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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The best part about the book is the continued character development. However, the mystery storyline was boring and predictable. There were some broader ethos discussions regarding suicide that were thought provoking but to be honest it wasn’t well developed.
I received this book for free as a Goodreads giveaway.
Why are so many young women committing suicide in Weston, a past-its-prime English seaside resort? Or is it ... not suicide after all? There are no apparent links between them, other than that they are all “lost” and living on the edges of society.
Louise Blackwell is a pretty good detective, but she’s falling apart. Her once-promising career was pretty much derailed because she trusted the wrong person. Her new colleagues mostly despise her, and they certainly don’t trust her or respect her. She has few friends. Her brother’s life is in the pits, and he is dragging her down too. Her mother is drinking too much. Her young niece may be in grave danger. Her boss, who had been quietly supporting her is losing patience, she’s got a lousy relationship with a pest of a reporter, and, worst of all, she’s losing her focus and making mistakes.
It was exhausting. The mystery was good, but the misery was relentless.
Why are so many young women committing suicide in Weston, a past-its-prime English seaside resort? Or is it ... not suicide after all? There are no apparent links between them, other than that they are all “lost” and living on the edges of society.
Louise Blackwell is a pretty good detective, but she’s falling apart. Her once-promising career was pretty much derailed because she trusted the wrong person. Her new colleagues mostly despise her, and they certainly don’t trust her or respect her. She has few friends. Her brother’s life is in the pits, and he is dragging her down too. Her mother is drinking too much. Her young niece may be in grave danger. Her boss, who had been quietly supporting her is losing patience, she’s got a lousy relationship with a pest of a reporter, and, worst of all, she’s losing her focus and making mistakes.
It was exhausting. The mystery was good, but the misery was relentless.
Oh dear.
I enjoy a good police procedural and this book has some of that. What it has entirely way too much of is repetitive naval gazing. The subplot about the brother and niece, omg enough already. The Amy internal monologs? I got it, right after the first time and did NOT thr incessant repeating.
Not sure whether I will return for the next or any additional installments.
I enjoy a good police procedural and this book has some of that. What it has entirely way too much of is repetitive naval gazing. The subplot about the brother and niece, omg enough already. The Amy internal monologs? I got it, right after the first time and did NOT thr incessant repeating.
Not sure whether I will return for the next or any additional installments.
This is a solid police procedural.
A suicide in Weston-super-Mare isn't particularly suspicious until another one happens and Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell is called to the scene. She starts asking questions, especially once she sees the accompanying farewell note that says 'Death is not the end'.
But she's also distracted by family troubles - an alcoholic brother who's not doing a very good job of looking after his child.
Soon we're introduced to a young woman who's fallen under the spell of a charismatic man who has a whole group of cult-like followers. He gives them a drug that shows them what the 'other side' might look like, and that brings them closer to him. So close he can push them off the edge of a cliff with their consent...
It's an interesting case and kept my attention. Sometimes I found the main character's concerns about her family matters a bit repetitive, but on the whole it was an enjoyable read and I'd come back for another one in the series.
A suicide in Weston-super-Mare isn't particularly suspicious until another one happens and Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell is called to the scene. She starts asking questions, especially once she sees the accompanying farewell note that says 'Death is not the end'.
But she's also distracted by family troubles - an alcoholic brother who's not doing a very good job of looking after his child.
Soon we're introduced to a young woman who's fallen under the spell of a charismatic man who has a whole group of cult-like followers. He gives them a drug that shows them what the 'other side' might look like, and that brings them closer to him. So close he can push them off the edge of a cliff with their consent...
It's an interesting case and kept my attention. Sometimes I found the main character's concerns about her family matters a bit repetitive, but on the whole it was an enjoyable read and I'd come back for another one in the series.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
In the second book in the DI Louise Blackwell series, the character has begun to hit her stride. Unlike the first book, I was hooked immediately as Louise contends with boredom and loneliness in her exile to Weston-super-Mare as well as increasing family chaos as her brother's personal troubles mount. Called to the scene of a suspicious death, Louise is unwilling to write it off as a simple suicide.and gets drawn into a complicated puzzle that forces her to make tough decisions, both personally and professionally. A solid police procedural.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing and NetGalley for access to a digital ARC.
I'm loving this British detective series from Matt Brolly, which features Detective Inspector Louise Blackwell. Admittedly, I have a weakness for British mysteries, but so far this series has excellent writing, relatably flawed characters, and refreshingly new storylines; overall, I find them reminiscent of Ann Cleeves' Shetland books.
Reassigned to the department in Weston following the tumultuous conclusion of her prior case and the deceit of her former partner, Louise finds herself following what first seems to be a series of suicides along the coast. Through a parallel narrative from the perspective of a troubled young woman, we discover that the suicides are spearheaded by a charismatic cult-like leader, who uses a hallucinogenic drug to guide young women into "the other side." The race is on for Louise to track down what the reader already knows, and our omniscience is both frustrating and maddening at times.
Louise is dealing with her own personal traumas outside of work, particularly surrounding her grieving brother (TW: alcoholism). Trying to help her parents care for her niece while keeping up at work is the source of constant stress for Louise, and she carries inner guilt for her inadequacies in both areas of her life.
Reassigned to the department in Weston following the tumultuous conclusion of her prior case and the deceit of her former partner, Louise finds herself following what first seems to be a series of suicides along the coast. Through a parallel narrative from the perspective of a troubled young woman, we discover that the suicides are spearheaded by a charismatic cult-like leader, who uses a hallucinogenic drug to guide young women into "the other side." The race is on for Louise to track down what the reader already knows, and our omniscience is both frustrating and maddening at times.
Louise is dealing with her own personal traumas outside of work, particularly surrounding her grieving brother (TW: alcoholism). Trying to help her parents care for her niece while keeping up at work is the source of constant stress for Louise, and she carries inner guilt for her inadequacies in both areas of her life.
DI Louise Blackwell's second outing is just as thrilling as her first. In this book she has to investigate the apparent suicides of two young women. Are they really suicides, and could they be connected?
The plot grabbed me right from the start. The story unfolds from the perspective of Louise and her team, and from a lonely young woman who is grieving the loss of a child. There was a feeling of dread as I listened, wondering if Louise could solve the case before more deaths occurred. I liked the setting of Weston super Mare, a fading seaside town and Brolly's descriptions brought it to life. As before Louise's personal life is full of problems, mainly concerning her alcoholic brother. This is an excellent police procedural and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Excellent narration by Danielle Cohen made this a riveting listen.
The plot grabbed me right from the start. The story unfolds from the perspective of Louise and her team, and from a lonely young woman who is grieving the loss of a child. There was a feeling of dread as I listened, wondering if Louise could solve the case before more deaths occurred. I liked the setting of Weston super Mare, a fading seaside town and Brolly's descriptions brought it to life. As before Louise's personal life is full of problems, mainly concerning her alcoholic brother. This is an excellent police procedural and I am looking forward to the next in the series.
Excellent narration by Danielle Cohen made this a riveting listen.
I really enjoyed the book, I like Matt's writing style and would definately recommend, it's got a good plot, a good range of characters and happens to be based in the town where I live so I liked knowing all the places mentioned in the book. My only issue with it, and it's a small one, is the female main character's inner monologue. It can come a cross as quite whiney and a bit 'woe is me' sometimes which after a while can be a little annoying, but other than that, it's a great read!