Excellent book a reader can always insure to be captivated by Michael Wood's books. This one is following Dr Winters on the hint for a serial killer. As usual with Woods books expect the unexpected and be immersed in his fantastic writing. Thankyou for copy looking forward to next

If you've read Wood before, you know to expect the unexpected.
If you haven't, what a lovely treat for you!
So many twists and turns!
A new series, and new character to get our teeth into, and lots of serial killer talk (and serial killers that do a LOT of talking)
The final quarter of the book really got the tension and pacing going, and I was glad to get to the end to take a breather. 😁

I think we have a solid start to the new series here.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC! I read this in 3 days great rounded characters with twists I did not see coming. The neighbor was disturbing and I shouldn’t give too much away but I hope we see Olivia in another book 5 stars for me!

This talented writer has written a page turner. Wood pens a story that is difficult to put down. A serial killer...innocent victims...no reasoning...just trying to guess the ending is almost impossible. So many red herrings and secrets. Two friends with secrets...helping each other and not crossing lines...even the title is intriguing in this mystery. The Mind...no way anyone can totally discern the mind of a murderer...however, the characters in this novel attempt to do so. Thanks Netgalley

Dr Olivia Winter is Ann established forensic psychologist who has travelled the world interviewing serial killers to try and ascertain what makes them this way. She has written bestselling books and papers, and also takes lectures on understanding the mind of a serial killer. But she has a dark past she keeps hidden, and it’s all about to come to light. When a serial killer strikes in her home town of London, the police request her help to catch him. Olivia has one rule - she doesn’t work active cases. The only serial killer she cannot bear to face is her own father, locked up when she was 9 for a spree of killings including her mother and sister, Olivia was lucky to survive. But now, she must face her nightmares head on, and stop this killer before it’s too late.

Michael!!! Oh my goodness I have sat for days thinking about how to put this in to words! I loved meeting Olivia, her character has more layers than an onion, which as the story unfolds they are peeled away layer by layer. This story was so dark, disturbing, scary, horrific and just soooo good, sooo typically Michael! Plenty of shocks and surprises along the way! I had no idea how this was going to end! You are an absolute genius, and one of my favourite authors! I can tell this is going to be another fantastic series from you! I can’t wait to see what happens next!

Thank you Michael, Chloe from Harper Collins and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Dr Olivia Winter is a forensic psychologist with a serial killer for a father. I love books that capture your imagination and make you feel all of the emotions of the story. On a few occasions while reading this book my heart rate went up, I was right there in the moment with Olivia. My favourite character had to be Stanley though.

I like all of Michael Wood’s books and will definitely be reading the next instalment to see if life starts to treat Olivia any better (we all know it won’t)

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for my advanced reading copy.

I’ve read and enjoyed quite a few books by this author in his Matilda Darke series so was intrigued to read this book. It’s one that I couldn’t put down, had times when I was holding my breath and really couldn’t work out who the killer was. Dr Olivia Winter was a victim of a serial killer but survived. She’s made it her life’s work as a forensic psychologist to try to understand the motivation behind their actions but only deals with killers already convicted. Until it all comes too close to home, again.

The book has a really authentic ring to it, a police procedural which follows the officers lines of enquiry realistically, with the usual black humour, feelings and empathy for the victims that is how the officers cope with the things they see and hear. Both Olivia and DI Amyas Foley feel like genuine people, flaws and all, and the people around them are well drawn too. Another. cracking read by this author and hopefully the start of a new series for Olivia.

Thanks to Michael Wood, NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

5 Stars from me  

Never have I clicked on a NetGalley link so fast in my whole life...

With more red herrings than one might expect in a red herring emporium, The Mind of a Murder is a superbly crafted foray into the murky mind of a serial killer.

Meeting new characters can sometimes be clunky to start with, but such is the skill of Michael Wood's writing that they immediately felt familiar. Also, his ability to write female friendships is impressive - I've noticed this before with Adele and Matilda - and Olivia and Jessica were a delight to read about.

Dr Olivia Winter is a Forensic Psychologist who has deeply personal reasons for her specialism into the minds of serial killers. Against her better judgment, she is drawn into an active case alongside DI Foley and his team. Time is against them in their quest to stop an active serial killer who is clocking up an impressive body count in London and enjoying every moment of toying with his victims.

There are SO many twists, turns, love angles, deadends, red herrings (half of which are dressed as mackerel) all of which culminate in a fast and exciting thriller and it was all I could do to slow myself down so that I didn't consume this book in one sitting.

Every character was well defined, distinct and relevant to the story and I was hooked - this book had me from the opening line.

The Mind of a Murderer is a skillful beginning to what is hopefully a new series - and I hope the next books in the series will be even darker.

Thank you Michael Wood, Net Galley and One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC of this book!

This was a fabulous rollercoaster of a read. I could not put this book down and devoured it in a couple of sittings, reading late into the night to finish it.
A serial killer is preying on women in London and Olivia Winter is approached by her friend to give forensic psychological insight to help catch him. Initially refusing Olivia is persuaded to help when this friend herself falls victim to ‘The London Butcher’. Olivia knows so much because she herself was so very nearly a victim when at nine her father killed her mum and sister at the end of his killing spree. This event supports quite a bit of the story’s plot line in this case. There are red herrings, cul-de-sacs and blind corners. I certainly hadn’t worked out who the killer was and the reveal was quite shocking. A great story and I hope the first in a series because Olivia Winter and her issues was an engaging protagonist I’d like to read more of.

I hadn’t red the previous series ( Matilda ) so unlike others did not have that compare but that was fine…I loved this book,the story and characters and can see if this is the calibre of writing why the last series was so popular, look forward to the next book in this series

Michael wood is my all time favourite author. I adore his Matilda darker series and was so excited to start this book.
It did not disappoint I loved it. Michael never fails to put me through an emotional rollercoaster. He makes me fall in love with his characters and I know he’s not scared to break my heart. Olivia is yet another amazing character along side DI Foley I love their relationship and can’t wait to see it grow. This book is a lot darker than the Matilda series and I love that it completely gives them their own feel, it was gripping intense shocking and I didn’t put it down. This truly is a masterpiece. Olivia is a forensic psychologist which really gave the book a different uniqueness for a crime/thriller. I couldn’t recommend this book enough! Now the long wait till 2025

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book!

Olivia Winters studies serial killers. She wants to know what makes them kill, and as a survivor of her father the serial killer she’s very motivated. However Olivia only gets involved once the case is closed and facts known. When woman are murdered, and a serial killer suspected, , Olivia is persuaded to help out.

I’m a huge fan of Michael Wood’s other series. I didn’t know if this would live up to it, but boy did it. A fast paced story with Wood’s typical unexpected killing of main characters! The suspense was amazing. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I loved the new characters and look forward to the next one in 2025

Dr Olivia Winter hides a dark secret - as a forensic psychologist, she has dedicated her life to finding out what motivates serial killers, but her motivation is more personal than that - her father was one, and she was meant to be his final victim.

When a new killer begins to stalk the streets of London, Olivia is torn between her reclusive life and helping the police find the killer, but in doing so the case may just become more personal.

This is another fantastic book from Michael Wood - I'm a huge fan of his other books and this did not disappoint! 5*.

I absolutely love the author’s Matilda Darke series so was thrilled to have the opportunity to read The Mind of a Murderer, the first in a new series featuring Forensic Psychologist Olivia Winter. Olivia is a high profile psychologist who studies the minds of serial killers but keeps her own childhood hidden. She’s the surviving daughter of a serial killer and escaped the night her father murdered her mother and sister. Olivia has resolved never to get involved with a live serial killer case but when the police ask for her help hunting a London serial killer Olivia is drawn into the case.
This was such a gripping and compelling read that I raced through over the course of 24 hours and had to keep reading one more chapter. I thought I’d miss the characters from the Matilda Darke series but enjoyed getting to know Olivia and the supporting characters. It’s a twisty read with an unexpected ending that left me wanting more and I can’t wait for book 2. Highly recommended.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.
4.5 stars.

I’m a huge fan of this author and his Matilda Darke series; I wasn’t sure how I would like a new series with totally new characters…but I didn’t think that for long! I was hooked from the first few pages and didn’t put it down until I’d finished. I can’t wait for the next Olivia Winter instalment and after the words her father wrote to her in the final pages of the book, I can’t wait to see where Michael Wood takes this character!

My first thought on reading the synopsis of this book was "Oh, it's not Matilda" By the end of the prologue it was "Matilda who?"
Olivia Winter's father is a serial killer who is currently serving a whole life tariff for the murder of 8 people including his wife and young daughter and the attempted murder of Olivia herself. It seems crazy on one hand yet understandable at the same time that she has made it her life's work to study serial killers and their motives. This is the first time she has ever tried to catch one.
I read a lot of crime fiction so I'm always prepared for a twist at the end. It takes a certain calibre of author to successfully pull one off in the first few chapters. Michael Wood is a master at astounding the reader and I have to say that he left me gasping more than once in this book. There are some great characters here whose lives I would love to delve into further so I am really hoping this is the first in a new series. I don't want to mention any names as that would rule.tbese people out as the killer and believe me it could be anyone. I had absolutely no idea who it was until I saw it written in black and white. If I was to give out an ultimate accolade to an author it would be that I was unable to work out the identity of the killer so Michael, congratulations. I hope we will see more of Olivia but please don't forget about Matilda.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Dr. Olivia Winter is a Forensic Psychologist who specializes in studying and understanding the minds of Serial Killers. She's made it a rule to never work active cases but due to unfortunate events beyond her control she is brought in to help Detective Foley profile and catch a serial killer who is running rapant in London. The stakes are high as Olivia is forced to deal with childhood trauma while aiding the investigation.

"The Mind Of A Murder" was an absolutely gripping read! From start to finish I was immersed in this storyline, it kept me on the edge of seat eager to try and solve the mystery right alongside the main characters. Definitely an unputdownable Thriller!

The plot, pacing and characters in this book are so well-developed, I was thrilled to see that this was the beginning of a series and I can't wait to read the next installment!

Thank you Michael Wood, Net Galley and Harper Collins UK- One More Chapter for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Dr Olivia Winter becomes embroiled in a murder investigation against her wishes and as the investigation goes on she is entangled in lies and her own life is at risk. This has me hooked from the first sentence.
I’m a massive fan of this author and his Mathilda Darke series is one of my favourites ever.
I can’t wait for the next one in this series. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Last year I drastically reduced the number of thrillers and serial killer books I read after guessing the killer/twist half a dozen times in a row. Sometimes less than forty pages in. I feared that I’d read too many and had become too adept at recognising the patterns and writing styles of this genre. Thank god for Michael Wood because this story has blown my mind. This is the best thriller I’ve read in years. Wood has created a brilliant protagonist in Olivia who has gone through hell yet shows great strength in her vulnerability. You feel connected to her struggles despite her unique history and when she goes through moments of great personal breakthrough it doesn’t come across as cliched as it might with a lesser writer. The story is tense, sharp and really has you guessing with multiple red herrings and twists. Wood expertly forges a cast of suspects that keep you on your toes and once you reach the end you’ll be going back to reread parts and see what you missed. Or maybe that’s just me.