I will start by saying I am pleased to see this advertised as Amy WInter (book1) which means there are more books planned. Great! I like Amy as a main character, with her intriguing back story. I am guessing there will be more that comes out in future books. I won't give too much away but I look forward to seeing how the different relationships develop. So overall, good story, good characters, good twists, What more could you want.

This was a riveting novel that kept me hooked from the first page. Imagine finding out that your birth parents were actually two of the most famous serial killers of modern time and your mother wants to meet you. This is how the book starts and it takes you on a journey as our heroine tries to find the bodies of some of their victims as well as looking for another missing girl at the same time. I loved this book and look forward to the next one

Now THAT is what I am talking about!!!! What a fantastic start to a new series!

DI Amy Winter's is quite the interesting character. This book starts with a bang and doesn't let up. The 1985 chapters were captivating. Amy is dealt a blow when everything she has ever known comes crashing down around her after her father dies. Bits and pieces are interspersed throughout of her past as memories start to resurface. How intriguing! .

"The Beasts of Brentwood" a serial killer couple convicted for the murder of young women, including one of their daughters. What role do they play in Amy's life? Well well well..... Bravo to the author! What some authors lack for me is an interesting character with a past that pulls you in and wants you to continue reading about them, not so with this author/series. I cannot wait to read more!

Fast paced, well written, intriguing, twisty, I will eagerly be waiting for the next book in this series!

A big thank you to Amazon Publishing/Thomas & Mercer/NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I have read quite a few books from Caroline over the years and enjoyed them all, the first being Paranormal Intruder and I just love the way she writes.

In my opinion this is a different sort of read which soon draws you into the storyline making it a gripping read and an excellent page turner.

If you are looking for a good read I recommend you give it a try.

Well, unputdownable is one way to describe this OUTSTANDING latest novel from Caroline Mitchell! Seriously this one absolutely blew my mind!

When 15-year-old Hermione Parker goes missing there is a race to find her and just what connection can she have to a cold case over 30 years old?  Perfectly plotted and intertwined the two stories are bright together in a way that makes total sense. There was a point where I wanted to shake Amy and tell her to confess her identity to her superiors but then we wouldn't have had the rest of the story would we!

Amy Winter finds out a secret about her past;  it is about to shatter her life into a thousand pieces. She has a choice to make and no matter which option she takes it will mean reopening old wounds for her. With a dark and heartbreaking start, Truth and Lies is reminiscent of the Fred and Rosemary West and Moors murders case, hard-hitting but not gratuitous it leaves you in no doubt as to the kind of woman we are dealing with when we are introduced to Lillian Grimes!

Caroline Mitchell has a knack of writing bold and convincing characters and Amy Is no different, there is an authenticity about her that allows the reader to connect and that back story means that immediately the reader is drawn in and wanting to find out more. It satisfies our desire for the macabre, our need for crime and psychological thrillers that crawl under our skin and stay there! In Truth and Lies, Caroline Mitchell satisfies this need and beyond!

Paddy is Amy's DS and boy is he a man with a secret! There's something endearing  about him from the start and you kind of understand why he's living the life he does. I found these scenes involving Paddy's secret to be extremely powerful in their delivery and that's all I'm saying so as not to give any secrets away.

When Amy first meets her biological mother, Lillian, in prison I could feel myself recoil and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Lillian Grimes will make your skin crawl for sure. The stench of evil was captured perfectly. As Lillian manipulates Amy into doing what she wants in return for information about the missing girls it will get right under your skin. She's evil and Caroline Mitchell has got her character down to a T. The characterisation in this novel is outstanding and the author brings each of them to life skillfully and realistically.

It would be easy to criticise Amy for not divulging her true identity, however, looking at it from her perspective not only did she feel a sense of responsibility to the families of the murdered girls but she also felt a sense of guilt by association as well as a very real fear of rejection from her colleagues and peers should get background be discovered. All combined gave a better understanding of why she did what she did.

The flashbacks to 1986 were profoundly disturbing as we watched events unfold through the eyes of Amy as a child. The horrors, never graphically described, struck me to the core. This one has it in bucketfuls dysfunctional families, guilt, lies and dark secrets. It explores domestic abuse, manipulation and online trolling. The book does it so well.

This story catches your attention and does not let go until the very end, it is written with a depth of knowledge and understanding and characters are brought to life before you. Some you will warm to, some will repulse you and some will manipulate your mind...be warned. Just when you think Caroline Mitchell has reached her best she smacks you right between the eyes with something even better! This is police procedural/psychological noir at it's best, it draws you in and spits you out at the end a broken mess!

review will be on my blog as part of the blog tour

A fast paced suspenseful book as detective Amy tries to solve a young girls kidnapping all while trying to solve another cold case. Amy follows in her adoptive father's footsteps to become a police officer/detective. Amy knew she was adopted but didn't really know or remember the circumstances as how she came to live with her new parents at the age of 4. After receiving a bizarre letter in the mail Amy realizes that her biological parents were "The beasts" who murdered and buried a number of young women. Amy's bio mother offers to tell her where the bodies are buried in return if Amy tries to prove that her mom was innocent of the murders, and that her father was the cause of all the brutality. This book is one of those you can't put down as you try to solve the mysteries with Amy.

A truly outstanding read!
Mitchell writes with an authenticity that few authors can add this book is set to be the beginning of a brilliant new series. With a fast paced, gritty and twisted plot and intriguing characters I can't wait to see what happens next!

I am absolutely loving this first book in a brand new series. I would even go as far as saying this is the authors best book yet.

The story line had me gripped from the off. I mean having serial killers for parents? Well obviously you know that things are going to be very interesting to say the least and I wasn't disappointed. Amy is such a great character and the fact that she is in the police force makes her true parentage even harder to come to terms with.

So many crime books tend to have men as the baddies so it was really refreshing to have a woman in that role. Lillian from first meeting her, I loathed but in the same breath I was fascinated wanting to know more and how she could do what she had. She is very much a manipulator and you can feel Amy's frustrations with having to deal with her.

There are quite a few twists and turns which really keeps you on your toes and I literally could not put the book down from picking it up. I basically read this book in one afternoon as I was well and truly hooked and I had to know how everything was going to end. This was such a fantastic start to a new series and I loved getting to know the team. I have no idea how the author will top this but I will be counting the days until her next one is out.

Truth And Lies is a heart stopping and enthralling read that grabs you from the very first page and keeps you there until the very last. Brilliant!

Having read all the fab thrillers written by Caroline Mitchell, I couldn't wait to read the first one in her new exciting DI Amy Winter series, Truth and Lies, especially after reading the intriguing blurb.

"You can't run away forever... My blood runs through your veins. Mine and your father's."

Can you imagine having serial killers for parents? What effect would that have on you and your life? Well, in a nutshell, this is DI Amy Winter's situation in this book. In order to move on with her life, Amy learned how to suppress the horrific memories that have shaped her early childhood. However, her past soon comes slapping her in the face when she receives a letter from prison following the death of her adoptive father, Superintendent Robert Winter. Back in the 80s, Robert was instrumental in catching and imprisoning the 'Beasts of Brentwood', Jack and Lillian Grimes, a serial killer couple convicted for the murder of nine young women. To her absolute horror Amy discovers that the Brentwood monsters were actually her biological parents, the past she wants to escape, the source of her nightmares. What impact will this have on her life and career? Can the daughter of serial killers even be a police officer?

Lillian Grimes, her 'mother', wants to 'help' Amy find the remains of three of the victims that have never been found, but Amy is sure that Lillian has something up her sleeve. As more horrific memories resurface and her personal and work lives collide, Amy resolves to give some peace to the missing girls' grieving families at the cost of her own sanity and reputation. She decides to make a pact with the devil herself - her 'mother', but in doing so she will have to dance to Lillian's music like a puppet on strings. What's the real reason behind Lillian's sudden change of heart? What is she planning? At the same time Amy and her team have to solve the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl and her cat. Who has abducted this girl? And why? Can the police locate her before it's too late? And how come from prison Lillian Grimes seems to know more than the police about this case?

Well, Caroline Mitchell has done it again. She's written another absolutely brilliant engrossing thriller that kept me on my toes from start to finish. I'm so excited as this is just the first book of a series and so hopefully there will be many more books in the pipeline. Amy is not your run-of-the-mill crime fiction cop. She's a complex, unique character, the daughter of serial killers! Can such a cop function properly? Or is she destined to turn out the same way in the end?

The author has created some very realistic, engaging characters. Apart from Amy, I especially followed Paddy, Amy's most trusted colleague, with interest. I knew the type of life he was leading couldn't go on for long before something catastrophic happens. I just could never have foreseen the huge twist the author had in store for this character's story in the end.

The book has also numerous nail-biting, suspenseful scenes that made my heart race, there are heartbreaking and disturbing ones as well, twists and turns, a sprinkle of humour... and spiders!! Oh yes, I was horrified to encounter the creeps throughout the book and was thrilled to find that just like me, Amy is absolutely terrified of spiders and cobwebs and so I could relate to her when faced with the eight-legged monsters in some of the scenes.

The plot's fast pace kept me interested throughout. The story goes back and forth in time as Amy's horrific memories of disturbing episodes from her childhood begin to resurface one by one. I didn't find this confusing at all, it rather made me understand more what Amy was going through in her mind. The ending was unexpected and the epilogue left the door open for a continuation, so I'm now dying to find out what happens next in book two.

Well written and with an intriguing, suspenseful plot, engaging characters and an original touch, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to those loving twisty, fast, gripping plots.

With thanks to the author and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review through Netgalley.

A great thriller by Mitchell. Amy Winter is a superb character coupled with a great plot line. Worth the read.

DI Any Winter is not having a good day. The unexpected death of her father and the arrival of a letter from Lillian Grimes turns her orderly world upside down. Amy knows she was adopted but has pushed away all memories of her early life. Lillian and Jack Grimes were called the 'Beasts of Brentwood' as they were serial killers responsible for the deaths of many women. They are also Amy's biological parents, a fact that Amy has been able to repress. Lillian will share the locations of three of their victims, but only with Amy and only on her terms.
Amy wants nothing to do with her biological mother, but if she ignores Lillian's demands, three families desperate for closure will suffer. Amy chooses to do the right thing for the victim's families but at what personal cost. Long buried memories begin to surface and it is possible that the past will destroy Amy's future. Just what kind of cruel and twisted game is Lillian playing?
I really liked the characters, especially Amy and Paddy(a member of her team). While the tone of the book is serious(serial killers and abduction) there is also humor throughout and this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Truth and Lies is the first book I've read by Caroline Mitchell and it won't be my last. If you enjoy a good twisty mystery, I would recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Caroline Mitchell for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Truth And Lies.
I am reeling after finishing this book. This is not the first novel I have read from this author, but this book is clearly the best she has written to date. I love the lead female character and cannot wait to see where Ms Mitchell takes her next.
The storyline was well thought out and fast paced with an ending I did not see coming. I am usually able to deduce the plot early on in a novel, but this one had me stumped ( not an easy thing to do. Lol. )
If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. most definitely, highly recommend this book for lovers of unpredictable, unputdownable thrillers. And don't make the mistake of picking it up to start reading If you have anything planned for your day. I read tis book through the night. Thankfully I didn't have to worry about working the next day.

I have read all Caroline Mitchell books and she never lets her readers down but I must say this her best yet gripping twisty once you start it you wont want to put it down Amy has just laid her dad to rest then she gets a letter and her world and who she thought she was is turned up side down secrets and lies and her childhood past starts to come back this series going to be brilliant so can not wait for next one she gonna be a kick ass DI the people she works with some have there own problems and one hates her wont say no more I highly recommend and her other books as well so cant wait for book 2

DI Amy Winter follows in her father’s footsteps to tackle crime and take on killers. Ironically, the worst criminal she faces is her own mother, a serial killer who promises to identify the locations of her victims if Any plays along with her twisted games. This is a nail biter, with one of the most devious killers I’ve encountered in a book

Very gripping and tense!

Caroline Mitchell is starting off a new series with a very complex but interesting main character. The story itself is very capable of holding your attention and you will want more!

The first in what I hope will be a long series featuring DI Amy Winter, what a brilliant idea for a crime thriller where the cop's daughter is a serial killer. I have read all of Caroline's previous books and her writing just goes from strength to strength. Every time I read one of her books I think oh this is the best and then she goes and tops it, in my opinion this is definitely her best so far. Until the next one that is !!!

Every time I see Caroline Mitchell is publishing a new book I get really excited, but when she brings out a new book that’s also the first book in a new crime series well let’s just say my excitement reaches fever pitch. Truth And Lies is the first book in the DI Amy Winter series and what a cracking start to the series it turned out to be. There are so many police procedure crime thrillers on the market, so for me personally to commit to a new crime series it’s got to grab me by the throat, with an interesting protagonist, gripping story line and plenty of heart thumping moments that leave me desperate to read more and guess what? Truth And Lies ticks every box and more.

Full review to follow on my blog and will then edit this review

This is just what I needed to get out of my thriller-funk. It seems every thriller lately is a “gripping thriller with a shocking twist” but most disappoint me! I can always count on Caroline Mitchell to give me a book that will surprise me. I didn’t see this ending coming until she started breaking it down for me. I was so tickled with where she took this story!

My only complaint is that I am so done with the DCI’s who are so insecure in themselves that they can’t encourage their DI’s to succeed. That instead they undermine them or don’t listen because their ego is too large. If it wasn’t a situation that happens so frequently in these police procedural thrillers than I wouldn’t even mention it but it kind of bugs me! However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. It is definitely reasonable to see that situation. While I’m talking about the characters, I’ll continue, I really liked Amy. She was strong but was real. You could see her as more than just a cop. She loved her family and friends and seemed to have wanted to be there for them, to help them. I admired her strength under pressure and her ability to see the larger picture!

Ms. Mitchell created an interesting crew. The secondary characters were really strong as well. I enjoyed Paddy a lot. I enjoy the spotty humor tossed throughout the pages. Who could think that a dying woman could make jokes but I laughed whole-heartedly when Gladys said “... I want my headstone to offer free Wi-Fi, so they’ll come and visit me more often.” I mean, has a truer thought about death in this century ever been said? Ms. Mitchell’s writing continues to keep me rushing through the pages and furiously trying to figure out whodunnit before she breaks it down for me. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing where Ms. Mitchell will take us and what she’ll put her petiole through. This book is the true essence of compulsive read, a page turner. From the very first word, Truth and Lies captivated me from the start.

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.

A brand new series from one of the best authors out there. This is a great start to the new D I Amy Winters.

Unbeknown to Amy she started life as the daughter of a pair of notorious serial killers and when she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, the survivor of the pair, she’s horrified to learn the truth. Lillian offers to tell Amy where the bodies are buried, but Amy must concede to her demands. Her father was a well liked police officer and she is upset that her secret may come out.

Then a girl goes missing and it’s a race against time to find her. Lillian says she knows where she is, but is she telling the truth?

This is one gripping story, the characters are brilliant and I just had to keep reading to find out what was the truth and what was lies. It is a most enjoyable read, and plenty to get your teeth into.

My thanks to Caroline for the ARC and the publishers.

Wow what a start to this new series featuring Amy Winter. Having read this authors other series I can say that this one looks like it could be the best one yet.

Really love the new lead character and what a past she has. One of the most moving and action packed books.

It was one of the most gripping crime books that I have ever read. Truly one that will become a masterpiece and sell millions of copies