Amazon.com.au:Customer reviews: The Mark (Detective Louise Blackwell Book 4)

Reviewed in Australia on 29 April 2022

Another intriguing story by Matt Brolly exploring the twisted mind of a lonely but deranged woman
The story covers the many possibilities leading to a final conclusion with a little glimmer of suppressed romance

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Peter Scully

Another cracker

Reviewed in Australia on 19 February 2022

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The two most difficult things in writing novels, keeping the characters deep and developing, and coming up with a fresh plot. Absolutely nailed it again.
So glad there are still great novelists out there.

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Kerry

Matt Brolly has done it again

Reviewed in Australia on 26 January 2022

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The fourth book in the Detective Blackwell series delivers another enjoyable read, continuing Louise’s story but also a stand alone read. The style of writing makes this an uncomplicated read but keeps your interest throughout. Looking forward to Book 5.

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An engrossing police procedural with added human interest

Reviewed in Australia on 24 November 2021

D.I. Louise Blackwell and her CID team based in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, return in this fourth instalment in Matt Brolly's contemporary police procedural series.
There's quite a lot of darkness to the narrative of The Mark, as Louise and her colleagues attempt to solve a series of vicious assaults, in which the victims have each been branded with a mysterious mark. Their investigations lead them into the shady world of drug dealers, addicts and underfunded rehab facilities in Weston, and to a group suspected of grooming underage schoolgirls some years previously. Meanwhile, station newcomer Inspector Dan Baker is heading up an operation aimed at curbing antisocial activity by cracking down on illegal service of alcohol - an operation that's impinging on Blackwell's attempts to identify and locate suspects and witnesses. And to add to Louise's already busy workload and family life, another victim of nasty Bristol DCI Tim Finch approaches Louise, requesting her assistance to bring him down for good. Series readers will recall Finch as Louise's much-loathed personal and career nemesis from earlier instalments, a man long overdue for some serious consequences for his misogyny and threatening behaviour.
I found The Mark an engaging read, although I occasionally found Brolly's writing overly-convoluted and the dialogue sometimes unconvincing. My feeling is that The Mark could have been improved with some judicious editing, a phenomenon I've frequently encountered over the period of the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, it's a solid police procedural with no glaring plot holes and a well-developed cast of characters. Brolly employs some clever misdirection associated with the body art and initials of several characters, keeping the reader guessing as to the identities of the perpetrators until a final dramatic showdown in Louise's own home.
The conclusion to The Mark foreshadows some changes for the central characters, and I look forward to reading future instalments in the series. I'd recommend The Mark to readers who enjoy well-conceived police procedural mysteries with added human interest.

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Dark and gritty.

Reviewed in Australia on 1 December 2021

Louise is back with another grisly case!

People in Weston-super-Mare are ending up being branded but why them, and who the hell is doing it??? Her search for answers leads her down some dark alleys indeed and it is just as well that she has an amazing team around her (sans Finch, of course, who continues to give her trouble).

She is continuing to share a house with her parents and her little niece Emily, plus their adorable puppy, Molly, but that arrangement is a bit of a mixed bag too. Then there is the situation with Thomas, her colleague.

All in all, this book had all the elements you can expect from this author - intense scenes, good characterisations, red herrings and a very solid story indeed.

I enjoyed this novel very much.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

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EILEEN PARSONS

Eileen Parsons

Reviewed in Australia on 29 November 2021

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I really am enjoying the Louise Blackwell series. "The Mark" being the latest book in the series was terrific. I was really pleased, or should I say delighted with the story, which was full on with lots of twists and turns and great characters. Matt Brolly does not disappoint. I cannot wait for the next book.

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Lizzie G

truly great book

Reviewed in Australia on 17 January 2022

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This book was truly great reading. Fabulous storyline that had me guessing until the end. I was sorry to come to the end of the book and I’m hoping there will be more to come in this series.

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Richard Cole

A Seaside Special Adventure

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 December 2021

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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.

One person found this helpful

jennyB

Excellent

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 April 2022

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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.

One person found this helpful

babs

Sounds like the end of the series

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 December 2021

Verified Purchase

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.

One person found this helpful

5 star		47%
4 star		39%
3 star		10%
2 star		2%
1 star		1%

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