This is my favourite crime series so it was great to catch up with Natalie and the team again.
After the shocking end of The Blossom Twins I wondered how Natalie would cope, but her sheer determination to catch the killer in this book really shines through, despite her personal grief.
Carol Wyer has done it again and created a gripping, addictive crime thriller that will have you hooked from the first few pages.
The first murder is shocking as acid is thrown into a student’s face and immediately kills her. The second and third murders follow swiftly behind and soon Natalie and the team have their hands full trying to find the killer.
I was gobsmacked when someone close to Natalie is a suspect and I loved the way this part of the story played out.
Whilst this book isn’t as shocking as the last one, it still grabs hold of you, and doesn’t let go.
This is a fantastic crime thriller that I highly recommend along with the rest of the series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

OMBG! Ms Wyer I read this with my hands over my eyes and my heart in my mouth and bang it was in my boots smashed to smithereens for Natalie. It could have been that at the time of reading this the tragic death of Caroline Flack was headline news and I dare say I wasn't the only person that heard the news that was more than a little touched by touched by it.

This is number 6 in the DI Natalie Ward series and to be honest I was worried about how the author could bring her back after the murder of her daughter but my god is she back and back with a bang & a half. I'm not sure that this could be read as a standalone, there's just so much background information in the previous novels that in my humble opinion its needed to help us understand exactly how they all tick.

I'm not going to do a rehash of the plotline as I feel that reading the synopsis alone should be enough to pique anyone's curiosity enough to make them want to read it. Although if you read reviews before you make a choice this really is a belter of a book

All of the team are back together again, all of them happier for it (as are we readers that have been waiting for this instalment). We all know that they have Natalie's back and will do their damnedest to get the job done for her. I've enjoyed learning more about their personal lives in #TheSecretAdmirer, which has only served to make them seem more real and relatable to us. Natalie appears to be ready to be back at work following her recent tragedy this has a huge bearing on how she deals with this seemingly random acid attack which resulted in murder. Natalie always tries to empathise with victims relations but with the victims mother in this we see a more tactile side of her.

As always the author has taken her time and done a plethora of research into her chosen topics I felt for each of the suspects as all of them had issues of their own. I found the subject matters to be so blinking relevant at the minute in #TheSecretAdmirer we read of acid attacks, loneliness and homelessness to mention just a few. I've been sat in a room and felt the so damned alone, I've come close to being homeless so to a degree I could relate to some of the situations.

Read for an honest review. Thank you Ms Wyer, Bookouture and Netgalley

The Secret Admirer by Carol Wyer is the 6th book in her series about DI Natalie Ward. Definitely a stand alone, but so much richer by having read earlier titles in this series. With the help of her team DI Ward solves crimes and Ms Wyer puts in enough personal details so the reader feels like they are there and that they personally know her characters. As always I hated to see the story end. I want to thank Net Galley and Bookouture for an early copy to review.

After the shocking and tragic ending of the last book The Blossom Twins I was wondering just how this new episode of the series was going to pan out would DI Natalie Ward be able to recover and would she be able return to the job she loves. Well after much soul searching thankfully she does and is plunged straight into a new case of an acid attack on a young student who sadly dies. From then on although Natalie is very emotional she is as always a brilliant police officer and as the case becomes more and more complex she deals with it whilst also coping with more trauma in her personal life.
What I love about all this series is apart from the wonderful writing the characters are are so likeable and Natalie is by far a favourite of mine. Carol Wyer you really have excelled yourself in this book I loved every bit of it so a massive thank you !!
So as always this is a highly recommended 5 star read as is the whole series so please don’t miss it.
My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another great read from Carol Wyer, the story brings the reader in so many different directions that is hard to guess what the ending will be and I love that about a book. I hate when people talk about twists at the end of the book but in my wildest imagination would have not copped it. I got this from Netgalley and I would like to thank them and the publishers for allowing me to have the book to review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased.

Though compelling as always this was a split book for me between the police case and the ongoing character storylines. It felt slower paced to usual as it weaved between the searching for answers from students involved in the lives of Gemma and the background characters dealing with life after events from the previous book. Many issues were dealt with in both sides of casework and character growth and it was nice to see these things dealt with in this genre of book rather than be buried behind the police crimes. Maybe it was the slower pace but i think this is the first time I've guessed the killer in one of Carol's books even though it wasn't very straightforward getting to them.
Obviously looking forward to more in this series as loads of openings with characters to explore.

I loved this book, it was a smooth transit from
The Blossom Twins, although it could be read as a stand alone. I thought I knew who the killer was at least 3 times, I was wrong every time! Thank you to Netgalley for letting me review this title, I would highly recommend Carol Wyer

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Secret Admirer, the sixth novel to feature DI Natalie Ward of the Staffordshire Police.

When student Gemma Barnes is killed in an acid attack Natalie returns from extended leave to lead the team. With no forensics and very few suspects the team is hard pushed to find a motive, never mind a solution. And then Natalie’s estranged husband comes to their attention.

I enjoyed The Secret Admirer which has more twists than a rollercoaster and a convoluted plot, some parts more believable than others. The novel is told from the investigative point of view so the reader gets to guess along with the team although I defy any reader to guess all the intricacies, or even most of them until the reveals set them in the right direction. I had an inkling of the perpetrator in the second half but no idea of the whys or hows and was urging the team to catch up. Interspersed with the team’s point of view are various letters to Gemma from the eponymous Secret Admirer. I don’t think that they are really relevant until the denouement as they are, basically, the usual nut job “I love you until you reject me” fare.

As I said the plot is extremely convoluted and I’m not sure if that is good or bad. It’s good in that there is a surprise or twist in every chapter so the reader can’t help but get engrossed in events. It’s bad that it involves so many characters acting badly or lying that it really stretches credulity. I also think it’s a little glib on motivation, notably the acid attack.

The Secret Admirer is a good read that I can recommend.

I think that this D.I. Natalie Ward series is absolutely amazing. I am definitely addicted to this police series and at least I didn’t end up with tears streaming down my face sat reading late at night with this latest edition. The Secret Admirer by Carol Wyer has a fascinating storyline with interesting characters. I found it difficult to decide who did it! Or did what!
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc, which I thoroughly enjoyed reading
Highly recommended.

I wasn't sure how Carol Wyer could follow the previous book in this series, The Blossom Twins, but I can assure you, she nailed it!

The Secret Admirer is breathtaking, creepy, sad and compelling.

DI Natalie Ward is one of my all-time favourite characters. She and her team are so efficient and professional, yet they remain human and likeable.

I can't wait to see what happens next!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have read all the Natalie Ward books now and each one gets better and better, this story line again interweaves with her own personal life very closely, involving her ex-husband, how she is coping after the murder of her daughter and moving on. The murders are piling up one by one and it is up to Natalie and her team to find out who did it before it's too late.

Book 6 in the Natalie Ward series. Although this could be read as a stand alone I highly recommend you read the earlier books as, apart from they are each brilliant books, I feel it's better to have the full story.

After the devastating turn of the previous book I wondered how Natalie would be able to carry on.

I loved the mixture of pure dogged determination and raw emotions in the story.

I was hooked from the start and the twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end.

I absolutely love this series and I cannot wait to read more!

I am a huge fan of this detective series but I will not let that get in the way of writing an honest review!
I really like Natalie as a person. She is real, compassionate and dealing with very complex emotional struggles of her own which gives her character such a wonderful depth. I would love her as my friend because as well as these personal qualities she also has very high professional standards and excels at her job.
She has a terrific team around her. Each detective is different and we are always treated to bits of their back story which makes them all so likeable and human!
In this book Natalie is suffering from a huge dent In her confidence and yet comes fighting through for justice.
She is dogged in her determination to find out what happened to student Gemma Barnes and in doing so a brilliant set of events unfolds.
Three quarters of the way through the book Mike (Head of the Forensic Unit) reads a letter aloud to Natalie. It broke my heart and made me cry!
Carol doesn't just sweep aside difficult emotional situations either in favour of a tense and gripping plot. Instead she once again produces a page turner which is also full of very real portrayals of grief. She does this with sensitivity and a beautiful compassionate touch.
This is easily a 5 star read for me and I eagerly await the 7th in the series. Keep writing Carol. My reading addiction and love of your books needs constant refuelling!

Omg I love these books. Following DI wards story as she works on cases is amazing. I'm already looking forward to book 7 great book well worth the read. I couldn't put the book down 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 absolutely amazing storyline full of usual twists

Loved It! This is one of my favorite series and always look forward to reading them. The ending of "The Blossom Twins" was so unexpected, but a great twist to the story. I LOVE Detective Natalie Ward. I want her, Josh and Mike to live happily ever after, but I don't foresee that happening in the near future. There's always something standing in their way. Right now it's David. Big, miserable David, who blames everyone else(mainly Natalie) for what happened to his daughter and his marriage, except himself. I have never liked David, ever since book one. He's very angry and needs help. His gambling and alcohol use is out of control.

Really enjoyed the story. I had no idea who was behind everything and wasn't sure who the secret admirer was going to be. Even when I was halfway through the book I was still in the dark. At times I felt like the book was moving a bit slow and wanted Natalie and her team to figure everything out. I was definitely suspicious of everyone living in the house with Gemma, especially Ryan. There were so many twists and turns. It was a great mystery and didn't give anything away. Pinkney Watson, the pathologist, is my new favorite character. He sounds like such a sweet man, plus he has a pair of Aegean cats and a 1960s VW campervan called Mabel.

Definitely recommend the book and all the previous books in the series. Can't wait to find out what is in store next for Detective Natalie Ward. Definitely looking forward to book seven. I'm hoping Natalie moves in with Mike!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I absolutely adore the DI Natalie Ward series and was so excited to read this one.

The ending of Book 5 had me in complete shock and I was really looking forward to seeing how Natalie dealt with her feelings whilst also having a new case to solve.

This book did not disappoint at all and if anything, exceeded my expectations. I am truly emotionally invested in Natalie, her family and her team and again the events of the book had me a bit emotional.

The case itself was an interesting one. I liked that it focused on an acid attack as we are reading about these happening increasingly often which is truly frightening. Having lived in student accommodation myself a few years ago I fully empathised with the descriptions of shared living, although luckily I didn't have quite the same tensions with my housemates! The story kept me guessing and I almost had it figured out by the end, but there was one last twist that did surprise me.

There was quite a heavy focus on the lives of the detectives compared with the case itself, which I loved as I am invested, but for this reason I don't think it would really work if read as a stand-alone.

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book and the rest of the series to others.

After the emotional turmoil that Carol Wyer put us through with the previous book in this series ‘The Blossom Twins,’ I went into this latest instalment with very realistic expectations. I knew that there wasn’t any possibility of it being able to reach that height once again. The Blossom Twins had been in a league of its own; it had a very unique and one-off storyline that could never be replicated. It had had a shock factor that if tried to be repeated, it would become hackneyed. It needs to remain unparalleled as a sort of beacon in the Natalie Ward franchise. That said, how on earth could the storyline continue after reaching such dizzying heights?
Carol does an amazing job with the segue from the previous book to this one; we get to see Natalie dealing with the fallout and coming to terms with her new reality. I think if a book can be a tribute to a previous book, then this complimented it perfectly. There is a good balance throughout the book between this and the current investigation. I was expecting there to be too much of one or the other, but it did all sit so well together. It all blended and flowed and you were once again along for the ride as part of not only the team investigating the heinous crimes but also the Ward’s tragedy.
The storyline of this book is very complicated, and I did wonder at one point if it was a little over-complicated. However, it did all come together in the end, and we do get all the answers. Carol’s writing is undoubtedly flourishing and developing as the books progress. If the Blossom Twins had never have happened, I’d say that this one was better than ‘The Sleepover’. I think at the time that I read that; I said it that was better than ‘The Dare’. So they really are getting better and better with a little spike of excellence, of course there with book five.
There are lots of twists and turns and shocks you don’t expect. You are really kept guessing the whole way through the book. I did think we were going to get another BIG shock at one point and I wasn’t sure how I felt about it, but I’m glad with the way she went.
I agreed with Carol’s note at the end about David, he has been deplorable throughout the series, but you really start to feel for him in this book. He has become a shell of himself, and your feelings towards him really do begin to change after everything he has been though.
This book left me the same way books 1-4 did, very satisfied having read an incredible crime novel and being engrossed with a fantastic detective team. There were no tears the way there was with book five. Book five left me bereft for weeks, this one didn’t have the same effect, but I didn’t expect it to. So even though this isn’t going to leave the lasting impression The Blossom Twins did; I think the Natalie Ward series as a whole will do. I’m already excited for the next instalment, and Carol has promised in her note at the end that Natalie will endure more problems and shocks. So I am eager and impatient to find out what is in store for her in the next book. Thank you, Carol, for writing the perfect follow-on book!

Di Natalie Ward returns still shocked by the wnd of her last case but once more thrown back into another harrowing case, this time the suspect is a little too close to home

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy

This author can do no wrong. Another fantastic installment of a fabulous series of books. Loved it. . .

I love the DI Natalie Ward series. I really didn’t know what to expect after The Blossom Twins had such an outstanding, heart in your mouth read that I didn’t know if this could live up to its predecessor. I was delighted to find out that this is as good as that book.

Natalie is still raw from grief after loss of her daughter, returning to work she is asked to find who is responsible for the death of a student, Gemma, who has died after having had acid thrown in her face.

Gemma is seemingly popular, pretty, well liked student. Who would’ve had a motive to attack her?

When it appears that Natalie’s estranged husband frequents the bar that both Gemma and her mum work in, Natalie is left trying to find proof he’s not involved.

There are plenty of red herrings and plenty of shocks and further deaths in store.

What is clear from these stories and this story in particular is how much Carol Wyer enjoys writing for the detectives in this book and Natalie in particular, they all come across as extremely human and likeable.

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this book to readers of crime fiction but if you haven’t read any of the Natalie Ward series, I would seriously recommend you do so to get a better understanding of these characters. Plus they are great books so it’s no chore!

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my review.