Really enjoyed this book. Had not read the first one in this series, but the book was well written and very exciting.
A murderer killing woman with a child, the women looked like his. Mother.

The investigation leading up to the capture of the killer was very exciting, and I will definitely look out for another book in this series
Thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read this very exciting book.

When you are reading a good book, you should be allowed to continue doing so without having to stop and occupy yourself with details such as eating, sleeping, etc. But life happens and that's why I was not able to finish the book as fast as I would have liked to. On the other hand it only increases the reading pleasure because once you have devoured the last sentence, the wait for the next part of the series starts.

The author has done it again. She has captured my attention from the very beginning and it never wavered.  I love her writing style and the way she can create a story. The cover was a gem as well.

Little by little we get to know Natalie's team. We are treated to some personal details about each of them. But we may not forget we are reading a thriller and the focus has to stay on the case in order to keep the suspense level as high as possible. The author has done this perfectly. She gave the reader a breathing space here and there before she threw us in the deep end again.

I hope I can meet up with Natalie and her team again real soon. 5 stars.

Thank you, Carol Wyer, Bookouture and Netgalley.

This is a brilliant series from Carol Wyer featuring the detective Natalie Ward. She has home troubles of her own and has to work on a horrific new investigation where mothers are being murdered whilst their child is locked away. Just what is the connection between the women and who is targeting them and why?
It is a real page turner – you can’t wait to read more to find out just what is going to happen next. I love this series.

This Ginger Book Geek is a huge fan of Carol Wyer and her books. I greedily devour each one that she releases. I love the Robyn Carter series and the Natalie Ward series. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of ‘Last Lullaby’ and I started reading it as soon as I could. Wowzers ‘Last Lullaby’ is one bloody good read and I thoroughly enjoyed it but more about that in a bit.
I took to Natalie Ward from the first time I met her in ‘The Birthday’. Opening the pages of ‘Last Lullaby’ literally felt as though I was reuniting with old friends. Natalie is a career detective who goes above and beyond the call of duty. She does her very best for those who are affected by crime and she strives to put the guilty behind bars where they belong. I would love to work for somebody like Natalie. She is a very fair boss, who does her equal share of the workload and she has your back. She pitches in to help those who need assistance and she plays by the rules. The case in ‘Last Lullaby’ gets to Natalie and I could understand why. A mother cut down in her prime and her young baby is left without a mother. I didn’t doubt that Natalie would collar the guilty party. If something doesn’t seem right to her, then she will not hesitate to investigate until her own satisfaction has been satisfied. Natalie does have problems in her home life with her partner losing his job and the fact that Natalie is the chief bread winner. Her dedication to her work often intrudes on her home life and she doesn’t always have an equal work life and personal life balance.
Bloody nora, ‘Last Lullaby’ was one hell of a fast paced story which had me on the edge of my seat. It was a case of ‘sit down, buckle up and enjoy the ride’. That’s what I think anyway. The book starts in such a shocking way that ensures that I will not forget it for a hell of a long time to come. I became addicted to this book from the moment I read the synopsis, never mind when I began to read the book itself. I just knew that this was going to be one very well written book. The author’s writing style is such that she entices you in from the first word and she reels you in much as a fisherman reels in a catch. Before you know it you are hooked and you might as well cancel any plans you have because you will not be able to put the book down. Indeed I found it nigh on impossible to put the book down. I just couldn’t stop reading and if I did have to put the book down, then I would count down the time until I could pick it up again. The author uses such powerful and vivid descriptions that I actually felt like an invisible member of Natalie’s team. I found that I would read certain passages and make mental notes of the questions I would ask if I was the interviewer. I get far too involved in reading books as you can probably tell.
Reading this book felt like being on a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with twists and turns aplenty- some of which you will be expecting and others which creep up on you and have the same effect on you as would a punch to the gut. There were certain moments that had me gasping out loud because I could scarcely believe what I had read. There were also times when I almost had to read through my fingers because I feared what was going to happen next.
In short, I bloody loved this book and I would definitely recommend this author and her books to other readers. I can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

The second book in the Detective Natalie Ward series. I loved this book just as much as the 1st.
We start by meeting a family and the woman and her husband are arguing we follow the woman home where she is murdered but who has done it? We are introduced to lots of characters and there are lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing who the murderer is.
We also learn more about Natalie’s family and I love the way that she doesn’t just have a perfect home life and she really has to juggle her time and as the main income earner put work first sometimes.
Another great book and I look forward to reading about Natalie’s next crime to solve.

Last Lullaby. One scary word, one comforting word. As long as I am not the one singing, lullaby is the happy word (just so we’re on the same page!) I tried my best to come up with a review written like a lullaby, but I encountered two obstacles: the first one is that I am not good with lullabies. The second involved the images that the book created in my mind. Vivid as a nightmare that wakes you up drenched in sweat, heart-wrenching as the cry of a child for their mother, impossibly addictive. I had no words!

Darkly brilliant, Last Lullaby was my first Carol Wyer book but it won’t be the last! I don’t mind grisly murders, I love blood and complex investigations. Give me a powerful and intricate plot and I’m in heaven. Well, I was in heaven with this novel!

In previous reviews, I mentioned how important the main characters are for me to connect with a narration. But this time, what kept me utterly and unconditionally engrossed was the plot. The first chapters… I was in. Thanks to the author’s brilliant characterization, I was interested in what was going to happen to the couple we meet at the start. Terrible idea to get attached, I should know! The violence of the crime didn’t just stem from the brutal murder of a mother in the room next to her kid. No, it was in the setting, in the shadows, in each word carefully chosen by Carol Wyer. It was in the unfairness. I clinched my fist, the knuckles of the hand holding the Kindle went white around it. It was like being at the receiving end of a massive blow! I even stopped breathing! I am not going to forget this book any time soon! Adrenaline was racing through my veins!

When it was all over, and the police case began, (and when my heart recovered enough), I discovered what felt like authentic police work. Realistic descriptions of the scene through cops’s eyes is always a sign of a good book to come, and the author made sure we got plenty of details, accurate and precise, to feel right in the moment. Then came the game. The lying game. I am used to witness hiding things, lists of suspects that you can’t crack, and taut interviews but Carol Wyer set a new record! This case is a giant ball of entangled wool!!! Like a cat, I kept pulling threads that led nowhere. I took one step forward, two steps back. I had a feeling everyone was hiding something, that everyone was protecting themselves and it was so frustrating! I was a cop in front of a 5-meter high wall. I loved how each suspect, each witness had a whole life, background, that I discovered one page after the other. Again, like a cat in front of a tennis game, I was going back and forth to try and figure out what the motives behind the murders were.

Along the investigation, we get clever and frightening chapters of an unknown character and their psychologist. Another smart move from the author as she keeps giving clues and red herrings galore, keeping the reader on their toes until the very last moment!

Last Lullaby is the second book in the Natalie Ward series. I liked Natalie but I felt I didn’t spend enough time with her to really get to know her. I really enjoyed the fact that she is a wife and mother trying to juggle with her personal and private lives, and I am very curious about her. I want to know more! I guess that, just like during a real case, you don’t get to spend enough time home, so I am hoping the first and later, the third book, will help me understand Natalie better, both as a cop and as a woman.

Last Lullaby is an unputdownable cat-and-mouse game with enough twists to keep you awake!

this is the second instalment of the DI Natalie Ward series. i have to say i found this current offering so much better than the first and enjoyed the fact that more was revealed about Natalie’s marriage to David and the dilemma she faces at the end of the book and i look for to seeing how that pans out.

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

Terrific Story!

WoW! I really enjoyed this pschological crime story. This book had me on edge trying to figure out who the real villains we're until the very end of the book and that is a large feat for me since I usually have the mysteries or crimes solved before I am halfway through a book. This story was a real page turner and I hated when I would have to put this book down, so this really made reading this book a 5/5!


The story begins with the body of a young wife and mother found brutally murdered and the husband finding her body. Of course, the husband is the prime suspect but there are so many other suspects as well. The chief detective on the case is Natalie, also a wife and mother yet is at the top of her game as far as her police work is concerned. Natalie heads a great team of officers who are almost as driven as she is. Another murder is committed during the hunt for the killer of the first victim and the team needs to find out if both crimes are the work of he same killer. There are wonderful background stories for every character and you just want to know more and more. This book does not disappoint!


This is my 2nd book by Carol Wyer and I have a few others that I purchased and am looking forward to reading. This book is so well-written and I found it very intense and exciting. I loved all the twists and turns and the well-developed characters who I hope to encounter in other Ms. Wyer's books. I highly recommend this book and given a rating of 5 Twisty 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars!!


I want to thank Bookouture and Netgally for allowing me to read this wonderful book in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion!

I was eagerly awaiting the second book in this series featuring Detective Natalie Ward and I was certainly not disappointed. This book was even better than the first. We see how Natalie struggles juggling her work and home life, coping with two teenage children and a shaky marriage. Natalie and her team are investigating the brutal murder of a young mother with her baby in the next bedroom. Her husband discovers her body so the suspicion falls on him as Natalie uncovers his hidden secrets. A second mother with a young child is murdered in similar circumstances and Natalie and her team find themselves looking for a serial killer. Their frustrations are revealed as they are given false leads and we are all in the dark as to who the murderer could be. This book is brilliantly written with a complex plot, full of suspense and twists and turns as the tension builds. I am now left eagerly anticipating book number three in the series. A thoroughly recommended read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Dreams can be real. A young mother is brutally murdered with her son in the house but why? DI Natalie Ward is meant to be on leave but she has been called in and she is grateful for the call. As her home life is a mess at the moment, her husband is in one of his moods again. He is just becoming more impossible and no matter what she does things just get worse. Can DI Ward & her team need to find out more about the victim's life and who would want to kill her. Could it be one of her husband's enemy as Adam has many secrets. But he is innocent and he has an alibi so the tam has no choice but to move on. But DI Ward knows that he is hiding something and when a witness tells them that he lied the case takes another turn. The more they dig the worse Charlotte lies seem she would do anything to make it all about her so the team knows that things are just about to become harder as the suspect pool is growing. Things become even harder for DI Ward when another mother is killed with her son been in the house at the time of the attack and the victim is known to Adam so how is he involved? Is someone setting Adam up or is he really the killer as his lies have caught up with him? Can they find the killer before another woman is killed? The clock is ticking and the killer is about to strike again can they find the victim in time? A great thrilling read. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second in the Detective Natalie Ward series, I didn't think she could better the first book, she ha, what a page Turner, I love that she brings into play her home life as well, having to juggle both, great book

LAST LULLABY by Carol Wyer is the second in the DI Natalie Ward series, though I have yet to read the first. Like most series, each book has a standalone mystery to solve and it doesn't really matter a whole lot if read out of sequence. Though as a general rule, I do prefer to read them in order.

I have read the first in her DI Robyn Carter series, "Little Girl Lost" and I absolutely LOVED it, so I had high hopes for this one...particularly given the theme. However, I may be one of the only ones to find the book falling a little flat for me. I didn't find it as enthralling as the previous book I read and it seemed to drag in places. Of course it never helps if you have difficulty identifying with the characters and I did feel somewhat this way with many of them.

It begins with Charlotte, mother of 6 month old Alfie, being brutally murdered in her home one night after dinner with her parents and a row with her husband on the way home. Adam, her husband, had left to take the babysitter home and left to have drinks with a mate at the pub then back at his place before returning home and discovering his wife's blood soaked body. It appears he has an airtight alibi...or does he?

DI Natalie Ward and her team investigate Charlotte's brutal murder, all the while trying to find holes in Adam's narrative and before long they discover he has a few too many secrets he has been keeping. It isn't long before they also find his alibi isn't as strong as he claimed, putting him firmly back in the frame. However, he isn't the only suspect and the team find themselves butting heads trying to get a lead.

When a second body is found with disturbing similarities Natalie realises they may have a serial killer in their midst. With Adam remaining firmly in the frame, the team delve into both women's lives to find a link between them in an effort to discover why they have been killed, and their babies left unharmed in the next room to their mothers' untimely ends. Before a third victim falls prey to this brutal killer.

The book is written from multiple POVs to enable the reader to get the bigger picture and get a feel for each of the characters. We also get a glimpse into their personal lives aside from the investigation which does give it a more personal touch. Although sometimes I wondered whether I was more irritated by that and preferred to rather get on with the case instead of worrying about whether your own husband is lying to you. Unless of course it has something to do with the case - which it doesn't so it irritated me a little. The fact that Natalie is ballsy and strong while her husband is someone emasculated by her position, doesn't sit right with me either. Call me old-fashioned but I prefer a softer woman and a stronger husband whilst still remaining sensitive. To me, David just whined a whole lot and I just didn't want to hear it while Natalie preferred to shut the door on it till the case was over. Lucy was ballsy too. I really don't see why authors feel the need to paint their women in such bitchy or ballsy or overly strong "don't mess with me" women, whilst stripping them of their femininity, making them basically men with tits. It doesn't sit right with me, I am not a fan of it, so I guess it makes it hard for me to connect with characters like this when I wouldn't befriend people like this in real life.

But they weren't the only characters I couldn't connect with. I didn't like or trust Adam, Lee, Rob, Jed or even Charlotte's sister Phoebe. The whole lot appeared dysfunctional and selfish. Had another side to them been portrayed as well, I may have connected to them better.

The interesting chapters were those between the psychologist and the patient. It is apparent from the start of these insights that the patient is the killer and we find ourselves sifting through what we already know to try and identify them. We don't know whether the psychologist is male or female until later. But it does have a huge bearing on the case and the story unfolding. I did find one fault in these chapters. That is, the psychologist is referred to as "doctor". Psychologists are not doctors. They are mental health professionals in psychology but have no medical training so therefore they are not doctors. A little error, but one I feel should have been addressed before publication.

I loved the premise. I loved the whole concept. I loved how it panned out. BUT...it still fell flat. I didn't find it compelling or as intriguing, and while I loved the build up to identifying the killer and discovering why, it still fell flat. And I was disappointed because I so loved "Little Girl Lost". And I know Carol Wyer is a brilliant author.

I did quite like the cliffhanger we were left on and I hope we won't have to wait long for the follow up.

I would still recommend LAST LULLABY because it is an OK read in my opinion but others may really love it. For me the characters irritated me and I guess it was that that made it disappointing. But it was still enjoyable. I just felt it could have ended sooner, and I felt it dragged a little by the end. Also, as an aside, I thought the title was a little misleading as it gives the impression of it being about the children when they actually feature so little in the story.

I would like to thank #CarolWyer, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #LastLullaby.

This is a stunningly edge-of-your-seat procedural thriller that kept me reading late into the night. Everything is spot on and the tension ratchets up at a good pace. Plausible and cleverly written, I did not see the offender being the antagonist, and his motivation for killing was explained well. The only reason I'm giving it four instead of five stars is the "confessional" at the end, this really spoiled it for me. I personally dislike them because they're not true-to-life, and it didn't fit the plot, which until this point was realistic. Having said that, this is a brilliantly captivating crime thriller and I absolutely love Natalie Ward and Lucy. I also really enjoyed the way everyone talks so fluidly as though they would in real life, and parts of the dialogue were humorous too, which adds to the authentic feel of the tale. I can't wait to read more from Wyer, and I'm absolutely loving this new series.

Detective Inspector Natalie Ward is called to the scene of a brutal murder late one night.
Charlotte Brannon's body is found by her husband Adam, viciously beaten to death in their bedroom. The word "why?" is written on the wall in her blood, by the killer.
Their baby, Alfie, is found unharmed in his own room.
Adam is a boxing trainer with a criminal past, making him a prime suspect.
As the police check his alibi, they uncover more suspects tied to Adam's gym.
Another young mother is found murdered a short time later. The word "who?" is scribbled on the wall near her. Her son is locked in a cupboard, unharmed.
Finally, another woman and her young son go missing. Can Natalie find the serial killer before they strike again?!
This riveting, fast paced thriller keeps you guessing till the very end! Highly entertaining! Can't wait to read more in the series.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

Charlotte was a beautiful young mum. She lived in a lovely house with her handsome husband & her gorgeous baby boy. When her body is found with WHY? written in blood on the wall & her son crying in his bedroom. Her husband is naturally the first person the police looked to, although he seemed to have an airtight alibi

Detective Natalie Ward & her team work to untangle the truth. When another woman is murdered leaving behind her young child they are up against the clock to stop the killer before anyone else dies.
There are twists & turns in the tale & no sooner had I decided where it was going I was proved wrong!

This is the second book in the series and has left me looking forward to the next. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This book was really well done, i really enjoyed it. The main characters were well developed and relatable, i did however feel like there were to many Detective type characters and we didnt really get to know them. This story starts with a murdered mother and it takes us through her world, exposing her secrets and darker side while the killer is still killing. Whats the connection? Why? This fast paced story brings all the main players hidden secrets to light and the killer may just turn out to be someone you dont suspect.

What can I say other than Carol Wyer creates some of the best characters, and Natalie is a perfect example! I love how Natalie isn’t quite perfect but she is such a strong and determined character that any flaws balance out her personality perfectly. We get to see her struggle to maintain her work and home life as plans have to be dropped at the last minute in favour of the investigation. With trouble at home and a very difficult and intense case the odds are against Natalie on both counts.

The murder in Last Lullaby had me puzzled, making me question the motive along with the victim and her family. These are the best types of books, the ones that easily engage me and make me feel involved in what is taking place along with making me eager to discover the truth!

With a very tangled web you can feel the frustration that Natalie and her team are experiencing. Wondering when the break in the case will come, along with me trying to put the clues together in my own mind. Put it this way I will never make a great detective!

I have to mention the little snippets from the killers perspective as they added a wonderfully creepy vibe. It’s always interesting to take a look into the mind of the killer and it really does help to create an extra dark layer to the story. There are quite a few twisty moments and plenty of suspects to keep you guessing. Carol Wyer has excelled again with this series and I can’t wait to see what will happen in the next case but also in Natalie’s personal life.

Last Lullaby is dark, tension filled and very twisty. I was held captive from the first page to last!

Perfect psychological thriller! It moved at a fast pace with twists and turns throughout! I couldn’t put it down! Highly recommend!

While I love the D. I. Robyn Carter series, I was over the moon when the chance came around to dive into another D. I. Natalie Ward thriller. I just can't get enough of her dysfunctional family, gritty team, and the jumped up killers. I was immediately sucked back into the team dynamic, and while I loved every minute of it, it's definitely one of those sequels that benefits from having read the first book in the series. There's enough going on between Natalie and David that it helps to know the history, and the same goes for the life events of the team. But with that being said, Last Lullaby has never been presented as a standalone item, and the continuity from The Birthday is both comfortable and seamless.

The crimes that the narrative revolves around are absolutely abhorrent (in the best way posisble) with mothers murdered before their infant children, chilling messages written in the victims blood, and not a thread of discernible connection between them. The nature of the murders is heightened by the interspersed psychologists sessions, clearly from our killer's point of view but entirely anonymous. The result of these glimpses was that while I was willing to acknowledge a terrible childhood as, shall we say mitigating circumstance, I couldn't help but feel disdain rather than pity and not a spec of sympathy. 

My ire was piqued further by Adam and Lee's continued evasions of the investigation despite their shady pasts. Their actions exposed perfectly the fear of prejudices harboured by law enforcement and society against former convicts, as even those who are innocent are treated with the same suspicion and lack of respect as those who are still engaged in crime. And if you haven't figured it out by now, while I love an entertaining story, I love them even more when fiction is used to cast a critical eye against pervasive societal issues.

The result of their evasions was an infuriating confusing and convoluted case with false leads, dead ends, and a revolving cast of suspects. I was constantly trying to make things line up, and yet my guesses were right. I shared the frustrations of the team, grew irritated with the layered lies, and wanted to take my rage out against some of the less savoury characters. And because of it, I also shared in their growing helplessness as each new victim joined the murder board - which consequently kept my pages turning at break neck speed. 

Perhaps the only thing that I was left wanting more of was resolution with regards to Charlotte's family plot. I wish I could say more, but can't without dropping spoilers! All I can say is what about her sister's finance? What about little Alfie? What about her parents? Perhaps it's my love of neat, tidy endings but this story left me wanting more! But, I have to acknowledge that the lack of resolution is entirely fitting. I mean, how many detectives get to know how the families of their victims make out in the wake of their respective tragedies? How many families actually find closure after their cases are solved? The turmoil, mess, and lack of resolution was entirely fitting - if not unbearably saddening. 

Would I recommend this book? Absolutely! I loved the first book in this series, and the second even more so. I can't wait for the next instalment to be released. Buy it, borrow it, gift if for Christmas - you won't be disappointed!

I loved 'The Birthday', the first in the series so was excited to be able to review the next in the series. Detective Natalie Ward and her team come across as such relatable characters. A truly gripping thriller with a variety of suspects. A wonderful plot with so many secrets and a didn't see that ending. Cant wait for Book 3.