April 3, 2020

I have a confession to make.

After the bombshell events of The Blossom Twins, I was a little bit concerned as to where the author would go with Detective Natalie Ward. Ms. Wyer set a high bar, and it was difficult to see where she would be able to go with the narrative.

Spoiler alert: I shouldn’t have worried.

Not only did the author meet expectations set from the previous book, but she also exceeded them.

The tension begins in the very first chapter with a vicious attack and never lets up. The reader knows that Natalie will be on the case. However, as she is still reeling from personal tragedy, there is a natural curiosity as to whether she will give the investigation her full attention.

Again, no need to worry. Natalie is a consummate professional.

One of the strengths of this series, as I have mentioned in past reviews, is how well the author balances Natalies personal and professional lives. The transitions between the two are seamless and allow the reader to glimpse insights into the thought process of a woman struggling with a significant loss. As you know from the blurb, these two storylines converge, which leads to even more personal turmoil for Natalie.

Another strength is the accuracy of the investigation undertaken by Natalie and her team. Finding clues, following leads, and taking nothing for granted, this is one of the most realistic portrayals of police work I have ever come across. I especially liked how the focus of the investigation changed as new evidence came to light.

I also thought that the author’s portrayal of college students was especially astute. She captured that lack of self-responsibility that some millennials exhibit – nothing is ever their fault, it’s always somebody else’s. This just added to the realism of the plot and its characters.

I absolutely tore through this book! Just know that Ms. Wyer has outdone herself once again, and I can’t wait for the next Detective Natalie Ward investigation.

Author Bio

Carol Wyer garnered a loyal following as an author of romantic comedies, and won The People’s Book Prize Award for non-fiction (2015). In 2017 she stepped from comedy to the “dark side” and embarked on a series of thrillers, featuring the popular DI Robyn Carter, which earned her recognition as a crime writer.

The Staffordshire-based writer now has more crime novels in the pipeline, although she can still sometimes be found performing her stand-up comedy routine Laugh While You Still Have Teeth.