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Somebody's Daughter: A gripping crime thriller packed with mystery and suspense by Carol Wyer
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
There is a definite theme of young girls being victims in this series. I'm surprised there isn't a population crisis in Samford with all the females constantly being killed off.
"Every time she was called to a crime scene involving a young woman or girl...' - probs next chapter or book then!
I was going to take a breather from this series and read a few different books because I've done the whole series in about a month. I started about 3 different books but the Ghost of Future Books just kept whispering in my ear that 'Somebody's Daughter' existed so I gave in and just read it.
I wouldn't say it was one of my favourites. The last two books were quite punchy and hard hitting but I found this one a bit uncomfortable. The team dynamics had shifted with old characters in new roles and new characters being added. The characters themselves didn't feel comfortable in the new team and they largely didn't gel as well in this book. Ian was barely mentioned at all in favour of Celeste, Poppy and Andy (I know I'll hate Andy in this series. What an arsehole). I missed hearing about the team I had spent 6 books reading about.
I also found the main plot to be a bit too stagnant. There were loads of deaths but little in the way of 'clues' and investigation until about 75% when things started to unravel. The lack of progression was used liked a plot in itself. No progression equals criticism of Lucy in her new role. It was used like an axe hanging over their head which was okay but not thrilling reading. I just found myself getting bored a few times which hasn't happened while reading the series.
I still enjoyed the read, but it wasn't my favourite.
"Every time she was called to a crime scene involving a young woman or girl...' - probs next chapter or book then!
I was going to take a breather from this series and read a few different books because I've done the whole series in about a month. I started about 3 different books but the Ghost of Future Books just kept whispering in my ear that 'Somebody's Daughter' existed so I gave in and just read it.
I wouldn't say it was one of my favourites. The last two books were quite punchy and hard hitting but I found this one a bit uncomfortable. The team dynamics had shifted with old characters in new roles and new characters being added. The characters themselves didn't feel comfortable in the new team and they largely didn't gel as well in this book. Ian was barely mentioned at all in favour of Celeste, Poppy and Andy (I know I'll hate Andy in this series. What an arsehole). I missed hearing about the team I had spent 6 books reading about.
I also found the main plot to be a bit too stagnant. There were loads of deaths but little in the way of 'clues' and investigation until about 75% when things started to unravel. The lack of progression was used liked a plot in itself. No progression equals criticism of Lucy in her new role. It was used like an axe hanging over their head which was okay but not thrilling reading. I just found myself getting bored a few times which hasn't happened while reading the series.
I still enjoyed the read, but it wasn't my favourite.
dawnlaw's review against another edition
5.0
Carol Wyer is one of my favourite authors so I was very excited to read this. I was not disappointed it was a stonkingly good read! It had a really twisty plot that kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I love the characters in this series and it felt good to catch up with their lives. And relationships. The story was fast paced with many OMG and wow moments that kept my interest. Loved this book it was great and totally deserves five stars.
zooloo1983's review against another edition
4.0
Well, that is how you temporarily end the series! All these changes going on! I can’t cope!
Natalie now a DCI, Lucy now a DI and the first case with a brand new team! This book again is set with a different tone. When Natalie is in charge of a case it’s interview after interview with different suspects. With Lucy in charge, we hardly interviewed anyone. Instead, we were out hunting down clues, trying to work out how all these deaths fitted.
The reasoning behind it, for me, was a tough one. The stories I have heard and what you generally see portrayed, I always struggle with and it’s a constant worry. We don’t actually see the killers mind until late in the game and it’s one filled with sorrow and heartbreak. Elements of this story were dark and quite grim, everyone harbouring a secret and the fallout here is just filled with so much sorrow. There are just too many wronged and scared people out there.
Again, with Lucy in charge, the resolution of the case is nowhere near the same as if Natalie was dealing and thankfully this case was nowhere near as dark as it has been in the past. All these changes just show us the differences between these two women and how far they have come.
Natalie is still active in the case, but she is trying to take a step back and settle in her new personal life. We still have unfinished business so I do hope we get another book because we have a spanner in the world completely.
This now being the Lucy show, we see more into her personal and how she is struggling. At odds with her partner, trying to be a mum and step up into her role as DI. She has some big shoes to feel. I do see in the future that the series will be more about Lucy than Natalie. I would be open to that, but I don’t want to lose sight of Natalie, I’ve become a huge fan of hers.
I can’t believe I am at the end of Natalie’s story for now. It’s been one heck of a journey. Way too much heartbreak, I’ve been there every step of the way with Natalie and Carol. I felt all the pain, I’ve cried the tears, got angry and now while I feel quite bereft, I also feel quite content. It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride when you pick up one of Carols books. You are never quite sure of the journey, but she always makes sure we are buckled up for the adventure.
Natalie now a DCI, Lucy now a DI and the first case with a brand new team! This book again is set with a different tone. When Natalie is in charge of a case it’s interview after interview with different suspects. With Lucy in charge, we hardly interviewed anyone. Instead, we were out hunting down clues, trying to work out how all these deaths fitted.
The reasoning behind it, for me, was a tough one. The stories I have heard and what you generally see portrayed, I always struggle with and it’s a constant worry. We don’t actually see the killers mind until late in the game and it’s one filled with sorrow and heartbreak. Elements of this story were dark and quite grim, everyone harbouring a secret and the fallout here is just filled with so much sorrow. There are just too many wronged and scared people out there.
Again, with Lucy in charge, the resolution of the case is nowhere near the same as if Natalie was dealing and thankfully this case was nowhere near as dark as it has been in the past. All these changes just show us the differences between these two women and how far they have come.
Natalie is still active in the case, but she is trying to take a step back and settle in her new personal life. We still have unfinished business so I do hope we get another book because we have a spanner in the world completely.
This now being the Lucy show, we see more into her personal and how she is struggling. At odds with her partner, trying to be a mum and step up into her role as DI. She has some big shoes to feel. I do see in the future that the series will be more about Lucy than Natalie. I would be open to that, but I don’t want to lose sight of Natalie, I’ve become a huge fan of hers.
I can’t believe I am at the end of Natalie’s story for now. It’s been one heck of a journey. Way too much heartbreak, I’ve been there every step of the way with Natalie and Carol. I felt all the pain, I’ve cried the tears, got angry and now while I feel quite bereft, I also feel quite content. It’s an emotional rollercoaster ride when you pick up one of Carols books. You are never quite sure of the journey, but she always makes sure we are buckled up for the adventure.
caspeia's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
I could not put this down! I was meant to be reading something else but I couldn't wait to pick this up. Carol Wyer never disappoints with her police procedurals and I do love Natalie. She is just a fantastic character and we are still learning so much about her and seeing a different side to her in Somebody's Daughter. If you haven't met her yet you need to go back and start at the beginning, this is book 7. You definitely need to do this series in order.
This time Natalie has been promoted to DCI and Lucy is running the teams first investigation. She is under pressure to perform from all angles and this is a complicated case. The bodies are piling up, and quickly and there does not seem to be a real connection. The victims are being strangled and it is messy. Just when they think they have a handle on it another body is found, throwing a spanner in the works. At the same time Natalie is trying to manage her new life with her new partner and his daughter, and her past is coming back into her life - but does she want to let it in?
An absolute must read. 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.
This time Natalie has been promoted to DCI and Lucy is running the teams first investigation. She is under pressure to perform from all angles and this is a complicated case. The bodies are piling up, and quickly and there does not seem to be a real connection. The victims are being strangled and it is messy. Just when they think they have a handle on it another body is found, throwing a spanner in the works. At the same time Natalie is trying to manage her new life with her new partner and his daughter, and her past is coming back into her life - but does she want to let it in?
An absolute must read. 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.
yvo_about_books's review
4.0
Finished reading: June 4th 2020
"Victims of physical and mental abuse are strangled by their own inability to break free. They believe, for some bizarre reason, they actually deserve the hatred, the beatings and the sexual degradation. They lose their self-worth to the point they firmly believe they are worthless and they deserve to suffer."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
Spoiler
I've been a fan of Carol Wyer's detective thrillers for quite some time now, and I have been following detective Natalie Ward since the very beginning back in 2018. Somebody's Daughter is already book number seven of this series, and without doubt another thrilling ride! I can always rely on this series to give me a couple of hours of solid entertainment. A little warning: technically you can read this story as a stand-alone, but you will be missing out on quite a lot of background information about the main characters and you will probably not get the full experience if you don't read the previous books first. Especially since the last two books focus on some very drastic developments in Natalie Ward's private life as well as the development of some the other recurring characters in play. Plus, if you are a fan of the genre in the first place, you will be missing out on hours of detective entertainment!
I'll be keeping this review short to avoid spoilers, but those who have had the chance to read the previous books will know what I mean when I say that life has been no picnic for Natalie Ward so far. Both book five and six had absolutely shocking developments that left me reeling, and definitely had a huge impact on Natalie's private life... Somebody's Daughter once again focuses on the developments in Natalie's private life as well as the new case. As she is now a DCI, and other known character Lucy has taken over her DI position, the balance between the characters in the team has shifted a little and we see more of Lucy than Natalie in the investigation. This gives the story a slightly different vibe, but I personally didn't mind too much as it gave the story a fresh angle too.
The writing makes it really easy to keep turning those pages, and while the pace might be a tad slower in points, things will get more intense as the investigation gets more complicated. We have multiple POVs, flashbacks and plot twists to provide us with hurdles to overcome, and the story is packed with secrets to unravel. What seems like an easy case with an easy to identify suspect soon becomes a lot more complicated... The bodies start piling up and the question is how they all connect and if the team is really on the right track. While we see less of Natalie now she is a DCI, we still get the rest of her team and she still makes her appearance throughout the case. Certain aspects of the plot made you wonder about the credibility of it all, but overall the entertainment factor won me over. Somebody's Daugher can get a bit graphic in points and includes difficult themes as grooming, abuse, rape and addiction. This is definitely not a story for those with a weak stomach!
This detective thriller series has been highly entertaining and suspenseful from the very first book, and Somebody's Daughter is already book number seven and no exception to the rule. Natalie and her team have another complicated case to solve, and the bodies are starting to pile up very quickly... Dark, twisted and highly entertaining if you enjoy a good detective thriller with a disturbing angle. If you enjoy the genre, you will most likely have a great time with this series!
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
philomath_in_phila's review against another edition
4.0
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
Somebody's Daughter is the 7th book in Carol Wyer's Detective Natalie Ward series. If you have read my reviews of her earlier works, you know I enjoy her series. Somebody's Daughter is no exception.
This time, significant changes have shaken up and changed the dynamics of the team. Detective Natalie Ward has been promoted to DCI and Lucy Carmichael is now the DI for the team.
The new team's first case finds Natalie not sitting behind the desk as much as she should. But would anyone expect anything else from her? At first, the killings seem unrelated, and Lucy is unsure if it is even one murderer or two. The bodies pile up, and the team begins to doubt themselves and feel pressure from the top to close the case.
Wyer's police procedurals are well-written with relatable characters. She focuses on solving the crime but also on the police team's interactions with each other and with their home life. By now, they are so familiar they feel like old friends.
No future books are listed on Goodreads, but Wyer recently tweeted she completed the first draft of her 25th novel! Of course, I will be on the lookout for it.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/20 and updated on 8/24/20.
Somebody's Daughter is the 7th book in Carol Wyer's Detective Natalie Ward series. If you have read my reviews of her earlier works, you know I enjoy her series. Somebody's Daughter is no exception.
This time, significant changes have shaken up and changed the dynamics of the team. Detective Natalie Ward has been promoted to DCI and Lucy Carmichael is now the DI for the team.
The new team's first case finds Natalie not sitting behind the desk as much as she should. But would anyone expect anything else from her? At first, the killings seem unrelated, and Lucy is unsure if it is even one murderer or two. The bodies pile up, and the team begins to doubt themselves and feel pressure from the top to close the case.
Wyer's police procedurals are well-written with relatable characters. She focuses on solving the crime but also on the police team's interactions with each other and with their home life. By now, they are so familiar they feel like old friends.
No future books are listed on Goodreads, but Wyer recently tweeted she completed the first draft of her 25th novel! Of course, I will be on the lookout for it.
This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 7/15/20 and updated on 8/24/20.