"The Secret Child" by Caroline Mitchell.

My first time reading that author. I didn't read the first book.

I liked it a lot. Well written and captivating. Good characters and pace and interesting storyline.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for letting me read this ARC. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is the second in the DI Amy Winter series and follows on with a new case for Amy and her team involving a kidnapped child. With snippets back to a time in the past concerning the kidnapped girls father, the story slowly unfolds to reveal the who and why. Amy's past is also not far from it all after the revelations in book one, and it is touch and go as to whether it is going to help or hinder her investigation.
While this probably could work as a stand alone if you are happy to just get a quick recap of what happened in the first book, to get the full impact of the story, I definitely recommend reading book one before this one.
Looking forward to seeing how Amy's story continues!

What a great author Caroline Mitchell is. This is the second in the series and I Now need to go back to read the first one. This book is a total stand alone story but with such a great story I need to continue reading this author. I Look forward to reading more of her books. I did gather some of the twist before the end but no way did I get into the real depth of the why. A gripping twisty story that I highly recommend to anyone wanting an enthralling mystery.

Who are Amy and Pike? What kind of work do they do for a living? What do we learn about Amy's family and background? What do we learn about Amy that makes her good at her job? Who are Ellen, Hugh, Nicole, Deborah, Stuart, Christina, and Luka? What do they have to do with this whole thing? This thriller has a huge air of mystery to it. The things that were happening, people who died, who gets kidnapped and why? Who is Dr. Curtis? What does he have to do with everything? read and see.

DI Amy Winter is put on the case and investigations reveal a very tangled story which has to be slowly unravelled if the Curtis's want to see their daughter alive. The fact that they are slow to give information, albeit reluctant to talk at all points the finger at them squarely but this is discounted with a second child, this time a disabled one is taken away from school. The links have to be linked and then Amy may find who is responsible.

Many of those close to the children say it is Luka who is the kidnapper but Luka and his mother died in a fire years ago. No autopsy was done, no remains can be found so the suspicion is now rife that Luka is very much alive and he is seeking revenge for the experiments that Dr. Curtis carried out on him and other young children in his care. All for the sake of science and for the benefit of humankind, but at what expense to those who were experimented on..

Uncovering a story of monsterish proportions DI Amy is working against time and against a kidnapper who seems to know her every move, and only wants her involved in the case. A cat and mouse game begins and the end is surprising.

Very good suspense/thriller/mystery holding the audience captive.

A fast-paced, riveting read! Book 2 definitely lived up to my expectations and has solidified my readership for Caroline Mitchell's DI Amy Winter series.

In The Secret Child DI Amy Winter's latest investigation finds her in a cat and mouse race against time with a kidnapper bent on revenge. The story opens with four year old Ellen being kidnapped from her bedroom. Her mother receives a package containing four vials from "Luka". She must drink one in order for the kidnapper to contact the police with information on Ellen.

It's not long before we find that her father the esteemed Dr. Curtis is the real target. Why? What secrets are the people connected with the Curtis Institute hiding? Who is behind this devious plot to destroy them?

When a second child is abducted, Amy's team are in for a fight against time to uncover deeply buried secrets in order to save them.

The story was fast paced, filled with secrets and twists and made for a gripping read! I can't wait to see what book 3 brings our way!

The Secret Child by Caroline Mitchell is the second 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 Winters is a strong, rather competitive, independent woman, responsible for running a team to handle high profile cases. Her team includes DS Paddy Byrne, DC Molly Baxter and DC Steve Moss. Although Amy was fostered by wonderful people, she has recently learned that her biological parents are serial killers, and she has a new family. This is not common knowledge, and she wants it kept that way...

My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Four-year-old girl Ellen Curtis is missing, taken from her bedroom, and her parents are sure they know the identity of the killer. The problem – he died in a fire many years ago.

When a second child is taken, it becomes apparent that the kidnapper is targeting Ellen’s father and his work at a facility many years ago. The kidnapper starts playing a game with Amy, and she has no choice but to play along.

Meanwhile, Amy can’t seem to get away from her biological mother, who, even from a jail cell interferes with her daughter’s life. Adam Rossi, Amy’s ex-boyfriend is a journalist, and still in love with her. So when convicted murderer Lillian Grimes invites him to come see her in prison, mentioning a connection to Amy, he is curious. But he wouldn’t do anything that may hurt Amy, would he?

Amy’s frustration is starting to show.

My Opinions:
I am really enjoying this new series. The author continues to add depth to all her characters, including her villains. I like how Amy continues to struggle with her identity, but stays focused on her current case. As well, she takes time to look after her team members. The author has created a very likable protagonist.

Caroline Mitchell overlapped the topic of child endangerment across the kidnapped children, the kidnapper and Amy. The story is told from their different perspectives. They all suffered, and I was left feeling sorry for each of them.

Although I figured out a great deal of the plot and the end twist beforehand, this fast-paced thriller had me from the start. Caroline Mitchell is a smooth writer, and her books are easy to read.

Definitely recommend this. The author left me with hints of things to come…I can’t wait.

My first Caroline Mitchell book and it certainly won’t be my last.
In this second DI Amy Winter instalment, Amy and her team are investigating the sudden disappearance of 4 year old Ellen, who was kidnapped in the middle of the night by a stranger.
This was a truly riveting read, well written, great twists and kept me guessing.

I look forward to exploring more of this author.

Another great book from Caroline Mitchell and even though it took me longer to read it than normal because of my work shifts, I found it impossible to leave down. Without ruining the story for anyone, it's compelling and full of twists and some heartbreaking moments. I'm just hoping that there will be more of the Amy Winter series as it did end on a cliff hanger. I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the book to review and the opinions expressed are entirely my own views and are completely unbiased.

I confess that THE SECRET CHILD is the first book I have read by Caroline Mitchell despite it being the second in the DI Amy Winter series. And yet, the book works well as a standalone. Though for more of an insight as to Amy's history and what has lead her to where she is now, then I advise reading the first book before this one as it sets the tone for the series. Although I have yet to read it, from all I can gather it really does marks the beginning.

THE SECRET CHILD begins with four year old Ellen being taken from her bed in the middle of the night, kidnapped by a stranger. But the parents delay in reporting her disappearance. Why? Then her mother Nicole receives a package containing four vials with instructions that one of them is poisoned but she must drink one for her daughter to be freed. However, Nicole drinks the one that is poisoned and when her husband, the famed Dr Curtis, arrives home he discovers his wife on the floor bleeding and unresponsive. Luckily, DI Winter and her team arrive with the intention of questioning the couple and Amy jumps in performing CPR in an attempt to resuscitate Nicole. Had they not arrived when they did, Dr Curtis would have seemingly let his wife die! And he, a doctor!

It soon becomes clear that Dr Curtis headed up the Curtis Institute where, in the 80s he was paramount in the psychological experimentation of children. And one of them is back for revenge - but is he? The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov, the once six year old child prodigy of the doctor who came from Russia with the promise of a scholarship and a better life. Only to be imprisoned to participate in a study for children like Luka. The problem is...Luka is dead, the tragic victim of a fire that destroyed the institute, along with his mother Sasha. Could Luka really be alive?

Soon after, another child goes missing on his way home from school. But the kidnapper was faced with a conundrum. Little Toby was in a wheelchair - and he had not bargained on that. But it was too late, the wheels were in motion, the regular taxi driver was unconscious in the boot and the kidnapper was in his place. Then Toby's father receives a couriered package, also with four vials, also with the same instructions to choose one to drink for Toby to be freed.

It seems the kidnapper "Luka" is working his way through those who worked at the institute - Dr Curtis, his assistant Deborah Macauley, and orderlies Stuart Coughlan and Christina Watson - and targeting their children.

But the kidnapper is playing a game. And his pawn is DI Winter. Sending her on random journeys across London with the promise of finding Ellen and then Toby...but always to arrive too late to save them. As the net closes in, he admits he set her up to fail. She was never going to find the children for he was never going to let them live.

While investigating the case, DI Winter's past comes to light via a complete published account written by her journalist ex-fiance Adam Rossi, still smarting from her refusal to give him another chance, and hand-fed by convicted serial killer Lillian Grimes with her own axe to grind. Despite being under scrutiny from her team and the public, Amy continues to investigate the missing children and the links to the experimental studies in the past endeavouring to solve what has turned out to be a very sordid and convoluted case.

THE SECRET CHILD is by far an interesting cat and mouse thriller. It is intriguing, compelling and incredibly intense as the reader follows the investigation alongside Amy and her team but also the taunting by the kidnapper as he leads them on a merry chase through London.

Told in dual timelines (a real favourite of mine) with Luka as a child and the psychological experimental study conducted in late 1984 and early 1985, and the investigation - and all that surrounds it - in the present day. There is so much going on in the story with every every character playing an important role. Even those involved in the experimental studies in the past, every victim, everyone in both timelines is a fully developed character. Each have their parts to play and they are played well as each character is seamlessly weaved into the story. I couldn't find a gap throughout, as everything blended seamlessly together in a steady narrative.

I really liked Amy, and I am not usually a fan of female leads but she is what I call real. Not a beefed up female version of bad cop and even badder cop. She is flawed, yet she has strength that doesn't make her a bitch, with a past that makes this series one with a difference. Although I have not read the first book, I was given enough background to make the necessary connections and it certainly didn't deter my enjoyment.

While I have not revealed just what Amy's past contains and how it has serious repercussions on her personal life as well as coming to terms with it, it is no secret in this book. And I feel the reader is given enough information without having to read the first book. That said, although this book can be read as a standalone I believe it would be made better by reading both.

A solid police procedural with a definite difference, THE SECRET CHILD is a compelling, thrilling and completely intriguing you won't want to put it down! Even piecing together the breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story and drawing my own conclusions as to the identity of Luka and who else was involved did in no way deter my enjoyment. It was utterly brilliant!

I would like to thank #CarolineMitchell, #NetGalley and #AmazonPublishingUK for an ARC of #TheSecretChild in exchange for an honest review.

I was gripped by this story from the start. This was definitely a page turner. I read this book in one go. I really like the characters and Amy's back story is fascinating and something I want to find out more about. Both books in this series are well worth reading.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A gripping thriller a little girl is kidnapped and her Mum is given a choice of phails to drink one to find out information about her daughter. Unfortunately she picks the wrong one and is poisoned will her daughter be found alive. DI Winters has a tough case to crack firstly is Luka a young boy who died back in the 80’s still alive and responsible or is it someone else. A fast paced read following DI Winters as she struggles with her personal life as well as this case. A great read.

An exciting and ,on the edge of your seat book,I didnt read the first book in the series but this was fine as this book can be read as a stand alone,I will definitely read the first book now
A really well written book, full of suspense

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

I was drawn into this book from the first page. The story began with an intruder walking into four year old Ellen Curtis bedroom. The intruder told the little girl her house was on fire, the man then picked Ellen up and drove her away in his car.

The next morning Amy and her team were called to Ellen`s house after her babysitter saw she was missing. Her father was Dr Hugh Curtis a celebrated child psychologist and her mother Nicole Curtis.

When Amy asked why the Curtis`s did not ring the police the night before they were reticent to answer. Hugh then explained he suspected an Ex patient called Luca Volkov, who supposedly died in a fire when he was 11 years old. Later Nicole received a mysterious parcel delivered by courier. Inside were 4 vials of liquid a message explained three were safe to drink and the fourth contained ethanol. To see Ellen again she had to drink one of the vials.

Then Luca goes further a kidnaps Tony the disabled son of an ex employee of Dr Curtis. Luca starts to ring Amy to provide clues to the children's whereabouts but can she find them on time.

The Secret Child is the second book in the DI Amy Winter series. Although Amy`s biological mother Lilian Grimes only made a fleeting appearance in the book , I still felt grubby after her reading her scenes.

I felt so sorry for Amy when the press discovered she was Lilian Grimes daughter. Especially when her father had been a highly respected policeman and her brother a fellow DI.

The plot was fast paced and you feel the tension mounting as the team looked for the missing children. The story was told from the present day and went back to 1984 when Luca won a 'scholarship' to the Curtis Institute.

This was a dark tale indeed which tackled unethical medical practices.

I highly recommend this series and hope Amy will be able to separate herself from four year old Poppy.

DI Amy Winter is back with a mystery crime to solve. This time someone kidnaps the kids and this someone has dark past which is linked to the kids’ parents. Very good crime suspense/thriller, fast paste page turner without any boring conversations and scenes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

DI Amy Winters is the child of serial killers but after being adopted into a loving home she's now a detective inspector heading a team of police on her second big case. Someone had kidnapped a child. The only problem is the kidnapper is supposed to be dead.
This book picked up where the last seemed to leave off. Amy's mother is still appealing her murder convictions, trying to mess with Amy's head and interfere in her life. The most important thing to Amy is finding the missing child and solving her latest case.
The kidnapping case is an interesting one. The backstory leading up to the present day kidnapping was a page turner by itself. The continuation of Amy's dramatic life will keep me reading this series. The way her mind works and the wrongs she feels she wants to right knowing the evil her birth parents caused.

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy to honestly review.

This is a good book. I loved the gritty main character and the straightforward mystery.
This was such a good mystery.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

** spoiler alert ** Book 2 featuring Amy Winter,and it's as easy to read as the first.
Following straight on from where we left everyone,but progressing nicely as the book goes on.
There are still some questionable police practices (do you go talk to a serial killer about a kidnappers mind set,or an actual professional? Even if she is your mother???)
I really like the characters in this,and think I'll be reading the books for some time if only to find out what becomes of above mentioned mother.
Told over two timelines,a story of child abuse and revenge that didn't really offer any surprises,but was well paced and I finished it in one go on a long train journey.

How incredibly devious can someone be? The villain in this well written and suspenseful thriller/procedural not only kidnaps, he/she also sends parents vials of poison. I had not read the first Amy Winter book so I was not familiar with her back story but quickly caught up thanks to good references by Mitchell. There are some fascinating (and at times creepy) interactions between Amy and her birth mother Lilian. Amy must find who is wrecking revenge on Dr. Curtis through his daughter and stop it before more kids- and parents-are hurt. She's got a good team- I enjoyed the way they worked together. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Truth and Lies, so was excited to receive an ARC of the sequel , but unfortunately did not find it quite so compelling. At the risk of sounding like the cliché “it’s not you it’s me”, I think part of the problem was that I am completely sick of missing child plot lines, and am actively avoiding them, but they keep sneaking in even when it’s not mentioned in the blurb, and so my aversion has grown stronger since requesting this a couple of months ago. It is a good book so I’m trying not to let my churlishness affect this review.

DI Amy Winter and her team are called in to investigate the kidnapping of four year old Ellen, daughter of a prominent medical researcher in the field of child psychiatry. The perpetrator appears to be a Russian boy who was lured to London in the eighties to be one of his experimental subjects, now grown up and intent on seeking revenge by subjecting the family of his captors to twisted games, but Luka died in a fire at the institute. Meanwhile Amy’s biological mother, the serial killer Lillian Grimes, continues with her malignant schemes to be freed from prison by involving Amy’s ex, narcissistic journalist Adam.

You don’t have to have read the first book to follow this, but it helps to know the background especially the tense relationship between Lillian and Amy, as well as some of the issues with her team. One of the things I really liked about the first book was how surprisingly undamaged Amy was - too many fictional detectives really should not be in their jobs - whereas here the pressure is starting to show and Amy behaves like an arrogant diva, pushing away those who are trying to help. I found it hard to believe that she would be so gullible as to let the baddie lead her on a kind of treasure hunt around London, not once but twice, or that she would engage with Lillian at all, knowing what happened last time. As for Adam, he certainly needed a dose of karma, hopefully that’s coming in the next book!

I personally didn’t enjoy having quite so much of the story told from the point of view of Luka, although the flashbacks to his past were necessary to explain his motivations. This is my third book recently to feature unethical medical research, and again I found the scenario pretty unrealistic given it’s set in the UK. I found the reveal to also be implausible and was frustrated that the ultimate guilty party apparently gets off scot-free. One of the problems with missing children scenarios is the lack of suspense as unlike with an adult victim, you know they will almost certainly be rescued. There are also some continuity errors that should’ve been picked up by an editor.

Overall, despite my quibbles, this is still a good solid thriller and I would be keen to read the next in the series. 3.5 rounded up for fluid writing and intriguing villains.