Highly recommended read from this author, gripped me from the first page and could not put down till completed. Cannot wait for the next novel

With thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

DS Ruby Preston was one of my favourite female detectives, so I was a little disappointed to find she would not be the protagonist of Truth and Lies. However I am glad to say Caroline Mitchell's new character DI Amy Winter is a worthy successor. if you thought Ruby Preston`s life was complicated, Amy is on a whole other level.

DI Amy Winter had just returned to work after the death of her father who had also been in the police. Out of the blue Amy received a letter from The Beast of Brentwood, serial killer Lilian Grimes. Lilian along with her husband Jack killed a number of women before burying them on their property and other locations. Unfortunately not all her victims bodies had been found, the mother of one of the girls was terminally ill and wanted to find her daughter's body before she died.

In the letter Lilian explained that she was her her biological mother and wanted Amy to visit her in prison. In prison Lilian was just as distasteful in real life, but she explained she had been set up. Lilian said she would tell the press Amy was her real daughter unless she helped her get released. In return Lilian would show Amy the location of the 3 graves. Lilian gave up the graves of two bodies as promised, then the daughter of a well known TV presenter was kidnapped. Lilian knew where the girl and would tell Amy where once she was released from prison.

I was drawn to the chapter from the first page. The Beasts of Brentwood was eerily reminiscent to a famous house of horror in England. The story was dark and you could sense the fear and depravity within in the Grimes household. I enjoyed the book but I felt the author cheated when the kidnapper had only appeared fleetingly in previous chapters.

I liked Amy who had to walk in the shadow of her well loved father.
Caroline described Amy`s shock and disgust at being related to Lilian Grimes perfectly. I liked her mother who was a placid character and would like to read more from her adopted brother, also a DI in the same station.

I enjoyed the secondary story of her sergeant DS Paddy Byrne. Paddy who was suffering domestic abuse from his wife but was also leading a double life with another woman.

Truth and Lies was a great start to a new series. Even though Lilian`s bid for control of Amy had been thwarted she had not finished yet. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Thank you Thomas and Mercer for a copy of Truth and Lies for review. DI Amy Winters just lost her father, her inspiration for being a detective. She is struggling to return to work when she receives a letter from half of a famous serial killer couple. The Beasts of Brentwood were serial killers and when Jack Grimes died, he took the location of 3 of the girls to his grave. But, Lilian Grimes is still alive and in prison and ready to talk but only to her biological daughter, Amy. When DI Winters learns that she is actually the daughter of serial killers, she starts to question her own nature and worries what her team will do when they find out. While they are working on a high profile kidnapping, Amy works through her memories of the past and tries to get her mother to talk.
Truth and Lies actually has three storylines that dovetail together. This keeps the book moving at a relatively quick pace. I found some of the scenes inside the police station to be a bit overdone and some of DI Amy Winter's worrying over the past a bit repetitive so I was glad for other chapters to break them up a bit. It is a fascinating idea, the idea that a high level police officer is the daughter of serial killers and how much does nature override nurture.
Overall, an interesting start for a series, I think I'll keep an eye out for the sequel and see how it develops.
Available August 30,2018

Amy Winter is mourning the loss of her father, a highly respected member of the police force where Amy is now a DI, after laying her father to rest she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, one half of the serial killer duo, known as the Beasts of Brentwood, claiming to be her biological mother and offering Amy the details to where the three remaining bodies of those that they killed are buried, but it comes with a price, and a very hefty one at that.........Amy must visit her in prison! 

Amy always knew that she was adopted, but to find out she's the daughter of the serial killers of these heinous crimes blows her world apart and stirs memories that she thought were buried, how can she keep this a secret from her team and will they treat her differently if, or when, the truth is revealed?  One thing she knows for sure is that she wants to leave the past behind and concentrate on the future.  When a 15 year old girl vanishes from her home, Amy and her team wonder if this is related in any way and they are forced into a race against time to find her before it's too late.
 
Well, Caroline Mitchell has done it again, she has created a kick ass, no nonsense detective in this new series and provided us, the readers, with an edge of your seat, hold on to your knickers story that will leave you gasping for breath by the end of it and wondering what the hell just hit you! I loved the pace of the story, how Caroline built it up slowly, going back and forth between different timelines to reveal what had happened in Amy's past and how she came to be where she is today.  I was not prepared when the perpetrator was revealed, I was even less prepared for what happened next.  I absolutely loved the Detective Ruby Preston series and think this new series is going to shape up to be even better, I can't wait for book number two and award it a big fat five stars, highly recommended.  Caroline Mitchell, you're a genius!!!

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

The inspiration for this book must surely have come from the Fred and Rose West case many years ago... as it sounds so familiar.
It was one of the things that made it interesting.
Fast paced,with a good cast of characters,I read it in two sittings.
I'm not sure I'm wholly convinced by how police procedure works,as in how quickly prisoners got out on trips,but I'm not a police officer,so I don't know.
It was entertaining,and I switched off for a few hours. That's good enough for me.
Could have done without the sickly ending though.

Truth and Lies by Caroline Mitchell is the 1st in the DI Amy Winter 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.

My Synopsis:
DI Amy Winters is a strong, independent woman, responsible for running a new team to handle high profile cases. She has also just buried her father, who was also a respected member of the police force. Then her world gets turned upside down.  Amy gets a letter from Lillian Grimes, half of the husband and wife serial killer team known as the “Beasts of Brentwood”. Lillian has always proclaimed her innocence, and that her husband Jack (now dead) was responsible for all the murders. Now she is claiming that Amy is her daughter, and if she wants to know where three more bodies are buried, Amy should come see her. Much to Amy’s dismay, her "mother" confirms that they had adopted Amy at the age of four, when her biological parents were arrested. It is true, Amy has serial killers for parents.

Amy refuses to let the families of the victims continue to grieve without bringing the remains of their daughters home, so she agrees to meet Lillian. Unfortunately, Lillian has her own agenda.

Amy, fearing repercussions of being labelled the daughter of serial killers, does not share her lineage with her fellow officers or boss.  Her secrecy becomes a burden.  She lives in fear that this will come out, although Lillian assures her she will not tell, as long as Amy follows her rules.

Meanwhile, her DS, Paddy Byrne, is leading a double life, and he seems to be getting sucked down even further. Amy knows there is a problem, but won’t interfere til Paddy asks for some help, or it starts to affect his job more than it already has.

As if Amy doesn’t have enough on her plate, her team has a case involving a kidnapped girl, 15-year old Hermione Parker. They need to find her before this young girl becomes another statistic. Lillian even sticks her nose into this one.

My Opinions:
I really enjoyed this book. It is the first book I have read by this author, and the start of a new series, so I am happy. (I will also be tracking down her other works).

It is very well written, and you get sucked into the story within the first page or two. There are a lot of books out there with a strong female lead who has some weakness, be it gambling, or alcohol, but nothing like this. Amy is definitely a strong, intelligent, and confident character…but her biological parents are serial killers. Her fear of having their blood run through her veins, has her questioning herself. Does she have their traits?

It is not just Amy that draws you in. The other characters, whether you like them or hate them, all have depth.

Overall, the book has a really great plot, twists, and writing, and I’d recommend it to everyone!  Even though it ended with a bit of a cliff-hanger (which I don’t generally like), I can’t wait for the next one.

Amy Winter is a Detective Inspector and the daughter of a serial killer.

Amy has hopes to follow into her very respected police officer adoptive father. One day, she receives a letter from prison from Lilian Grimes, a member of a husband and wife serial killer team. The letter contains a revelation that will change Amy's life forever: She's Amy's biological mother.

Responsible for a string of heinous crimes decades ago, Lilian is a psychotic murderer. Now, she's ready to tell the burial sites of her last 3 victims, but only if Amy plays along to her every demand. At the same time, a teenage girl is taken from her home and is now missing. Amy and her team work overtime to try and find the missing girl before it's too late.


Can Lilian have a tighter grip on what happens to the missing girl, even from behind bars? Will Amy be able to confront demons from her past and be able to get the grieving families piece of mind?

Absolutely chilling crime thriller with twists and turns that had me turning the page until the very end. This is an outstanding introduction to the DI Amy Winter series. It will leave you wanting more. I would definitely recommend!

A four year old girl has gone down to the cellar where she is forbidden to go by her parents. Poppy is looking for her hamster Hammy. In the corner she can hear scratching. The little girl creeps over þo a large blood stained crate and peers inside. Lying curled at the bottom of the crate is a young naked girl covered in blood.
After reading this I was hooked.
Detective Amy Winter has been given a high profile case. A school girl has gone missing from her home. A letter has been sent from prison from a prolific serial killer Lillian Crimes who is one half of a killer partnership. Why has she sent the letter to Amy and what does she want?????
This book is WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!
I was up until 3am to finish this book. I DEVOURED it. Caroline Mitchell is one of my favourite authors and her latest well. It hooks you and does not let you go. It is like taking a ride on a bullet train. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.

Amy's father has died. She is following in his profession as a police officer. Amy receives a letter from prison, someone telling her that she is the biological mother to Amy (although her name then was different)

Lilian and her husband (now deceased) were child killers, Lilian was stuck in prison while her husband was 6 feet under, had written to Amy with an offer that might be too good to refuse, Amy would be able to finish something of that her father started.

15 year old Hermione (Hemmy) has been kidnapped, she is scared and worried she will not survive.

Amy is having nightmares, her friend and co-worker Paddy seems to be having problems at home too. Oh what a tangle web of intrigue.

Will Hemmy be found? Will Amy take Lilian up on her offer?

I really enjoyed this book, loved the twists and turns throughout, all the stories interwoven, the ending was shocking, did not see that coming. loved this book

(little competition see if you can spot the 2 tiny mistakes)

I did enjoy this book although the similarities to a genuine serial killer case were a little too obvious and the links to the protagonist a little too far fetched, her reaction to the discovery a tad superficial. I wanted to finish it and find out the ending but even the 'reveal' after the resolution a little too twee for me.

Just brilliant! DI Amy Winter is a fantastic new character from Caroline Mitchell. A gripping and shocking plot. As soon as I started reading this book I was hooked and remained so throughout. Looking forward to reading more in this exciting new series.

Caroline Mitchell evidently believes in three and done with her series. A bit nerve wracking for her readers who with three books have enough time to become fond of Mitchell’s characters but hopefully enough not invested enough to heap gentle abuse on her head for starting a new series.
Rest easy my friends, rest easy. Truth and Lies is a stellar beginning to a new series featuring DI Amy Winter. Assuming Amy manages to survive her family.
Amy has a bit of a problem with her relatives; first off, her beloved adopted dad who just recently died turns out to have feet of clay
Feet of clay doesn’t even begin to describe the horror of her birth parents, for they are the Beasts of Brentwood, Jack and Lillian Grimes, serial killers extraordinaire. Jack died before trial. Lillian has remained in prison but is making a play get out. Legally.
First off she is planning on blackmailing Amy for her help, trading contact in exchange for giving up the location of three victims who were never found. Lillian also agrees to keep Amy’s true parentage a secret. That should work out well for Amy.
Lillian’s piece de resistance is forcing Amy to look into the possibility of manufactured evidence being used in her trial and conviction. Evidence possibly manufactured by Amy’s beloved father who adopted her when she was four, practically from the horrific murder house.
However, another young girl is kidnapped and it is beginning to look as if Lillian might know something about that particular horror and Lillian is working very had to parlay that crime to her advantage.
Caroline Mitchell excels in her portrayals of psychopaths and dysfunctional families. (I will always regret DI Ruby Preston , in Mitchell’s previous series, didn’t throat punch her mother-in-law and stab her brother-law)
Mitchell is not too bad in her killing scenes either. We are ‘treated’ to nightmare scenes, some told through the eyes of a four year old. Normally I try to blur my eyes and skim those scenes. Not with Mitchell, I feel as if I should give her the respect she deserves by reading every word.
Mitchell does a great job with her dysfunctional families but she shows equal talent in showing that families come in all shapes and sizes from loving and supportive adoptive parents to mentors who never end their support.
As a bit of lagniappe, there is a secondary story line illustrating that women aren’t always the victims of spousal abuse. An ignored societal ill that I’ve rarely seen addressed.
Mitchell does a good job at keeping the reader invested and intrigued. I had no idea of the identity of the kidnapper. However a character reveal at the end made no sense whatsoever.
Thank you to NetGAlley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.

This is a really good read. Lillian definitely sounds similar to Rosemary West. Amy being the child of serial killers makes this a really interesting read. I hope there are more books in this series. I am interested to see how Amy's character will develop. This book is a nail biting read with plenty of action packed in to it. The characters are believable and are described really well. I read this book in one sitting. I got totally caught up in what was happening.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This was a well-written book. Amy, a Detective Inspector, is hoping to follow in her father's footsteps. She receives a letter from a psychopathic murderer, revealing that she is Amy's mother, and offering to reveal the grave sites of three victims. Reeling from this information, Amy has to figure out how to adapt to the truth about her past, help the victims and avoid getting caught in her birth mother's twisted game. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

Truth & Lies was my introduction to Caroline Mitchell and it is safe to say I will definitely be reading more of her work as soon as possible.

D I Amy Winters hopes to follow in the steps of her highly respected police officer father. Unfortunately, her world is turned upside down when she finds out that the Grimes, notorious serial killer duo, are her biological parents. Her mother is willing to reveal the location of 3 victims if she plays along with her games. Whilst Amy comes to term with this and tries to work the case without anyone finding out her secret there is also another case of a missing girl to solve before it’s too late.

We get to discover parts of Amy’s past as an when she remembers them. It’s honestly chilling to witness how evil Lillian is whilst coming across as your average middle-aged woman and manipulating everyone around her.

I loved Amy’s character and it was nice to witness a strong female character who was also allowed to be vulnerable. It was also interesting to see how Amy matched up to Lillian's manipulations. I also really liked Paddy and getting an insight into his life which I think Caroline handled very well. The ending was definitely not expected and it made me a tad emotional.

Truth & Lies is a fast-paced thriller with a few unexpected twists which I could not put down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be out to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

Another winner from Caroline Mitchell. Fast pacing, well written, edge of your seat action and adventure as they try to solve the case. Twists and turns that were completely unexpected and kept me guessimg until the end when.all was revealed.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc.

I feel like I'm turning into a daggum professional stalker! Another author to follow! And a fairly long back list of books to read and catch up on!! I loved this book (says a real stalker). A great good twisty story...a well and fast paced read...and some wonderful characters! I did find the sister's reunion just a little bit coincidental, but hopefully that will iron itself out in the future.


4.5 stars rounded up.

WoW.......I have followed this author from her first book she had written and read all her books. But, this book.......Just Blew me away and I can honestly say this is Caroline's best book ever. Truth and Lies by Caroline Mitchell was just Brilliant. So many twists and turns, I was hooked from the first few pages and just could not stop reading this amazing book.

This is the first book of a new series of DI Amy Winter and I am so looking forward to read more about her.
DI Amy Winter is the daughter of a highly respected Superintendent Robert Winter and wants to be just like her father. However DI Amy Winter has a secret past and her father Superintendent Robert Winter and her mother tried their hardest to keep it from. After her death of her loved father, Amy received a letter from someone who is in Prison called Lillian Grimes. Who is she??
Back in 1987, her father was on a big case trying to catch and imprison "The Beasts of Brentwood" They were a married couple called Jack and Lillian Grimes, and they were serial killers who killed nine young woman. Amy finds out she is not called Amy and her name is Poppy and her parents real Jack and Lillian Grimes. Amy saw her father Jack kill her beloved sister and she remembers she has older siblings.
Amy's world is becoming very complicated. She was adopted at the age of 4 and finds out who she is really is and who she is related to.

The letter from Lillian her real mother, wants to help Amy find the last 3 young girls that were murdered all those years ago.
Their bodies were never found by her father Superintendent Robert Winter and his team back in the 80's.
But, is there a reason why her Biological mother Lillian got in contact with Amy?
What does she want? Why now?
Amy is torn and wants to find the last 3 young girls and where they are buried, especially as one of the girls who was murdered is very ill.
It's going to be tough for Amy especially as she needs to keep it a secret who she is related to.

Whilst this was going on a young local girl goes missing. Is this connected to Lillian Grimes? Is Amy and her team going to find her in time?

Will this have an impact Amy's life and career?
Can the daughter of serial killers still be a police officer and progress her career in the Police Force?

So many questions...........You will just need to go and purchase this brilliant book. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Well Done Caroline.......for a fantastic Book. 10/10 read.

Engrossing wellplottec police procedural that was a quick fasted thriller.
I really enjoyed this book.
I will read more by this author

This is a very good book. It is a police procedural, with very unexpected and clever twists. I am pleased to look forward to this new series featuring Detective Amy Winter, her colleagues, and her family/families. Highly recommend this book and this author.