Flesh and Blood is the fourth instalment in the Detective Inspector Amy Winter series, set in and around the seaside town of Clacton-on-Sea on Essex’s Sunshine Coast. As part of the Specialist Crime Team out of Notting Hill in the borough of Kensington, London, DI Amy Winters and her superior DCI Donovan are called to Clacton when one of Donovan’s former colleagues, a Detective Constable who used to work under him, turns up dead. DC Carla Burke had been working a case in her free time and had gone to Clacton to meet a teenage police informant one evening on the nearby pier at 11:15 pm, and both Winter and Donovan have been seconded to help the local police force to investigate. She had told her husband, Shaun, that she had back up and not to worry and slipped out into the night leaving him to look after their two young daughters. She knew this was a chance she had to take but why did the ringleader want to meet in such an isolated place in the dead of night? Feeling apprehensive she picks up her phone and decides to call her ex-DCI, Donovan’s number; well, at least the number he used to use when they worked together a while ago, but it goes right to voicemail. She leaves a message saying she had just been looking for his solid, trustworthy advice on a situation. She exits her car and heads towards the pier. Although closed to the public she finds the entrance has been jemmied open. She walks through the newly renovated doors as everything stands blanketed in darkness but she still can't see the girl. Then a silent lurker steps out from the shadows, and it was then Carla knew she had walked into a trap. Her attacker was wearing a balaclava and didn't say a word initially.

They drag her kicking and screaming towards the end of the pier and lift her from the wooden boards. She recognises one of their voices as they said: ‘Sorry. But you know a secret worth killing for’. Then she's flailing in slow motion as she falls through the air before hitting the frigid sea below. When Carla later washes ashore on the incoming tides the overwhelmed local police, led by DS Bickerstaff, are quick to believe it to be suicide, but Donovan is adamant that the person he knew while they worked together was not the type to kill herself leaving behind her beloved children and husband. Winter, Donovan and team discover that there has been a spate of attacks of late with the victim having been drowned at coastal resorts all along the west coast region, including Brighton and Blackpool. Everyone feels that the group of teenagers who are new in town and hard to track down hold the key to unlocking who is behind these sinister killings and what their motives are. This is a riveting and compulsive addition to an excellent series and in this extra fast-paced instalment, we are thrown into the middle of all of the action and suspense from word go. We continue to learn more about Amy and her complicated and unique personal life as the daughter of a brutal serial killer, her biological mother Lillian Grimes. Among her police work, Amy is also trying to help her sister to find the child that evil Lillian forced her to put up for adoption. It is an enthralling, mystery-laden and engrossing read made all the more terrifying and realistic by Mitchell’s previous career as a detective for CID. Highly recommended.

This book was not an easy read as Amy Winter and her team seemed not to functioning as an unit. Amy concealed information from them questioning why she even required a team in this book. She appeared to work independently and although she professed she does not like the praise this book suggest otherwise. Too many random coincidences with the social worker, the uncle of one of her detectives and Donovan being called to solve a crime not in his jurisdiction. I did not like the sections with Mo and her therapist. The subject of human trafficking although pivotal to the book was not given much attention and the so called suicides just did not add up for me. An okay read but certainly not stellar.

A string of suicide-drownings hits a seaside community. When a police officer is believed to have taken her own life, DI Amy Winter and DCI Donovan set out to investigate, suspecting that something more sinister might be at play.

Sadly, this book didn't turn out to be to my taste. I couldn't get into it at all, and skim-read the whole book while seriously considering not finishing it.
This is the 4th book in the DI Amy Winter series, and I've read the 3rd one, so I knew a bit about the characters, but unfortunately, that didn't help engage me in the story.
However, my opinion is in the minority, so if you're a fan of this series then you shouldn't hesitate to read it.

This is book 4 of the Amy Winter series and, although the main story is self contained, as with all series books it's always best to start from the beginning and read in order. I really do feel you will get a better feel for the main characters with regard to backstory and development if you do this.
So... There are a spate of suicides in seaside resorts. Nothing immediately springs out as strange but when a Police Officer is the latest victim people start to wonder. Especially when she calls on an old colleague before it happens. It appears she was going to meet a source, not suicidal in any way. But who was she meeting, and why? Two questions that Amy Winter and her team are determined to find out. If nothing else, the case will prove a worthy distraction from her own worries with the release of her mother.
As with the previous books in this series, this one hits the ground running and ramps up the suspense quite quickly as the book progresses through the early chapters. As it continues it becomes obvious that there is so much more to what is going on than just a bunch of suicides. That's not really a spoiler but to say any more about what we are actually dealing with would be so I will leave that here. Suffice to say that I never saw that coming...!
There's a section in the middle where it all slows down a bit. This did not distract me as I felt that it mirrored and illustrated the frustration of the Police as they struggled to progress the case. But it isn't long before there's a break and off we go again, ramping up to what was a thoroughly satisfying ending.
All in all a worthy addition to what is shaping up to be a rather impressive and compelling series. Roll on next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Caroline Mitchell has some great reads, and this was another not to disappoint. 4th in the series. Exciting plots and intriguing characters I throughly enjoyed this story. Ideally you need to read the others in the series to get the full benefit of the characters etc.

Thankyou for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

An engaging story with equal parts suspense and police procedure. The characters are well developed. Though the initial part of the story is slow, it is later rectified. The conclusion felt sudden with everything resolved out of the blue, which would leave the reader robbed of the thrill of solving it.

So happy we have a new DI Amy Winter story. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The review is my own.

In this 4th book Amy and her team go to Clacton to investigate a series of suicides, one being a police officer that DCI Donovan knew. Of course, things are not quite what they seem. People who live in the area are not being cooperative, what are they hiding, what do they know? In addition to the investigation, Amy is dealing with personal issues. Her mother, Lillian, a convicted serial killer has been released from prison.

We learn more about the people on Amy's team in this book. Her relationship with Donovan continues to develop. I would recommend reading the Amy Winter series in order to get the full picture of Amy, her backstory, and how she grows with each book. The ending suggests some future challenges for Amy?

Why are holidaymakers going to the seaside and committing suicide. Amy Winter and her team are called in to get to the truth when the latest suicide is a serving police officer. Is it suicide or are these cleverly disguised murders. can the team find out what is happening before the next body turns up.. While trying to find the culprit Amy also needs to come to terms with her past.
A gripping read.
#NetGalley #FleshandBlood #CarolineMitchell.

Another great book in the DI Amy Winter series.
Amy, Donovan and the team head to Clacton after some suspicious deaths at seaside resorts are noted, followed by the apparent suicide of one of their own.
Donovan knows Carla, and knows she wouldn’t commit suicide so wants to look into all the recent deaths.
There seems to be a gang of teenagers that move around and look to be involved in the deaths, but it’s hard for Amy and the team to find any evidence.
Lillian is making her presence known again but Amy is determined not to let her mother get to her.
There’s lots going on in this great crime thriller and it will have you second guessing everyone involved.
This is a fast paced book that will draw you in right from the beginning and won’t let go.
A great read.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

OMG I totally loved this book, it put my heart rate up and my blood pressure everytime I picked it up. I have said before Caroline Mitchell makes it really easy for you to become part of her work. This book was the first time I became DI Winter and holy moly she has a lot going on doesn’t she?) not only at work but in her private life, could you keep the two separate? Not sure I could.
This read was like a cave of caves, suicides ,seasides and silent teenagers, what or who is keeping them quiet.?
The 4th book in the series of DI Amy Winter, if you haven’t read the others it’s best you do!
Thank you to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for my own review.

This is the 4th book in the DI Amy Winter series. I haven't read any of the previous books but this one is easily read as a stand alone book. I found it fast paced and it gripped me from the beginning right up to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

“Sometimes the worst horrors were hidden behind very regular-looking doors…”

Following a spate of apparent suicides in some of the seaside resorts along the South Coast, and the latest one being one of their own people, Donovan decides that he, Amy and the team are going to investigate it further. Donovan has a vested interest as he and Carla were old workmates and he's certain she wouldn't do this to her family, so off they head to Clacton and Donovan's old stomping ground, but they're struggling to uncover any leads, is there a link between Carla's death and the other 'suicides' and where do the teenagers that are scared to talk, fit in? Amy needs to solve this before they are pulled off the case and called back to Notting Hill, could the answers be right under her nose?

DI Amy Winter is back!! Amy and the team return in this latest instalment of the series written by the immensely talented Caroline Mitchell, having served many years as a police officer herself before becoming an author, Mitchell knows first hand how the system works and has once again created a tense and nail-biting case to crack, it's a story with a harrowing topic but Mitchell delivers it with aplomb. It's told mainly in the third narrative but with chapters included by 'Mo' whose identity I was second guessing and got it completely wrong! Alongside the regulars, Mitchell introduces us to some new characters who I hope to see more of in this series, in particular 'Denny', who I think would be a great addition to Amy's team. We get to learn more about the existing characters lives and see the developing romance between Amy and Donovan, a tough call for her considering her past. There are many twists throughout this story and an ending that leaves the reader hanging, and hoping, that there will be a book 5 in this series. I would suggest if you haven't read any of this series, that you start from the beginning, it can be read as a standalone, as can the others, but you'll gain a greater understanding of the characters and their backgrounds if you begin with book one, Truth and Lies. Once again this author has served up another cracking read and I can't wait to read more of her work.

I'd like to thank Amazon Publishing; Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the approval, I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

Thanks to Netgalley and Caroline Mitchell for allowing me to read this Arc.
This is the 4th in the series. Having read all of them it's much better to read them in order.
Caroline Mitchell is one of my favourite authors. You can always be assured of a really great read. I love how personal lives are mixed in. I always think this makes the book more personal.
I would highly recommend it and it definitely deserves five stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK/Thomas & Mercer for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest in the wonderful DCI Amy Winters series by Caroline Mitchell. 4 stars for another intriguing chapter in a series you need to read!

DI Amy Winters finds herself with her team investigating a series of seaside suicides. A police officer in town is the latest victim and is someone that DCI Donovan worked with in the past, prompting the team to temporarily relocate from London to help in the investigation. A group of teenagers may hold the key to the deaths but they are hard to track down, even with one member of the team trying to infiltrate their group. Amy's past as the daughter of serial killers also comes into play here, with her mother in the hospital with stab wounds and her sister looking for her child that she gave up.

I love DI Winters and this series. This one felt a little confusing/rushed to me - there were times where I had to go back and reread, thinking I missed something, But small gripes for a wonderful series. I loved the ending and can't wait to read the next in the series to see where it will take us!

I can always count on Caroline Mitchell's books whenever I'm in the mood for a good old detective thriller, and this series has been nothing but great so far. I first met DI Amy Winter back in 2018 and I was instantly intrigued by the background of this character. I mean, having a series focus on a main character that was adopted by a cop when she was little and is now a DI herself, but on the other hand having her biological parents being a twisted serial killer duo? How could I ever resist such a character background?! And Flesh And Blood is without doubt just as good as the previous books.

DI Amy Winter's past isn't as present in book number four, although her biological mother Lillian will never be far away and once again you will find personal developments along with a new case to investigate. This is one of the reasons why I would suggest reading the books in order, because you won't understand the dynamics and development of the different characters in play otherwise. Plus, if you enjoy detective thrillers that pack a punch, you will have a great time getting to know Amy Winter and the other members of the team in the first place.

Flesh And Blood continues where book number three left off, and while we see less of Amy's biological mother Lillian Grimes in this book, the personal developments are still there and will have more than one shocking twist for you in store along the way. On top of this, the new dynamics in Amy's team with the appearance of DCI Donovan continue to develop, and it was interesting to see how everyone fitted in this new balance. Luckily Amy Winter is still the true star of the show, and I really like how she uses her background and intimate knowledge of the twisted minds of her biological parents to get inside the heads of other killers. True, this case is slightly different as it seems to be a string of suicides and not murders, but it was great to see Amy and the rest of the team investigate and discover new leads along the way.

Flesh And Blood has a multiple POV structure, which makes it easier to follow the different characters in play. To spice things up, we have the chapters featured by the mysterious Mo talking to her therapist... I did guess quite early on who those chapters referred to, but I liked what they added to the plot and they added also an extra voice to child abuse victims. The plot is solid and without doubt packs a lot of suspense, secrets and twists. And I most definitely didn't see those final reveals coming!

The DI Amy Winter series has provided one solid and suspenseful detective thriller after the other so far, and Flesh And Blood is no exception. Book number four offers you another intriguing case as well as more personal developments, and I can recommend this series in general if you enjoy the detective thriller genre.

Book Review: Flesh and Blood (DI Amy Winter #4) by Caroline Mitchell
Published by Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer, April 22, 2021

4.5 Stars.

Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, England.

Following the apprehension of the "Love Heart Killer" (Book 3), the specialist crime team based at Notting Hill, Kensington, London find themselves at England's southeastern seaside, led by DCI Donovan, and DI Amy Winter, the team's "five foot two powerhouse who takes no prisoners".

Clacton, a popular Essex Sunshine Coast destination, is where DCI Donovan honed his professional skills as a detective sergeant. The suspicious death by suicide of one of his former constables, DC Carla Burke compelled the trip to provide assistance to the local team headed by DS "Bicks" Bickerstaff. Burke's death compounds the local caseload already saddled with the recent slew of unsolved suspicious suicides of visiting tourists to the area.

The Notting Hill detective team is on a high. A fly-on-the-wall police documentary on tv following the resolution of the "Love Heart Killer" case - particularly gruesome with victims dressed up as macabre manikins in shop windows, rendered television celebrity status to the detectives along with fan mail, and, more importantly, along with clout with the brass.

In Book 4, on top of unsolved tourist deaths, DI Winter and the team have their hands full against a child sex trafficking cabal, and against bent cops, including one from within their own ranks, as the Professional Standards Department, UK law enforcement's police internal affairs, step in.

PSD officer Daniel "Denny" Negussie Aberra of Nigerian heritage, who himself has an interesting story to tell, makes his debut.

Meanwhile, Amy Winter, the youngest daughter of her birth parents, serial killers Lillian and Jack (deceased) Grimes, the "Beasts of Brentwood", still has unresolved personal and family issues.

Author Caroline Mitchell gives us further background on Lillian's upbringing and disturbed childhood, and provides some resolution to Amy's elder sister Sally-Ann's desperate search of the baby she had to give up for adoption during her teens as a Grimes family member.

And last, but not least, Ms. Mitchell has our indomitable heroine protagonist fall in love.

The book ends with serious outstanding "flesh and blood" issues for Amy and her secret beau.

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What makes the DI Amy Winter series enthralling and authentic stems from author's own background and her own life experience as a former Crime Investigation Department (CID) specialist, a job in which she'd dealt with vulnerable, high-risk victims of domestic abuse and serious sexual offences.

Thoroughly enjoyed, and recommend this book, along with the entire series.

Review based on an ARC from Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley.

Flesh and Blood was the first book that I have read in the Amy Winter series and I just loved it.

The author did a good job if you are reading the series for the first time to give hints and yet not give things away from the previous books

Flesh and Blood grabs you from the first page so clear your calendar you are in for a treat.

Amy Winters you are my new hero!

I am off to read Books 1 -3 and can't wait for Book 5.

Thanks to Net Galley and Amazon Publishing UK , Thomas & 38 Mercer for introducing me to a new series.

If you love a riveting police procedural with that will keep you guessing, police detective turned author Caroline Mitchell’s ‘Flesh and Blood’ should sate you.

DI Amy Winter and the team head to her superior and lover DCS Donovan’s old stomping ground Clacton to investigate the death of his former colleague Carla. The death was ruled as a suicide, but Donovan believes it was murder as he received a voicemail from her before she died. Adding to this are a spate of other suicides in neighbouring seaside resort towns.

Adding to this is the interpersonal relationships of the team, including DC Molly who is hiding a secret, and the deepening relationship between Winter and Donovan.

Winter is an interesting character. The biological daughter of two serial killers (with her mother released on appeal) but raised by a police detective. She is dogged, determined and a workaholic.

There’s a lot of jigsaw pieces to solve which should keep any crime reading love happy. However there were times I felt things laboured and would’ve preferred a focus on the case. For instance the therapy sessions felt superfluous given who it’s revealed to be. Also the identity of her sister’s child was unbelievable.

Overall, I’m enjoying this series and hope there’s a number five, especially given the fallout from this case, and other hints of change in the future.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. Views expressed are my own.

Fast paced thriller with a well thought out plot as some interesting characters. Part of a series and works best if you know the back story. Lots of twists.

3.5 stars rounded up.

The book opens with DC Carla Burke from the Clayton-on-Sea station off to meet an informant late one night on the Brighton pier. On the way to the meet she starts having misgivings but talks herself into continuing. She should have listened to those misgivings as she is thrown off the pier and drowns. It is assumed that she killed herself.

DCI Donovan is devastated by the news as he worked with Carla years ago. He insists that she wouldn’t have jumped, she has a family. But deep down he feels guilty as Carla had tried to ring him that night and left a message indicating her concern. Besides there has been a spate of drownings in recent weeks at seaside resorts and Donovan wonders if there is a link. So he packs up DI Amy Winter and her specialist team and they head to Clacton to dig into the case. Carla had been meeting with some young street kids so that is one of the avenues that the team explores. Young DC Molly Baxter is making progress on that front.

Soon Winter starts to have some very disturbing suspicions about what is actually going on. It also seems that the drowning victims were not so innocent after all. But who killed Carla? And where do the street kids come in? It’s a good police procedural that builds on the characters that we have come to know. Molly is particularly endearing and a cheerful counterpoint to the glaring Winter! This is book four in the series and I think it would better to read the earlier ones first (which I had done) as the background given is not complete. This is a more thoughtful entry in the series, there is less action and suspense but i suppose it reflects the reality of police work really well. After all, the author is a former detective. Rather it is more of a whodunit and I couldn’t pick it this time. The mystery aspect was very well plotted. All in all another enjoyable read. Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Caroline Mitchell for providing a copy to review. My opinions are my own.