My review is written with thanks to Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read The Birthday through Netgalley.
Ava Sawyer never returned from a birthday party two years ago. When local builders find a body on the site on which they are working, police discover that it is Ava's body and Detective Inspector (DI) Natalie Ward is called in to investigate. But before the investigation can get properly underway, another girl, who attended the same birthday party, is killed. Natalie is still haunted by her previous case and is determined not to fail this time. Can Natalie and her team find the perpetrator before they kill again?
It's no secret how much I loved Wyer's previous series, the Robyn Carter series, so I was a little concerned about whether I would warm to Natalie as quickly. Fortunately, I didn't need to worry. As with all Wyer's characters, Natalie has a comprehensive, complex back story that allowed me to sympathise with her whilst still having faith that the killer would be brought to justice. She has great camaraderie with her team, and they too have stories bubbling under the surface that I hope are explored further as the series continues.
The perpetrator for whom Natalie is searching is a twisted, damaged individual and we could see this from the chapters written from the killer's perspective. I desperately wanted Natalie to find the killer and could not rest until the mystery was solved. Wyer introduces the reader to lots of characters who are involved in the lives of the children and it's difficult to see how any of the well-meaning, friendly, community-spirited characters we meet could be capable of such awful crimes. However, it is obviously one of them and I relished the opportunity to try and put the pieces together. I should know by now that Wyer never makes this easy and despite thinking I had everything pinned down after less than halfway through I was oh so very wrong and would never have guessed the answer myself.
I look forward with baited breath to the next part of the series.

A girl in a yellow dress disappears from a birthday at a garden center and her body is found a few years later when the center is undergoing renovations. Soon after the body is discovered, girls who attended the same party are found dressed in yellow dresses and strangled. The police doggedly pursue every lead possible to uncover the killer.

This was definitely more of police procedural than a psychological suspense and I generally prefer the latter. I was intrigued by the description and am glad I read it, but I don’t have a lot to say. It was fast-paced but I found some parts to be implausible. Overall, there was nothing particularly outstanding or terrible about this. 3 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Carol Wyer for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

this is a fabulous first instalment in a new series written by this author. the story is in the police procedural genre but is well written with characters you can identify with. i look forward to reading more in this series.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A new series begins by the author Carol Wyer featuring Detective Natalie Ward. (I like the Ward bit! My surname)

A fiesty woman who has a past of not being fast enough in another series to save a child from a tragedy. This time it stays with her, drives her and could definitely interfere with her progress in this case if it weren’t for Michael. Her colleague, friend and one night of drunken mishap.

Being a DI is hard work, it’s time consuming and head consuming. When children are involved it’s difficult not to allow emotions to flare. And of course there’s no 9-5 job hours in this kind of work.

Late hours, a case that fills your every fibre, high priority and televised newsworthy interest that will fuel all parent is bound to take its toll on her own family life. Which it does.

A birthday party.
A child missing.

That’s the start of this very intense suspense. A reader will ride on the back of Natalie as she tries to find out who is responsible and what happened. You will feed off of her angst, her emotions and her dedication. But you may get frustrated over her not giving as much time to her home life, her husband, her children. Like I did. Although I understood it.

The author took me by surprise, the more I followed the procedure the more I felt like an investigator myself.

I’m really looking forward to book 2 now. Not only for another plot but to see what happens in Natalie’s private home life.

This new series introduces us to another fearless lady Detective Natalie Ward and her team. Natalie has transferred to Samford Police Station after her last nightmare of a case was not solved. Here she has a fiery and challenging case for her fresh start away from those who criticised her lack of a result. She is more determined than ever to solve the case. It is another sad case involving a little girl. It made her shiver with the memories of her last case when she heard that builders who are redeveloping a garden centre dig up a small body of a girl. She is eventually identified as a five-year-old girl who had gone missing at a birthday party 2 years earlier. As a mother of two teenagers herself Natalie knew the agony Ava Sawyer’s parents were going through. Immediately the job is discussed and the team members are each set tasks it is hoped will bring them clues as to the identity of the murderer.
The birthday party at the garden centre had included fun, party food, games and the chance to pet the animals kept by the owners of the centre. Most of the guests were from the same class at school. Ava had left her friends to go to the toilet, but she never returned and her absence was not noticed until it was pick-up time. Two years later the grim truth is discovered. Now that the investigation is re-opened answers must be found. Soon after Ava is identified, the body of another girl from Ava’s class and who had also attended the birthday party is found wearing an identical yellow dress that Ava’s mother had bought two years earlier. Natalie feels the urgency of the case and knows that she may be facing a killing spree. It is vital that she and her team put together the pieces of the jigsaw as quickly as possible. A third murder would create a serial killer situation. But it seems that everybody has an alibi. It’s a baffling scenario but Natalie knows that she must bring the killer to justice.
This new series has got off to a cracking start and I for one am looking forward to Natalie solving more complicated cases in the future. I love the vivid and fast pace of the author’s writing and the bevy of interesting and believable characters she carefully created and developed. As lead after lead turns out to be a red herring or goes blind, so even more pace is injected into the storytelling. I really enjoyed the suspense and tension each false lead generated and I breathed a sigh of relief as the story revealed all of the truths about the motive and the murderer. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Bookouture through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. I was totally absorbed throughout the entire story so it’s a 4.5* review from me. I can’t wait for the next story featuring Natalie Ward

OMG this author has done it again !!!!!!!!
I have a Carol Wyer section in my kindle library.
What can I say about this book Fantastic!!!!!!!!
I was hooked from the first page and stayed up till 3am to finish it.
So many suspects, I even had a few of my own ha ha ha.
Just lately I have read so many disappointing books and now I have found a diamond in the rough.
After reading this book makes me want to go back and read more from this author.
This book is highly recommended and is a must read.
I would like to thank the author Carol Wyer, Bookouture and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review

I really enjoyed this book until the ending. I wasn't sure who was going to be involved with the killings of the girls. Then when everything was finally revealed I felt let down. I still don't understand why. It never got explained why there was two years between the first little girl's death and the ones that followed. The ending just didn't make sense.

Ava disappears while at a friend's birthday party. Two years later her body is found. Then another girl goes missing who also attended that birthday party. DI Natalie Ward needs to figure out if the girls are connected in some way. Then another girl goes missing. While Natalie is trying to solve the case she's also trying to balance her family life with her work life. Her husband is pretty much miserable all the time and can't get over the fact that Natalie is making more money than he is. When a third girl is abducted, Natalie hopes to find her before she is killed.

I loved the book at first and kept suspecting different people. The book definitely kept my interest. I guess I was just expecting something different at the end. I loved the writing style and the characters. I loved Natalie Ward and look forward to more books revolving around her. Her husband on the other hand, will not be missed. I couldn't understand why he couldn't talk to his son about porn and made such a big deal about it. I want to find out more about Lucy, Bethany and Murray.

I recommend the book. I did really enjoy, just not the ending. I look forward to reading more by the author. The yellow shoes on the cover of the book was a great choice.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author, Carol Wyer, for a free electronic ARC of this novel.

The Birthday. A new series about DI Natalie, a Mom of two who struggles with putting her family first over solving crimes that have occurred, especially when those crimes involve children.

Twenty children go to a birthday party but half way through only 19 children are missing. Fiver year old Ava has disappeared and no one know to where.

Th story definitely will grip you and lead you through the tale of what happened to Ava. The twists in this book seem realistic as the way the story twists and turns seems a natural progression of solving a crime.

The ending will leave you a bit speechless!

I have not yet read Wyer’s other crime series but will definitely be looking into it!

Book Review- ‘The Birthday’ by Carol Wyer ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookoture and Carol Wyer for the chance to read an arc of this novel.

“One hot summer’s afternoon, five-year-old Ava Sawyer went to a party. She never came home…..”

This gripping thriller begins with a child’s birthday party at a Garden Centre in July 2015. During the party five-year-old Ava Sawyer disappears and no trace of her is found. The story then picks up almost two years later, in April 2017, when a building crew carrying out renovations on the old Garden Centre unearth a child’s body that is identified as Ava.

The next day Audrey Briggs, who also attended the birthday party, goes missing and is found murdered. She is wearing a yellow dress similar to the one Ava had on the day she vanished. Could the two murders be connected? Is someone targeting the little girls that were at the party? Are other children in danger? DI Natalie Ward and her team try to find the answers and whoever is responsible for the girls’ deaths with very few clues and no real leads. Do they have a child serial killer on their hands? Is more than one person responsible? And can Natalie lead the investigation without the residual guilt from a previous child murder case affecting her judgement and confidence?

The book is narrated mostly in the present day by DI Ward but also has chapters that flashback to the killer’s childhood and a few chapters where we see the story from the various victims perspective. Both of the latter are skillfully done as we remain in the dark as to the identity of the killer and where they will strike next. While there were a number of characters that piqued my interest as possible culprits, you are taken on so many twists and turns that even though I had a feeling about a particular character from part way through the book, I found myself doubting the accuracy of it as I’d been duped masterfully about my original suspicion early on. I love when a writer is so skilled that you can’t be sure who the perpetrator is and you’re as unsure as the police hunting them.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I was right to think it would be right up my street as I love crime fiction. It is an edge of your seat thriller that engrosses you from the first pages and you won’t want to put down. It is well written with great characters that you easily affiliate with and can feel the tension, stress and urgency of Natalie and her team as they desperately search for the killer. I can see the seeds being planted in the story for this book to be the start of a series and it is certainly one I will be reading.

After the book concludes there is a letter from the author telling of her experience of her son going missing and being found safe quickly when he was just 3 and how it helped inspire the book. I won’t spoil the tale for you but it did remind me of when my own son was the same age and he disappeared at a friend’s birthday party at a play centre. I’d been there the whole time, but when it was time to leave he was nowhere to be found. Myself, other parents and staff members frantically searched the building and rooms for what were the longest few minutes of my life, only for him to be found by another child hiding in the ball pool under all the balls because he didn’t want to go home! While I smile at that memory now, I will never forget those moments of all consuming terror when I thought he was lost and am thankful we were lucky that day.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves crime fiction, mysteries or thrillers.

I've been reading a lot of digital books from NetGalley lately, and in particular, I've been compelled to read mysteries, thrillers and suspense stories.... there are SO many good ones out there lately and in fact, I recently read one that had a pair of baby shoes on the cover.  When I was posting my review on Goodreads, I saw someone mention how the shoes were similar to those on the cover of the book, The Birthday by Carol Wyer.  I looked up this book, read the synopsis and immediately determined that the similar shoe subject was irrelevant, and that I definitely wanted to read this book.  Lucky for me, they actually had it available for review on NetGalley, so I requested it and was approved.

The Birthday is book 1 in a brand new series involving Detective Natalie Ward.  She's the mother of two teenagers. She recently moved to a new station hoping to put her last case behind her.  

We learn about Ava Sawyer, a five-year old who went missing from a birthday party at a local garden center two years ago, without a trace.  Two long years go by with no other occurrences of child kidnapping happening.  Detective Ward's first case comes along when the body of little Ava is found buried on a building site. Then, it suddenly seems like the killer is awoken when Ava's body is found, and another little girl goes missing. Murder after murder happens

Detective Ward quickly discovers that Ava's mom seems to have gaps in her alibi. In fact, she's not sure Ava's father is even disclosing everything he knows. And then the owner of the garden center - she's holding back information and Natalie can tell.

The crazy thing is that there are similarities in this case: the first thing is that they are all girls. Next, they were all at that same birthday party. Even stranger, they all went to Uptown Primary School and all of them had attended Little Stars Dance Academy. These similarities then result in a lot of suspects. 

This was my first novel by Carol Wyer and it won't be my last. This is also the first book in a new series. I think it’s going to be awesome and intriguing. The story is quick paced and complex, the Detective Natalie Ward series is clearly going to be an exciting new adventure.  I can't wait for book 2!!

Birthday parties are so much fun, especially when you're a kid. And that held true for one birthday girl, many years ago, named Sherry. Her mother put all the fixings on Sherry for her special day. A cute yellow dress with a bow. All Sherry's friends were invited to her party, with the exception of one person in particular. This was a 'girls' party and boys weren't permitted, but that didn't stop one young lad who had fixed his sights on the cute and vibrant, Sherry.

Fast forward to the year of 2015 wherein another little girl was celebrating her birthday, just like many before her. One of the party-goers decided that being at this party wasn't a place that she wanted to be, so instead of alerting an adult that she needed to use the bathroom, she decides to be a big girl and go there by herself. That would be the last time she would be heard from again. As time marched on, a few more girls who attended that party in 2015, ended up dead as well. Who on earth was murdering children for God's sake? What was the motive behind killing little girls in particular. Hmm? Detective Natalie Ward was in a real dilemma. She had had a previous case where a child was murdered and unfortunately, it didn't end the way she would have hoped.

Detective Ward refused to have this happen on her watch again! She and her team would stop at nothing to find out who the monster was that murdered children. And as you read, you'll soon discover that everything you thought you knew, perhaps you really don't.

This was a pretty decent read. One thing I found extremely frustrating, though, is the story dragged on and on and could have ended chapters ago, but I suppose the author wanted to leave her readers in suspense a bit longer than I would have liked. It got to the point that I almost didn't care who did it because that mystery carrot continued to dangle and I was tired of chasing it, but having said that, Wyer is a pretty darn good writer, which kept me interested enough to find out if I was right on who the killer was? She got me for a minute, but I had the character on my list.

Overall, this was a pretty good read. It is fast-paced, but drags a bit too long in the whodunit department for my reading tastes, but it doesn't take away from a great story line and very interesting characters. I'd definitely add this book on my to-read shelf.

What an amazing start to a new series. The beginning was brilliant kept me gripped from start to finish. Thanks for the preview

Having read and enjoyed all of this author's other series featuring Robyn Carter, it was a bit of a no brainer that I would jump in this, her new series. Well, that turned out to be an excellent shout as I started this book with just the intention of reading a few chapters before bedtime but, before I knew it, I was nearly half way through and it was silly o'clock!
We start a few years ago when five year old Ava disappears at a children''s party being held at the local garden centre. Feared dead but he body has never been found. Fast forward to the present day and a body is found. Could it be the missing Ava? And then, another child goes missing. Older this time but interestingly, turns out that she also attended the aforementioned party. Enter Det Natalie Ward to investigate. She is mindful of the connection but, as it is still tenuous, she is still open to other ideas, especially given her past experience in cases such as this. It all starts to get really scary when the second girl's body is discovered and a third goes missing and Natalie and faces a race against time to stop the perpetrator before things escalate further.
I've already said that I found this book very hard to put down. I did have to pause to sleep but I found it very hard to take my mind of it the next day at work and was itching to carry on where I left off as soon as I could.
It stays true to the genre with a lead detective who is troubled in some way, witnesses and bystanders withholding information or lying about what happened for various reasons, as well as the obligatory twists and turns that all accompany the narrative. But all of these elements are skilfully woven around a story that is original and shocking to say the least. All through, we hear from an unnamed voice; one that is really rather chilling. We get a taste of the why but not the who. I found this to be very intriguing and only made me want to read more, to crave what happened, to find out the truth once and for all.
The characters were all well dawn and fitted with their roles very well. It also helped that I took to Natalie from the off, sympathising her for her attempts to juggle work and home, not really helped by her other half, sigh. I found her detective skills to be well honed and was especially impressed with the fact that she acted within the book for the most time. Yay, not another maverick, breath of fresh air.
All in all, a cracking series opener which shows great promise. Looking forward to book two already. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

You drop your child off at a birthday party for 5-6 year olds. There are 20 children in all. You never expect when you go back to pick your child, that one is missing. The one missing is yours.

Ava Sawyer goes missing in 2015 from her friend Harriet's birthday party. Ava tends to be a emotional child that likes to sulk off when not given her way. Unfortunately this time she never comes back. Two long years go by with no other occurrences in this sleepy little town. Until Ava's body is found, then suddenly it is like the killer is awoken. Murder after murder happens, can DI Natalie Ward crack the case in time to stop the killings?

The facts: All are girls, all were at that birthday party, all go to Uptown Primary School and have attended Little Stars Dance Academy. That results in a lot of suspects.

This was my first novel by Carol Wyer and I was not disappointed. She was able to make me feel like we were in a race against time together to find the killer. As each devastating murder of a child happened I kept praying she would catch the killer soon. Unfortunately this is a very realistic story in this day and time but it was oh so good. The line that stuck in my mind was " She will be pretty forever." It sent chills down my spine but summed up the book perfectly. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and see what DI Natalie Ward has in store for us.

4 stars from me!

Thanks so much to Carol Wyer, Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC.

Best not to let your children out of your sight ...

My second book by this author and I just love the way she can keep you glued to the pages of her books.

In this story the emotions pile so high you need a ladder to get over them. A murder case is never good but when kids are involved, I even feel more involved and my heartstrings are under an even greater duress.

This story is fast paced and well written and I like the way it is structured. We get a glimpse of the mind of the perpetrator and each girl's story is revealed as well.

It certainly is not an easy case to solve and the DI and her team feel like they are fighting against a wall.

We also get a bit of inside information in the team's personal lives, but I am looking forward to really get to know them.

In my opinion this book is the first in another wonderful series. To be continued ...

Thank you, Carol Wyer, Bookouture and Netgalley

Kicking off a new series has got to be difficult, especially when you know how readers have taken so well to your other series of books.
Carol Wyer has done this perfectly with book 1 in the Detective Natalie Ward series. If this book is anything to by then this is going to be a series to watch out for. A book filled with suspense and twists, just what you need from a damn good read.
Very well written characters and a good introduction into getting to know a little about Natalie Ward. Another character that will be great getting to know more and more about over the coming books.

In this book we are faced with a little girls body being found, this little girl went missing 2 years previously at a birthday party and that case has never been concluded. It baffled the police with no leads.
Two years on and another little girl has gone missing, the link 'This little girl went to the same birthday party as the little girl whose body has just been found.
While investigating Natalie is not convinced everyone is telling the truth, there are to many gaps in peoples recollections of what happened prior.
Can Natalie Ward and her team find out more links to this case, and those much needed clues before any more children go missing.
​A gripping edge of your seat read, nail biting, heart pounding, unputdownable read, that will keep you turning those pages. What I mean is, I kind of really liked this book and it's well worth reading. I'm looking forward to more in this series and I can see it doing just as well and the 'Robyn Carter' series.

Enjoyed this fast paced, tense thriller which kept me guessing. Thanks to publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reading copy.

The Birthday by Carol Wyer was a fast-paced, easier to follow police procedural. I enjoyed this book! The crime at the center of the story was disturbing and the detective trying to solve it was determined. I loved reading about how hard the characters were working to solve the crime because it felt like I got to assess all the clues with them. A good start to a new series!

It’s an excellent gripping start to a brand new series. Joining the dots on this case proves tricky and frustrating for DI Natalie Ward and her team. When Ava Sawyer goes missing during a party at a Garden Centre, it is two years before her body turns up and acts as the catalyst for further murders with differing MO’s. The team are so far off target. None of the suspects has a motive. Not for the first time I’ve speculated how a missing child brings out the worst in people. The blame game. The hate mail. The bereaved parents suffer enough with the loss without that vindictive behaviour on top. Personally, in this case, I considered that the ratio of adults to twenty young, lively children was too low and the Garden Centre was culpable. Why would someone kill an innocent child? The plot thickens and tension mounts. Also, Natalie and several of her team have to deal with personal demons. Natalie copes with guilt about the failure of an earlier case, her marriage and her parenting. All the characters are likeable and lead different lifestyles which I found very interesting. A lot is going on in this book, and I look forward to the next one in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

I enjoyed this book immensely
I really loved it
Had an arc from Bookoutre
The book was very interesting and I had so many scenes in my head