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Detective Natalie Ward #3
The Dare
Jane’s daughter is a good girl. But what is she hiding?
When thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins doesn’t come straight home from school as she always does, her mother Jane immediately raises the alarm. With her blonde ponytail and red school jumper, someone must have spotted Savannah.
Detective Natalie Ward is determined to help the distraught mother – her own daughter is the same age as Savannah. But before Natalie and her team can get started, their worst fears are confirmed when the teenager’s broken body is found in nearby shrubland.
Evidence points towards a local recluse, but just as Natalie closes the net around him, one of Savannah’s friends, Harriet, is reported missing. Harriet might look grown up and sophisticated but she is only fourteen…
As Natalie delves into the lives of both girls, she soon discovers a sinister video on both their phones, daring the girls to disappear from their families for 48 hours. She’s sure this is the key to the case, but before she can act, Harriet’s body is found discarded on a roadside.
Natalie’s superiors don’t have to put any extra pressure on her. Devastated, she and her team work without sleep, watching that video over and over. But just as she thinks they’re getting close, the person Natalie loves more than anything goes missing.
Natalie is no stranger to loss. She is terrified and the clock is ticking. Can she push through her fear to catch this depraved killer, before her loved one becomes the next victim?
This gripping rollercoaster of a read will have you up in the small hours turning the pages. Fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Caine and Robert Dugoni will love The Dare.
When thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins doesn’t come straight home from school as she always does, her mother Jane immediately raises the alarm. With her blonde ponytail and red school jumper, someone must have spotted Savannah.
Detective Natalie Ward is determined to help the distraught mother – her own daughter is the same age as Savannah. But before Natalie and her team can get started, their worst fears are confirmed when the teenager’s broken body is found in nearby shrubland.
Evidence points towards a local recluse, but just as Natalie closes the net around him, one of Savannah’s friends, Harriet, is reported missing. Harriet might look grown up and sophisticated but she is only fourteen…
As Natalie delves into the lives of both girls, she soon discovers a sinister video on both their phones, daring the girls to disappear from their families for 48 hours. She’s sure this is the key to the case, but before she can act, Harriet’s body is found discarded on a roadside.
Natalie’s superiors don’t have to put any extra pressure on her. Devastated, she and her team work without sleep, watching that video over and over. But just as she thinks they’re getting close, the person Natalie loves more than anything goes missing.
Natalie is no stranger to loss. She is terrified and the clock is ticking. Can she push through her fear to catch this depraved killer, before her loved one becomes the next victim?
This gripping rollercoaster of a read will have you up in the small hours turning the pages. Fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Caine and Robert Dugoni will love The Dare.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 25, 2019
2312 people are currently reading
1064 people want to read
About the author
Carol Wyer
37 books1,238 followersUSA Today bestselling author and winner of The People's Book Prize Award, Carol Wyer's crime novels have sold over one million copies and been translated into nine languages.
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
A move from humour to the 'dark side' in 2017, saw the introduction of popular DI Robyn Carter in Little Girl Lost and proved that Carol had found her true niche.
In 2021, An Eye For An Eye, the first in the DI Kate Young series, was chosen as a Kindle First Reads. It became the #1 bestselling book on Amazon UK and Australia. The third, A Life For A Life, is due out March 15th, 2022, but is available to preorder.
Carol has had articles published in national magazines 'Woman's Weekly', featured in 'Take A Break', 'Choice', 'Yours' and 'Woman's Own' magazines and written for the Huffington Post. She's also been interviewed on numerous radio shows and on BBC Breakfast television.
She currently lives on a windy hill in rural Staffordshire with her husband Mr. Grumpy who is very, very grumpy.
When not plotting devious murders, she can be found performing her comedy routine, Smile While You Still Have Teeth.
To learn more, go to www.carolwyer.co.uk, subscribe to her YouTube channel, or follow her on Twitter @carolewyer
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 311 reviews
June 10, 2019
The Dare is Carol Wyer's 3rd book in the Natalie Ward series. Though the central characters are well established, this can be read as a standalone. Amongst the many thrillers & police procedurals, The Dare sets itself apart with some clever writing, strong characters and some unique twists to a solid plot.
When teenaged girls start going missing, the pressure is on DI Ward to find the killer before he strikes again. But as she starts closing in on the killer, the killer starts closing in on her.
At the heart of the book, it is a solid police procedural. The plot may feel slightly predictable at the start but the writer manages to give it some unique twists. The writing is engaging and the pace is fast. The writer was able to build the tension throughout and all the suspects remained in play till the end. The depiction of working of the police force, the office politics and family pressures were accurate, which allows the readers to experience a proper police investigation, with far little clues and many dead ends. I also liked the perspective of the killer and his backstory, which was really well written.
I think this is the first detective story I have read that tackles the issue of the dark side of social media (remember the Blue Whale Challenge). I loved the fact that the author chose to address this frightening and real threat through this book.
Another unique thing about the novel is that forensic evidence takes a back seat in the entire investigation. The entire investigation is through ‘old school’ interrogations and checking out alibis and CCTV footage. With clues hard to come by, this added a different dimension to the novel.
Even as a police procedural, this story relies on some strong characters to drive the story forward. I regret not reading the earlier parts as tracking the characters over the course of the series would have been great. The protagonist, Natalie Ward is a strong character herself but she is not the center of attention all throughout, and like some good teamwork, her other colleagues get an equal scope.
Overall, The Dare is a gripping thriller with some well-rounded characters and a well-written story with some unique twists. If you like a good police procedural, you will enjoy this. 4/5 stars
Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author Carol Wyer and NetGalley for the ARC.
When teenaged girls start going missing, the pressure is on DI Ward to find the killer before he strikes again. But as she starts closing in on the killer, the killer starts closing in on her.
At the heart of the book, it is a solid police procedural. The plot may feel slightly predictable at the start but the writer manages to give it some unique twists. The writing is engaging and the pace is fast. The writer was able to build the tension throughout and all the suspects remained in play till the end. The depiction of working of the police force, the office politics and family pressures were accurate, which allows the readers to experience a proper police investigation, with far little clues and many dead ends. I also liked the perspective of the killer and his backstory, which was really well written.
I think this is the first detective story I have read that tackles the issue of the dark side of social media (remember the Blue Whale Challenge). I loved the fact that the author chose to address this frightening and real threat through this book.
Another unique thing about the novel is that forensic evidence takes a back seat in the entire investigation. The entire investigation is through ‘old school’ interrogations and checking out alibis and CCTV footage. With clues hard to come by, this added a different dimension to the novel.
Even as a police procedural, this story relies on some strong characters to drive the story forward. I regret not reading the earlier parts as tracking the characters over the course of the series would have been great. The protagonist, Natalie Ward is a strong character herself but she is not the center of attention all throughout, and like some good teamwork, her other colleagues get an equal scope.
Overall, The Dare is a gripping thriller with some well-rounded characters and a well-written story with some unique twists. If you like a good police procedural, you will enjoy this. 4/5 stars
Many thanks to the publishers Bookouture, the author Carol Wyer and NetGalley for the ARC.
June 17, 2019
Carol Wyer books are compulsive reading material. From the first time a book of hers came my way until this up to date book right here.
Her style has become more evident, her purpose more powerful. Her characters more rounded and plots more breathtaking.
This twisted tale had me hooked in its net from the first page until the last.
Don’t be mistaken, this isn’t about kids going missing, lordie we’ve had enough of those last year. This has guts to it and don’t forget if you’ve read the other two books in the series it has.... DI Natalie Ward. I’ve seen how this DI has developed and her own personal life and difficulties splayed out for us readers to see.
What a dam good DI she is. Her work does take precedence over her family most times and I’d say things were not as good as they should be.
I don’t know for sure but I’m hoping the next book is a make or break for this family.
The dedication and time she puts into a case is second to none. One of my best female DI’s well, after all, she has my surname right?!
The conclusion of this was indeed a surprise to me.
A great reveal that I didn’t actually see rearing it’s head.
I’m loving each of her books. In my humble opinion as a reader she’s an author in the “upper class” of this genre.
If you enjoy an edge of your seat read where time is of the essence, you’ve found it.
Her style has become more evident, her purpose more powerful. Her characters more rounded and plots more breathtaking.
This twisted tale had me hooked in its net from the first page until the last.
Don’t be mistaken, this isn’t about kids going missing, lordie we’ve had enough of those last year. This has guts to it and don’t forget if you’ve read the other two books in the series it has.... DI Natalie Ward. I’ve seen how this DI has developed and her own personal life and difficulties splayed out for us readers to see.
What a dam good DI she is. Her work does take precedence over her family most times and I’d say things were not as good as they should be.
I don’t know for sure but I’m hoping the next book is a make or break for this family.
The dedication and time she puts into a case is second to none. One of my best female DI’s well, after all, she has my surname right?!
The conclusion of this was indeed a surprise to me.
A great reveal that I didn’t actually see rearing it’s head.
I’m loving each of her books. In my humble opinion as a reader she’s an author in the “upper class” of this genre.
If you enjoy an edge of your seat read where time is of the essence, you’ve found it.
April 19, 2019
I received a free e-copy of The Dare (Detective Natalie Ward #3) by Carol Wyer from NetGalley for my honest review.
I was so excited to get a copy of Carol Wyer's 3rd book in the Natalie Ward series. I am always watching out for the next book she writes. I love how she weaves a plot and that we learn more about the characters in each additional book.
Teenage girls keep disappearing and turning up dead. Detective Natalie Ward is put on the case. Information they find shows that the girls' disappearances may be linked to a series of online dares. All of the girls have been on the same website. A website that dares people to go missing and stay missing. The longer you are missing the higher you go on the leader board.
Things become even more serious for Detective Ward when her own teenage daughter, Leigh, doesn't come home from school one day. Now, Leigh is missing too. Can Natalie solve the case in time to rescue her own daughter, or will she turn up like the others?
I think that the issue of the scares that can come with social media, although frightening, are very real in this day and age. I loved the fact that the author brought them to our attention in this book. We, as parents need to understand and teach our children the realities of social media. These things can really happen when kids are talking to people they don't know or are playing around on websites they aren't sure about.
The Dare is a very chilling thriller, especially if you are a parent.
I was so excited to get a copy of Carol Wyer's 3rd book in the Natalie Ward series. I am always watching out for the next book she writes. I love how she weaves a plot and that we learn more about the characters in each additional book.
Teenage girls keep disappearing and turning up dead. Detective Natalie Ward is put on the case. Information they find shows that the girls' disappearances may be linked to a series of online dares. All of the girls have been on the same website. A website that dares people to go missing and stay missing. The longer you are missing the higher you go on the leader board.
Things become even more serious for Detective Ward when her own teenage daughter, Leigh, doesn't come home from school one day. Now, Leigh is missing too. Can Natalie solve the case in time to rescue her own daughter, or will she turn up like the others?
I think that the issue of the scares that can come with social media, although frightening, are very real in this day and age. I loved the fact that the author brought them to our attention in this book. We, as parents need to understand and teach our children the realities of social media. These things can really happen when kids are talking to people they don't know or are playing around on websites they aren't sure about.
The Dare is a very chilling thriller, especially if you are a parent.
March 8, 2019
This is Detective Natalie Ward's third outing and she and her team in Staffordshire are beginning to feel familiar. They're a tenacious, hardworking lot so when a teenage girl goes missing without any clues to where she might have gone they turn over every stone looking for clues but to no avail. Following the disappearance of another teenage girl, again with no trace, the detectives uncover a link to a social media dare that the girls might have taken up. With her own teenage daughter at home, Natalie is hoping the girls will turn up safe but there is a dark, malicious element at work who is very good at covering his tracks and seems to be two steps ahead of the police.
This is a well written and engaging series with well rounded characters who have their own lives and families outside of work. Despite encouraging her team to maintain a good work-life balance, Natalie often struggles to do so herself with two teenagers and a disgruntled out of work husband at home. A compelling page turner with a motive you will be shocked to discover.
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital copy of the book.
This is a well written and engaging series with well rounded characters who have their own lives and families outside of work. Despite encouraging her team to maintain a good work-life balance, Natalie often struggles to do so herself with two teenagers and a disgruntled out of work husband at home. A compelling page turner with a motive you will be shocked to discover.
With thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for a digital copy of the book.
April 25, 2019
The third book in the Detective Natalie Ward series by Carol Wyer. In The Dare, Natalie and her team investigate a case involving missing girls. The police work to find the first missing girl, and soon learn they are too late to save her. Another girl goes missing, and the race is on to find who is behind the terrible crimes.
This is a crime mystery series, but it interweaves some of the investigators personal stories. In this book, Natalie's marriage is strained and she feels disconnected from her two teen children. Since Natalie has a young teen daughter, she feels more of a personal connection to this case. The mystery is good, and the addition of more personal details makes Natalie a stronger character.
A great series for fans of police procedurals. The Dare is a good book in this series, though I did enjoy the first two books a little more than this one. This is a series I look forward to reading, and I can't wait for the next book. A complex and gripping page-turner.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a crime mystery series, but it interweaves some of the investigators personal stories. In this book, Natalie's marriage is strained and she feels disconnected from her two teen children. Since Natalie has a young teen daughter, she feels more of a personal connection to this case. The mystery is good, and the addition of more personal details makes Natalie a stronger character.
A great series for fans of police procedurals. The Dare is a good book in this series, though I did enjoy the first two books a little more than this one. This is a series I look forward to reading, and I can't wait for the next book. A complex and gripping page-turner.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 30, 2019
Available Now!
Book three in the chilling, and addictive DI Natalie Ward series!
The large hand on the wall clock inched closer to the number six. As it did so, he struggled to control the jackhammering in his chest. Soon. He poured the oil into his hands, smoothed it over his chest and shoulders, and stared into the large mirror that allowed him to see the creature in all its glory. The tattooed snake glistened in the light from the window, seemingly alive, with scales refreshed and shining. Its head hung below his right collarbone, its jaws wide open. The scaly, black body disappeared over his shoulder to coil down the length of his back and reappeared on the left-hand side of his ribcage, where it curled around his waist, its tail disappearing under the waistband of his jeans. It had been a while since the snake had been pacified and fed.
Soon.
He dragged on his shirt to conceal the dark beast and paced the carpeted floor, halting by the music box, lovingly handcrafted and mounted on a wooden stand. It was astonishing what was sold at car boot sales. One person’s junk could be another person’s treasure. This was his.
He traced the holes and protrusions along the barrel of the music box and ran his fingers along the pieces of metal –the eighteen-note Yunsheng movement, resembling a book of thin, metal matches –that would create the tune. He lifted the music box with care, fingertips lightly grasping the delicate hand crank, and turned it unhurriedly until the drum rotated, the silver strips struck the drum, and the tinny tune –a recognisable nursery rhyme –filled the otherwise silent room. He smiled at the irony. How appropriate that he had chosen this one.
The clock hands moved again. It was now after 3.30 p.m. School was over for the day and it was finally time. He cranked the handle and hummed along as it played, his hooded eyes scanning the street for his next victim. She’d be passing by soon. Very soon.
Boys and girls come out to play,
The moon does shine as bright as day;
Come with a hoop, and come with a call,
Come with a good will or not at all.
********
Do not miss out on this series!
The Dare by Carol Wyer is the best in the DI Natalie Ward series thus far! The concept of the storyline is unique and completely plausible, making it unputdownable from beginning to end!
I was absolutely riveted to the pages and was up into the wee hours reading this book! With each clue, twist and turn, the story gets more chilling and terrifying and the clock is ticking as DI Natalie Ward and her team race to stop the killer from taking the life of another young girl!
Natalie and the characters in her team are genuine and likable, making it easy to be drawn into the story even more.
By the stunning conclusion I was wound up tighter than a live wire!
This is my favorite book in this series! To get the most out of the series, it's best to read the books in order. Book one: The Birthday, followed by Last Lullaby. I love the eye-catching covers of her books!
I can't wait to start reading her other series starring DI Robyn Carter! She's a very talented writer, a favorite of mine, and I'm hooked on her books!
With thanks and appreciation to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Carol Wyer for this advanced digital copy for me to read and review.
Book three in the chilling, and addictive DI Natalie Ward series!
The large hand on the wall clock inched closer to the number six. As it did so, he struggled to control the jackhammering in his chest. Soon. He poured the oil into his hands, smoothed it over his chest and shoulders, and stared into the large mirror that allowed him to see the creature in all its glory. The tattooed snake glistened in the light from the window, seemingly alive, with scales refreshed and shining. Its head hung below his right collarbone, its jaws wide open. The scaly, black body disappeared over his shoulder to coil down the length of his back and reappeared on the left-hand side of his ribcage, where it curled around his waist, its tail disappearing under the waistband of his jeans. It had been a while since the snake had been pacified and fed.
Soon.
He dragged on his shirt to conceal the dark beast and paced the carpeted floor, halting by the music box, lovingly handcrafted and mounted on a wooden stand. It was astonishing what was sold at car boot sales. One person’s junk could be another person’s treasure. This was his.
He traced the holes and protrusions along the barrel of the music box and ran his fingers along the pieces of metal –the eighteen-note Yunsheng movement, resembling a book of thin, metal matches –that would create the tune. He lifted the music box with care, fingertips lightly grasping the delicate hand crank, and turned it unhurriedly until the drum rotated, the silver strips struck the drum, and the tinny tune –a recognisable nursery rhyme –filled the otherwise silent room. He smiled at the irony. How appropriate that he had chosen this one.
The clock hands moved again. It was now after 3.30 p.m. School was over for the day and it was finally time. He cranked the handle and hummed along as it played, his hooded eyes scanning the street for his next victim. She’d be passing by soon. Very soon.
Boys and girls come out to play,
The moon does shine as bright as day;
Come with a hoop, and come with a call,
Come with a good will or not at all.
********
Do not miss out on this series!
The Dare by Carol Wyer is the best in the DI Natalie Ward series thus far! The concept of the storyline is unique and completely plausible, making it unputdownable from beginning to end!
I was absolutely riveted to the pages and was up into the wee hours reading this book! With each clue, twist and turn, the story gets more chilling and terrifying and the clock is ticking as DI Natalie Ward and her team race to stop the killer from taking the life of another young girl!
Natalie and the characters in her team are genuine and likable, making it easy to be drawn into the story even more.
By the stunning conclusion I was wound up tighter than a live wire!
This is my favorite book in this series! To get the most out of the series, it's best to read the books in order. Book one: The Birthday, followed by Last Lullaby. I love the eye-catching covers of her books!
I can't wait to start reading her other series starring DI Robyn Carter! She's a very talented writer, a favorite of mine, and I'm hooked on her books!
With thanks and appreciation to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Carol Wyer for this advanced digital copy for me to read and review.
April 27, 2019
BOOM!!!! Carol Wyer does it again! I can't even express how much I love the Detective Natalie Ward series. I have been anxiously awaiting the third book in this series from the second I finished the last one. I swear this series just gets better with each book.
You have all heard of the social media challenges that teenagers are taking part of. Have you heard of The Dare? Hang on to your hats people because this one will have you reeling. Teenage girls are going missing shortly after talking about the challenge. Some will never come back, soon to be found by Natalie and her team.
OMG! We get a glimpse into the killers mind as he stalks his next victim. As he waits for school to let out at 3:30 so he can watch the kids. This made my skin crawl. What the flip am I reading? Wait until you hear how they met their fate. I shuddered as I read the details of how the killer planned his kills. I can reveal no more as I want you to be as shocked as I was.
I am not a big fan of detective series but I simply can't get enough of this series. Carol Wyer can't write fast enough for me! The characters are so well developed in this series that I feel like I know Natalie and her team personally. Hey Nat! Seriously though Natalie has a great story going on in her home life and Ms. Wyer left us with a bit of a cliff hanger. Dare I say we will see another book coming soon? I sure hope so!! #TeamNatalie! I highly suggest you get your hands on The Dare!
I loved this book and I hope you do too! Thanks so much to Carol Wyer and Bookouture for this ARC that was simply fantastic!
You have all heard of the social media challenges that teenagers are taking part of. Have you heard of The Dare? Hang on to your hats people because this one will have you reeling. Teenage girls are going missing shortly after talking about the challenge. Some will never come back, soon to be found by Natalie and her team.
OMG! We get a glimpse into the killers mind as he stalks his next victim. As he waits for school to let out at 3:30 so he can watch the kids. This made my skin crawl. What the flip am I reading? Wait until you hear how they met their fate. I shuddered as I read the details of how the killer planned his kills. I can reveal no more as I want you to be as shocked as I was.
I am not a big fan of detective series but I simply can't get enough of this series. Carol Wyer can't write fast enough for me! The characters are so well developed in this series that I feel like I know Natalie and her team personally. Hey Nat! Seriously though Natalie has a great story going on in her home life and Ms. Wyer left us with a bit of a cliff hanger. Dare I say we will see another book coming soon? I sure hope so!! #TeamNatalie! I highly suggest you get your hands on The Dare!
I loved this book and I hope you do too! Thanks so much to Carol Wyer and Bookouture for this ARC that was simply fantastic!
June 9, 2019
Thank you to Net Galley, the publishers and the author for an ARC copy of number 3 in the Natalie Ward series.
Jane’s daughter is a good girl. What is she hiding?
When thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins doesn’t come straight home from school, as she always does, her mother Jane immediately raises the alarm.
Leading the investigation is Detective Natalie Ward whose daughter Leigh is the same age as Savannah. Soon Natalie’s worst fears are confirmed when the teenager’s broken body is found in nearby shrub land.
Evidence points towards a local recluse, but just as the net is closing around him, one of Savannah’s friends, Harriet, is reported missing.
As Natalie delves into the lives of both girls, she soon discovers a sinister video on their phones, daring the girls to disappear from their families for 48 hours.
But Natalie isn’t quick enough for this killer, and she is devastated to find Harriet’s body on a fly tip a day later.
Caught up in the case, she takes her eye off her own daughter and when Leigh goes missing after school she knows she must be in terrible danger. The clock is ticking for Natalie. Can she catch this killer before her little girl becomes the next victim?
The Dare really taps into the idea of the influence of Social media and the desire of the younger generation to be seen to be strong, brave and right on the edge of whatever mad craze is currently fashionable. In this case, it is the craze for completing challenges of dares, such as the ice bucket challenge, in a bid to garner popularity and some kind of fame status amongst their peers that puts young girls in grave danger.
Di Natalie Ward is a character you have to love especially as she has such a "normal" private life, the problems with her private life and her determination in her work add to this story.
Well paced thriller and this book proves we do have a collection of great police drama/thriller authors with Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza, Patricia Gibney, Mel Sherratt to name a few.
Four days
Jane’s daughter is a good girl. What is she hiding?
When thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins doesn’t come straight home from school, as she always does, her mother Jane immediately raises the alarm.
Leading the investigation is Detective Natalie Ward whose daughter Leigh is the same age as Savannah. Soon Natalie’s worst fears are confirmed when the teenager’s broken body is found in nearby shrub land.
Evidence points towards a local recluse, but just as the net is closing around him, one of Savannah’s friends, Harriet, is reported missing.
As Natalie delves into the lives of both girls, she soon discovers a sinister video on their phones, daring the girls to disappear from their families for 48 hours.
But Natalie isn’t quick enough for this killer, and she is devastated to find Harriet’s body on a fly tip a day later.
Caught up in the case, she takes her eye off her own daughter and when Leigh goes missing after school she knows she must be in terrible danger. The clock is ticking for Natalie. Can she catch this killer before her little girl becomes the next victim?
The Dare really taps into the idea of the influence of Social media and the desire of the younger generation to be seen to be strong, brave and right on the edge of whatever mad craze is currently fashionable. In this case, it is the craze for completing challenges of dares, such as the ice bucket challenge, in a bid to garner popularity and some kind of fame status amongst their peers that puts young girls in grave danger.
Di Natalie Ward is a character you have to love especially as she has such a "normal" private life, the problems with her private life and her determination in her work add to this story.
Well paced thriller and this book proves we do have a collection of great police drama/thriller authors with Angela Marsons, Robert Bryndza, Patricia Gibney, Mel Sherratt to name a few.
Four days
April 24, 2019
Rating: 5 THRILLING stars
Oh man, this was a wild ride. To my ever-loving happiness, 'The Dare' was actually a *thrilling* Thriller. (Hurrah!) Maybe I’ve become jaded, but it seems like more often than not lately, a book billed as a Thiller doesn’t actually hold my attention as much as I think it should. That was not the case with this book.
This is the third book in Carol Wyer’s British 'Detective Natalie Ward' series. I read the second book in the series, Last Lullaby, a couple of months ago. I really enjoyed it. So I was, ahem, 'thrilled' when I received ‘The Dare’ as an eArc from NetGalley.
Once again Carol Wyer kept me involved with a fast-paced story that was a clever mix of a murder mystery; a family drama with Detective Ward’s family; and a police procedural. With each book we are getting to know the police personnel who interact with each other in this series. I’m starting to care about those recurring characters. That's a sure sign of a well-written series.
‘The Dare’ opens with the disappearance of thirteen year-old Savannah Hopkins. She recently moved to this new town with her mother Jane. Savannah simply doesn’t return home after school one day. The next day her body is found, and the thriller is off and running. Other seemingly random teen-aged girls disappear after Savannah. Detective Ward and her team is frustratingly one step behind the killer as the body count increases. But it’s certainly not for lack of trying on their part.
Then Natalie Ward’s daughter, Leigh, goes missing. Will she suffer the same fate as the other girls? That question kept me turning the pages late into the night. Don't worry. I won’t tell you how it ends. What would be the fun in that? Just take my advice, if you like a tautly paced story with good character development and a plausible storyline and a great ending, do yourself a favor and get this book. I can’t wait until then next book comes out! Please, write faster Ms Wyer.
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Bookouture; and the author, Carol Wyer; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Oh man, this was a wild ride. To my ever-loving happiness, 'The Dare' was actually a *thrilling* Thriller. (Hurrah!) Maybe I’ve become jaded, but it seems like more often than not lately, a book billed as a Thiller doesn’t actually hold my attention as much as I think it should. That was not the case with this book.
This is the third book in Carol Wyer’s British 'Detective Natalie Ward' series. I read the second book in the series, Last Lullaby, a couple of months ago. I really enjoyed it. So I was, ahem, 'thrilled' when I received ‘The Dare’ as an eArc from NetGalley.
Once again Carol Wyer kept me involved with a fast-paced story that was a clever mix of a murder mystery; a family drama with Detective Ward’s family; and a police procedural. With each book we are getting to know the police personnel who interact with each other in this series. I’m starting to care about those recurring characters. That's a sure sign of a well-written series.
‘The Dare’ opens with the disappearance of thirteen year-old Savannah Hopkins. She recently moved to this new town with her mother Jane. Savannah simply doesn’t return home after school one day. The next day her body is found, and the thriller is off and running. Other seemingly random teen-aged girls disappear after Savannah. Detective Ward and her team is frustratingly one step behind the killer as the body count increases. But it’s certainly not for lack of trying on their part.
Then Natalie Ward’s daughter, Leigh, goes missing. Will she suffer the same fate as the other girls? That question kept me turning the pages late into the night. Don't worry. I won’t tell you how it ends. What would be the fun in that? Just take my advice, if you like a tautly paced story with good character development and a plausible storyline and a great ending, do yourself a favor and get this book. I can’t wait until then next book comes out! Please, write faster Ms Wyer.
‘Thank-You’ to NetGalley; the publisher, Bookouture; and the author, Carol Wyer; for providing a free e-ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 25, 2019
Carol Wyer has done it again, raised the bar so high with this book that I wonder how she would top it up with her next.
The main character DI Natalie Ward and her team have slogged hard in this book, worked day and night, looking at miles of footage of CCTV to find the tiniest of clues. Believe me, this was done on absolutely no sleep and junk food from vending machine. Why did this strike me, you ask? Because Carol has personalized them so much that they now feel like people I know, people I work with.
I love books like these where I can don my detective hat, sift through the clues, try to understand the forensics, and give my pointed, accusatory stare at the suspects. I have yet to interrogate them, but reading Carol's book is like looking at the interview through the one way mirror.
The story went thus, girls were disappearing every day and found dead near the dumpster the next. 3 girls, 3 days. And then came Natalie's daughter Leigh, she disappeared when her mom was at work... So it was race against time to get to the murderer. I loved Natalie's fortitude and professionalism in the face of such a crisis. I was in awe of her. I loved the way her personal life unfolded in this. Didn't like the husband much. He was meh!!
In every book in this series, the author has taken a social aspect and used her magical craftiness and plotted the story. This time too, Carol has used the new craze of a website daring each other to do weird (read this as stupid, every day I hear one such deed) stuff, and that gives evil to hiss and crawl, constrict its coils around the victim slowly one by one, strangulating life and squeezing the breath
Whew!! That was the book in short, sounds fun, doesn't it? Get it, read it, and enjoy it!
The main character DI Natalie Ward and her team have slogged hard in this book, worked day and night, looking at miles of footage of CCTV to find the tiniest of clues. Believe me, this was done on absolutely no sleep and junk food from vending machine. Why did this strike me, you ask? Because Carol has personalized them so much that they now feel like people I know, people I work with.
I love books like these where I can don my detective hat, sift through the clues, try to understand the forensics, and give my pointed, accusatory stare at the suspects. I have yet to interrogate them, but reading Carol's book is like looking at the interview through the one way mirror.
The story went thus, girls were disappearing every day and found dead near the dumpster the next. 3 girls, 3 days. And then came Natalie's daughter Leigh, she disappeared when her mom was at work... So it was race against time to get to the murderer. I loved Natalie's fortitude and professionalism in the face of such a crisis. I was in awe of her. I loved the way her personal life unfolded in this. Didn't like the husband much. He was meh!!
In every book in this series, the author has taken a social aspect and used her magical craftiness and plotted the story. This time too, Carol has used the new craze of a website daring each other to do weird (read this as stupid, every day I hear one such deed) stuff, and that gives evil to hiss and crawl, constrict its coils around the victim slowly one by one, strangulating life and squeezing the breath
Whew!! That was the book in short, sounds fun, doesn't it? Get it, read it, and enjoy it!
July 20, 2019
THE DARE is the third book in the Detective Natalie Ward series, a riveting crime-thriller by Carol Wyer. In this novel, the author addresses the issue of the dark side of social media.
In The Dare, Natalie and her team investigate a case involving missing girls. The police work to find the first missing girl, and soon learn they are too late to save her. Another girl goes missing, and the clock is ticking to find who is responsible for the horrific crimes.
When thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins doesn’t come straight home from school, as she always does, her mother Jane immediately raises the alarm.
Leading the investigation is Detective Natalie Ward whose daughter Leigh is the same age as Savannah. Soon Natalie’s worst fears are confirmed when the teenager’s broken body is found in nearby shrubland.
Evidence points towards a local hermit, but just as the net is closing around him, one of Savannah’s friends, Harriet, is reported missing.
Natalie investigates into the lives of both girls, and discovers a video on their phones, daring the girls to disappear from their families for 48 hours.
Harriet’s body is discovered a day later.
Then when Natalie’s own daughter, Leigh goes missing after school, she knows that she must catch this killer before her little girl becomes the next victim.
This fast- paced police procedural with engaging plot provides unique twists and turns to maintain the suspense level and satisfy the reader.
This novel is sure to have an impact, especially if you are a parent.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for my digital copy.
In The Dare, Natalie and her team investigate a case involving missing girls. The police work to find the first missing girl, and soon learn they are too late to save her. Another girl goes missing, and the clock is ticking to find who is responsible for the horrific crimes.
When thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins doesn’t come straight home from school, as she always does, her mother Jane immediately raises the alarm.
Leading the investigation is Detective Natalie Ward whose daughter Leigh is the same age as Savannah. Soon Natalie’s worst fears are confirmed when the teenager’s broken body is found in nearby shrubland.
Evidence points towards a local hermit, but just as the net is closing around him, one of Savannah’s friends, Harriet, is reported missing.
Natalie investigates into the lives of both girls, and discovers a video on their phones, daring the girls to disappear from their families for 48 hours.
Harriet’s body is discovered a day later.
Then when Natalie’s own daughter, Leigh goes missing after school, she knows that she must catch this killer before her little girl becomes the next victim.
This fast- paced police procedural with engaging plot provides unique twists and turns to maintain the suspense level and satisfy the reader.
This novel is sure to have an impact, especially if you are a parent.
Many thanks to the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for my digital copy.
April 19, 2019
Carol Wyer.. what a book... and series for that matter! I was halfway through this book last night and had to stay up until I finished it. This is book 3 in the Detective Natalie Ward series and the strongest one yet. The characters are so real, they make mistakes and are not perfect. But they care deeply and Natalie in particular suffers so many blows and yet she manages to keep going. The story in this installment has everything you want and it keeps you turning pages to find out what happens next. It also hadn't me stumped, unable to pick the guilty party. I loved it!!
Natalie and her team are called to a small village when a 13 year old girl fails to return home after school. It doesn't take long before her body is found and another teenage girl from the same village and school goes missing. As the team continue their investigation they start to find more links between the girls, including videos from an online site that encourages people to disappear from their families for up to 72 hours. For a small village there are a lot of shady characters, any of whom could be the killer. This book certainly keeps you guessing.
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
Natalie and her team are called to a small village when a 13 year old girl fails to return home after school. It doesn't take long before her body is found and another teenage girl from the same village and school goes missing. As the team continue their investigation they start to find more links between the girls, including videos from an online site that encourages people to disappear from their families for up to 72 hours. For a small village there are a lot of shady characters, any of whom could be the killer. This book certainly keeps you guessing.
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
May 10, 2019
CLEVER DETECTIVE SERIES!
This is a terrific and satisfying stand-alone mystery book which is part of an ongoing series. The storyline revolves around detective Natalie Ward who is in a shaky marriage right now with her two young teenage children and is also in charge of a puzzling case of three missing teen girls where one of them has just been found and has a devastating effect on her investigative team and herself. There is a madman on the loose and the pressure is on Natalie to hurry and find this killer before he (or she) harms another girl or kidnaps another child.
The team discovers a website that has a game challenge called "The Dare" and they find it that all the missing girls have visited this webpage recently and they don't know if th girls have run away or have been kidnapped. The heat is on to find these girls before anything else happens to them. There are many suspicious characters in this story and it makes it interesting and fun to try to figure out who the bad guys (or girls) are. The story is dark and gritty and has some very good twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book very much and I love the Detective Natalie Ward series and will keep reading them over time. Carol Wyer is a wonderful writer and she knows how to draw you into her stories with realistic problems facing her characters which leaves the reader yearning for more stories involving this interesting group of people in this series.
If any reader enjoys good detective novels, don't hesitate to try one of Carol Wyer's books.
I highly recommend "The Dare" and given a rating of 4 Gritty 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
I want to thank the author and the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book!
Merged review:
CLEVER DETECTIVE SERIES!
This is a terrific and satisfying stand-alone mystery book which is part of an ongoing series. The storyline revolves around detective Natalie Ward who is in a shaky marriage right now and her two young teenage children and is also in charge of a puzzling case of three missing teen girls where one of them has just been found and has a devastating effect on her investigative team and herself. There is a madman on the loose and the pressure is on Natalie to hurry and find this killer before he (or she) harms another girl or kidnaps another child.
The team discovers a website that has a game challenge called "The Dare" and they find it that all the missing girls have visited this webpage recently and they don't know if th girls have run away or have been kidnapped. The heat is on to find these girls before anything else happens to them. There are many suspicious characters in this story and it makes it interesting and fun to try to figure out who the bad guys (or girls) are. The story is dark and gritty and has some very good twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book very much and I love the Detective Natalie Ward series and will keep reading them over time. Carol Wyer is a wonderful writer and she knows how to draw you into her stories with realistic problems facing her characters which leaves the reader yearning for more stories involving this interesting group of people in this series.
If any reader enjoys good detective novels, don't hesitate to try one of Carol Wyer's books.
I highly recommend "The Dare" and given a rating of 4 Gritty 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
I want to thank the author and the publisher Bookoutue and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book!
This is a terrific and satisfying stand-alone mystery book which is part of an ongoing series. The storyline revolves around detective Natalie Ward who is in a shaky marriage right now with her two young teenage children and is also in charge of a puzzling case of three missing teen girls where one of them has just been found and has a devastating effect on her investigative team and herself. There is a madman on the loose and the pressure is on Natalie to hurry and find this killer before he (or she) harms another girl or kidnaps another child.
The team discovers a website that has a game challenge called "The Dare" and they find it that all the missing girls have visited this webpage recently and they don't know if th girls have run away or have been kidnapped. The heat is on to find these girls before anything else happens to them. There are many suspicious characters in this story and it makes it interesting and fun to try to figure out who the bad guys (or girls) are. The story is dark and gritty and has some very good twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book very much and I love the Detective Natalie Ward series and will keep reading them over time. Carol Wyer is a wonderful writer and she knows how to draw you into her stories with realistic problems facing her characters which leaves the reader yearning for more stories involving this interesting group of people in this series.
If any reader enjoys good detective novels, don't hesitate to try one of Carol Wyer's books.
I highly recommend "The Dare" and given a rating of 4 Gritty 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
I want to thank the author and the publisher Bookouture and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book!
Merged review:
CLEVER DETECTIVE SERIES!
This is a terrific and satisfying stand-alone mystery book which is part of an ongoing series. The storyline revolves around detective Natalie Ward who is in a shaky marriage right now and her two young teenage children and is also in charge of a puzzling case of three missing teen girls where one of them has just been found and has a devastating effect on her investigative team and herself. There is a madman on the loose and the pressure is on Natalie to hurry and find this killer before he (or she) harms another girl or kidnaps another child.
The team discovers a website that has a game challenge called "The Dare" and they find it that all the missing girls have visited this webpage recently and they don't know if th girls have run away or have been kidnapped. The heat is on to find these girls before anything else happens to them. There are many suspicious characters in this story and it makes it interesting and fun to try to figure out who the bad guys (or girls) are. The story is dark and gritty and has some very good twists and turns.
I enjoyed this book very much and I love the Detective Natalie Ward series and will keep reading them over time. Carol Wyer is a wonderful writer and she knows how to draw you into her stories with realistic problems facing her characters which leaves the reader yearning for more stories involving this interesting group of people in this series.
If any reader enjoys good detective novels, don't hesitate to try one of Carol Wyer's books.
I highly recommend "The Dare" and given a rating of 4 Gritty 🌟🌟🌟🌟 Stars!!
I want to thank the author and the publisher Bookoutue and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this terrific book!
April 26, 2019
There are so many thrillers on the market and each has a similar, ubiquitous statement made about them, so much so that I've become immune to their claims or pull as many turn out to be anything but thrilling. However, the third in the Detective Natalie Ward series lives up to the thriller label and then some; by far the strongest of this series so far. This is an engrossing read right from the start and I have massive appreciation for Wyer's character building in which she crafts flawed, realistic individuals who you really get behind through this journey.
Despite it being a horrific tale it is beautifully told with all the twists, turns and red herrings required to keep you guessing and off-kilter. The missing child trope is well loved in the genre but Wyer does it very well, I must admit. The emotional is there, the compassionate characters, the evil personified and of course the devasted family awaiting news. There is plenty to get your teeth into in this page-turner. Recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
Despite it being a horrific tale it is beautifully told with all the twists, turns and red herrings required to keep you guessing and off-kilter. The missing child trope is well loved in the genre but Wyer does it very well, I must admit. The emotional is there, the compassionate characters, the evil personified and of course the devasted family awaiting news. There is plenty to get your teeth into in this page-turner. Recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
February 6, 2019
One afternoon, Jane Hopkin's daughter Savannah didn't come home from school. Jane takes immediate action, including phoning her friends. Sadly Savannah's body is discovered. The missing teen becomes DI Natalie Ward's case. This is especially hard for Natalie. For starters, she has a daughter, Leigh, the exact age, so that alone makes the case difficult. Also, Natalie has had other arduous cases involving the death of children. Also, Natalie's marriage is quite strained, so that doesn't help things considering the time and attention she must place on this case.
Natalie begins her investigation and questions several potential suspects, to the point when she is fairly certain that one particular person could be responsible. However, in just a day, another teen girl goes missing. Did they know one another? Are their cases connected? To make matters worse, the unimaginable happens in Natalie's own family.
The story is mostly told by Natalie's point of view. However, there is another view in the story, that of the killer, and of their plans to harm other girls. And, after the second girl disappears, a very brief, but horrifying video is discovered. This alerts Natalie and her team to a morbid website referring to the Disappear Dare. This is a very dangerous social media challenge where a teen agrees to go off grid for a short time. Could Savannah and the other missing girl, Harriet, have been playing that game?
The Dare is the third compelling story in the Detective Natalie Ward series. It is quite a remarkable read, affecting on many levels. I have read most of Carol Wyer's books and each time I pick one up I find them to be utterly thrilling. I read this exceptional book in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. I was hanging on the edge of my seat as this book reached a crescendo. I definitely cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Natalie begins her investigation and questions several potential suspects, to the point when she is fairly certain that one particular person could be responsible. However, in just a day, another teen girl goes missing. Did they know one another? Are their cases connected? To make matters worse, the unimaginable happens in Natalie's own family.
The story is mostly told by Natalie's point of view. However, there is another view in the story, that of the killer, and of their plans to harm other girls. And, after the second girl disappears, a very brief, but horrifying video is discovered. This alerts Natalie and her team to a morbid website referring to the Disappear Dare. This is a very dangerous social media challenge where a teen agrees to go off grid for a short time. Could Savannah and the other missing girl, Harriet, have been playing that game?
The Dare is the third compelling story in the Detective Natalie Ward series. It is quite a remarkable read, affecting on many levels. I have read most of Carol Wyer's books and each time I pick one up I find them to be utterly thrilling. I read this exceptional book in one sitting. I simply could not put it down. I was hanging on the edge of my seat as this book reached a crescendo. I definitely cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 29, 2019
Three young teenaged girls go missing and are soon found dead near rubbish heaps. DI Natalie Ward and her team are sorting leads and interviewing witnesses. A tip leads them to the notion that the girls were attempting to take part in an online dare that they found on a website called DISAPPEAR. As Natalie, DS Lucy Carmichael, DS Murray Anderson and PC Ian Jarvis, along with the Samford Police bring in potential suspects and examine all the clues, they can't seem to pin down the "Warfield Monster". Will the killer of Savannah Hopkins, Harriet Long and Katy Bywater get away with murder? And then the worst possible thing happens: Natalie's own daughter, 14-year-old Leigh, skips out of school and doesn't come home. NO SPOILERS.
Although a police procedural and solid detective mystery, this is also a character driven series with the reader learning more about the main players with each book. I like the protagonist, Natalie Ward, as she seems to be strong and mostly together without the "hot mess" back story so common in this genre. She has personal problems with her family, but good working relationships at the cop shop. The secondary characters are becoming more well known and fleshed out as well with each subsequent book. The writing is engaging and the pace is fast. Plenty of red herrings that allow the reader to experience the frustration of the police as they keep searching and finding no answers. I like the series and plan to continue reading.
The topic of social media is quite commonly tackled across all genres of reading material these days. Rightfully so as the dangers to the young and immature can't be overemphasized. As parents or as responsible adults, we need to keep a close eye on and monitor the internet activity of those for whom we care. Just as the adolescent naturally tries to gain privacy and draw away from guardians is the main time we need to increase our vigilance. Trust, but verify!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'd urge you to read the series in order.
Although a police procedural and solid detective mystery, this is also a character driven series with the reader learning more about the main players with each book. I like the protagonist, Natalie Ward, as she seems to be strong and mostly together without the "hot mess" back story so common in this genre. She has personal problems with her family, but good working relationships at the cop shop. The secondary characters are becoming more well known and fleshed out as well with each subsequent book. The writing is engaging and the pace is fast. Plenty of red herrings that allow the reader to experience the frustration of the police as they keep searching and finding no answers. I like the series and plan to continue reading.
The topic of social media is quite commonly tackled across all genres of reading material these days. Rightfully so as the dangers to the young and immature can't be overemphasized. As parents or as responsible adults, we need to keep a close eye on and monitor the internet activity of those for whom we care. Just as the adolescent naturally tries to gain privacy and draw away from guardians is the main time we need to increase our vigilance. Trust, but verify!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. I'd urge you to read the series in order.
December 30, 2021
3.5
Do you dare disappear?
The snake is restless, coiling and uncoiling against his flesh. It needs to feast again...
Thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins went missing on her way home from school. Later, her body is found strangled near a rubbish bin.
Soon after, two other teenagers go missing. The victims don't have much in common except they are unhappy and they have been checking a site by the name of Disappear where it dares you to disappear for 24 hours or more without leaving any trace behind.
It was only a stupid dare...
But somehow the Watfield Monster has found out about the dare and is taking the girls one by one.
Can the police identify and catch him before it is too late?
Do you dare disappear?
The snake is restless, coiling and uncoiling against his flesh. It needs to feast again...
Thirteen-year-old Savannah Hopkins went missing on her way home from school. Later, her body is found strangled near a rubbish bin.
Soon after, two other teenagers go missing. The victims don't have much in common except they are unhappy and they have been checking a site by the name of Disappear where it dares you to disappear for 24 hours or more without leaving any trace behind.
It was only a stupid dare...
But somehow the Watfield Monster has found out about the dare and is taking the girls one by one.
Can the police identify and catch him before it is too late?
February 27, 2019
I bloody loved it!!
As I always say, I love Carol Wyer’s dark side!
I’m a big fan of this author, and I can see how much she’s grown into the crime novels with each new book. They just keep getting better and better.
This is one hell of a clever story.
When children go missing it always makes me put myself in the situation. I imagine the worst, and in books the worst usually happens.
So when Savannah didn’t come home from school I was fretting a bit.
And I had good reason to, as the body is found not far from her home.
When another girl, Harriet, went missing I had the shivers. Was there a link?
There are a few suspects, and Natalie and her team trawl through CCTV trying to find both the girl’s and the suspect’s movements. There were some people bending the truth, some red herrings thrown in. I was suspicious of everything and everyone. There are people known to both victims. It gave me lots to think about, drawing my own conclusions and suspicions.
Interviewing the suspects was extremely frustrating for Natalie, were they telling the truth or covering it up? When Natalie’s own daughter went missing I was worried sick. Could Natalie and her team uncover the truth before another life was lost, this time one very close to them.
A good time to start reading Carol Wyer’s books if you haven’t already, starting with The Birthday and then Last Lullaby. These DI Natalie Ward books are very good!
Well-paced and great writing. Extremely tense and a pleasure to read.
I look forward to the next one!
All my reviews are quite short and concise as I'm here to show off the book rather than my own writing ability.
Thanks to Carol Wyer, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.
As I always say, I love Carol Wyer’s dark side!
I’m a big fan of this author, and I can see how much she’s grown into the crime novels with each new book. They just keep getting better and better.
This is one hell of a clever story.
When children go missing it always makes me put myself in the situation. I imagine the worst, and in books the worst usually happens.
So when Savannah didn’t come home from school I was fretting a bit.
And I had good reason to, as the body is found not far from her home.
When another girl, Harriet, went missing I had the shivers. Was there a link?
There are a few suspects, and Natalie and her team trawl through CCTV trying to find both the girl’s and the suspect’s movements. There were some people bending the truth, some red herrings thrown in. I was suspicious of everything and everyone. There are people known to both victims. It gave me lots to think about, drawing my own conclusions and suspicions.
Interviewing the suspects was extremely frustrating for Natalie, were they telling the truth or covering it up? When Natalie’s own daughter went missing I was worried sick. Could Natalie and her team uncover the truth before another life was lost, this time one very close to them.
A good time to start reading Carol Wyer’s books if you haven’t already, starting with The Birthday and then Last Lullaby. These DI Natalie Ward books are very good!
Well-paced and great writing. Extremely tense and a pleasure to read.
I look forward to the next one!
All my reviews are quite short and concise as I'm here to show off the book rather than my own writing ability.
Thanks to Carol Wyer, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.
March 9, 2019
Carol Wyer has become one of my favorite mystery writers. I have not been disappointed by any of books and eagerly look forward to more by her. In this book young girls are disappearing and a couple days later their bodies are found by trash. Natalie finds that there’s a website that dares kids to go missing for as long as they can, is this part of the dare or is something more dangerous afoot? Time is racing especially when her own teenage daughter goes missing. Another great installment in this series!
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 16, 2019
When a teenaged girl goes missing, Detective Natalie Ward hopes they will find the presumed runaway safe and sound, but they find her body instead. Her team has barely begun to investigate when word comes of another missing girl, whom they once again find too late. The pressure is on to find the killer before they strike again, and Natalie is horrified when her own daughter disappears.
Once again, I've finished reading a crime thriller by Carol Wyer and could only sit back and think shake my head in wonder at how incredible it was. To be able to feel this way with a standalone book is wonderful, but for it to consistently happen with every single book in a series (or two series, even)? That is pretty darn special.
Tension is a constant in this story, whether it's related to the investigation or the personal lives of Natalie and her team. In this book, Natalie's marriage is going through a particularly stressful time, and as always, I'd be hard-pressed to decide which storyline was the most compelling for me. As fascinating as the investigation itself was, I found myself wanting to linger over her interactions with her husband and children. I care about these characters so much at this point that I would happily read a book based solely on the personal lives of Natalie and other members of her team. I want to know everything there is to know about them! (Particularly Natalie's relationship with her sister... what happened there?!)
The killer's motivation, not to mention the way the girls disappeared, felt particularly chilling. Without giving anything away, I suspect that the thing that ultimately led the girls to their deaths will have readers looking at a certain something in a different light. Yikes, how vague is that?! Don't worry... you'll understand what I'm getting at when you read the book. (Hint, hint)
I am breathlessly awaiting book four in this series. If you haven't started reading the crime-fighting adventures of Detective Natalie Ward yet? Well, it's a good time to get started! (You can thank me later.)
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Bookouture via Netgalley.
Once again, I've finished reading a crime thriller by Carol Wyer and could only sit back and think shake my head in wonder at how incredible it was. To be able to feel this way with a standalone book is wonderful, but for it to consistently happen with every single book in a series (or two series, even)? That is pretty darn special.
Tension is a constant in this story, whether it's related to the investigation or the personal lives of Natalie and her team. In this book, Natalie's marriage is going through a particularly stressful time, and as always, I'd be hard-pressed to decide which storyline was the most compelling for me. As fascinating as the investigation itself was, I found myself wanting to linger over her interactions with her husband and children. I care about these characters so much at this point that I would happily read a book based solely on the personal lives of Natalie and other members of her team. I want to know everything there is to know about them! (Particularly Natalie's relationship with her sister... what happened there?!)
The killer's motivation, not to mention the way the girls disappeared, felt particularly chilling. Without giving anything away, I suspect that the thing that ultimately led the girls to their deaths will have readers looking at a certain something in a different light. Yikes, how vague is that?! Don't worry... you'll understand what I'm getting at when you read the book. (Hint, hint)
I am breathlessly awaiting book four in this series. If you haven't started reading the crime-fighting adventures of Detective Natalie Ward yet? Well, it's a good time to get started! (You can thank me later.)
I received an advance reading copy of this book courtesy of Bookouture via Netgalley.
August 17, 2019
One of a parents worst nightmares has to be realising your child is missing. That awful sense of dread where time seems to stand still. My heart really went out to the families in this story. The fact that they arn’t found safe and well just pulled on my heart strings even more.
Natalie is back with her team trying to solve this demanding case. Sadly things between her and her husband are still as taught and you can really feel the friction between them. The demands of Natalie’s job certainly don’t help but then she also has had cause to not trust her other half which puts constant doubt in her mind.
There are quite a few suspects in this story and I was doing my best to try and guess which of them it was but failing miserably. The author feeds you little bits of doubt so it could be any of them, making your head go into over drive but being gazumped at every turn.
From the first page this author demanded my attention and she got it, fully. The Dare made for a chilling and at times emotional read that I couldn’t get enough of. The tension that you feel from the opening chapter just keeps growing with each murder victim. A totally gripping crime thriller and a very clever one at that!
Natalie is back with her team trying to solve this demanding case. Sadly things between her and her husband are still as taught and you can really feel the friction between them. The demands of Natalie’s job certainly don’t help but then she also has had cause to not trust her other half which puts constant doubt in her mind.
There are quite a few suspects in this story and I was doing my best to try and guess which of them it was but failing miserably. The author feeds you little bits of doubt so it could be any of them, making your head go into over drive but being gazumped at every turn.
From the first page this author demanded my attention and she got it, fully. The Dare made for a chilling and at times emotional read that I couldn’t get enough of. The tension that you feel from the opening chapter just keeps growing with each murder victim. A totally gripping crime thriller and a very clever one at that!
February 9, 2019
Another breathtaking read from Carol Wyer.
This book pulled me in from the beginning and didn’t let go!
Natalie and the team are hunting a killer who is targeting teenage girls and leaving their bodies near rubbish dumps.
When the second girl’s body is discovered Natalie realises that both girls had been on a website that dares teenagers to disappear for a few days.
They found out that the girls discussed this openly and wanted to prove they could do it.
Someone else is aware of this and uses it to lure them away from their families and after a short time, they are murdered and dumped for the Police to find them.
Natalie and David are still struggling and with a David finding it hard to find work, the temptation to gamble rears it’s head again.
Leigh comments on their arguing and when she disappears Natalie and David are devastated. The hunt is on to find Leigh and whilst Natalie is doing all she can to find the killer - is it enough to find Leigh before it’s too late?
This is a heart pounding read and one you won’t be able to put down.
Thanks to Bookouture for granting my wish to read this fantastic book.
This book pulled me in from the beginning and didn’t let go!
Natalie and the team are hunting a killer who is targeting teenage girls and leaving their bodies near rubbish dumps.
When the second girl’s body is discovered Natalie realises that both girls had been on a website that dares teenagers to disappear for a few days.
They found out that the girls discussed this openly and wanted to prove they could do it.
Someone else is aware of this and uses it to lure them away from their families and after a short time, they are murdered and dumped for the Police to find them.
Natalie and David are still struggling and with a David finding it hard to find work, the temptation to gamble rears it’s head again.
Leigh comments on their arguing and when she disappears Natalie and David are devastated. The hunt is on to find Leigh and whilst Natalie is doing all she can to find the killer - is it enough to find Leigh before it’s too late?
This is a heart pounding read and one you won’t be able to put down.
Thanks to Bookouture for granting my wish to read this fantastic book.
May 27, 2019
Teenage girls are disappearing on their way home from school, apparently into thin air. The police, led by Natalie Ward, finally realise they are victims of some internet dare phenomenon. And then the unthinkable happens. That's it.
I quite enjoyed Carol Wyer's Robyn Carter series. In my opinion the Natalie Ward series is not as good. This was OK, there was nothing wrong with it but the three books in this series so far all seem to lack drama or suspense. Some of the writing seemed a bit overwrought as if it were trying to add some drama and suspense but it wasn't working for me.
I quite enjoyed Carol Wyer's Robyn Carter series. In my opinion the Natalie Ward series is not as good. This was OK, there was nothing wrong with it but the three books in this series so far all seem to lack drama or suspense. Some of the writing seemed a bit overwrought as if it were trying to add some drama and suspense but it wasn't working for me.
April 21, 2019
With thanks to Netgalley Bookoutre for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.
The Dare is the 3rd book in the DI Natalie Ward series. Carol Wyer is one of my go to authors. I have enjoyed both her detective and chic lit books.
Natalie and her team received a missing person report for thirteen year old Savannah Hopkins. Savannah`s mum had been married to a traveller, after years of travelling they settled and bought a house. Savannah was bullied at school for being a traveller and had few friends. The next morning Savannah was found murdered in a park near her house.
The same day Harriet who was a year older went missing after school. That night Harriet`s best friend discovered Harriet had posted a video on the Internet shouting for help. Natalie discovered that Harriet with obsessed with an internet challenge called Disappear. The challenge was to remain hidden for one night up to five. The next morning Harriet was found murdered and left in a park near her home.
Then a third girl went missing from home who knew Harriet and Savannah. As Natalie and her team desperately tried to find the girl, Natalie found out her own Daughter Leigh had gone missing.
I would say The Dare is Carol Wyer `s most disturbing book to date. internet use must be so difficult for parents to police, even with parental controls savvy kids can disable them.
I was gripped to The Dare from the first page. The plot was fast paced with red herrings galore. I was almost sure I knew where the plot going but I was completely wrong footed.
In between the main story were chapters from the killers POV. When his motive was killing was revealed it left me cold.
In this book Natalie was finding it hard to trust husband David after he started going on gambling websites again. After another setback Natalie is not sure if she wants to continue the marriage. I guess Natalie will have some tough decisions in the next book.
I highly recommend this book, I can't wait for book 4.
September 15, 2019
A fast-paced detective story with plenty of credible suspects to keep you guessing.
April 23, 2019
Just a Few Words: This series continues to impress. From start to finish, you just hang on and let the author take you deep into the story. The missing child….she could be yours! Okay, let's begin...
The Dare by Carol Wyer is the third in the Detective Natalie Ward series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Natalie Ward is a strong female detective, but also a woman who is trying to juggle her job and her home life. Her husband has a gambling problem and lost all their savings. Then he lost his job, and he is now working from home. He is feeling inadequate, and Natalie finds herself constantly having to massage his fragile ego. Although she tries, she feels like she is neglecting her two children, even though they know that if she is on a murder investigation, it has to take precedence. She is often torn. Natalie’s team consists of: DS Lucy Carmichael, DS Murray Anderson and PC Ian Jarvis.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Natalie is called to help look for a 13-year old missing girl, Savannah Hopkins. She didn’t make it home from school. The next morning her strangled body is found in the park behind her house. Upon further investigation, Natalie realizes that this shy, introverted girl was having problems at school and at home, and some of her acquaintances are holding things back.
When 14-year old Harriet Long disappears, the hunt is on…but there is so little information to go on, and it becomes clear that the killer is enjoying playing games with the detectives.
Meanwhile Natalie is still having trust issues with her husband, and their home life is a bit of a shambles. Her daughter is the same age as the victims, so Natalie's mind is often in two places.
My Opinions:
I really like how the author continues to add depth to her characters, but I still wish Natalie would just kick her husband to the curb. Okay, that may be a personal issue, as I too had to deal with a husband with an addiction. It’s not fun….and actually Carol Wyer is handling this very well.
The writing continues to impress me, and the plot was good. Although I was fairly certain early on as to the identity of the perpetrator, there were enough other suspects that I occasionally doubted myself. The tension continued to build throughout.
I liked the additional perspective of the killer occasionally being thrown in. Definitely made it interesting to know his thoughts.
The plot, as always, was plausible, as we don’t always know what our children are doing when not at home. We don’t know what they are doing on their mobile devices, or who their friends are. It is a scary time for parents. Carol Wyer incorporated those fears into this book, and she did a great job!
Overall, this is a good series, and this was a great addition to it.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The Dare by Carol Wyer is the third in the Detective Natalie Ward series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
Natalie Ward is a strong female detective, but also a woman who is trying to juggle her job and her home life. Her husband has a gambling problem and lost all their savings. Then he lost his job, and he is now working from home. He is feeling inadequate, and Natalie finds herself constantly having to massage his fragile ego. Although she tries, she feels like she is neglecting her two children, even though they know that if she is on a murder investigation, it has to take precedence. She is often torn. Natalie’s team consists of: DS Lucy Carmichael, DS Murray Anderson and PC Ian Jarvis.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Natalie is called to help look for a 13-year old missing girl, Savannah Hopkins. She didn’t make it home from school. The next morning her strangled body is found in the park behind her house. Upon further investigation, Natalie realizes that this shy, introverted girl was having problems at school and at home, and some of her acquaintances are holding things back.
When 14-year old Harriet Long disappears, the hunt is on…but there is so little information to go on, and it becomes clear that the killer is enjoying playing games with the detectives.
Meanwhile Natalie is still having trust issues with her husband, and their home life is a bit of a shambles. Her daughter is the same age as the victims, so Natalie's mind is often in two places.
My Opinions:
I really like how the author continues to add depth to her characters, but I still wish Natalie would just kick her husband to the curb. Okay, that may be a personal issue, as I too had to deal with a husband with an addiction. It’s not fun….and actually Carol Wyer is handling this very well.
The writing continues to impress me, and the plot was good. Although I was fairly certain early on as to the identity of the perpetrator, there were enough other suspects that I occasionally doubted myself. The tension continued to build throughout.
I liked the additional perspective of the killer occasionally being thrown in. Definitely made it interesting to know his thoughts.
The plot, as always, was plausible, as we don’t always know what our children are doing when not at home. We don’t know what they are doing on their mobile devices, or who their friends are. It is a scary time for parents. Carol Wyer incorporated those fears into this book, and she did a great job!
Overall, this is a good series, and this was a great addition to it.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
May 19, 2019
This was another solid read from Carol Wyer in the DI Natalie Ward series, her third one already!
Natalie and her team have their work cut out for them as they try and find missing teenage girls. Are they being kidnapped or are they going missing on purpose, because of a dare? There are a lot of potential suspects in this book but I didn't know who the killer was until the author revealed it.
Whilst this case is taking up a lot of Natalie's time, her marriage is being stretched to breaking point and someone from her past is a temptation, which doesn't help matters. And then there is Natalie's daughter Leigh, who has been more secretive lately too...just part of growing up or does she know about the dare as well?
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
4 stars from me.
Natalie and her team have their work cut out for them as they try and find missing teenage girls. Are they being kidnapped or are they going missing on purpose, because of a dare? There are a lot of potential suspects in this book but I didn't know who the killer was until the author revealed it.
Whilst this case is taking up a lot of Natalie's time, her marriage is being stretched to breaking point and someone from her past is a temptation, which doesn't help matters. And then there is Natalie's daughter Leigh, who has been more secretive lately too...just part of growing up or does she know about the dare as well?
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.
4 stars from me.
November 6, 2021
The Dare is the 3rd book in the Detective Natalie Ward series. It can be read as a stand-alone. I really enjoy this series.
Like the previous books, Detective Natalie Ward is juggling to be a good detective, mother and wife. Teenage girls are going missing and their bodies are found shortly after. This is especially hard for Natalie since she has a daughter, Leigh, the same age as the missing girls. But it hits home when Leigh goes missing. Did she run away from home or did the killer take her?
This book took me away on page one. The pacing is spot on, the tension palpable, the shocks and surprises coming thick and fast. And this is one you surely will not figure out who the killer is.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Carol Wyer for a copy of "The Dare" in exchange of an honest review.
Like the previous books, Detective Natalie Ward is juggling to be a good detective, mother and wife. Teenage girls are going missing and their bodies are found shortly after. This is especially hard for Natalie since she has a daughter, Leigh, the same age as the missing girls. But it hits home when Leigh goes missing. Did she run away from home or did the killer take her?
This book took me away on page one. The pacing is spot on, the tension palpable, the shocks and surprises coming thick and fast. And this is one you surely will not figure out who the killer is.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Carol Wyer for a copy of "The Dare" in exchange of an honest review.
October 19, 2019
So this is the third in the DI Natalie Ward series and actually the first one I’ve read. I think it works perfectly well as a stand alone but if you want to get the full back story you should probably start with the first in the series, The Birthday.
When Savannah Hopkins goes missing, everyone is hoping that she will just turn up. Natalie is assigned to the case but their worst fears are confirmed when she’s found dead near her house.
A second girl goes missing and a disturbing video turns up on a website daring people to disappear. With her boss breathing down her neck, can Natalie and her team get to the bottom of it before another girl gets hurt?
When I finished this book, I said to myself, why haven’t I started reading this series sooner??? The Dare really gripped me from the very beginning with loads of twists and turns.
This is such a realistic and scary scenario. It’s every parent’s nightmare if your child doesn’t come home from school, I know it’s one of my top fears as the mother of a teenage boy (even if he is a grumpy bugger most the time).
I also enjoyed the little snippets throughout the book from the killer’s perspective, giving the story that extra bit of creepiness.
I liked Natalie. She’s a meticulous detective but also battling a complicated home life, with a husband she’s not sure she can trust and teenage children.
I did have an idea of who the killer was but boy did Carol Wyer keep me on my toes, second guessing myself, until the end.
The Dare is a gripping and realistic police procedural that will keep you guessing until the very end.
When Savannah Hopkins goes missing, everyone is hoping that she will just turn up. Natalie is assigned to the case but their worst fears are confirmed when she’s found dead near her house.
A second girl goes missing and a disturbing video turns up on a website daring people to disappear. With her boss breathing down her neck, can Natalie and her team get to the bottom of it before another girl gets hurt?
When I finished this book, I said to myself, why haven’t I started reading this series sooner??? The Dare really gripped me from the very beginning with loads of twists and turns.
This is such a realistic and scary scenario. It’s every parent’s nightmare if your child doesn’t come home from school, I know it’s one of my top fears as the mother of a teenage boy (even if he is a grumpy bugger most the time).
I also enjoyed the little snippets throughout the book from the killer’s perspective, giving the story that extra bit of creepiness.
I liked Natalie. She’s a meticulous detective but also battling a complicated home life, with a husband she’s not sure she can trust and teenage children.
I did have an idea of who the killer was but boy did Carol Wyer keep me on my toes, second guessing myself, until the end.
The Dare is a gripping and realistic police procedural that will keep you guessing until the very end.
April 26, 2023
loved it
Every spare second for the last 3 days, this book was on the go!
Another fabulous mystery in the “Detective Natalie award” series.
Considering I’ve read the first 3 books in the past two weeks, I’d safely say that Carol Wyer is my new favourite author x
One note: if Natalie doesn’t kick that useless, lying husband out in the next book, I’m gonna go ape!
Every spare second for the last 3 days, this book was on the go!
Another fabulous mystery in the “Detective Natalie award” series.
Considering I’ve read the first 3 books in the past two weeks, I’d safely say that Carol Wyer is my new favourite author x
One note: if Natalie doesn’t kick that useless, lying husband out in the next book, I’m gonna go ape!
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