Review: The Birthday - Carol Wyer

Review: The Birthday - Book #1 Detective Natalie Ward - Carol Wyer - September 2018

You know those books you pick up when you're in that very specific mood for a thriller that gets your heart racing? That was me with The Birthday. I've been absolutely devouring thrillers lately, and when I saw this premise a five-year-old disappearing from a birthday party and the investigation that unfolds years later -I knew I had to read it.

Carol Wyer does a solid job building the tension here. The idea that these little girls all attended the same party and then, one by one, terrible things happen to them? Absolutely chilling. As a reader, you can't help but keep turning pages, desperate to figure out who's behind these horrific crimes. Detective Natalie Ward is a compelling lead ,I appreciated that she's a mother herself, which adds this extra layer of emotional weight to the investigation. You really feel her determination to bring these children home.

Here's where I have to be honest though ,when the killer was finally revealed, I felt a bit let down. It just didn't quite land for me the way I'd hoped. I can't say more without spoiling things, but something about it just didn't vibe with where I thought the story was going, and I found myself wishing for a different payoff.

That said, it's still a perfectly enjoyable thriller that kept me entertained. Not every book has to blow your mind, you know? Sometimes you just want a solid, engaging read that scratches that thriller itch, and The Birthday definitely does that. Worth picking up if you're in the mood for something twisty, even if the destination isn't quite as satisfying as the journey.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4qUBd0H