The Mind of a Murderer was my first book by Michael Wood and I picked it up due to many people recommending his Matilda series but I didn't want to commit to such a long series right now! I'm defintely keen to read more.

Dr Olivia Winter escaped being killed by her Father, a serial killer, when she was 9, and has spent her adult life investigating serial killers. She usually deals with convicted killers, not active cases, however for a few reasong, she gets involved in helping the police solve this case.

For me there was suspense and twists and turns and I didn't pick out the killer until it was revealed. A few suspects seemed to be acting too odd to be them, like it would have been too obvious if it was - so I ruled them out right from the start. I liked how we got the thoughts of both Olivia, the expert of serial killers, and her Dad, an actual serial killer. We also got an understanding of how the events of Oliva's childhood have impacted on her and her relationships long-term.

I found it really picked up in the last quarter and I didn't want to put it down, although some events at the end did seem a bit far fetched.

I initially thought this book was interesting but the main character was not believable. Without giving anything away no one would react the way she does to certain things that happen. Totally contradictory and annoying.

The book introduces three women one at a time, who share similar traits in that they are single and live alone: a nurse, a police officer and a forensic psychologist. They are all victims of serial killers too.

There is a fair bit of the 'police procedural' aspect but driven by the psychologist, which puts a more interesting slant on the story. This also includes the focus of the gruesome killings being on the thought process of the killers and his victims rather than the physical violence. Much better.

The book is paced well once the introductions are out of the way, and there are enough quirky characters to build suspense ensuring that it is not a two dimensional read. Told from a few different perspectives but mainly from the psychologist's in the third person and the killer's in the first, this is an easy book to follow. There are a few single men, too, so the air of potential romance is always hovering. Tense but not without wit and light moments that include a lovely little dog.

There are some surprises and a couple of actions that touch on the far-fetched, but ultimately this is a whodunnit. An engaging read within a particular formula but well worth reading.

I enjoyed this one. I didn’t realize it wad the first in a series, but I will definitely read the next one. The story was great and the writing was also. There were some details that I felt were pretty irrelevant in moving the story forward and so has some slow points, but the actual story was well done.

The Mind of a Murderer is book #1 in a new series featuring forensic psychologist Dr Olivia Winter. This was my first book by this author. I'm a huge fan of murder mysteries and psychology so was drawn to this chilling thriller. The story is well crafted, keeps you hooked and has layers upon layers which the author expertly peels back as the story progresses leaving you wanting more. The story has been done before but not like this! Dr Olivia Winter has faced the worst trauma anyone could experience, but has managed to build somewhat of a life studying the worst killers known to man. She thinks her past is behind her when a horrifying event forces her to confront the one thing person she could never truly escape - her father. I'm eager to read the next book in this series and am looking forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.

"The Mind of a Murderer" by Michael Wood is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into a serial killer's dark and twisted mind and the complex past of forensic psychologist Dr Olivia Winter. As a specialist in understanding the motivations of serial killers, Olivia faces the ultimate challenge when the killer she is profiling hits too close to home - reminding her of the horrors of her father, a notorious serial killer.
The story unfolds with a sense of foreboding and tension, as Olivia is called upon to assist the police in profiling the new killer terrorising the streets of London. Her connection to the case adds an extra layer of complexity, as she must confront her demons to catch the killer before he strikes again.
Wood expertly weaves together a suspenseful narrative with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The psychological insights into the minds of serial killers add a chilling element to the story, while Olivia's struggles and traumatic past provide a deeper emotional resonance.
The dynamics between Olivia and her father, as well as her interactions with the police and suspects, are intricately portrayed, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. The twists and turns in the plot keep the reader guessing until the very end, with the tension building to a satisfying climax.
While there are moments of frustration and disbelief in Olivia's decisions and actions, the overall pacing and suspense of the story make it a compelling read. The revelation of the killer's identity is unexpected and adds a thrilling element to the resolution of the case.
Overall, "The Mind of a Murderer" is a captivating and atmospheric thriller that combines psychological insight with heart-pounding suspense. Michael Wood's writing is engaging and keeps the reader invested in the outcome of the story. Fans of dark and gritty crime fiction will find much to enjoy in this chilling tale of twisted minds and deadly secrets.

Despite the dark, graphically described crimes, this book has an immersive, easy-to-read style that draws you in and invests you in the main protagonist, Olivia. She experienced a serial killing firsthand and survived, and has dedicated her life to studying serial killers as a forensic psychologist. The murders are disturbing, and when there is a tragic connection for Olivia, she is motivated to help Detective Inspector Foley find the killer. I like the dynamic between Olivia and Foley., the menacing and suspenseful ethos and the twisty plot that keeps you invested in the story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A great start to a new series by Michael, a great story line which had me hooked. Dr Winter is a great character and I look forward to reading more about her.

I’m struggling with how to rate this one. The hunt for the killer was interesting and I did enjoy the wild ride but then there was a lot that frustrated me. There’s a lot of description of things that aren’t that important like room layouts or her drive to work that slows down the pace. The premise is right up my street though, with a forensic psychologist who survived her own attack from a serial killer. A killer who happened to be her father.

Olivia’s bought in to help on an active case which is something she’s always refused to do. You have to suspend belief because there is no way a real case would be run this way with all the key players being personally involved. Olivia didn’t even seem to be that good at her job. She also tells us how much self defense she’s done and she’s prepared and then makes so many stupid decisions. If there’s a killer out to get you do you invite two different strangers into your home?

Her reaction to a certain terrible event made me so mad. I don’t understand how she was trying to defend that horrific action. Then the ending was ridiculous. It could’ve been solved so easily if she knew how to do her job and let the police do theirs.

I will say that the killer kept me guessing and I was definitely surprised by the reveal. Olivia’s father was also an interesting character. I would be still be tempted to read a second book to see if Olivia has been developed.

We meet forensic psychologist Olivia as her best friend (a DI in the police force) starts hunting a serial killer at large in London. Despite Olivia’s specialism, she refuses to work on live cases due to the fact that she was once almost the victim of a serial killer – who also happened to be her father.

Olivia quickly gets drawn into the case, however, when her friend becomes the latest victim of the killer. She teams up with DI Foley and together they try to track who could be responsible for the killings, and why. There are some fun and interesting twists and turns along the way, and the plot certainly is action packed.

However, there were more than a few things that happened in the book that just stretched the bounds of credibility for me. I won’t go into details for fear of spoilers, but they were enough to break the flow of the narrative, which is a shame. I would read the next in the series, though, so all in all a decent read.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

Excellent start to a series, loved the character building aswell as the atmosphere created. This is the first book I’ve read by the author but it most definitely will not be the last. Cannot wait for the next instalment.

I am a massive fan of this author, I was a bit apprehensive about a new protagonist (after binging the darke series recently) but there was absolutely nothing to worry about.

Olivia is a fantastic character in her own right and I cannot wait for more!

Absolutely loved this book, real page turner, with lots of twists.
Not sure how realistic the story was or how likely to actually happen , but I went with it and thoroughly enjoyed it.

My only negative would be to say it was a lot more graphic than I am used to but that’s probably just me.
This came highly recommended and did not disappoint.
Thanks to the publisher for advance copy of this book.

First of all, I hate sex scenes. Not my thing. Thrill me with the mystery, thank you very much. There are 2-3 not-tame sex scenes in here, and I won’t be reading anymore of this author’s work. Have your characters make out and close the bedroom door behind them.

Now, to the actual story. It’s well-written, but there was something about the characters that made me not fully invested in them. I can’t really pinpoint why, but it kept me from rating this higher.

Trigger warnings: Extremely disturbing homicidal scenes, as well as multiple depraved insights into the mind of a serial killer. This is sick and twisted. There’s also an attempted rape (ugh, that whole scene made me so upset…why would this person have done that??!)

I love thrillers, but this one was a little too graphic for me.

I’ve never met a Michael Wood book that I didn’t enjoy, and while The Mind of a Murderer is a decent read, it wouldn’t be my favourite of his books. I think because I loved the Matilda Darke series, my hopes were dashed a little with this one in terms of main character etc.

Michael Woods is a new author for me, I’ll definitely look for more of his books! This book is a fast paced suspenseful thriller, full of twists and turns that pack a punch!
The main character is a forensic psychologist, Dr Olivia Winter, she has faced her own grief and tragedy but is committed to solving murders.
The story flows naturally and reveals more sadness for Olivia as she works to uncover the truth behind a serial killer’s mysterious motivations. There’s a lot of detail and depth to this book.
Olivia takes the reader along with her on a roller coaster journey that will keep you guessing, right up to the last moment! Olivia is determined to discover the person responsible and see that justice is served.
A highly recommended read of what could be the start of a fantastic series for Dr Winter!

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Olivia is a forensic physiologist whose father is a serial killer. London has another serial killer on the loose and the police need her help.

I had several suspects in mind, but I didn’t see the twist coming. This book had me on the edge of the seat the entire time. Must read!

Thank you to Michael Wood, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my first book by this author, some of my friends rave about his books so I had high expectations.

Dr Olivia Winter is a forensic psychologist, her father was a serial killer. Olivia is the expert, but won’t get involved in live cases, until a case comes along that makes her confront her personal demons and risk everything to try and stop the killer.

It’s good, it’s dark, detailed with good depth of character, and the pace picks up with the race to catch the killer. There’s enough gore, certainly not for the squeamish.

Not the kind of book I regularly read these days but this is a good one.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

This is the first book I have read by Michael Wood and is the first of a new series with Forensic Psychologist Olivia Winter as the lead character.
Olivia as a rule doesn’t work on active cases as she was herself victim of a serial killer when she was younger, her dad but gets dragged into the investigation into several murders lead by DI Foley when the case becomes personal.
I love the character of Olivia- she is very relatable and like an actual human being isn’t perfect. We follow her involvement with the case and get to see if her personal history will be a help or a hindrance to this case.
The character of DI Foley and Olivia’s friends Jessica and Sebastian are also great characters and they all work well together.
The murders were quite gory and in that respect reminded me of the books by Chris Carter which I also enjoy. The psychology behind it all was worked well into the plot and it all comes together in a satisfactory ending.
I am really looking forward to the next Olivia Winter book and want to now go back and read Michael Wood’s other series. I prefer female leads, so these two series are perfect for me.

This was the most amazing, wild ride of a book and introduction to a new series I have read in a long time! It was totally unputdownable!
The story is mostly told to us by Olivia with a few chapters here and there by other people including at least one by her father who I hope to hear more from in future books!
The pacing is quite fast which meant the pages were turning as quickly as I could to keep up with the events as they were happening.
I had a few suspects for who the current killer might be but I have to admit to being taken by surprise at first, once the explanations were done however, it all made perfect sense of the little niggles and inconsistencies that I had noticed.
I have a feeling that we have a lot more to learn about Olivia and her circle of friends in future books, I cannot wait for next year to find out what's in store for them all!