Once again Carol Wyer has outdone herself. Teenage girls dismissed as runaways are being found murdered in what I thought were particularly tragic circumstances. The author really makes you feel the pain and fear experienced by the victims. You can also feel the anger of the detectives who are tasked with tracking down the murderer as well rooting out a mole among them. Another great Natalie Ward case, please keep them coming Carol.

Another fantastic book by Carol Wyer, I love this series, brilliantly fast paced nail biting read. Love the characters. I really hope there will be more to come.

Newly promoted DCI Natalie Ward is asked to supervise the investigation into the murders of two teenage girls.
Lucy Carmichael, now advanced to DI, leads the case as they search for a young man named Tommy, who may be a boyfriend turned pimp.
Natalie's personal life is moving forward as she continues to heal from a personal tragedy, and her relationship with her ex is now on civil terms.
She is living with colleague Mike Sullivan, whose seven year old daughter Thea, she is still trying to win over.
Then another young woman is found murdered, with the word "guilty" written on her forehead. She doesn't fit the profile of the other girls, is there even a connection between them?
As the body count rises, the pressure mounts to catch a killer.
This police procedural/mystery/thriller will have you guessing until the shocking end!
Another ingenious, complex plot, with characters that continue to grow and develop.
Can be read as a stand alone, but with a series this good, you really should start from the beginning.
As usual, I cannot wait for the next one!
Thank you Bookouture for the e-ARC via NetGalley.

As always when a new Carol Wyer book is due to come out, especially when it is a DI Natalie Ward book, I am chomping at the bit to get my hands on it. I was both fortunate and unlucky to get my NetGalley request approved, but it happened on the day I was moving house. I was absolutely exhausted at the end of moving day, but I really wanted to start the book, my eyelids had a different idea though, and as much as it pained me, I had to wait a few days until all the physical move stuff was over. I wanted to be able to savour the book and enjoy it and not read it in small snippets.
So I put it to one side and started it anew a few days later. I’m so glad I did as this book deserved all of my attention. Carol has knocked another five star plus book out of the park. Utterly brilliant and gripping!
We are once again following Natalie and her team on a murder investigation. However, lots of things have changed since the last book as they have moved premises and characters have had promotions. I’m not a big lover of change, but Wyer holds our hand throughout the developments. The characters themselves are struggling with a few of the adjustments, and this helps us, the reader, to adapt alongside them.
It had a very different feel to it from the previous books in the series; I felt like my affiliation with Natalie was removed somewhat. She was no longer the prominent lead on the investigation, and some of the other characters started to come to the forefront. This transition certainly stopped the series from getting stale. It felt renewed and invigorated as there is so much more to explore. Even though the events of book five are still on everyone’s minds, the pain is fading, and life is continuing. Wyer is getting the balance of this just perfect as the books continue to progress.
The story itself was as gruesome as expected, and when one of the bodies was discovered and described, I did feel slightly pale. As always, you have no idea who has done anything or why any of the actions have happened. Everything is kept for the big reveal at the end. We are along for the ride, but we have to wait and see the outcome alongside the police officers.
This was a delightful addition to the series, and I can’t wait to see where the DCI Ward team are taken next!

A great detective story. My first by this author.
This book is a must for anyone who likes crime thrillers.
It had a suspenseful plot that kept me speculating on the outcome all the way through.
I think it would have been helpful to have read the previous six books in this series first, but I would still recommend it.
I enjoyed it from start to finish.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and author Carol Wyer for a pre-publication copy to review.

This is a wonderful series that gets better with every instalment. Natalie Ward is now a DCI, overseeing a newly formed group and maintaining a hands-on approach. The murder of a sex worker is quickly followed by others and the team have their work cut out trying to establish a link between the victims. There are many twists and revelations along the way, and the personal stories of the principals are equally fascinating. A great read!

No review needed. If you pick up a Carol Wyer book you'll already know it's going to be fantastic. This is no exception!

I was very happy to receive this book for review. I have read most, if not all, of the previous books. This is number seven. Natalie Ward is now a DCI and Lucy Carmichael has been promoted to Natalie’s old DI position. The first case for the new team is the depressing murder of a teenage girl, most likely working as a prostitute. On the next day the body of another teenage girl is found, also strangled. The only person that may know anything about these deaths is the girl’s boyfriend (or pimp), Tommy, who is known to be rough with them. Bit Tommy is nowhere to be found.

On the next day another woman is found murdered. But this one is different. She is older, in her 20s, well dressed an wealthy. Oh...and she had the word GUILTY written on her forehead.. The police are now struggling with this case. There are similarities between all the deaths but a few differences too. And what is the woman guilty of? Are there two killers out there? Or is one just escalating? More deaths follow. There are no obvious motives. How are these deaths linked? Are they linked?

It was complicated, which I love, and messy and twisty but Lucy is in danger of being taken off her first case as SIO if she doesn’t solve this soon. Painstaking work finally delivers a glimmer of hope and a rather sordid and tragic tale emerges. In the end it all makes a kind of twisted sense. I didn’t think this was the author’s best book but it was still a seriously good read.

You know that wonderful feeling you have when you stumble on an author you haven't read before and just know that you have a go-to back catalogue from now on to work your way through?
Admittedly this is one of my favourite genres but therefore I can also recognise a writer that stands out.
Tense, thrilling and superbly executed, I've already added the earlier books in the series to my wish list.
Many thanks for the introduction.

This is my first book by Carol Wyer but it most certainly will not be my last. About a quarter way in I realised it was book 7 of a series which wasn’t ideal as I’d have preferred to start at the beginning. But having said that and even though there was reference to past events or character history in previous books it didn’t leave you feeling you were missing something like some books can. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. Storyline really gave you an insight into how police procedure works but not to the point of boring you. Each chapter left you hanging and wanting to keep turning the pages. Little clues to previous books makes me think Wyer actually puts her characters through the ringer in every way possible. I’m definitely putting this series in my TBR list...

Thanks so much to Netgalley & Bookouture for the chance to read this ARC and review before publication...

Natalie Ward, my favourite detective, is back with the advent of book 7 in the series, Somebody’s Daughter. Newly promoted to Detective Chief Inspector Natalie has Lucy Carmichael to head up the elite team operating out of new premises in Samford, Holborn House.
And the pressure is on to prove to the community and the local media that they can get the results.
Wondering how much of a back seat Natalie was going to take, I was pleased to discover that her presence is still a vital force in an investigation that turns out to have a lot of murder in it! Whilst she has every faith in her newly formed squad of detectives, especially Lucy who has risen from the rank of detective sergeant to detective inspector, Natalie’s skills guide all that happens, and we get to learn even more about this fabulous woman behind the police facade, one who has many changes to embrace, still grieving Leigh’s death and the break up of her marriage to David.
It is an action packed crime thriller which moves at a deadly pace, with a complex plot that touches upon the heart of humanity. There are parts that are hard to read because the reality is distressing, brutal, cruel and unforgiving but always necessary to help the reader empathise with the characters.
Carol is a master at creating characters who are often unpleasant and even vile, but who are so vivid and believable that you can’t help but understand, on some level, the trauma and history that makes them who they are. There is a clear distinction between good and bad in this novel, in that the police officers working round the clock to catch a violent and disturbed killer are on the right side of Good, and the victims and suspects are firmly on the other side of the divide; they are Bad.
As always I enjoyed reading about the personal lives of the team, with old favourites and new additions. Lucy is doubting her abilities in her professional role and at home, and someone in Holborn House is talking to journalist Bev Gardner which could threaten the case.
Tense, twisty, and heart pumpingly good, Somebody’s Daughter is trademark Carol Wyer with an added boost of terrifying, taking the novel to the next level in shocking. I was hooked from the beginning to the end. No need to read the blurb, just get the book because I can promise you a thrilling and exciting journey into infidelity, prostitution, danger and death.
It should never have taken until book seven, but after reading this I am going to have to officially declare The Natalie Ward Appreciation Society now open by me, founding member, SuperFan Fay!

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for this ARC.

As always, the authors Natalie Ward Books are a pleasure to read and I can honestly say her latest one does not disappoint. I thought this was a fab and thrilling read, it was very fast paced and had lots of twists in the plot, most I didn’t expect or see coming. Very likeable characters you feel you know very well by now and lovely little glimpses into their lives away from the job. I thought the story was realistic and well plotted by the author who has a wonderful way of drawing you into the book which held my attention from beginning to end. I read this quite quickly, not because I was rushing, more because of the cliff hanger chapter endings which left me just wanting to carry on reading to find out what happened next. A cracking read which I would highly recommend.

A story with a good message and a warning for the teens running high on hormones. This is slightly different from the previous one in that the suspense is given more weightage over the police procedure. The personal life of the characters are nicely dealt. Wish all the characters received their due. A touching story.

This is the seventh book in the Natatie Ward series and things are finally starting to look up for Natalie and her family. She has been promoted to DCI and her personal life has taken a turn for the better. When a teenage girl is discovered strangled and then another teenager is found dead, Natalie and the team are called in to investigate. But as the bodies begin to stack up and with tensions running high, will the team be able to solve this complex case before the killer strikes again?

With a good strong plot and plenty of twists and turns, this book will keep you gripped until the end. Already looking forward to the next book by this author.

Natalie Ward's life has had a lot of changes, including a tragedy that causes her grief and pain more often than not. She has been promoted to DCI and has moved in with Mike Sullivan, who his head of Forensics. Though she might spend more time behind her desk, when she gets a call about the body of a teenage girl being found, she immediately goes to the scene.

Oh how this reminds her of her daughter Leigh...but, no, she cannot think of Leigh at this time, she must begin looking for any clues that will lead to the killer. As per usual, the family of a murdered victim is always questioned, and so when Natalie talks to the girl's father, she begins to see that the pain of the girl's death goes even deeper when it is quickly discovered where the girl had been living and the activities that she was involved in, which no doubt led to her murder.

When another girl is found murdered, Natalie and her team immediately see an undeniable connection. But then another woman is found murdered, and the MO is different. Meanwhile, Lucy Carmichael has also been promoted and she is Natalie's DI, and plays a huge role in helping to solve the murders.

Throughout this engaging story by Carol Wyer, readers are given interest to Natalie's private life, including her relationship with Mark, while trying to get close to his daughter, Natalie's teenage son Josh and also how she feels about her promotion. In addition, there is another hidden element to Natalie's life that has become revealed, and no doubt readers will see more of that in the next book in the series. Again, this is another thrilling book in the DI Natalie Ward series. Book 8 cannot come soon enough!

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

No matter how many books are on my shelf, a new Carol Wyer will always be bumped to the top! I have loved every one of them - some slightly more than others, but this one was up there with the best. It is always great catching up with Natalie and her team both personally and professionally.
5 murders - each suspect in turn murdered - who or what links the victims? Great back story and I love Natalie and Mark together - was never a big fan of David so happy that one got away!
Cannot wait for the next one!

With every new book that comes out in this series, I always wonder how the author is going to top the last one.

After the events of the past two, I couldn’t imagine what Natalie would have to face next.

I should really learn NOT to worry about these things. As always, Ms. Wyer has things deftly in hand.

What she has done with this book is not only very smart, but it is effective. With the shocking events of The Blossom Twins and The Secret Admirer, one could see Natalie coming very close to the edge of falling apart (naturally so). Ms. Wyer gives everyone the chance to take a breath and reset as Somebody’s Daughter takes place a year after The Secret Admirer.

It works well because it gives the characters a chance to have advanced in their personal and professional lives. It’s a fantastic way to reboot but keep the same characters on their trajectories. I’m not going to spoil who is in what position or exactly how things have changed. You’ll have to read for yourself!

Natalie and her team have quite the investigation this time. I particularly liked how it started as one thing, but then there was an unexpected event that sent the investigation in a different direction. After a few more twists and turns, it wrapped up quite neatly.

Again, contrary to the past couple of books, the investigation seemed more realistic. I think that was because Natalie was not personally involved. Don’t get me wrong; they’re always good, and the author certainly does her homework. Her forensics and techniques are spot on. But having it NOT be personal to Natalie actually gives the police work a chance to shine. The author conveys the difficulty of an investigation, so it’s nice to see it center stage.

I also like how this book seemed to have a “cinematic” feel to it. The cutaways and interspersed chapters from multiple points of view flowed smoothly. The transitions are never jarring, but this time I could picture the action like I was watching it on television. I love that the world Ms. Wyer creates feels this way.

There is also a message to be learned that is woven into the investigation. This time, the author offers a subtle but searing commentary on the homeless. It’s useful both within the investigation and as a real-life reminder.
Even as the characters are in a “fresh start” position, Ms. Wyer lays the groundwork for where possible conflicts may arise. What does David want to tell Natalie that has to be mentioned in person? There’s obviously more to that story. What does Frances really want? Will Lucy go down the same path as Natalie, putting the job before family? Will Natalie finally back off and enjoy her second chance?

I devoured this book in one sitting (thank goodness for lazy Saturdays and understanding family members). Natalie is back and better than ever, and I can’t wait to see where the future leads her.

What a brilliant detective story.Read many over the years,but my first by this author.A great storyline kept me on edge from start to finish.Hope to read many more from Carol.She Will be included in my to read list.This book is a must for anyone who likes crime thrillers.

Carol Wyer is one of my favourite authors so I was very excited to read this. I was not disappointed it was a stonkingly good read! It had a really twisty plot that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I love the characters in this series and it felt good to catch up with their lives. And relationships. The story was fast paced with many OMG and wow moments that kept my interest. Loved this book it was great and totally deserves five stars.

This is my favourite in the Natalie Ward Series, a real masterpiece. A fascinating and cleverly woven plot that had me turning the pages so fast. I can't believe we are at the 7th book already. I love how I feel like a team member and want to help out! The author really knows how to hook you in.
Thanks to Bookouture for the early copy, in which I express my honest opinion.