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.

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.

If you enjoy police procedural, this is definitely one series that you should be reading.

Last Lullaby is the second book in the Detective Natalie Ward series by Carol Wyer. Like the first book(The Birthday), it had me scratching my head wondering who the villain was and the motives behind the murders.

The investigation was systematically presented with a number of suspects along the way. The fact that I had no clue about the villain’s identity made this an even more enjoyable read. I had to put my detective hat on and work with Natalie’s team to get answers. I assure you, this isn’t the kind of story where readers go rogue and solve the mystery before the cops. Ah ah, not this time. All my guesses were proven wrong so I had to follow the evidence and work the case with the team.

Detective Natalie is a great MC, quite easy to root for. I like the fact she isn’t your usual fictional lead detective with all kinds of demons, haunted past and hard liquor in her desk drawer. Natalie is a mum trying to juggle the demands at work and home. I think I liked her even more because she reminds me of my mum who is now a retired cop. Our lead detective is so realistically portrayed that you just can’t just help enjoy reading about her personal life even as you follow the case.

Last Lullaby is a masterfully written, unpredictable cop procedural with suspense from the first page and twists that will make your jaw drop. In addition, Carol’s writing is utterly captivating. She made me part of the detectives team and I couldn’t rest until we solved the case. The ending of the book already has me refreshing the author’s social media pages in search of news about her next book.

This is a brilliant series that I can’t recommend enough.

This is the first Carol Wyer book i have read and im sure it wont be my last. This was a book which i really got into, and liked finding out about the characters in the team. It was good also to get an insight into the private life of Natalie and her relationship with her husband and kids. Faced paced book and i found myself going through the book changing my mind constantly on who the killer was. Looking forward to the next instalment of the Natalie Ward series.

Cracking good read, as good as, if not better than, the first one one in this series Little Girl Lost. I love Carol Wyer’s Robin Carter series so was unsure if a second series could be as good but I needn’t have worried. Great main plot, brilliant twists and the subplots and characters are building nicely
#lastlullaby#Netgalley

A great tense read! Full of gripping moments and twists and turns.
The story was exciting to read and the characters were fleshed out well.

Loved this book!! It is as brilliant as all of Carol Wyers previous books!! So many twists and turns , kept me guessing until the end

Adam and Charlotte Brannon are arguing as they drive home after having dinner with Charlotte’s parents, Kevin and Shiela Hill, in celebration of the older couple’s 30th wedding anniversary. Adam is a semi-pro boxer and Charlotte is a stay-at-home mother to their baby son. Charlotte’s parents are very wealthy and Adam is always intimidated when he is around them. Having had too much to drink, Charlotte goes to bed after checking on the baby while Adam takes the sitter, Inge, home. Shortly afterward, she is awakened by an intruder and killed.

Natalie Ward who is a busy police detective who has been awakened by her husband, David’s, snoring. She had fixed a nice dinner that evening for David’s father, Eric, and his girlfriend, Pam. Their children, Josh, 16, and Leigh, age 14, had been very mannerly as well. Eric has been a widower for 10 years now, but David is still not willing to think his Dad could be with another woman.

Awakened again in the middle of the night, Natalie is called to the horrific crime scene where Charlotte was beaten to death. It is an awful scene and hard to see. The killer has left a message on the wall in blood that reads, “why.” The pathologist is Pinkney and Natalie feels he is the best in the business. Adam says that after dropping the sitter at home, he joined a friend at the pub for a drink and then went back home. That’s when he discovered Charlotte’s body.

The police detectives investigate every avenue possible thinking they may have a suspect. But then another young mother is found brutally murdered with the word “who” written in blood on the wall.

This is a fabulous detective mystery and thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat. I found myself trying to piece together clues, but in the end, the killer was a total surprise. Congratulations to the author for an amazing story. I know readers won’t want to miss this book.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

And Carol Wyer strikes again! I swear this amazing woman is a writing machine. There is just no stopping her! And if you think that means the quality is suffering, you are so wrong! As they say, the proof is in the pudding. Or in this case, in this book.

Last Lullaby is the second book in the Natalie Ward series and it’s every bit as fabulous as its predecessor. Or dare I say, it’s even better! As I’ve come to expect from this author, it is utterly gripping from the very first page. With a multitude of red herrings, dead ends and lies and deceit to wade through, this is one insanely frustrating and complex investigation and I couldn’t work it out at all. I ended up suspecting pretty much every character I was introduced to.

Once again, I really enjoyed the team dynamics but what really lit a fire in my belly was seeing Lucy taking centre stage, kicking ass and just being generally fierce! Just like in the previous book, Carol Wyer manages to create a perfect balance between the team’s personal lives and their jobs, giving the reader the opportunity to get to know them better. But more than anything, she always makes you almost sympathise with the killer and sometimes that’s even more unnerving than the actual murders they commit.

Dark and disturbing, brilliantly paced and extremely compelling, Last Lullaby will have you flipping or swiping the pages faster as you go, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. On top of that, we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger that has me rather impatiently awaiting the next instalment.

I’ve come to the conclusion that Carol Wyer can do no wrong in my eyes and I’ll pick up pretty much anything she throws my way. I can’t wait for the next book in the Natalie Ward series. Although I must admit, I do miss Robin. 😉