books before getting into this one.

I loved the plot and the overall feel of the book. It's a very atmospheric, and interesting police procedural with multiple storylines overlapping each other. I just found it a bit slow, and predictable at times wasn't able to hold my attention for long and I kinda struggled to finish it. I'm glad that I continued anyway, because this certainly picked up several times, and shows potential for the nest book in this series. Just lacks some juice but overall enjoyable!

[Hannelore Cheney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
This, the third in the DI Louise Blackwell series and the best yet, I really enjoyed it. I'm liking her better with each book.
It starts off with her being sent out to attend and investigate the brutal killing of feral sheep. At the same time she's still trying to find out who murdered her brother. Her little niece is with her parents, still traumatized having seen her father killed.
Then there's an attack on a man, and the kidnappings of two children; keeping her and the team busy and with very little sleep.
I loved the description of the area, sounds wonderful.
The ending is very tense and satisfying. And I am excited about the addition of Molly at the end, every book needs a dog! Definitely recommended.

[Mainer207 · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of alcoholism in the book so if that might be a trigger, be aware.

The third book in this series still has DI Louise Blackwell heading a team of detectives in the west of England. Unfortunately, Louise still spends a lot of energy obsessing over her brother’s death, a former colleague now her superior, and her guilty feelings about her family. The case they’re working on is interesting. I was hoping, though, that the character of Louise would have moved on from the angst in the first two books.

The narration of the audiobook was well done.

[Victoria Robinson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first two books of this series but this one feels forced to me. Every time a child is mentioned in this book it goes on about how the detective couldn't help but think of her niece and it begins to drive you a bit up the wall

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gorge is the third instalment in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell series, set in and around Weston-super-Mare, Portishead and the small village of Cheddar. DI Blackwell has been on enforced leave for 5 months following the murder of her brother, Paul and a near-death experience involving her escape from a fire. She has been supporting her parents who are now looking after her niece, Emily and has just returned to work at Weston CID. Her first case back involves investigating the slaughtering of sheep in the Mendip Hills. As an experienced detective, she knows that killers often slay animals before escalating to more serious crimes, so is horrified when a man is attacked with a machete. When a young girl is kidnapped a few days later the police don’t know whether her disappearance is linked to the previous attacks.

This is a riveting and compulsive police procedural with enough drama and intensity to keep you gripped through to the end. I like Louise's character and she felt three-dimensional and very convincing. She's intelligent, has a great sense of humour, fights for what is right and inspires loyalty in her co-workers.

The personal lives of the characters, particularly Louise's and Emily's, are a fair chunk of Matt Brolly's tale, and his writing flows enjoyably making this a book I devoured easily. Whilst The Gorge is a police procedural it is also an examination of relationships. The novel is mainly told from Louise's point of view with brief sections from the mind of a criminal. The author also explores the atmospheric setting in interesting detail giving a real sense of place. Captivating, nailbiting and emotive.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Thomas & Mercer via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Flapper72 · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books seem to get better with each one I read from the series. I'm not sure if that's because the character becomes more complex. You learn more about her, her personal story is a 'back story' through the series although, having said that, each book also stands well in isolation as you're reminded of her previous life experiences to bring you up to speed. This book is based in Cheddar, around the Gorge, and a couple of sheep are found with their necks slashed. Then a child goes missing and it just seems to go from bad to worse. I think sometimes these books can feel a bit disparate at the beginning because it's impossible how all the facets of the story are going to be brought together. As the story evolves though characters intermingle and mesh and it all becomes clear. Actually, it does't become clear, it's not as if the outcome/starting point becomes blatantly obvious but the characters' lives intermingle and they all feel comfortable telling their story. Onto number 4!

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

And finally we hit the high note with the third outing in the Louise Blackwell series.

Having started strong and then seemingly having a mid series crisis, I was sceptical as to whether this would follow in the footsteps of its predecessor. I’m pleased to say that I was very wrong.

The Gorge is mighty in both setting and story. Louise has finally settled as a promising detective series.
The story is strong, with fantastic and to my memory, accurate descriptions of a beautiful corner of the South West.

Still reeling from brothers death, as described in the closing chapters of Number 2, Brolly does an amazing job in showing how difficult she is finding the death and a very good backstory as to how she manages her personal and professional life.

I have no criticisms of this novel and I am pleased that the series has continued in this manner and I sincerely hope that we will have a further book.

[Calum McCabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline is again an usual one. However the character departmental and sub-plot that has continued through the 3 books, continues to develop. This is definitely one of the highlights of the series

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gorge by Matt Brolly is the third book in the Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell set in and around Weston-super-Mare, Portishead and the small village of Cheddar. and what a brilliant read this was. I was gripped from the very first pages till the end. This book is full of great twists and turns throughout

I highly recommend this series I loved it

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

[Jill Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

#3

Another good suspenseful story! Louise is a likeable character who is determined to do the right thing! That is admirable!