One hot summer's afternoon, five-year-old Ava Sawyer went to a party. She never came home...

When five-year-old Ava Sawyer goes missing from a birthday party at a local garden centre, the police are bewildered by the lack of leads. That is until two years later, when Ava's body is found and another little girl, Audrey Briggs, goes missing. Audrey also attended that party ...

Leading the investigation is Detective Natalie Ward. A mother of two teenagers, this case chills her to the bone, and is a disturbing reminder of the last job she worked on. One that still keeps her awake at night...

Natalie soon discovers that Ava's mother has some worrying gaps in her alibi and as she digs deeper, she's sure Ava's father is not telling the full story. And what did the owner of the garden centre Elsa see that day? Something that she's not telling Natalie ...

Just as Natalie is facing up to the grim possibility that Ava and Audrey were killed by someone close to home, another little girl from the party doesn't come home from her ballet lesson. Can Natalie find a way to stop this killer before more innocent lives are taken?

Gripping, fast-paced and nail-bitingly tense, this book will keep you flying through the pages long into the night. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott and Karin Slaughter.

Readers are going crazy for The Birthday:

'Absolutely stunning ... wow it blew me away. Totally my favourite book so far of 2018... I loved everything about it... A great start to a new series that I am going to love. I'm already wishing I could have the next book ... Amazing... 5 stars, although it is a shame I can't give it more, it's easily worth a 7. Buy it, you won't regret it ' Bonnie's Book Talk, 5 stars

'Everything Carol Wyer touches turns to gold. She most definitely knows how to write an addictive and tense page-turner and this one is no different. Compelling from the first page, this will have you hooked in a heartbeat.' Novel Deelights, 5 stars

'Omg My heart is pounding so hard I have just finished reading The Birthday and I am floored This is the first in a new series from Carol Wyer, featuring DI Natalie Ward and her team. What a way to start Speedy, sharp, heart stopping and engaging; this is a series I am definitely looking forward to ' TishyLou, 5 stars

'A rollocking rollercoaster ride ... dark, twisty and wonderfully gripping' Minimac Reviews