This book picks up straight after the ending of the previous book, and Natalie has to deal with a lot of issues in her personal life, while investigating the death of a young woman. The investigation takes various funny twists and turns that the reader doesn't expect and all gets wrapped up nicely at the end. Natalie's personal life is still in shambles, and makes her seem more human to the reader.
Highly recommended, can't wait for the next book!

Absolutely love this series by Carol Wyer. Detective Natalie Ward is one of my top 5 characters from the different crime procedurals I read! This book was engrossing from the first page, I was captivated by the case and all the characters that were in play. Stalking is one thing that freaks me out, and with that being a major issue of the book, I found myself entranced by the creepiness factor of the main suspect.
As with everyone of her books, I throughly enjoyed it! Now back to waiting impatiently for the next installment.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of the book.
#netgalley #thesecretadmirer

I’ve been a fan of Carol Wyer‘s detective thrillers for a few years now, and I’m always looking forward to new titles. I’ve been following Natalie Ward ever since the first book came out back in 2018, and book number six is without doubt another shocking and more than solid ride. Just the dose of detective thrilller I needed! Technically you can read The Secret Admirer as a stand-alone, but you will be missing out on a lot of background information about the main characters and you might not get the full experience if you don’t read the previous books first… Especially since book six is another one that focuses on developments Natalie Ward’s private life as well as a new investigation. Plus, if you are a fan of the genre in the first place, you will be missing out on hours of detective entertainment!

I’m going to keep things short to avoid spoilers, but those who’ve read the previous books will know what I mean when I say that book number five had the most shocking ending I still can’t believe actually happened. I’ve been dying to start The Secret Admirer to learn about how things would continue afterwards, and this story definitely delivers when it comes to further development of Natalie’s personal life. The bigger focus on her private life was more than needed after that nuclear plot twist bomb, and while it does give the story a different vibe, I was personally more than satisfied with this new balance. The investigation in this one is intriguing, although I do have to guess I saw the ending coming early on… But the developments in Natalie’s private life were less easy to guess.

The writing makes it really easy to keep turning those pages, and while the pace might be a tad slower in the beginning, things will get more intense as the investigation gets more complicated. Secrets, twists, manipulation, abuse… Why was Gemma attacked and who was behind it? What are the people close to her hiding? Things take a personal turn after new development, and while I did see the final reveals involving the investigation coming, I was completely flabbergasted by the developments in Natalie’s private life. Prepare yourself for another shocker, as things won’t be easier in book number six either! That said, I do have to say that I will never like David as a character and even the events in The Secret Admirer weren’t enoug to make me feel sympathetic towards him… Call me coldhearted, but it is what it is I guess. I did enjoy seeing the development in the other characters involved, and I already can’t wait to discover how things will continue for all the main characters in play in the next book.

This detective thriller series has been highly entertaining and suspenseful from the first book, and The Secret Admirer is already book number six and no exception to the rule. Both the previous book and this new installment have very shocking developments in store for our main character Natalie Ward; plot twists that will most likely catch you completely unawares. If you enjoy the genre, you will most likely have a great time with this series!

After reading carol Wyer’s last book. ‘The Blossom Twins’ I wondered where she would take the character of Detective Natalie Ward. I needn’t have worried. Once again I’ve been blown away with this latest book.
Natalie is still grieving for her daughter Leigh. It’s been a few months since her murder but she’s now ready to work with her squad at Samford CID again.
Straight away she is thrown into the deep end. Gemma a student at the local university has been brutally murdered. Acid has been thrown over her. Natalie must tackle her emotions and find her killer. Then more bodies are found.
What compounds the situation is her estranged husband David is a suspect. Could he have had anything to do with the deaths. Is he lying about what he’s been up to and where.
A cracking read. Once again I am on tenterhooks waiting for the next book which I hope is well on the way to being written.
Cannot recommend this series high enough.
#netgalley #carolwyer #thesecretadmirer

This is the sixth book following Detective Natalie Ward’s police career and personal life. I would definitely recommend reading the previous novels to get the back story to Natalie and her team/family.
Natalie is called to the death of a eighteen year old University student called Gemma. Whilst investigating they discover a letter from a secret admirer, is this the person that killed Gemma?
The story was fantastic, as always, but I do feel sorry for the main character as I don’t know how much more heartache she can take or whether my nerves can take books even. I can’t wait to find out!
I highly recommend Carol Wyler books as I don’t think you will ever regret picking one up.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#TheSecretAdmirer #NetGalley

Omg I couldn't put this book down. Absolutely love Natalie Ward. Even felt a bit of sympathy for David in this book. Every book just gets better and better. Cant wait for the next one.

A well written and entertaining thriller. Good plot and well crafted characters. Many twists and turns. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

The Blossom Girls, book 5 in this series absolutely broke me. I could hardly believe what I was reading as the tears fell. So I jumped at the chance to read book 6, The Secret Admirer, but was hesitant going in. Poor Natalie, seriously that woman cannot catch a break and this installment is a tough read. again it made me cry to imagine what Natalie was going through, every day.

The Detective Natalie Ward series just keeps getting better and better. I have loved every single book in this series and am wanting book 7 already. I am hoping that things will get better for Natalie and her family soon. I am not sure one woman could take anything more. My heart broke for her.

An acid attack on a beautiful young student bring Natalie back to work after 3 months of trying to adjust to her life without her daughter and after the end of her marriage. She knows that going back will bring some normality back to her life but at every turn she is reminded of her daughter. This horrific attack kills the girl and Natalie and her team begin the investigation. Who would want to this girl dead and why? And then one of her housemates goes missing...

Another fantastic chapter in Natalie's story, highly recommend this series. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

Carol’s books get better and better. I especially like this series with Natalie Ward and her family. I was glad in a way that this wasn’t as traumatic as The Blossom Twins, that was just tear jerking.

This time Natalie is involved with the murder of a very beautiful girl, who is the only child to a young mum, and who means the world to her. She obviously has empathy with the mum and she has to gather all her strength to deal with the case. Then another girl is murdered,one of Gemma’s housemates. The cases are difficult for Natalie, especially when CCTV footage puts David in the vicinity. Is he guilt, or not?

I read this well into the early hours, but wanted it to go on a bit more, now I’ve got to be patient and wait for the next one.

I do hope Natalie’s life improves and things get better for her. Please let her find some happiness carol!!

My thanks to Carol, the publishers and Netgalley for the ARC.

I loved this book, a real tangled web of jealousy and deceit.
Set in a student house, with shared facilities, it was good to learn about each of the housemates. One of them is found dead in very grisly circumstances. I certainly had my suspicions about everyone as the story progressed.
A modern day story with modern problems. Dating apps and social media play a part and I love the digital forensic side of the book. Being a lab technician myself I enjoyed the scientific side with the chemistry aspect and was searching the internet myself when certain chemicals and acids were brought into the story. There really are some deadly substances out there if you so wished to dispose of someone!!
Natalie’s estranged husband David was dragged into the enquiry in a strange twist and I was annoyed at myself at feeling sympathy for him because in the past I've really disliked him!
It’s nice to see Natalie’s relationship with Mike Sullivan, head of Forensics at Samford HQ, moving forward. It’s been quite awkward at times being David’s best friend.
I feel there are further tough times to come for Natalie after what goes on in this book…no spoilers here.
Carol sure knows how to write a good page-turner. I was racing through this, desperate to find out the answers. Yet again I will be waiting for the next in the series!
Thanks to Carol Wyer, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the early review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

This, the second book that I’ve read by this writer, continues to explore DI Natalie’s complex personal life while she struggles with her work one. Gemma, a Uni student, gets acid thrown and subsequently dies. But all is not as it seems with her tender life. Another stonking read from a great crime writer. The characters are spot on. The plot and twist gasp worthy.

4.5 Stars

Detective Natalie Ward has returned to work following the death of her daughter Leigh. She's investigating the murder of university student, Gemma Barnes, who was the victim of a shocking acid attack. Who would possibly want to harm the beautiful and well-liked student? As Natalie and her team race to solve the murder, they uncover a twisted web of lies, deceit, jealousy, and more bodies.

The Secret Admirer by Carol Wyer is the sixth book in the Detective Natalie Ward series and the first one that I have read. I had very high expectations going into this series and was not disappointed. I found myself totally immersed in this fast-paced and gripping police procedural thriller. The cast of characters was so well-written by the author that I didn't feel like I was missing out on anything that had happened in the previous books. The main character, Natalie, is strong, likable, hardworking, and brilliant at her job. It was very easy to root for her and sympathize with her as she struggles to cope with Leigh's death and tries to be the best parent that she could possibly be for her son Josh. We also get little glimpses into the lives of Lucy, Ian, and Murray, which I enjoyed.
There were so many suspects, red herrings, and twists and turns to make sure that the reader did not guess the killer's identity before the reveal. It had me on the edge of my seat, and I enjoyed watching as the multi-layered mystery started to unravel. This thriller was a page-turner, and I will definitely be reading more books by Carol Wyer. If you enjoy complex police procedural thrillers, then I highly recommend this series.

I received an ARC from Bookouture through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I just love this series with Natalie Ward and even though it is the sixth book in the series it’s just as good as all the others. I was so engrossed and on the edge of my seat I read the book in a day. So many twists and turns and a great storyline you just can’t put down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. If you haven’t read any do so now, you won’t regret it.

Wow! I love this series. A group of uni students thrown together is the basis of this story. Gemma the vivacious pretty one is attacked by acid and dies. But this story is so much more twisted! I am now waiting for the next book in the series. Excellent!

The Secret Admirer is Carol Wyer’s latest novel in the DI Natalie Ward series. It’s gripping, thrilling and will definitely keep you entertained to the end. Natalie is battling her own demons following the ending of the previous novel, The Blossom Twins and this added to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have really liked everything this author has written and this as no exception. I really enjoy the DI Natalie Wards books and saying that this was good but not the best.

Tense chilling thriller a book I was drawn right into.So well written full of twists and turns well written characters that come alive.An author Inwill be following a book I will be recommending.#netgalley#bookouture

The book starts off with Gemma, an 18 year old university student on her way to the library to get some work done. When on the way there she is the victim of a brutal acid attack which unfortunately she dies from.
We then catch up with Natalie, who is trying to rebuild her life after the tragic ending of the previous book.
Natalie and her team which if you have read any of this series you will be familiar with, begin to gather information about Gemma from people close to her to build up her character. Natalie notices many people describe Gemma as ‘nice’.
Throughout the book you find out a lot of the people didn’t actually have many nice things to say about Gemma and with another two murders added into it, Natalie and her team seem to be just meeting dead ends with no real leads to who could have done it; although many have motive.
There is a twist in the book which brings Natalie’s private life into the mix where she feels torn and in the end you really feel for the character involved.
I was torn between two characters that it could be and once one thing was revealed I managed to work it out.
I can’t wait for the next instalment of the series to see where Natalie’s life is leading too!

Another excellent book to add to the series. A twisted story of envy and also following up on the tragic events in the last book. Highly recommended #NetGalley#TheSecretAdmirer

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and loved it. The book explores many different relationships and keeps you guessing who killed Gemma. In addition to looking for the killer, the reader gets background on DI Natalie and her family dramas. I plan on going back and reading the others in the series.