caspeia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bethelizabethuk's review against another edition
3.0
Adam finds his wife, Charlottes, body with the word Why written in blood on the wall. Luckily her baby is left unharmed. Everyone is Charlotte's life seems to be hiding something but every suspect Natalie finds has an alibi. When another murder happens they end up with even fewer answers.
I don’t know what it was about this book but I didn’t really enjoy it. I found it was a tad too long and some parts just seemed to drag. The ending was then rushed and over in a flash. I did enjoy the story and I was kept guessing with all the shady suspects. A lot of people loved it and I can’t put my finger on why I didn’t but I found reading it a bit of a chore and I didn’t look forward to picking it up. It picked up towards the end though and I did like DI Natalie Ward and her team.
This is the first book I've read by Carol Wyer and I'm not sure if I'd be tempted to pick up another of her books.
I don’t know what it was about this book but I didn’t really enjoy it. I found it was a tad too long and some parts just seemed to drag. The ending was then rushed and over in a flash. I did enjoy the story and I was kept guessing with all the shady suspects. A lot of people loved it and I can’t put my finger on why I didn’t but I found reading it a bit of a chore and I didn’t look forward to picking it up. It picked up towards the end though and I did like DI Natalie Ward and her team.
This is the first book I've read by Carol Wyer and I'm not sure if I'd be tempted to pick up another of her books.
anujab's review against another edition
4.0
3.5-4 stars
Better than the first book. The plot of this book had depth and even the characters, with their backstory were interesting, especially the dynamics between Natalie and David.
Could have been shorter. By introducing too many characters who could be possible suspects, the reader tends to lose interest, at least I did while going through some parts. That's my personal opinion though.
Nonetheless, it's a good story that keeps you engaged enough till the end.
Looking forward to reading the next book that features Natalie's daughter
Better than the first book. The plot of this book had depth and even the characters, with their backstory were interesting, especially the dynamics between Natalie and David.
Could have been shorter. By introducing too many characters who could be possible suspects, the reader tends to lose interest, at least I did while going through some parts. That's my personal opinion though.
Nonetheless, it's a good story that keeps you engaged enough till the end.
Looking forward to reading the next book that features Natalie's daughter
noveldeelights's review against another edition
5.0
And Carol Wyer strikes again! I swear this amazing woman is a writing machine. There is just no stopping her! And if you think that means the quality is suffering, you are so wrong! As they say, the proof is in the pudding. Or in this case, in this book.
Last Lullaby is the second book in the Natalie Ward series and it’s every bit as fabulous as its predecessor. Or dare I say, it’s even better! As I’ve come to expect from this author, it is utterly gripping from the very first page. With a multitude of red herrings, dead ends and lies and deceit to wade through, this is one insanely frustrating and complex investigation and I couldn’t work it out at all. I ended up suspecting pretty much every character I was introduced to.
Once again, I really enjoyed the team dynamics but what really lit a fire in my belly was seeing Lucy taking centre stage, kicking ass and just being generally fierce! Just like in the previous book, Carol Wyer manages to create a perfect balance between the team’s personal lives and their jobs, giving the reader the opportunity to get to know them better. But more than anything, she always makes you almost sympathise with the killer and sometimes that’s even more unnerving than the actual murders they commit.
Dark and disturbing, brilliantly paced and extremely compelling, Last Lullaby will have you flipping or swiping the pages faster as you go, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. On top of that, we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger that has me rather impatiently awaiting the next instalment.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Carol Wyer can do no wrong in my eyes and I’ll pick up pretty much anything she throws my way. I can’t wait for the next book in the Natalie Ward series. Although I must admit, I do miss Robin. 😉
Last Lullaby is the second book in the Natalie Ward series and it’s every bit as fabulous as its predecessor. Or dare I say, it’s even better! As I’ve come to expect from this author, it is utterly gripping from the very first page. With a multitude of red herrings, dead ends and lies and deceit to wade through, this is one insanely frustrating and complex investigation and I couldn’t work it out at all. I ended up suspecting pretty much every character I was introduced to.
Once again, I really enjoyed the team dynamics but what really lit a fire in my belly was seeing Lucy taking centre stage, kicking ass and just being generally fierce! Just like in the previous book, Carol Wyer manages to create a perfect balance between the team’s personal lives and their jobs, giving the reader the opportunity to get to know them better. But more than anything, she always makes you almost sympathise with the killer and sometimes that’s even more unnerving than the actual murders they commit.
Dark and disturbing, brilliantly paced and extremely compelling, Last Lullaby will have you flipping or swiping the pages faster as you go, keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout. On top of that, we are left with a bit of a cliffhanger that has me rather impatiently awaiting the next instalment.
I’ve come to the conclusion that Carol Wyer can do no wrong in my eyes and I’ll pick up pretty much anything she throws my way. I can’t wait for the next book in the Natalie Ward series. Although I must admit, I do miss Robin. 😉
jessday's review against another edition
3.0
A page-turner! It took a while to get to the reveal, but the book was still an enjoyable read. Perhaps a bit predictable though!
All of the new characters had so many secrets. I hoped we wouldn't go down the whole cheating route, but it was always there.
Was Jed really the father? Or was it one of Charlotte's plans to get back at Phoebe?
Did Adam get custody of Alfie? Well, considering it wasn't his... who did?
Did Adam find out it was supposedly Jed's child?
Oh! Why on earth was he seeing Inge?
I almost forgot - why was Lee relevant and what was with his secrets intertwining with the case?
So many questions! I felt like some needed to be answered because they were a huge part of the book. I wouldn't have cared if they didn't go on and on about it.
I look forward to continuing the series!
All of the new characters had so many secrets. I hoped we wouldn't go down the whole cheating route, but it was always there.
Spoiler
I was annoyed with the ending though! I wanted some loose ends to be tied up.Was Jed really the father? Or was it one of Charlotte's plans to get back at Phoebe?
Did Adam get custody of Alfie? Well, considering it wasn't his... who did?
Did Adam find out it was supposedly Jed's child?
Oh! Why on earth was he seeing Inge?
I almost forgot - why was Lee relevant and what was with his secrets intertwining with the case?
So many questions! I felt like some needed to be answered because they were a huge part of the book. I wouldn't have cared if they didn't go on and on about it.
I look forward to continuing the series!
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
Last Lullaby by Carol Wyer is book 2 in the new Detective Natalie Ward series, following up from the fantastic The Birthday earlier this year. This book is fantastic filled with a great story and characters. It had me suspecting everybody and trusting nobody. Already desperate for book 3!!
Charlotte Brannon is murdered in her own home in front of her baby boy. Her husband Adam find her body and is immediately under suspicion. He has a shady past and struggles to convince the police that he is innocent. Charlotte was not an angel either, casting suspicion on all that she has come into contact with. And then a second mother is murdered in her home and the suspect pool widens. Natalie and her team are up against it to find and stop the murderer before they strike again.
I love the way that Carol Wyer brings her characters to life. Natalie is still forming her relationships at work and struggling to maintain her work/life balance. Her kids are growing up and her husband is beginning to resent her work. She is a tough woman but not without her faults. I look forward to seeing where we are taken in the next book.
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.
Charlotte Brannon is murdered in her own home in front of her baby boy. Her husband Adam find her body and is immediately under suspicion. He has a shady past and struggles to convince the police that he is innocent. Charlotte was not an angel either, casting suspicion on all that she has come into contact with. And then a second mother is murdered in her home and the suspect pool widens. Natalie and her team are up against it to find and stop the murderer before they strike again.
I love the way that Carol Wyer brings her characters to life. Natalie is still forming her relationships at work and struggling to maintain her work/life balance. Her kids are growing up and her husband is beginning to resent her work. She is a tough woman but not without her faults. I look forward to seeing where we are taken in the next book.
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.
yvo_about_books's review against another edition
4.0
Finished reading: November 15th 2018
"I thought she was heartless, but I'd no idea she was prepared to go to such lenghts to destroy other people's happiness, to wreck my happiness."
*** 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 ever since I first read Little Girl Lost, and I'm always looking forward to any new installments. I was excited when I found out we were going to meet a new detective only a couple of months ago, and while I still prefer Detective Robyn Carter as a character, I have been looking forward to meet up with Detective Natalie Ward again. Last Lullaby is without doubt a great sequel and a chance to learn more about Natalie Ward and her team. While I admit I'm still not a fan of her, I liked how her team worked as a whole. The writing is of course as strong as ever and part of the reason her detective thrillers work so well for me. The same goes for the pace, plot and plot twists and the level of suspense. The case they are investigating in Last Lullaby seems to be quite straightforward at first glance, but turns out to have so many layers I would never have guessed. The plot twists are being executed brilliantly and the suspense is spot on, both only adding to the overall reading experience. There are a lot of wrong turns here and I like how we get to have a glimpse inside the head of the killer without the identity being revealed. Definitely a very strong case and a very strong sequel! I will be looking forward to the next book.
When Adam finds the battered body of her wife Charlotte Brannon in their bedroom, detective Natalie Ward and her team are called in to investigate. Not only is her body badly beaten, but the killer has left a message on the wall: the word 'why?' written in her blood. As Natalie and her team begin digging into their lives, they discover both have been hiding a lot of secrets... It's up to them to discover if they are related to the crime, and who is behind the death of the young mother.
There is no doubt that Last Lullaby is a strong sequel and another excellent detective thriller by Carol Wyer. I always enjoy her way of writing; it's engaging and really makes you fly through the pages. The case in this sequel is another fascinating one, especially since it's almost like a Russian doll with all those hidden layers slowly being discovered. I love it when a story manages to surprise me and keeps me guessing about the identity of the killer until the final reveal. And even though Natalie Ward still isn't a favorite of mine, I'm still looking forward seeing more of especially her team as a whole.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
reag17's review against another edition
3.0
Too many male characters with generic names- hard to keep them all straight
bookedupgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Overall: I could not put this down! Following Natalie and team, we get some (really) gruesome crimes, a smart complex villain, all of which will literally have you on the edge of your seat. Carol’s writing is terrific - perfectly crafting nightmarish and heartbreaking scenes at the same time, literally taking us on the ride of our lives! What a skill! I cannot wait to read book 3, The Dare, this weekend.