3.5 stars

Police procedural about a Detective Inspector who happens to be the child of notorious serial killers. This is book two in the DI Amy Winters’ series--it is a character-driven, fast-paced read with a suspenseful mystery and compelling lead character.

DI Amy Winter finds herself drawn into a game of cat and mouse with a kidnapper. At the same time, she must deal with the fall out from the exposure of her past. She finds herself in the public spotlight with her every move being evaluated. She also can’t escape from her deranged birth mother, who will do whatever it takes to remind Amy where she comes from!

While I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it as much as I loved the first book in the series. I wanted more interaction between Amy and Lillian. The dynamic between these two characters is fascinating. I found the mystery interesting, but I didn’t really care that much about it--it was quite an intriguing premise, but there was something about it that just failed to grip me. Perhaps, I was just more interested in Amy’s personal life. However, I was still engaged and by the end I found myself thinking that I couldn't wait to read what happens in the next book in the series!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review.

DI Amy Winters is back to find a missing child.
Imagine finding your child is missing. Taken from your home.
Ellen’s mother is distraught whilst her father seems less so. Both parents give Amy the impression they know more than their letting on.
Have they been expecting this to happen.

Luka Volkov has been dead for many years but why do the parents think he is responsible?
And what are the secrets that connect the family to the kidnapper?

Then another child goes missing and time is running out for Amy to find whose responsible.

It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Caroline Mitchell. I love her style and her thrillers have an edge to them.

I loved the flashback to help picture the supposed reasons for Ellen’s abduction.
It was gripping and chilling at the same time.
I’m glad in this book we didn’t overly concentrate on Amy Winters mother, who just happens to be in prison for murder.
I’m feeling this is a slow buildup for another great story as we continue with this series.

Has someone returned from the dead to seek revenge against those who ruined his childhood ?? Can D I Amy Winter come to terms with the knowledge her parents are convicted killers ???

Two children are taken from their parents, parents that hold a deadly secret that is becoming revealed from the grave... or is it. Is the killer the same young boy who died in an horrific fire or is it someone pretending to be him ….

May more secrets come to life in both the kidnappers family and in Amy Winters

Highly recommend this book to all Caroline Mitchell fans new and old

The Secret Child by Caroline Mitchell is a wonderful thriller. It's part of The DI Amy Winter Series. I like that it's a part of this series because Amy Winter has such a back story. My biggest problem with reviewing books in series is that I usually have to read them in order or face being utterly confused. This was not a problem with this book at all. While it's part of a series, this book has it's own story that is fully completed within this book.

This book follows DI Amy Winters after Ellen, a young child, has been abducted. The abductor identifies himself to Amy Winters as Luka, a man supposedly dead. He claims he has been wronged and that these wrongs must be brought to light. This man will only speak to Amy, making her the only one who can save Ellen. However, Amy Winters has a lot going on already. Her birth father was a serial killer and now her birth mother is contacting her from prison. This, coupled with the new case, brings up her dark past of living in a house with a serial killer.

This book is a wonderful thriller. Although a couple of it's twists are a little predictable, I still found it an exciting read. The characters are the best part of this book. They are extremely well thought out and wanting to learn more about them is what will have you turning pages so fast. Luka's past is just as mysterious as Amy's and it makes for a thrilling read. While I did call a twist or two before they happened, the ending had me completely surprised.

I suggest this book to anyone with a love for thrillers. This book will leave you wanting to read the rest of the books within this series. I'm truly hoping to get my hands on another DI Amy Winters book.

Love all of Caroline's books. This is no exception. Hooked from the start! .





.... .

t feels like I have been waiting ages for this book after reading Truth and lies and loving it, well I am pleased to say that The Secret Child was certainly worth the wait. The main thing that I love about this series is the fact that DI Amy Winter is the daughter of a serial Killer you can't get no more original than that.

So what did I think of the second book in the series you must be wondering?! Well just when I thought this series couldn't get any better, the author has totally excelled herself this book is sure to blow your socks off!

Caroline has clearly used her CID experience and brings us another unputdownable read when we follow Amy on a case on the hunt for a sadistic killer when a four year old is taken and mother Nicole receives a threatening note….with the sender to claiming to be someone that is dead. With chapters that take us back to the past, I am thinking is this Luka dead or not! The suspense was killing me. I couldn't read this fast enough to find out the answers, the more i read the more I wanted to know.

Not forgetting that the author has weaved this plot into the fact that Amy is still coming to terms with the discovery that she is the daughter of a serial killer….so we get to know more about her past…...bloody love it!

This is one hell of a nail biting read that ticked all the boxes for me giving it all the stars.

Thank you to Caroline Mitchell and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a honest unbiased review.

# The Secret Child # Netgally
Wow. Bloody wow. Omg this book is absolutely phenomenal piece of writing. Feeling very ill.at this moment but I genuinely forced myself to stay awake. I just literally could not put this one down. AMY WINTERS. is a brilliant DCI yet coming from her biological serial killer parents. Being adopted at 4 she keeps her past life a secret. However she for class Lillian Grinds as her family. In book one Lillian finds away to get Any to visit. Amy decides against her real feelings decides to actually pay her a visit she needs information on 3 bodies are buried so Any can give some piece to the families who have not been able to lay there children to rest yet Lillian doesn't do anything for free. She hell bent on being her youngest daughter down because Any despised !Lillian. Caroline Mitchell certainly created a monster of a character in Lillian Grimes. Amy is leading her team into a kidnapping of a four year old girl Ellen.. She's the daughter of Dr Curtis who's quite a prominent DR however Luke who supposed to have died as kidnapped her in revenge of how DR Curtis conducted experiments illegally on young children . I am not saying more I genuinely do not want to spoil this masterpiece of writing and story.
We have ourselves anyone masterpiece of a female author. This needs to be read it's a fast paced novel with some twists you just genuinely don't see coming this is a must must READ. You will be missing out of a superb masterpiece of a boom.
I

I am a big fan of Caroline Mitchell books, especially the police procedurals. DI Amy Winter is such a complex character and one that I truly can't get enough of. I am really looking forward to seeing where she goes in the next books in this brilliant series. I did not want to put this book down, completely sucked into the story.

Amy is still trying to come to terms with the bombshell revelations from the first book. She is trying to keep it a secret from her colleges and the public but it has changed the way that she sees the world. She is single again and throws herself into her work. The case is is time is challenging, 2 kids have been taken and the kidnapper will only talk to Amy. As the investigation continues it seems that the parents are hiding deep dark secrets from their past. The book jumps from the present to the past as we learn about these secrets and find out who would want to hurt these families.

If you haven't read any of these books then I strongly suggest that you grab them now. Thanks to Amazon UK Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

This is a brilliant follow up to book 1 of the DI Amy Winter series and honestly I felt this series has gotten better after reading this book. The characters created by Caroline Mitchell feel real and the writing just elevated them. And oh, I just hate Lillian Grimes. She's an evil person, a proper psychopath! The fact that she's actively trying to destroy Amy Winter (Poppy Grimes) makes her even more evil. But Amy is holding strong and fighting back with all her strength and also with the people rallying around her makes this book just better. But in my opinion, the most hateful character in this book is Adam Rossi. He is the character I detest the most in this book. And the fact that Amy is not only fighting Lillian but also fighting the resurfacing Polly Grimes from taking over her completely makes this book a very compelling read.
If you haven’t read the first book I would urge you to do that and then read this one as it’s a fabulous series and one not to missed if you love a good thriller. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this book.
And a big thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing UK) and the wonderful Caroline Mitchell for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the first book written by this author so was looking forward to the second in the series. We continue to find out more about the characters. The story line was good and I enjoyed the interweaving of past and present narratives. I look forward to the next in the series and finding out what happens next.

Wow I had just finished the first book in the series Truth and Lies and decided to read the second one The Silent child and this like the first one doesn’t disappoint. I have read most of Caroline Mitchell’s books and the quality of her writing gets better with every book.
After finding out and trying to come to terms with that her birth parents were series killers, DI Amy Winters is called to the case of 4-year-old Ellen who was kidnapped but no one knows why until a ransom note is delivered with 4 phials to her mother Nicole. Who is told to drink one of them to save her child? Included is a burner phone with a video message of little Ellen. Nicole drinks one and falls ill. So, the police are called. Nicole is the wife of Dr Curtis of the Curtis Institute who in the 80’s held tests on young children.
The story then continues telling of one certain child Luka Volkov. Who was brought from Russia with his mother Sasha thinking that he going to go to school in England. When he ends up being tested on. But a fire starts, and he and his mother perish. But in the present day, the kidnapper reveals himself to be Luka and he is seeking revenge for the cruelty he himself, his mother and the other children suffered in the hands of Doctor Curtis.
This was another brilliant instalment of the DI Amy winters series. With its fast paced, intriguing plot. Great characters especially Amy Winters. With every stacked against her, Amy still seems to get through it all. I like her determination.
Thank you NetGalley and Amazon publishing for an ARC of this book for an honest review.

Four years old was Ellie taken from her bed
Nicole has to receive a parcel with a phial to drink because some of them are poisonous
When another child goes missing Nicole has to make sure that she gets to the children
I had an ARC from Thomas and Mercer

I love a prologue especially when it is one which sets the scene and grabs you and this one did just that. A four-year-old child, Ellen Curtis, is snatched from the safety of her home and right away it becomes clear that she will not be the last.

And so Amy Winters is back. The Secret Child is the 2nd in the series and can be read as a stand-alone. However, you seriously want to know Amy’s back story so read Truth and Lies first (You can find my review here)

DCI Pike, Amy’s boss and she don’t have the strongest relationship but the two women rub along with a streak of competitiveness keeping both on their toes. Amy is tasked with heading up the missing child investigation, which she assumes is a kidnapping given the status of her family. Incidents involving children are close to her heart and Amy is determined to find the girl before it’s too late. The Secret Child will discover just how much Amy can trust Pike and those around her as her relationships with her colleagues and friends are called to task.

Once again Caroline Mitchell marries past and present effortlessly to bring readers a nail-biting chiller of a read. Without giving away any spoilers, Amy’s own past is never far behind her and this case is no different as she struggles to let go of her own demons in her battle to save Ellen. Her birth mother, Lillian Grimes, continues to exert her power over Amy. This is a fascinating concept and one that keeps me on the edge of my seat as I am desperate to uncover what the final outcome will be.

Crossing the time span from now to a poverty-stricken family in Russia in the 1980s, ethics, and psychology are explored alongside coercion and control within relationships.

Amy’s internal turmoil and conflict are agonizing in this novel and it gave a real insight into her character. As a reader I found myself drawn to her, I empathised with her while the same time feeling frustrated at the barriers she put up. I connected with her on many levels and find her an intriguing character to read about.

The Secret Child is full of twists, turns, and dark delights. It kept me hooked throughout and definitely kept me reading way past my bedtime. And that ending! WTF! Caroline Mitchell, I need the next installment now!
Review will be on my blog the day prior to publication day

Four year old Ellen is taken from her bed by a stranger in the middle of the night, when her mother Nicole receives a package containing four phials, one of them supposedly poisonous with a note telling her to choose a phial to drink in exchange for information of where her daughter is being kept captive, she knows the nightmare of what her husband did in the past, is about to become a reality. The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov, but Luka is assumed dead, killed in a tragic fire with his mother many years ago, or is he? Could he have survived the fire and is back to exact revenge on those who wronged him?

DI Amy Winter and her team are brought in to investigate the case and, having suffered trauma as a child herself, she is determined to bring Ellen home and for it to be a happy ending for the Curtis family, but Luka is not going to make it easy for her and when another child disappears she knows they are in a race against time to save these children.

This is the second in this series and is just as tense and nailbiting as the first. Once again the story alternates between past and present and kept me guessing all the way through, it's packed full of twists and Lillian, Amy's sadistic birth mother is always there lurking in the background ready to cause more problems for her daughter. I was hooked from beginning to end with this one and the ending leaves it open perfectly for another book in this incredible series. Bring it on Mrs Mitchell!! I highly recommend that you read these books in order to get a true understanding of the characters and their backgrounds.

I would like to thank Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for the auto approval and will post my review on Goodreads now and on Amazon on publication day.

For a thriller, this wasn’t very thrilling. Even the action scenes lacked action. They just kind of happen in a way that makes you feel very removed from the story, and Amy feels detached, too—just a passive observer, even though she does things, she seems very removed from them.

The “gotcha” twist at the end wasn’t very shocking. It was pretty obvious what was happening long before the kidnapper got caught.

This book just seemed to focus far more on Amy’s drama than on the story of the kidnapper. The middle was incredibly slow, and the action never really picked up. It was a bit of a struggle to finish this one.

I don't usually read many UK based police mysteries, preferring the American authors. But I'd read the first of the Amy Winter series and really enjoyed it. The second book really lived up to my expectations.

Amy is a very likeable character that I was rooting for. The case is interesting and has enough mystery and suspense to keep me gripped without feeling like it's trying too hard.

I was interested all the way to the end and an looking for the next book already. Definitely recommend.

Another good story in this series of DI Amy Winter. The Secret Child is a highly addictive read. Thoroughly enjoyable

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (7th March 2019)



ISBN: 978-1503905023



Source: Netgalley



Rating: 5*



Synopsis:


Four-year-old Ellen is snatched by a stranger in the dead of night. Her devastated mother, Nicole, receives four identical phials and a threatening note in a familiar scrawl that chills her to the bone. But she always knew this would happen. She’s been expecting it for years.



According to the note, one of the phials is poisoned. Nicole is given a deadly challenge: if she drinks one, the sadistic kidnapper will notify the police of Ellen’s location. The sender claims to be Luka Volkov but Luka is supposed to be dead, killed long ago in a fire that haunts all those involved.



DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the discovery that she is the daughter of a serial killer, and her childhood trauma only makes her more determined to bring Ellen home. When another child is taken, Amy finds herself in a race against time. To rescue the children, must she seek help from the one person she wants to forget?



Review:

In the first novel in the D.I. Amy Winter series, Amy learns that she has a notorious serial killer for a mother. If you've not yet read Truth and Lies I urge you to pick up a copy. Although The Secret Child reads well as a stand alone, there are references to events that happened in first book, (though they are well explained) plus it's the perfect introduction to the character!



In this second outing for Amy, we are plunged into tension immediately as the kidnapper strikes, spiriting little Ellen away. I was on the edge of my seat straight away, not knowing what was about to happen. Caroline Mitchell is fantastic at conjuring up an air of menace and keeping it palpable throughout, whilst simultaneously juggling several other interwoven storylines. Her finger never wavering off the pulse for a second as she seamlessly ties all the invisible ends together in one fell swoop that just made me gasp and shout 'Nooooo!' very loudly at my kindle! I will never tire of reading Caroline's books because they are simply unputdownable and I can never forsee what is going to happen.



Special thanks to Caroline Mitchell, Thomas & Mercer for providing a review copy via Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Fantastic, totally had me gripped! Great writing, her plots always impress me!
Caroline Mitchell is one of those authors that goes to the top of my reading pile. Always fast-paced and very, very clever. It really was edge-of-your-seat stuff.
The old institution where scientific trials were done was at the core of the story. This was destroyed in a fire a long time ago. One of the institution’s subjects, Luka, was killed in the fire along with his mum. Was Dr Curtis more sinister than we thought? After all it’s his daughter Ellen who is kidnapped. One of the other members of staff from back then also has his child snatched. Some of the experiments on the children were awful but totally intriguing to me, seriously dark and scary stuff.
Amy’s background is very interesting indeed and I think she has a fear sometimes how her feelings and anger may escape. The ongoing saga with her real mother carries on, Lilian is a truly twisted character. The front page story written by her journalist ex, Adam, doesn’t help matters and the press descend on the police station.
It really is a race against time. Will she find the children? And will she and her team track down the kidnapper as he gives them the runaround?
I cannot recommend all her work enough.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

A tense and well written novel.

The moment I read the blurb I knew this was something that I really wanted to read. The story itself is well executed and the characters are interesting and full of life.
I would recommend this for sure!