TRUTH AND LIES by Caroline Mitchell is is a great suspense novel I Great plot twists to keep you guessing.. I had never read any of Mitchell's novels before but I will be on the hunt to read more from this great author.

This book was indeed a mystery- as the pieces of the main character’s life unfolded as the reader dug deeper into the text. I enjoyed learning the background to who Amy was and ultimately, where she cane from. The book came together neatly by the end, which was slightly predictable, yet satisfying to the reader.

After the death of her adoptive father, DI Amy Winter learns the shocking truth about her biological parents. Amy's birth mother, Lillian Grimes, sends her a letter requesting they meet. Grimes happens to be serving a multiple year sentence for the death and rapes of numerous women some decades earlier. Now Winter must put her shock, disgust, and pain aside to gather intel regarding three undiscovered victims from the monster who calls herself her mother. This suspenseful fast paced novel is for those who enjoy Tess Gerritsen.

OH MY GIDDY AUNT....Caroline Mitchell what are you doing to me! I am a massive fan of Caroline and just when I thought her books couldn't get any better along came DI Amy Winter daughter of a serial killer. If that tag line doesn't sell it to you I don't know what will. You guys are in for one hell of a treat.The author has totally nailed it yet again. I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE this book.

Right from the word go I knew this story was going to amazing which starts off with a bang. I found myself totally hooked and couldn't put it down until I had devoured it. The Story starts of with a newspaper report BOOM what a start. The more I read the more I wanted to know.

I have to say it isn't very often I have read the first book in a detective series and think WOW that was so good I wonder what the next instalment will bring. Carol has made no room for improvement and has pulled out all the punches with this nail biting, gritty read.

Impressed is an understatement...this is one of those books that I want everyone to read. In fact it is the best Crime Thriller I have read this year.

In case you hadn't guessed I bloody love Amy Winter she is a very unique character being the daughter of a serial killer. You cannot help but like her. She is a strong determined character It doesn't take the reader long to find out about her twisted mother weaving a story where we learn about her background which is woven with the plot. This is a well crafted story..... OMG I am hyperventilating just thinking about it. And now I am left wanting more.

This is crime at it's very best, extremely well written,which will totally take your breath away. Which I highly recommend giving it all the freaking stars.

Lindsay and I read Truth and Lies with three of our Traveling Sisters and this one goes on my list of one of the best thriller I have read in a while. For the most part we all had similar thoughts on this however one sister did see some things differently

For me these fascinating and interesting characters and the dynamics between them really made the story for me. Along with the mind games and manipulation played here I was intrigued and chilled at the same time with these mind games.

First we meet strong, confident and respected Detective Inspector Amy whose's world becomes to unhinged when she finds out she is biological daughter of serial killers.

Then we meet Amy's mother, dark minded, manipulative and terrifying Lillian a psychopathic killer wanting to play some dark and chilling mind games with Amy. Amy not wanting to have anything to do with her mother and her games is forced to go along with it to get some information from Lillian. We loved the dynamics here between them and were fascinated by them. Caroline Mitchell does a great job her creating a chilling and terrifying killer here with no empathy or remorse making Lillian one of the best psychopath I have read about. We were drawn into Amy's struggles with accepting and questioning who she was and is.

Truth and Lies is gripping right from the start to the finish however some of us did think maybe Caroline Mitchell did pushed that ending just a bit with a couple of the twists that we felt might not have been needed. As anyways this makes for an interesting discussion and always fun to see everyone's different thoughts.

I highly recommend this one to readers who love a chilling, evil and manipulative psychopath the kind so unlikable and horrible that you can't but find her fantasying and likeable as a character.

Thank you to Thank you from both of us to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for a copy to read and review.

Amy Winter wanted to follow in her beloved father's footsteps & be a good cop. She has done well, she is respected and has been promoted. When her father dies she is devastated. Her adoptive parents had given her a secure & loving home & her father had given her a role model. She has come a long way from her early years as a terrified foul mouthed child- a result of living in the house of 'The Beasts of Brentwood'. Her parents were the notorious serial killers who kidnapped, raped and murdered a number of young girls. Their remains have never been found.

When Lilian, Amy's birth mother, offers to reveal the whereabouts of bodies on the understanding that she will only tell Amy the police are delighted. Amy is far from happy about this- with good reason! Lilian is a very dangerous manipulative woman who thinks she has a way out of prison. What does Lilian have to do with the kidnap of a young girl?

This was a good story,looking at nature versus nurture and the steps some people will go to so they get what they want. Lilian was a terrific 'baddie'- really made your flesh crawl I liked & admired Amy & look forward to reading more of her in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for letting me read & review this book.

Grieving for her father, a respected Detective whose footsteps she’s followed, DI Amy Winter returns to work to a letter she could never have expected to receive. It’s from a notorious serial killer, Lillian Grimes, who – along with her husband – was responsible for the death of numerous young girls offering to help her find the bodies of three victims whose graves are still unknown.
Normally, this is something Amy would jump at. However, the letter contains more details than Amy can cope with, at least initially, because in it, Lillian claims to be Amy’s mother. And that Amy isn’t Amy but Poppy.
While her first instinct is to ignore the letter, she can’t because she knows, on some level it’s true. Plus, without her going to meet Lillian, there is no way that the graves will be found and the parents of the missing girls will never find peace. So Amy goes to meet Lillian, despite the risks, and despite the fact that it will send her life into freefall, or at least that’s how it feels.
I felt bad for Amy reading Truth and Lies. What a way to find out you aren’t who you think you are. And what a burden to carry – confront a past you don’t want to confront or leave grieving families in limbo. As a dedicated officer, I understood she had no choice and I feared for her mental health as she embarked on her journey. What I didn’t understand was why she kept it secret from her boss, especially when it could so easily have jeopardised the case. It didn’t sit well with me and it didn’t seem realistic.
Which has left me in a quandary about this book. On one level I loved it. I thought Amy was a great character, nice and complex and troubled, and I want to get to know her more. On another, I struggled with how the story unfolded once the truth came out, which seemed a bit off if I’m honest. Her boss’ behaviour just didn’t feel right, though it does set up a potentially complicated relationship in future books I guess so it might all fall into place then.
Would I recommend it? Yes, I would because I don’t think most people would be bothered the way I was about this element of the plot, and it isn’t a major one so it’s not the end of the world. Who is it ideal for? Anyone who likes police procedurals and crime fiction with strong female characters. If that sounds like you – enjoy!

Book Review: Truth and Lies (DI Amy Winter #1) by Caroline Mitchell

"1986. It was the scratching noise that bought Poppy down to the place where she wasn't allowed to go.." - the basement. This was where 12-year old Poppy witnessed her father strike her sister, Sally Ann, now crumpled and lifeless....

September 2018, the protagonist, Detective Inspector (DI) Amy Winters, daughter of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Robert Winter, a highly respected police officer - recently deceased, receives a letter from a convict, half of a serial killer team, notoriously known as the "Beasts of Brentwood", which addresses her directly as "My Poppy. My Child."

Thus begins an enthralling tale by the author, a former Crime Investigation Department (CID) DI herself, writing from her own experience as a specialist in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences.

The book, a thoroughly enjoyable read, is gripping, deep and complex with subplots and memorable characters - Dougie Griffith, Amy's fathers ex-partner, Paddy Byrne, Amy's anchorman, even Hazel Pike, Amy's DCI and semi-antagonist, and a cast of others.

Yet subtle, as the British, but not overbearingly so, and bereft of an overflow of dialect and flavors which may only be appreciated and understood locally, a first class job as can be expected from an international thriller writer.

Who would miss the key word "throttle" at the end - and then - who would expect such an absolutely fitting ending.

Amy Winters Book 2 is definitely anticipated by many readers, this reviewer most certainly so.

Review based on an advance reading copy presented by NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer.

Caroline Mitchell is one of the very few authors who can manage to keep me guessing until the end. From the first page, she draws you into the story and leaves you breathless. Amy Winter is faced with an unimaginable shock regarding her past and immediately her world becomes turned upside down and nothing is what it seems.

4.5 stars!

Highly addictive! Gripping suspense! Unique and twisty plot! Incredible characters! I loved this book!

Detective Inspector Amy Winter is shocked when she receives a letter from the infamous and imprisoned serial killer, Lillian Grimes, explaining that she is her birth mother. Lillian is requesting to reunite with Amy in person to disclose the location of three bodies that have been missing for years. Amy must process her entire childhood under a new light, all the while working against the clock to return the bodies home to their grieving families.

I couldn’t flip these pages fast enough! This is my first book by Caroline Mitchell and I am now a HUGE fan! I absolutely loved her writing – the characters, the dialogue, the atmosphere, the language – it all felt so real and memorable. The narrative and pace were both done to perfection. Though I found a couple aspects of the novel were unnecessary near the end, I still whole-heartedly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend! DI Amy Winter is a fantastic main character – I can’t wait to read more in this series!

This was a Traveling Sister read which was truly enjoyable for all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am eagerly waiting for Book #2 in this series!!

Truth & Lies is available now!

Beasts of Brentwood killer receives life sentence Lillian Grimes, one half of the deadly duo nicknamed the ‘Beasts of Brentwood’, has been sentenced to life imprisonment at Chelmsford Crown Court for the murder of nine young women.

Justice Michael Devine told the prolific serial killer, who denied all involvement, that she was a danger to the public and should never be released. Bodies of six young women, aged from thirteen to twenty-three, were found on the grounds of 13 Newbold Street in Brentwood, home to Lillian and husband Jack Grimes from 1972. They included the remains of their daughter, Sally-Ann Grimes, which were discovered behind a boarded-up fireplace.

The 34-year-old mother of four repeatedly voiced her innocence as she was convicted, despite overwhelming evidence against her. Evidence that, according to her solicitor, was manipulated by police to obtain a successful charge. She will be appealing the verdict. Lillian’s husband Jack, 39, was found dead in his cell two months before trial, when he was reportedly preparing to disclose the whereabouts of three of the victims. According to officials, his death was caused by an undiagnosed heart condition. Jack and Lillian Grimes were arrested following a social care visit to their home in connection with the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Sally-Ann Grimes. The couple’s remaining three children have been taken into care.

I was drawn immediately into this story. This book is a chilling thriller with lots of twists. I kept guessing and guessing and was wrong everytime and didn't find out things until the very end. This is one great serial killer thriller which was gripping and suspenseful. This was a real thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat. Lots of surprises in this one. The ending made me hold my breath and I had to come up for air.

Lots of unlikable characters with lots of flaws. Lillian was such an evil monster.
There were likable characters too. My favorite was Amy, who went through so much. She was one strong woman. I just love this author. I can't wait for book two to come out.

I read this with The Traveling Sister Group and I enjoyed reading this with them and reading their thoughts.

I want to thank Netgalley, Caroline Mitchell and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Always enjoy a Caroline Mitchell book. Lots going on and characters are interesting. Some twists to the plot . Events flow at a good pace and things get solved in a reasonable time frame .

Thank you to the publishers for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Truth and Lies, where do I begin?! The story, for me, started off a bit slow. Once you get the characters' pinpointed and the plot figured out it became hard to put down. The ending was amazing and I cannot wait to see what'll be coming next!

This book was very good. While some parts were predictable, it kept my interest and had me hooked. There are many characters with interesting back stories which weave together. The reader can connect with the characters emotionally and follow the stories and each person's background well.

I enjoyed getting to know the main character, DI Amy Winter, and her thought processes and what made her tick. I hope the author writes more stories about Winter.

Overall, a great, quick read. This novel about psychopaths, morality, betrayal, and the human psyche is riveting.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

For me this is a 3.5 stars as I felt it too closely resembled another infamous case and their daughter has just published her own story. Coincidence? Not sure. At times I felt this book was a bit convoluted with too much going on, however it did all come together in the end but maybe a bit too nicely

Anyone unfamiliar with the case I refer to would enjoy this book

You know how some crime thrillers lead up to a big wow? Truth and Lies gives you the big wow right in the beginning. And the middle. And the end. Twice. Great secondary storylines, too.

Great read. Can't wait for Caroline Mitchell's next one.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Wow! This book needs a sequel! What a crazy and disturbing ride. Lillian is one sick lady with a great ability for manipulation.

Caroline Mitchell does write some cracking thrillers and this is the first one in a new series - the DI Amy Winter series. When you realise the title, and the fact that the lead character is going to be questioning what it’s like having serial killers for parents.....this is not your average crime fiction novel.

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

The blood comes from the 'Beasts of Brentwood', Jack and Lillian Grimes, who are convicted of killing nine women. To find this out is one thing, but to be a DI involved in a crime investigation....not that’s going to be interesting!

I enjoyed the dynamics between Amy and Lillian Grimes as Lillian might be able to help the case she’s working on and find the remains of the girls they murdered. That’s al kinds of weird right there, but you can’t help but read on. Why is Lillian helping her, what kind of relationship could there ever be between them, and would you even want to see this woman?

It’s a very unique premise and the writing is top notch. Essex and London set although it’s the actions and plot which drives this book. And it’s a plot that goes at some speed. Seat belts on!

Shortly after the death of her police officer father, DI Amy Winters receives a letter from a woman in prison who claims to be her birth mother. The woman was convicted of numerous murders of young women. Her accomplice was her husband, now deceased (and Amy’s biological father).

Amy’s memories start to return of her own abusive childhood. She is persuaded to meet with her biological mother, Lilian Grimes, in order to discover the whereabout of victim’s bodies which have never been recovered.

The best part for me was Amy’s sense of responsibility to her adoptive parents and to the relatives of the victims. She is spurred on to face horrible facts about her own life because she feels it’s the right thing to do for other people. This was brave.

There is also a current missing persons case that Amy is investigating, involving a young girl.

I really liked the story idea though it never really got into an emotional groove for me. I can’t explain why but maybe the plot had too many amazing coincidences for me to feel gripped by it as much as I’d have liked to be. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was a good read but I didn’t get the punch I was hoping for.

I really enjoyed TRUTH AND LIES. DI Amy Winter is a realistic and interesting protagonist and the plot really held me in my seat, flipping pages as night turned into morning. Fans of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series will enjoy Mitchell's new series.