Member Reviews

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Blossom Twins’ the fifth in the Detective Natalie Ward series written by Carol Wyer, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Thirteen-year-old twins Ivy and Erin have permission to sleep in their tent in the family’s back garden but when their parents go to wake them the following morning both girls are missing. Detective Natalie Ward is called in and very soon the twins’ bodies are discovered. Natalie is shocked when she sees the bodies as they’re are posed in an identical way to the two girls in her first murder investigation which was called ‘The Blossom Twins’. Natalie knows it can’t be the work of the same killer as he was arrested and committed suicide three months into his prison sentence but could he have had an accomplice or is this a copy-cat killing? Natalie needs to make the connection soon before more teenage girls die.

I thought the previous four books in the Detective Natalie Ward series were amazing but Carol Wyer is going from strength to strength as ‘The Blossom Twins’ is definitely the best yet. From page one I was gripped and as the story progressed and the tension increased I was totally enthralled and had to keep reading so that I finished it in less than twenty-four hours. The investigation was a tough one for Natalie made harder by the problems in her private life that, being the professional she is, had to be put aside for the time being. I admit that half-way through I had an inkling of the killer’s identity but it wasn’t until the last few chapters that I realised I was right. This is an excellent thriller with an unbelievably shocking conclusion and I can wholeheartedly recommend it for anyone who loves an exciting, addictive and action-packed thriller.

Was this review helpful?

Devastating, brave and brilliant. I was expecting another ‘yawn’ member of detective’s family gets rescued at last minute. I sure didn’t see that ending coming. I must admit that I was suspicious of the actual culprit, but in no way did that detract from the plot. Love the main characters’ development, personalities and interactions. I love this series and can’t wait for the next book.

Was this review helpful?

*Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* 'The Blossom Twins' is book 5 in the Detective Natalie War series. And, of my goodness, you don't want to miss it! Not only does it deliver a gripping crime to be solved, it also develops the Natalie Ward storyline to a great extent. This book, whilst I'm sure it could be read as a stand-alone novel, is key to the overall series arc. The mystery focuses on the disappearance and then death of young girls in the area surrounding Natalie's station. It is also a case that bares real similarities to an old case of Natalie's. I am loathe to write too much more and thus give away a plot twist. Needless to say, I am now hanging out for book 6 in the series.

Was this review helpful?

OMG, Carol Wyer does it again with her Natalie Ward series. I knew within the first few pages what a great book this was going to be. I have read all the books in this series and I just can’t get enough of them. What a wonderful series this is and I can’t wait for the next one to come out. If you are looking for a great series, this one will not disappoint. I can’t say enough good things about it.

This book was about a woman detective that is trying to find a child killer that she thinks is linked to her past. A case that she was never able to get over. Does she get the justice and closure that she is looking for? At what cost does she get it? You find out these answers and more.

I want to start off by saying that I finally got my questions answered about Detective Ward’s love life and I couldn’t be happier. I hated the way she was treated and always thought she deserved better. With that said I can not believe the whopper of the ending. Wow, I’m still in such shock by it. This has to be by far the best in the series yet. I’m not sure how I’m ever going to get over it. I get so emotional wrapped up in these characters and their lives and this is definitely going to take me a lot of therapy to get over. As I was reading each chapter it was like a car crash that I could not look away from. I knew I had to move on but just could not. Carol Wyer you have definitely out done yourself on this one. This is a book I will never forget.

Between the plot, characters and all the twists in this book it made it an easy and fast read. I would definitely recommend it and happily give it 5 Hearts❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Was this review helpful?

I’ve read a few of the books by this author now & will definitely be reading more from this series. Amazing writing style & fabulous characters I’d recommend to anyone.

Was this review helpful?

This book is amazing.
Detective Natalie Ward book 5 in the series. The other 4 books have been brilliant and I recommend you read them all, although you can read them as standalone.
The Blossom Twins is exceptional and has left me speechless.
Lots of twists and turns as Natalie has to find a killer that’s on the loose committing crimes that remind her of her past.
Read it you will not be disappointed

Was this review helpful?

The Blossom Twins by Carol Wyer is the 5th book involving D.I. Natalie Ward and what a wow what a was book this is.
With her marriage at breaking point D.I. Natalie Ward is called to investigate the murder of 14-year-old Isabella Sharpe who went missing from an open-air concert. Boss Dan Tasker wants Natalie to find the killer swiftly. When two other girls have gone missing and found strangled and similarities to an old case The Blossom Twins murder. Who they arrested a man for several girls murders only later for them to take their own life, Natalie knows she has a copy cat killer on her hands. Boss Dan Tasker brings in old team member D.S. John Briggs to help with the investigate with the annoyance of Natalie they both don’t get along.
This is another exceptional episode in the D.I Natalie Ward series. This is another fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns that kept you guessing throughout. I liked how the two stories of the murder case and of Natalie’s personal life with expertly entwined together. Carol Wyer’s stories just seem to get better and better. And the twist at the end was quite a shock. You will have to read it to find out. 5 stars from me.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked the cast of the book and the lead lady DI ward more than the story here. The plot is really good and the preferences to old case were enough to keep me engaged. The back story that runs in parallel was well placed but I felt the climax was a little off. The clues about what happened or was going to happen became a little obvious before we reached the point. Overall a good one. I want to read the first books of this series now

Was this review helpful?

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Blossom Twins, the fifth novel to feature DI Natalie Ward of the Staffordshire Police.

When the bodies of twin teenagers, Ivy and Erin Westmore are discovered strangled and covered in flower petals Natalie is struck by the similarity to The Blossom Twins case from earlier in her career. They caught the killer but now she’s not sure and a note left for her confirms it.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Blossom Twins which is a tense read with plenty of twists and turns and a fair amount of heartbreak as Natalie’s marriage disintegrates. It is told from various points of view, including the killer’s. Often I find this approach annoying and disruptive but in case it works well adding depth and different angles to the investigation and normally I hate the words of the killer but here Ms Wyer captures his arrogance, hubris and exuberance perfectly and his history adds context to the narrative.

Initially the novel takes a fairly predictable course, bodies, false suspects, slow uncovering of information and facts with no way of knowing what is relevant and hard work, intercut with Natalie’s domestic woes and friction with a figure from her past seconded to the team. It’s interesting and absorbing but the final quarter of the novel is a knockout with some major twists and serious tension. I found myself wound tight as I read it, living every minute with Natalie as she battles just about everything.

I must admit that I wasn’t too keen on Natalie at the start of the series but she’s won a place in my heart as the series progresses because she’s tough and smart and has been dealt a hard hand. I can’t wait to find out where she’s going next in what has become a must read series.

The Blossom Twins is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Was this review helpful?

"The Blossom Twins" is book 5 in the "Detective Natalie Ward" series and it shows. And I say that in a good way, cause the author proves that after five books she really knows her characters making the reader become invested in their lives.

DCI Ward must juggle a new investigation where the M.O. is identical to her first murder case years before with some changes at work and a complicated family life. After two books where this aspect of the story seemed to be stuck in the same place, she has finally made some decision about her marriage, and I was glad to see that this was finally moving forward. At work she's having problems with her new boss and a workmate from her past, so it was nice to see some new dynamics.

Although I suspected the killer since the beginning, there was a final twist that caught me by surprise. I wasn't sure if the author would dare to go there and, hurtful as it was, I'm glad she did it cause it will be an important spur for the whole series.

Waiting impatiently for book 6!

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Wow, wow, wow. Book 5 in the Detective Natalie Ward series and I think this is the best one so far. This is such a fantastic police series with real characters. Not everything is easy which makes it realistic. Natalie and her team are completely dedicated to each and every victim, not resting until they find justice. At times this can be at the expense of their personal lives, but this team live and breathe being police. If you have not read this series before you really should go back to the beginning and get to know Natalie and the people that surround her. You will not be sorry that you did.

There is so much going on in this book. A young girl goes missing in broad daylight from a pop concert in the local park. Hours later, her body is found. Natalie and her team are called to investigate. It is not long before twin girls who were last seen camping out in their own backyard are found murdered. There are similarities between the positioning of the bodies and the crime scenes that is playing on Natalie's mind. The killer in that case was caught but is there a copycat here - or did they get the wrong man? While all of this is going on, Natalie is trying to find the right time to tell her kids that she is leaving their father. The ending of this book was so unexpected and had me reeling for days.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased..

Was this review helpful?

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read The Blossom Twins in return for an honest review. This is the 5th book in the Detective Natalie Ward series, and the author is new to me. I thought it worked well as a stand-alone. I wondered if I might have felt more empathy for and emotional connection with Natalie if I had read the previous books and gotten to know her better.

I know I am in the minority here, but was not engaged in the story nor connect with the characters as intended. I note that the vast majority of readers love this series, and I emphasize that potential readers should not be dissuaded by my misgivings.

There was much to like here. It was well written, and the plotline was very well thought out. The police investigation was shown as very painstaking and detailed, as good real-life investigations must be. The tedious task of questioning possible witnesses and suspects made the pace slow down for me. This diminished the suspense.

I know I should be engaged more with Natalie, who was having problems both at home and at work. I realized she was dauntless and dedicated in her difficult task of solving the horrific crime of the murder of young girls. She was feeling the guilt of a past conviction which may have been a mistake.

There were plenty of twists, and the bold ending was stunning and extremely shocking.

Was this review helpful?

Another cracker from Carol Wyer in the fab Detective Nathalie Ward series. Creepy and believable with great characters that make you care about what happens to them. Someone targets twins and stages them that reminds Ward of a previous case. Definitely worth a read, I couldn't put it down

Was this review helpful?

The Blossom Twins is book five in the DI Natalie Ward series and is the best one yet.

When teenage girls are found murdered, Natalie and her team need to make an arrest quickly. The murders remind Natalie of an old case she worked on in Manchester, where twin sisters were killed and covered with flowers. When an old colleague is recruited to her team, it causes tensions to rise; and with Natalie’s personal life in disarray, she will need all her wits about her to catch the killer.

This is a fast paced and gripping book with an excellent storyline. Wow Carol Wyer, you certainly shocked me! Brilliant read, can’t wait for the next one.

Was this review helpful?

I love me some Natalie Ward,! So happy to read the fifth installment and it’s as good, if not better, then the others. The more we learn of Natalie's life the more realistic and practical she becomes - as well as being the best detective today. Warning - call in sick and get in supplies - you won’t be going anywhere once you read the first page, TEN stars!

Was this review helpful?

Oh...........my..........goodness what a brilliant book, Carol Wyer has got even better, probably her best book yet in the Natalie Ward series but all fantastic reads.

So well written, an addictive page turner, great characters and I was on the edge of my seat throughout, I cannot speak highly enough about this series and I can thoroughly recommend. What a brilliant ending too, I certainly didn't see that one coming.

Well done Carol, I cannot wait for number 6.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read this brilliant book, certainly one I will be recommending to my Book Groups on Facebook.

Was this review helpful?

# The Blossom Twins # Netgally
It's now 5..:08 am I am tired but it doesn't matter I could not have put this book down no matter what. I was so !ost inside of this book that just brings out so many thoughts and emotional rollercoaster fast paced book it's a real nail bitter that just sucks the breath out of you. DCI Natalie Ward is probably the most experienced DCI with problems in her home life. With David gambling and lying has literally broken the marriage. She's yet to tell her children. Each time she gets home with the intentions of telling them something gets in her wzy. She also been given extra help on her present case. Someone she's worked with before on the blossom girls investigation. At that time she was not SIO she had been sent a officer who Natalie didn't really get on with because of his arrogant attitude DS John Briggs. ... The friction starts within. Minutes of being each othsr. His book is p the best one of the Natalie Ward series by far, however the saddest that keeps you on edge until the last page. With something so traumatic that's really really do unexpected. My jaw dropped.no no no was all I could think no seriously my brain. Just did not want it to be so true. OMG you HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK. Carol Wyer is just truly unique in how much detail she puts into her writing yet can still keep such a fast paced book. It's such a ingenious storyline has are the entire Natalie Ward series. This particular one told the others. I know that this one is definitely going to take some beating. Can not wait for the next. This is one you can not afford to miss. Thank you so much Natalie Ward for writing and keeping me engrossed for hours upon hours with you fantastic books. Amazing

Was this review helpful?

Carol Wyer has done it again with the Natalie Ward  series. this is definitely a very emotion filled novel with a lot of twists and turns.


Natalie is her normal self but also with a bit harder edge to her.  She is going through a lot of personal problems at home and it colours everything she does. 


The powerfully emotional book really hits home as it shows just how dangerous our world is and that no one is safe.


Very emotional book for me and I love everything I have read from this author.  She has a talent of getting you into the life and minds of those she writes about.


I still despise the husband of Natalie thinking how he has hurt her so much and that she is trying to keep afloat when in churning water.

Was this review helpful?

Feel incredibly lucky to have recieved an early copy from NetGalley! I love this series so much, and The Blossom Twins lived up to my expectations. Natalie Ward gets assigned to a case that feels familiar to a case she had before she was promoted. Natalie has to find out if there is a copycat killer out there or if the wrong person was sentenced for the murders years ago. These books just keep getting better! The story had me engrossed from the start, and I couldn't put it down. I have become invested in these characters over the series and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

Was this review helpful?

5 enthusiastic stars. Thank @netgalley for the opportunity to review this book! What a rush from start to finish. I absolutely loved this book. The characters were so well thought out and the plot was fast paced and super suspenseful. The ending to this book was so unexpected, literally like no other book i have read, it was jaw dropping. I can not sing enough praises for this book. It belongs on all suspense/mystery lovers must read list!

Was this review helpful?