I'm broken after reading this. What a fantastic book. I have read all the Detective Natalie Ward books and this one Number 5 is as good as, or better than them all. A fast, riveting read with so many legitimate suspects. A real whodunnit. You race through to find out who the cruel murderer could possibly be. The characters are so relatable and I love the relationship with Natalie and her team despite a new detective joining them creating animosity in the team. Natalie's homelife is in tatters but it doesn't stop her working with a vengeance to find the culprit. Such a fantastic read.

I’ve been lucky enough to have read all of this series and thoroughly enjoy them. This instalment has many surprises and twists with an ending I didn’t see coming.

Many thanks to the publishers and netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Why! Why would you do that!!!!!!! I had a feeling something like that was going to happen, but I so badly wanted to be wrong!!!!!

Natalie Ward is back....but for how long? I have no idea where the series will go from here. I mean, Carol Wyer delivered a huge blow to her characters and, even though we all know that Natalie is made of strong stuff, theres only so much one person can handle!!

This probably goes without saying, but 'The Blossom Twins', like many psychological thrillers/crime novels, is as much an uncomfortable novel to read as it is addictive. The premise of the storyline and the way it was centred around the deaths of multiple young girls, was very difficult to digest. With that in mind, it was also incredibly gripping and made me want to turn into Hulk just to nail the fluffy chicken...(amazon wont accept my review if I say what I really think!!)

John Briggs was an outright twat. I cannot stand egotistical, arrogant, selfish people like him. Kudos to the author though for nailing his character personalisation!

As dark and as cut throat as this novel may be, the suspense was like fireworks in my mind! Carol Wyer has got a mind that I really wouldn't want to delve into, yet she knocks each and every one of her novels out of the park! In a way I didn't want to enjoy it given the circumstances, yet I ended up thoroughly blindsided by this christmas cracker of a read that left me wanting more.

I feel so sorry for Natalie at the end of each book, and this one is no different. Do I think things will get easier for her? Hell no. Do I think she will come back ready to fight? Possibly, although I dont envy anyone who finds themself up against her!

In the words of Oliver, 'please sir, can I have some more?'

Outstanding. Emotive. Gripping. Intense. Devious. An absolute belter of a read!

A wonderful past paced; sit at the edge of your seat read!

"Eeny, meeny, miny....oh! This pair. They would be perfect."

A free concert by a popular boy band ends in tragedy for Kerry when her sister Isabella disappears and is subsequently found murdered.
DI Natalie Ward is put in charge of the case and her new boss wants results quickly. Something about the case feels familiar to her. Then 13 year old twins Ivy and Erin disappear and it turns Natalie's world upside down. Is the Blossom Twins murdered back or is there a copy cat out there.
Her new boss brings in her old partner that worked with her on the original case. He is arrogant and not a team player. Her personal life is also a mess.

A thoroughly enjoyable read that keeps you guessing till near the end! Although this is book 5 in the series it didn't feel like I've missed anything. The storyline is well developed and there is good characterization.
I will definitely look out for more books by this author.

Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This book, without a doubt, was the most emotionally charged book of the series thus far.

Natalie is trying to track down the killer of twins. As she investigates, she finds some eerie parallels with a previous case, a case where the killer ended up in prison. So, how could this be?

As the stress mounts for Natalie both at home and at work, the killer taunts her at every turn. Despite his brilliance at covering his tracks, Natalie is like a dog with a bone and pursues him until the end. No matter what the cost to herself.

The big twist at the end had me in shock and I shed a few tears there.

Brilliant book. Can't wait to read the next one.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

The Blossom Twins Carol Wyer


When DI Natalie Ward is told of a missing persons case involving two girls her mind is immediately taken back to one of the first cases she worked as a detective, the Blossom Twins murder. Then a man had been put away but her mind will always go back to the case.

Is she subconsciously thinking about how the case was solved?

When the similarities in the missing girls case, and the Blossom Twins case start to pile up Nat becomes more than a little concerned.

She hadn’t been convinced the right person was put away years ago, now the uncertainty is creeping back as similarities between the new, and old case start to mount up

To make matters worse a face from the past proves to be an unwelcome annoyance during her investigation.

Carol Wyer’s books are nothing short of brilliant. Over the series she has led the reader to develop a relationship with her characters, often with side stories that are equally as good as the main investigation thread of the plot.

This book is no exception.

I often wonder if writers plot story lines books in advance, or whether they just let the story flow in its own direction whilst they write it.

Either way the end of this story is a real bolt from the blue. If it was planned, and it was done to make the reader sit slack jawed, it worked. If it just flowed to the point that had me gasping, it was a brave decision to include it in the final draft. What an ending.

Am I looking forward to the next instalment. Oh my god yes!!!!!

Pages: 399
Publisher: Bookouture
Available now

The Blossom Twins is the fifth instalment in the Detective Inspector Natalie Ward series, and despite being a prolific producer of thrillers Ms Wyer somehow manages to ensure the quality is always top-notch. For those wondering whether you can jump into the series at book five: as each story is contained to that particular instalment it is perfectly fine to start from here. Teenage twins Ivy and Erin Westmore disappear one night whilst camping in their back garden and are soon found murdered with their bodies adorned with rose petals; a signature Natalie remembers all too well. It matches a case from way back in her career, and one she would rather forget. The case, referred to as The Blossom Twins, was investigated and the apparent perpetrator imprisoned for his deplorable actions. However, when Natalie receives a taunting note declaring 'I'm back' she is suddenly thrust into the stressful position of thinking she put away the wrong guy.

Well, this is another page-turner I can see being on bestsellers lists with its plentiful drama, action and a logical and believable cast of characters and investigation. There are twists, turns and misdirection throughout and the suspense was slowly but surely ratcheted up over the course of the novel. I always seem to enjoy getting the chance to probe the killer's mind through the telling of his perspective, and this was no exception; it made the story fully rounded and more interesting. Natalie is a hard-working investigator whose personal life is in turmoil yet she continues to carry out her duties with precision. The last third of the book was unexpected and completely explosive. I raced through it and loved the huge twists and tense atmosphere the author created. If you enjoyed Ms Wyer's previous thrillers then you'll very much enjoy this one too. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

Another cracking book by Carol Wyer.
Twins sleeping out under the stars in a tent their mum goes to wake them up but they are not there.
The twins are found murdered . Detective Natalie Ward is called to the scene her heart sinks as the girls are positioned exactly the same as One of her first cases The Blossom Twins. Did they get the wrong man or is this a copy cat?
Natalie is also dealing with personal problems with her husband.
At work she has a new boss and as she is one member of the team down a new face is brought in but it’s not a face Natalie is expecting John is a detective off the original Blossom twins case and they didn’t get on then.
This book has plenty of twists in it.
A Brilliant 5 Star Read
Can’t wait for the next one
Thanks carol wyer
Thanks NetGalley

A riveting and remarkable read!

The Blossom Twins is my second encounter with Detective Natalie Ward and her team but their characters are so well polished by Carol Wyer that I didn't feel I was missing out on anything that had gone on before.

In this exciting and riveting fifth instalment of the series, on a lovely summer’s eve, fourteen-year-old Isabella Sharpe goes missing at an open air concert in the few minutes it takes for her older sister to go and buy them some drinks. Not long after, her body is found alongside some scarlet rose petals. Later that same night, thirteen-year-old twins Ivy and Erin Westmore snuggle down in a tent in their back garden, whispering and giggling, but when their mum goes to wake the girls the next morning, their tent is empty. When DI Natalie Ward and her team arrive to begin their investigation, Natalie is reminded of a previous case she worked on years ago, where the bodies of two pairs of twins were discovered in an almost identical position. Preoccupied, though determined to prevent more deaths, Natalie misses the fact that it is her own attention that the killer is seeking. And to get it, he or she has their sights firmly fixed on someone close to her...

As urgent as these cases are, Natalie's personal and family life are in disarray and she knows that she needs to make some serious changes. Not only that, Natalie must put aside feelings for co-worker, Head of Forensics, Mike Sullivan, until her situation with her husband, David, is resolved and with two teenagers, daughter Leigh and son Josh to consider, Natalie is undoubtedly concerned. Jobwise, she has a new boss with whom she is at odds. Also a worry is the appearance of DS John Briggs. Natalie has worked with him on the previous murder cases and they did not get along too well...

If you started out expecting The Blossom Twins to be simply a thriller based on an attempt to find some missing girls, you'd be wrong, as it was so much more than that. The pace was relentless, the narrative riveting and as the story unfolded, I was submerged in a tangled web of lies, secrets and deceit, suffering from tension and shocks that held me in a vice-like grip of just-one-more-page syndrome! I loved that Carol Wyer was able to create the perfect balance between developing really solid characters and such a complex, multi-layered mystery. It was interesting to look back at smart and feisty Natalie's time in Manchester as this gave me some insight into what awakens her curiosity as a detective and I also learnt more about her as a person, generally.

I've read a fair few thrillers and this one is right up there with my other favourites. I have no hesitation in giving this first-rate thriller five wonderful stars. I can't wait to read more of the other books in this series, from Carol Wyer. Any reader who favours complex police procedural thrillers will absolutely delight in this book and I can't recommend it highly enough.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Bookouture via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

When a young girl is found dead covered in flower petals Detective Natalie Ward is troubled by memories of a case earlier in her career. However that niggle becomes an out and out worry when thirteen year old twins go missing from the tent in their garden & are eventually found positioned so they are facing each other covered in petals- did they arrest the wrong person for the murder of The Blossom Twins? Natalie tries to cope with the worry that she has left a killer on the loose,with her own domestic problems, missing one of her team & a replacement that seems determined to undermine her.

This is a fast paced police procedural. It is full of twists, red herrings & an ending that will stay with you for a long while- I can't wait to see how Natalie will go on from here. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

I've said it before that it seems like you can't go wrong when it comes to Carol Wyer's detective thrillers, and the announcement of every new title always make me feel giddy with delight. I've been following Detective Natalie Ward since the beginning, so of course I was very excited when I heard Natalie was ready to give us her fifth adventure... After how things ended in her personal storyline in book four, I was definitely most curious to see how things would continue. And as I've been enjoying my time with Natalie Ward so far, the decision whether to read book number five was simply a no-brainer. I'm not sure why it took me longer than expected to actually get to it, but there is no doubt that The Blossom Twins is another solid sequel with and ending that left me completely shellshocked, flabbergasted and simply destroyed.

So, The Blossom Twins. First of all I have to say that you can technically read this story as a stand-alone, although you will be missing certain key background information about the main characters and you might not get certain clues and character dynamics. You will be able to follow the case itself easily though. I felt that the balance in The Blossom Twins was slightly different than in the previous books, with a little more focus on Natalie's personal situation at home. We definitely get a good glimpse at their current situation as well as quite a few changes... I don't want to reveal too much to avoid spoilers, but let's just say that things won't be static in book five. That said, I did have an issue with how the current situation was described and portrayed by the characters involved. There was quite a lot of complaining and nagging going on in The Blossom Twins, both by Natalie and those around her and both on a personal and professional level. I can understand a bit of bickering and frustration, but it soon became a little too much for me and it started to affect my reading experience negatively.

I still can't put my finger on the why, but The Blossom Twins wasn't my favorite of the series so far. Part of this had to do with the bickering and probably also the current team and work situation at the station. The whole 'enemy' and 'sneaky' colleague element came over as a bit of a cliche for me and I found myself soon very annoyed with the whole situation... Also, I thought it distracted from the case itself, which on its own is without doubt both shocking and spine-chilling. A serial killer hunting teenagers and seemingly leaving no trace behind... Without doubt the worst nightmare of any parent! Things were a bit slow to start developing, but once the ball started rolling it was on a collision course and ready to bowl you over without warning. I wasn't kidding when I said before that the ending left me shell shocked, flabbergasted and unable to render a word! Oh yes, the ending will most likely destroy you and it left me personally especially desperate to find out what will happen next in Natalie's life.

In short, while The Blossom Twins wasn't my favorite Natalie Ward installment so far, there is no doubt that it is still a solid serial killer thriller that ends with a bang the size of an atomic bomb. Fans of the genre and series will enjoy spending more time with Natalie Ward!

Oh my god... Nooooo. What? How could this happen? Natalie Ward is investigating the disappearance of a girl and the murder of two twin girls. All the evidence is pointing to a killer already convicted and dead. Is this a copy cat or did they get the wrong man in the past? Not only has Natalie problems at work, with a new boss and an old envious colleague, she still has to tell her children that she and David are separating. For real this time, she already has a flat and is just waiting for the right moment to tell. Then her daughter Leigh disappears.....again.
I can honestly say, that I did not see that coming and I disliked so many persons in this story. And, I cried. A lot.

I love the Natalie Ward series and was excited to read the 5th instalment. Carol Wyer's writing style is thoroughly enjoyable and makes for a nail biting read. I did not see the ending coming and it is a bold move that a lot of writers wouldn't dare to take. However, I must admit that I found 'The Blossom Twins' slightly harder going than the previous books, I think this might be due to the fact I find the situation in Natalie's personal life to have been dragged out slightly by this point, finding David irritating. I found 'The Blossom Twins' an interesting concept and really enjoyed the flash backs within the book, however I didn't find this as gripping as the other books in the series. Saying that, I look forward to finding out what happens next.

This crime thriller, the 5th in the DI Natalie Ward series, begins like most others in this genre. Two sisters go to a free open-air concert and one of them goes missing only to be found, strangled to death, under an arbor swathed with roses. When Natalie and her team arrive, she's struck by the notion that the position of the body and the presence of the petals might indicate a connection to a previous case that she worked years ago. That killer, however, died in prison. Natalie and her colleagues are going to work this as they do every case -- meticulously and thoroughly. They aren't making much progress interviewing everyone who knew the dead teenager when two other girls, 13-year-old twins Erin and Ivy Westmore, disappear from the tent in their backyard where they'd been camping overnight. Now Natalie is convinced that there's a copycat killer on the loose or that the police had convicted the wrong man in the 2014 cases. Because the team is down a man as DS Murray Anderson is off on a vacation to Australia, the new boss brings in DS John Briggs - the detective who Natalie had worked with on the original Blossom Twins case. Although they don't see eye to eye, they are pursuing all the leads, butting heads, and getting nowhere. Can they find this killer before he strikes again? NO SPOILERS.

I thought I had this one worked out -- until I most certainly didn't. I appreciate the courage it took for Carol Wyer to write this ending as it definitely shifted up my rating for this novel. The suspense at the end was quite crazy and made the slow slog through the very detailed police procedural segments well worth waiting for. Although I'll admit that I don't really like Natalie very much, let's face it -- she's not much of a presence as a mom -- but she definitely does love her job and she's very good at it. Her personal life no longer interests me (same old same) but I am very interested to see what will happen in the next installment given the changes in store. The writing is good, the setting very interesting, and the descriptions are so vivid that you almost feel as if you are right there. Lots of characters that I'd like to get to know better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review and recommend. I've been along for the ride having read all of the books in this series and I plan to stick around to see where Carol Wyer is taking us next.

I’ve had this book literally screaming at me from my To Be Read list for weeks, but just had so much going on that it’s had to wait it’s turn! Not usually, I would drop everything for a Carol Wyer book and after reading this one I haven’t stopped kicking myself for not moving it up the list sooner. This is book #5 of the Natalie Ward series. It can be read as a standalone novel, but I would advise reading the other books in the series first for better understanding of the backstories of the characters.

I have read all the other books and have absolutely loved them. Natalie Ward is a fine character – a tenacious detective, loving but sometimes distracted mother and a long-suffering wife. She is given the case of missing girls, found killed surrounded by petals, scarily similar to a case she worked on at the beginning of her career. The murderer in that case was put behind bars, but Natalie needs to work out if this is a copycat killer or did they get the wrong person. Alongside this case, Natalie has her own personal demons to deal with, and some big changes need to happen in her home life.

I’m going to try really hard not to reveal too much in this review for fear of spoiling it for those who haven’t read it yet. While this was sat on my To Be Read list, I’ve seen so many early reviews popping up with the words “OMG!!”, “Wow!!” and “What a shocker!!”. I knew I had to avoid reading any of these reviews as it was obvious there was a big shock in the storyline and I didn’t want to know what it was until I read it for myself!! The storyline of the missing girls was so sad and horrific, making me want to keep my child close to me at all times. As usual, Natalie had her team around her, with the exception of DS Murray Anderson who was on a well-deserved holiday to Australia. Drafted in to replace him was DS John Briggs who had previously worked on The Blossom Girls case years previously with Natalie. Briggs appears to consider himself worthy of the promotion that Natalie earnt and seems to enjoy winding Natalie and the rest of the team up just as much as reading his cocky smugness wound me up!!!

The story moved along at a terrific pace with Natalie’s attention to detail meaning every aspect of the case was investigated, although without much success. The ‘police procedural’ part of the storyline was so well researched and felt like I was reading a real-life case file rather than a piece of fiction. It was gripping and mesmerising, and I didn’t dare take my eyes of the page! On Natalie’s personal story, I think I’ve made it clear in the previous reviews what I’ve felt about her husband, David. I may have slightly mellowed towards him in this book (but only slightly!), and I did feel a little bit sorry for him (but only a little bit!!) even though everything that has previously happened was his own doing! Their relationship continues throughout this book to be just as shattered as it was in previous books and I can definitely see this carrying over into future storylines!

The storyline overall was fantastic!! This is, without any doubt, the best book of the series. It has so many twists and turns, it’s hard to keep up and the big major turn in the plot is so unexpected that I just didn’t see it coming! The book will keep you wide eyed with anticipation and teary-eyed with overwhelming emotion. It will have you holding your breath, biting your nails or hiding behind a cushion – anything to help you through this shocking yet amazing storyline!! I literally cannot wait until the next book!! Brilliant, powerful, excellent…OUTSTANDING!!! Highly, highly recommended!!!

This is an author I can not give enough praise. Her books just get better and better. So when Carol's lastest book came available I just had to change all my plans for that day, turn my Macbook and phone off, find my comfy spot and open my kindle,

The Blossom Twins by Carol Wyer is the fifth book in the Detective Natalie Ward series and it was just the best so far. It has everything you need in it for a brilliant book. Its full of so many twists and turns, and it even made me cry and shout out aloud!
This book is a shocker and will be with me for a long time.

Detective Natalie Ward's marriage is at breaking point and she is juggling work and keeping her family together.

Who loves a free open air concert especially as its a band you love! All excited to see their pop band, two sister go and see their favourite band perform. She only leaves her sister for a short time whilst she queues to get cans of Cola for them. When she gets back to her sister she is gone! Her mobile phone is near by.
A body of a teenaged girl is then found near by with flower petals around her body. Detective Natalie Ward is called to the scene and her team start to investigate her murder. The teenaged girl is named Isabella Sharpe and she was just fourteen years old.
Detective Natalie Ward's boss Dan Tasker wants the killer to be found quickly.

Another beautiful Summers evening and a chance to get the family tent out. Ivy and Erin Westmore who are thirteen twins, ask their parents if they can spend the night in their tent in their back garden, What an adventure, snuggling down in their tent, the girls are excited sharing secrets and giggly. To their mothers horror the next morning when she goes and checks on them to find they are not there in the tent! She runs in the house calling for the girls to see if they had gone back inside of the house during the night. They are no where to be found! Where are they?

Detective Natalie Ward is called to The Westmore's home and is immediately put onto the case. Two more bodies are found nearby marshland with deep pink petals around them. Detective Natalie Ward goes all cold as it reminds her of a horrifying case she worked on at the beginning of her career when living in Manchester, she can’t help but see similarities in the way the body was placed and they used flower petals as well. She saw the killer of the Blossom Twins put behind bars! OMG......................

This killer must be a copycat killer as the Blossom Twins killer is dead!

Did she and her team put the wrong killer behind bars all those years ago?

Will Detective Natalie Ward and her team catch the killer before he strikes again?

A chilling note is delivered to Detective Natalie Ward in a sealed envelope " I'm back'

Who is back???

An extra officer DS John Briggs who worked with her on the original case is called in to help solve the murders. There's no love lost between them. Natalie is trying her hardest to solve this case and trying to find the right opportunity to sit down with her children to tell them that her and their father David are separating, Plus she is moving out.

Two more girls go missing and Natalie realises that the case has become too personal to her and could wreck what’s left of her family.

WoW........I can Highly recommend this book. Its Carol's best book so far and it will leave you shocked.

Looking forward to the next book...........Its gonna be a good one....How will Detective Natalie Ward Cope?

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

When a young girl, that disappeared at a concert is found dead the following day, there is something that niggles Detective Natalie Ward from the past. Then when twins go missing during a camping night out, in their own garden, and are then both found dead, Natalie's worst nightmare is about to begin. The past isn't just rearing its ugly head it has come to devour her.
This must be every detective's worse nightmare! Natalie wasn't only heading the investigations into the murders of three young girls that were obviously connected but she was also in turmoil that the man who had been convicted of identical crimes, a few years early, had been innocent. A taunting note from the murderer confirmed her suspicions.
Natalie is pulled to pieces in her personal life too as her marital problems surface and tough decisions have to be made that will affect not just her and David but their children too. The more I read the more it made my blood run cold at how vulnerable and gullible we are no matter how many times we read about safety.
The no holds barred writing is gritty and never pulls punches. You feel what is going to happen before it does but you can't stop reading. I admit to being an emotional listener to books. The last few chapters I wouldn't have been able to read myself, listening gave the story a constant flow for me and it was incredible. The atmosphere tingled, ridged feelings were so intense with lines that couldn't be crossed. This was so very powerful!
This was an emotional read from the start but by the end of the book the characters had been put through a shredder and it would be an impossible task to ever pieces them back together as they had been before. I crumbled and was in pieces and have had to write this review a week after I finished the book. I just couldn't face doing it before now.
I wish to thank NetGalley and the publisher for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

WOWSERS what a read and an outstanding next instalment in the DI Natalie Ward series…. I’m still trying to compute the ending in my mind, absolutely explosive and heart wrenching…. Still shocked to the core!

When a young girl’s body is found, DI Natalie Ward is called to the scene but what she sees throws her back to one of her earlier cases but in that instance, twins were being murdered and the killer died in prison, so surely this can’t be…. No sooner has the investigation begun and two teenage girls disappear, Natalie and her team have their work cut out for them…. Are they looking for a copycat or was the man imprisoned the first time around innocent?

I really feel for Natalie in this book, her back is up against the wall with so much going on in her personal life to contend with and then this spate of murders, how one woman can stay sane managing all that is beyond me.

Absolutely incredible story line which tugs at the heart in more ways than one, a brilliant crime stopping drama… I really think this series should be made into a tv drama, it would be amazing…. Not sure how the next book will live up to this one but I have not been disappointed in any of them yet, if you love detective series with more twists than a rollercoaster, you will love this.

Don't bother reading my review - if you enjoy heartbreaking crime thrillers that keep you on the edge of your seat, unable to put the book down until you've finished it, just grab yourself a copy of this enthralling, superb read that is every parent's worse nightmare! I really can't recommend it highly enough.

Detective Natalie Ward is having marital difficulties, struggling to cope with her husband's gambling addiction, feeling unable to trust him and being attracted to someone else. However, they have two children and she seems torn about just what she should do. At the same time, she's given a case to investigate that brings back horrific memories of her first murder investigation, one in which twins girls were murdered, their bodies covered with petals . . . . The perpetrator for that crime had been imprisoned. Did she put the wrong person behind bars then? Is this a copy cat killer? Can she arrest this killer before there are more victims and more families left to grieve?

The story is an emotional read, with well developed characters, a fast paced, enthralling plot and so many twist and turns you're not quite sure where it is all going! 

I requested and was gifted a copy via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it and being finding it a fascinating and suspense-filled read!

A good book but a bit samey. I will continue to read the series as I want to see the character development but the story was a bit predictable but a savage twist makes me give it 4 stars #NetGalley#TheBlossomTwins