Day: September 6, 2019

When you find a series that catches your attention, you can’t help but be excited each time a new release comes out. That is how I feel about the Detective Natalie Ward series. I came to this one late (book three) but you can consider me thoroughly hooked now!

• AMZ: https://geni.us/B07SV1HJMHSocial…
• Also available in audio: UK: http://zpr.io/tnqHf US: http://zpr.io/tnqHG

This time out, Natalie and her co-workers have a multi-faceted investigation on their hands. A young girl has died in a mysterious fire. Her best friend seems to be hiding something, her brothers all react strangely, and neighbors and acquaintances paint a conflicting picture of the girl. Then her mother disappears.

As the web of connections between the characters grows, the author keeps a deft hand in leading the reader through the details and intricacies of the investigation. And this is one place where Ms. Wyer shines.

She has obviously done her homework when it comes to the ins and outs of an investigation, as her details are spot on. I liked how Natalie is using her training to read the body language of the people she interviews. It’s an essential tactic used by law enforcement, and so often overlooked. The specific tells Natalie notices pair with her gut feelings and the evidence to crack the case(s) and find the guilty person (or is it people? No spoilers here! 😉 )

Natalie is less successful, however, when it comes to recognizing what is happening in her own family. This is an ongoing thread in the series, and it seems to now be coming to a head. With two teenagers and an out-of-work husband who has been caught lying more than a few times, Natalie has her hands full on that front as well.

As part of a law enforcement family, I especially appreciate the way the author treats the members of Natalie’s unit and their attitudes towards both their professional and personal lives. People who are dedicated to their jobs very often become consumed with the cases they work on, sometimes to the detriment of their family life.

For some, it is easier to work methodically on a job where one can produce results. For others, it’s a way to bury their heads in the sand and focus on other people’s problems instead of their own. It’s fair to say that the author does an excellent all-around job of showing the reader how complicated it truly all it is by having each of the members of the unit a deal with a different issue on the homefront. I find these sections often to be the most interesting.

There are a lot of moving parts to this story, but the action flows smoothly. The “ah-ha!” moments are well-placed. The brief glimpses into the personal lives are often triggered by an event in the investigation, so everything is natural.

Really, there is nothing to complain about here. Even if you haven’t read the first three books in the series (and why haven’t you?!?), you will enjoy this crime thriller. Do yourself a favor and grab the others while you’re at it as well!