Second time I've tried to read this book and I still can't get into it. I can't get interested in the characters enough to keep going.

I have read books by this author before and love the detail of her novels. However, when I got this book I did not realize it was the second in the series. Fortunately for me, it worked as a standalone novel. I even went back and read this first book after I finished this one. The main character is so genuine, well developed, and relatable. I totally got sucked into the story and am so excited to see where Mitchell takes this character and this series.

Good, but not as good as the first. I like the character of Amy. She is interesting, a bit odd, aloof, complex, understandably so...

The mystery was almost a side story to Amy’s additional backstory and relationships. Don’t get me wrong, interesting and quite sad, it’s quite the story. I did manage to figure it out prior to the conclusion, but not by much!

I wanted to see more interaction between Amy and her mother, Lillian. She is quite the character and continues to rattle cages.

This series is a good one. I’ll be looking forward to see where it goes from here.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Amazon Publishing Uk for a copy in exchange for a review

The Secret Child is the second book in the DI Amy Winter series but worked very well as a stand-alone novel for me.

DI Amy Winter and her team are investigating the case of four-year-old Ellen who was kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night by a stranger. Her Mother is in the hospital after drinking from a vial she received in her home, telling her if she chooses one of the four vials she received to drink, her daughter would be freed. Shortly, thereafter, another child goes missing. His father also received vials with instructions to choose one to drink. The sender is supposedly a man who was believed to be dead. Is he alive? Is someone using his identity? What is the endgame?

While investigating the case, DI Winter's past becomes known to the public and while she struggles with the public and her co-workers, knowing her link to serial killers, she continues to investigate the missing children who have links back to psychological/scientific studies conducted in the past.

This was an interesting cat and mouse book. The story is told using two timelines - Luka and the study conducted in the past, and the investigation in the present day. Through this storytelling the reader learns, the connections between some of the characters and what might have motivated the current kidnapping of the children.

I enjoyed the police procedural and how the author balanced DI Winter's professional life and her private life. I thought this book had just the right amount of both. I am sure I missed some of the relationship connections and background from the first book, I feel I was given enough information to make inferences and did not feel that missing the first book in this series, hampered my enjoyment of this one at all.

This was another engaging and riveting police procedural featuring a female lead detective with flaws, intensity and strong nerves. I found it to be quite enjoyable and a captivating read.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really loved this book. It's edge of your seat stuff and I found myself constantly reaching for it whenever I had a spare moment. The story is really interesting and the characters well developed and multi faceted. There was never a dull moment and the twists and turns meant I was constantly guessing. Highly recommend and look forward to reading more.

The Secret Child by Caroline Mitchell is the second thriller of a series centred on DI Amy Winter. Having not read the first book of the series, I felt almost as if I had walked into the middle of a conversation, athough enough background details are provided to piece together a rough idea of what has already transpired. Once I had my bearings, this novel became nothing short of a thoroughly compulsive read.

DI Amy Winter is still struggling to come to terms with the fact that she is the biological daughter of the 'Beasts of Brentwood', a pair of serial killers. When the call comes that four year old Ellen Curtis has gone missing, Winter and her team are in a race to locate the daughter of the head of the Curtis Institute, a facility that carried out unethical psychological experiments on children in the eighties. One of these children was Luka Volkov, who was believed to have died in a fire at the institute along with his mother, Sasha. So when the kidnapper of the missing girl identifies himself as Luka, Winter knows that if he survived the fire, he will have revenge on his mind, and time is quickly running out for young Ellen.

The novel is presented in alternating timelines between the mid-eighties and present day. This is highly effective in providing a solid background to explain Luka's motivations, and it is difficult not to empathize with his horrific past, in much the same way that the reader feels Amy's ongoing pain over past trauma.

This is a fast-paced and well-executed plot that has more than peaked my interest in the series. I will be adding the first installment to my 'to be read" list. I believe that Ms Mitchell has left the door wide open to continue the stories of these characters, particularly those of Amy and Lillian.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC.

This is the second book in the Amy Winters series and i would probably go as far as to say this one was even better than the first book, even thought the first book was brilliant. Caroline is a great writer of thrillers, I enjoy the fast pace of her novel which also have really interesting characters. This book was full of twists which saw it written in the present but also visiting the past. I counting down the days until book 3 comes along. If you haven't read a book by Caroline Mitchell you need to pick one up......NOW!!.

Caroline Mitchell burst onto the detective/suspense scene with her debut thriller, Truth and Lies. Now she is back with the second installment in this gripping series with The Secret Child. While I am nearly always leery of second books, this one is just as good as the first and had me glued to its pages from the very first page!

DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the shocking revelations that she uncovered in the first book, Truth and Lies, all of which are explained fully in this one but I won’t reveal them here. With no time to fully process what is now her explosive, in-the-headlines life, she is thrust into a kidnapping/murder/arson case when four-year-old Ellen is snatched from her bed and the home is set on fire and her mother, subsequently is murdered. The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov, a child prodigy of Ellen’s father who came from Russia to participate in a special study for children just like Luka. The problem is that Luka is supposed to be dead, the victim of a tragic fire many years before. When a second child is taken, DI Winter is forced to call upon all of her resources in order to solve this very sordid, convoluted case which will bring more personal harm to herself with possible repercussions for her entire team.

I love police/detective stories. They are, by far, my favorite genre even above thrillers/suspense. For Mitchell to keep me intrigued, surprised, even gasping out loud at certain points, is a testament to her exceptional writing abilities. There is, quite literally, so much going on with the story. Every single character, every member on Winter’s team, is an important player. Each person who worked at the “school” where Luka lived, every victim and their family, everyone who comes in contact with Winter becomes a fully developed character. In most books, that’s a downfall as too much information has to be processed. Mitchell, however, seamlessly weaves each of these characters together, blends their stories into one just as you might do so in your own life. There is no gap, no hole, just a steady flow in the narrative with one surprise and twist and terrifying turn after another. It is utterly brilliant.

The Secret Child can, absolutely, be read as a stand-alone. There is enough back story so that you never will wonder what is happening or who is who. However, both of Mitchell’s books are outstanding works and I highly encourage you to read Truth and Lies as well as The Secret Child. I will now be waiting anxiously for Mitchell’s next incredible book in this series!

The Secret Child is available via Kindle now or in paperback on April 18th. My gratitude to #Netgalley, #AmazonUK, @AmazonPub and @Caroline_writes for my copy of #TheSecretChild

The Secret Child

The second book featuring DI Winters. I really enjoyed the first one (Truths and Lies) but I found this one to be even better. A really fast moving page turner. Loved it and can’t wait for the next instalment.

This is book two of the DI Amy Winter series . Just WOW ! I loved this book !
This is a deliciously intense page turner that is exquisitely plotted ! The characters are so realistic and believable that you feel as if you are there ! I highly recommend ! Thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the digital copy in exchange for honest review ! #Netgalley #AmazonPublishingUK #TheSecretChild

Was delighted to receive an ARC of this book. Having read a previous book about DI Amy Winter, I am pleased to say that this thriller is as good, if not better than the last. Very edge of your seat plotting and an enthralling back story, this is top class. I can't wait for the next one.

This is a good police procedural with a difference, as the lead DI (Amy Winter) deals with a child abduction, she’s also still coming to terms with her own devastating discovery that she is the daughter of a serial killer.

It’s well written and the character of Amy is excellent, as well as the complexity of her relationships.

A solid 3.5 stars

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer and the author for the opportunity to preview in exchange for this honest review.

A wonderful read!
Caroline Mitchell does not disappoint! 4 year old Ellen, the daughter of Dr. Curtis and his wife, Nicole, has been kidnapped. Suspicions lie already is in the mind of DI Amy Winter since the grandmother called the police. Why not the parents?

Back to 1984 - We learn of the background of Luka, born in poverty in the Soviet Union in the late 70's. His mother is British and wants to take Luka to Britain for a doctor's research on bright children.
Meanwhile, we are reminded that DI Winter's natural parents are/were serial killers. Her father, Jack, is dead and her mother, Lillian, is in prison. Amy had her name changed from Poppy Grimes to Amy Winter.This all happened when Amy was 4 years old - and then she had been adopted. Now, Amy lives with her adopted mother, Flora.

Amy is put on the case of Ellen's kidnapping. First, she visits Dr. and Mrs. Curtis - when Nicole tells them she knows who took Ellen, he says - that it can't be - the man is dead.

Talking to family members and anyone else who may be able to help find Ellen, Amy and her team are led on a number of wild goose chases. Throw in another kidnapping by Luka (and more of his background) and we still get nowhere fast until Luka goes live on a midnight broadcast...

Great read! Suspense is high and character development well done!

Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer and NetGalley for a super read!

This is the second in the DI Amy Winter series, the first being Truth and Lies. Both of these books have blown me away. This is a fast and furious read, the tension is palpable and kept me reading late into the night. It got my heart racing and tapping my kindle like a demented wood pecker. As I said before this is the second in this series and I honestly could not put it down. This author knows just how to hook you then reel you in leaving you wanting more long after you have finished the last page. If you read the blurb for this book and think it is not for you, think again I promise you will not be disappointed. All I can say is DI Amy Winter has a past that is so dark it is beyond belief. I can't wait to see what Amy Winter gets upto next. This is turning into another explosive and very addictive series. I loved it and want more now PLEASE!!!!!!!
I would like to thank the author, Amazon Publishing UK and Netgalley for the advanced copy in return for giving an honest review.

An excellent theiller that draws you in and doesn't let go. Highly recommended ! I especially enjoyed the description of the characters, all of which were fascinating in their own way.

A four year old girl is kidnapped. Could the kidnapper really be Luka Volkov, who was supposedly killed by fire years ago? Luka, who as a child, was the subject of a psychological experiment run by the father of the kidnapped girl.
The story vacillates back and forth between the kidnapping and Amy's personal story. In Truth and Lies, Amy learned she was the daughter of a husband-wife pair of serial killers. Her father is dead but her mother is in prison and is seeking a re-trial. And to make matters worse, her biological mother is using Adam, Amy's ex-fiancé to cause even more trouble for Amy.
Amy is a haunted, driven soul. Because of her background, she finds it difficult to have personal relationships. And Adam is such a jerk it's no wonder she's continuing to have trust issues. Flip side, I loved that Mitchel painted Luka as an almost sympathetic character.
Mitchell keeps the story moving at a fast pace. it's one of those books you keep finding an excuse to keep reading rather than getting on with life. And yes, I knew how this was going to end but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. And Mitchell left us with a few loose ends to ensure a book three.
My thanks to netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of this book.

This is the second in the series featuring DI Amy Winter and you could do yourself a favour and read book one, Truth and Lies, first. Although the action that happens in this book is self-contained, Amy is a bit (very) complex and to get the best from her, and indeed the other main characters, it's best to have the full background.
So in Amy's second outing she is tasked with finding a missing child. Ellen, the daughter of a prominent doctor and his wife was taken in the night. Then a package containing for vials was sent to the wife with instruction that he will tell the police where Ellen is if she drinks one - but one has been poisoned; a one in four chance to save her child. The package appears to be from Luka Volkov but he is supposed to have died in a fire. Then a second child goes missing and Amy and her team have their work cut out for them. But then they start to dig more into the parents's pasts and make connections to experiments on children that point back to the parents of the missing children. But can they cut through the noise and find the children and bring them home before the worst happens?
Amy has her work cut out for her in this book. She is still reeling from the personal discoveries of the first book; her real parents and her life before she was adopted. And, at times, the case she is investigating in this book comes a bit close to home. But she has a good team and good support so she weathers the storm as best she can.
I have to admit I am a bit of a fan of this author and can thoroughly recommend both this and her other series of books. She has a no nonsense writing style that really suits what I need from a book to make it a great read so I'm always happy when I see she has a new book out and try and clear my decks so I can read it pretty much uninterrupted. Once I start a book by her I know I will want to devour it in just a few sittings so it's always best to be prepared!
Amy's interaction with her birth mother in this book is chilling to say the least and I really felt for Amy with regard to some of Lillian's latest attempts at manipulation. She's a great baddie! But their pasts are intertwined and, as we also find out, not something that can be severed simply. Which is great for me as a reader if not so good for Amy herself!
Plotting is tight, there are the usual twists, turns and reveals along the way, culminating in a shocking ending both for the case and the series going forward. Pacing is perfect. The story gets on with itself very well without the need for any superfluous padding and distraction.
All in all a cracking follow up to a great series opener. Roll on book three. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Yes!!!! DI Amy Winter is Back and what a Cracker of a Book The Secret Child by Caroline Mitchell was!
This is the second book in the DI Amy Winter's series and it was a Brilliant read. Just like the first Book in this series Truth and Lies. I loved it. I was gripped from the first page and it was just excellent throughout.

When four year old little girl called Ellen was snatched by a compete stranger in the dead of night. Later Ellens's distraught mother opens her front door to a courier. They have a package for her. This package contains four identical phials, one of them contains poison! and there's a threatening note telling her to drink "only one of the phials" If she drinks one of them and survives the sadistic kidnapper will notify the Police of her daughters whereabouts and she will be found safe.
The sender claims he is Luka Volkov..........But, Luka died years ago when he was a child in a fire with his Russian mother.

Ellen has been dreading this for years! Has her past caught up with her?!

Is Luka alive? Will Ellen's past be discovered?

DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the discovery that she is the daughter of a serial killer Lillian Grimes, the Beasts of Brentwood who is in prison. Amy's childhood trauma only makes her more determined to bring Ellen home.

Another young child is taken. This time it's in full day light and from his school, he has no medication on him and he needs it.

Amy finds herself in a race against time to rescue these children, she has to seek help from the one person she wants to forget…?
Is she strong enough to ask these painful questions to her mother?

Will Amy and her team save these children in time?

What will Amy's past get in the way?

What a Book and a must read......If I could give Caroline more than 5 Stars I would.

If you've never read a book by Caroline Mitchell I would Highly Recommend all her books. They are just Brilliant.

*** Big Thank you for a copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. ***

a page turning, compulsive read!!! this is the second instalment in the Amy Winters books and one not to be missed.

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is my review of arc from netgalley. The book is very complex, many things going on at once. Children dissapear and the main object of the book is to find them. There is medical experiments carried out in the past and all the people involved get drawn into the result of these actions. It delves into the psychology of those involved. Especially the lead of the case to find them. In the end everything gets drawn together. This is the 2nd book in a series, sorry I have not read the first. The ending allows for a 3rd. Can't wait. Thank you netgalley.