When a teenaged girl goes missing, Detective Natalie Ward hopes they will find the presumed runaway safe and sound, but they find her body instead. Her team has barely begun to investigate when word comes of another missing girl, whom they once again find too late. The pressure is on to find the killer before they strike again, and Natalie is horrified when her own daughter disappears.

Once again, I've finished reading a crime thriller by Carol Wyer and could only sit back and think shake my head in wonder at how incredible it was. To be able to feel this way with a standalone book is wonderful, but for it to consistently happen with every single book in a series (or two series, even)? That is pretty darn special.

Tension is a constant in this story, whether it's related to the investigation or the personal lives of Natalie and her team. In this book, Natalie's marriage is going through a particularly stressful time, and as always, I'd be hard-pressed to decide which storyline was the most compelling for me. As fascinating as the investigation itself was, I found myself wanting to linger over her interactions with her husband and children. I care about these characters so much at this point that I would happily read a book based solely on the personal lives of Natalie and other members of her team. I want to know everything there is to know about them! (Particularly Natalie's relationship with her sister... what happened there?!)

The killer's motivation, not to mention the way the girls disappeared, felt particularly chilling. Without giving anything away, I suspect that the thing that ultimately led the girls to their deaths will have readers looking at a certain something in a different light. Yikes, how vague is that?! Don't worry... you'll understand what I'm getting at when you read the book. (Hint, hint)

I am breathlessly awaiting book four in this series. If you haven't started reading the crime-fighting adventures of Detective Natalie Ward yet? Well, it's a good time to get started! (You can thank me later.)

I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Bookouture via Netgalley.

Carol Wyer: The Dare

Review

After Last Lullaby ended on a cliffhanger, I couldn't wait to be reunited with Detective Inspector Natalie Ward and her team. As Natalie has a teenage daughter of her own, the nature of the case means that it has a personal element for her, which gives Wyer the perfect opportunity to give us a further glimpse into Natalie's family and personal life. I enjoyed learning more about her relationship with her husband and her former lover, Mike. Wyer is keeping her cards close to her chest regarding whether Natalie's marriage will survive, and I can't wait to find out more answers.
It is every parent's nightmare that their child goes missing, and through The Dare, Wyer explores the relationships between teenagers and their parents, and questions if a parent can ever really know what their son or daughter is up to. She examines the apps and websites that teenagers access, and this makes for a fascinating premise which feels very relevant in today's world. It is easy to imagine that something similar could happen in real life and this makes the events of the novel truly chilling
I've spoken to Carol Wyer a few times via social media and she seems like a lovely lady. It amazes me that she can create such twisted villains. There are sections in The Dare that are written from the viewpoint of the killer, and these show the reader what the killer is like. It increases the tension in the novel and made me desperate to discover their identity.
It takes Natalie and her team some time to gather some convincing leads in this case. It means that they are locked in a race against time to find the killer before any more girls are reported missing. The search for clues and hunt for the killer is exhilarating and gripped me from beginning to end.

OMG OMG OMG! Fantastic these just keep on getting better and better. Fabulous sorry kept me guessing. Loving following Natalie and her husbands relationship develops. Can't wait for the next one x

Carol Wyer books are compulsive reading material. From the first time a book of hers came my way until this up to date book right here.

Her style has become more evident, her purpose more powerful. Her characters more rounded and plots more breathtaking.

This twisted tale had me hooked in its net from the first page until the last.

Don’t be mistaken, this isn’t about kids going missing, lordie we’ve had enough of those last year. This has guts to it and don’t forget if you’ve read the other two books in the series it has.... DI Natalie Ward. I’ve seen how this DI has developed and her own personal life and difficulties splayed out for us readers to see.

What a dam good DI she is. Her work does take precedence over her family most times and I’d say things were not as good as they should be.
I don’t know for sure but I’m hoping the next book is a make or break for this family.

The dedication and time she puts into a case is second to none. One of my best female DI’s well, after all, she has my surname right?!

The conclusion of this was indeed a surprise to me.
A great reveal that I didn’t actually see rearing it’s head.

I’m loving each of her books. In my humble opinion as a reader she’s an author in the “upper class” of this genre.

If you enjoy an edge of your seat read where time is of the essence, you’ve found it.

I was highly delighted to receive this book as an ARC on a “wish”.

Carol has really got a knack of writing books, she is a master story teller, with lots of twists and turns, and I was so flummoxed I really couldn’t begin to work out who was behind it all. This is someone who reads crime 24/7 and until the end it never occurred to me who it was.

The story starts with savannah going missing, but where has she gone? Then she’s found murdered, and the police are struggling to find out why. Then Harriett goes missing, and she too is found murdered. D I Natalie Ward and her team are at a loss, until they find a Dare game video on the girls phone.

They seemed to be really chasing their tales, with no leads other than a local recluse, then Natalie’s daughter goes missing .....

Well I know Natalie needs her husband for child care, but he’s as much use as a chocolate teapot! Get rid and go back to Mike, you can feel the undercurrent between them.

The characters in this book are well likeable, and even Aileen is ok which is unusual for the top brass.

Looking forward to finding out whether Lucy & Bethany have a boy or a girl.

My thanks to Netgalley, the Publishers and most of all Carol for such an enjoyable read.

Another breathtaking read from Carol Wyer.
This book pulled me in from the beginning and didn’t let go!
Natalie and the team are hunting a killer who is targeting teenage girls and leaving their bodies near rubbish dumps.
When the second girl’s body is discovered Natalie realises that both girls had been on a website that dares teenagers to disappear for a few days.
They found out that the girls discussed this openly and wanted to prove they could do it.
Someone else is aware of this and uses it to lure them away from their families and after a short time, they are murdered and dumped for the Police to find them.
Natalie and David are still struggling and with a David finding it hard to find work, the temptation to gamble rears it’s head again.
Leigh comments on their arguing and when she disappears Natalie and David are devastated. The hunt is on to find Leigh and whilst Natalie is doing all she can to find the killer - is it enough to find Leigh before it’s too late?
This is a heart pounding read and one you won’t be able to put down.
Thanks to Bookouture for granting my wish to read this fantastic book.

BOOM!!!! Carol Wyer does it again! I can't even express how much I love the Detective Natalie Ward series. I have been anxiously awaiting the third book in this series from the second I finished the last one. I swear this series just gets better with each book.

You have all heard of the social media challenges that teenagers are taking part of. Have you heard of The Dare? Hang on to your hats people because this one will have you reeling. Teenage girls are going missing shortly after talking about the challenge. Some will never come back, soon to be found by Natalie and her team.

OMG! We get a glimpse into the killers mind as he stalks his next victim. As he waits for school to let out at 3:30 so he can watch the kids. This made my skin crawl. What the flip am I reading? Wait until you hear how they met their fate. I shuddered as I read the details of how the killer planned his kills. I can reveal no more as I want you to be as shocked as I was.

I am not a big fan of detective series but I simply can't get enough of this series. Carol Wyer can't write fast enough for me! The characters are so well developed in this series that I feel like I know Natalie and her team personally. Hey Nat! Seriously though Natalie has a great story going on in her home life and Ms. Wyer left us with a bit of a cliff hanger. Dare I say we will see another book coming soon? I sure hope so!! #TeamNatalie! I highly suggest you get your hands on The Dare!

I loved this book and I hope you do too! Thanks so much to Carol Wyer and Bookouture for this ARC that was simply fantastic!

Wow wow wow! I just read this book in 3 hours. It's gritty, gripping and fast paced!

Natalie Ward is a phenomenal character and I could read her books forever!

I think I need to go lie down in a dark room for a bit, that was traumatic but bloody brilliant!

One afternoon, Jane Hopkin's daughter Savannah didn't come home from school. Jane takes immediate action, including phoning her friends. Sadly Savannah's body is discovered. The missing teen becomes DI Natalie Ward's case. This is especially hard for Natalie. For starters, she has a daughter, Leigh, the exact age, so that alone makes the case difficult. Also, Natalie has had other arduous cases involving the death of children. Also, Natalie's marriage is quite strained, so that doesn't help things considering the time and attention she must place on this case.

Natalie begins her investigation and questions several potential suspects, to the point when she is fairly certain that one particular person could be responsible. However, in just a day, another teen girl goes missing. Did they know one another? Are their cases connected? To make matters worse, the unimaginable happens in Natalie's own family.

The story is mostly told by Natalie's point of view. However, there is another view in the story, that of the killer, and of their plans to harm other girls. And, after the second girl disappears, a very brief, but horrifying video is discovered. This alerts Natalie and her team to a morbid website referring to the Disappear Dare. This is a very dangerous social media challenge where a teen agrees to go off grid for a short time. Could Savannah and the other missing girl, Harriet, have been playing that game?

The Dare is the third compelling story in the Detective Natalie Ward series. It is quite a remarkable read, affecting on many levels. I have read most of Carol Wyer's books and each time I pick one up I find them to be utterly thrilling. I read this exceptional book in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. I was hanging on the edge of my seat as this book reached a crescendo. I definitely cannot wait for the next book in the series.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am a huge fan of BBC police dramas, and I love it when I find a book written in the same manner. This is one of those books. The third in the Detective Natalie Ward series, this one is a definite page-turner. DI Ward is a feisty heroine dealing with issues at home while trying to solve missing persons cases involving teenage girls. The plot is riveting, and the writing is crisp. I usually do not like entering a series in later books, as it sometimes is easy to get lost in references to past events. This author does a great job of introducing the recurring characters and referencing past events in a succinct manner. She covered the important parts without excessive detail so I felt caught up, but they were written in a way that would not bore someone who had read previous books. I must add that there were enough references to make me quickly buy the first two in the series to catch up. This was a cracking good crime thriller, and I can’t wait to read the rest! Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a digital advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd book in the Natalie Ward series and I think even better than the first two (which I also loved)
I like the fact Natalie’s homelife isn’t perfect and she has to juggle family and being the main breadwinner also struggling with a husband who gambled in the past.
Girls are disappearing but are they linked? Lots of characters intertwined and could know more than they’re letting on. The books twists and turns and who could it be?
This crime is very close to home for Natalie and her family and she must solve it.
Gripping, fast paced unputdownable.
Loved it.
Cannot wait for the next in the series.

This is book #3 of the D.I. Natalie Ward series. It can be read as a standalone, but some references are made to the storylines in the previous books, so I would recommend they are read in order for continuity.

Lucky me was offered the chance to read this book earlier than normal! Of course, I literally dropped everything I was doing and started it straight away. Unfortunately life again got in the way (how inconsiderate of my mum to have a birthday, people who wanted feeding and work actually wanted me to work!) so it did take me a little longer to read than I would have liked but even with all those little distractions, I still couldn’t put the book down!

Just like every other book this author writes, this one was absolutely brilliant. Natalie Ward is on the case of missing teenagers. When 13 year old Savannah doesn’t come home from school, it isn’t long before her body is found dumped in a park. When another missing teenager, Harriet is also found dead a day later Natalie realises she has a serial killer on her hands. Together with her team, she needs to work out who the killer, but with so many suspects and dead ends, time begins to run out.

I have a real strong affection for Natalie Ward! All through the series, I’ve really felt for her, particularly with her problems at home. If you look back at my reviews for the previous two books I think it’s plainly obvious that I don’t like her husband David…..at all! I tried so hard to give him the benefit of the doubt in the book, but I’m afraid my opinion’s still the same despite David apparently making an effort to make things right in their lives. Natalie is such a strong woman though. She puts up with everything that David does, gets the cold shoulder from her teenage children and yet still finds the physical and emotional energy to work out who the killer is!

These killings were a bit close to home for Natalie as well, with the teenagers who went missing being the same age as her daughter. I have to admit I did find the story particularly heart-breaking and my heart went out to the families of the girls who were killed. The part of the storyline where the girls were doing ‘dares’ to film and put onto the internet was a clever and original plot but was also very scary! Whilst some dares, like the ice challenge, have been around for a while and are relatively harmless, some dares like in this book are getting more and more dangerous. I will certainly be having a word with my son to make him more aware of things like this!

Natalie’s usual team were back to help her out and I love her relationship with DS Murray Anderson – they work so well together!! DC Lucy Carmichael’s personal storyline was also coming along nicely with her girlfriend’s pregnancy progressing. I will be waiting with bated breath for the patter of tiny feet in the forthcoming books! The one relationship which did have me turning the pages furiously in the hope something would happen is between Natalie and Mike Sullivan. Mike is the head of forensics, and also David’s best friend. Natalie had a brief affair with him, but I’m still hoping for that spark to be reignited in future books! She deserves a bit of happiness!

This book was a great addition to the series. It was fast paced and grabbed me from the first page. I loved the way everybody was a suspect and the killer could have been any one of them. I definitely didn’t work out who it was until well into the book, and even then I didn’t work out why or how! The story was cleverly written, well researched and kept me in suspense right through to the end! A fantastic read by a brilliant author! Highly recommended.

From the very first book in the series, The Birthday, I knew that this series was going to be something special. I have really grown to love the new team of Natalie, Lucy, Murray and Ian and all of the characters who inhabit their world, and the skilful way in which Carol Wyer creates and develops the characters, be they a regular or one of the more - how shall I put it - expendable characters who dot in and out of the novels, adds to the authentic and compelling nature of each story.

The Dare really taps into the idea of the influence of Social media and the desire of the younger generation to be seen to be strong, brave and right on the edge of whatever mad craze is currently fashionable. In this case, it is the craze for completing challenges of dares, such as the ice bucket challenge, in a bid to garner popularity and some kind of fame status amongst their peers that puts young girls in grave danger.

From the very start of the book you get a sense of the danger that lurks within the pages, portraying the heart of the beast that will tear a community and three families apart. I love the way in which Carol Wyer has set the scene so brilliantly, the imagery quite vivid in terms of how the killer sees themselves, without giving the reader any clues as to who they might be. That is a mystery that will be kept right until the end of the book before the big reveal. This is someone who will make the skin crawl, and with passages told from their perspective littered throughout the book, you get an ever evolving picture of how damaged they are and why they are now choosing the victims they are ultimately pursuing.

From the perspective of a true police procedural, this book has all you could ask for and more. A strong team with a high focus on results, battling against the typical constraints of modern policing in terms of financial management and lack of resources. Natalie Ward is a strong but relatable character who is going through a tough time at home, something which is only set to get worse. Then there is Lucy, just about to start a new family but also focused on her career and being as successful as she sees Natalie to be. They are two very likeable characters and probably take the lion's share of the attention in terms of this investigation, with Murray and Ian Jarvis taking more of a back seat. there is a fabulous blend of humour and intensity between the characters that I loved as well as a few certain issues with chemistry that keeps rearing its head, and I'm not talking about a mix up at the forensics lab.

I loved the pacing in this story, flexing as it did between the urgency of the hunt for the missing girls and the frustrating periods of waiting for the evidence to be processed, even as the Detectives hit one dead end after another. There are no end of potential suspects to divert attention, but which one of them, if any, is actually guilty? Well you'll need to read to find out. I had my suspicions, and the more you read, the clearer everything will become. There are moments of real tension, especially when Natalie's daughter goes missing, and quieter moments when the characters have time to reflect upon what is happening in their personal lives. Carol Wyer has really captured the emotion of the parents who are torn apart by loss, and the anxiety and anger caused by the recriminations of what happens between Natalie and her husband David.

All of this combines to give us yet another stellar read, full of mystery, thrilling action, a chilling killer and a team of Detectives that is fast becoming one of my favourites.

Thanks to Netgally and Bookouture for this ARC. Wow what a great read! Number 3 in the Natalie Ward series and another cracker. Teenage girls are going missing and turning up dead. The race is on to find the killer but the plot twists and turns and the suspects come and go. Brilliantly written it keeps you guessing and you can feel the frustration as Natalie and the team race against time to find the girls. Suddenly it all turns personal for Natalie as her world falls apart.
The subplots and characters continue to develop nicely with lots more to give
Great addition to a cracking good series

I can't believe we're already at the third instalment in the DI Natalie Ward series. That Carol Wyer is an insane writing machine!

When thirteen year old Savannah doesn't return home from school, her mother immediately raises the alarm. A search for the young girl bears no results. Then her body is found near rubbish close to where she lived. As it is obvious this is not where Savannah was killed and there are no DNA clues at all, the investigations into her murder quickly turns into a frustrating one. And then another young teenager goes missing.

Do you know what your kids are up to? The mothers in this story most certainly do not, no matter how close they think they are to their daughters. These days, with all their online presence, things are even more frightening than they used to be. Carol Wyer introduces the topic of online dares in this story, which I'm sure you've seen mentioned in newspapers quite often as most don't end all that well for the participants.

I shared the team's frustration in this investigation. While there are a few suspects in their sights, there are also quite a lot of dead-ends. I couldn't figure it out at all and was way off in a completely different direction than the one Carol Wyer herself went. Even the brilliantly written flashback chapters, courtesy of the killer, didn't give me the tiniest clue as to who I should be focusing on. It is always such a bonus when you're left guessing until the end.

Of course, we are also offered more glimpses into Natalie's private life. Her husband David remains a total douchebag and I for one would quite like to see Natalie give him the boot. As it is, their arguments are having an effect on their children. But could one of them end up in danger? And let's not forget Lucy, who is slowly but surely beginning to steal away the limelight from Natalie in this series. Lucy is incredibly focused, determined and like a dog with a bone. I just really like her and I hope her character continues to grow.

As always, Carol Wyer has delivered another gripping and compelling story. I raced through this pages as if my life depended on it, desperately trying to pick up clues and failing miserably at every turn. The Darehad me absolutely hooked and engrossed and I can't wait for more!

With a plethora of choice in crime books Carol Wyer stands out as one of the top writers. Her fantastic works of fiction shows how versatile she really is.

The Dare is another fantastic novel featuring DI Natalie Ward who is fast becoming one of my favourite characters.

Natalie is strong and seems to have it all. She has a husband and children. In this book teenagers are disappearing all of them close to her own daughters age making this case even more difficult for her.

This book was very fast paced which is a very good thing as it has no real extras that detract from the story.v this is just what I like.  I love faster paced books where they have just the right depth for the characters.  Also the action keeps on with the pace.

I love a series as you really see a lot of growth in them and also you get to know the character and feel a bond with them.  Natalie is like that as she seems to have everything.

So emotional this book was and you really see such a difficult situation and how it got resolved.  I am still not sure about Natalie's husband as he seems to be a bit of a jerk.  I think he is growing on me though. 

The family dynamics is a bit of a shock at times.  They seem to have a good life but then things aren't always great between them.  They are making it work.