*Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*I am a fan of Wyer's DI Robyn Carter mystery series, so I knew that I was in for a treat with 'The Birthday'. This new series introduces another strong female lead, this time in the form of Detective Natalie Ward. The book focusses on the chilling disappearances and then murders of a number of little girls who all attended the same birthday party. Detective Ward and her team are busy chasing leads all over the country in a race against time. This book made for compulsive read, full of twists and turns that kept me reading. I can't wait for the next in the series.

Title was archived before I could review it sadly. Guess I will have to buy it if I would like to read it. I am new to the Galley and was not aware of the fact that the archival date meant that I could not access the title anymore. Too bad

Oh my goodness, Carol Wyer has done it again, this time with a new leading lady!

Detective Natalie Ward is trying to solve the case of missing and murdered little girls, all wearing yellow dresses. She is also trying to juggle two teenagers and a marriage in trouble, so she has her hands full.

As is usual with this author, the plot is well thought out, the story just flows and I had no clue who the killer was until she revealed it!

I am really liking this new protagonist and I am already looking forward to the next book in the series :)

4.5 stars from me.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture.

The Birthday by Carol Wyer was a great and unique way to start a series! I can't wait for book 2!

What a heart wrenching story this was! There are so many suspects with unreliable alibis that you just don't know who to trust.

Who's taking these children? Why are they taking them? How could you hurt such innocent little ones? These are just a few questions I asked myself while I read this race again time book.

This series is one that will get your heart racing and emotions going.

Thank you to the author and the publisher of #TheBirthday and #NetGalley for this advanced copy!

This book was a great start to what is looking to be a great Detective series. This book has everything a thriller should. It has lies, deception, betrayal and a plot that makes you blame everyone. The Birthday was very fast paced and an easy read. The strong character development in The Birthday make you want to read more about them.
 This may be the first book by Carol Wyer I've read but after reading The Birthday I think I'm going to have to go back and read more from her. This was simply a book I couldn't put down and may have gotten me out of my reading slump.

In this new book by Carol Wyer, we are introduced to a new female character, Natalie Ward. Ward is a detective with a demanding career, two teenagers, and a somewhat distant spouse. Balancing home life and work is a constant challenge for her. In this story, Ward is trying to solve several mysteries, both from the past and recent. Someone is killing little girls who attended a birthday party where one girl disappeared without a trace. When the girl's body is discovered in a field near where she first disappeared, the killer is spurred to murder other little girls and leaving them to be found wearing a yellow dress and lipstick. Detective Ward and her team chase leads and scramble to find and stop the killer before anymore little girls are murdered. It's a interesting read and leaves one anxious for the next installment in the series.

This is a procedural crime thriller, the first in a new series featuring Detective Natalie Ward.
The detective is a multi-dimensional character and doesn’t fall into the common cliché categories I tend to expect in a police procedural novel – she isn’t a maverick, she isn’t better at her job than everyone else and she isn’t an angsty character with a dark past and a drinking problem.
What she is, is a woman trying her best to balance her incredibly stressful and important job with her home life. It’s hard to imagine what it must be like, trying to find a killer who targets children while making sure your son gets the cool new trainers he really wants in time for his birthday.

The story itself is heart breaking, being about the abduction and murder of little girls, but somehow the procedural side of the writing takes the edge off and stops it getting too dark. There are no graphic details about the crimes, but we do get some insight into the past of the killer and what drives him – eventually tying in with the main storyline and coming to a solid conclusion. The author’s writing style is excellent, making the main character very easy to relate to and the mystery compelling, without dropping deliberate red herrings to put you off.

The narration of this book was out of this world, Croft covers a range of different accents and character voices; from little girls to old men and everything in between. Every single one is distinct, which is ideal because there’s a lot of dialogue in this book and could easily become confusing in audio. I would particularly recommend picking up the audio of this book if you have a chance, it’s hella intense.

Ava Sawyer went to a birthday party held at the local craft centre/farm but she never came home. At some point in the party it was noticed that one of the twenty children was missing. Extensive searches were fruitless, she had disappeared without trace. Fast forward two years and when there is building work going on at the site a body is unearthed.

DI Natalie Ward has just arrived in the area. She has a new team, keen and dedicated she is trying to move forward from a case that didn't end well. She also has to cope with a recently made redundant husband & two teenage children.

Shortly after the body of Ava is discovered, another girl who attended the party is found strangled, wearing a yellow dress similar to Ava's. Is this connected & are more girls in danger?

Throughout the book we have segments about a young boy with an obsession with Sherry.This keeps the reader guessing as to their identity.

I have really enjoyed Carol Wyer's Robyn Carter books so I was looking forward to reading about another police procedural series by her. I was not disappointed & I'm looking forward to reading more about Natalie Ward.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This book kept me up all night. How gripping and intense. The development and the build of this story kept me entranced from beginning to end. I am still thinking about it days later. The descriptions of the scenes and people in this book brought it to life for me. I love and am so surprised when and author can do that. Detective Natalie is awesome and determined and so well written into this story. Thank you for allowing me to read and write about this book.

Wow what a roller coaster ride this thriller had me on, especially for the last 15% my heart was in my mouth wondering if it would all turn out ok. DI Natalie Ward was a great character, full of flaws but determined to do the best job she could as a police officer and as a parent. I'm looking forward to seeing where her personal life goes in the next books. I liked DI Wards team members, a really good combination of characters that really came alive for me. Kidnapping and child murder would have to be one of the worst crimes for all those involved. Wyer has done a great job of portraying the crimes and the characters emotions involved from all sides. I'm going to be checking out more books by Carol Wyer.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy in return for an honest review.

Before I get started, I read this novel as a buddy with my bestie Megan over at Coffee By the Novel and what better way to start a new series off than with your bestie!?

As everyone knows Carol Wyer is hands down one of my favorite authors to date. The Birthday is a new book she has released that does not coincide with the DI Robyn series. I will be totally honest, I was a little skeptical just because I LOVE Robyn so much. I can relate so well with her and love her drive as a detective. But sadly, I did not feel this way towards Natalie Ward.

Natalie was very hard to get along with for me. I struggled with trying to sympathize and relate with her. When it came to her marriage, she was pretty absent and committed a horrible crime. She was also very absent with her children and that is something that bothers me not only in a book but also in real life. I don’t know if it’s just my morals coming out or the teacher in me.

Now.. with that being said, this new novel had everything I love to read in a thriller. It was fast paced, suspenseful, it was stressful, it was heartbreaking but most of all it was disturbing. And by disturbing, I’m referring to the person who was the suspect. Like, wow! I did not see that coming and was very sad when it came true.

I am very excited that this is going to be a series and read the next book. I would really love to get to know Natalie more and I feel that I can come to like her better than I do at the moment. I think she has a very good side to her and I hope the books can show me that. If you enjoyed Wyer’s other DI series, I highly suggest you pick up this novel too. Wyer is just getting started!

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Carol Wyer for an advanced copy for an honest review.

This is a new series from Carol Wyer featuring Detective Natalie Ward who is married, but having problems with her husband, and is the mother of two teenage children. When the body of Ava, a 5 year old girl who went missing from a birthday party two years previous, is found, Natalie finds herself reliving her failure of a previous case where her team failed to save a teenager and which has always haunted her. Now a killer seems to be targeting other children from the party when other girls go missing. The storyline is very upsetting and chilling, with plenty of possible killers but will leave you guessing right up to the end. I now can’t wait for book number two in the series. A brilliant crime thriller that will have you hooked, do not miss reading this book.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

One day five year old Ava Sawyer went to a birthday party at a garden centre. She never returned home ! Two years later they find her body at the garden centre during redevelopment . DI Natalie Ward and her team gets the case . This is the first book in the Natalie Ward series . BAM !! Throat clutching thriller filled with secrets , terror and lies that is so frighteningly believable that you won't soon forget ! A brilliantly written must read ! This author is a master at story telling ! Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review ! #Netgalley #Bookouture ##TheBirthday

Two years ago five year old Ava Sawyer went missing from a classmate’s birthday party at a garden centre. Now her body has been found while the garden centre was being redeveloped and DI Natalie Ward and her team have been given the case. Shortly after the discovery of the body another girl is murdered - Audrey Briggs was a classmate of Ava and was at the same birthday party. With no suspects and no motive for the killings DI Ward and her team struggle to solve the cases. Natalie is also having to deal with issues at home - her husband has lost his job and resents no longer being the main breadwinner and she feels she’s not spending enough time with her teenage children. A great read which kept me guessing about the perpetrator to the end. Love the Robyn Carter series by the same author and DI Natalie Ward is another strong, female character that I look forward to reading more about.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Carol Wyer for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Oooow I’m full of the giggles, Carol’s Books always send a bolt of excitement and stomach flutters through my body when a new edition comes to fruition, The Birthday is no exception, in fact the OMG sensation climaxes with the fact that another Detective Series has unfolded and has become part of the literary world.

All there is to say is Go Carol……………….okay, okay I’m only joking you know there is a load more to say!! So come on lets get a wriggle on, snuggle down and see where The Birthday takes us.

The first thing that I definitely can’t help but comment on is the Cover design. The yellow shoes, the torn effect through the title, all project a sense of foreboding and an indeterminable passage of time, each part culminating in the seasoned characteristics of Carol’s narrative, the essence of a fantastic crime thriller.
Carol opens the new series with a bang, the unexplained abduction of a little girl, Ava, from a birthday party. No leads, no witnesses, no real evidence, fast forward 2 years and Ava is found dead, then another child goes missing……

A web of deceit, a tangle of lies, forbidden secrets, a test of time……Now that time is running out!
What happened the day of Ava’s fateful abduction and what bearing has it on what is happening to the children from that party now. Turning the pages, I absorbed the narrative, played my part, became one with The Birthday, above all I used the confines of my mind to scrutinise what Carol had purposely hidden to uncover the truth.

Its been lovely to meet the newest edition to Carol’s literary prowess, Detective Natalie Ward, she isn’t perfect, their are flaws, dark parts of her past, but she is resilient, strong and forthright, boy am I going to love reading more about Detective Ward.

It’s been a privilege to join the other Bloggers and Readers at the beginning of this journey, turning the pages together, walking through the narrative of Carol’s mind, getting to know Detective Natalie Ward. I’m so looking forward to the next instalment, roll on Book #2.

The Birthday is an emotionally sacrificial read, a terror inducing thriller, which will test the depths of your mind and send it into over-drive.

My thanks go to Bookouture, Carol Wyer and Kim Nash for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of The Birthday, it been an honour. This is my unbiased opinion and the review is all my own, I hope you enjoy The Birthday as much as I did.

OMG OMG OMG….I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book.

This is the first book in the Natalie Ward series and you guys are in for one hell of a treat. Being a massive fan of Robin Carter I couldn't wait to see what Carol had in store with a brand new series. have said this once and I will say it again,Carol Wyer moving over to the dark side was the best move she could of made and Natalie Ward is definitely the icing on the cake. I can not believe I am saying this, move over Robyn, Natalie is in town!

Carol has totally stepped up her game which I didn't actually think was possible and has totally smashed it.

The Birthday is bloody fantastic...I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down The author takes you on one hell of a roller coaster ride. We follow one hell of a tense story which is build up layer by layer for a socking ending. OMFG I totally didn't see that coming….. Absolute genius. Carol what are you doing to me?! I am absolutely blown away. This is an excellent start to a new series and the author has left no room for improvement. So I cannot wait to read the second instalment.

I love the fact that Natalie is so real to life people will find her easy to relate to her being a family woman and holding down a job. She is very head strong determined I love her.

The Birthday is jam packed with twists and turns and plenty of OMG moments which
made me gasp and made me cry! I cannot begin to describe the emotions I went through reading this. Talk about electrifying.

Oh, and a word of warning be prepared not to get anything done once you start this. It is one very tense page turner and it ticked all the boxes for me. In fact it is to good not to miss and is one of my favourite reads for 2018.

I cannot recommend it enough giving it all the stars.

A birthday party, a yellow dress, a missing child....

Carol Wyer sure can suck you into an investigation.... I truly am the ultimate armchair detective (even though I generally read on my couch or in my bed)... some authors do a better job than others in drawing you into the story, making you feel part of it, and I think miss Wyer does an exceptional job of this... there is just something about her characters that breaks down the Barrier between the reader and the book....

When you drop your child off at a birthday party, you never think you will return and find her to have gone missing... five-year-old Ava went missing from her friend Harriet birthday party at a garden center... two years later her body is found, another girl goes missing, and is found in a replica yellow dress.... is someone killing off the children that attended that fateful birthday party? And if so why? Or is the connection a local dance studio?

This is the first book in the DI Natalie Ward series.... The investigation into these missing children has Natalie navigating her way through both parent and playground politics.... and when a third girl goes missing there is a time crunch to Saul the case before another child is killed... with a town full of suspects this was not an easy task... Natalie and I must have changed our minds at least 10 times, and the ultimate culprit.... did not see that coming!

This book was perfectly paste and kept me engaged throughout... The character development was stellar and left me wanting to know these characters better.... Natalie is a wife and mother to two teenaged boys, and is having a bit of a hard time juggling family life and her career... it will be really interesting to see how this develops throughout the series, can Natalie have it all? Does something need to give? And if so what?

Recommend to those of you who enjoy a good police procedural with some fabulous characters and a fresh investigation style...

*** many thanks to Bookouture for my copy ***

Wow. Wow. Wow. I loved this book. From the first page til the end it grabbed you and didn't let go. It kept me up late, I thought about it when I wasn't reading it, it just totally absorbed me. I can't recommend it highly enough. This is the first in a new series and I can't wait to read more.

With a five year old daughter of my own, the theme of 'The Birthday' felt very close to home in terms of the children and their ages. But, without sounding too weird, it was also that theme which made me dig my nails into the book to ensure that my hands never let go. How did I end up finding myself gripped by a devastating situation? It wasn't as though I found the fact that a little girl went missing, highly entertaining, it was more to do with wanting answers for the missing girl and staying right to the end to get those answers so that her family and loved ones (and I), could let the girl rest in peace without any question marks looming overhead.

'The Birthday' is the first book in a brand new series, with Detective Natalie Ward as the 'go to' person. I thought she was absolutely brilliant. She refused to take any rubbish from her team, nor did she allow her superior to ignore her gut instinct regarding the investigation. Maybe it was a mother's intuition, but Natalie Ward knew that something wasn't quite right when the first body was found, and she knew that things were about to blow when another little girl ends up being put onto the police radar. Either way, Natalie refused to give up.

The storyline switches between the present, the past involving the person behind the first disappearance, as well as the 'voices' if you will, of the girls involved in the situation. It isn't confusing at all, in fact it adds another thrilling dimension to an already highly intense read.

I did end up working out who was involved before it was known and revealed by Natalie and her team, but due to the fast paced, twisty nature of the storyline, it didn't frustrate me as much as it usually would. Put it this way, I was obviously highly invested in the storyline because when I reached the end of the book, I hadn't prepared myself and felt like there should have been more. I wanted more!

'The Birthday' is an incredible, incredible start to a series I cannot wait to read more of. Carol Wyer has raised the bar once again with this book and, whilst I do have faith in her to raise it again with the next book, I have absolutely no idea how she is going to beat this book.

A jaw dropping, highly anticipated, thrilling, addictive, and incredibly dark novel which left my body covered in goosebumps - fantastic, fantastic read!

I am such a huge fan of Wyer’s work and when I heard she was starting a new crime series I couldn’t wait to start it. Something about her style of writing combined with her original and gripping storylines always sucks me in right away and this was no exception, it’s an extremely strong start to a new detective series that I cannot wait to read more of.

Oftentimes I find that the start of a series can be a bit tedious as the author is trying to not only introduce you to a whole new cast of characters but they’re also trying to pique your interest enough to make you want to continue on with the series as well. Nothing to worry about here, Wyer has effectively managed to hook me after just the one book, I warmed to Natalie immediately and there were enough hints about her past that I’m dying to learn more about. The glimpses into her home life were fairly brief but I am definitely interested in exploring that more and then the members of her team were also interesting as well. Let me put it this way, if I could’ve read the next book immediately I would’ve dropped everything and done just that.

The case was also intriguing, you have missing little girls and leads that keep turning into dead end after dead end and Wyer is such a great writer that you feel all the highs and lows right along with Natalie and her team. Per usual the plotting was intricate and well thought out and I never guessed what would happen next. It had the perfect balance between excitement and then slower moments where you learn more about the characters, I was gripped by it all and really cannot wait to see what Wyer has in store for Natalie next.

The Birthday in three words: Meticulous, Solid and Engaging.