The Mark (Detective Louise Blackwell Book 4)

I thoroughly enjoy this series. It never asks me to suspend reality. I go to Stephen King for that. Am glad to put a lot of issues behind us though in this installment. Was relieved Louise did not cross that professional boundary that she was dancing around. It didn’t work with Finch and it looks like she learned a lesson from that. It made the ending that much more meaningful for me.

I have enjoyed the series of books with Inspector Louis Blackwell. This one was very good with plenty of suspense. I look forward to reading the next inthe series.

I’ve read all the Blackwell books and think this one was the best to date. The main characters are likable and the plot was well developed.

I really like detective novels, if that’s a genre. Matt Brolly is one of the best writers I have the privilege of reading lately. He not only writes the primary story line but also weaves in a couple of others. The characters are well developed and the interpersonal relationships add to the story. Plus the benefit of learning a new vocabulary as the story is set in Britain.

I love the characters this author comes up with. The plots are always complex and I am never sure how it all gets tied together but it always does. On to book 5 !

A scary and horrible tale that was woven into a great show of courage. Know that justice prevails and all things can be made right. A wonderful story of redemption.

The more I read of the courage and fortitude of Louise, the more I crave. It was impossible to put the book down without the knowledge of what would become of our heroine. I’m anticipating her next challenge and calling.

This is a great story with a fantastic plot. It is filled with plenty of suspense and mystery. It has a great ending.

A somewhat harrowing tale involving branding and a bent police officer at high level in the Avon and Somerset Constabulary and told by someone who obviously knows the area intimately.Harrowing times for Louise Blackwell, when a monster from her past as her senior officer reappears in her life. But she prevails in the end.Difficult to put down, and the dreadful thought that the baddies might win the day.Great stuff.

I almost gave this three stars but in the end it wrapped so many narratives up I gave it four. As usual Louise was irritated by both her dysfunctional family especially her mother and her ex, and I’ve begun to feel these are taking up too much of the series. The actual crimes- a series of human branding - were I feel I sufficiently developed though the main villain was potentially an interesting character. So too much happening and too many characters.

Having now read all the published books in this series and found them consistently excellent, I have pre-ordered the fifth.There is always a believable, down-to-earth mix between the gritty police work, fanatical villains and the human side of each character. I find it difficult to put these books down, so reach the end too soon leaving me hunting out the next one. Now going to read the earlier series, which I am sure will be just as enjoyable.

Would have given a higher rating but for the excessive,my view excessive reference to the past.Also a number of unanswered story lines. Look forward to answers in the next episode

Another great story in the Louise Blackwell series. This involves incidents of the victims being branded by a serial offender. Blackwell is bemused by the initial investigation until she starts to find the links leading to a nail biting conclusion. My only complaint was the continuance of the recurring feud with Finch which tends to distract the reader from the main story - I won't add anything further to this! Matt Brolly (no relation) is becoming a major crime writer and I am sure his fan base will continue to grow. Highly recommended.