Book Review: The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter #2) by Caroline Mitchell

To enjoy this book, it is a must to read the first book in the series, "Truth and Lies" (DI Amy Winter #1).

This excerpt from my review of Book 1 gives a glimpse:

"1986. It was the scratching noise that bought Poppy down to the place where she wasn't allowed to go.." - the basement. This was where 12-year old Poppy witnessed her father strike her sister, Sally Ann, now crumpled and lifeless....

September 2018, the protagonist, Detective Inspector (DI) Amy Winters, daughter of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Robert Winters, a highly respected police officer - recently deceased, receives a letter from a convict, half of a serial killer team, notoriously known as the "Beasts of Brentwood", which addresses her directly as "My Poppy. My Child."

End of excerpt.

In book 2, "The Secret Child", DI Winters has her hands full, confronted with a series of child-kidnappings, scientific experiments with "gifted children" gone awry, a seemingly deranged manchild from Russia (risen from the ashes?), and by her own past as the biological daughter of notorious serial killers which haunts her to the core.

All pretty straight-forward, all in a good day's work - the mysterious "resurrected" criminal revealed and shackled, ghosts of the past confronted, and all that. 

Or not?!!!

What makes Caroline Mitchell's stories authentic and compelling may stem from her own real life experience as a former Crime Investigation Department (CID) specialist dealing with vulnerable high-risk victims of domestic abuse and serious sexual offences.

For a crime thriller, the author's narrative is rather smooth, calming and familiar - you know you'll getting a good story, not unlike a typical hot "meat and two veg" English roast beef supper. Satisfying!

Review based on an advance reading copy provided by NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. 
It was good! I enjoyed it a lot. Some of the inner dialogue was a bit repetitive, but it was paced well to keep me interested. There seemed to be a new twist at just about every turn. There wasn't a ton of page filler, which was good. I think I'd have enjoyed it a little more if I'd read the first book, but there was enough information on our key players to fill me in. Overall, a good read, and it was enough to make me want to track down book 1.  3.5/5 stars

Loved this! Hadn’t realised it was book 2. So had to read first one before I could get to it! Thought it was great. Full review up soon on the blog !

The Secret Child is the 2nd book in the DI Amy Winter series. I just read the first book, [book:Truth and Lies|37881225] before reading this one. It's really important to read the books in order. I'm in the minority here, but I just couldn't get into this book. I found almost all the characters irritating especially Amy, Adam and Pike. I felt like Amy was a teenage girl, throwing a temper tantrum and running to mummy for answers. Also, there was no big twist at the end and it seemed flat to me. It was difficult to get through the book and at times I just wanted to add it my dnf shelf.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a copy of Caroline Mitchell's "The Secret Child" in exchange of an honest review.

Most days, I only read while settling my son to sleep. My kindle paper white is my best friend for a couple of hours each night. Before I was half way through this book, I had found I was reading at the table, in the bath and in my own bed, too.

Each chapter left me with more questions I was desperate for the answers to, The ending didn’t disappoint, either! If you’re a fan of crime thrillers. I’d definitely add The Secret Child By Caroline Mitchell to your reading list

The follow-up to the thrilling & chilling book one, Truth and Lies, in the addictive DI Amy Winter series!

"The fire he’d lit had caused a diversion, sending the babysitter spiralling into panic downstairs. Nobody saw him slip out the side door with the child in his arms. It wouldn’t stop there. He was on a mission. Soon more children would be silently taken from their homes. Thoughts of justice finally being served spurred him onwards and he deposited the child in the back seat of the rented car. ‘Where are we going?’ Ellen said as he strapped her in. ‘On an adventure. Now be quiet. I need to concentrate.’ He could not afford for his migraine to return. When pain closed in, sanity took a back seat and his actions were driven by a stronger force. The scream of sirens cut through the night, hastening his movements as he jumped into the driver’s seat. Starting the car, he floored the accelerator and gravel rattled against the undercarriage as he sped away."

********
The Secret Child|40678553] by Caroline Mitchell is a suspence thrilling series at it's finest, full of twists and shocking events, this second installation definitely lived up to the first one! I recommend reading the books in order as there is much that happens in book one that it crucial to the storyline in the second. 
 Both books in this series made my nerves feel like a high tension power lines on the verge of snapping! I've recently been reading some series back to back but I think this one is my favorite this year! I received this book from NetGalley which introduced me to the talented [author:Caroline Mitchell and prompted me to get my first taste of her books in Truth and Lies! I have a new favorite author and I'm happy I have others on my shelves just waiting to be read! 
I love DI Amy Winter and I can't wait to read book three as there is a brilliant cliff hanger leading up to the next story! 
Don't miss out on this addictive DI Amy Winter series! 

With thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer publishing, and Caroline Mitchell for this advanced digital copy for me to read and review.

A police procedural/thriller and book #2 in the Amy Winter series. DI Amy Winter brings a little something extra to the table when it comes to fighting crime. She was adopted at age 4, and while she's always known she was adopted, she didn't find out she was the child of "The Beasts of Brentwood" Jack & Lillian Grimes until just recently. Notorious serial killers (who bear a striking resemblance to real life Fred & Rosemary West) that lured girls and women in using their adorable little girl strapped into the backseat of their car, did unspeakable things to them at home, and then buried them in the back garden or basement. She was saved from this by "the social" (that's CPS for us American folk) and adopted out and blocked all of this until a letter arrived in book 1. In book 2, she's helping to solve a kidnapping that has ties to a Dr doing awful psychological experimentation on children that no one reported missing, and years later one who escaped a fire that was supposed to have killed him, is back for revenge. Two children end up kidnapped, and Winter is in a race against the clock to save them. There's not as much interaction with Winter's mother Lillian in this book which is a little disappointing, but I think it's setting us up for the appeal in the 3rd book, which Lillian is trying to manipulate a women's group into helping her get out of jail by saying her now deceased husband made her cooperate in the murders under threat of killing her children. Pretty great read, and I'm really looking forward to the 3rd book in the series.

Looking for a new and intriguing thriller series? Look no further, Caroline Mitchel has a great story to share with you.

DI Amy Winter finds herself in the middle of a cat and mouse game with a ghost. After two kids have gone missing, Amy and her team take an interest in a study that took place in the early 80s. People, who were involved in the study have a big dark secret they are hiding. And on top of that, suddenly they are being targeted by Luka, a child who has died in the fire two decades prior. Has Luka returned from the dead to get revenge? Or is someone simply playing a very cruel game with them?

Decides a case that is escalating with every pacing day, Amy Winter has a personal matter to deal with. Her past is hunting her. Amy is a child of two serial killers, and after being rescued and adopted by a new family, she thought her traumatic secret was all behind her. Unfortunately, her callous mother who has been imprisoned keeps reaching out to her. Will Amy have enough strength to deal with her past and help struggling victim bring a monster to justice?

Good phycological thriller, with many twists and turns that grips reader's attention. Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer publisher for a free and advanced copy of the book.

Fast paced, hard hitting and well written. I struggled to put this down after finding out that it was a sequel had to read the first one first I then returned this one. brilliantly written and excellent characters who are believable and likeable. recommendations coming from me most definitely

Fantastic novel. Really love the DI Winter series and have enjoyed both books. Great characterisation by Caroline throughout

This is the second book in the DI Winter series, and wow, what a ride it still is.  I loved the first book and couldn't wait to get my hands on this one.  In this novel Amy has to investigate a serial criminal with a change.  He's dead.... or is he.  While dealing with her past that is coming to haunt her in shocking ways.  This was a brilliant book and I will be a fan ms Mitchell forever.  Highly recommended.

The Secret Child is the second in the Amy Winter series and follows on from the devastating revelations from Truth and Lies.  This time around, Amy and the team are on a desperate mission to save the life of a missing child.  This novel goes a little darker than the previous (I didnt think that was possible).  The tension and the stakes are high, and so will be your blood pressure as you race through to the end.  4 stars

Caroline Mitchell has done it again.  A cracking read with lots of twists and turns.   DI Amy Winter and her team, overseen by the ineffectual DCI Pike.

A 4-year-old girl is taken from her bed in the night.  It is her grandmother who raises the alarm, but not the parents.  That is the first clue that this is not straight forward.

Back in the 1960s, government-backed research into children and their behaviour was at the forefront of psychology experts.  Dr. Lucas is now a well-known name in the media as some-one who has made groundbreaking progress in child behaviour.  The experiments that he conducted were only known by three other people, members of his staff.  It is Dr. Lucas's daughter, Ellen, who has been taken so the focus is on him and his wife.

All four members of staff, including the Dr, have been receiving flowers on the anniversary of a fire that broke down at the Lucas Institute all those years ago.  A young Russian child Luka died along with his mother Sasha.  Luka signs the cards, but they thought it was just a sick joke.

A package is delivered to the Dr's house and opened by his wife.  Four vials of liquid are in it, along with a note from Luka.  She has to choose which to drink, as one is lethal.  Thereon in, the game is on.  Who is behind it and how did Luka survive the fire?  Everyone who was involved in the trials for Zitalin is caught up in this sinister tale.

This is a fast-paced story with many twists.  A cracking read.

I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased.  My thanks to NetGalley for this opportunity.

The author wrote a thriller that started with a bang and just kept going!  The twists kept coming, so I couldn't put it down.  I cannot wait to read more from this author!

"The Secret Child" by Caroline Mitchell.

My first time reading that author.  I didn't read the first book.

I liked it a lot.  Well written and captivating.  Good characters and pace and interesting storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for letting me read this ARC.  This is my honest review.  All opinions are my own.

This is the second in the DI Amy Winter series and follows on with a new case for Amy and her team involving a kidnapped child. With snippets back to a time in the past concerning the kidnapped girls father, the story slowly unfolds to reveal the who and why. Amy's past is also not far from it all after the revelations in book one, and it is touch and go as to whether it is going to help or hinder her investigation. 
While this probably could work as a stand alone if you are happy to just get a quick recap of what happened in the first book, to get the full impact of the story, I definitely recommend reading book one before this one. 
Looking forward to seeing how Amy's story continues!

What a great author Caroline Mitchell is. This is the second in the  series and I Now need to go back to read the first one. This book is a total stand alone story but with such a great story I need to continue reading this author. I Look forward to reading more of her books. I did gather  some of the twist before the end but no way did I get into the real depth of the why. A gripping twisty story that I highly recommend to anyone wanting an enthralling mystery.

I had a hard time at first getting into this book, but after the first chapter or so I was caught. It is a good mystery story and it kept me guessing until the end.

Who are Amy and Pike? What kind of work do they do for a living? What do we learn about Amy's family and background? What do we learn about Amy that makes her good at her job? Who are Ellen, Hugh, Nicole, Deborah, Stuart, Christina, and Luka? What do they have to do with this whole thing? This thriller has a huge air of mystery to it. The things that were happening, people who died, who gets kidnapped and why? Who is Dr. Curtis? What does he have to do with everything? read and see.

DI Amy Winter is put on the case and investigations reveal a very tangled story which has to be slowly unravelled if the Curtis's want to see their daughter alive. The fact that they are slow to give information, albeit reluctant to talk at all points the finger at them squarely but this is discounted with a second child, this time a disabled one is taken away from school. The links have to be linked and then Amy may find who is responsible.

Many of those close to the children say it is Luka who is the kidnapper but Luka and his mother died in a fire years ago. No autopsy was done, no remains can be found so the suspicion is now rife that Luka is very much alive and he is seeking revenge for the experiments that Dr. Curtis carried out on him and other young children in his care. All for the sake of science and for the benefit of humankind, but at what expense to those who were experimented on..

Uncovering a story of monsterish proportions DI Amy is working against time and against a kidnapper who seems to know her every move, and only wants her involved in the case. A cat and mouse game begins and the end is surprising. 

Very good suspense/thriller/mystery holding the audience captive.