Left for Dead is the third book in a series, which I wasn't aware of when I started reading the book. I certainly didn't feel this book was incomplete in any way and would be happy to recommend it as a standalone book to anyone looking for a good mystery thriller.

The start of the book is one of the best ones I have ever read -talk about shocking! The rest of the novel definitely delivers, and I very much enjoyed reading it.

There is a small subplot involving a romantic story line with its own mini twist. I also enjoyed the backstory of the main character, DI Amy Winter so I will be reading the previous two books.

All in a all, a great book with a satisfying ending.

Disclosure: I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced reader copy of the book. This is my honest review.

Well if you are looking for a book full of tension that is also going to make your skin crawl, then this may well be the book for you. Left For Dead by Caroline Mitchell is that latest book in the DI Amy Winter series and sees Amy pitched against a killer who likes to satisfy his urges by murdering young women and leaving them on display in very public places. He creates a kind of work of art, far from grotesque, and yet still creating an exceedingly macabre tableau in which his victims are literally left to die.

We know from the very beginning of this book who the killer is, and Amy soon has a strong suspicion of who it may be too. These books really aren't about discovering the who. It's more about tracking the evidence, identifying the motive, and finding a way to stop the killer in their track, in this case meaning Amy needs to put herself well and truly in harm's way in a tense and high impact showdown.

This was an intriguing investigation to follow, watching the team as they tried to find the link between the young victims. The killers methods are certainly unusual and the graphic way in which they display their handiwork to the world, particularly given the timing so close to Valentine's Day, made me really interested into getting into the psychology of the killer and why they did what they did. What was it that drove them to kill and how could their family not realise what kind of person they were. Caroline Mitchell has created a really creepy and unnerving foe for Amy to battle this time around, the contrast of their outward charm against the sneering, contemptible evil that we know is hidden just beneath the surface. For people living alone, I think that this book will have you double checking your locks at night and possibly considering investing in a new bed - just in case ...

I really like the character of Amy Winter. She has a very complicated past, one which takes centre stage at times this time around too, as her mother, a convicted serial killer herself, is set to return to court to have an appeal heard. This adds a layer of tension to Amy's already turbulent private life and also proves a point of fascination for the serial killer du jour. It was really fascinating watching this play out, wondering if the hold that Lillian Grimes has over her daughter would continue into the courtroom. Add in a kind of romantic twist as her former 'almost' lover is now her immediate Superior, and the scene is set for Amy to be pulled in all directions, adding conflict in an already fractious situation.

I raced through this book, loving the complicated and twisted ties between Amy and the Killer, and it is possibly my favourite in the series so far. If you love a Detective thriller with great characters and fast paced action that will keep you on edge, then pick this series up. Definitely worth starting at the beginning though. You'll understand the complex relationship between Amy and her family so much better if you do.

Amy Winter is back better than ever. It felt great to be back in this universe. All my favorite characters are back, Paddy, Donovan, and yes even Lilian Grimes makes several appearances. Left For Dead, is a high stakes game of cat and mouse. Caroline Mitchell's writing will keep you rooted to your seat as Amy goes head to head with the killer.

This is my first read on the DI Amy series, and it doesn’t feel like I made a mistake of not reading the first two books before starting this one. Amy is brilliant and observant, and she does what she does best. She has to deal with unfortunate thoughts about her parents, but that didn't stop her from excelling in her job. This book is very creepy and intriguing. I seriously reach the point where I was like catch that bastard already. The crimes are horrific. The story was told on multiple points of view, but that didn't bother me (usually, it does) the author did great on that as well, it is not confusing, it’s direct to the point. I like it.

I have read quite a few books from this author, enjoyed them all and this was no exception. I found it to be an excellent read with good, well developed characters and it kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

This book held my interest throughout and I have no hesitation in recommending this exciting read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I liked the first book in this series and love the second. The characters have really developed especially Amy the main character. I took a while to warm to her in the first book but book really brings her fiery and strong personality out. the short chapters are great for when you have a busy life style and need to put the book down, with that said, this book is so hard to put down but the short chapters do help if you must.
The background story with Amy's biological parents is engaging and fits well into the main plot.
I see these books becoming my new favourite female hero.

The image of a dead body posed as a mannequin in a bridal shop is one of the creepiest and cleverest murder scenes I've encountered for a while. It's stayed with me since I read Left for Dead (which was about a month ago - I'm way behind on reviews), as has the book as a whole because it's really good.
What did I like about it? The central character Amy Winter for a start. This is the third book in a series - the others are crackers too - and she makes a great main protagonist. She's smart, dogged, and just that little bit messed up thanks to a crappy childhood that you'll need to read book one to find out more about.
These traits mean she won't let go of a case till she's solved it. They also mean she has a tendency to put herself in danger. Which brings me to my second 'like', the suspense that runs through the book. It does keep you on the edge of your seat, even though you know who the killer is from the beginning. This is hard to do and I think Caroline Mitchell should be commended for doing it so well.
And that leads me quite nicely into the third main reason I enjoyed this book. The writing. Caroline Mitchell is good. She paints a great picture and makes you believe in what is happening on the page. If the book I'd read before it hadn't been so mediocre, I may not have realised just how good. It definitely made a sharp contrast. And it's why - if I used a star rating - I'd definitely go for five stars. A great read and highly recommended.

This is the third book in the DI Amy Winter series but it can be read as a stand-alone. It is set around London and Essex. DI Amy Winter stumbles across a stunning shop window display featuring a very lifelike mannequin. Then Amy spots blood dripping from it’s mouth. Get ready for another British crime thriller from Caroline Mitchell.

I thought Left For Dead got off to a very exciting start as the posing of the victim was unusual. I liked how there were chapters devoted to the point of view of the bad guy. The moods the bad guy shared with the reader were creepy and very dark. I still can’t get that song out of my head, Push the Button by the Sugababes.

I liked once again how Caroline captured the cultures within the police service, the interview techniques they use and the regulations they must consider like RIPA - Regulation of Investigatory Powers. Once again mention was made of Amy’s pet, Dotty the Pug.

Sadly Left For Dead follows the format of the second DI Amy Winter book, The Secret Child by switching backwards and forwards in time, letting the reader know a lot more than DI Amy Winter and her team. Yet again the story is bulked out by the appeal of Amy’s birth mother Lillian Grimes. This drags the story down and makes it become a soap opera. I found Left For Dead not as good as her previous books and simply a run of the mill crime drama. From an amazing start Left For Dead became an OKAY read, which I did not enjoy as much as her other books, so it gets a middle score of 3 stars from me.

Another brilliant book in the series by Caroline Mitchell. Fantastic and I would highly recommend this authors books, particularly this series. Brilliant and not for the faint hearted.

Book Review: Left For Dead (DI Amy Winter #3) by Caroline Mitchell
(Published by Thomas & Mercer)

4.25 Stars

The third iteration of Caroline Mitchell's gripping detective thriller series of the biological daughter of notorious serial killers cum London detective, Amy Winter, culminates in a confrontation with the devil - herself.

(Readers definitely have to read the first two books to understand nuances and fully enjoy the series.)

The "Poppy, Dotty and Lilian" show momentarily takes backstage to a delicious soup-and-bones serial killer plot - a slippery, sadistic pervert engaged in the macabre, wreaking havoc in the guise of an up-and-coming marketing executive.

The devious plot then reverts back to a finále, for which the author nicely sets the stage in what can only be the final showdown in Amy Winter's career - and life - which promises to be a breathtaking follow-up novel.

* * * * *

What makes the author's compelling and lends it authenticity may stem from her own real life experience as a former Crime Investigation Department (CID) specialist dealing with vulnerable high-risk victims of domestic abuse and serious sexual offences.

Insubordination as second nature. And yet, Caroline Mitchell doesn't neglect to keep it real, keep it human. Indeed, Amy Winter has her flaws, is at times an embarrassment to herself with a propensity to act on gut instinct, is beset with bitterness, intradepartmental police politics seemingly bypassed for a promotion, is ever so often bored down to mindlessly watching Netflix, - and then there's this lingering deep longing for a relationship and affection.

Yes, I do definitely anticipate that fourth novel, an impending fine read!

Review based on an e-galley ARC from Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley.

Caroline has done it again.
Just finished this book and will be checking under my bed before I get in it for a while.
3rd in the Amy Winter series, we follow the case as she hunts for The Loveheart Killer. While out shopping with her sister, they look into a window display and Amy spots something isn’t right. The dummy is in fact a dead body.

We meet wealthy business man Samual Black owner of Black Media the company behind the Display. On the outside he appears to be a family man but Amy sees beneath this facade and is determined to put his crimes to an end

This is book 3 of the series, after Truth and Lies and The Secret Child, and the first I had read of the series. Sometimes I realize I have read so many British police procedurals, that I THINK I have started a series, when actually I haven't, it's just similar. That was the case with this book! But now, I want to go back and read the previous 2 books! Yeah, more books for the reading list!

DI Winter is an interesting character- the child of not 1 but 2 serial killers, she now faces the unlikely thought of her motehr being freed. She's adamant it is a con her mother is playing on the public, but her sisters think otherwise. Meanwhile she gets drawn into a case that is starting to seem eerily familiar, to that of her parents' crimes. It's the perfect set up for a writer, and reader, and you know as the moves along it will turn into a race against time/roller coaster, and it does! This page turner will ahve you rethinking just how well we know those around us. Definitely add this series to your Summer read-a-thon!

I am a huge fan of Caroline Mitchell and have read all of her books. This series is an intriguing one as DI Amy Winter is a complex character and also with her background has a lot of stories to her. I think the Lillian story will be quite an interesting one as she seems a nasty character. Must read. Thanks to #NetGalley for this advanced copy. #LeftForDead

This is the third book in the DI Amy Winter series and I'm delighted to saw that it's as good as the first two. Great characters and a cracking plot. I usually prefer to be kept in the dark as to the identity of the killer, but this is so well written that it didn't matter. So pleased to see that there will be a fourth book in this series.

Oh Lordy, I LOVE This book ! hooked from the first page is an understatement, it felt like I’d walked into an all mans pub wearing just my pants!😱 you know like when a camera in a film just zooms onto one person? YOUR IT! Caroline Mitchell has an extremely clever ability to be able to let you become part of the book, or not, if you do, you tune into a character right away it’s brilliant !
This is a great solid police procedural read, 3rd book in the DI Winter series great as a stand alone but so much better if you read 1&2 first to get a feel for Winters and the team and how they work..it’s exciting, even to a point you can’t actually put the book down, perfect for these times when you can read for as long as you like!
Some of it was a little disturbing which made it al that more convincing and delicious to read.

Lots of alleyways of the book to follow but not too many to get lost in but great to involve yourself in.
A fabulous read all round you will love this and go looking for more Caroline Mitchell reads which I highly recommend you do.

Loving this series! This is another great addition to the DI Amy Winters series, Caroline Mitchell does not disappoint!

The background of this character is so intriguing and I want to know more! It will be interesting to see where this story line goes with evil Lillian Grimes being released from jail.

This was a fast paced enjoyable read and I cannot wait to read book 4! Wait, is there a book 4 ? Please say there is!

A big thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Left for Dead is the third book in the DI Amy Winter series. I haven’t read the two previous books but found any major points had been re-capped so you can certainly read this as a stand-alone. I found the plot flowed well and at a steady pace with some great characters. I particularly liked Amy’s character and found her to be relatable. The chapters are fairly short so you can easily think I’ll just read one more and then find you’ve read quarter of the book. All in all a great four star read. Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author for the chance to review.

Great storyline in the third instalment of Amy Winters. As usual the author Caroline Mitchell doesn’t disappoint...
Combining elements of Amy's personal and professional life the plot twist and turns and keeps you guessing.
Highly recommend and looking forward to the next adventure.
Thanks

I found the story quite slow to begin with,, but then found I couldn’t put it down til I’d finished reading. I thought the portrayal of the main character, Amy/Poppy was well written and I’m looking forward to seeing how she develops in the next book.

Left for Dead is a fast paced thriller featuring DI Amy Winters, with lots of additional subplots that really do keep you turning the page. This thriller is a little different in that from the beginning the reader knows who the killer is, and for me, this did take away all the guessing that I like to do (usually I"m wrong). Amy's backstory and the trial with her biological mother is excellent and this really kept me interested. The writing is fluid and the characters are really well written too. The lack of mystery into the killer was a little disappointing for me but I did find myself trying to guess how Amy was going to catch him. All in all, it was a great story and I look forward to reading more from the author.