Interesting read if a little far fetched at times. The writing and plot helps to keep the reader engaged.

I love the Matilda Darke series so this was always going to work for me :)

*I actually didn't realise I'd been given access to this and it was then archived before I could download it. I have purchased it independently now.*

Olivia Winter is a fantastic character, well written, she has depth and she is perfectly nuanced. She's got a unique past that helps her with her job and also has shaped the way she interacts with those around her. Of course.

I'd give this a hundred stars if I could. So glad to have read it.

Such a great book, I didn’t see that ending coming! I really hope this turns into a series because I need more of these characters. I loved the characters and the dimension of the story. I will be reading more of this author in the future. Well done!

Wow. What a read. This is a book that is a bit chilling as well as very thrilling. Dr Olivia Winter, a forensic psychologist who needs to work out the mind of a serial killer. The first in this new series and we start to learn about Olivia as she investigates murders and killers. This is a book of twists and turns, it is exciting, intriguing and an edge of your seat read.

Michael Wood is a great writer and has done a fantastic job with this new book and series and I can't wait to see what he his in mind for Olivia in the next book. Well paced and I read it and was done before I knew it.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I was excited for this book. I've been looking for books that felt or sounded a little different in this genre and this book was good. It wasn't over the top and the ending wasn't unexpected, but I still enjoyed the book.

I love the Matilda Darke series and I was eager to try this one. This one was almost as good. It is hard to beat a character like Matilda. I have always found the idea of serial killer’s children to be fascinating. I was definitely surprised fairly quickly in this book. Although, I had guesses, I still managed to not be able to get everything right. The characters were decent, and I see potential for them in future books if any. Olivia’s attitude as an expert was annoying at times, but she was complex enough to be interesting. The very ending was a bit predictable when reflected upon, but my favourite murder series all have morally grey characters. Although, I am not convinced Olivia is quite there yet. I rounded up from 4.5 stars.

The Mind of a Murderer is a brilliant introduction to forensic psychologist Dr Olivia Winter, and I am thrilled that this is the first in a new series because I can't wait to read book number two.
This is a well written, fast paced and somewhat disturbing, dark and gory read, with well drawn characters and an action packed plot.
Highly recommend!!

A good read
Full of twists
You will not want to put it down
A good storyline
Hope this is a new series from this author
Thanks NetGalley

Another winner and another new author I will be keeping an eye out for!

Dr Olivia Winter is a forensic psychologist with a speciality in studying serial killers and what makes their evil minds work. Her point of difference in this field is that she is the daughter of a prolific serial killer who now incarcerated.

As another serial killer is terrorising the streets of London, Olivia is asked to join forces in helping with the investigation to catch this monster. Doing so will mean facing some of her own demons and fears that have followed her since she was 9 years-old …

Wowsers, this was disturbing but an equally propulsive read. High tension writing paced with an exceptional and clever storyline makes this a book I’ll be thinking of for a long time and putting on highly recommended list!

Huge thanks to HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for an e-arc 💌

Again, late with my review but a big thanks to @netgalley and @harpercollinsuk for my ADC in exchange for an honest review!

Truly, how could I have possibly refrained from requesting to read this, considering a title as enticing as this one? 😜

Dr. Olivia Winter, a forensic psychologist specializing in the minds of serial killers, is put to the test when a serial killer terrorizes London, prompting the police to seek her expertise in profiling the perpetrator before more innocent lives are taken. Among the victims is her friend Jessica, a detective, adding a deeply personal dimension to Olivia's pursuit of the killer.

Despite her professional prowess, Olivia faces a deeply personal struggle rooted in a harrowing past - her own father, a prolific serial killer, who wiped out her entire family, leaving Olivia as the sole survivor. Now she bears profound scars from the trauma, intensifying the complexity of her mission to decipher the current killer's motivations.

I particularly appreciated the inclusion of the serial killer's point of view, which added an extra layer of intensity to the story. As the death toll rises and fear grips the city, Olivia is thrown into a high-stakes game of cat and mouse, where she must navigate the intricate web of her own past to unravel the mysteries of the killer's mind.

This had me guessing from start to finish and the psychological aspects of a killer’s mind were truly
terrifying to read.

At one juncture, Olivia becomes convinced that the killer craves notoriety and may have been previously questioned by the police or may have had some interaction with Olivia herself. This revelation intrigued me, yet I failed to pick up on the clues, leading to a shocking revelation about the killer.

While this was my first encounter with Michael Wood's work, it most certainly will not be my last.

Wow this was so gripping it was almost impossible to stop reading and to get on with my jobs. A serial killer is on the loose in London and the main character Olivia a criminal psychologist is called in by the police to help identify the characteristics and behaviour the killer is likely to exhibit. DI Foley is in charge of the police investigation and without Olivia's help he has no DNA or witness's to help him find the murderer. Lots of twists and turns before we get to identifying the murderer and then the chase is on. Olivia has a dark past that links her to the serial killer. A most enoyable book I was sorry to finish it. Recommended.

In this book, we meet Dr. Olivia Winter, a Forensic Psychologist who specialises in the psyche of serial killers. She focuses on those who have already been caught, researching and interviewing those who have been imprisoned, trying to find patterns in their behaviour which may help identify potential future serial killers before it is too late, and to help police develop investigation techniques for future cases. Dr. Winter never works on active cases, and very much avoids the limelight.

Then a police officer lifelong friend comes to her, looking for help on an active serial killer case. Olivia initially says no. Then her friend ends up dead, seemingly killed by the very serial killer she was trying to track down, and looking for Olivia’s help with. Thrown into the case, Olivia ends up working alongside her friend's former partner, DI Foley, to try and solve the case. The killer is sadistic, subjecting his victims to horrific attacks, leaving no discernable forensic evidence, and the investigating team is at a loss. Trying to understand the killers' motivation, and the psychology of why they are doing what they are doing is key to trying to uncover who they are, and they need Olivia’s help for this.

Olivia has a complicated past, making her a very complex and tormented person. She lives almost like a recluse and has a very small trusted circle of friends. She almost barricades herself into her house like a fortress, yet takes some very off-the-wall risks. As a character at times, she can be hard to like, because she is so difficult, unyielding and keeps so much to herself. She has many secrets, and her unbending nature makes her read as cold and closed off. Her past and trauma have defined her in many ways, yet she is fighting to keep moving forward with life and find some way past it. How successfully, one has to wonder, particularly with what this case stirs up.

There is a lot of misdirection in this story, especially because we see much of it through Olivia’s eyes. She trusts nobody and her fear and mistrust colours much of what we see. It filters down through all that we read, and we can never be sure of who we can trust. It is an edge-of-the-seat read as it progresses, keeping you on your toes as the pace increases. With plenty of tension, and loaded with suspense, graphic crime, and curve balls, this one will keep you turning the pages.

*I received this book for review from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

This was an intense psychological thriller. The tension builds throughout , leading to a conclusion that leaves you breathless.
Many thanks to HarperCollins UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

My assumption when I saw Michael Wood had another book was a continuation of the Matilda Darke series (which is above and beyond excellent)! And I was so surprised at how intense the storyline was along with a new heroine, Olivia!
It's difficult to describe so much of the story because there will be spoilers so I'll refrain from that. His stories are intense (as I've said before) and you can't help but finish reading it in one seating. It had me catching my breath and wanting to figure out the outcome. It's a twisty turning plot. Great characters!

My advice to you is to start with the Matilda Darke series and believe me you'll become a Michael Wood fan for life! Thank you #NetGalley for AC copy!

Yolie McLaughlin

I'm a huge fan of Michael Wood and this is an excellent start to a new series.
His Matilda Darke series is one of my absolute favourites (highly recommend them too) and I loved the new protagonist here, Dr Olivia Winter.
Wood has a wonderful talent of creating fascinating stories and dripping the drama through the whole novel to keep the reader gripped.
Loved it.

As the title suggests, the story features a battle of wills between a serial killer and a forensic profiler. Fans of the author’s Matilda Darke series will enjoy getting to know Dr Olivia Winter in a new series written in typical Michael Wood style: gruesome murders; straightforward storytelling; and a plot that plays fast and loose with the lives of the investigating team. It will do well.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

I posted my review on my blog https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/my-book-reviews-for-march-2024/ and GoodReads.

I subsequently featured the book on my Front Page Fridays blog: https://www.rachelsargeant.co.uk/front-page-fridays-week-9/

The Mind of a Murderer is a brilliant and gripping crime novel. It keeps you guessing, has you looking over your shoulder, and won't let you go until you finish it. And even then, has its claws stuck in you.

Michael Wood's writing brings you right into the tension-filled and fast-paced life of Dr. Olivia Winters, a famous forensic psychologist and daughter of an infamous serial killer. Winters carries the physical and psychological scars of being the only survivor after her father's vicious attack on her family, and when a new serial killer stalks the streets of London, she is asked to consult. Going against her own rule of never getting involved in active cases she finds herself helping DI Foley get into the mind of a thrill killer and back in contact with a father she hasn't spoken to in 25 years. Suddenly her past and present don't look so different.

This book is captivating in the most unsettling way, graphic in just the right amount and has the perfect blend of red herrings and twists and turns. Wood warmly invites you into this dark and chilling world of Dr. Olivia Winter, full of serial killers, tension, and suspense, leaving the reader both out of breath and starving for the next page. 

If you're looking for a book that you won't want to put down, look no further. A piece of advice though, don't read while home alone as a woman living in London - you never know if that creak came from that one loose floorboard or something (or someone) else.

Thank you NetGalley for sharing this absolutely phenomenal psychological thriller's ARC with me.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

Dr Olivia Winter, is a forensic psychologist, she gets into the heads of serial killers and tries to understand why they are what they are. She is asked by her friend, Jessica and Jessica's partner DI Amyas Foley to help them find the identity of a killer who is terrorizing and killing the women of London. Olivia explains that she is not a profiler and prefers to stay behind the scenes, but events take place that make Olivia decide that she needs to help find this killer. DI Foley and Olivia set out to identify this evil man and become friends in the mix, Olivia is not easy to trust someone but DI Foley proves himself a worthy friend.

Olivia has special insight into killers, there was a monster in her past who she has never been able to understand, her father, Richard Button, also known as The Riverside Killer. Olivia's father was a sly man, he evaded capture for some time with no one suspecting his vileness. Olivia realizes she may have to reach out to him to try to get into the mindset of this new killer; but will this put her in danger or will she find the killer is closer to home than she thought?

I love this author's books, his DCI Matilda Darke series is one of my favourites and now I have a new character and series to love, Dr. Olivia Winter. Cannot wait for more books in this series!

The Mind of a Murderer was my first book by Michael Wood and I picked it up due to many people recommending his Matilda series but I didn't want to commit to such a long series right now! I'm defintely keen to read more.

Dr Olivia Winter escaped being killed by her Father, a serial killer, when she was 9, and has spent her adult life investigating serial killers. She usually deals with convicted killers, not active cases, however for a few reasong, she gets involved in helping the police solve this case.

For me there was suspense and twists and turns and I didn't pick out the killer until it was revealed. A few suspects seemed to be acting too odd to be them, like it would have been too obvious if it was - so I ruled them out right from the start. I liked how we got the thoughts of both Olivia, the expert of serial killers, and her Dad, an actual serial killer. We also got an understanding of how the events of Oliva's childhood have impacted on her and her relationships long-term.

I found it really picked up in the last quarter and I didn't want to put it down, although some events at the end did seem a bit far fetched.

I initially thought this book was interesting but the main character was not believable. Without giving anything away no one would react the way she does to certain things that happen. Totally contradictory and annoying.