Meet Amy Winter: Detective Inspector, daughter of a serial killer.DI Amy Winter is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her highly respected police officer father. But when a letter arrives from the prison cell of Lillian Grimes, one half of a notorious husband-and-wife serial-killer team, it contains a revelation that will tear her life apart.Responsible for a string of heinous killings decades … heinous killings decades ago, Lillian is pure evil. A psychopathic murderer. And Amy’s biological mother. Now, she is ready to reveal the location of three of her victims—but only if Amy plays along with her twisted game.
While her fellow detectives frantically search for a young girl taken from her mother’s doorstep, Amy must confront her own dark past. Haunted by blurred memories of a sister who sacrificed herself to save her, Amy faces a race against time to uncover the missing bodies.
But what if, from behind bars, Grimes has been pulling the strings even tighter than Amy thought? And can she overcome her demons to prevent another murder?
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This book had everything—an excellent police procedural with tension, pace, and compelling storyline but with the added psychological element. I was captivated from the very first word.
4.5 Stars
“You have to be your strongest when you’re feeling your weakest.”
DI Amy Winter has just lost her father. A well-respected police officer, he was much loved and admired by many. When Amy receives a letter from notorious serial killer Lillian Grimes, she figures it must be regarding something with a case her father worked. Why else would a convicted killer be sending her mail from prison? The note is life altering in that Lillian Grimes is claiming to be her biological mother, and after confronting the only mother she’s known, Amy’s perception of the truths she’s been told begin to spiral out of control…has her entire life been built on a lie? Now Amy must work with Lillian to give the families of her victims closure and allow them to at long last lay their daughters to rest. But is Amy willing to pay the price Lillian is demanding for the information?
The author has certainly written a nail bitter with her introduction to the DI Amy Winter series! Fast paced with plenty of twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing as to which are truths…and which are lies…
Loved and highly recommend! Already one-clicked the next in the series!
Interesting characters interact in more or less predictable situations that had me mostly by the edge of my seat. A unique plot that comes with a bittersweet ending for book 1.
I don’t understand the hype around this book. I found it very tedious and the writing language isn’t great.
I was not disappointed in this book. Caroline Mitchell delivers a fast paced thriller with the debut of DI Amy Winter. Amy is the daughter of a cop and becomes a police officer herself, heading a team that investigates high profile crimes. When one half of serial killer pair contacts her, everything she knows changes. Investigating both a kidnapping of a 15-year old girl and digging up bodies of long ago buried victims, Amy struggles with coming to terms with who she is.
What if you discovered your mother was a serial killer? That is the focus of this story when a letter arrives for the protagonist from her imprisoned birth mother. That alone was enough to persuade me to read this book. The story dragged a bit, but the twists and surprises made up for it!
Thrilling, chilling, and oh so creepy. Excellent storytelling from Caroline Mitchell, highly recommended.
Story: A husband and wife serial killing team withheld three victims whereabouts for thirty years.
Amy was four years old when her parents were sent to prison. Amy was adopted later on, yet the memories of her biological parents were buried deep inside her mind.
Amy’s memories resurface after thirty years when Lillian sends a letter requesting a visit.
This was more than a cold case to Amy. Amy was faced with fear about her parents being killers and her being blood related.
Overall: The story was character driven creating a long list of suspects. After Amy’s father death a thirty year cold case became Amy’s main focus. There are multiple events occurring at once that connect everything together. All the moving parts kept the story moving along.
A compelling story of a husband and wife who killed six victims. With many components of truths and lies dating back to thirty years. Lillian claims her innocence stating she was set up. It’s up to Amy to untangle the truth from the lies.
The twists and turns appeared towards the end of the book. This is where the story began to unfold and held my interest. The beginning was slow with processing information and gathering evidence.
There were moments of suspense. For the most part the story was steadily slow paced.
I initially started this book because I needed something I knew would draw me in and keep me entertained.
Caroline Mitchell has a way with words that make her thrillers stand it amongst the masses.
The plot twist had me like whaaaaaaat?! Literally so shocked! It was so unexpected, but what I loved beat about it, is that it really made me think! Those whole story could have turned out so differently if things had happened just slightly different with Poppy.
Paddy (Patrick) is more of a side character, but plays a pretty big role in DI Amy’s life. His story is sideline, but impactful. Caroline draws attention to not often discussed issues with his character and it was awesome to see!
I knew going in I was going to love this book, but until I finished I was unaware of just how much.
This was a well-written book. Amy, a Detective Inspector, is hoping to follow in her father’s footsteps. She receives a letter from a psychopathic murderer, revealing that she is Amy’s mother, and offering to reveal the grave sites of three victims. Reeling from this information, Amy has to figure out how to adapt to the truth about her past, help the victims and avoid getting caught in her birth mother’s twisted game. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.