I am floored completely floored….check this out first before my review…and do be sure to see Carol reading a bit from the book after the review.
The Blossom Twins by Carol WyerSeries: Detective Natalie Ward #5
Published by Bookouture on December 12, 2019
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 386
Amazon UK
Goodreads
Also by this author: The Birthday, What Happens in France, Little Girl Lost , Secrets of the Dead, The Missing Girls , The Silent Children , The Chosen Ones, Life Swap, Take A Chance On Me, What Happens in France, Suddenly Single, The Birthday, Last Lullaby, The Dare , The Sleepover, The Secret Admirer, Somebody’s Daughter , EndGame, An Eye for an Eye, A Cut for a Cut
Their parents thought they were hiding…
One beautiful summer’s evening, thirteen-year-old twins Ivy and Erin Westmore snuggle down in a tent in their back garden, giggling and sharing secrets.
When their mother goes to wake the girls the next morning, their tent is empty.The alarm is raised and Detective Natalie Ward is put onto the case. When the twins’ bodies are discovered on nearby marshland, covered with deep pink petals, an icy shiver travels down Natalie’s spine. Everything about the girls’ deaths reminds her of a horrifying case she worked on earlier in her career, which saw a killer of the worst kind placed behind bars.
The next day, that feeling is heightened when she receives a chilling note saying ‘I’m back’. Is this killer a copycat or did Natalie put the wrong person in prison all those years ago? In a small town, where no stranger goes unnoticed, what is Natalie missing?
Consumed by the case, determined to prevent more deaths, Natalie misses the fact that it is her attention the killer wants. And to get it, he has his sights set firmly on her precious daughter Leigh…
Here we go on our ride – buckle up
This will be one of the hardest reviews I have ever written because the main talking point for me, is something I can not even talk about. For me, I made the mistake when creating my takeover, of checking out some reviews, and well it ruined what happened. That upset me.
I have to say Carol has floored me with this book, she has damn near broken me. I can see why it is a favourite for a lot of people. It takes a lot of guts to do what she has with this book and it hurts, it hurts a lot, but I think it paid off. However, I really didn’t want to it (nicest way possible I mean that)
It brings Natalie’s haunted past to the present and then that past destroyed everything. I cried a lot, I wanted to do a Joey in Friends about 60% in it. As soon as one sentence was read by Di Croft, I wanted to put the audiobook on hold and put the kindle into the freezer. Because if I don’t read, it doesn’t happen does it. Even when I got to 85% and I was talking to Carol, I kept finding things to do to stop me from me reading. I watered the garden, ate my dinner, tidied up, anything!!!
But I caved, and man do I wish I hadn’t caved. This book!!!!
I still don’t know where to begin with this review! A horrible case that nearly destroyed Natalie, where twin girls had been murdered and “placed” in a way in a truly ghoulish way. To a passer-by, they could be just be sleeping, holding hands…well if it wasn’t for a carrier bag stuck over their heads. Every case we read always involves children!!!
No Murray in this book, boy do we miss him. There is no banter for Ian and no support for Lucy. Instead, a blast from the past for Natalie in the form of John Briggs, a guy who worked the Blossom Twin case with Natalie. Got to admit, wasn’t sure of him, he was too cocksure, I thought he had a turning point and then decided I really wasn’t a fan of his.
This case is getting to Natalie, plus she has pressure from David at home. The fallout from the last book has put cogs in motion and David, well, no more support from me. I get he is hurt by Natalie but his actions at the end, nope I’m done! Sorry Carol, not on his train anymore.
One thing I do enjoy more about this series is that Natalie is not a whipper snapper chasing promotions. She is a family woman, trying to balance her life and work, she is getting grey and getting lines, midlife drift. She is more real to me, she also has so much balls! I have so much respect for her, she just tries to do what is best and it is a shame that this is not always understood at home. Not only does she have balls but man Carol you have some huge cajones!! What more are you going to through at her!? I know she’s got a break coming up soon as I only have 2 books left to read, so I hope there is some respite soon.
Another thing I find refreshing is that, well, no one ever pulls out their weapon and fires it. There are no shots fired, just good old fashion detecting and they always catch the perp. This time, just once, I wish it had been different.
This book has jarred me. It has turfed me out of my safe haven and now I don’t know which way to turn. I feel now we are on a dark tunnel with Natalie, I can’t see the light and I fear it will be a while before we get over the fallout.
I am sitting here wondering what more I can say. I just don’t know. The case is harrowing, it takes a lot from us, it takes a piece of your soul and your heart. I am dreading the next book because it will just mean everything that happened in The Blossom Twins did happen and I can’t unread it!
Until next time xxx
A bit of nighttime listening
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
carolwyer says
I don’t know how to respond to this post other than physically. <3
Your review is so heartfelt and I think I know how you must have felt when you read it. Those final chapters were written at such a pace, my heart in my mouth and with my chest hurting, and undoubtedly, you read them in a similar fashion. Every one of my characters is real to me, especially the main characters so the book drained me emotionally and caused many tears.
I missed Murray too. The team was off-balance without him and I wanted him to fly back and save the darkening situation but that would have made it a different book and as you know, it got a lot darker.
Natalie will have to dig deep from hereon in but I know she's made of stern stuff. As for David – give him one last chance. He might earn your sympathy in the next book.
Zoe, sincere thanks for this wonderful review and for loving Natalie as much as I do. xx
Zoé says
I can see how that book drained you. I had Di to ease me through it all day yesterday but you didn’t at the time 🙁 Yes the team were out of kilter but like you say it would have been a different book if Murray came back. The bit that got me was Mike, when he walked with Natalie, that was it for me. LOL. Again I can’t say too much because I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but ball-sy! As much as I hate what you did, I loved what you did.
I will keep an opening mind with David,I know he is hurting but i will see how we get on in the next book. xxxx
Kelly says
Gorgeous review!
Zoé says
Aw thanks lovely xx
yvonnembee says
Wow! Amazing review!!
Zoé says
Thanks Yvonne, that means a lot xx
carhicks says
Wow, wonderful review Zoé. I love how hard you worked to not spoil this one for anyone. It sounds amazing and I loved the trailer.
Zoé says
Thank you. It is a hard one to review and not spoil. It is such an emotional book. The trailer is awesome and creepy!!