Flesh and Blood

This is an amazing thriller kept me captivated to the end of the book. I was easily taken in by the characters and the plot. I highly recommend this book.

Why are people in seaside hotels committing suicide? Wouldn’t people on vacation be happy? It’s not until one of the victims is found to be a police officer, DI Amy Winter gets involved. She knows there’s more going on than meets the eye, but the people in the local village are loathe to part with any information and so are the group of teens who seem to know more than they’re letting on. To make matters worse, Amy’s mother, a convicted serial killer, is being released from prison. This series is sooo good, Mitchell’s portrayal of Amy’s relationship with her mother is almost nauseatingly frightening.Be prepared to be spooked!

When all these suicides hits a string of seaside resorts, a police officer is named as the latest to die, DI Amy Winter suspects there may be more than mere coincidence to these tragic deaths. But what dark motive could cause someone to throw themselves into the cold depths of the North Sea?
Someone knows slot more then they are telling!

This amazing thriller kept me hooked. It was a book that has you glued to pages and won't let you pull away till you're done!
This story was written so well. Now I've got to jump on kindle and get the books before this one.

#FleshAndBlood #NetGalley
A good read.
DI Amy Winter suspects there may be more than mere coincidence to these tragic deaths. But what dark motive could cause someone to throw themselves into the cold depths of the North Sea?
Someone in the community knows more than they are letting on, but Amy’s questions are met with resistance. A group of mysterious teenagers might hold the key, but why are they so afraid to talk? Meanwhile, after the release from prison of her serial killer mother, Amy is fighting her own demons.
In her toughest investigation yet, Amy must confront her dark past if she is to put an end to the carnage. What secret is so terrible that it’s worth killing a police officer for?
Go and read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me an advanced copy of this book.

This exciting story follows Detective Inspector Amy Winter who, alongside her team, investigates a string of suicides in a seaside town.
Between the personal issues haunting the team and the discovery of a group of suspicious youths, the investigation becomes a race against the clock!
This book gripped hold of my attention from the very beginning and continued to do so right up until the last sentence. I thoroughly enjoyed the twists, turns and ‘ah-ha!’ moments!
Lovers of crime and thrillers definitely need to add this book to their collection.
I can’t wait to read more from DI Winter

THis is my second book by Caroline Mitchell and was excited to read more about D.I. Amy Winter and her team of detectives.
A number of men's bodies have been found drowned with drugs in their system and no known connections. Soon after one of their own detective Carla is also found drowned and the team works furiously to try and figure out what the connections are and who the murderer is? Is it one of their own? Is it the strange group of homeless teenagers, drug dealers or who?
Amy Winter also has to deal with the stabbing of her mother one whom she has a complicated relationships with seeing that Amy's parents were serial killers. Amy suspects one of her team is behind the murders and must race around the clock to figure this out without tipping them off.
Lots of good suspense, a good back story about Amy's mother, and interesting relationship between Amy and her boss Donovan leads to a quick fun read.

This is the 4th book in the DI Amy Winter series by author Caroline Mitchell. This is such a great series, well developed characters, exciting plots and interesting back stories. I really do recommend you start from the very beginning of the series for maximum enjoyment.

Several suicides in the seaside resorts rock the community but DI Amy Winter suspects foul play may be involved rather than a series of self inflicted deaths. The investigations are heightened when a police officer is named as the latest to die and DI Amy Winter suspects there may be a link to the tragic deaths. This is going to be a very tough investigation and Amy may need to confront her dark past while trying to solve the crimes. As is normal in these situations, people are reluctant to share their knowledge and it will take all the skills Amy possesses to uncover the truth before more bodies show up.

This is another exciting, gripping novel in this exciting series which had me turning the pages at speed wanting to find out more. Great colourful characters and twists and turns that will surprise. Another excellent read by Caroline Mitchell who calls on all her knowledge and experience from her previous life as a police detective.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Very well developed characters and an extremely engaging story. Well thought out and very suspenseful story line that keeps the reader guessing until the final twist! This is the book to read this year! Highly recommended!

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I love this series and was so excited to see another one on the website. Caroline Mitchell is a master at suspense. Love her books and highly recommended to anyone who likes thrillers.

Yet again another thrilling book from Caroline mitchell full of twists and turns that i loved.
This is another great book, i look forward to her books so many storues

Another awesome book in the DI Amy Winter series! She and her team are looking into some deaths at a seaside resort. They were labeled as suicides, but when one of the bodies turns out to be an officer, the higher ups finally agree that something more sinister is going on. The team travel to the area and work alongside the overwhelmed local police force to give more eyes to the investigation. One of the detectives infiltrates a group of teenagers on a whim, as they're the sort who don't stay in one place too long and would do whatever it takes to survive on the streets. Amy can't believe that they are cold hearted killers and she's determined to uncover how they are connected to the victims. But these victims might not be so innocent after all, leading the detectives down a different path. They know everyone deserves justice, but it's not always easy to push aside your own morals and help those you'd normally condemn.

Amy also has to deal with her mother, Lillian, recently released from prison and still proclaiming her innocence. Amy's forced into interacting with her due to some recent events (I can't say why!) and she once again questions if she'll ever be free of the hold Lillian has over her. She can't let her family's drama keep her from losing focus on the case. But you'll be surprised where Lillian's latest revelations lead Amy and her sister.. I just hope that Lillian gets what's coming to her in a future book, she's ruined and ended too many lives. With no remorse, she's the one killer Amy has never brought to justice and I think it's time!

I have to say I was thrilled to receive this, and to carry on with the series, I love Amy and her team and this book was a cracker.

The twists and turns were so good and Caroline’s books never turn out like you imagine. There’s more than one twist to this fabulous storyline, and as I’ve said before I think women tend to write more gruesome tales. The trouble is, you can’t stop reading, it’s always just another chapter and before you know it it is 3am!

With the crimes you’ve got Amy’s family in the background, her sister and of course her mother Lilian. This all adds up to a really good read, but I’d recommend reading the books in order so you can see what’s going on.

My thanks to the publishers and Caroline for the ARC. Can’t wait for the next instalment ......

Another masterpiece by caroline michell. Its a five from me⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐i love the amy winter books. A fellow police officer from a seaside resort dies in suspicious circumstances. Amy and her team go to clacton to investigate. Who is the mastermind behind the apparent suicides ??., This will be tough to crack and it tests amy and her team to the limits. Gritty, fast paced, i read this in a single sitting, fantastic read couldnt put it down

Flesh and Blood by Caroline Mitchell Fourth in the DI Winter series is gripping and suspenseful mystery with twists and turns. The ending was a surprise. More of Amy's childhood and that of her mother and sister is revealed. More insights into the team and how they interact with each other and other squads. The ending was a surprise. The series continues to progress and gets better and better.

Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Oh, how I enjoyed this book. Caroline Mitchell is an amazing author, and it was great to have updates on the relationship between Amy and her DCI, Donovan. The setting based in Clacton and surrounding areas was a real throw back to my childhood from when I used to live that way. The story is gripping and emotional and had me guessing all the way.
Brilliant Caroline - can’t wait for the next Amy Winter - how dare you leave it on a cliff hanger!

Gripping and full of action, this one won't let go. I read it straight through. Amy, Donovan and their team have a series of deaths to investigate in Donovan's old stomping grounds. The case is complicated and involves a lot of players. My favorite part was seeing a different side to Donovan. The mystery itself is full of twists and the big reveal shocked me!
The chapters about Mo had my heart a bit heavy. I kept drawing parallels with the current case and it had me wondering where she fit in to the mystery. Then I was stunned again and left with my mouth hanging open. Then I was torn.
And that ending! To say readers will be surprised is an understatement. I cannot wait for the next book. Amy Winters has become one of my favorite characters and I look forward to seeing where she goes from here. Well done.

'The most frightening monsters are made of flesh and bone.'

A wave of apparent suicides happening in coastal towns are overlooked until the death of a police officer, when DI Winters starts to expect foul play. The story unfolds in a web of exploitation and lies - making a fast paced story with twists on each page, as many thrillers are.

Flesh and Blood is the first DI Amy Winters book that I have read - probably not a good idea to start half way through a series but I do not think it was that detrimental to the story line (obviously some bits I probably would have benefitted from prior knowledge).

The characters are well developed, even when reading it as a stand-alone which made for great reading. I will definitely be reading the other books in the series to learn more about the characters and their individual journeys.

Thanks to NetGalley & Amazon publishing for the ARC in return for a honest review of the book.

Flesh and Blood is another book featuring DI Amy Winter who i love. This case is about a string of apparent suicides at a seaside resort. I absolutely loved Left For Dead and this is another brilliant read. Can't wait for the next one. Read these books and you wont be disappointed.

Another fantastic read in the DI Amy Winter series. The story had me gripped from page one and had me guessing till the end.
I'm looking forward to reading more.

This is the 4th book of the series featuring DI Amy Winter but is a stand alone read. It is a fast paced police murder mystery, that has great characters with realistic background stories, and with some interesting side stories, that all intermingle really well. One of the strands is about child grooming, sex trafficking and paedophiles, which whilst unpalatable is sadly too true to life and relevant. I enjoyed the interaction between the specialist team, headed by DCI Donovan and was pleased that just when the reader thinks they've worked everything out, it’s all tossed up in the air again and the surprises keep coming. At times the chapters with the therapist felt a bit uncomfortable to read but it didn’t really detract from the satisfying ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this, and although not having read the previous books, am going to look out for the rest in this series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This novel is the fourth in the powerful and popular DI Amy Winter crime thriller series. Each novel just gets better and better as our familiarity with Amy and her team grow and more and more new and diverse characters are introduced a novel at a time. I always look forward to reading the next one so I was very pleased to receive my copy through NetGalley and publisher Thomas & Mercer. Thank you very much for my copy.
Amy and her team are seconded to Clacton to support the local crime team with their current investigation. Sadly this time one of the resident team’s actively involved police officers has been found drowned in the rough, cold west coast seas, brought ashore on the incoming tides. This officer had been working undercover and had befriended a group of teenagers, all new to the area. This fact is at the very heart of the local squad’s focus as Amy and co arrives.
The death of a police officer is shocking in any circumstances. Reunited with DCI Donovan, Amy quickly widens the search. It is possible that there is a serial killer at large. There have been similar deaths by drowning all along the west coastline and increasingly it is looking like the drownings are not in fact suicide or accidents, but horrible murders.
At the same time as this investigation is ongoing, Amy is also helping her sister to locate her child that their evil mother, the notorious convicted criminal Lillian, had taken from her sister at birth. Lillian herself is dangerously ill and unconscious in hospital. Amy’s entire back story makes compelling reading. She had been adopted by a senior serving police officer and his wife. He had first met Amy after his involvement in the case that sent Lillian to prison. I always look forward to the development of this historic story. Amy and her birth mother are as different as chalk and cheese. The further development of Amy’s squad characters is lovely because I get to know them more.
The creation of new characters in this novel is diverse, brilliantly creative and exciting. I always comment upon Caroline’s engrossing and well managed storyboard and her fantastic and vivid settings and storytelling. She is multi-talented and also very knowledgeable about police procedure, having worked in her career as an enthusiastic police detective; with the vulnerable, those at high risk, those abused by evil criminals or truly odious sexual offences. In fact these victims are inspirational to Caroline and because of them her stories carry an authentic element that is totally engrossing and an irresistible read for me.
The pace of this story is quicker than any other. The clues are there, subtly disguised as usual, keeping you spellbound and eagerly turning the pages. There are multiple thrills and spills, the suspense is ramped up and the twists and turns make you feel as though the plot is driving on fast but without seat belts. You’ll never know where the story is taking you. This lady is a masterclass in the crime thriller genre and I recommend this book as an excellent read.

A Wave Of Death....
Some dark and dangerous themes in the fourth DI Amy Winter thriller when a wave of deaths, seemingly suicides, hits local seaside resorts. When Winter decides that the deaths are more than suspicious and can be no coincidence she opens, what becomes, an intense investigation. A swiftly moving plot populated with credible characters although Winter herself is not an empathetic one.

4.5 Stars from me

This is the second book from this series that I have read and I keep saying I will go back and read the first two yet here we are and I still haven't. So many books, so little time! I greatly enjoyed the previous book about the love heart killer and so had high hopes for Flesh and Blood.

I particularly enjoyed the setting for this one, around Clacton, Colchester, Essex as it is an area I know quite well and so was able to easily visualise the scenes.

I also liked the 'celebrity status' of the team, that was quite a nice little touch.

The relationship between Winter and Donovan seemed a bit fragile at times, which I thought made them seem just so human - I am sure we've all got friends who are complete ball breakers at work and then are a delicate mess when it comes to relationships. Their insecurity was a nice touch.

There are lots of little twists and turns throughout this one and we learn a little bit more about Amy's less than desirable family.

The overarching plot is a good one and I desperately wanted to scoop up and rescue little Matty!

Over all a very engaging read with a good measure of human nature and a gripping plot.

Another great addition in the DI Amy Winter series! I am really enjoying this series and happy to know there will be more to come. DI Amy Winter is a very fascinating character with a very sordid past. Flesh and Blood by Caroline Mitchell is the fourth in the series and I highly suggest you read them in order. Did I mention Amy's parents were serial killers?! Need I say more?!

Amy and her team are looking into recent deaths at the seaside originally thought to be suicides. Then one of the bodies ends up being one of their own and they now know there is something more sinister at work here. What follows is a suspenseful story with twists along the way that will keep you hooked until the very end.

Amy’s mother Lilian also makes an appearance having recently been released from prison and still claiming her innocence. A thorn in Amy's side, an evil woman who had done so much harm to so many. She sure does keep things interesting though! Can't wait to read more!

A big thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book. for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Multiple suicides that happened in the same area are really alarming. And it goes without saying
that it will have a great impact on the community. Especially when the latest person to have
committed it was a police officer. Like how the characters in the story were blown by these
events I was also blown by how good the story was. I did expect less but received more than I
could ask for.

A story of suicidal acts that are more suspicious than something to grieve for. As our Detective
Amy Winters was summoned to solve a crime that will require her to go back and face her past.
Not only this but she has too faced also her mother and sister. An overwhelmed scenario for our
protagonist. Will everything that is right will prevail at the end just like how it should be? or Amy
won`t handle it correctly? She was torn not just by the case she is currently handling but also by
the revelations that are just sitting there under her nose.

I honestly expected a story that is a bit repetitive and would class it as mediocre. But I was
wrong. I was wrong to have judged it before reading it completely. The story was too good. it
had more twists and turns than I could count. What a great story that can bend minds and a
story that will give you chills while reading it.

After their appearance in the documentary in the last book, Amy and her team are in high demand. When a member of Donovan's old branch apparently commits suicide in similar circumstances to other recent coastal suicides, Donovan is determined to investigate, so Amy, Donovan and the team head off to join his old team to look into it.

I have to say how much I love this series, In Flesh and Blood we get to see more of other characters, Molly in particular, which I enjoyed. The story in itself was intriguing and well written, and I kept finding excuses to have a break and pick up my kindle to read the inevitable "just another chapter"

Cant wait for the next one!

My second novel by Caroline Mitchell featuring Amy Winter and the fourth in the series. DI Amy Winter and her boss DCI Donovan investigate a suicide in Clacton when a fellow police woman throw herself into the sea. A tough investigation for Amy and is not helped by by the release from prison of her serial killer mother. This is a series that is best to be read in order to get a sense of Amy's past life. The investigation throws up more suicides in other seaside towns and Amy's sister also needs her help to find her lost son. Full of twists and turns, you will be gripped by this story.

Another excellent book by Caroline Mitchell. I love her style of writing, I got drawn in from the first page and so engrossed in the storyline I couldn’t put it down. Plenty of twists and turns that kept me guessing right until the end. If you haven’t tried this author yet make sure you do as you will be in for a treat. I 1000% recommend this book and author. Bring on the next one.

Yet another five star novel from the excellent Caroline Mitchell. Her lead cop is a fascinating character; Amy Winter is the daughter of a serial killer who has now been released, and in addition to her incredibly tough job, Amy has to cope with her inner demons. Here she is faced with a baffling case which involves a series of apparent suicides in seaside resorts, the latest death being that of a policewoman. What is the link? Well-written and intriguing from the outset, this is a tremendous story.

DCI Donovan gets news that a former colleague has died. It is believed to be a suicide but after he hears a voice mail that she has sent he is convinced it is linked to a number of suicides in neighbouring seaside resorts. Amy Winter agrees that her team will investigate and in doing so they open up a case involving possible trafficking and revenge. Amys sister Sally Ann has decided to search for the baby that was taken from her and she has persuaded Amy to help.
This is another great instalment featuring Amy Winter and her team. This book shows us an insight into Donovans background and we see more of SallyAnn.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for granting an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Wow, this book was like a rollercoaster, Amy, Donovan and their team go to Clacton after one of Donovan's old colleagues is found in a supposed suicide, he's adamant she wouldn't do that, they here of several other similar "suicides" in seaside towns and seek to find a link.
Young people being trafficked, colleagues who can't be trusted, Amy helping her sister find her child, their mum in hospital, Amy and Donovan's relationship developing. Action packed from start to finish

Flesh and Blood is another great book by Caroline Mitchell. The DI Amy Winter Series is full of well developed characters, hard hitting storylines and interesting back stories! I highly recommend and look forward to reading more!

To begin, I’d like to thank Amazon Publishing UK for sending me an ARC of this book, and to NetGalley for facilitating. And of course, a big thank you to Caroline Mitchell for writing this.

As always there will be no spoilers in this review.

I’ll start by saying I have read every book that Caroline Mitchell has released, I love the Amy Winter series so I was so excited to see this title on NetGalley. But I found this to be my least favourite of them all.

The characters were still themselves - wonderfully layered and unique. Amy with her “cut-to-the-point” style, Molly with her quirks, Donovan with his gentle approach. But it was missing someone key to this series, someone who has played a major role in the previous books - Lillian. She was present, in brief glimpses but held the role of an “extra” in this book and it felt hollow without her. The story less exciting, the pace far slower. She was needed in this book I feel.

The actual premise of the sex trafficking case was obviously a difficult one to write (and read) but again, it felt slightly hollow - too little about the teenagers themselves. And I felt that in places this book was sped up - the main storyline of the trafficking case was solved without many hints for the reader to catch on to, and then suddenly the murder aspect was also solved (seemingly out of the blue) with information that the reader didn’t have. Part of the joy of these books is trying to work out who did it. But we as readers weren’t given the information until the perpetrators were confronted.

It was a very slow burner until right at the end when it seemed to go too fast (and I actually did check back to see if there was a chapter missing at one point because it seemed to have jumped ahead of itself).

The book was readable - and perhaps if you hadn’t been following the series this would be a great read - but I think because of what has come before, I expected more and was left wanting more.

Obviously I will continue reading the series if there are more because the Amy Winter series had been one of my favourites - I just hope for more consistent pace, more excitement (and more Lillian) in the next instalment.

Another great book in the Amy Winter series. I really enjoyed the plot, the character development, the seaside setting and the pace.
'Mo's ' back story is a great red herring too. Excellent ending for Chatty Matty too, who was an endearing minor character, although I would have liked to know April's outcome. The killer was a shock; I had no suspicions at all, even though the clues were there. This is what I call a proper police procedural, following the clues to find the answers. Can't wait until the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This book is the 4th instalment in the DI Amy Winter Series, and it was brilliant. Amy is situated with her team in Notting Hill, but when a police officer washes up in Clacton, they all head there. What seemed like a suicide, actually points to a murder. And Amy and her team will not stop until the case is solved. The story then escalates when other bodies are found to have washed up in other seaside resorts. Amy knows it is all linked but not sure how. We also see more of Amy’s mother, Lillian, who is a convicted serial killer, recently freed on appeal. The whole story weaves together, and I really like Amy. She’s such a diverse character, strong willed and the polar opposite of her parentage.
This story has twists and turns, and some shocking revelations.

I loved this book, and can’t wait for the next instalment.

I have been impatiently awaiting the fourth book in the DI Amy Winters series, Flesh And Blood, as it’s one of my favourite crime series. If you haven’t started the series yet, it’s one that’s best started from the beginning as Amy has such a fascinating backstory, I promise you it will be time well spent! Was it worth the wait? It’s a HUGE fat ‘yes’. I will not say much about the plot as I don’t want to give away spoilers, but Amy doesn’t get an easy ride in this instalment that’s for sure, not only does she have a complex investigation to deal with, but her serial killer mother has been released from prison. The plot is complex, dark, and ominous, it’s one of those “heart in your mouth” crime thrillers. 

This is a series that has much to offer the crime book junkie, although I always enjoy the police procedure element of the authors book, I have really loved learning more about Amy and her family, especially Lillian her twisted serial killer mother (I’m hoping at some point Lillian will get a whole book to herself). Amy’s team is another fascinating part of this series, I’m appreciating the complexities of their relationships within the team, they feel like an authentic team with their banter and their own personal issues.

Caroline Mitchell is one of my favourite authors for a very good reason, I consistently find her plots imaginative, she grabs the reader’s attention with an intriguing prologue, and then takes the reader on a journey to a dark place where monsters hid in plain site. There are the usual twist and turns you would expect in a crime thriller, with a few surprises along the way that keep the reader firmly on the edge of their seat. I enjoy a plot that veers towards the darker side of crime and Flesh And Blood is certainly dark, uncomfortable and at points desperately sad. I really appreciated the way the author left a trail of subtle clues that allow the reader to become an amateur detective and feel part of the investigation. Although this isn’t my favourite book in the series, it is another stellar addition to the series,

Flesh and Blood is the new book in the DI Amy Winter series. This book takes Amy and her team to the south coast where after a spate of suicides, the next person to die is a police officer. Any and her team are convinced foul play but there seems to be more to this case. Could a mysterious group of teenagers hold the key?

This book throws you straight into the action from the beginning and the plot moves along at a great pace. I was totally hooked from page 1 and found it impossible to put down. Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author for the chance to review.

Another great installment of the Winter series. I liked that this wasn't too heavy on the Lillian story as that often detracts from what else is going on.

This is the fourth in the DI Amy Winter series, and after having read all of the previous books and loved them, I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, I was a little disappointed, there was just something missing from the book, and it didn’t grip me the way the previous books had.
I felt like the investigation came secondary to all of the officer’s lives and their own troubles. We did get to know some of the other officers a little better as a byproduct which was great, but this side of things was too heavily focused on. A lot of reviewers have said there wasn’t much of Lillian; however, I disagree; I think it was too heavily focused on throughout the story. I think Amy needs to move on from her past and concentrate on her job.
We are so used to Amy being proactive in the investigations in the past that her response to this one came as a bit of a shocker. Even though she keeps saying she must get back to the station, she spends way too much time in coffee shops either with her sister or other people that insist on meeting her there rather than the station.
Donovan’s actions were frustrating, also. He was keeping too much secret and jeopardising the investigation by doing so. Again, in the past, he would have reprimanded officers for doing what he was doing.
The ‘Mo’ sections, I really enjoyed until it came to the unveiling of who she was. It appeared when reading her recollections that it would be relevant to the current investigation; however, it isn’t, and I was left wondering what the real point to this part of the story was. It didn’t, in the end, really add anything.
I felt like we were being kept out of the loop of the investigation and the ending felt forced as a result. It just didn’t flow. The overall story felt lackadaisical, and it just didn’t grip me. It took me a while to get into the book as it is really slow, to begin with. It does pick up slightly towards the end but is still not in keeping with the high standards the previous books had set.

Flesh and Blood is a page-turner, I needed to know who did it, how they did it and why they did it. The journey to getting there was indeed well crafted. The scene is very well set, we are in a seaside town and you can really feel it with the detail. The characters were definite, I knew who they all were and wanted to find out more about them, what made them each tick. This was the first Detective Amy Winter story I have come across, but I'm intrigued enough by this first read to want to go and check out the others in the series. The ins and outs of the team of police officers was woven in with the mystery story, which I didn't guess until I was meant to. Twists, turns and a great sense of place. I will be recommending!

An excellent, complex, well-plotted mystery! I've read books 3 and now 4 in this series, and they stand alone well. I sure wish I'd been aware of books 1 and 2, though!

DI Winter is smart, independent, and a good leader. She's also a bit of a mess in some ways, due to her shocking family situation. In this book, Winter and team take on a cop's suicide (maybe) and a string of suicides (maybe) in seaside tourist towns. Mitchell wrangles a fair-sized cast of characters, making them all distinctive and memorable enough for me to keep track (which is a feat). It's a rich and disturbing mystery with a satisfying resolution. Suicide, murder, sex, foster care, corruption...lots of big themes, but the story isn't a soapbox. Just a dang engrossing read. Looking forward to book 5!

Review copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth book in the DI Amy Winter series. Amy is the biological child of people who let's just say didn't care for their children and were quite evil. I will leave it at that in case you haven't read the earlier books. There has been quite a lot explained about Amy's upbringing, her adoptive parents, and what went on in the house of horrors she came from. She has had an uneasy relationship with her past, and the prior books provide a lot of detail on how Amy came to be, well, Amy.
The case is a real puzzler. One of DCI Donovan's old colleagues committed what appears to be suicide. Knowing her personality, he believes she must have been murdered and takes over the investigation in Clacton. Other suicides come to light, but what is the connection, if any between them? When all the pieces are revealed, not only is a murderer exposed but some truly terrible crimes.
In Flesh and Blood, we start to see Amy becoming more of her own person and less controlled by the past. She has a relationship with DCI Donovan, her team is becoming more defined and capable, and the ending implies that there might be big changes in store for Amy.
It is always good to spend some quality time with Amy. There were enough red herrings to have me guessing whodunnit and why throughout the book. Oddly enough, I actually kind of missed the interactions between Amy and her biological mother Lilian. She was present in the story, but not nearly as much a thorn in Amy's side. After thinking about it for a bit, I guess she will have to play a smaller role if Amy is going to get a shot at happiness. Still, I am sure Lilian has some more tricks up her sleeve. An enjoyable read and fingers crossed that things work out for Amy in the next book!

Another fantastic addition to Caroline Mitchell's DI Amy Winter series! Clever and twisted with many surprises along the way. It will keep you up late reading this one! Looking forward to seeing where all the characters go and their pursuits along the way.

Flesh and Blood is another great crime thriller from this author. A police detective has apparently committed suicide in a seaside town, she was a previous colleague of the DCI, Donovan who is now DI Amy Winters boss and lover. He is adamant she must have been murdered as she had left a message on his phone just prior to her death.
Joining forces with his previous team Donovan and Amy soon see a pattern of local suicides that are actually murder. The team starts investigating and all manner of heinous acts are discovered.
There is so much going on in this story, Amy’s mother the serial killer is now out of prison, her sister is looking for the child she gave up for adoption, homeless teenagers, paedophiles, plus looking for the true causes of death in these ‘suicides’ and who is murdering them is enough to make you dizzy.
But what this writer does is bring every strand of the story together brilliantly and when the reveal comes it is breathtakingly good and so close to home. I hadn’t suspected who the culprit was at all.
And the finale....bring on the next book, and no pressure, but soon please!
My thanks to net galley and publishers for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

It's no secret that I absolutely love this series.There I was thinking it was a trilogy.I was over the moon when I found out Caroline was writing a fourth book! So you can imagine how excited I was to read this book…..VERY!

So once again I am back with Amy Winter. A character that I love and the fact that her mother is a serial Killer makes Amy even more fascinating and unique.

Carolines uses her police experience and brings us another cracking read. I
Flesh and Blood is another winner and will have you hooked from the very first page actually read this book in one sitting. I couldn't tear myself away. This book is so addictive.

Brilliant book, brilliant series I cannot recommend it enough. Giving it all the stars.

Thank you to Amazon publishing for an ARC all thoughts are my own and not biased in anyway.

This really is one of favourite books by this author.
She always goes to the top of my reading pile and never ever disappoints.
Her specialist team has been featured on a TV fly on the wall documentary so they have a bit of celebrity status.
After some apparent suicides set in seaside resorts, Amy Winter and her team are called in to help the over-stretched local officers. It’s at her DCI’s old stomping ground in Essex. The latest death is a member of DCI Donovan’s old team, so he feels especially close to the enquiry. We see Donovan from a different aspect too.
The ongoing saga with her real mother carries on, Lilian is a truly twisted character.
One of the officers on Amy’s team goes undercover and gets friendly with some suspicious teenagers. It was quite heart in the mouth stuff at times. A real page turner that I couldn’t put down. I thought I had it worked out, but I never do with this author!
The chapters featuring the character Mo with the therapist were emotional and totally caught me out.
There were some happy parts to this that warmed my heart.
I know the author worked at this station in real life, and I felt like I was there too.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the author for the early copy in which I give my honest opinion.

Fourth novel in the DI Amy Winter series and getting more intense with each one

Seconded to Clacton to assist with the local crime team and offer their support after an undercover police officer is found to be a suicide victim, the officer has befriended a group of teenagers, are these responsible for the suicide, is it suicide and what is it about the teenagers that had piqued the officers interest ?????

Absolutely brilliant with some real jaw dropping moments. Amy, Donovan and the team are called to Clacton to investigate a spate of suicides in suspicious circumstances but they have no idea of the horror they will uncover. Highly recommended.

Great, riveting book. Kept me in suspense. 🌟🌟🌟🌟 star book. Thank you Amazon Publishing, Netgalley, and Caroline Mitchell for this book in exchange for an honest review.

DI Amy Winter is back and I so happy! I love Caroline Mitchell's police procedurals and have been eagerly awaiting this one. As a former police officer, Caroline knows her stuff, and her stories are always so exciting, dark and surprising. Flesh and Blood was no different and as always the last few pages left me wanting more already.

This is book 4 in this series and the books are just so binge worthy. Strongly suggest reading these ones in order as the character development is so important to really understand Amy and her background. DI Amy Winter is the daughter of a serial killer, a serial killer who has just been released from prison. On top of that, her team have just been the subject of a fly on the wall documentary making them somewhat famous and recognisable. She is a character like no other and you need to meet her.

This time the team move away from their area and move down to Clacton, DCI Donovan's old stomping ground. A former colleague has just been found dead of a apparent suicide. But Donovan knows that she wouldn't do it, and there has been a spate of these deaths made to look like suicide in the area. This time it is personal, and nothing can get in the way of the teams pursuit to find the killer.

A big thank you to Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth in the DI Amy Winter series, and after having loved the previous 3 books, I had high hopes for this one. However I was disappointed, with this one. For some reason it just didn’t grab me and pull me like the previous books, there was just something missing.

Part of the problem was I felt that the investigation was secondary to the team’s personal lives. Quite a few reviewers have said there wasn’t as much of Lillian, in this, but I felt there was too much of her. Amy seemed to spend a lot of time with her sister or in coffee shops, rather than investigating.

The pace of this was a lot slower than before and I just wasn’t gripped by the story, until almost the end, when things picked up. But even then, it felt like where on earth had that come from, almost as if there were a lot of chapters cut out at the final editing and no rewrites to put relevant information forward.

Overall it wasn’t a bad book, and if this was your first one you read, would be acceptable. If it was read the first 3 then you are in for a treat. I am hoping this was just a blip and I would give book 5 a chance, if there is one.

In the fourth book in the DI Amy Winter series, the author takes us to the seaside where crime it seems is just as rife.

Caroline Mitchell is without a doubt one of my go to authors when it comes to crime thrillers. I am loving this series and yet again she delivers a must read story with a case that had me going through an array of emotions. The characterisation is brilliant with some characters I began to care about whilst others I didn’t trust and some I ended up taking a great dislike to!

I loved the setting of the seaside and at first the story has an almost relaxed feel to it until things take a sterner course and got a lot darker. I liked getting to know Molly better who is part of Amy’s team. She has some demons of her own to face and seems to be in a constant battle with herself in trying to prove herself to her boss.

Flesh and Blood is another brilliant read that I dived into and didn’t come up for air until I turned the last page. It is a tense and gritty read that in part is quite harrowing due to the nature of the story. It had me eager for the case to be solved before anyone else got hurt and I wasn’t prepared for the shocking revelations that came thick and fast. When a story has you going WTAF! and has your jaw dropping in shock, well in my eyes it deserves five shiny gold stars if not more.

Simply put amazing. I love this series and find that it keeps my attention and it makes me really love the fact that this character for me feels like a close friend

Flesh and Bllod is book number 4 in the DI Amy Winter series and once again Caroline Mitchell has delivered a well paced and every entertaining read.

Without giving away any spoilers the backstories of a number of characters are moved along without distracting from the main storyline and at times dovetailing.

This series is now well established and one that I thoroughly enjoy. Definitely recommended

This is a great series that I have really enjoyed reading. Caroline Mitchell really knows how to suck me into the story needing to know how it's going to end.

This book will keep you hooked from the beginning till the end. It has a good plot, it´s well written and the story could have happened anywhere. There´s quite a few female characters that are easy to relate to as they have to deal with very down to earth problems, and the story also covers a very destructive and disheartening issue which is children trafficking. As a police procedural it also shows all the appropriate procedures that should be taken in an investigation, especially when involving minor and police officers. Really thrilling and entertaining! Looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

A good read as always from author Caroline Mitchell.
I didn't think it was as gripping as the previous DI Amy Winter books but good none the less.

Flesh and blood by Caroline Mitchell

DC Carla Burke is the latest in a series of suicides. But, DC Donovan doesn't believe it when he realizes he received a voice mail from Carla shortly before her apparent suicide. DC Amy hits a brick wall every time she starts searching for the truth; but, she won't be giving up.

The 4th book in the series, and the author did a good job of providing me enough background. Like Amy's parents are serial killers?! That may have been explored more in the earlier books.

I love a strong female lead and Amy did not disappoint. I'll be looking for the earlier books in the series.

Recommend!

Good book that kept me engaged. This is the 4th book in a series. This is the first book I have read by the author. I would have preferred to read the other books first although this can be read by itself. The characters were intriguing. The plot well written and well paced.
I will look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I would recommend this book to others who enjoy a good mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher Amazon Publishing UK for the electronic copy.

This is a well-written thriller with a complex plot and lots of twists and surprises.

In Clacton, Detective Carla Burke has been working a case in her own time - a case which may well send shockwaves through the community. Expecting to meet a teenaged informant on the pier at 11pm, she leaves a message for her ex-DCI, Donovan, asking for advice. When Carla is pulled from the sea her death is assumed to be a suicide but Donovan is convinced otherwise. He takes himself and his team, including DI Amy Winter, from Southend to Clacton to investigate further.
The investigation delves into a spate of male suicides at holiday resorts - Brighton and Blackpool - is there any connection to Carla? Is there an on-line suicide group or are these actually murders being covered up? What's the connection between a group of teenagers in the town and graffiti tags left close by the scenes of suicide?

Someone has a secret worth killing for..............

An intriguing read which takes us into the world of teenage street gangs, and trafficking. Throughout we follow Amy's horrendous back-story where her serial-killer mother is released from prison, and intermittent narrative from Mo as she explores her past with her therapist.
Good characters and team interactions.

An excellent fourth book, a well written read, and a fast paced thriller with a good plot and characters. It was nice to have Amy Winter back once again.

I can recommend this book and thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Flesh and blood is the 4th book in DI Amy Winter series and what a fantastic edition to the series.
This time the team have been sent to Clacton to help with a case of suicides, including an old police colleague Carla that was secretly undercover investigating some homeless teenagers. Amy who knew Carla and the rest of the Police team that Carla would not take her own life including the Senior officer on the case. The same night he received a voicemail from her.
This is another great episode in the series and Caroline Mitchell’s quality of her writing never falters. I have been reading her books from the start and they never disappoint. This is a gritty and realistic account on what happens to young teenagers today. Not every kid is born into a loving family unfortunately. I love the camaraderie between her team and the on and off relationship with Donovan it makes the story more personal and realistic. This is another uptown able story that everyone will enjoy. 5 stars from me.

Because the author is a former detective, her books have a very good believability. The procedurals are done right, and her sense of how a team would work a case is on point. This is the 4th book of the series, and Amy has evolved into a character we know and love. Yet it is her past that comes back to the present and influences not only how she investigates, but why she feels something is way off in the case. It's an interesting book, but feels a bit slower than the previous ones. But by midway it speeds up and it feels like the rhythm is back, and its a roller coaster of a finish. Make sure you check out this series!

The DI Amy Winter is a very good series which I definitely recommend. This is book four and features more on the personal lives of the officers. There are some really good twists, an interesting plot and plenty good character development. Amy is investigating suicides, or is it murder? The setting is Clacton, which gave the book a different feel from previous ones and centres round runaway teenagers. It kept me engrossed until the end and I look forward to more adventures from this team. Thanks to Net Galley for another good read which I would recommend.

“Sometimes the worst horrors were hidden behind very regular-looking doors…”

One by one bodies are washing up along seaside resorts and being logged in as suicides. But when one of their own is now counted among them, Detective Inspector Amy Winter and her team begin an investigation into the deaths. What they uncover is a horrific crime within a crime…one that reminds DI Winter “sometimes the people you think have got your back are the ones waiting to push you off the edge…”

Flesh and Blood is the fourth installment to the DI Amy Winter series. Did you catch that, because I missed it was part of a series when I started reading. From page one, I was both captivated and a wee bit confused. You see, DI Winter’s mother is a serial killer that has been recently released, and the ongoing plot of that storyline made me want to go back and find out how a detective’s mother became a killer! Of course, I’ve already one-clicked the first book! Thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend to fans of this genre!



**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

Flesh and Blood is the fourth in the Amy Winters series by Caroline Mitchell. Mitchell is a favorite author of mine,
This time, Winters and her team are investigating a string of suicides in seaside resorts. The latest to die was a police officer, and her death is suspicious, which brought all the deaths to their attention. A group of teenagers might hold the answers to these deaths.
Meanwhile, Amy’s sister asks for her help in tracking down her baby, who was “given up for adoption” years ago.
The book is a nice blend of Amy’s personal and professional lives. There’s a great underlying thread of how the women on the team feel additional pressure, no matter what their position on the team.
Because of Amy’s background, this is one series that needs to be read in order.
It’s a well done, police procedural with an interesting team of characters. It’s got a fabulous ending that really worked for me.
Mitchell was previously a police officer, so her stories are realistic and don’t beggar belief the way some do.
My thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of this book.

3.5 stars rounded up.

The book opens with DC Carla Burke from the Clayton-on-Sea station off to meet an informant late one night on the Brighton pier. On the way to the meet she starts having misgivings but talks herself into continuing. She should have listened to those misgivings as she is thrown off the pier and drowns. It is assumed that she killed herself.

DCI Donovan is devastated by the news as he worked with Carla years ago. He insists that she wouldn’t have jumped, she has a family. But deep down he feels guilty as Carla had tried to ring him that night and left a message indicating her concern. Besides there has been a spate of drownings in recent weeks at seaside resorts and Donovan wonders if there is a link. So he packs up DI Amy Winter and her specialist team and they head to Clacton to dig into the case. Carla had been meeting with some young street kids so that is one of the avenues that the team explores. Young DC Molly Baxter is making progress on that front.

Soon Winter starts to have some very disturbing suspicions about what is actually going on. It also seems that the drowning victims were not so innocent after all. But who killed Carla? And where do the street kids come in? It’s a good police procedural that builds on the characters that we have come to know. Molly is particularly endearing and a cheerful counterpoint to the glaring Winter! This is book four in the series and I think it would better to read the earlier ones first (which I had done) as the background given is not complete. This is a more thoughtful entry in the series, there is less action and suspense but i suppose it reflects the reality of police work really well. After all, the author is a former detective. Rather it is more of a whodunit and I couldn’t pick it this time. The mystery aspect was very well plotted. All in all another enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Caroline Mitchell for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own.

Fast paced thriller with a well thought out plot as some interesting characters. Part of a series and works best if you know the back story. Lots of twists.

If you love a riveting police procedural with that will keep you guessing, police detective turned author Caroline Mitchell’s ‘Flesh and Blood’ should sate you.

DI Amy Winter and the team head to her superior and lover DCS Donovan’s old stomping ground Clacton to investigate the death of his former colleague Carla. The death was ruled as a suicide, but Donovan believes it was murder as he received a voicemail from her before she died. Adding to this are a spate of other suicides in neighbouring seaside resort towns.

Adding to this is the interpersonal relationships of the team, including DC Molly who is hiding a secret, and the deepening relationship between Winter and Donovan.

Winter is an interesting character. The biological daughter of two serial killers (with her mother released on appeal) but raised by a police detective. She is dogged, determined and a workaholic.

There’s a lot of jigsaw pieces to solve which should keep any crime reading love happy. However there were times I felt things laboured and would’ve preferred a focus on the case. For instance the therapy sessions felt superfluous given who it’s revealed to be. Also the identity of her sister’s child was unbelievable.

Overall, I’m enjoying this series and hope there’s a number five, especially given the fallout from this case, and other hints of change in the future.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. Views expressed are my own.

Flesh and Blood was the first book that I have read in the Amy Winter series and I just loved it.

The author did a good job if you are reading the series for the first time to give hints and yet not give things away from the previous books

Flesh and Blood grabs you from the first page so clear your calendar you are in for a treat.

Amy Winters you are my new hero!

I am off to read Books 1 -3 and can't wait for Book 5.

Thanks to Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK , Thomas & 38 Mercer for introducing me to a new series.

Book Review: Flesh and Blood (DI Amy Winter #4) by Caroline Mitchell
Published by Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer, April 22, 2021

4.5 Stars.

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England.

Following the apprehension of the "Love Heart Killer" (Book 3), the specialist crime team based at Notting Hill, Kensington, London find themselves at England's southeastern seaside, led by DCI Donovan, and DI Amy Winter, the team's "five foot two powerhouse who takes no prisoners".

Clacton, a popular Essex Sunshine Coast destination, is where DCI Donovan honed his professional skills as a detective sergeant. The suspicious death by suicide of one of his former constables, DC Carla Burke compelled the trip to provide assistance to the local team headed by DS "Bicks" Bickerstaff. Burke's death compounds the local caseload already saddled with the recent slew of unsolved suspicious suicides of visiting tourists to the area.

The Notting Hill detective team is on a high. A fly-on-the-wall police documentary on tv following the resolution of the "Love Heart Killer" case - particularly gruesome with victims dressed up as macabre manikins in shop windows, rendered television celebrity status to the detectives along with fan mail, and, more importantly, along with clout with the brass.

In Book 4, on top of unsolved tourist deaths, DI Winter and the team have their hands full against a child sex trafficking cabal, and against bent cops, including one from within their own ranks, as the Professional Standards Department, UK law enforcement's police internal affairs, step in.

PSD officer Daniel "Denny" Negussie Aberra of Nigerian heritage, who himself has an interesting story to tell, makes his debut.

Meanwhile, Amy Winter, the youngest daughter of her birth parents, serial killers Lillian and Jack (deceased) Grimes, the "Beasts of Brentwood", still has unresolved personal and family issues.

Author Caroline Mitchell gives us further background on Lillian's upbringing and disturbed childhood, and provides some resolution to Amy's elder sister Sally-Ann's desperate search of the baby she had to give up for adoption during her teens as a Grimes family member.

And last, but not least, Ms. Mitchell has our indomitable heroine protagonist fall in love.

The book ends with serious outstanding "flesh and blood" issues for Amy and her secret beau.

-----

What makes the DI Amy Winter series enthralling and authentic stems from author's own background and her own life experience as a former Crime Investigation Department (CID) specialist, a job in which she'd dealt with vulnerable, high-risk victims of domestic abuse and serious sexual offences.

Thoroughly enjoyed, and recommend this book, along with the entire series.

Review based on an ARC from Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest in the wonderful DCI Amy Winters series by Caroline Mitchell. 4 stars for another intriguing chapter in a series you need to read!

DI Amy Winters finds herself with her team investigating a series of seaside suicides. A police officer in town is the latest victim and is someone that DCI Donovan worked with in the past, prompting the team to temporarily relocate from London to help in the investigation. A group of teenagers may hold the key to the deaths but they are hard to track down, even with one member of the team trying to infiltrate their group. Amy's past as the daughter of serial killers also comes into play here, with her mother in the hospital with stab wounds and her sister looking for her child that she gave up.

I love DI Winters and this series. This one felt a little confusing/rushed to me - there were times where I had to go back and reread, thinking I missed something, But small gripes for a wonderful series. I loved the ending and can't wait to read the next in the series to see where it will take us!

I can always count on Caroline Mitchell's books whenever I'm in the mood for a good old detective thriller, and this series has been nothing but great so far. I first met DI Amy Winter back in 2018 and I was instantly intrigued by the background of this character. I mean, having a series focus on a main character that was adopted by a cop when she was little and is now a DI herself, but on the other hand having her biological parents being a twisted serial killer duo? How could I ever resist such a character background?! And Flesh And Blood is without doubt just as good as the previous books.

DI Amy Winter's past isn't as present in book number four, although her biological mother Lillian will never be far away and once again you will find personal developments along with a new case to investigate. This is one of the reasons why I would suggest reading the books in order, because you won't understand the dynamics and development of the different characters in play otherwise. Plus, if you enjoy detective thrillers that pack a punch, you will have a great time getting to know Amy Winter and the other members of the team in the first place.

Flesh And Blood continues where book number three left off, and while we see less of Amy's biological mother Lillian Grimes in this book, the personal developments are still there and will have more than one shocking twist for you in store along the way. On top of this, the new dynamics in Amy's team with the appearance of DCI Donovan continue to develop, and it was interesting to see how everyone fitted in this new balance. Luckily Amy Winter is still the true star of the show, and I really like how she uses her background and intimate knowledge of the twisted minds of her biological parents to get inside the heads of other killers. True, this case is slightly different as it seems to be a string of suicides and not murders, but it was great to see Amy and the rest of the team investigate and discover new leads along the way.

Flesh And Blood has a multiple POV structure, which makes it easier to follow the different characters in play. To spice things up, we have the chapters featured by the mysterious Mo talking to her therapist... I did guess quite early on who those chapters referred to, but I liked what they added to the plot and they added also an extra voice to child abuse victims. The plot is solid and without doubt packs a lot of suspense, secrets and twists. And I most definitely didn't see those final reveals coming!

The DI Amy Winter series has provided one solid and suspenseful detective thriller after the other so far, and Flesh And Blood is no exception. Book number four offers you another intriguing case as well as more personal developments, and I can recommend this series in general if you enjoy the detective thriller genre.

Thanks to Netgalley and Caroline Mitchell for allowing me to read this Arc.
This is the 4th in the series. Having read all of them it's much better to read them in order.
Caroline Mitchell is one of my favourite authors. You can always be assured of a really great read. I love how personal lives are mixed in. I always think this makes the book more personal.
I would highly recommend it and it definitely deserves five stars.

So happy we have a new DI Amy Winter story. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The review is my own.

In this 4th book Amy and her team go to Clacton to investigate a series of suicides, one being a police officer that DCI Donovan knew. Of course, things are not quite what they seem. People who live in the area are not being cooperative, what are they hiding, what do they know? In addition to the investigation, Amy is dealing with personal issues. Her mother, Lillian, a convicted serial killer has been released from prison.

We learn more about the people on Amy's team in this book. Her relationship with Donovan continues to develop. I would recommend reading the Amy Winter series in order to get the full picture of Amy, her backstory, and how she grows with each book. The ending suggests some future challenges for Amy?

Why are holidaymakers going to the seaside and committing suicide. Amy Winter and her team are called in to get to the truth when the latest suicide is a serving police officer. Is it suicide or are these cleverly disguised murders. can the team find out what is happening before the next body turns up.. While trying to find the culprit Amy also needs to come to terms with her past.
A gripping read.
#NetGalley #FleshandBlood #CarolineMitchell.

Another great book in the DI Amy Winter series.
Amy, Donovan and the team head to Clacton after some suspicious deaths at seaside resorts are noted, followed by the apparent suicide of one of their own.
Donovan knows Carla, and knows she wouldn’t commit suicide so wants to look into all the recent deaths.
There seems to be a gang of teenagers that move around and look to be involved in the deaths, but it’s hard for Amy and the team to find any evidence.
Lillian is making her presence known again but Amy is determined not to let her mother get to her.
There’s lots going on in this great crime thriller and it will have you second guessing everyone involved.
This is a fast paced book that will draw you in right from the beginning and won’t let go.
A great read.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

OMG I totally loved this book, it put my heart rate up and my blood pressure everytime I picked it up. I have said before Caroline Mitchell makes it really easy for you to become part of her work. This book was the first time I became DI Winter and holy moly she has a lot going on doesn’t she?) not only at work but in her private life, could you keep the two separate? Not sure I could.
This read was like a cave of caves, suicides ,seasides and silent teenagers, what or who is keeping them quiet.?
The 4th book in the series of DI Amy Winter, if you haven’t read the others it’s best you do!
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my own review.

This is the 4th book in the DI Amy Winter series. I haven't read any of the previous books but this one is easily read as a stand alone book. I found it fast paced and it gripped me from the beginning right up to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

“Sometimes the worst horrors were hidden behind very regular-looking doors…”

Following a spate of apparent suicides in some of the seaside resorts along the South Coast, and the latest one being one of their own people, Donovan decides that he, Amy and the team are going to investigate it further. Donovan has a vested interest as he and Carla were old workmates and he's certain she wouldn't do this to her family, so off they head to Clacton and Donovan's old stomping ground, but they're struggling to uncover any leads, is there a link between Carla's death and the other 'suicides' and where do the teenagers that are scared to talk, fit in? Amy needs to solve this before they are pulled off the case and called back to Notting Hill, could the answers be right under her nose?

DI Amy Winter is back!! Amy and the team return in this latest instalment of the series written by the immensely talented Caroline Mitchell, having served many years as a police officer herself before becoming an author, Mitchell knows first hand how the system works and has once again created a tense and nail-biting case to crack, it's a story with a harrowing topic but Mitchell delivers it with aplomb. It's told mainly in the third narrative but with chapters included by 'Mo' whose identity I was second guessing and got it completely wrong! Alongside the regulars, Mitchell introduces us to some new characters who I hope to see more of in this series, in particular 'Denny', who I think would be a great addition to Amy's team. We get to learn more about the existing characters lives and see the developing romance between Amy and Donovan, a tough call for her considering her past. There are many twists throughout this story and an ending that leaves the reader hanging, and hoping, that there will be a book 5 in this series. I would suggest if you haven't read any of this series, that you start from the beginning, it can be read as a standalone, as can the others, but you'll gain a greater understanding of the characters and their backgrounds if you begin with book one, Truth and Lies. Once again this author has served up another cracking read and I can't wait to read more of her work.

I'd like to thank Amazon Publishing; Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

An engaging story with equal parts suspense and police procedure. The characters are well developed. Though the initial part of the story is slow, it is later rectified. The conclusion felt sudden with everything resolved out of the blue, which would leave the reader robbed of the thrill of solving it.

A string of suicide-drownings hits a seaside community. When a police officer is believed to have taken her own life, DI Amy Winter and DCI Donovan set out to investigate, suspecting that something more sinister might be at play.

Sadly, this book didn't turn out to be to my taste. I couldn't get into it at all, and skim-read the whole book while seriously considering not finishing it.
This is the 4th book in the DI Amy Winter series, and I've read the 3rd one, so I knew a bit about the characters, but unfortunately, that didn't help engage me in the story.
However, my opinion is in the minority, so if you're a fan of this series then you shouldn't hesitate to read it.

This is book 4 of the Amy Winter series and, although the main story is self contained, as with all series books it's always best to start from the beginning and read in order. I really do feel you will get a better feel for the main characters with regard to backstory and development if you do this.
So... There are a spate of suicides in seaside resorts. Nothing immediately springs out as strange but when a Police Officer is the latest victim people start to wonder. Especially when she calls on an old colleague before it happens. It appears she was going to meet a source, not suicidal in any way. But who was she meeting, and why? Two questions that Amy Winter and her team are determined to find out. If nothing else, the case will prove a worthy distraction from her own worries with the release of her mother.
As with the previous books in this series, this one hits the ground running and ramps up the suspense quite quickly as the book progresses through the early chapters. As it continues it becomes obvious that there is so much more to what is going on than just a bunch of suicides. That's not really a spoiler but to say any more about what we are actually dealing with would be so I will leave that here. Suffice to say that I never saw that coming...!
There's a section in the middle where it all slows down a bit. This did not distract me as I felt that it mirrored and illustrated the frustration of the Police as they struggled to progress the case. But it isn't long before there's a break and off we go again, ramping up to what was a thoroughly satisfying ending.
All in all a worthy addition to what is shaping up to be a rather impressive and compelling series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Caroline Mitchell has some great reads, and this was another not to disappoint. 4th in the series. Exciting plots and intriguing characters I throughly enjoyed this story. Ideally you need to read the others in the series to get the full benefit of the characters etc.

Thankyou for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside, oh we do like to be beside the sea … yes Amy and the team have left the metropolis and are at the seaside. But this is no holiday. They’re investigating the death of one of their own, one of Donovan’s former team. Did she commit suicide or has something more sinister been going on at seaside resorts?

No matter how much Amy tries, the line between personal and professional is blurred. Possibly doesn’t help when her personal relationships are intertwined with her work life. But down in Clacton, she’s followed by a family member wanting a favour. Will Amy oblige or will her duty to the force prevent her?

The seaside deaths are very intriguing. Nothing really connects the victims other than the cause of death. But Amy and Donovan have that niggle, that copper’s intuition that says something isn’t quite right. And you know what? I’m inclined to believe them – they know what they’re talking about!

Yet again Mitchell has crafted an intriguing and addictive read. I felt I was there in Clacton; even though I’ve never been, I could picture the pier where Carla met her demise. I had an image of the police station, its tight car park and the sea front. The more I get involved in Amy’s life, the more I want to keep going back. She’s a woman out to prove herself for her abilities not the sins of her parents which makes her oh so more appealing as a character! Please Caroline can we have some more Amy Winter??

This review was originally posted on <a href="http://booksofmyheart.net/2021/04/22/%f0%9f%8e%a7-flesh-blood-by-caroline-mitchell/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I bought the first in the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/225802-di-amy-winter" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em><strong>DI Amy Winter</strong></em></a> series, <strong>Truth and Lies</strong>, as an Audible Daily Deal.   The second book,  <strong>The Secret Child </strong>I was able to listen to on Kindle Unlimited. I got <strong>Left for Dead</strong> for review. The whole series is in KU, both ebook and audio are available.

I love police procedurals set in England so it was easy to start the series.  There is always a case and since Amy is on a major investigations team, it is always serious, often dealing with a serial killer.  I would read this series in order due to the progression in Amy's personal life and the revelations about her family and even the changes in the team of co-workers.

I really liked the setup for this story with a police officer dying where Donovan used to work.  There is the chance to get to learn about his old colleagues.  There have been a string of suicides at seaside resorts and the team tries to find out if there are any connections.   Donovan and Amy struggle a bit with their new found notoriety from solved cases and keeping their personal relationship private.  There are layers to the case. It's exciting and dangerous.

Amy has her ongoing issues with her biological mother, and new problems with her sister, Sally Ann.  She is uncertain about what she wants in her relationship with Donovan.  She is also trying to figure out the case and incorporate the new team members who have their own problems.

I found some of Donovan's reactions a bit over the top, as he was too close to the case.  Amy seemed to be quite steady.  She also has a way of gathering the facts and deducing the truth, putting it together almost better than is possible.  But the clues are available if you are observant, and sort them together in the right configuration.  At least, Donovan recognizes her skill is extraordinary.

Both the police case and Amy's personal life seem to have a huge impact.  I am looking forward to more in this world. The investigations and the personal situations of the characters are both fascinating to learn.

Flesh and Blood by Caroline Mitchell is the fourth in the DI Amy Winter mystery series.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


Series Background:    (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Amy Winter is a strong, rather competitive, and independent woman. Although Amy was fostered by wonderful people, her biological parents (Jack and Lillian Grimes) were serial killers.  Jack is dead, but Lillian is now out of jail, having gained the public's support and sympathy, as well as testimony from her other children, but not Amy.   Perhaps Jack and Lillian are the reason  Amy can get inside the heads of murderers.  She is responsible for running a team to handle high profile cases.  Her team includes DS Paddy Byrne, DC Molly Baxter and DC Steve Moss.  The newest addition is DC Gary Wilkes.  Her boss is DCI Donovan. 


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
When DCI Donovan hears about the suicide of a former colleague at his last post in Clacton, he is sure they are wrong.  Clara had just called him the night before, leaving a message saying she wanted some advice on a case.  She sounded fine then.

Donovan pulls some strings, and the team heads to Clacton.  His old team is not thrilled with the "interference".  Everyone there is still grieving, and are somewhat convinced that Clara committed suicide.

However, there have ben a string of suicides in seaside towns, and Amy is starting to see a pattern.  There have been a group of teenagers hanging around the piers every time someone died, and she thinks they may hold the key.

Meanwhile, Amy hired a PI and former detective, to track Lillian's moves.  She will never trust her birth mother.


My Opinions:
This continues to be a really good series.

I liked how the story was told from the different perspectives of Donovan, Amy and Molly, as well as a young woman talking to her therapist about her past.  Although I had guessed who that woman was,  I was not 100% sure until the reveal.

The characters, as always, are the ones that pull the story along.  Even the criminals have interesting tales.  I was surprised by one perpetrator, but not the other.  There were a number of personal issues that the characters were dealing with, and it made the reader feel closer to them,  but at the same time, it sort of took away from the plot.

The topics of bullying and child trafficking were rather dark, but handled well.

Everything flowed well, and most things got tied up nicely.   However,  the ending had an interesting twist that should come into play in the next book.  I'm looking forward to it!

My thoughts:

Flesh and Blood is the fourth instalment in Caroline Mitchell's series of police procedurals featuring DI Amy Winter. If you have been following the series, you know quite a lot about Amy's family of origin and why her background makes her an outstanding police officer. If you are planning to start the series from this book, it is possible to read and enjoy it as a standalone.

DI Amy Winter and her team are enjoying a brief respite after their last case, when Donovan gets bad news from the police station in Clacton where he used to work before coming to the Met. One of his colleagues committed suicide by jumping off the pier. The weird thing is that she had called Donovan just a few minutes before it and left a voice message asking for his advice on a case. If only he'd answered his phone... A closer look at what has been happening in the area reveals a strange spate of suicides with victims apparently having nothing in common. Amy's super team decide to investigate what has really been going on in this seaside community and what mysterious case Carla had been looking into before her death.

One of the things I like so much about this series is the author's personal experience of a police officer which shines through in the level of realistic detail. Caroline Mitchell knows how to engage her reader with an interesting case, as well as giving us a glimpse into what it's really like to do this job on a daily basis. The members of Amy's team are all strong characters with their own unique voices. I was particularly happy to get to know Molly and discover her secret. While Amy's horrific past is and always will be there in her life, she isn't defined by it, and we see how she is finally allowing herself to believe in the possibility of her own personal happiness. This case has less focus on Amy, although it turns out to be quite personal for Donovan.

Caroline Mitchell masterfuly weaves together several threads and throws in a few red herrings to keep the reader guessing until the end. The pace is really good - the story isn't rushed at any point, but the chapters are quite snappy and leave you wanting to read more. The ending opens up new possibilities and new dilemmas Amy will have to face up in the next book.

A well-written, intriguing, and gripping read from page one to the last page, Flesh and Blood is a great addition to an excellent seriesand I can definitely recommend it to all the readers who enjoy the genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

Flesh and Blood  (DI Amy Winter #4) by Caroline Mitchell 

In book #4 of the DI Amy Winter series, Winter and team leave their usual haunts for the former work location of DCI Donovan. After a series of "suicide by ocean" of several men, Donovan's former partner, Carla, commits suicide in the same way. Donovan knows Carla wouldn't/didn't commit suicide and her death leads to suspicions that the men didn't commit suicide either. Soon it's obvious the deaths of the men are connected and things are much darker than just possible murders. 

Winter has promised to not go rogue and to constrain herself to doing things by the book. It's here, in Donavan's old Clayton-on-Sea station, that we learn what has led him to be such a stickler for following procedure and making sure everything is done just so. Young DC Molly is worried that she isn't pulling her weight with the team and could lose her coveted place to others with more skill and time on the job. Just as Winter is vowing to toe the line, Molly takes the initiative to do "more" and manages to befriend some young people who may know a lot more about the deaths than they are willing to reveal. 

Even though all of the Winter books are dark, this one may be the darkest one of all as we get the sordid details of the exploitation of children. Having to work this case that has parallels so closely to Winter's family past is hard on Amy at a time when Donavan is dealing with his own struggles with the past. Baggage follows almost all the team to this seaside resort. I look forward to the next entry in this series as I've become very fond of Winter and her team. 

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this ARC.

This is the fourth book in this top series, and although it could be read as a stand-alone, if possible, read the three previous books. Not only will you get a much deeper connection to DI Amy Winter, but the three previous books are also mind-blowing and cement to everything that follows. Amy winter was no ordinary child.


There had been a spate of suicides at different seaside towns, but the latest had sparked interest when the victim had been a police officer. The team head off to Clacton, to figure what the connection to all the victims could be.


What I like about this series is the perfect balance of the professional and private lives of the team. Although both are entwined together where Winter and her boss Donovan are concerned, it is very hush-hush with a spiky side which at times crosses that fine line. We are, after all, human. From the outside looking in they both carry a ton of charisma, the dream team to be envied.


The story has so many threads going on, with the suicides just being the tip of this smouldering volcano. Winters past is never far away as she makes yet another shocking discovery to what despicable depths her parents would sink. What a story this is. I was thrown when it all came together, and I loved the end, I hadn’t seen that coming.

I wish to thank the author for an e-copy of this book which I have reviewed honestly.

Flesh and Blood is the fourth instalment in the Detective Inspector Amy Winter series, set in and around the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea on Essex’s Sunshine Coast. As part of the Specialist Crime Team out of Notting Hill in the borough of Kensington, London, DI Amy Winters and her superior DCI Donovan are called to Clacton when one of Donovan’s former colleagues, a Detective Constable who used to work under him, turns up dead. DC Carla Burke had been working a case in her free time and had gone to Clacton to meet a teenage police informant one evening on the nearby pier at 11:15 pm, and both Winter and Donovan have been seconded to help the local police force to investigate. She had told her husband, Shaun, that she had back up and not to worry and slipped out into the night leaving him to look after their two young daughters. She knew this was a chance she had to take but why did the ringleader want to meet in such an isolated place in the dead of night? Feeling apprehensive she picks up her phone and decides to call her ex-DCI, Donovan’s number; well, at least the number he used to use when they worked together a while ago, but it goes right to voicemail. She leaves a message saying she had just been looking for his solid, trustworthy advice on a situation. She exits her car and heads towards the pier. Although closed to the public she finds the entrance has been jemmied open. She walks through the newly renovated doors as everything stands blanketed in darkness but she still can't see the girl. Then a silent lurker steps out from the shadows, and it was then Carla knew she had walked into a trap. Her attacker was wearing a balaclava and didn't say a word initially.

They drag her kicking and screaming towards the end of the pier and lift her from the wooden boards. She recognises one of their voices as they said: ‘Sorry. But you know a secret worth killing for’. Then she's flailing in slow motion as she falls through the air before hitting the frigid sea below. When Carla later washes ashore on the incoming tides the overwhelmed local police, led by DS Bickerstaff, are quick to believe it to be suicide, but Donovan is adamant that the person he knew while they worked together was not the type to kill herself leaving behind her beloved children and husband. Winter, Donovan and team discover that there has been a spate of attacks of late with the victim having been drowned at coastal resorts all along the west coast region, including Brighton and Blackpool. Everyone feels that the group of teenagers who are new in town and hard to track down hold the key to unlocking who is behind these sinister killings and what their motives are. This is a riveting and compulsive addition to an excellent series and in this extra fast-paced instalment, we are thrown into the middle of all of the action and suspense from word go. We continue to learn more about Amy and her complicated and unique personal life as the daughter of a brutal serial killer, her biological mother Lillian Grimes. Among her police work, Amy is also trying to help her sister to find the child that evil Lillian forced her to put up for adoption. It is an enthralling, mystery-laden and engrossing read made all the more terrifying and realistic by Mitchell’s previous career as a detective for CID. Highly recommended.

This book was not an easy read as Amy Winter and her team seemed not to functioning as an unit. Amy concealed information from them questioning why she even required a team in this book. She appeared to work independently and although she professed she does not like the praise this book suggest otherwise. Too many random coincidences with the social worker, the uncle of one of her detectives and Donovan being called to solve a crime not in his jurisdiction. I did not like the sections with Mo and her therapist. The subject of human trafficking although pivotal to the book was not given much attention and the so called suicides just did not add up for me. An okay read but certainly not stellar.

Whenever I see that this author has another book out, I am desperate to read it because I already know that it will be brilliant! This book certainly didn't disappoint. I think it makes a huge difference that the author was a police detective, all her books certainly have that authenticity but she is also a very skilful author.

Amy Winter is a cop who is certainly traumatised by her past but she tries hard not to let it impact on her everyday life, now. Donovan is a member of her team but they are also trying to form a relationship, although neither of them knows exactly what they want to have happen. Amy also has to deal with her sister, who adopted a child out when she was young and wants Amy to find that child.

As well as Amy's personal struggles, she needs to deal with a case of a cop from Clacton who drowns. Is this really suicide or is it actually murder? And why are there a group of teenagers who move from town to town - are they victims or perpetrators?

So many threads to keep track of, some of them very confronting, it has to be said, but that is why I like this author's writing. Incredible plot, believable characters and a few twists and turns, for good measure. And in this particular book, an ending I didn't see coming! I am loving this series, looking forward to reading the next one.

5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

I LOVE THIS SERIES! This book has it all; a case close to home, romance, family drama and SECRETS abound! I did not guess the who in the who done it and I loved the shock of it.

I have been so lucky to have been granted the opportunity to have access to all 4 eARCs in the series. This year I am struggling to read without an audiobook and was so excited that Kindle Unlimited had Flesh and Blood available to read and listen, so I got to start listening on release day!

I enjoyed this book, I felt it was an emotional read which got anger, sorrow, and sadness flowing through it, which in my book makes for a good read.
DI Winter has a cracking team and a dysfunctional family and lots of baggage, but it just works.
Book 4 of a great series.
Looking forward to the next one already.

Flesh and Blood is another excellent book in the DI Amy Winter series. It is book 4 but it can easily be read as a standalone, although I do recommend the entire series.
In Flesh and Blood, the death of a colleague takes Amy, and her team, to Clacton. The apparent suicide sends shock waves of grief throughout the team and questions are raised. This soon sparks an investigation into other suicides in seaside towns. Nothing seems to connect the victims, but something doesn’t sit right with them. It’s soon obvious that there is much more to these incidents than meets the eye and nothing could prepare them for what they find out as their investigation progresses.
This is a hard-hitting storyline which is even more horrifying as these things do happen in the real world. There are some brilliant characters throughout this book who really bring this story to life. They really made me think about the awful things some people go through and how lucky we are to live in a safe, secure, and happy environment.
Amy is an excellent character. I love how real she is. I always like that we get to know a little more about the ‘main’ characters, who feature throughout a series, as their stories progress. I’m excited to find out what happens next in her life, especially give that ending!
I always enjoy a police procedural and Caroline Mitchell knows exactly what she’s talking about being a former police detective.
This is a fast-paced, suspenseful, and emotional read which kept me glued to my kindle. I loved it and will highly recommend to anyone who will listen.
**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via Netgalley**

Caroline Mitchell is back once again with another breathtaking installment in the DI Amy Winter series. Flesh and Blood is dark story of child trafficking, death and corruption. But Caroline manages to balance the darkness with light and love through her amazing storytelling. I'm not ashamed to say I shed a few years along the way. Wonderfully written, Caroline has a unique ability to bring real feeling to her characters. Flesh and Blood is my favourite book this year.

An intriguing plot which kept me guessing throughout. DI Amy Winter and her brilliant team are talked with investigating a suicide of a police officer in Brighton. Each member of the team has their own speciality which certainly helps solve the investigation. A gripping read with some unexpected developments.

This is book 4 in the Amy Winter series and this time the team are off to the seaside!
When a former colleague of DCI Donovan is found dead of a suspected suicide, he wants to find out what happened as he doesn't believe that she would take her own life, so packs the team off to investigate.
The investigation uncovers similar suspicious deaths in other seaside locations, but are they linked? And if so, how? And what do the group of teenagers that Carla had been in contact with before she died have to do with it?
Running along this main story are the ongoing issues Amy has with her birth family, her relationship with Donovan and new, eager DC Molly.
A complex and twisty plot delivered with the usual ease I have come to expect from this series, I can't wait to see what comes next for Amy and the gang!

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

It took until the 4th book in Caroline Mitchell's DI Amy Winter series to figure out how to read the series without losing sleep. I started reading it first thing in the morning. Her novels are brilliantly written police procedurals, full of exciting characters and backstories, that are hard to put down.

As with the prior three installments, Flesh and Blood, focuses on Amy Winter's professional life and personal life. This time her team is tasked with investigating a wave of apparent suicides at several seaside resorts. The main reason her team travels to Clacton is it is Winter's boss’s, DCI Donovan, a prior partner who is the latest apparent suicide victim.

After the team's last case and ensuing news coverage, their profile has gone up, and they are under the microscope by the press, public, and their higherups. ​Their presence and help are not welcomed in Clacton, but Amy, as usual, plows on and is determined to find the truth...no matter where or who they need to investigate.

Mitchell has established a well-formed world around DI WInter's childhood, biological and adoptive parents, work, and personal life. It would be remiss to not read the series from the beginning.

This 200-word review will be published on Philomathinphila.com.

Flesh And Blood is the fourth book in a new series by bestselling author Caroline Mitchell, a police procedural, featuring DI Amy Winter, the daughter of a serial killer. Another winner!

The books in the DI Amy Winter Series include:
Truth and Lies (Book 1)
The Secret Child (Book 2)
Left For Dead (Book 3)
Flesh And Blood (Book 4)

I would recommend that you read the novels in the series in sequence, as there is a lot of references to previous storylines, and it would be easier to follow, and understand Amy and her background. DI Amy Winter is the daughter of a serial killer, Lillian Grime, a serial killer who has just been released from prison. Amy had grown up in a dysfunctional family under neglect and abuse in the household. Amy pushes the boundaries of police procedure.

A string of suicides at local seaside towns. A community in terror. It had been five years since DCI Donovan had worked in Clacton, living in London, with a new position of DCI of a specialist crime team, and in a relationship with his partner, DI Amy Winter. Now Donovan and his team were off to Clacton to hunt down a killer, who had killed his former colleague, Carla Burke, a detective.

Carla would never have committed suicide. She was terrified of the sea. DI Amy Winter suspects things are not what they seem, possible foul play may be involved. Something is wrong.

No one in the community is willing to talk. Someone knows more than they are letting on, but Amy’s questions are met with resistance. A group of mysterious teenagers might hold the answer, but they are afraid to talk.

Amy must confront her dark past if she is to solve the crimes, before more bodies are washed up.

This was another fast-paced police procedural novel with complex plot, lots of twists and turns and well-developed characters. The author’s previous experience as a police detective enriches the overall quality of the novel.

Many thanks to the author, Amazon Publishing and Net Galley for my digital copy.

This, the fourth book in the DI Amy Winter series, takes the team to Clacton to investigate a possible link between a series of suicides in coastal resorts. Although this is the fourth book in the series, it is the first that I have read and I found it thoroughly enjoyable. For that reason, I initially found the relationships between some of the characters a little difficult to get to grips with. However, that's my fault for not starting at the beginning!

The plot is well thought through and the characters are well drawn, I liked the team and the interaction between them. As I was reading the book forensically, I did pick up on one or two minor points (in fact, I made twenty notes on my Kindle) but that really was just me being ultra picky. There is one slight error in the timeline that confused me slightly, but not enough to spoil the book.

I would have no hesitation in recommending this book BUT I would say that if you enjoy reading police procedural series, start at the beginning and read all of them...it's too late for me now, there are too many spoilers in this book to make it worthwhile reading the first three, but on the basis of this book, I am sure I would have enjoyed the whole series.

This was a great addition to the series. It had an intriguing plot and interestimg characters. Looking forward to reading more

Growing up I often found my parents to be real pains in the neck. I mean serious pains; curfews, chores, questions about where I was going and with whom. After reading the terrific Flesh and Blood at least I can be reminded and consoled that I wasn’t raised by a pair of abusive serial killers until age five. This is the background D.I. Amy Winters contends with ever since her adoptive father died a few years ago and her past came to light. A past she had managed to totally forget, until it started to forcefully emerge in book one of the outstanding Amy Winter series.
In the third book, Left for Dead, Amy and her team became well-known after DCI Donovan’s daughter made a TV documentary about them. With the fame came a lot more pressure, and the tendency of the brass to give Amy and her team high profile cases.
Amy and her team move to Clacton-by the–Sea to investigate the death of one of DCI Donovan’s former co-workers, Carla Burke. Carla’s death has been ruled a suicide, but Donovan knows without a doubt that Carla has been murdered. Amy is quickly able to tie Carla’s death to other seaside deaths that have been ruled suicides.
As always Mitchell, a former CID officer, has made the actual police work, sound mostly interesting, yet at times truthfully boring –ay-yi-yi all that paperwork and documentation of every action, not to mention the most boring job of all, surveillance.
Mitchell skillfully ties Amy’s nightmare mother and family into the present book without stretching the imagination. Amy is forced into maintaining connections to her newly found family because there are children involved, plus Amy’s sister-whom she actually loves- is married to one of her co-workers.
The subplot of Amy looking for her sister’s child, given up for adoption immediately after birth, has a surprising twist. Flesh and Blood has more than one surprising twist; surprising, but not from left field without any foundation.
Sadly, the only non-twist is figuring out the killer(s). Don’t worry, watching Amy and team come to the same conclusion is well worth the ride, Flesh and Blood, has great depth to it
I also think Mitchell did a great job handling the tender love story of Donovan and Amy. No great drama, just two grownups coming to terms with their feelings and the complications of Donovan being her boss.
Flesh and Blood explores more of the backgrounds of Amy’s co-workers. They have always been a part of the stories, but most have been a bit of a blank state, with Mitchell only slowly revealing their backgrounds and their sins.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC for review purposes.

Was really looking forward to reading this book as I’d devoured the previous ones in the series. Whenever I see that this author has another book out, I am desperate to read it because I already know that it will be brilliant! This book certainly didn't disappoint. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This novel goes in so many directions with so many stories, I found it difficult to keep track. This is a character driven novel with some intriguing characters. Others are just not likeable. Serial killer...work place romance...family dynamics...friendship...despair...a multitude of happenings. The book was sent to me on Kindle by Netgalley for review. Although it is not a favorite, something kept pulling me back to the story.

I love the Amy Winter series, so was delighted to get this latest one. It certainly didn't disappoint! Amy and her team are moved out to Clacton to investigate the apparent suicide of a police officer. They have good reason to suspect foul play. The officer in question was on to something, but somebody clearly wanted to stop her. A group of homeless teenagers could hold the key but they are terrified of talking. Another great page turner which will keep you guessing to the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

**Flesh and Blood by Caroline Mitchell**

In book No. 4 of the DI Amy Winter series, Amy who is usually stationed is Notting Hill ends up in Clacton-on-Sea after a few suicides take place in the seaside town and surrounds including Carla, DCI Donovan’s former partner. Carla left a voicemail on Donovan’s phone just before she died and after hearing it, Donovan felt she seemed to be following a lead rather than contemplating taking her own life. Donovan is racked that he didn’t pick up Carla’s call, maybe he could have saved her life.

Winter suspects that this and the other deaths may be linked. While trying to solve the case, Lillian, Amy’s mother is in the background, always reminding her of her awful childhood memories.

This is another exciting, gripping mystery thriller from Caroline Mitchell. Surprises and twists galore thrown in make it a gripping read. Recommend this for a great page turner!

I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and Amazon Publishing UK for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

After reading this book, I wish I would have read the former books in the series.

A string of suicides, or so they appear, leads one detective back to his stomping ground. Certain his ex co-worker did not commit suicide, he sets out to find the real answers.

This book has a lot going on. Police procedure, romance and mystery.

Will a group of teenagers hold the key to the truth?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a digital copy of this book!

Really enjoyed reading this book as an avid reader of Caroline Mitchell. I won’t give any spoilers but this book made me download all the other titles to read.

When police officer Carla is found dead pulled from the sea in an apparent suicide her old colleague D.I Donovan doesn’t believe she would kill herself.
There has also been some suicides in seaside towns and they wonder wether there is a link between them.
D.I. Donovan , D.I Amy Winter and ther team head to Claiton where Carla was from to help with the case.
This is a great book there is also some other things going on within the team
Thanks NetGalley

The fourth book in the DI Amy Winter series is back! Amy's fame and Donovan's ties to a victim lead the team to another case. I enjoyed the police legwork, but somehow felt like the ending was completely too unexpected. Usually I enjoy trying to guess who did it, but this left me confused the whole time. Overall, I still enjoyed it. Does go a bit into icky subject matter, but thankfully only a few, very minor specifics.

This is a great series. Amy Winter is such an interesting and lovable character. This can be read on its own but I recommend reading in order so that you can get Amy and her family's backstory. There are so many great characters in this series and I love getting to know them all better. I also like that we still get to learn more about Amy’s family without it taking over or distracting from the rest of the plot.

The case in this one had me hooked. Every time I thought I had figured things out I was proved wrong. Especially about Mo whose therapy sessions we get to witness. I also had no idea who the bad guy was and the reveal was such a surprise but also made sense. It’s so well written and keeps you gripped until the very end. Definitely looking forward to more from this series.

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this early release. Took me a long time to get into this compared the previous Amy Winter stories. A lot of explanations of the earlier books too that wasn’t really needed if you’d read them. Overall a good novel, but the last 50% made up for the slow start.

A good fast paced thriller. DI Amy winters and team investigate a series of suicides that seem suspect. An officer from Donavan's old team is the latest victim. Its a race against the clock to find out what's going on. The plot is great on its own but made even better by delving into Amy's past and her relation ship with her serial killer mum.
The characters are very real and the relationship being Amy and Donavan is developing nicely. I found this an easy book to follow and a good solid thriller

Wow, this book was like a rollercoaster, Amy, Donovan and their team go to Clacton after one of Donovan's old colleagues is found in a supposed suicide, he's adamant she wouldn't do that, they here of several other similar "suicides" in seaside towns and seek to find a link.
Young people being trafficked, colleagues who can't be trusted, Amy helping her sister find her child, their mum in hospital, Amy and Donovan's relationship developing. Action packed from start to finish

Another hit from Caroline Mitchell! I love the Amy Winter series and this one did not disappoint. I am invested in Amy and her story and I can't wait to see what is next!

This book had way too much going on in all different directions and the ending was absolutely terrible. I know it’s a series, but definitely NOT worth the read. #fleshandblood #netgalley

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to read this one based on the blurb, but in the end was left a little disappointed.

The book started off quite well but after a while I started to lose interest and it just didn’t grab me as I had hoped it would. To be fair to the author this is the fourth instalment in the DI Amy Winter series, but the first one that I had read. For me it didn’t quite stand on its own as a novel, but then again maybe it wasn’t meant to. As it was I felt like I was missing important parts of the back story of the some of the characters, particularly of Amy herself and her relationship with Lillian, that would have made the story easier to follow and therefore more enjoyable. As it was the story didn’t flow for me, some of the different strands (Mo and her therapy sessions, the gang of teens) didn’t come together well, and there were times when I didn’t see how one event had led to another, almost as if I had missed a chapter in between.

However, I did enjoy the author’s style of writing. She puts her own experiences as a police officer to good use in how she sets up and describes the investigative aspects of the story, and I certainly read enough to make me want to read the first three instalments in the series which undoubtedly would allow me to make this one more enjoyable also.

What an amazing and intensely satisfying read Caroline Mitchell’s new thriller was! An addition to the DI Amy Winter thriller series, I really enjoyed reading Flesh and Blood.

While this book is the fourth instalment of the series, it would work as a stand-alone novel as the author provided enough contextual information to pick up the series without interrupting the flow of the story. I find the author's writing style very solid, as is the plot development. Her characters are all strong and dynamic and I particularly like the way she makes them believable and likeable. Also very commendable is her gift for revealing the subtleties of their personalities and relationships.

The plot itself was extremely engrossing and intriguing and I didn’t want to put down my e-reader for even a minute once I had started reading Flesh and Blood. Its dark, menacing and ominous story had me enthralled until the very fulfilling and fabulous conclusion. Packed with loads of action, thrilling suspense and heavy on emotion, this was definitely a very worthwhile read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Amazon Publishing via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Caroline Mitchell has turned out another well written compelling read with this, book number four in the D.I. Amy Winters series and although it can be read as a standalone I would really recommend reading the previous books to get the back story and character development.

This book gripped me from the start and I am already looking forward to book number five in the series.

Once again Caroline Mitchell has produced an enjoyable and entertaining police procedural novel. The 4th in the DI Amy Winter series. This book is set in the seaside town of Clacton and is built around a series of suicides....but are they?

like the style of her writing and characterisation. Her experience as a serving police officer shows through with some pithy dialogue between DI Amy Winter and her colleagues. There are some witty one-liners.
Plenty of suspects.
Plenty of twists.
Tension throughout.
There are certainly some disturbing themes in this novel.

The story builds to a dramatic conclusion with sufficient plot twists to maintain interest. I for one look forward to future instalments in the DS Winter series.

My thanks go to Netgalley and the publisher, Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for this review.

4.5 rounded up to 5 stars! This was my first Amy Winters book, and my first by Caroline Mitchell. Unfortunately this was the fourth in the series, so although the plot grabbed me almost immediately, it took me a while to work out the characters and how they related to each other. The main mystery part of Flesh and Blood could be read as a standalone, but there are plot points that clearly carry over from book to book in the series, especially Amy's backstory and personal life. I think it's definitely worth starting at book one to get the full effect. If the rest of the series is anything like Flesh and Blood, it's absolutely worth your time. It was well written, well paced, and completely engrossing. I will definitely be reading the rest of this series! Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read and review Flesh and Blood.

There have been a spate of suicides at seaside resorts. When a police officer dies Detective Donavan is convinced she didn't take her own life. Having worked with her when based at Clacton he & his team are asked to help investigate. All the other suicides have been men. What is the link that connects them? The team are soon sent in various directions, Amy has promised not to go rogue this time, but it goes against her nature. Meanwhile Molly, fairly new & keen to prove her worth is the one who is going off befriending local teens.

This is the fourth in a really excellent series. For some reason I missed Book three, but it didn't take long to get back with the team. Once again it was a good twisty read with great character. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

DI Amy Winter is back! In this installment, Amy and her team travel down to a Seaside town where a series of suicides are starting raise red flags. The detectives suspect that there is more to the story especially when a police officer becomes the latest victim.

This was quite a complex case with red herrings abound. The Seaside setting is interesting. A picturesque town that draws seasonal tourists sounds like a happy place, right? So why would anyone travel there to die? What made the police officer, a wife and mother of two, take a plunge into sea in the dead of the night? I had so many questions and enjoyed my time with the detectives as we worked together in search of answers.

The character development in this series just keeps getting better. I enjoyed getting to know Molly better. She is one of the detectives in Amy’s team who takes a bigger role in this case. As usual, Amy’s character and complex background is always compelling. In this story, her serial killer parents are not so much in the forefront although there are mentions. However, we get an angle about her sister that I found to be quite captivating and emotional.

Flesh and Blood is yet another captivating read by the author. It captured my attention from the first to the last page. Some news about the lead character at the end of the story caught me by surprise. I can’t wait to see how her story develops in the next installment.

Book 4 in the DI Amy Winter series.

Flesh and blood is quite different to the the first three books as they aren't investigating a London crime. When Carla goes to meet her CHIS she is ambushed and left to die. Carla had rang Donovan asking for his advice bur it went to voicemail. He knows she didn't commit suicide and with a few other sea side suicides he's starting to think there's a link. So the team pack up and got Southend the problem is this case is far more complicated than anyone could've expected .

As all the books in the series we have a second point of view which is Donovan and Amy plus this series has Molly's point of view.
This case is probably the most harrowing out of them. With a possible pedophile ring somehow involved within the case. All the detectives find themselves completely emerged in the case. Donovan realises that his former colleague Carla was onto something and it seems that her investigation is shst got her killed.
Meanwhile Molly finds herself taking risks she wouldn't usually wouldn't. As we follow her story we realise that she has her very own I've always loved Molly she was one of my favourite secondary characters and heating her voice was great. I feel it was used to further our understanding of her, plus she's halitosis!

As always Amy is dealing with her past and present with Lillian out of prison she is on edge she also had a very tough decision to make during the the case. I love how we have a front row seat to the blossoming relationship between Amy and Donovan. There are a lot of speed bumps that need to be addressed but it's great to read.
Amy is trying very hard to follow the rules this time not get into trouble but it's Amy and it's hard.

Along with the case we also have therapy sessions by a woman called Mo who wants to find out why she enjoys murder. I found this side storyline very fascinating. However it is also extremely sad as well..


I love this series and I recommend it! If you haven't read the first 3 do and do so before you read this one. It slightly differ from the writing styles from the first three books. I couldn't put this book down I felt more connected to each character than I have with the before. Plus the side characters espically chatty Matty. Plus sallyanne has some heart breaking storyline as we honestly I can't wait for book 5.

Thank you to netgalley, the author and publishers for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my fair and honest opinions

Another great Amy Winter book by Caroline Mitchell. Interesting storyline and great development of the characters as always.

DI Amy Winter is brought down to Clacton with DCI Donovan following a spate of suicides. One being an ex-colleague of Donovan’s, but her voicemail message moments before her apparent suicide doesn’t not tally up. As the investigation develops, they encounter a group of troubled teenagers, and the two situations become entwined.
A dark plot but such an enjoyable read. Winter is such a complex character with her own dark past, but this all helps with her determination to find the culprit and solve the crime in hand. It is not necessary to read the books in order but would certainly help with Winters background. Another amazing read and can’t wait to see what the next instalment brings.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love the Amy Winter series and this installment doesnt fail to be gripping and a page turner. Roll on book 5!!!!!

Suicides at the place where you should be enjoying yourself and happy?
This book maybe is my first Amy Winter book and Caroline's works and it is worth reading!
Just wow, please do check this book!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

I have just loved all of Caroline's books and if you have not read any of her books - Where have you been???
I can't recommend Caroline Michell's book. Flesh and Blood is the fourth book in the Detective Inspector Amy Winter series and OMG this was a cracking read.
Within this book Detective Inspector Amy Winter and her team are travelling to Clacton-on-Sea to Donovan's previous workplace to investigate some suspicious 'suicides' within the area. This book is fast paced, exciting and has lots of twists and turns throughout with a OMG ending - Didn't see that coming!!!

The books in the Detective Inspector Amy Winter Series include:

Truth and Lies Book 1
The Secret Child Book 2
Left For Dead Book 3
Flesh And Blood Book 4

So what are you waiting for if you have not read any books in this series I highly recommend them!

BIg thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is the fourth book in the DI Amy Winter series and the second one I have read after reading the third book in the series. This one is more dark and gritty than the previous one and I believe it will only get darker and grittier as the series progresses.

In this book DI Amy Winter and her team, led by DCI Donovan (who Amy is romantically involved with now) are investigating a series of male suicides that have occurred at different seaside resorts and when the latest victim turns out to be DC Carla, DCI Donovan's previous police partner, the team head to Clacton-on-Sea and Donovan's previous work station to try and solve the case. Donovan is certain that Carla did not commit suicide and very soon they find clues that point towards all the suicides being murders. These clues also point towards a group of teenagers with a connection to a child sex ring and the fact that Carla had made contact with them and was very close to finding out who the ring leader was which led to her being murdered. Besides this track, we have chapters where a woman called Mo, who with the help of a therapist, slowly pieces together the reasons she is the person she has become and as this plotline progresses we come to know that Mo has deep connections to the same sex ring which the team are investigating--and to Amy as well. The team eventually manage to close in on the investigation and solve it but not before experiencing a few shock waves first--of betrayal by one of their own.

All in all a gritty and taut thriller written very well by the author who also happens to be a former police detective for CID.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publishers Thomas and Mercer/Amazon Publishing UK and the author Caroline Mitchell for the e-Arc of the book.

It took me a while to get into this story but overall I enjoyed the mystery and the characters. The pacing felt a bit inconsistent from time to time which was distracting. The scene setting was good and the story development was interesting.

This is the fourth book in the series featuring DI Amy Winter. Amy, Donovan, her DCI and secret boyfriend, and their team are in Clacton. Carla, one of Donovan’s former team members from when he worked there, has been found dead and she has supposedly committed suicide. Donovan is convinced that she never would have taken her own life, especially when the uncover a number of other cases of suspicious suicides at seaside resorts. They discover that Carla had been working undercover investigating homeless teenagers and was meeting one of them on the night she died. Could they have the answer to these ‘suicides’. We continue to learn more about Amy. Her serial killer mother has been released from prison and Amy is also trying to help her sister to find the child that their evil mother had forced her to have adopted. The story is a gripping and dark read, covering sex trafficking, child grooming and peodophiles. There are lots of twists and turns and shocking revelations making it a book you won’t be able to put down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This was a great installment to the Amy Winters series and we learn more about Amy and her interesting team of characters. The suspense was nonstop and kept me up way too late.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Flesh And Blood is the fourth book in the series by Caroline Mitchell. This police procedural features DI Amy Winter who is the daughter of a serial killer. A really interesting and riveting read. Highly recommend.

D I Winter at her finest!
An officer with a fierce and feisty temperament.
There to fight for those who need it!
Brilliant characters story and delivery
Fabulous series of book a must read

I think somewhere in the past I might have called this series a gold standard. I still absolutely stand by that & feel Caroline Mitchell's Amy Winters series may be one amongst the top ones out there. Having served in the police force Mitchell knows her stuff & that's reflected in this series making it look & sound very authentic. Add to that serial killer roots & this is a book & series you can just never put down. Flesh & Blood was a highly addictive read. The plot of the book was so good & compelling. The twists towards the end were simply great! And after that jaw-dropping cliffhanger at the end, i can't wait to read the next one in this series!

Thank you NetGalley, Caroline Mitchell , Thomas and Mercer for the arc!

A really exciting and gripping thriller - kept me hooked from the start! Thrillers have always been a 'comfort' read for me as I can get through them really quickly and get fully immersed in the excitement!

I really enjoyed the plot of this one, and the writing was well done!

A solid 4 stars!

I was so intrigued but the description of this story and the cover itself called my name more than anything else. But after a quarter I just couldn’t get into it and had to dnf unfortunately. It’s a case of I really couldn’t care about the characters and the story just felt too slow and disjointed for me to keep me invested. That doesn’t mean others won’t love it.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A great mystery/thriller drama. Great weekend read.

Flesh and Blood is the fourth book in a series and it was fine to read on it's own but now I want to go back and read the first three. When a police officer seems to be victim of suicide and it is VERY suspicious some other suicides are investigated again. Could they all be connected and why is this happening??