The Bridge - Matt Brolly

 The Bridge - Matt Brolly

She read

This is the sixth in the DI Louise Blackwell series.  A desiccated female body is found confined in a shipping container.  Is it immigration smuggling or human trafficking?  The presence of a live feed video camera suggests some other heinous crime.  It is up to Louise and her associates to uncover the perpetrator before other lives are lost. All this while balancing the morning sickness of and worry about the first trimester of her pregnancy and personal issues involving building a life with her partner, Tom and providing a nurturing, supportive environment for her parentless niece, Emily.   

Without revealing any spoilers, the crime/deviancy at the center of this book is dark and, despite the many mysteries and thrillers I have read, a new one for me.  This book is a fast, engrossing read with a well crafted plot.  Brolly’s descriptive writing is quite evocative; I could feel the discomfort and pain of the victims as I read.  

I like the character of Louise, a strong female leader, with a capable, supportive team behind her.   Although this would work as a standalone, there are frequent references to the case at the center of the prior book, The Pier.  While Brolly does a good job of filling in some of the background information, it might be more satisfying to read that one as well.  

Fans of British police procedurals will enjoy this book, as well as the entire series. 

Thanks to #netgalley and #amazonpublishingUK #ThomasandMercerPublishers for the ARC. 

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