I wasn’t sure what to expect from Carol Wyer, who is an author who I hadn’t read before. In addition to never having read the author, I was starting with the second book in her 'Detective Natalie Ward' series without reading the first book. But any qualms that I may have had at the outset were quickly allayed by this fast-paced, intelligent mystery. British Detective Inspector Natalie Ward, and her police team are called in to solve the murder of Charlotte Brannon. The murder was brutal and bloody, with the word ‘Why’ written in blood on her bedroom wall. Charlotte’s body was found by her husband Adam, yet their infant son Alfie was found untouched in his bedroom. Who would have killed Charlotte and left Alfie alone with the cryptic message 'Why' on her wall? Soon all indicators start pointing at her husband Adam who has his own secrets that he’s reluctant to reveal.

Then days later, a second murder of a young mother occurs, and the woman’s toddler son was again found unharmed. Is the team of detectives dealing with a serial killer? Why would someone be killing young mothers with sons, and yet not touch the children? While the team scrambles to solve the murders, we learn more about most of the team member’s personal lives, and come to understand that Natalie’s marriage is possibly at a crumbling point. Is her husband lying to her like all the suspects in her current case appear to be?

I really liked this book. You don’t have to read the first book in the series before jumping into this book. But now that I’ve read this book, I think that I might have to go back and read it. “Last Lullaby” was an engaging page-turner. There were many different possibilities as to who was the killer. The ending was action-packed. It was totally plausible, and yet unexpected. This whodunit had be stumped. Kudos to the author!
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Bookouture; and the author, Carol Wyer; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Detective Natalie Ward is called to the murder of a young mother. Her child is in the house but completely unharmed. The word Why is written on the wall in blood. The husband appears to have something to hide but is he involved? Then a second mother is found murdered.
As Natalie investigates with her team she is also trying to keep her marriage together.
This is great second book and adds to the characters personalities and back stories.
I can’t wait for book three.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC
#LastLullabyDetectiveNatalieWardBook2 #NetGalley

Wow! Carol Wyer does it again! I love the Natalie Ward series! I had great expectations because, well it is Carol Wyer and I loved the first book in the series, The Birthday. Dare I say I loved this one even more!

This book had me gripped from page one with a grisly fantastic opening. I was shocked at the story unfolding before me. Detective Natalie Ward is searching for a killer that is leaving behind a gruesome trail. He is targeting young mothers with sons. He brutally murders the mother, writing cryptic messages on the wall of their home in their own blood. Did that get your attention? Meanwhile the child is left untouched in the home at the same time.

I flew through this book in a day as I could not put it down. I am loving this Natalie Ward series! The exciting news is that there is a third book in the series coming out next year. I am on team Natalie all the way. Go Natalie! I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next year.

Detective Natalie Ward is back with a case that has her team chasing their tails. Carol Wyer does a great job of portraying the frustration the police go through when witnesses give false evidence or aren't forthcoming about things that would help a case along, I know I felt their frustration myself. This was another very enjoyable crime novel that had me guessing where the evidence was going to lead them and why these murders had really been committed.

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

Oh my -insert expletive beginning with F here- goodness!!!!!! What a book! OMG! I finished reading Carol Wyer’s latest literary brilliance in the early hours of the morning, and can I just say that I am extremely glad that I do not read blurbs! I only read the blurb after I had read the book and the things which had my jaw dropping, were written in it. Not all of them mind. So, if you trust my judgement on books, read this novel without reading the blurb.

Anyway, that’s my insight on that and is in no way a reflection of my opinion on the book at all.

I do say this a lot where Wyer’s books are concerned, but ‘The Last Lullaby’ is by far her best book yet. The intensity of the storyline was impeccable, along with the calculated brilliance of each individual character. If I know that there is a possibility of children being part of a thriller storyline, I am always filled with dread until I know that they’re not in the firing line so to speak – ‘The Last Lullaby’ was no different. My heart was in mouth from the onset. That sounds like I didn’t care about the victims in the book even though I did, but it’s children….you know?

I couldn’t get over how cleverly written the storyline was from start to finish – it was as though the book kept on giving shocking moments with every new chapter. Just like most police procedurals/thrillers, there is usually a few characters with fingers being pointed at them from the start, and the same happened here. I tried to look at the bigger picture but I couldn’t help but lean towards one character already in the firing line. Everything just seemed….convincing, if you catch my drift. They certainly didn’t help themselves against Natalie award though, that’s for sure!

I won’t say who I thought was ‘the one’ due to spoilers, but let’s just say that Wyer had me utterly convinced I was bang on the money…..until the moment I wasn’t. Geeeeez – did I see that coming? Did I fudge!!!! There was a point in the book where my heart rate quickened and my mouth became dry. Would they reach the bastard in time? Time wasn’t on Natalie Ward and her teams side and my legs were wiggling, urging them to move their backsides! It’s easy for me to say that, obviously, I’m not a police officer who has to follow procedure!

‘The Last Lullaby’ was absolutely brilliant – an ice cold, cut throat, highly intense read which made me lose my own capability of thinking clearly. The characters were chilling yet perfectly crafted and, whilst it feels weird to say this, even the ‘whodunnit dude’ was outstanding! Their actions weren’t, obviously, but the way Wyer created their mindset and thought process was incredible. I can’t even begin to imagine the extent of the research that went into creating that character and the situation they found themselves in.

What an absolute belter of a read this is – could someone point me in the direction of Carol Wyer Anonymous please as I’m addicted!!

Thoroughly enjoyed this tense taught thriller. Brilliantly written, with lots of tenterhooks and a lot detail. The characters worked well together and it was an easy book to read, hard to put down, which is a book I like. Top marks from myself.

I was really happy to see that book number two in the Natalie Ward series had come out, and it didn't disappoint, not one iota!

This was a hard-hitting, complex book and I had no clue who the killer was until it was revealed by the team that was hunting him! Plenty of red herrings and other candidates for the crimes and the excellent story telling skills of the author came to the fore in full force here. I really like Natalie Ward as a character and as the leader of her team. She has a good, strong, team and even though her marriage could be better, she pushes through and does the best she can.

Loved this novel, and looking forward to the next book in the series.

5 well-deserved stars from me :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

This was a fantastic mystery book. It follows DC Natalie Ward who was in her first book, The Birthday which I did not read but this book, The Last Lullaby is fantastic. In this book, it begins with the gruesome murder of a young mother named Charlotte who is bludgeoned to death with the word "why" written in blood above her body. Of course they suspect the husband, Adam who finds his wife's dead body after he drove the babysitter home and made a stop before coming home. But his alibi seems airtight but there is something off about his affect. He claims he cannot stay there and doesn't want the baby at this time. He says to give the baby to her Charlotte's parents. Then another thing happens at DI Natalie Ward's doorstop. This is a great mystery as we watch DC Natalie Ward and her loyal detectives follow the breadcrumbs to the final conclusion. This was an amazing mystery and I will be reading more books by this author. I received this book from net galley.com for an honest review. I want to thank net galley.com for this great mystery book.

Oh wow. What an amazing book! It started with a bang and kept you hooked from start to finish. Believable characters and a thrilling story line with lots of twists and turns. This is the second book in the Natalie Ward series and it's shaping up to be a cracking series. Can't wait for the next one. Would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

Loved this book. Twists and turns . Kept me enthralled all the way through it. I enjoyed the first book and this one just as much can’t wait for another

After reading and enjoying the first Detective Natalie Ward novel I was really looking forward to reading the second instalment. I am very pleased to say it didn’t disappoint.

Charlotte Brannon has everything, a loving husband, baby boy, lovely home and a wealthy and loving family. That is until one evening someone enters her home and she ends up dead in her bedroom with her baby boy in the room next door. Who would want to kill Charlotte ?

Detective Natalie Ward heads up the investigation and as she starts to delve deeper she discovers that not everything is as it seems. There are plenty of lies and deceit going on but will Natalie discover the truth before there are more victims.

This really is a great follow on from the first book in the series, however I would say you can definitely read this as a stand alone book. I really do love Detective Natalie Ward and her fellow detectives and I feel as though in this book we get to know them all a little bit more. I will definitely be reading any future books in this series ..... can’t wait.

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book.

This crime procedural thriller is a welcome second novel featuring Detective Natalie Ward and is her most complex case so far. She and her team will have to work tirelessly and with determination and tenacity to solve the latest crime spate which begins when Adam Brannon calls in the police after finding his wife Charlotte brutally murdered and lying on the floor of their bedroom in a pool of blood. Daubed on the wall above the headboard is the single word “Why?” written in her own blood. Inside their refuse bin outside their door the murder weapon, a long, sturdy baseball bat is found scarcely even hidden. Her baby Alfie is left alone in his bedroom and her husband only found her body when the baby woke in the dead of night and cried out for his Mum.
A thorough investigation ensues with Natalie and her team delving into Adam’s shady past and history of bad boy behaviour and antics. The last person to see Charlotte alive is her babysitter, her best friend’s teenage daughter, ambitious and hard working Inge, who clearly has secrets she is anxious to keep hidden. She, too, comes under the eagle eyes of Natalie and joins the growing list of suspects. Then another dark haired beautiful mother of a young boy is murdered. Both crimes are linked by this similarity and the writing in the culprit’s blood on the wall. This time the ambiguous message is another question “Who?” and the team begin to wonder if the killer is going through the list of short one word questions. Could the perpetrator be on a mission to murder five beautiful young mothers with young sons? Is the question a message for the police or is it a question the killer is posing for himself and if so who can possibly answer his question?
I really enjoy series like this one. The reader learns more and more about Natalie and her team of detectives and you understand them even more. Lucy played a major part in this story and I thought she was a very strong character with an interesting story. I liked the inclusion of Natalie’s personal problems and hoped for a resolution within the time frame of the current story. What impressed me most was the fantastic teamwork and trust between them all, and how calm and thorough Natalie was in her leadership. I loved the fact that a major theme of this story was that people are not always who they seem to be at first. They are clever actors bent on deception. Like chameleons they gradually evolve until they fully reveal themselves. It’s like a clever game of playing off the two sides – the law keepers and the lawless. Other themes within the story are rivalry, the fragility within relationships, mother love, jealousy and revenge. The murderer is on a mission and he clearly will not stop until he is physically stopped or he achieves his goals. I wondered how it would all end and tried to predict the outcome. I am no detective but I really liked the final few chapters, best of all the final words.
The new characters within this story are a real mixed bag, but they are all engaging in their own way. This is one of Carol Wyer’s particular talents – characterisation. Then there are the intricacies of her story plans and her vivid and engaging storytelling, focusing on keeping her stories well paced and full of action and interaction. I always enjoy her novels, but this is one of her very best in my opinion. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Bookouture through my membership of NetGalley and I would like to say thank you for my copy. After the cliff-hanger of an ending I can’t wait to read the third book in this excellent series. These are my own honest opinions without any outside influences. I loved every minute of this story and would recommend it as an excellent read and my review, 5* all round, is very well deserved.

A kind of traditional murder mystery/police procedural. It's very well written, and even though it's a little on the long side, it's very easy and enjoyable to read. Very good plot and characters.

Carol Wyer has created another fabulous, feisty and realistic heroine for the second book in the DI Natalie Ward series. The minor police characters also have their own stories that I’m looking forward to finding out more. I love police procedurals and this is a beautifully gripping example. Plenty of suspects and motives. I highly recommend.

Detective Natalie Ward and her team out of Samford Police are called to the scene of a vicious murder. Charlotte Brannon was beaten to death while her baby slept in the next room. The word, "Why?", is written in her blood on the wall. Charlotte's husband, Adam, finds her body and the police learn that he's no stranger to violence and has a criminal history. Though he has an alibi, Natalie discovers that he and Charlotte have quite a few nasty secrets between them. The investigation puts pressure on the entire unit forcing them into long hours of work which puts a severe strain on Natalie's shaky marriage. There are many suspects and no one seems to be telling the truth about their relationships with each other. Motives abound. Then another woman, Samantha, is stabbed in front of her child with the word, "Who?", painted in blood on the white fridge. It looks like the police have a serial killer on their hands...one who knew both women. Then a third woman, along with her child, calls the station telling the detectives that she is fearful for her life. NO SPOILERS.

This was a book I couldn't put down as the case and the activity surrounding the investigation were so compelling so I read it in one sitting last night! Lots of procedural details with interviews and seeking out information about all those involved. Natalie and her fellow detectives are all over the city hunting down the suspects and sifting through the few clues and the many lies. As a main character, Natalie is quite interesting and has a personality similar to most of the women described in novels of this genre plus she can't seem to keep her home life anywhere but on the back burner as she works ALL THE TIME. Her issues with her husband notwithstanding, I wonder if her compulsion at her job is really normal for all detectives or just the female ones! Sure I get that it's a major murder investigation, but these people rarely sleep, almost never eat anything but crisps and coffee (or tea), and all of them must have relationship problems! And don't get me started on how the women go from deep sleep to work in 15 minutes. But, I digress. I really did like the book and the plot was complicated enough to hook and reel me in. The writing is top-notch and I do hope that Natalie can be more supportive of her own family as she moves up in the ranks at the police.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I can't wait for the next in the series!

I missed the first Natalie Ward book but after reading this one, I definitely plan to go back and read it. Detective Natalie Ward is hard-working and dedicated to her job, but she also has a family that demands her attention. Her case in this suspenseful novel is to find a twisted serial killer of moms, before he strikes again. The first victim is Charlotte Brannon, murdered horrificly in her home while her baby Alfie is left alive sobbing. It seems that this particular killer only wants to kill the mothers, and the question is his motive. The suspects are numerous; the turns in the book kept me reading late into the evening, and my guesses were wrong. Nevertheless., this was one of the best suspense novels that I have read recently. It was full of the twists that are the foundation of this author’s writing and it held my attention well. In fact, I can’t wait until book #3 comes out!

This is the second book in the DI Natalie Ward series and I absolutely LOVED it!

I thought that the plot in this book was superb, I was hooked and I loved seeing the story unravel the further I got towards the end, I was completely engrossed I the story, the author really drew me in and it held my full attention right to the superb ending!!

The characters were brilliant and I loved getting to find out more about Natalie and her team and I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book, she is becoming a firm favourite for me and this series has become a MUST READ for me!

Five stars from me, brilliantly written – very highly recommended!!

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Last Lullaby’ by Carol Wyer in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Charlotte and her husband Adam Brannon are out celebrating her parents’ anniversary. On their return home Adam takes their babysitter, Inge, home while Charlotte goes to bed as she’s had a lot to drink and has become argumentative. Charlotte is awoken by a noise coming from baby Oscar’s room and when she reaches under the bed for Adam’s baseball bat she’s struck on the head with it and left to die in a pool of blood. The killer uses Charlotte’s blood to write the word ‘Why?’ on the bedroom wall. Soon after another woman, Samantha, is stabbed to death and the word ‘Who?’ is written in her blood on the fridge door.

DI Natalie Ward and her team are tasked to investigate these deaths, find any connection between the two women and arrest the killer before he can claim another victim, but her job isn’t helped by the suspects telling lies to cover for each other, and the two youths seen in the vicinity of the Brannon’s house disappearing.

I thought ‘The Birthday’, the first book in the series, to be pretty amazing but ‘Last Lullaby exceeds my expectations. It has a cleverly written and complex plot, lots of excitement and suspense, twists and turns, and the tension increases as the clues mount up. I very much like the character of Natalie who works hard and expects the same from her team, gaining the respect of all those working with her. I’ve found it interesting to read more about her marriage to David which is hanging by a thread due to his gambling addiction. This is another excellent thriller by a very talented author and I can thoroughly recommend it.

Another successful suspense filled mystery for Carol Wyer. A heartbreaking murder with the only suspect being the husband, made for a slower start, which it was not a full five star. A quarter of the way in, the waters got murky and the unknown of who did it, who was in on it and why got exciting. The wait for plot twists and suprise turns are what I live for reading mysteries, especially procedural ones. Last Lullaby has cemented the fact that I am not done with the Natalie Ward series and will be impatiently awaiting the third book.

Last Lullaby, the second police procedural to feature DI Natalie Ward and based in Samford, turned out to be just as arresting and engrossing as the first book, The Birthday, and although part of a series it works perfectly as a standalone. Written in an accessible and eminently readable style it's a fast-paced, easy story to get through. The two murders take place quite a way apart, and although you may think this would lead to a lull in the intensity, the time in between them is the part I actually enjoyed most. This is because the secrets and blatant lies start to come to the fore and once they do everything just unravels and one by one we discover the deceit and duplicitous behaviour right alongside DI Ward and her team.

It is mainly told from DI Ward's perspective, however, there are some chapters detailing the conversations between the unidentified killer and their therapist which really intrigued me and added further interest to the storyline. Although there was not a lot of evidence for the investigators to go on, Wyer does a fantastic job of keeping you on the edge-of-your-seat from the first to the last page. DI Natalie Ward, like many women with both a career and a family, is juggling many different balls. She's a very capable investigator who gets along with everyone due to her affable nature, but she has been dealt a bit of a bad hand when it comes down to luck. This is captivating crime fiction with a distinct feeling of realism to it and plenty of thrills and spills to keep even the most discerning reader entertained.

Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.