Truth and Lies

This is the first book of a new series by the Caroline Mitchell featuring DI Amy Winter. I have read every book published by the author and not only enjoyed them immensely but have always been impressed by the consistently high standard set by her. This book is sure to be another top seller and I am sure the series will grow and grow. The main focus of the book "Amy" is complex as all good thriller characters tend to be and she has dark secrets that she would prefer stay that way.
DI Amy Winter hopes to follow in the footsteps of her highly respected police officer father and all is progressing rather well until she receives a letter from the prison cell of Lillian Grimes. The writer of the letter was half of the notorious husband and wife serial killers who committed a series of killings many years ago. The letter contains a revelation that will change Amy for ever and shatter her life as she knows it.
Lillian Grimes is a psychopathic murderer and Amy’s biological mother and she now wants to reveal the location of three of her victims but at a cost. Amy's work colleagues actively search for a young missing girl who was kidnapped from her home while Amy must face her own dark past and try to uncover the missing bodies.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all my Goodread friends. One more point, I was honoured to be included as a minor character in Amy's team in this book and it was a great thrill for me. I have proudly told everyone who will listen to me and have great hopes to be included in future books in this series.

I would like to thank the author Caroline Mitchell for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a start to this new series featuring Amy Winter. Having read this authors other series I can say that this one looks like it could be the best one yet.

Really love the new lead character and what a past she has. One of the most moving and action packed books.

It was one of the most gripping crime books that I have ever read. Truly one that will become a masterpiece and sell millions of copies

A brand new series from one of the best authors out there. This is a great start to the new D I Amy Winters.

Unbeknown to Amy she started life as the daughter of a pair of notorious serial killers and when she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, the survivor of the pair, she’s horrified to learn the truth. Lillian offers to tell Amy where the bodies are buried, but Amy must concede to her demands. Her father was a well liked police officer and she is upset that her secret may come out.

Then a girl goes missing and it’s a race against time to find her. Lillian says she knows where she is, but is she telling the truth?

This is one gripping story, the characters are brilliant and I just had to keep reading to find out what was the truth and what was lies. It is a most enjoyable read, and plenty to get your teeth into.

My thanks to Caroline for the ARC and the publishers.

This is just what I needed to get out of my thriller-funk. It seems every thriller lately is a “gripping thriller with a shocking twist” but most disappoint me! I can always count on Caroline Mitchell to give me a book that will surprise me. I didn’t see this ending coming until she started breaking it down for me. I was so tickled with where she took this story!

My only complaint is that I am so done with the DCI’s who are so insecure in themselves that they can’t encourage their DI’s to succeed. That instead they undermine them or don’t listen because their ego is too large. If it wasn’t a situation that happens so frequently in these police procedural thrillers than I wouldn’t even mention it but it kind of bugs me! However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. It is definitely reasonable to see that situation. While I’m talking about the characters, I’ll continue, I really liked Amy. She was strong but was real. You could see her as more than just a cop. She loved her family and friends and seemed to have wanted to be there for them, to help them. I admired her strength under pressure and her ability to see the larger picture!

Ms. Mitchell created an interesting crew. The secondary characters were really strong as well. I enjoyed Paddy a lot. I enjoy the spotty humor tossed throughout the pages. Who could think that a dying woman could make jokes but I laughed whole-heartedly when Gladys said “... I want my headstone to offer free Wi-Fi, so they’ll come and visit me more often.” I mean, has a truer thought about death in this century ever been said? Ms. Mitchell’s writing continues to keep me rushing through the pages and furiously trying to figure out whodunnit before she breaks it down for me. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing where Ms. Mitchell will take us and what she’ll put her petiole through. This book is the true essence of compulsive read, a page turner. From the very first word, Truth and Lies captivated me from the start.

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.

Every time I see Caroline Mitchell is publishing a new book I get really excited, but when she brings out a new book that’s also the first book in a new crime series well let’s just say my excitement reaches fever pitch. Truth And Lies is the first book in the DI Amy Winter series and what a cracking start to the series it turned out to be. There are so many police procedure crime thrillers on the market, so for me personally to commit to a new crime series it’s got to grab me by the throat, with an interesting protagonist, gripping story line and plenty of heart thumping moments that leave me desperate to read more and guess what? Truth And Lies ticks every box and more.

Full review to follow on my blog and will then edit this review

The first in what I hope will be a long series featuring DI Amy Winter, what a brilliant idea for a crime thriller where the cop's daughter is a serial killer. I have read all of Caroline's previous books and her writing just goes from strength to strength. Every time I read one of her books I think oh this is the best and then she goes and tops it, in my opinion this is definitely her best so far. Until the next one that is !!!

Very gripping and tense!

Caroline Mitchell is starting off a new series with a very complex but interesting main character. The story itself is very capable of holding your attention and you will want more!

DI Amy Winter follows in her father’s footsteps to tackle crime and take on killers. Ironically, the worst criminal she faces is her own mother, a serial killer who promises to identify the locations of her victims if Any plays along with her twisted games. This is a nail biter, with one of the most devious killers I’ve encountered in a book

I have read all Caroline Mitchell books and she never lets her readers down but I must say this her best yet gripping twisty once you start it you wont want to put it down Amy has just laid her dad to rest then she gets a letter and her world and who she thought she was is turned up side down secrets and lies and her childhood past starts to come back this series going to be brilliant so can not wait for next one she gonna be a kick ass DI the people she works with some have there own problems and one hates her wont say no more I highly recommend and her other books as well so cant wait for book 2

A truly outstanding read!
Mitchell writes with an authenticity that few authors can add this book is set to be the beginning of a brilliant new series. With a fast paced, gritty and twisted plot and intriguing characters I can't wait to see what happens next!

I am absolutely loving this first book in a brand new series. I would even go as far as saying this is the authors best book yet.

The story line had me gripped from the off. I mean having serial killers for parents? Well obviously you know that things are going to be very interesting to say the least and I wasn't disappointed. Amy is such a great character and the fact that she is in the police force makes her true parentage even harder to come to terms with.

So many crime books tend to have men as the baddies so it was really refreshing to have a woman in that role. Lillian from first meeting her, I loathed but in the same breath I was fascinated wanting to know more and how she could do what she had. She is very much a manipulator and you can feel Amy's frustrations with having to deal with her.

There are quite a few twists and turns which really keeps you on your toes and I literally could not put the book down from picking it up. I basically read this book in one afternoon as I was well and truly hooked and I had to know how everything was going to end. This was such a fantastic start to a new series and I loved getting to know the team. I have no idea how the author will top this but I will be counting the days until her next one is out.

Truth And Lies is a heart stopping and enthralling read that grabs you from the very first page and keeps you there until the very last. Brilliant!

Having read all the fab thrillers written by Caroline Mitchell, I couldn't wait to read the first one in her new exciting DI Amy Winter series, Truth and Lies, especially after reading the intriguing blurb.

"You can't run away forever... My blood runs through your veins. Mine and your father's."

Can you imagine having serial killers for parents? What effect would that have on you and your life? Well, in a nutshell, this is DI Amy Winter's situation in this book. In order to move on with her life, Amy learned how to suppress the horrific memories that have shaped her early childhood. However, her past soon comes slapping her in the face when she receives a letter from prison following the death of her adoptive father, Superintendent Robert Winter. Back in the 80s, Robert was instrumental in catching and imprisoning the 'Beasts of Brentwood', Jack and Lillian Grimes, a serial killer couple convicted for the murder of nine young women. To her absolute horror Amy discovers that the Brentwood monsters were actually her biological parents, the past she wants to escape, the source of her nightmares. What impact will this have on her life and career? Can the daughter of serial killers even be a police officer?

Lillian Grimes, her 'mother', wants to 'help' Amy find the remains of three of the victims that have never been found, but Amy is sure that Lillian has something up her sleeve. As more horrific memories resurface and her personal and work lives collide, Amy resolves to give some peace to the missing girls' grieving families at the cost of her own sanity and reputation. She decides to make a pact with the devil herself - her 'mother', but in doing so she will have to dance to Lillian's music like a puppet on strings. What's the real reason behind Lillian's sudden change of heart? What is she planning? At the same time Amy and her team have to solve the mysterious disappearance of a teenage girl and her cat. Who has abducted this girl? And why? Can the police locate her before it's too late? And how come from prison Lillian Grimes seems to know more than the police about this case?

Well, Caroline Mitchell has done it again. She's written another absolutely brilliant engrossing thriller that kept me on my toes from start to finish. I'm so excited as this is just the first book of a series and so hopefully there will be many more books in the pipeline. Amy is not your run-of-the-mill crime fiction cop. She's a complex, unique character, the daughter of serial killers! Can such a cop function properly? Or is she destined to turn out the same way in the end?

The author has created some very realistic, engaging characters. Apart from Amy, I especially followed Paddy, Amy's most trusted colleague, with interest. I knew the type of life he was leading couldn't go on for long before something catastrophic happens. I just could never have foreseen the huge twist the author had in store for this character's story in the end.

The book has also numerous nail-biting, suspenseful scenes that made my heart race, there are heartbreaking and disturbing ones as well, twists and turns, a sprinkle of humour... and spiders!! Oh yes, I was horrified to encounter the creeps throughout the book and was thrilled to find that just like me, Amy is absolutely terrified of spiders and cobwebs and so I could relate to her when faced with the eight-legged monsters in some of the scenes.

The plot's fast pace kept me interested throughout. The story goes back and forth in time as Amy's horrific memories of disturbing episodes from her childhood begin to resurface one by one. I didn't find this confusing at all, it rather made me understand more what Amy was going through in her mind. The ending was unexpected and the epilogue left the door open for a continuation, so I'm now dying to find out what happens next in book two.

Well written and with an intriguing, suspenseful plot, engaging characters and an original touch, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it to those loving twisty, fast, gripping plots.

With thanks to the author and Thomas & Mercer for an ARC of this book which I voluntarily accepted to read and review through Netgalley.

A great thriller by Mitchell. Amy Winter is a superb character coupled with a great plot line. Worth the read.

DI Any Winter is not having a good day. The unexpected death of her father and the arrival of a letter from Lillian Grimes turns her orderly world upside down. Amy knows she was adopted but has pushed away all memories of her early life. Lillian and Jack Grimes were called the 'Beasts of Brentwood' as they were serial killers responsible for the deaths of many women. They are also Amy's biological parents, a fact that Amy has been able to repress. Lillian will share the locations of three of their victims, but only with Amy and only on her terms.
Amy wants nothing to do with her biological mother, but if she ignores Lillian's demands, three families desperate for closure will suffer. Amy chooses to do the right thing for the victim's families but at what personal cost. Long buried memories begin to surface and it is possible that the past will destroy Amy's future. Just what kind of cruel and twisted game is Lillian playing?
I really liked the characters, especially Amy and Paddy(a member of her team). While the tone of the book is serious(serial killers and abduction) there is also humor throughout and this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Truth and Lies is the first book I've read by Caroline Mitchell and it won't be my last. If you enjoy a good twisty mystery, I would recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Caroline Mitchell for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Truth And Lies.
I am reeling after finishing this book. This is not the first novel I have read from this author, but this book is clearly the best she has written to date. I love the lead female character and cannot wait to see where Ms Mitchell takes her next.
The storyline was well thought out and fast paced with an ending I did not see coming. I am usually able to deduce the plot early on in a novel, but this one had me stumped ( not an easy thing to do. Lol. )
If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. most definitely, highly recommend this book for lovers of unpredictable, unputdownable thrillers. And don't make the mistake of picking it up to start reading If you have anything planned for your day. I read tis book through the night. Thankfully I didn't have to worry about working the next day.

I have read quite a few books from Caroline over the years and enjoyed them all, the first being Paranormal Intruder and I just love the way she writes.

In my opinion this is a different sort of read which soon draws you into the storyline making it a gripping read and an excellent page turner.

If you are looking for a good read I recommend you give it a try.

A fast paced suspenseful book as detective Amy tries to solve a young girls kidnapping all while trying to solve another cold case. Amy follows in her adoptive father's footsteps to become a police officer/detective. Amy knew she was adopted but didn't really know or remember the circumstances as how she came to live with her new parents at the age of 4. After receiving a bizarre letter in the mail Amy realizes that her biological parents were "The beasts" who murdered and buried a number of young women. Amy's bio mother offers to tell her where the bodies are buried in return if Amy tries to prove that her mom was innocent of the murders, and that her father was the cause of all the brutality. This book is one of those you can't put down as you try to solve the mysteries with Amy.

Well, unputdownable is one way to describe this OUTSTANDING latest novel from Caroline Mitchell! Seriously this one absolutely blew my mind!

When 15-year-old Hermione Parker goes missing there is a race to find her and just what connection can she have to a cold case over 30 years old?  Perfectly plotted and intertwined the two stories are bright together in a way that makes total sense. There was a point where I wanted to shake Amy and tell her to confess her identity to her superiors but then we wouldn't have had the rest of the story would we!

Amy Winter finds out a secret about her past;  it is about to shatter her life into a thousand pieces. She has a choice to make and no matter which option she takes it will mean reopening old wounds for her. With a dark and heartbreaking start, Truth and Lies is reminiscent of the Fred and Rosemary West and Moors murders case, hard-hitting but not gratuitous it leaves you in no doubt as to the kind of woman we are dealing with when we are introduced to Lillian Grimes!

Caroline Mitchell has a knack of writing bold and convincing characters and Amy Is no different, there is an authenticity about her that allows the reader to connect and that back story means that immediately the reader is drawn in and wanting to find out more. It satisfies our desire for the macabre, our need for crime and psychological thrillers that crawl under our skin and stay there! In Truth and Lies, Caroline Mitchell satisfies this need and beyond!

Paddy is Amy's DS and boy is he a man with a secret! There's something endearing  about him from the start and you kind of understand why he's living the life he does. I found these scenes involving Paddy's secret to be extremely powerful in their delivery and that's all I'm saying so as not to give any secrets away.

When Amy first meets her biological mother, Lillian, in prison I could feel myself recoil and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Lillian Grimes will make your skin crawl for sure. The stench of evil was captured perfectly. As Lillian manipulates Amy into doing what she wants in return for information about the missing girls it will get right under your skin. She's evil and Caroline Mitchell has got her character down to a T. The characterisation in this novel is outstanding and the author brings each of them to life skillfully and realistically.

It would be easy to criticise Amy for not divulging her true identity, however, looking at it from her perspective not only did she feel a sense of responsibility to the families of the murdered girls but she also felt a sense of guilt by association as well as a very real fear of rejection from her colleagues and peers should get background be discovered. All combined gave a better understanding of why she did what she did.

The flashbacks to 1986 were profoundly disturbing as we watched events unfold through the eyes of Amy as a child. The horrors, never graphically described, struck me to the core. This one has it in bucketfuls dysfunctional families, guilt, lies and dark secrets. It explores domestic abuse, manipulation and online trolling. The book does it so well.

This story catches your attention and does not let go until the very end, it is written with a depth of knowledge and understanding and characters are brought to life before you. Some you will warm to, some will repulse you and some will manipulate your mind...be warned. Just when you think Caroline Mitchell has reached her best she smacks you right between the eyes with something even better! This is police procedural/psychological noir at it's best, it draws you in and spits you out at the end a broken mess!

review will be on my blog as part of the blog tour

Now THAT is what I am talking about!!!! What a fantastic start to a new series!

DI Amy Winter's is quite the interesting character. This book starts with a bang and doesn't let up. The 1985 chapters were captivating. Amy is dealt a blow when everything she has ever known comes crashing down around her after her father dies. Bits and pieces are interspersed throughout of her past as memories start to resurface. How intriguing! .

"The Beasts of Brentwood" a serial killer couple convicted for the murder of young women, including one of their daughters. What role do they play in Amy's life? Well well well..... Bravo to the author! What some authors lack for me is an interesting character with a past that pulls you in and wants you to continue reading about them, not so with this author/series. I cannot wait to read more!

Fast paced, well written, intriguing, twisty, I will eagerly be waiting for the next book in this series!

A big thank you to Amazon Publishing/Thomas & Mercer/NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This was a riveting novel that kept me hooked from the first page. Imagine finding out that your birth parents were actually two of the most famous serial killers of modern time and your mother wants to meet you. This is how the book starts and it takes you on a journey as our heroine tries to find the bodies of some of their victims as well as looking for another missing girl at the same time. I loved this book and look forward to the next one

I will start by saying I am pleased to see this advertised as Amy WInter (book1) which means there are more books planned. Great! I like Amy as a main character, with her intriguing back story. I am guessing there will be more that comes out in future books. I won't give too much away but I look forward to seeing how the different relationships develop. So overall, good story, good characters, good twists, What more could you want.

"In 1987, Lillian Grimes, nicknamed the beasts of Brentwood, was sentenced to life in prison for her part in the murders of nine young women." Six of those bodies had been recovered. Three families were still having to deal with the fact that their loved one had never been found, never been properly put to rest. Jack Grimes was the other beast, and he died in prison before he could tell. And Lillian wasn't talking. Until now. Lillian is convinced the police manipulated the evidence, and wants someone to help clear her conviction. And she knows just who should help her- DI Amy Winters.

Amy was shocked when a letter arrived from Lillian in prison. She knew she'd been adopted, but until now, she had no idea just what kind of life she had left behind. All those nightmares she'd been having- well they may have been memories. And if she wants to get the location of the remaining bodies, if she wants to get some closure for the remaining families- then she's going to have to play Lillian's game.

This was my first book by Caroline Mitchell. I'm not police, nor am i British, but it sure felt realistic as i read it. I thought Lillian Grimes was so well written. Her lies felt like truths. you might have fallen to her side if you didnt have Amy's memories. I appreciated that they were written in a way clearly depicted the depravity of the couple, yet didnt leave you needing to calm your stomach. . i thought the use of social media was very relevant and realistic. I liked the side characters, especially Paddy.Also, i did not form a strong opinion about who kidnapped Hemmy. Usually, i figure it out pretty early., but not this time. Not only that, there was a pretty big thing that i didnt see coming! This was was fast paced, well written, and hard to put down. I'm curious to see where the series goes next.

Thanks to Netgalley/ Amazon Publishing / Caroling Mitchell for this ARC

This has gone straight in to my top ten books this year. Wow! Totally gripped from the very first chapter right to the end. I loved Amy's character what she had to go through and overcome. I lived the twist at the end it made me smile.
I think this would make a brilliant film

Truth and Lies

The start of a brand new series featuring D I Amy Winters. Adopted from the age 4 by Robert and Flora Winters, Amy grows up in a loving happy home eventually following her adoptive father Roberts footsteps into the police force. With a knack for understanding, cracking and bringing down serial killers D I Winters is exceptional at her job, not actually knowing that serial killers blood is running through her veins. Amy receives a letter from prolific child killer Lillian Grimes claiming to be her birth mother and promising to reveal the location of three victims - but Amy has to play along to her twisted games first. Brilliant start to a new series. I can’t wait for the next instalment !

Truth and Lies. Caroline Mitchell


Straight off, I loved this book.

Take a sprinkling of Fred and Rose West and add a pinch of Myra Hindley and there you have the main villain in this book.

Lillian Grimes is in prison for being one half of a husband and wife team that went from swinging to killing. Carrying out deprived sex attacks and killing their victims after luring them into their home. The victims were buried in the garden, under the cellar floor, and in the walls.

Lillian’s husband killed himself in prison but had already told police there were three other victims. He named them but didn’t say where they were buried.

Now Lillian is using that to her advantage. She wants to drip the information to detectives, but she has a price.

DI Amy Winter is a pocket rocket of a detective. At 5”2 she is not very tall but don’t ever underestimate her.

Amy’s dad was one of the cops who put Lillian in prison, his recent death has left a hole, but she is determined to carry on.

When Lillian gets in touch and says she will only deal with Amy, and will take her to the first burial site, Amy has no idea of the effect it’s going to have on her.

As Lillian plays her mind games a young girl is kidnapped. Amy and her team should be concentrating on the kidnapping, but Amy’s head is with the missing bodies and the revelations Lillian keeps making.

This book is tremendous. I can’t remember a book ever having me hooked so quickly, and keeping me hooked so thoroughly until the very last page.

Caroline Mitchell is an ex-Detective and her experience always shines through in the reality of her books; but this book has taken it to another level.

The tension is brilliant. The inter-weaving of the plot lines make the story play out wonderfully.

The reference to Fred and Rose, and Myra Hindley, at the beginning of this blog are not waffle. The crimes Lillian has been convicted of are Fred and Rose’s crimes, or bloody close to them. The fact that Hindley also tried to curry favour by taking the police to the moors to show where the bodies of some of the victims were buried, is also very reminiscent of Lillian’s behaviour.

But there was something else that Rose West and Myra Hindley had in common, and so has Lillian.

What an utterly compelling read. One that had me doing my own research to see if my thoughts were right. Just my kind of book.

Oh, and there’s a twist right at the end. Please let there be a sequel. I want to know what happens next.

Pages: 348
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publishing Date: 30th August 2018.

Wow just wow . The word twisted is not enough for this story. It's dark it's twisted and it's emotional. Brilliant writing I can't wait for the next part to this series

Truth and Lies is a brilliant dark crime thriller. DI Amy Winter was adopted at the age of 4 year by a police officer and his wife, she followed her father into the force and has made a name for herself as an excellent detective. Her father was instrumental in discovering and sending to prison serial killers Jack and Lillian Grimes.
After receiving a letter sent from prison by Lillian Grimes Amy discovers she was their daughter and was taken into care after shocking discoveries at their home and their subsequent inprisonment. Lillian writes if Amy comes to visit her in prison she will tell her where the remains of 3 missing girls bodies are to give their families final peace.
The reader is given flashbacks to what Amy starts remembering of her horrific childhood which are frightening and heartbreaking.
So starts a fight against time to find the bodies and also a missing 15 year old that has been kidnapped that Amy is sure is somehow linked to her evil birth mother.
Whilst Lillian is manipulating Amy there are a cast of other well thought out characters all adding to the depth of this book. The pace is relentless, with some twists I didn't see coming
A great read and I really look forward to reading more books involving DI Winter.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!!!!

Truth and Lies is the first book in a new series and I can honestly say that this could be one of my new favourite series and I will eagerly await the next book in the series.

We follow our main character DI Amy Winter, who is mourning the recent death of her father when she receives a letter from one half of the serial killer pair 'The Beasts of Brentwood', Lillian Grimes. Revealed in this letter is the shocking detail, that she is Amy's biological mother and that in exchange for visits between the two and her other siblings, Lillian will reveal the location of their final three victims. Throughout this Amy's team are searching for a kidnapped girl, and the case may have connections to the Grimes family.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and the majority of the side characters, they all had their issues and flaws but most of them had endearing qualities that redeemed them. I usually find with thrillers that I guess the criminal pretty soon into the story arc, however with Truth and Lies, I did not figure out who the kidnapper was until it was revealed as Caroline Mitchell kept it tightly under wraps with just slight hints dropped. This was a nice change to the typical thriller as how often do you see someone in the police force who is the spawn of satan?! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!

I devoured this book in 24hrs. Well written with deep characters that draw you in to their world.
Good twist that I didn't see coming.
Scarily thought provoking as to how one person can affect another person's life, and those around them, so profoundly.
I was left with questions at the end of the book and I imagine that's what the author wanted, just to get you thinking.
Would highly recommend this book a d I will be looking out for more books from this author.

How much can the world expect one person to go through in such a small amount of time. The stunted cycle of grief that Amy has to deal with within the first forty pages of the book shape the rest of the story. She has to fortify herself to gut her way through the mess that is now her life, her job, and her past. There are so many people out there that have years to wait to have to work through baggage that has been set aside, but to have it be decades and so much of a life lived. To then go back to something so painful and realize you are not who you thought you were and your identity has to shift with all the memories that come with this new knowledge. You feel so much of what Amy is going through and that is credited to the author, Caroline Mitchell and Truth and Lies is a great beginning to the DI Amy Winter series. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and am so thankful to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am completely over books with Lies, Secrets, Girl and Sister in the title, so was not going to request this, but having seen several 5 star reviews from GR friends, and having a weakness for tormented female detective series, went ahead, and I am very glad I did.

In some ways a fairly standard British police procedural, the hook here is that DI Amy Winter is the daughter of an infamous pair of serial killers, responsible for the murders of a series of young women and girls in the mid-eighties. Adopted by the detective leading the case when she was four, Amy has repressed all her memories of her time with her birth parents, but when she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes from prison, offering to reveal the location of three remaining bodies in exchange for a meeting, and vulnerable from the recent death of her Dad, she begins to remember some of the trauma, including the murder of her older sister, Sally-Anne. Meanwhile, her team are searching for a kidnapped teenager, whose captors have not asked for a ransom, but instead seem to be seeking Lilian's release...

I like thrillers where the writing is good enough not to become a distraction: there are enough descriptions to get a sense of what everyone looks like, and the atmosphere of specific locations, where relevant, without feeling the need to describe every room the heroine enters, or every cup of coffee she drinks. This was very well plotted, with a cast of suspects wide enough not to be able to work out whodunnit, but not so many as to be confusing. Some of Amy's team members are dealing with their own problems, some are arseholes, and some will hopefully be developed further in future books. We hear enough about Lillian's crimes to understand what a monster she is, but there is no gratuitously described violence or sexual abuse. Hemmy the kidnapped girl was spunky enough to make me care about her plight, and I am happy to report that the cat survives, and nothing bad happens to Amy's pug either.

The author is a former detective herself, which showed in the processes and relationships of the investigation. I will look forward to the next book in this series and am happy to match my friend's five stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon UK publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me engaged the entire time. I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I would highly recommend to all my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!

Detective Inspector Amy Winter has always wanted to be like her father - a great cop and an inspiration to all. She has followed in his footsteps all the way and now heads a special crimes unit that deals with serial killers and the lowest of the low in the crime world. She has a reputation for understanding criminals like nobody else, which has always made her question why.

Lillian Grimes is one half of the ‘Beasts of Brentwood’, a murderous husband and wife duo who tortured and killed numerous women and girls in the 1980s. Amy’s father put them away, but now that Robert Winter is dead, Lillian is reaching out to Amy to reveal a secret that will change Amy’s life forever.

Intermingled with her personal struggles is Amy’s wish to fulfil her father’s legacy and locate the bodies of the last three victims of the Brentwood murders. Plus, a new kidnapping has emerged; the daughter of a local celebrity has gone missing, but what does it have to do with Lillian Grimes and her games?

For the full review, please visit: https://vocal.media/authors/lestat-de-lioncourt

This was one crazy ride! I liked it and look forward to the next one (this is the beginning of a series). The characters, plot, and dialogue were interesting. There were quite a few twists, maybe more than necessary? Towards the end, I started to feel as though everything was tied together too nicely, unrealistically. Some twists were more obvious and others not so much. The epilogue was perfect.

This my first read by this author. I see that she was was a former detective and this apparent as her work feels authentic. I will definitely check out more of her work and would recommend you do too!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Amazon Publishing for a copy in exchange for a review.

Truth and Lies is the first book in a new series by Caroline Mitchell and the first book that I have read by this author.

The main character, DI Amy Winters, has a secret. Her biological parents were serial killers and now her mum had got in touch with her. Simultaneously a 15 year old girl has gone missing. What is the link? Is there a link?

The book then follows Winters as she tries to solve this mystery and hopefully prevent another death.

It is a fast moving story with a number of twists and turbos that will keep you reading. The ending also opens up various options for the follow up book.

Thoroughly recommended

Detective Inspector Amy Winter is the adopted daughter of a highly respected policeman. All she wants is to be as good a law enforcement officer as her father was; someone he would have been proud to call his daughter. Sadly Amy’s father has just passed away as this opening story starts. Amy is in for the shock of her life. It is broken to her by renowned criminal Lillian Grimes, one half of the psychopathic team of murderers known as ‘The Beasts of Brentwood’, killer of nine young women. The letter came from prison and began a whirlwind of activity. Lillian offers to reveal the burial places of 3 of her husband’s victims. Of course she claims to be innocent and wrongfully sentenced to life imprisonment. She tells Amy the truth of her parenthood; she, Lillian Grimes is her birth mother. Her father is dead. What a jaw-dropper!
This chilling thriller is a roller-coaster of a ride. I loved every minute of it with all its twisty turns, dark alleyways and an ample scattering of red herrings. I thought Amy was a fantastic character and I am already looking forward to finding out more about her. I think Caroline Mitchell’s writing is superb; tight, complex yet totally compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. It’s so hard to put it down. The characters in her story are expertly created and developed throughout the novel. It’s a must-read crime procedural with plenty of thrills and spills.
I received this novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Thomas and Mercer, all in return for an honest review. It’s a 4.5* review from me. All the opinions are my own with no influence from other parties. It’s an excellent read for lovers of this genre

I'd give this book four stars for it's fast past and mystery details. I liked the protagonist who seemed to have what it takes to be a police detective. Her complicated personal life bleeds over into her investigations, and she is a well developed character. It was definitely a page turner. Some parts of it didn't seem believable, but I continued reading along because the plot moved so fast.

When I read what this book was about I thought what an intriguing story this might be little did I know this book would be great! Lillian and Jack were they really a murdering duo of serial killers or was Lillian just a pawn in her husband's sick fantasies? or was she the mastermind behind the torturing and killing of young girls? and now what is Lillian up to calling her daughter who is now a cop trying to get her to remember her past. Is it to reconcile? or does she have something more sinister up her sleeve? SO many questions and you really will need to start this book when you have time to just finish quickly because this book just grabs you from the first pages. Loved Amy Winter and glad to see this is book one in the series. Perfect suspenseful read. Loved it. Definitely would recommend to anyone who loves a great suspense book!!!

OH WOW what an outstanding introduction to the series DI Amy Winter. I’ve read books by Caroline Mitchell before but this is way up there in the top spot.

Amy was adopted at the age of 4 by a well respected police officer and his wife and following in his footsteps, Amy joined the force and has made quite a name for herself where serial killers are concerned, she seems to be able to get into their mind but has never been able to explain it.

After the sudden death of her father, Robert Winter, Amy is in turmoil, she receives a letter from prison from Lillian Grimes, one half of a husband/wife serial killer team nicknamed “the Beasts of Brentwood” who killed and raped young girls at their home. The content of the letter shatters Amy’s world as she knows it as Lillian is claiming to be her biological mother, can this be true? Lillian has requested a visit from Amy in return for the location of three of the last three victims of Lillian and Jack Grimes and be able to give their families peace. Can Amy put her own personal feelings aside to help them?

In the meantime, 15 year old Hemmy goes missing, how does this relate to Lillian Grimes or does it? Amy must play along with Lillian’s games to get to the truth and find out exactly what Lillian wants and find Hemmy before its too late!!!

This is a fast paced suspenseful thriller that will have you holding your breath and reading into the early hours, you just need to know and the twists, oh holy f***, absolutely brilliant. I can’t wait for the next book in the series and will definitely be recommending this to my friends and family.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and of course the very talented Caroline Mitchell for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book one in a new series featuring DI Amy Winter and a promising start to this crime series. I love the author's books and this did not disappoint. I loved the character of Amy but Lillian left me wanting to murder her! A great cast of characters, just waiting to be developed, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader enthralled. Another sure fire winner from Caroline Mitchell. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. I have no hesitation in recommending this new series of crime thrillers. Reviewed on Goodreads and Facebook with Amazon to follow on publication day.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first in the D I Amy Winter series and it was an excellent start to a police series. The book and storyline was totally engrossing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I will read more by Caroline Mitchell.
Highly recommended.

A bit 'Fred & Rose West' but still a really good book. Compelling writing. Will definitely be reading book 2.

Blog Tour Review will be published 21/08/18 - http://readingruby.co.uk/truth-and-lies-by-caroline-mitchell

Caroline Mitchell is a seasoned author in her own write, having previously written an entire police-procedural series, which I have never read. However, when given the chance to join the Blog Tour for her newest release, ‘Truth and Lies’, I couldn’t resist.

The plot was enthralling, especially for a police procedural, which I am usually not the biggest fan of. However, this was a FAST moving thriller, which kept you on the edge of your seat! The race against time to find a missing teenage girl kept you needing to keep reading, and I absolutely devoured this one.

The jokes between Gladys and Paddy made it all the more enjoyable, and I actually laughed out loud at the line: “I want my headstone to offer free Wi-Fi, then they’ll come and visit me more often”.

Overall, I’d highly recommend that you check ‘Truth and Lies’ out if you’re looking for a new crime/thriller fiction to get into, especially as this is only the beginning of, what is shaping up to be, an incredible series.

Great writing, her plots always impress me!
Caroline Mitchell is one of those authors that goes to the top of my reading pile. Always fast-paced and very, very clever. She creates some seriously dark and scary stuff. I found it exciting in a dark way, I couldn’t stop reading.
The end of chapter five, goosebumps! The last chapter, double goosebumps!! Oh my word, it’s going to be a great series, getting to know a new team is always enjoyable too.
Amy’s background is very interesting indeed, and I liked how her thoughts and dreams became more meaningful as more about her past was revealed.
I liked Paddy and his side-story. And how his story fitted in as a piece of the jigsaw totally caught me out…brilliant.
Loved Dotty the Pug.
I cannot recommend all her work enough.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this one, but it wasn't my favourite by Caroline Mitchell.
That said it was a good solid read, that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to pick up again when I had to.
I'm intrigued to see what's next

Having read and loved all of this author's previous books, I was quite excited to see that she had started a new series. Even more so when I read the blurb. Even with the prevalence of the top cop having "family issues" relating to their current cases, I knew that given her track record, the author could pull it off; give me something that others lack.
Amy Winter just wanted to be as good a cop as her father. And, to date, she has been doing very well, reaching the rank of DI. But her world shatters when she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, currently in prison for her part in a serial killer duo, responsible for a string of deaths along with her husband. It claims that she is Amy's biological mother and it is to her, and her alone, that she will divulge the resting places of her final three victims. But there are conditions...
Meanwhile, Hemmy, a young girl goes missing and Amy's colleagues go all in to try and find her. Amy is distracted, still reeling from the shock of the revelations of her personal life. When the two collide with the kidnappers demands for Lillian's release, Amy is torn between keeping her secret, bringing peace to Lillian's victim's relatives, and bringing the young girl home.
Well, this book hit the ground running and didn't let up until the end; delivering shock after shock as Amy's life is turned upside down and inside out. Forced to revisit a past that she has previously blocked, and reconnect to a family she didn't remember she had. All through emotional blackmail from her mother in exchange for information of where the bodies were buried. This stirs up memories and dreams in Amy as she comes to terms with who she was. There is definitely a lot going on and that's not even touching on poor Hemmy's plight. Where the past is important, a young girl's life is still at stake and Amy faces a race against time as she is forced to play Lillian's depraved games.
Everything you'd expect to find, and indeed need, in a book of this genre is present here. There are power struggles with some colleagues within the force and support from others. There is some great banter and humour which keeps the book balanced, especially with the crimes within being so nasty. Pacing is darned near perfect and I did like the part where the author recognises that there are actually more people working a case than are ever identified, working in the background, meaning that what is being told is kept moving in the foreground for the reader. That I guess stems from her real life experience, making the overall story feel more real.
I could also say so much about Amy but I think that it is best that other readers find her in their own time. She really does go through so much in this book and her development, even just within this first outing, is quite vast. Personally, I took to her from the beginning and, by the end, I had really got to like her and was quite sad when I had to leave her; well, until next time.
I mentioned already that there are a lot of books of this genre that feature the personal lives of the investigators infiltrating the cases that they are trying to solve. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of this, especially as it seems to be becoming the norm rather than the exception. But, here it is done very well indeed and with the way the past is brought into the present seamlessly, it really didn't matter to me. What will be interesting however is where the author takes the character of Amy in the next book. I for one will be very interested to see.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Caroline Mitchell has done it again!! DI Amy Winters is amazing and I love her already.... I hope this is the first of a long series about this strong but real detective with a past. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would not hesitate... this book is brilliant!!

This is a police procedural with a twist. Amy Winters wants nothing more than to follow in her highly respected police officer fathers footsteps. She has recently been promoted and life is going well for her. Until she gets a letter from Lillian Grimes - one half of the husband and wife serial killing team from prison. In this letter she tells Amy that she is her biological mother. She also says that she will tell her the location of 3 of her victims, but at a cost to Amy. Lillian is pure evil and likes to play mind games with people. Her world is rocked, so soon after losing her father she must decide what to do now.

Such a great story and a ending that has me hanging for book number 2. Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

Truth and Lies builds suspense from page one. DC Amy Winters is reeling from the loss of her respected police officer father when a letter from a serial killer arrives. Amy's biological mother is one half of the couple labeled the Beasts of Brentwood, responsible for the deaths of nine young women. Amy struggles with her identity, wondering if her genetics disqualify her from police work. Lillian manipulates Amy into family reunions and unwanted memories while leading her to the burial sites of the still missing women. Each uncovered memory is a kick to the stomach as Amy remembers her traumatic first four years. A new high profile missing case is tossed to her team while Amy is jumping through hoops for the psycho who gave birth to her. The writing runs smooth, draws the reader in, and leaves you emotionally invested in the characters. Full of twists and unexpected surprises, the pages fly by before ending way too soon. Ms. Mitchell will be on my to read list for the foreseeable future and I am already impatient for the next DC Amy Winters novel. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy.

Wow, Wow, Wow.......More twists and turns than an alpine pass.
This is the first Caroline Mitchell book that I have read and I am already searching for her previous books.
Cant wait for the second in the series.

You have to read this book :)

This is the first book in a new series featuring DI Amy Winter.

As if the unexpected death of Amy's father, who she has loved and tried to emulate by going into law enforcement, isn't enough, she receives a letter that is even more upsetting. The letter is from a notorious serial killer named Lillian Grimes. Both Lillian and her husband, Jack, were sent to prison years ago for killing several young girls and women. As Amy reads the letter from Lillian Grimes she learns that both Lillian and Jack are her biological parents.

Amy is well aware that she was adopted, but since it happened at a young age, she's been able to block past memories. Her biological mother has agreed to reveal the spots where three of their earlier victims are buried in return for a few tasks directed by the twisted psychopath. Amy, the prominent DI, has no desire to have her true bloodline revealed, but at the same time is torn between wanting to do the right thing and protecting herself.

What Concerned Me: Absolutely nothing

What I Liked Most: This is an excellent author who knows how to develop characters, gives just the right amount of description, and keeps the story moving. Perhaps because Caroline Mitchell is a former police detective, the book rings true in many ways. This is the first thing I've read by Mitchell, but I'm sure it won't be the last.

Truth and Lies was very hard for me to put down, plus kept me jumping for answers. If you like thrillers you won't go wrong with this book! I highly recommend it.

Absolutely stunning! Wow this book kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat rapidly turning the pages., I really couldn’t get enough of it. A really really good book, loved it. Full of tension, suspense, twists and angst that made it hard to tear myself away from the book, and that ending, just wow! Highly recommended just brilliant.

First of all I normally enjoy Caroline Mitchell books, This book however reads like the life of Rose West, I could not get into the plot without thinking about it being too similar, not for me im afraid.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
When I started the book I got into it at first, but by the time I was one third through, I began to feel depressed. The crimes were so awful and with the news being dire every day, getting me down as well, I decided I didn't want to read anymore of the story. However, needing to know how it ended, I did read the end, which was fairly uplifting.
The reviews were very positive on the whole, so I 'm sure readers will enjoy it, it just wasn't for me. Right now serial child killers are not on the menu for me. Sorry!

I'm afraid this just wasn't for me. Very difficult and disturbing subject matter and if it hadn't been so well written, I couldn't have finished it. But it is a well written dramatic story, with the lead character of Amy so well drawn, you really care for her and that's what kept me reading.

It's got twists and turns and I'm grateful to netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to preview, I just found the disturbing subject matter too much.

Truth and lies certainly is a book that holds true to its word. Caroline Mitchell writes about macabre things like it is something that happens everyday. This sent chills down my spine and had me wondering how it was going to end from the start. A well written and easy read story that will get your pulse racing and you won’t want to put it down.

Thanks netgalley

5 stars ⭐️ out of 5

I am a big fan of Caroline Mitchell, especially her Ruby Preston series. So, I was anxious to read about her new DI, Amy Winters. Amy has just lost her adoptive father, a respected police supervisor. Early in the book she learns her birth parents were serial murderers. Her birth mother, still alive and in prison, promises to reveal the whereabouts of three unfound victims if Amy visits. Mitchell does a great job of painting Lillian as a true psychopath. Her promises to provide the information will come at a cost for Amy.

There are multiple storylines here. Not just Amy’s, but her DS Paddy also has his own secrets. And they’re handling a high profile kidnapping.

This book raises interesting questions about the whole nature vs. nurture issue. Does Amy really have tainted blood? I also like seeing Amy in comparison to her siblings who weren’t fortunate enough to be adopted by a loving family.

It’s also a timely book with sexism in the workplace rearing its ugly head.

This is a well done police procedural. Amy is a well defined, three dimensional character. Mitchell isn’t one for fancy writing but she hits the nail on the head with some of her observations. “The two women were lost. Powerless. Whoever had taken Hemmy had robbed them of everything. Involuntary spectators, all they could do was stand by and watch events play out.”

The pace of the book is fast and the story is engrossing. As with so many mysteries, you get the sense early on how the stories will come together, but that didn’t dampen the appeal for me. It also didn’t mean that I had any clue who the kidnapper was or how the ending was going to play out. I’ll be anxious for book two in the series.

My thanks to netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of this book.

This was a well-written book. Amy, a Detective Inspector, is hoping to follow in her father's footsteps. She receives a letter from a psychopathic murderer, revealing that she is Amy's mother, and offering to reveal the grave sites of three victims. Reeling from this information, Amy has to figure out how to adapt to the truth about her past, help the victims and avoid getting caught in her birth mother's twisted game. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

Truth & Lies was my introduction to Caroline Mitchell and it is safe to say I will definitely be reading more of her work as soon as possible.

D I Amy Winters hopes to follow in the steps of her highly respected police officer father. Unfortunately, her world is turned upside down when she finds out that the Grimes, notorious serial killer duo, are her biological parents. Her mother is willing to reveal the location of 3 victims if she plays along with her games. Whilst Amy comes to term with this and tries to work the case without anyone finding out her secret there is also another case of a missing girl to solve before it’s too late.

We get to discover parts of Amy’s past as an when she remembers them. It’s honestly chilling to witness how evil Lillian is whilst coming across as your average middle-aged woman and manipulating everyone around her.

I loved Amy’s character and it was nice to witness a strong female character who was also allowed to be vulnerable. It was also interesting to see how Amy matched up to Lillian's manipulations. I also really liked Paddy and getting an insight into his life which I think Caroline handled very well. The ending was definitely not expected and it made me a tad emotional.

Truth & Lies is a fast-paced thriller with a few unexpected twists which I could not put down. I can’t wait for the next book in the series to be out to see what happens next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review

Another winner from Caroline Mitchell. Fast pacing, well written, edge of your seat action and adventure as they try to solve the case. Twists and turns that were completely unexpected and kept me guessimg until the end when.all was revealed.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc.

I feel like I'm turning into a daggum professional stalker! Another author to follow! And a fairly long back list of books to read and catch up on!! I loved this book (says a real stalker). A great good twisty story...a well and fast paced read...and some wonderful characters! I did find the sister's reunion just a little bit coincidental, but hopefully that will iron itself out in the future.


4.5 stars rounded up.

WoW.......I have followed this author from her first book she had written and read all her books. But, this book.......Just Blew me away and I can honestly say this is Caroline's best book ever. Truth and Lies by Caroline Mitchell was just Brilliant. So many twists and turns, I was hooked from the first few pages and just could not stop reading this amazing book.

This is the first book of a new series of DI Amy Winter and I am so looking forward to read more about her.
DI Amy Winter is the daughter of a highly respected Superintendent Robert Winter and wants to be just like her father. However DI Amy Winter has a secret past and her father Superintendent Robert Winter and her mother tried their hardest to keep it from. After her death of her loved father, Amy received a letter from someone who is in Prison called Lillian Grimes. Who is she??
Back in 1987, her father was on a big case trying to catch and imprison "The Beasts of Brentwood" They were a married couple called Jack and Lillian Grimes, and they were serial killers who killed nine young woman. Amy finds out she is not called Amy and her name is Poppy and her parents real Jack and Lillian Grimes. Amy saw her father Jack kill her beloved sister and she remembers she has older siblings.
Amy's world is becoming very complicated. She was adopted at the age of 4 and finds out who she is really is and who she is related to.

The letter from Lillian her real mother, wants to help Amy find the last 3 young girls that were murdered all those years ago.
Their bodies were never found by her father Superintendent Robert Winter and his team back in the 80's.
But, is there a reason why her Biological mother Lillian got in contact with Amy?
What does she want? Why now?
Amy is torn and wants to find the last 3 young girls and where they are buried, especially as one of the girls who was murdered is very ill.
It's going to be tough for Amy especially as she needs to keep it a secret who she is related to.

Whilst this was going on a young local girl goes missing. Is this connected to Lillian Grimes? Is Amy and her team going to find her in time?

Will this have an impact Amy's life and career?
Can the daughter of serial killers still be a police officer and progress her career in the Police Force?

So many questions...........You will just need to go and purchase this brilliant book. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
Well Done Caroline.......for a fantastic Book. 10/10 read.

Engrossing wellplottec police procedural that was a quick fasted thriller.
I really enjoyed this book.
I will read more by this author

This is a very good book. It is a police procedural, with very unexpected and clever twists. I am pleased to look forward to this new series featuring Detective Amy Winter, her colleagues, and her family/families. Highly recommend this book and this author.

Amy, a Detective Investigator, finds out that her biological parents are serial killers and her adoptive father had helped put them away. One day she receives a letter from Lillian (serial killer mother) saying that she will tell Amy where the last 3 bodies are buried if Amy comes to visit her. This pulled me in because it sounded like the TV show 'Blacklist', but I quickly found that it is very different and that I'd rather ride in a car with Raymond Reddington than the despicable Lillian.
There are subplots that include domestic violence and a kidnapping. Though I feel like most of the book is centered around Amy and Lillian's relationship and reliving the past. It has to be good writing if I hate the characters, right? Lillian and Amy's sister Mandy are the worst. Mandy has children and grandchildren, so she and Lillian keep making these snotty remarks to Amy about how they've been neglected and that she should make it up to the kids for missing all of their birthdays (she didn't know they existed!!) Every time something happened and Amy would "shake her head in disbelief" I was always there saying "me too girl."
Even with how much I hate Lillian, it was a pretty good book that had me guessing and twisting and turning. I never predicted correctly who the kidnapper was. I definitely had a lot of guesses...and they were all wrong. There were so many chapters that ended with cliffhangers that I had to keep reading. It definitely got me out of my reading slump, which I was in before this book.
A note on the domestic violence plot. I thought it was quite interesting because at first I didn't see the point of the chapters, I didn't understand why we were following this person around, so obviously I figured they were the kidnapper. It shed some light on domestic violence because usually you think of the woman as being a victim, but it can be men also.
In conclusion I will definitely check out the next book in this series. There is still a twist at the end after the kidnapper is found out.

Loved it.
Caroline Mitchell is really up there now with the big boys. Gripping and tense until the last page. Amy Winter is a great character. Imagine finding out your parents were serial killers, how would you cope with that information?
I was engrossed with Hemmy's story and Paddy's too. Great characters, great twist and great ending.......

After highly enjoying Caroline Mitchell's thrillers in the past, of course I couldn't resist the request button when I saw this title pop up on Netgalley. Although I still wish I could have another dose of Ruby Preston, it was great meeting a new detective. And boy, does she have an explosive past! I love a good serial killer thriller and the husband-and-wife serial killer team described in Truth And Lies will give you goosebumps. 200% twisted and Amy Winter's background definitely sets the tone for this first installment of a new detective series... The writing is solid, and will make you fly through this story. There are a lot of different elements incorporated into the plot, including the serial killer duo, their victims, Amy's past, a new kidnapping case and domestic abuse. While each element on it's own is intriguing and adds something to the story, I do think it was a little too much. Why too much? Because there were so many different elements, I felt some of them lacked the development and attention it deserved. Also, I felt that some elements and subplots were kind of abandoned halfway and simply cut off instead of neatly ended. As for the credibility... I'm still on the fence about that one, but I don't think I was completely convinced. There were a few surprising plot twists though and I will be curious how things will continue, because Truth And Lies ended with a pretty big cliffhanger with mayor consequences for the main character's private life. All in all Truth And Lies wasn't my favorite, but still an entertaining serial killer thriller.

This is a really good read. Lillian definitely sounds similar to Rosemary West. Amy being the child of serial killers makes this a really interesting read. I hope there are more books in this series. I am interested to see how Amy's character will develop. This book is a nail biting read with plenty of action packed in to it. The characters are believable and are described really well. I read this book in one sitting. I got totally caught up in what was happening.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Caroline Mitchell evidently believes in three and done with her series. A bit nerve wracking for her readers who with three books have enough time to become fond of Mitchell’s characters but hopefully enough not invested enough to heap gentle abuse on her head for starting a new series.
Rest easy my friends, rest easy. Truth and Lies is a stellar beginning to a new series featuring DI Amy Winter. Assuming Amy manages to survive her family.
Amy has a bit of a problem with her relatives; first off, her beloved adopted dad who just recently died turns out to have feet of clay
Feet of clay doesn’t even begin to describe the horror of her birth parents, for they are the Beasts of Brentwood, Jack and Lillian Grimes, serial killers extraordinaire. Jack died before trial. Lillian has remained in prison but is making a play get out. Legally.
First off she is planning on blackmailing Amy for her help, trading contact in exchange for giving up the location of three victims who were never found. Lillian also agrees to keep Amy’s true parentage a secret. That should work out well for Amy.
Lillian’s piece de resistance is forcing Amy to look into the possibility of manufactured evidence being used in her trial and conviction. Evidence possibly manufactured by Amy’s beloved father who adopted her when she was four, practically from the horrific murder house.
However, another young girl is kidnapped and it is beginning to look as if Lillian might know something about that particular horror and Lillian is working very had to parlay that crime to her advantage.
Caroline Mitchell excels in her portrayals of psychopaths and dysfunctional families. (I will always regret DI Ruby Preston , in Mitchell’s previous series, didn’t throat punch her mother-in-law and stab her brother-law)
Mitchell is not too bad in her killing scenes either. We are ‘treated’ to nightmare scenes, some told through the eyes of a four year old. Normally I try to blur my eyes and skim those scenes. Not with Mitchell, I feel as if I should give her the respect she deserves by reading every word.
Mitchell does a great job with her dysfunctional families but she shows equal talent in showing that families come in all shapes and sizes from loving and supportive adoptive parents to mentors who never end their support.
As a bit of lagniappe, there is a secondary story line illustrating that women aren’t always the victims of spousal abuse. An ignored societal ill that I’ve rarely seen addressed.
Mitchell does a good job at keeping the reader invested and intrigued. I had no idea of the identity of the kidnapper. However a character reveal at the end made no sense whatsoever.
Thank you to NetGAlley for an ARC in exchange of a fair and honest review.

I did enjoy this book although the similarities to a genuine serial killer case were a little too obvious and the links to the protagonist a little too far fetched, her reaction to the discovery a tad superficial. I wanted to finish it and find out the ending but even the 'reveal' after the resolution a little too twee for me.

Just brilliant! DI Amy Winter is a fantastic new character from Caroline Mitchell. A gripping and shocking plot. As soon as I started reading this book I was hooked and remained so throughout. Looking forward to reading more in this exciting new series.

A four year old girl has gone down to the cellar where she is forbidden to go by her parents. Poppy is looking for her hamster Hammy. In the corner she can hear scratching. The little girl creeps over þo a large blood stained crate and peers inside. Lying curled at the bottom of the crate is a young naked girl covered in blood.
After reading this I was hooked.
Detective Amy Winter has been given a high profile case. A school girl has gone missing from her home. A letter has been sent from prison from a prolific serial killer Lillian Crimes who is one half of a killer partnership. Why has she sent the letter to Amy and what does she want?????
This book is WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!
I was up until 3am to finish this book. I DEVOURED it. Caroline Mitchell is one of my favourite authors and her latest well. It hooks you and does not let you go. It is like taking a ride on a bullet train. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.

Amy's father has died. She is following in his profession as a police officer. Amy receives a letter from prison, someone telling her that she is the biological mother to Amy (although her name then was different)

Lilian and her husband (now deceased) were child killers, Lilian was stuck in prison while her husband was 6 feet under, had written to Amy with an offer that might be too good to refuse, Amy would be able to finish something of that her father started.

15 year old Hermione (Hemmy) has been kidnapped, she is scared and worried she will not survive.

Amy is having nightmares, her friend and co-worker Paddy seems to be having problems at home too. Oh what a tangle web of intrigue.

Will Hemmy be found? Will Amy take Lilian up on her offer?

I really enjoyed this book, loved the twists and turns throughout, all the stories interwoven, the ending was shocking, did not see that coming. loved this book

(little competition see if you can spot the 2 tiny mistakes)

Amy Winter is a Detective Inspector and the daughter of a serial killer.

Amy has hopes to follow into her very respected police officer adoptive father. One day, she receives a letter from prison from Lilian Grimes, a member of a husband and wife serial killer team. The letter contains a revelation that will change Amy's life forever: She's Amy's biological mother.

Responsible for a string of heinous crimes decades ago, Lilian is a psychotic murderer. Now, she's ready to tell the burial sites of her last 3 victims, but only if Amy plays along to her every demand. At the same time, a teenage girl is taken from her home and is now missing. Amy and her team work overtime to try and find the missing girl before it's too late.


Can Lilian have a tighter grip on what happens to the missing girl, even from behind bars? Will Amy be able to confront demons from her past and be able to get the grieving families piece of mind?

Absolutely chilling crime thriller with twists and turns that had me turning the page until the very end. This is an outstanding introduction to the DI Amy Winter series. It will leave you wanting more. I would definitely recommend!

I was a bit unsure about the book when I read the blurb as it had similarities to the West Murders and I thought it may have been gruesome. I'm glad to say that I was wrong and this is an amazing read. I started reading it on Sunday morning and couldn't leave it down until I was finished. The author managed to get across the mindset of all the characters very well. I do hope that there will be another few books with Amy Winter. I would like to thank the publishers and netgalley for letting me have the book to review and my opinions are entirely my own personal opinion and not influenced by anyone else.

Wow. Wow. Whoa. This was a book that I wasn't expecting. It is the first book that I have read by Caroline Mitchell and let me say that I am a fan. Truth and Lies had everything that I am looking for in a mystery and thriller. It was intriguing, gripping, relentless and full of suspense. I was hooked from the beginning of the book to the end, evening picking my jaw up off the floor a few times. If you are looking for a quick thriller that you can not put down this is the book for you. I am usually not into book series, but DI Amy Winter has me hooked. Even though this book is a work of fiction, there is a lot of truth in the statement that you are not a product of your past. Humans have the ability to evolve and grow. Overall, this book deserves more than 5 stars and I can't wait to check out more books by Caroline Mitchell.

Book Review: Truth and Lies (DI Amy Winter #1) by Caroline Mitchell

"1986. It was the scratching noise that bought Poppy down to the place where she wasn't allowed to go.." - the basement. This was where 12-year old Poppy witnessed her father strike her sister, Sally Ann, now crumpled and lifeless....

September 2018, the protagonist, Detective Inspector (DI) Amy Winters, daughter of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Robert Winter, a highly respected police officer - recently deceased, receives a letter from a convict, half of a serial killer team, notoriously known as the "Beasts of Brentwood", which addresses her directly as "My Poppy. My Child."

Thus begins an enthralling tale by the author, a former Crime Investigation Department (CID) DI herself, writing from her own experience as a specialist in roles dealing with vulnerable victims, high-risk victims of domestic abuse, and serious sexual offences.

The book, a thoroughly enjoyable read, is gripping, deep and complex with subplots and memorable characters - Dougie Griffith, Amy's fathers ex-partner, Paddy Byrne, Amy's anchorman, even Hazel Pike, Amy's DCI and semi-antagonist, and a cast of others.

Yet subtle, as the British, but not overbearingly so, and bereft of an overflow of dialect and flavors which may only be appreciated and understood locally, a first class job as can be expected from an international thriller writer.

Who would miss the key word "throttle" at the end - and then - who would expect such an absolutely fitting ending.

Amy Winters Book 2 is definitely anticipated by many readers, this reviewer most certainly so.

Review based on an advance reading copy presented by NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer.

This was a very good mystery; I had a hard time at first but I am very glad I kept reading! There are just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I enjoyed the characters and look forward to reading more in this series.

The start of a new series by Caroline Mitchell featuring D.I. Amy Winters.
Amy is grieving the death of her father when out of the blue she receives a letter from Lillian the wife of a murdering duo responsible for the brutal murders of young girls and women!
Lillian also reveals a shocking fact about Amy's childhood.
Lillian then proceeds to offer to tell Amy she will reveal the burial sites of the remaining undiscovered bodies of three victims in return for a personal visit from Amy. Just what is about to be revealed??
A fantastic crime thriller which I've just finished at 4am!!!! I just couldn't put it down. Brilliant as always Carol Mitchell.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for allowing me to read this book.

Truth and Lies by Caroline Mitchell is the 1st in the DI Amy Winter 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.

My Synopsis:
DI Amy Winters is a strong, independent woman, responsible for running a new team to handle high profile cases. She has also just buried her father, who was also a respected member of the police force. Then her world gets turned upside down.  Amy gets a letter from Lillian Grimes, half of the husband and wife serial killer team known as the “Beasts of Brentwood”. Lillian has always proclaimed her innocence, and that her husband Jack (now dead) was responsible for all the murders. Now she is claiming that Amy is her daughter, and if she wants to know where three more bodies are buried, Amy should come see her. Much to Amy’s dismay, her "mother" confirms that they had adopted Amy at the age of four, when her biological parents were arrested. It is true, Amy has serial killers for parents.

Amy refuses to let the families of the victims continue to grieve without bringing the remains of their daughters home, so she agrees to meet Lillian. Unfortunately, Lillian has her own agenda.

Amy, fearing repercussions of being labelled the daughter of serial killers, does not share her lineage with her fellow officers or boss.  Her secrecy becomes a burden.  She lives in fear that this will come out, although Lillian assures her she will not tell, as long as Amy follows her rules.

Meanwhile, her DS, Paddy Byrne, is leading a double life, and he seems to be getting sucked down even further. Amy knows there is a problem, but won’t interfere til Paddy asks for some help, or it starts to affect his job more than it already has.

As if Amy doesn’t have enough on her plate, her team has a case involving a kidnapped girl, 15-year old Hermione Parker. They need to find her before this young girl becomes another statistic. Lillian even sticks her nose into this one.

My Opinions:
I really enjoyed this book. It is the first book I have read by this author, and the start of a new series, so I am happy. (I will also be tracking down her other works).

It is very well written, and you get sucked into the story within the first page or two. There are a lot of books out there with a strong female lead who has some weakness, be it gambling, or alcohol, but nothing like this. Amy is definitely a strong, intelligent, and confident character…but her biological parents are serial killers. Her fear of having their blood run through her veins, has her questioning herself. Does she have their traits?

It is not just Amy that draws you in. The other characters, whether you like them or hate them, all have depth.

Overall, the book has a really great plot, twists, and writing, and I’d recommend it to everyone!  Even though it ended with a bit of a cliff-hanger (which I don’t generally like), I can’t wait for the next one.

The inspiration for this book must surely have come from the Fred and Rose West case many years ago... as it sounds so familiar.
It was one of the things that made it interesting.
Fast paced,with a good cast of characters,I read it in two sittings.
I'm not sure I'm wholly convinced by how police procedure works,as in how quickly prisoners got out on trips,but I'm not a police officer,so I don't know.
It was entertaining,and I switched off for a few hours. That's good enough for me.
Could have done without the sickly ending though.

Amy Winter is mourning the loss of her father, a highly respected member of the police force where Amy is now a DI, after laying her father to rest she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, one half of the serial killer duo, known as the Beasts of Brentwood, claiming to be her biological mother and offering Amy the details to where the three remaining bodies of those that they killed are buried, but it comes with a price, and a very hefty one at that.........Amy must visit her in prison! 

Amy always knew that she was adopted, but to find out she's the daughter of the serial killers of these heinous crimes blows her world apart and stirs memories that she thought were buried, how can she keep this a secret from her team and will they treat her differently if, or when, the truth is revealed?  One thing she knows for sure is that she wants to leave the past behind and concentrate on the future.  When a 15 year old girl vanishes from her home, Amy and her team wonder if this is related in any way and they are forced into a race against time to find her before it's too late.
 
Well, Caroline Mitchell has done it again, she has created a kick ass, no nonsense detective in this new series and provided us, the readers, with an edge of your seat, hold on to your knickers story that will leave you gasping for breath by the end of it and wondering what the hell just hit you! I loved the pace of the story, how Caroline built it up slowly, going back and forth between different timelines to reveal what had happened in Amy's past and how she came to be where she is today.  I was not prepared when the perpetrator was revealed, I was even less prepared for what happened next.  I absolutely loved the Detective Ruby Preston series and think this new series is going to shape up to be even better, I can't wait for book number two and award it a big fat five stars, highly recommended.  Caroline Mitchell, you're a genius!!!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the auto approval for this ARC and will post my review on Goodreads and Amazon on publication day.

Thank you Thomas and Mercer for a copy of Truth and Lies for review. DI Amy Winters just lost her father, her inspiration for being a detective. She is struggling to return to work when she receives a letter from half of a famous serial killer couple. The Beasts of Brentwood were serial killers and when Jack Grimes died, he took the location of 3 of the girls to his grave. But, Lilian Grimes is still alive and in prison and ready to talk but only to her biological daughter, Amy. When DI Winters learns that she is actually the daughter of serial killers, she starts to question her own nature and worries what her team will do when they find out. While they are working on a high profile kidnapping, Amy works through her memories of the past and tries to get her mother to talk.
Truth and Lies actually has three storylines that dovetail together. This keeps the book moving at a relatively quick pace. I found some of the scenes inside the police station to be a bit overdone and some of DI Amy Winter's worrying over the past a bit repetitive so I was glad for other chapters to break them up a bit. It is a fascinating idea, the idea that a high level police officer is the daughter of serial killers and how much does nature override nurture.
Overall, an interesting start for a series, I think I'll keep an eye out for the sequel and see how it develops.
Available August 30,2018

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

DS Ruby Preston was one of my favourite female detectives, so I was a little disappointed to find she would not be the protagonist of Truth and Lies. However I am glad to say Caroline Mitchell's new character DI Amy Winter is a worthy successor. if you thought Ruby Preston`s life was complicated, Amy is on a whole other level.

DI Amy Winter had just returned to work after the death of her father who had also been in the police. Out of the blue Amy received a letter from The Beast of Brentwood, serial killer Lilian Grimes. Lilian along with her husband Jack killed a number of women before burying them on their property and other locations. Unfortunately not all her victims bodies had been found, the mother of one of the girls was terminally ill and wanted to find her daughter's body before she died.

In the letter Lilian explained that she was her her biological mother and wanted Amy to visit her in prison. In prison Lilian was just as distasteful in real life, but she explained she had been set up. Lilian said she would tell the press Amy was her real daughter unless she helped her get released. In return Lilian would show Amy the location of the 3 graves. Lilian gave up the graves of two bodies as promised, then the daughter of a well known TV presenter was kidnapped. Lilian knew where the girl and would tell Amy where once she was released from prison.

I was drawn to the chapter from the first page. The Beasts of Brentwood was eerily reminiscent to a famous house of horror in England. The story was dark and you could sense the fear and depravity within in the Grimes household. I enjoyed the book but I felt the author cheated when the kidnapper had only appeared fleetingly in previous chapters.

I liked Amy who had to walk in the shadow of her well loved father.
Caroline described Amy`s shock and disgust at being related to Lilian Grimes perfectly. I liked her mother who was a placid character and would like to read more from her adopted brother, also a DI in the same station.

I enjoyed the secondary story of her sergeant DS Paddy Byrne. Paddy who was suffering domestic abuse from his wife but was also leading a double life with another woman.

Truth and Lies was a great start to a new series. Even though Lilian`s bid for control of Amy had been thwarted she had not finished yet. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Highly recommended read from this author, gripped me from the first page and could not put down till completed. Cannot wait for the next novel

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 enjoyable stars.

This was an enjoyable book, if a little slow to get going.

I found the Poppy flashback chapters the most enjoyable but the rest of the book lacked a little something.

About two thirds through the book really picks up however I didn’t like the end.

After the death of her adoptive father, Detective Chief Inspector Robert Winter, Detective Inspector Amy Winter is forced to finally acknowledge the details of her adoption and that her birth parents were serial killers known as the Beasts of Brentwood, the latter being a well-kept secret from her employer and co-workers. The bodies of three of their victims had not been found, and it was reported that her birth father was just about to divulge their whereabouts but died two months before his trial and before the reveal. Her birth mother, Lillian, was convicted and is incarcerated. Lillian now takes this opportunity to contact Amy with promises to reveal the locations of the bodies if she will do certain things for her. It is at this time that Amy's investigative squad is also searching for a victim of abduction. Could these cases be related? You will have to read this for yourself to find out.

This well-written story will draw the reader into the flow of the action. The reader will admire the independence of DI Amy Winter, as she really has no one in whom she can confide. This is another fine work by talented author, Carolyn Mitchell, and I look forward to reading more in this DI Amy Winter Thriller series.

Now I have been a fan of Caroline Mitchell for quite some time. Never being great at reading in order my first read was The Silent Twin and from there I was hooked and I have raced through every title she has released. When I heard that she was releasing a new Detective Series I was doubly excited. Not that I didn't like the stand alone thrillers - I did, they are fab and you should read them - but because Caroline Mitchell has great experience in the world of policing and detecting and this really shines through in her work giving that extra edge of authenticity to an already gripping storyline.

Truth and Lies is an absolute cracker. In this book we meet DI Amy Winter at a very difficult time. Having just buried her father she is faced with an awful truth from one of the most reviled killers in recent history. Unwillingly, she is brought in to bring closure in the case of a pair of serial killers whose final victims bodies were never recovered. But being involved comes at a price. Is it too high a price for Amy to pay?

From the very beginning of this book I was caught, hook, line and sinker. It is quite a dramatic opening, a newspaper report on the crimes perpetrated by the pair - Jack and Lillian Grimes -  giving us the bare outline of what has happened and the direction this story may take. The author then leads us to 1986, and the incident which was the beginning of the end for this pair of brutal killers. And once you have read these two chapters you will be hooked. I started reading while I was waiting for my train to Edinburgh and I had to pack the kindle away when the train was nearly due or there was every chance I would have missed it as I was so engrossed in the reading.

In essence, the story boils down to mind games on the part of the sole remaining murdered, Lillian Grimes, who seems determined to suck Amy into her twisted world, no matter what. To complicate matters, Amy is faced with a personal dilemma. Does she reveal the very personal link she has to the killer and potentially damage her career and the case, or does she keep it a secret and face the consequences? Now Amy is a highly principled Officer, very meticulous and good at her job and I really liked her, but sometimes I did find myself frustrated as I wish she had been more honest from the start. I get why she wasn't, and to be fair as a plot device it is a far more dramatic premise, but she risks being compromised by her silence. Still, despite all of the truths she uncovered, she remained unwaveringly resilient and determined and I couldn't help but like her.

Caroline Mitchell really does create great characters, and people you love to hate. Lillian Grimes is an example of this, someone as dark and twisted as you could expect from a serial killer. Or is she? There are one or two moments which may give you cause to doubt. Was she merely caught up in Jack's crazed state of mind just like everyone else? The trouble is that it is, for the most part, her word against the evidence, as the fractured memories of Amy only slowly begin to return. There are times when it is clear that Lillian may well be another innocent victim and there is much uncertainty over the evidence against her adding another layer of doubt and unsettling you as a reader and your surety of what is going on. Aside from the two central characters, you have those who circle around Amy's world, DCI Hazel Pike and DS Paddy Byrne amongst others. All richly drawn characters they add texture to the story. Paddy in particular I liked, although he has his own demons to battle which will have you in two minds about him too.

Being part cold case and part new, the pacing in this book varies but the tension never ceases and the atmospheric nature of some of the scenes will give you chills. The story is told over a dual timeline. Most of it is told in the present day, shadowing the investigations in real time but on occasion we are fed the slowly returning memories of a little girl, the only person strong enough to make a stand against the murderous duo, albeit a reluctant and not entirely conscious one. You will feel your heart break for little Poppy, her emotions divided and her will uncertain as she is removed from the only reality she has ever known. Caroline Mitchell has done an excellent job of presenting the truth through a child's eyes, one who sees everything but does not have the benefit of age and experience to understand all that she is seeing.

My only regret about the whole book? They never did find Hammy ...

I started this book not realizing that it was part of a series, but I’m so glad it is because I was not ready for the story to be over! This was a great crime thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was gripped from the onset I read this in a day. Truth and Lies has a multi faceted plot with numerois twists. A fabulous book. I am delighted that this is the first in a series. Highly recommend to lovers of crime, thrillers, and mysteries.

This is a great start to what I hope will be a new series.
I was gripped from the word go and desperate to know how this would end.
DI Amy Winter has one very big secret that she needs to keep hidden but as the book progresses, this becomes harder and harder.
Lilian Grimes contacts Amy from prison and asks to see her and this leads to a number of requests being made in order to reveal the burial sites of her victims many years before.
Alongside this story is the kidnap of a young girl and her cat. There is a real race against time to find them and with Amy’s boss going off in a different direction, it’s down to Amy to try and work out where she is.
I loved Amy’s character and can’t wait to read more books with her in them.
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Gripping, twisty, and sophisticated!

Truth and Lies is an intelligent, suspenseful, police procedural that introduces us to DI Amy Winter, a resilient, determined young woman who finds herself immersed in the investigation to find a missing teen, while also struggling to come to grips with the knowledge that her biological parents were serial killers and three of their victims still need to be found.

The prose is intricate and absorbing. The characters, including the sinister, despicable villainess are intriguing and multilayered. And the plot, including all the subplots, unravel and intertwine into a compelling tale full of deception, abuse, deprivation, manipulation, mayhem, violence, and murder.

Overall, Truth and Lies is a dark, entertaining, creepy read that has all the elements you look for in a thrilling mystery and is an excellent start for the new DI Amy Winter series by Mitchell.

This is definitely a case of the old phrase ‘you can’t choose your family’. Amy is already struggling to come to terms with the death of her beloved Dad when she gets a letter from a depraved convicted serial killer, one half of the ‘Beasts of Brentwood’, who claims to be her biological Mother. Not content with up-tipping Amy’s life with the revelation that she is related to murderers, Lillian is determined to make Amy play her sick games in order to get the details of where the last few bodies of her victims are. Unfortunately that isn’t the end of what Lillian expects Amy to do, but is she that desperate to protect her real identity at the expense of the family that brought her up…

I loved the writing of this story. It flowed brilliantly with the little nuggets of explanations throughout, working up to the big reveal that I, to use the much hated phrase, definitely didn’t see coming!! Great characters and a few separate storylines that weaved together really well by the end.

This was my first by Caroline Mitchell, but I am looking forward to reading more from her, especially Amy’s story.

Whenever I’m in the mood for a smart, super fast paced thriller that is guaranteed to shock me I grab a Caroline Mitchell book. While I love her psychological thrillers I really am obsessed with her series and while I was sad when her trilogy ended late last year, I was thrilled to find out Truth and Lies is the first book in a brand new series, and let me tell you, it’s one hell of an introduction!

The premise of this is fascinating, you have Amy (great name 😜) who is a dedicated police officer who finds out her biological parents are notorious serial killers. She knew she was adopted, but she repressed all her memories of her life with her evil parents and when her mother comes back into her life she begins to slowly remember some harrowing events from her childhood. The past chapters were my favorite aspect, there were only a handful but to see what Amy had endured as a young girl was simultaneously heartbreaking and interesting. It was so crazy to think the daughter of two heinous killers was such an admirable officer of the law with strong values and morals, brings up the whole nature versus nurture conundrum which is always something to think about.

As always this was a fastidiously plotted police procedural that kept me guessing all the way until the end. I always say Mitchell’s books are fast reads and that’s because once you’re hooked you’re not eager to put it down until you find out the truth. I absolutely loved the final chapter, it sent chills down my spine and set the stage for the next book so perfectly.

Truth and Lies in three words: Gripping, Relentless and Clever.

As usual this author wrote a blinder of a book.
Iv read all of this authors books and as usual this was 100%
So many twists
Well written and so easy to follow.

Warning***** once you start this book beware you will be unable to put it down so clear your schedule

What a stunning start to a brand new series by the excellent Caroline Mitchell. It is not unusual for detectives in crime fiction to have an interesting backstory but DI Amy Winter has more baggage than one person should have to cope with! To say any more would give away the twists and turns, the secrets and shocks of this superb novel. I cannot wait for its sequel!

DI Amy Winter is a strong, resilient and respected police officer. She wants nothing more than to make her recently deceased police officer father proud. Then she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, one half of a notorious and prolific serial murder duo, claiming she is her birth mother.

This book had some serious cat and mouse action going between Amy & Lillian. I enjoyed their back and forth push and pull. Lillian is pure evil. She is a master manipulator, excelling at mind games. Amy never backs down, despite the turmoil she endures as her childhood memories begin to resurface. Amy must face her past in order to uncover the location of long hidden bodies and possibly save a young girl's life.

The story took some well crafted twists & turns and left us with a very enticing cliffhanger. Mitchell certainly has an excellent start to a series here. I look forward to seeing what book 2 has in store for Amy.

I’ve loved Caroline Mitchell’s previous books and was very excited to read the blurb for Truth and Lies. The author’s previous psychological thrillers and police procedural novels have all been dark and packed with suspense and characters you wouldn’t want to meet on a lonely street! I had high hopes for Truth and Lies.

Lillian is the epitome of evil. A manipulative puppet mistress. Professing her innocence but if she’s that innocent why keep quiet for so long? She pushes all the right buttons with Amy. Caroline Mitchell has perfectly crafted this woman; she gave me the heebie jeebies. I couldn’t trust her as far as I could throw her which isn’t far and I was willing Amy not to be taken in by her!

Amy is the subject of bombshells from the start and her head spinning throughout the story. It doesn’t help matters that she’s only just buried the man who has influenced her life the most. She’s a tenacious detective following her late father’s example, determined to get justice and peace for the victims of this evil couple which could be likened to some of the recent real life serial killing couples.

Caroline Mitchell has written a brilliant tale of cat and mouse as Lillian plays Amy to give Amy what she needs. Unbeknownst to the DI, Lillian has an agenda which is yet another deafening blow in Amy’s life. This left me shocked and in disbelief. I found this book seriously addictive, devoured it in a day.

Just as everything seems to be all sewn up, Mitchell packs another punch into the tale leaving me reeling and wanting more from DI Winters. I so need to read book 2….stat!

A great crime thriller should keep the reader on the edge of their seat as they anticipate what is about to come next - this is where Caroline Mitchell excels and she never lets me down.

DI Amy Winter hopes to be a highly respected police officer just like her father before her, but when she receives a letter from the infamous Lillian Grimes, her whole world promises to fall apart. Grimes is one half of the psychopathic husband and wife team of serial killers. This letter wasn’t sent at random though because Grimes informs Amy that she is her biological mother!

Grimes is willing to reveal the burial sites of her final 3 victims, but only if Amy will play along with her twisted little games. Grimes is a manipulative person and, who cares if her daughter is a DI, she won’t treat her any differently to anyone else. Amy finds herself in an impossible situation, creating a conflict of interest on the one hand, but on the other, Grimes insists that only Amy can have this information! Running alongside all of this is a kidnapping case involving the young teenage daughter of a TV personality which leads to a surprising twist!

Truth and Lies was a deftly constructed narrative that touched all the bases appreciated by readers of this genre, without reducing them to tired clichés. Caroline Mitchell has all the necessary experience needed via her former career as a Metropolitan Police Detective to portray the darker aspects of contemporary British life, from our fascination with violent crime to the compulsion to share anything and everything on social media.

Oh boy this was a terrific read that raced along at quite a pace, and was completely and utterly engaging. The first in a new series is always welcomed with a degree of reticence- will it live up to other offerings from the author? Well fear not, Caroline Mitchell has done it again, absolutely brilliant, and I loved DI Amy Winter - looks like the start of a great new series !

* Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for my Arc in exchange for an honest unbiased review *

Truth and Lies by Caroline Mitchell is the first book about DI Amy Winter and I cannot wait for the next this was such a great read. Amy is a detective inspector leading a task force that deals with major crime and as the book opens she is recovering from the loss of her father, another very well respected police officer. Out of nowhere she receives a letter from the notorious 'Beast of Brentwood' and suddenly everything she thought she knew about her life was wiped away as her nightmares become her new reality.
Caroline Mitchell's writing is masterful, there are all the elements a reader would expect from a psychological thriller but put together in such a way as to draw you in and keep you on tender hooks, right to the last line in the book. This novel had my emotions on edge from start to finish. Who to believe ? Who is telling the truth? What piece is a lie and can truth be different seen from someone else's perspective.
Thank you for allowing me to read the arc and I look forward to reading more of DI Amy Winter.

I really enjoyed this book, which is the first featuring Detective Amy Winter. Amy discovers that she is the birth daughter of a pair of serial killers, reminiscent of the real life Fred and Rose West. When her birth mother calls her from prison and says she'll reveal the burial sites of some of their victims, Amy knows that this information won't come for free. I don't want to give away any more of the plot, but it's a real page turner with some good twists, Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

An excellent beginning book to a new series that is sure to be a winner. Amy Winters is a complex and flawed character that sucks the reader into her life. Lillian is my new love to hate favorite character. The twisted mind of this woman is written brilliantly. The case the detectives are trying to solve is interesting and fast-paced. The entire book is full of twists and action. The ending left me wanting the next book right now. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Caroline Mitchell for an ebook copy for review. As always, an honest review from me.

Truth and Lies pulled me in right from the beginning. I was so engrossed in the story that I hardly stopped to take notes for my book review. The character of Amy, a Detective Inspector, made the entire book work. She’s the daughter of a serial killer and is being contacted by her imprisoned mother. Forced to unearth haunting memories of her childhood to solve the case.

I really enjoyed the creepy multilayer story. It reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode but set in the U.K. And Criminal Minds is my favorite TV show, so that’s good all around. The evil from Amy’s mother was so far reaching. It impacted many people and made for a great novel.

At the beginning I had trouble figuring out which police personal were which. As the story went on, it made more sense. Also, I wish the characters were more developed. Now this isn’t always possible with an intense police procedural. I really want to get to know Amy better and find out what happens to her next. I hope there’s a sequel!

If you’re looking for a new crime series to sink your teeth into, then look no further because here it is!

You may be familiar with Caroline Mitchell from her much acclaimed Ruby Preston series but now she’s back with a brand-new series. Featuring DI Amy Winter, let me tell you this first instalment packs one heck of a punch!

Because Amy Miller isn’t your average detective. Oh no! She is in fact the daughter of one of the most notorious serial killer couples in history. How’s that for a resume? With such a refreshing take on the crime fiction genre, Truth and Lies had me hooked from the outset.

A young girl goes missing from her home. DI Amy Winter and her team quickly find themselves in a race against time to find her before it’s too late. But Amy has a lot more on her plate when her biological mother Lilian, who is currently in prison, reaches out to her. Not in the loving, motherly sort of way, mind. Think more taunting and playing games that made my skin crawl. Amy is forced to face her past, whether she wants to or not, and it’s not pretty. Fabulous childhood straight from the fairytales, this is not.

Amy has no choice but to play along with Lilian if she wants to discover the location of three more missing young women. But as with all psychopaths, Lilian doesn’t exactly play fair. She is so insanely unpredictable, you just never know what’s going to come out of her mouth next.

And as if all that wasn’t enough, there is one absolutely massive cliffhanger! Good grief! That’ll make you want to have book two in your grabby little hands immediately!

Truth and Lies is refreshing and original. With plenty of twists to keep you glued to the pages, this one is utterly tense and compelling and I just couldn’t put it down. It has one of those despicable characters that make you feel rather dirty and in need of a nice, hot shower and yet, I was fascinated and intrigued. In a perverse sort of way, I’m actually quite looking forward to more of their evil games.

This is the perfect start to a new series. Caroline Mitchell knows how to draw a reader in and keep them coming back for more. I thoroughly enjoyed this serial killer crime thriller and I can’t bloody wait for the next book!

I enjoyed the Detective Ruby Preston series by Caroline Mitchell. The series ended last year so I was pretty excited to start a new series by the same author. Truth and Lies introduces readers to DI Amy Winter. If you read crime thrillers, then you know that almost all the detectives usually have a complex back story, or a tortured past. I thought I had heard all kinds of stories but Amy’s still managed to surprise me. As mentioned in the blurb, Amy’s biological parents were serial killers. A fact that Amy didn’t know until her birth mom, currently in prison, wrote to her offering her a deal but with a few conditions.

There are two main cases running concurrently in the narrative. There is a missing girl in the present time. At the same time, there is a cold case that can only be solved if Amy works together with her psychopathic birth mother. There were other minor story lines. One that stood out for me was by another detective in Amy’s team. Through his narrative, the theme of domestic violence is portrayed. I thought this was really important because it demystifies some of the assumptions about victims and perpetrators of domestic violence.

Through multiple narrations, readers get to learn about the current kidnapping case and also the gruesome crimes committed by Amy’s family. There are a couple of chapters set in the 1980s that sent chills done my spine. A few chapters are also narrated by Lillian, Amy’s biological mother. She is twisted, cold, creepy and despicable. She is the perfect villain for this kind of story.

This is a brilliant start to the series. Truth and Lies is fast-paced, well written and captivating. I can’t wait to read the second book already. I have no doubt that DI Amy Winters is a series that I will enjoy.

I really enjoyed this book. I felt we got to know the characters and cared about what happened to them. The way we were able to see what happened back in 1976 through Amy's eyes was brilliant. The suspense was great and I enjoyed trying to second guess how it would end. A really great read which I couldn't put down

I have been a fan of Caroline’s work for a while now and I am always excited when she releases a new book.

Truth and Lies is the first in a new series about DI Amy Winter and I was gripped from the very beginning. The plot revolves around a major revelation early on in the story as Amy finds out who her biological mother is.

Amy is a fascinating character, and as she slowly remembers the childhood she has blocked out for years, we see the inner conflict she is suffering as she questions her whole life.

Caroline has written all the characters brilliantly. Often the way serial killers are written makes them unrealistic and exaggerated, but while Lillian is evil, throughout the book you question whether she is remorseful and how much she was involved in the killings, which gives her some humanity.

A brilliant and tense thriller as we have come to expect from Caroline Mitchell. I can’t wait to see what is next for DI Amy Winter.

'One lie spoils a thousand truths'

Wow. If ever a book made me feel uncomfortable, this is the one. As the first in a new series featuring detective Amy Winter it certainly makes a spectacular entrance and I can't wait to see where the author takes the characters in future.

The scene is set with a news report of the sentencing of serial killer Lillian Grimes, nicknamed along with husband Jack as 'The Beasts of Brentwood'. Daughter Poppy has witnessed scenes in her short life time that no adult would ever wish to encounter, let alone a 4 year old child. The whole novel was reminiscent of the Fred and Rosemary West crimes in Gloucester which came to light in the 1990's. Amy Winter's father was the detective leading the case, yet the bodies of 3 victims remain undiscovered with Jack Grimes taking his secrets to the grave with him and wife Lillian staying resolutely silent on the subject for 30 years. Until Amy's father dies and she receives a letter from Lillian which blows her world apart and makes her question everything which she has based her life on.

In her professional life Amy is leading the case of a missing teenager, her first case back since the death of her father, which is spookily similar to the disappearances of the girls in the Grimes case all those years ago. Her personal life is one huge round of questions as to who she is and how that impacts on her job. People she has known and trusted for as long as she can remember - both personally and professionally - are now cast into doubt with psychopathic Lillian seeming to pull the strings of Amy's life even from behind bars. Who is involved in Lillian's mind games? And does she have any involvement in the disappearance of local teenager Hemmy Parker? If so, how is this possible? Who is helping her on the outside? The questions keep stacking up.

All this makes for an unsettling yet gripping read. Lillian is a scarily well written character who believes her own lies until she trips herself up during her conversations with Amy. It is clear that the author has worked with people just like Lillian in her day job before becoming a writer as the detail in the character is just too realistic for this to be part of someone's imagination. The way the current case weaves in and out of the personal side of the detective's life is absolutely brilliant and although I did have a couple of question marks surrounding the significance of some of the other characters who feature in the plot I wasn't even close to working out the whodunnit part of the tale.

I can't wait for the next instalment of this series and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes their crime novels to have that edge to them which makes you feel horrified yet compelled to turn the page to find out more.

This review will feature on my blog page www.sandiesbookshelves.blogspot.co.uk in September.

This is the first in a new series featuring DI Amy Winter and was the first book that I have read by this author. This was one of the best crime novels that I have read recently and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. In the meantime, I am going to read some of the author's previous work.

If you are looking for a new series from Caroline Mitchell then look no further, meet D.I. Amy Winters, daughter of notorious serial killers Lillian and Jack Grimes?
This series starts off with a flash bang and a wallop. It is a compelling, well written read with enough going on to keep you enthralled from the very first page to the last and I can't wait to read more!
Highly recommended and an easy 5 stars!

First in the DI Amy Winter series . Caroline Mitchell never disappoints ! Brilliantly written police procedural with a vivid riveting storyline ! An absolute must read that I highly recommend ! Thanks to Netgalley , Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas& Mercer #Netgalley #AmazonPublishingUK
#Thomas&#38Mercer #TruthAndLies

Story: A husband and wife serial killing team withheld three victims whereabouts for thirty years.
Amy was four years old when her parents were sent to prison. Amy was adopted later on, yet the memories of her biological parents were buried deep inside her mind.
Amy’s memories resurface after thirty years when Lillian sends a letter requesting a visit.
This was more than a cold case to Amy. Amy was faced with fear about her parents being killers and her being blood related.

Overall: The story was character driven creating a long list of suspects. After Amy’s father death a thirty year cold case became Amy’s main focus. There are multiple events occurring at once that connect everything together. All the moving parts kept the story moving along.
A compelling story of a husband and wife who killed six victims. With many components of truths and lies dating back to thirty years. Lillian claims her innocence stating she was set up. It’s up to Amy to untangle the truth from the lies.
The twists and turns appeared towards the end of the book. This is where the story began to unfold and held my interest. The beginning was slow with processing information and gathering evidence.
There were moments of suspense. For the most part the story was steadily slow paced.

What a brilliant start to a new upcoming series! This is book one in the DI Amy Winter series, kicking this series off with a page turning case that needs to be closed!

I loved it! Devoured it within a day. The chapters are short, it's a well written and cleverly thought out story! Fast paced... I just had to finish this for answers!

I actually felt really sorry for DI Amy Winters, but she shows she is a brave, strong and determined character not to be messed with! With a great team beside her too which I can't wait to see more of in future stories of this series. However, two vile murderers! Grr. Poor Amy.

A well deserved four stars. Highly recommend!

Judging by the other reviews, I am definitely in the minority. I just couldn't engage with this book. All the bits were there: characters with interesting back stories. realistic depictions of police procedures, interwoven plot lines. It just seemed very familiar to me, and not in a good way.

I've never read a Caroline Mitchell book before, and I was drawn to her biography. I'm going to try others titles from her work, to see if this was a one-off incompatibility. Thanks to NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

“One lie spoils a thousand truths.”
Amy works as a detective with high profile cases. Her world is turned upside down when soon after her father’s death, she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, one half of a serial killing husband and wife duo. The letter says Lillian is her birth mother, and she will tell only Amy where the rest of the bodies are hidden. And that’s just one chapter.
This book kept me guessing. It reminded me a bit of Dark Places by Gillian Flynn. I look forward to reading more by Caroline Mitchell. I would give this book 4/5.
Thank you to @netgalley for the copy in exchange for a review.

Suspenseful new police procedural series led by an intelligent DI who has quite an intriguing past.

While DI Amy Winter is morning the death of her beloved father, she is stunned when she receives a letter call from Lillian Grimes, a woman serving life in prison for the murdering the teenage girls that she and her husband kidnapped, raped, and murdered. Lillian makes Amy an offer she can't refuse: She will reveal to Amy where the girls are buried if Amy complies with all of her requests. She also provides Amy with some interesting information about her childhood. Amy gives into Lillian’s demands, but she might be playing right into this psychopath's hands.

Amy now must now battle childhood demons, a manipulative psychopath, and as well as an elusive kidnapper.

There are multiple storylines and several different narrators including, Amy, Poppy, Paddy, Hemmy, and Lilian. It’s a little confusing at first, but everything comes together. Amy has the largest role. Her colleague Paddy also has a major storyline.

The ending wraps up a little too neatly (or so it seems until we get to the final page). I am not sure how I feel Elaine’s revelation but more about that can hopefully be answered in the next book. There are some very sick and twisted scenes that involve rape, physical violence, and domestic abuse.

This is a well-plotted, character-driven first installment in the DI Amy Winter series. Amy’s character is a force to be reckoned with. The reader gets to know her very well, but I wanted to know more about the years between her childhood and the present moment. Paddy was also quite likable. The ending along with the revelation of Amy’s background set things up to make the next installment very interesting.

I really don't have time for another series, but I couldn't resist reading this after seeing so many glowing reviews from my Goodreads friends. I recommend to those who enjoy police procedurals.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Amazon UK Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review.

“Truth and Lies” captured my attention from the very beginning. I frequently read mysteries and suspense books and, while I enjoy them, am not usually surprised by them. This novel included twists and turns that kept me hanging on every page. After I sat down to read it, my eyes starting hurt from reading the first 16 chapters without taking a break!
While dealing with the death of her father, a fellow police officer, DI Amy Winter receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, one half of a notorious serial killing team, her father’s most famous case. Grimes said she is Amy’s biological mother and would reveal the location of her victims were if Amy follows Grimes’s demands. Amy’s world is turned upside down trying to deal with her father’s death, Grimes’s allegations, and the kidnapping of a young girl. The incidents seem to be related, but can Amy trust herself to handle everything with everything that’s happening?
It was refreshing to have such a fully rounded, well developed, strong female character who is portrayed as a police officer and human and have the two so mingled together. “Truth and Lies” is the first in Caroline Winter’s DI Amy Winter’s series.

I really loved the main characters and the brilliant plot. I read this book in one sitting and could not put it down. I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

I received a Kindle edition of this book in exchange for an honest review on NetGalley. I really enjoyed this book, I thought the writing was strong and the characters well written. I felt it deviated from the themes and pattern of a lot of thrillers I've read recently, and this made it all the more enjoyable. However, I did feel it was wrapped up too quickly without much explanation.

I am a massive fan of this author’s books and I have read all of the books she has released so far and thoroughly enjoyed them, so when I saw that she was releasing a new series featuring DI Amy Winter, I knew it was a book I needed to get my hands on – and honestly – I think this is her best book to date!!

This book is absolutely brilliant, I love the twist that comes with Amy’s background and the way the story moves on as the comes to light is excellent. Lillian and Amy are excellent characters and I loved their interaction.

Very well written and a complete page turner for me, I was genuinely hooked from the start to the end and I sat thinking about if after I’d finished too, it was a total whirlwind ride that she took me on!

Most definitely a 5 star read for me -I absolutely loved it – very well written, a great set of characters and a fantastic plotline!! Looking forward to reading more about Amy!

i cannot stress how good this book it - it is a must read!

many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Truth and Lies by Caroline MItchell’ in exchange for my honest unbiased review.

This book is the beginning of a series featuring DI Amy Winter. I am not usually a fan of crime series books although with this series I can see myself being hooked.
It is a book that moves at a pace. Full of action that you just wan5 to know what happens next.

Amy Winter finds out she's the child of two serial killers. Soon after the death of her adopted dad whom she followed into police work. While working her parents cold case and looking for a missing teenager. She had a lot going on but managed to handle it all.
The relationships the MC had made lots of difference when it came to relating to her. Instead of buying her head in the sand she does the right thing even if it'll forever change her life. I really like Amy. She's smart and her team compliments her. Most of them seem to care about each other and solving cases and locking up the bad guys.
There seems to still be loose ends so I'm already looking forward to Amy's next book.

If you visualize every vile and twisted serial killer that you have read about, altogether they simply wouldn’t have a patch on Lillian Grimes. She knows how to use the knowledge she has as a tool to control, manipulate and play mind games in the wickedest way. Half of a vicious child killer duo, Lillian is well and truly behind bars but knows where the remaining three little victims are buried. It is time to play a little game with one of the three remaining children she gave birth to many years before. From her prison cell Lillian Grimes writes a letter to DI Amy Winter, who was adopted by a police officer when she was a little girl, offering her information of where one of the missing children is buried, with an added note, I am your natural mother.
Amy was in shock and scared at who her real parents were, could this evil be somewhere deep in her? Then there was her career, should she tell her superiors? This was a chance to give the family of one dead girl some sort of closure if she went to see Lillian Grimes. So a pro-quo game began.
This has to be the best book that Caroline Mitchell has written so far. The story did ring true to a mix of real life crimes from the past with the added twist of parentage well and truly taking front seat. Amy had wanted to make her ‘parents’ proud especially as her dad was a well-respected officer. To say that Lillian Grimes was tickled pink about Amy’s successful career is a gross understatement, she was on the best high she had ever had.
Once Amy had crossed that breach it was a never ending spiral with nowhere to get off. As the longer this arrangement went on the harder it was to come clean. But this deadly game takes a turn for real. From opening this book to the end page it really is impossible to close and do anything else. This is the first Amy Winter book and well how do you follow such a superb first in a series? Talk about a mental battering, which has woken up so much from her past. I think this is going to make her one outstanding Officer with something continually to prove, not just to others but to herself too. Nature and nurture in harmony, but with an edge when she needs it. A top read of the year!

Life is going well for DI Amy Winters, recently promoted, she is being well respected and following in her fathers footsteps. Then, one day she gets a letter from a convicted killer, promising her new leads and the truth. When facing Lillian in prison, she soon finds that, not only is Lillian a killer, she is pure evil. And the revelation Lillian promised is not only one about the missing bodies, but very personal to Amy. Knowing the truth, she has to decide what to do and what to believe. Brilliantly written story with an ending that makes me yearning for the next book in the series.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK!

I love the whole idea of this book, what if you were related to the most notorious serial killing couple where you live? Does your bloodline make you who you are or can you get away from an evil family? DI Amy Winters has that troubling thought when she finds out who her biological parents are. The biggest problem is when her murderous mother's case is reopened to find the bodies of three missing girls. Working for the unit that is investigating where the girls' bodies are buried, is going to be hard keeping her true identity private.

Truth and Lies by Caroline Mitchell is a police procedural novel that kept me hooked from the beginning. D I Amy Winter is a well respected police officer. After the death of her father also a police officer, Amy is contacted by serial killer Lillian Grimes offering to tell her the resting places of three of her victims who have never been found. Lillian then tells Amy that she is her daughter and was adopted when Lillian was sent to prison. Amy is appalled by this and starts to remember incidents from her childhood. Amy is also investigating the disappearance of a young girl and desperately trying to find her before it's too late.
I enjoyed this book and all its twists and turns and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a fantastic start to the series featuring DI Amy Walters. Amy’s world comes crashing down on her when she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, one half of a notorious husband and wife serial killers, who is still serving her sentence in prison. What she reveals to Amy devastates her and she also wants Amy to visit her in prison and she will lead her the burial sites of some of the previous young victims. Amy is still recovering from the death of her father who was also a police officer. Amy then has to play Lillian’s twisted games whilst keeping a dark secret from her colleagues and also trying to solve the case of a young missing girl. The story goes backwards and forwards in time as Amy's childhood memories begin to surface. This is a gripping read with an intriguing plot and a book I could not put down. Highly recommended, can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I don’t even know where to begin with this one! If you have an interest in serial killers, Caroline Mitchell’s latest novel will be right up your street. I’ll tell you something else, if you had mentioned this type of book to me several years ago, I would have said no to reading it, ten times over – it’s funny how things change, eh!

‘Truth and Lies’ is an extremely uncomfortable, yet highly addictive read which made my toes curl, make me feel incredibly nauseous, as well as making me rub my hands together wanting more. I know, I know. I shouldn’t feel excited about reading a book where serial killers are the running theme, but Caroline Mitchell’s addictive story telling brings that excitement to the top of the pile, time and time again.

Even though this book is the work of fiction, I couldn’t help but think of a certain serial killer duo whilst I was reading this (there’s quite a few so I’m not giving anything away by saying that!), especially as I felt like I was reading a non-fiction novel. Yep. That’s how strong the writing was in this book. Caroline Mitchell certainly knows what she’s talking about, yet even though a lot of her readers may not have the knowledge of police talk or the like, the author refuses to let that be an issue by teaching her readers indirectly, instead of patronising them like other books I have read in this genre.

Lillian is an absolute -insert bad word here beginning with C-, yet she makes the book the twisted, uncomfortable, jaw-dropping read this is. Well, not just her, obviously. I just don’t think that ‘Truth and Lies’ would have made me react in the same manner if Lillian’s character hadn’t been the psycho that she was.

I am so, so pleased that this is the start of a new series because there are quite a few characters I must find out more about. Don’t get me wrong, they had their time in the spotlight in this novel, but even then I felt like their guards were up and I wasn’t able to see the entire picture where a couple of them were concerned. Namely Paddy and Pike – something just didn’t sit right with me with either them.

I’ve often wondered whether blood could be tainted or whether a family member could end up like one who broke the law. Does it go down the family tree? If one person commits a murder does that mean that anyone related to them would have a higher chance of following in their footsteps? I thought it was very clever that Caroline Mitchell had that thought running throughout the storyline as it made me more intrigued about what lay ahead. The psychology behind serial killers psyche is one that interests me greatly, and after reading ‘Truth and Lies’, that interest has been cemented so deeply, I must act on it and educate myself further.

What an out of this world, deeply unsettling, jaw-dropping, spine tingling, and phenomenal read this is. Caroline Mitchell has upped her game once again as this book, in my opinion, is her best book yet.

Absolute blinded of a thriller read. This is the first book I have read by this author and won't be the last.
The plot is unique and handle very well, the main character Amy has a last unbeknownst to her. When her biological mother contacts her Amy's past comes back to slap her right in the face. Amy is a detective, following in the footsteps of her beloved father. A girl is taken and bares similarities to a case her father was involved in many years before.
This book keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting more. I'm very pleased to hear this is the first book in the Amy Winton series as I love a good thriller with a female heroine.

As can be seen from the description/synopsis , the idea is very interesting, it's the execution I wasn't thrilled about.

It took me some time to get into the book, as the writing is disruptive and the dialogues seem fake. I was neither impressed by the characters, who either remain flat or they change radically, not following a natural development i.m.o.
The plot was interesting enough to make me think of a 3★ review, but the ending twists were too far-fetched for my taste, so I'll settle with less.

Overall, everything screams of debut instead of an experienced writer and I don't think I'll follow-up this series.

How do I start this review other than to say what a tangled web this story is! Truth and Lies is a story that left me glued to my Kindle and what a journey it takes the reader on! In this book we meet Amy who is a police officer just like her adoptive father and her career is going well. However she soon finds herself being confronted with her past in the form of the sinister and wicked Lilian who sends Amy on a path to discover the locations of three of her victims. A manipulator doesn't even half begin to describe Lillian, she really does send a chill down your spine!

I have to say that Caroline Mitchell had me fully immersed in the story. The way she wrote her characters was brilliant creating some dark and disturbing ones but also some likeable if troubled ones too. There was a whole different range of personalities in this book that just worked so well. Creating a well balanced out story that had so many elements from dark moments whenever the story focuses on Lillian to the investigation and Amy's team.

There is so much to this story that combines to bring some tense, dark and atmospheric moments that made me keep reading wondering how it would all end. Truth and Lies pretty much had me on the edge of my seat the whole way through along with making me sit up straight just waiting for the next surprise to surface. There were so many shocks in store for Amy who is a strong and determined character but was put under some pretty stressful situations.

A completely addictive and explosive start to a brand new series, I can't wait to see what will be in store for Amy next!

Intriguing, dark and very compelling!

Five stars from me!

Lies can hurt you but, sometimes, the truth hurts more. Truth and Lies is a chilling new thriller by #CarolineMitchell.

Still reeling from her father’s untimely death, DI Amy Winters wants nothing more than to throw herself back into her police work where she can honor her father’s memory by becoming a well respected cop just like he was. However, fate deals Amy a blow when a letter arrives proclaiming that Amy is, in fact, the daughter of one of the most notorious serial killing couples Great Britain ever has known. This couple lured young teenage girls to their home, brutally murdered them and then hid their bodies. Most of these bodies were recovered but three still remain missing. The lone surviving killer, Lillian Grimes, wants to make a deal with Amy: do what Lillian asks and the bodies will be revealed. However, it soon becomes apparent that Lillian has additional plans for Amy as this old, cold case is apparently intertwined with a current kidnapping crime.

Caroline Mitchell is a former CID and her knowledge and experience are well apparent throughout the book. This is, by far, one of the best written police procedurals I have read in a long time simply because the methodology, the “cop-speak,” and protocol were perfectly realistic. In addition, the psychological aspect of both cases were fully explored and developed. We were able to see the struggles going on within Amy while also watching in horror the machinations of the very evil Lillian Grimes. It is a race against time as a young girl’s life hangs in the balance.

I haven’t read Mitchell before this book but, based on the writing of Truth and Lies, she definitely is going on my author watch list. If you enjoy police procedurals, crime novels or mysteries, then you will love this book. I highly recommend it – not to mention there is a terrific ending that will leave you wanting MORE –  ASAP.

Thanks to #Netgalley, #CarolineMitchell, #Thomas&Mercer and #AmazonPublishingUK for this terrific book!

DI Amy Winters a smart , dedicated police officer is reeling from her dad’s death when she receives a letter from a Lillian Grimes, who is incarcerated for committing a series of killings with her husband.Claiming to be her biological mother Lillian Grimes promises to reveal the location of three of her victims if Amy visits her in prison and satisfies her list of demands.After meeting Lillian Amy starts to recall her horrifying childhood which is scary enough but has also a missing teenage girls case to solve who might be running out of time.

Truth and lies is the first book in new series by Caroline Mitchell . After loving her Ruby Preston series I was excited to read her new series and it did not disappoint . A fast paced book with lots of twists and turns and a kind of a cliffhanger at the end makes this a highly entertaining read and cannot wait for book no 2

I would like to thank Amazon Publishing UK & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

Talk about not being able to put a book down! This had me up until the small hours. Obviously the inspiration was from the West murders, but what a great twist on it. A real thriller with great characters and a satisfyingly twisted plot. Wil, there be a follow up? I hope so.

4.5 Stars - I had no clue what I was originally going into, and within the first chapter I was hooked ! This is a police procedural novel where the protagonist is Detective Inspector Amy Winter, a strong independent female. I loved her character right away ! As the story develops, the more we peel the layers as to who Amy is.

I found this book was very atmospheric, the way Caroline describes the surroundings makes you feel like you're actually there with Amy. I thought is was very well described and very well written !

Also, I couldn't help but get emotional attached! The villain in this story was really getting under my skin and I just absolutely hated her. I have a feeling we won't be done with her quite yet...

I thoroughly enjoyed this book but when I read that Caroline Mitchell is a former detective that made me love this book even more! Already can't wait to read DI Amy Winter #2 ! Highly recommend.

Well HOLY friggin SH*tBALLS! Where do I start? Set in Essex the reader is faced with a chilling past, nature vs nurture, relationships; family; loyalty; manipulation; control; accountability; corruption; secrets; and a search for the truth / justice.
Eeeeek! What a prologue! Spine-tingling, goosebump territory – and I certainly wanted to carry on! I was immediately hooked as I love true crime and the author blended fact with fiction in this creepy police procedural – Fred/Rosemary West as well as Ian Brady and Myra Hindley immediately crept into my mind as this macabre tale unfolded. The plot was perfectly paced, complex and compelling whereby 100,000 WTAF’s must have escaped my lips! I thought the characters and narrative were equally intriguing and I found myself pulled from pillar to post wondering whether or not DI Amy Winter’s secret would be discovered. This is the first in the series and I have to say, it may well be the best book the author has written so far. Caroline Mitchell is clearly honing her craft and using her time to bring readers the thrills, chills and OMFG moments that will keep them hooked.
Character-wise, I have to say this was one mixed up bag of dysfunctional peeps! DI Amy Winter is a strong female lead with dark secrets she doesn’t want her colleagues to find out about- can’t say I blame her. I mean, how would you trust a police officer to serve & protect you if you knew that their birth parents were bloody serial killers, right!? I loved that Amy was emotionally void at times – because of her childhood – but that she didn’t come across as being insensitive. I will certainly be following this series to see where the author goes next with DI Winter!
Lillian Grimes and the rest of the Grimes’ clan – well jaysus…master manipulator, Lillian is still pulling her children’s strings from behind bars. Although I may not have liked what she did, I loved this character. I also enjoyed the way that the author showed how two completely different upbringings (Amy vs her siblings) could lead to very different adult lives. The nature vs nurture debate has always fascinated me, and in many of my own work experiences, I came across individuals who I often wondered whether they had different role models, would they have ended up doing something more productive with their lives. (I was a Senior Probation Officer – so this always intrigued me) – when a book makes me think- especially a fictional one…well, that’s a winner for me!
The baddies were bad and even some of the goodies had the questionable streak of badness – hidden beneath the surface and leave the reader wondering. Like I said before – so many questions!
Would I recommend this book? Well, let me think about that for a minute….DUH!! Hell yeah I would – over and over again! This book has everything I love in my crime fiction: a #killerhook, interesting and relatable characters, a kickass storyline and of course – the OMFG moments that leave you screaming at the pages! I seriously can’t wait to see what is next in store for DI Winter’s and the rest of the team – as I hear that when her secret is out…well- let’s just wait and see, shall we?

This was a first Caroline Mitchell book for me, having heard tons about her in my book club... And did she live up to the hype.. Oh yes!!
Loved how the story unfolds.. Total page turner,!!!

3.5, the ultimate game of cat and mouse stars!!

Meet DI Amy Winter - currently mourning the loss of her beloved and esteemed father Robert Winter. Robert spent the majority of his career working on incarcerating a husband and wife, serial-killing duo dubbed "The Beasts of Brentwood" and finding the remains of three last girls that have been missing since Lillian and Jack grimes were arrested.

I am your birth mother. The person who gave you life.

Amy receives a letter from Lillian Grimes and within this letter is a truth Amy has left buried and forgotten from her childhood. She, is the biological daughter of The Beasts of Brentwood. With this shocking realization of a past she was lucky to have forgotten this story takes off on a tale full of twists and turns as far as the eye can read.

Lillian has agreed to disclose the locations of the remains of the last three girls in exchange for deals with Amy. During this same time, another girl goes missing and the hunt is on as these two parallel story lines weave together to form a web of tangled lies and deceit as Amy struggles with her past, her personal demons and her job as DI.

Amy felt a knot grow between her shoulder blades as Lillian dangled her like a marionette.

This story drew me in immediately, not only with the premise but with the knock-out that was the first few pages. However, as things progressed the story got a lot more convoluted which led to a lack of development in the many story lines taking place here. The majority of our story follows Amy and the hunt for Hermonie (our currently missing child) and the remains of the last 3 victims of The Beasts of Brentwood. However, we're also given the point of view of Poppy (Amy's birth name), which gives us insight into the past and the horrors Amy faced as a child. Additional side-characters are also given air-time and it created quite a lot of story to follow along and some of the arcs seemed to end haphazardly without explanation.

While psychopaths could not feel empathy, they made an art of mimicking it to suit their own needs.

The last quarter of this book was chock-full of twists and turns that I definitely didn't see coming. While in some cases that's great and exciting, in others it means it came out of left field. Truth and Lies delivered both in spades. A few of the twists were shockers for me that amplified my enjoyment of the read overall and others were a bit far fetched. My main gripe and disappointment with this one is it felt that Mitchell wanted the mystery of Amy's past to propel you to the end, instead of the story engaging you enough to finish.

In the end, I feel what this lacked the most was development. There were simply so many story lines that there feasibly couldn't be enough development into them in this short of a novel. I don't think it should've been longer but I do feel some of the story lines could've been eliminated to create a more fluid and concise read. All in all, it was a good start to a promising series and I can see why so many enjoyed it. While I may not be picking up the second installment any time soon I look forward to seeing how future books in the series are received!

DI Amy Winter, the adopted daughter of a police officer, is also the biological child of parents known as a murdering du0 -- the Beasts of Brentwood. The couple abducted and killed young girls back in the 1980s. Amy's real mom, Lillian Grimes, is in prison and her bio dad is dead. DI Winter's past is shrouded in vague memories that are brought to the forefront when Lillian contacts her from jail and promises to reveal the location of 3 bodies if Winter will help get her appeal going, "because she was framed."

This detective crime drama forces Amy Winter to accept that the circumstances of her birth do not add up to the person she is now. Although her adoptive father is dead, Amy is a dedicated police officer who agrees to see Lillian so as to give the closure necessary to the families of the dead girls by finding the bodies and taking them home. Lillian is living up to her part, taking Amy to the bodies, when another young girl is kidnapped. NO SPOILERS.

The narrative shifts in time and point of view as the various aspects of the case come together. The characters are fairly typical of this genre and not fully developed in this first of what I expect is a new series. This was more mystery than pulse-pounding suspense.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the e-book ARC to read and review.

Absolutely have to say this is such a brilliant book!

This is going to be one hell of a series for Caroline, and I for one will be itching to get my hands on each new copy!

Amy Winter has the kind of childhood that would give you nightmares, coming from evil, heinous serial killers. Having been rescued and adopted by loving parents who have done their best to give her a safe and comfortable upbringing, they had shielded her from the truth of her birth family, only for her to have the shock of her life when she is contacted by the mother from hell, just when she has taken up a new role in the police force.

I’m really interested to see the background develop, and how this plays out, if the first book is anything to go by, this is going to be up there with my all time favourite series!

Published by: Thomas & Mercer (30th August 2018)



ISBN: 978-1503903142



Source: Netgalley



Rating: 5*



Synopsis:

DI Amy Winter is hoping to follow in the footsteps of her highly respected police officer father. But when a letter arrives from the prison cell of Lillian Grimes, one half of a notorious husband-and-wife serial-killer team, it contains a revelation that will tear her life apart.

Responsible for a string of heinous killings decades ago, Lillian is pure evil. A psychopathic murderer. And Amy’s biological mother. Now, she is ready to reveal the location of three of her victims—but only if Amy plays along with her twisted game.



While her fellow detectives frantically search for a young girl taken from her mother’s doorstep, Amy must confront her own dark past. Haunted by blurred memories of a sister who sacrificed herself to save her, Amy faces a race against time to uncover the missing bodies.

But what if, from behind bars, Grimes has been pulling the strings even tighter than Amy thought? And can she overcome her demons to prevent another murder?



Review :

I have been feeling rather spoilt of late with the number of incredible female lead characters I've had the fortune to read, and DI Amy Winter is no exception! Although she appears somewhat of a closed book at times, the way this particular case interweaves with her childhood forces her to open up. She's a fascinating, multi-faceted character, deftly supported by an array of other characters that play their part in building the story.



The way Amy's background pertains to the main case is intricately plotted, down to the very last detail. I enjoyd the amount of focus on the police's home lives, it really brought the characters to life as well as satisfying my nosey streak! There were plenty of surprises that I didn't expect including one huge one. I thought I had it all worked out, but I was pleasantly surprised to be wrong! I'm a huge fan of the author's work, and am really looking forward to the next outing for DI Amy Winter. I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley; this is my honest review.

Well where to start with this one – with a great big Thank You Caroline, my readers block has been well and truly banished now thanks to this beaut of a book 😍 The only criticism I can give is in relation to the wait we all now face for the next instalment in the Amy Winters series!!

There is nothing I like better than a strong female serial killer (I’m still taking notes for my ex-hubby, so if he ever turns up murdered this could will turn out to be evidence! 😂😂 No note takings from this particular book though may I add!!!) And Lillian Grimes is most definitely a strong, fascinating character who’s crimes are atrocious, depraved and sadly completely believable.

DI Amy Winter is the best strong female lead character in this genre I have come across so far this year by a mile. Being of short stature helps as I know what that can be like in a predominantly male workplace and she uses it to her advantage perfectly. Never underestimate the vertically challenged people!

It is a strong subversive plot right from the very first page to the very last with some very slick plot twists. At first you think you have it all worked out and what the twist will be, and I will say I wasn’t even disappointed when I thought I had worked it out by the middle of the book, it wouldn’t have detracted my enjoyment at all, but then, Nope, my theory was blown straight out the water forcing a re-evaluation of the situation! There are a few moments like that and as for the ending – Well that was a phenomenal little surprise twist!

As I said from the start the only negative thing from this book is the wait for the second instalment of the series! I cant wait to see where Amy goes from here but where ever it is I think she will have a huge amount of fans following her every step of the way!

If you are a fan of the crime/thriller genre then you wont want to miss this one. If you enjoyed Chelsea Cain’s Archie and Gretchen series you are going to love this I promise 👍🏻

I really enjoyed TRUTH AND LIES. DI Amy Winter is a realistic and interesting protagonist and the plot really held me in my seat, flipping pages as night turned into morning. Fans of Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series will enjoy Mitchell's new series.

Shortly after the death of her police officer father, DI Amy Winters receives a letter from a woman in prison who claims to be her birth mother. The woman was convicted of numerous murders of young women. Her accomplice was her husband, now deceased (and Amy’s biological father).

Amy’s memories start to return of her own abusive childhood. She is persuaded to meet with her biological mother, Lilian Grimes, in order to discover the whereabout of victim’s bodies which have never been recovered.

The best part for me was Amy’s sense of responsibility to her adoptive parents and to the relatives of the victims. She is spurred on to face horrible facts about her own life because she feels it’s the right thing to do for other people. This was brave.

There is also a current missing persons case that Amy is investigating, involving a young girl.

I really liked the story idea though it never really got into an emotional groove for me. I can’t explain why but maybe the plot had too many amazing coincidences for me to feel gripped by it as much as I’d have liked to be. I mean, don’t get me wrong, it was a good read but I didn’t get the punch I was hoping for.

Caroline Mitchell does write some cracking thrillers and this is the first one in a new series - the DI Amy Winter series. When you realise the title, and the fact that the lead character is going to be questioning what it’s like having serial killers for parents.....this is not your average crime fiction novel.

"You can't run away forever... My blood runs through your veins. Mine and your father's."

The blood comes from the 'Beasts of Brentwood', Jack and Lillian Grimes, who are convicted of killing nine women. To find this out is one thing, but to be a DI involved in a crime investigation....not that’s going to be interesting!

I enjoyed the dynamics between Amy and Lillian Grimes as Lillian might be able to help the case she’s working on and find the remains of the girls they murdered. That’s al kinds of weird right there, but you can’t help but read on. Why is Lillian helping her, what kind of relationship could there ever be between them, and would you even want to see this woman?

It’s a very unique premise and the writing is top notch. Essex and London set although it’s the actions and plot which drives this book. And it’s a plot that goes at some speed. Seat belts on!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Wow! This book needs a sequel! What a crazy and disturbing ride. Lillian is one sick lady with a great ability for manipulation.

You know how some crime thrillers lead up to a big wow? Truth and Lies gives you the big wow right in the beginning. And the middle. And the end. Twice. Great secondary storylines, too.

Great read. Can't wait for Caroline Mitchell's next one.

For me this is a 3.5 stars as I felt it too closely resembled another infamous case and their daughter has just published her own story. Coincidence? Not sure. At times I felt this book was a bit convoluted with too much going on, however it did all come together in the end but maybe a bit too nicely

Anyone unfamiliar with the case I refer to would enjoy this book

This book was very good. While some parts were predictable, it kept my interest and had me hooked. There are many characters with interesting back stories which weave together. The reader can connect with the characters emotionally and follow the stories and each person's background well.

I enjoyed getting to know the main character, DI Amy Winter, and her thought processes and what made her tick. I hope the author writes more stories about Winter.

Overall, a great, quick read. This novel about psychopaths, morality, betrayal, and the human psyche is riveting.

I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to the publishers for letting me read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Truth and Lies, where do I begin?! The story, for me, started off a bit slow. Once you get the characters' pinpointed and the plot figured out it became hard to put down. The ending was amazing and I cannot wait to see what'll be coming next!

Always enjoy a Caroline Mitchell book. Lots going on and characters are interesting. Some twists to the plot . Events flow at a good pace and things get solved in a reasonable time frame .

Beasts of Brentwood killer receives life sentence Lillian Grimes, one half of the deadly duo nicknamed the ‘Beasts of Brentwood’, has been sentenced to life imprisonment at Chelmsford Crown Court for the murder of nine young women.

Justice Michael Devine told the prolific serial killer, who denied all involvement, that she was a danger to the public and should never be released. Bodies of six young women, aged from thirteen to twenty-three, were found on the grounds of 13 Newbold Street in Brentwood, home to Lillian and husband Jack Grimes from 1972. They included the remains of their daughter, Sally-Ann Grimes, which were discovered behind a boarded-up fireplace.

The 34-year-old mother of four repeatedly voiced her innocence as she was convicted, despite overwhelming evidence against her. Evidence that, according to her solicitor, was manipulated by police to obtain a successful charge. She will be appealing the verdict. Lillian’s husband Jack, 39, was found dead in his cell two months before trial, when he was reportedly preparing to disclose the whereabouts of three of the victims. According to officials, his death was caused by an undiagnosed heart condition. Jack and Lillian Grimes were arrested following a social care visit to their home in connection with the disappearance of fifteen-year-old Sally-Ann Grimes. The couple’s remaining three children have been taken into care.

I was drawn immediately into this story. This book is a chilling thriller with lots of twists. I kept guessing and guessing and was wrong everytime and didn't find out things until the very end. This is one great serial killer thriller which was gripping and suspenseful. This was a real thrill ride that kept me on the edge of my seat. Lots of surprises in this one. The ending made me hold my breath and I had to come up for air.

Lots of unlikable characters with lots of flaws. Lillian was such an evil monster.
There were likable characters too. My favorite was Amy, who went through so much. She was one strong woman. I just love this author. I can't wait for book two to come out.

I read this with The Traveling Sister Group and I enjoyed reading this with them and reading their thoughts.

I want to thank Netgalley, Caroline Mitchell and Thomas & Mercer for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars!

Highly addictive! Gripping suspense! Unique and twisty plot! Incredible characters! I loved this book!

Detective Inspector Amy Winter is shocked when she receives a letter from the infamous and imprisoned serial killer, Lillian Grimes, explaining that she is her birth mother. Lillian is requesting to reunite with Amy in person to disclose the location of three bodies that have been missing for years. Amy must process her entire childhood under a new light, all the while working against the clock to return the bodies home to their grieving families.

I couldn’t flip these pages fast enough! This is my first book by Caroline Mitchell and I am now a HUGE fan! I absolutely loved her writing – the characters, the dialogue, the atmosphere, the language – it all felt so real and memorable. The narrative and pace were both done to perfection. Though I found a couple aspects of the novel were unnecessary near the end, I still whole-heartedly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend! DI Amy Winter is a fantastic main character – I can’t wait to read more in this series!

This was a Traveling Sister read which was truly enjoyable for all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review! I am eagerly waiting for Book #2 in this series!!

Truth & Lies is available now!

Caroline Mitchell is one of the very few authors who can manage to keep me guessing until the end. From the first page, she draws you into the story and leaves you breathless. Amy Winter is faced with an unimaginable shock regarding her past and immediately her world becomes turned upside down and nothing is what it seems.

Grieving for her father, a respected Detective whose footsteps she’s followed, DI Amy Winter returns to work to a letter she could never have expected to receive. It’s from a notorious serial killer, Lillian Grimes, who – along with her husband – was responsible for the death of numerous young girls offering to help her find the bodies of three victims whose graves are still unknown.
Normally, this is something Amy would jump at. However, the letter contains more details than Amy can cope with, at least initially, because in it, Lillian claims to be Amy’s mother. And that Amy isn’t Amy but Poppy.
While her first instinct is to ignore the letter, she can’t because she knows, on some level it’s true. Plus, without her going to meet Lillian, there is no way that the graves will be found and the parents of the missing girls will never find peace. So Amy goes to meet Lillian, despite the risks, and despite the fact that it will send her life into freefall, or at least that’s how it feels.
I felt bad for Amy reading Truth and Lies. What a way to find out you aren’t who you think you are. And what a burden to carry – confront a past you don’t want to confront or leave grieving families in limbo. As a dedicated officer, I understood she had no choice and I feared for her mental health as she embarked on her journey. What I didn’t understand was why she kept it secret from her boss, especially when it could so easily have jeopardised the case. It didn’t sit well with me and it didn’t seem realistic.
Which has left me in a quandary about this book. On one level I loved it. I thought Amy was a great character, nice and complex and troubled, and I want to get to know her more. On another, I struggled with how the story unfolded once the truth came out, which seemed a bit off if I’m honest. Her boss’ behaviour just didn’t feel right, though it does set up a potentially complicated relationship in future books I guess so it might all fall into place then.
Would I recommend it? Yes, I would because I don’t think most people would be bothered the way I was about this element of the plot, and it isn’t a major one so it’s not the end of the world. Who is it ideal for? Anyone who likes police procedurals and crime fiction with strong female characters. If that sounds like you – enjoy!

Amy Winter wanted to follow in her beloved father's footsteps & be a good cop. She has done well, she is respected and has been promoted. When her father dies she is devastated. Her adoptive parents had given her a secure & loving home & her father had given her a role model. She has come a long way from her early years as a terrified foul mouthed child- a result of living in the house of 'The Beasts of Brentwood'. Her parents were the notorious serial killers who kidnapped, raped and murdered a number of young girls. Their remains have never been found.

When Lilian, Amy's birth mother, offers to reveal the whereabouts of bodies on the understanding that she will only tell Amy the police are delighted. Amy is far from happy about this- with good reason! Lilian is a very dangerous manipulative woman who thinks she has a way out of prison. What does Lilian have to do with the kidnap of a young girl?

This was a good story,looking at nature versus nurture and the steps some people will go to so they get what they want. Lilian was a terrific 'baddie'- really made your flesh crawl I liked & admired Amy & look forward to reading more of her in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley & the publishers for letting me read & review this book.

Lindsay and I read Truth and Lies with three of our Traveling Sisters and this one goes on my list of one of the best thriller I have read in a while. For the most part we all had similar thoughts on this however one sister did see some things differently

For me these fascinating and interesting characters and the dynamics between them really made the story for me. Along with the mind games and manipulation played here I was intrigued and chilled at the same time with these mind games.

First we meet strong, confident and respected Detective Inspector Amy whose's world becomes to unhinged when she finds out she is biological daughter of serial killers.

Then we meet Amy's mother, dark minded, manipulative and terrifying Lillian a psychopathic killer wanting to play some dark and chilling mind games with Amy. Amy not wanting to have anything to do with her mother and her games is forced to go along with it to get some information from Lillian. We loved the dynamics here between them and were fascinated by them. Caroline Mitchell does a great job her creating a chilling and terrifying killer here with no empathy or remorse making Lillian one of the best psychopath I have read about. We were drawn into Amy's struggles with accepting and questioning who she was and is.

Truth and Lies is gripping right from the start to the finish however some of us did think maybe Caroline Mitchell did pushed that ending just a bit with a couple of the twists that we felt might not have been needed. As anyways this makes for an interesting discussion and always fun to see everyone's different thoughts.

I highly recommend this one to readers who love a chilling, evil and manipulative psychopath the kind so unlikable and horrible that you can't but find her fantasying and likeable as a character.

Thank you to Thank you from both of us to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for a copy to read and review.

OH MY GIDDY AUNT....Caroline Mitchell what are you doing to me! I am a massive fan of Caroline and just when I thought her books couldn't get any better along came DI Amy Winter daughter of a serial killer. If that tag line doesn't sell it to you I don't know what will. You guys are in for one hell of a treat.The author has totally nailed it yet again. I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE this book.

Right from the word go I knew this story was going to amazing which starts off with a bang. I found myself totally hooked and couldn't put it down until I had devoured it. The Story starts of with a newspaper report BOOM what a start. The more I read the more I wanted to know.

I have to say it isn't very often I have read the first book in a detective series and think WOW that was so good I wonder what the next instalment will bring. Carol has made no room for improvement and has pulled out all the punches with this nail biting, gritty read.

Impressed is an understatement...this is one of those books that I want everyone to read. In fact it is the best Crime Thriller I have read this year.

In case you hadn't guessed I bloody love Amy Winter she is a very unique character being the daughter of a serial killer. You cannot help but like her. She is a strong determined character It doesn't take the reader long to find out about her twisted mother weaving a story where we learn about her background which is woven with the plot. This is a well crafted story..... OMG I am hyperventilating just thinking about it. And now I am left wanting more.

This is crime at it's very best, extremely well written,which will totally take your breath away. Which I highly recommend giving it all the freaking stars.

After the death of her adoptive father, DI Amy Winter learns the shocking truth about her biological parents. Amy's birth mother, Lillian Grimes, sends her a letter requesting they meet. Grimes happens to be serving a multiple year sentence for the death and rapes of numerous women some decades earlier. Now Winter must put her shock, disgust, and pain aside to gather intel regarding three undiscovered victims from the monster who calls herself her mother. This suspenseful fast paced novel is for those who enjoy Tess Gerritsen.

This book was indeed a mystery- as the pieces of the main character’s life unfolded as the reader dug deeper into the text. I enjoyed learning the background to who Amy was and ultimately, where she cane from. The book came together neatly by the end, which was slightly predictable, yet satisfying to the reader.

TRUTH AND LIES by Caroline Mitchell is is a great suspense novel I Great plot twists to keep you guessing.. I had never read any of Mitchell's novels before but I will be on the hunt to read more from this great author.

What do you do when you come from evil? This book really delved into what makes a person good or bad. Is it genetics, environment? Amy Winter is raised for four years by serial killer parents. Amy constantly questions if she has inherited or absorbed any of her parent's traits. I feel the book did a good job of raising the questions and making you think about it. Paddy's story was a bonus. You don't often see domestic violence against men. I thought this was a great book to start what I think will be a great series. I would recommend to anyone who loves a good British police procedural.

Oh wow! In my opinion this is Caroline’s best book yet. DI Amy Winters is a complex character and the way the story unfolds is mesmerising. Unlike some police procedural books it kept me intrigued and guessing all the way through. I liked the way Caroline built up the other characters in the story too. It kept me guessing right up to the end, where I cried! Well done Caroline - I cant wait for the next in the series ...

I was drawn into this book immediately and it didn't disappoint. This was a well written police procedural book with serveral different storylines running throughout. This is the first book in a new series. It was left on a bit of a cliffhanger and I certainly look forward to the next one.

Another brilliant book from this great aut
Keeps you on edge
Couldn't put it down
Highly recommend this author , the books keep getting better if that's even possible

Follow DI Amy Winter in this psychological thriller set around London and neighbouring Essex. This novel is a mixture of Police procedures, cold case reviews, the quest for justice, kidnapping, murder, identity and psychopaths ALL within the murky borders of Truth and Lies.

I really enjoyed reading Truth and Lies. It is very different from your usual crime thriller because of it’s very strong psychological aspect. Having said that, it is also very different from most psychological thrillers too. Generally with psychological thrillers, the characters are having their minds disturbed as they try to cope with their situations. In Truth and Lies, the reader is having their mind disturbed as warning flags spring up ALL the time, forcing you to second guess what is going on. Caroline really engages the reader as her plot unfolds. I thought the plot was great and when I got to the end my head was buzzing - but in a good way, as I thought “if only”.

I liked the way Truth and Lies was told, with short chapters and from different points of view. Characterization was spot on with everyone involved. Many issues were explored to make Truth and Lies a FULL story, not just a plot driven thriller. I liked how recovered memories were used and how our brains can distort reality. I liked how the psychopath gave their insight to normalize their behaviour.

What was really OUTSTANDING was the exploration of the concept of Truth and Lies. We now live in a world of fake news and this novel highlights how murky the gap between Truth and Lies can become. People can accept things as fact and the psychological workings of our beliefs are complex.

Truth and Lies was a pleasure to read because of it’s complexity. I really engaged with the story and think it would make an ideal TV drama. Caroline is clearly at the top of her game and I can find nothing wrong with this book. Truth and Lies is yet another 5 star read from Caroline Mitchell.

Truth and Lies is the first book in a new series featuring DI Amy Winter. Amy is the daughter of a well-known, highly respected police officer. Still trying to cope with his recent death, Amy now finds herself trying to fill the shoes and legacy of her father more than ever. However, after a letter arrives to Amy from a prison cell.. that may be hard to do.

The letter arrives from the prison cell of Lillian Grimes. Lillian is the wife of a now deceased Jack Grimes and is rotting in a prison cell. Lillian and her husband Jack were the sickest, most twisted serial killing tag team couple. Jack died, but his wife has spent years in prison paying for her half of the damage done. The letter DI Amy Winter receives is from Lillian Grimes, and reveals the insane truth that Amy is the daughter of her and Jack. Adopted from a young age, Amy was taken in by police officer Robert and his wife Flora. Never told about her past, Amy had no idea of the sick truths behind the blood that runs through her veins. As if finding out that your biological parents are 2 of the most famous serial killers ever known wasn’t enough…

Lillian wants Amy to pay her a visit to prison for a proper reunion. If she agrees to meet, Lillian will reveal the long awaited locations where 3 of the young girls her and husband kidnapped and murdered are buried. Is visiting her mother and learning the truths about her past worth discovering the locations of these girls? Is delivering the long-awaited news to these girls’ families worth her co-workers and DCI discovering the truth about her past? Does Amy have more of her biological, serial killer parents’ blood running through her than she thinks?

Amidst all of the craziness, another kidnapping has happened involving a beautiful young girl named Hermione. Could this case be tied to Lillian Grimes? Does she have information on where this little girl is located? DI Amy Winter vows to find out the truth, all while discovering that her life’s been filled with lies.

If you’re in the mood for a fast-paced thriller that will keep you guessing its ending until you turn the final page, read this book. A unique plot, interesting characters, and twists and turns throughout, Truth and Lies needs to be your next read. If I wasn’t drowning in school, I’d have finished this one in a day!

Really good book. Had me turning the pages. I havent ready anything by this author before and I'd recommend the book and author. Suspensful.

The idea of a Detective Inspector who is also the daughter of a serial killer was too good to resist. Maybe having such high expectations at the beginning is what left me feeling a little disappointed. The story was enjoyable but not quite as thrilling or exciting as I expected. I liked the dual storylines but I don't think the kidnapping mystery was well executed. The big reveal felt like it came from left field. There weren't enough clues to lead the reader to even suspect the eventual perpetrator. I'm not sure if I will read any other books from the DI Amy Winter series but I will probably try another Caroline Mitchell book.

WOW! What an absolutely cracking start to a new series!
I have loved meeting DI Amy Winter. She's a very likeable character who is mourning the death of her father. He was also a very well known and respected police officer and she is proud to have followed in his footsteps. When she receives a letter from serial killer Lillian Grimes (one half of a murdering couple), her life is turned upside down. Lillian wants to confess to the burial sites of three of their victims who were never found, but of course she wants something in return and Amy has no choice to play along.
At the same time a teenager goes missing. They need to find her and find her fast. Could her kidnapping have anything to do with Lillian? What possible connection could there be?
Truth and Lies is an extremely fast-paced police procedural which grabbed my attention from the very first chapter. Lillian Grimes is the most heinous female character I think I have ever come across. Chilling is a massive understatement! I don't know what it is about women killers. Murder is murder, but somehow it always seems worse when it's a woman, especially where children are the victims. Maybe that's just me. From a psychological point of view though she is a fascinating character. Caroline Mitchell does have the knack for writing the most shockingly real and believable monsters who literally make your skin crawl. Imagine discovering you're related to one!
Cleverly written, as always, with shortish chapters which add to the pace and tension of the story you can't help but be drawn in. I was desperate to find out what exactly was the truth and what in the end was just lies. I was gobsmacked! Just awesome! I can't wait for book 2. I highly recommend!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy.

I’m a huge fan of Caroline Mitchell’s books so when I heard she had a new series coming up I was over the moon and what a cracking start to it Truth and Lies is.
DI Amy Winters was adopted as a small child, never knowing who her real parents were she has made a good career for herself in the police force following in her adoptive fathers footsteps. Everything is put on the line though when she receives a letter from her birth mother and Amy’s life will never be the same again.
Amy’s a cracking character, she’s strong, very focused on her job and works with a good team but she has this huge secret about her parents that she really doesn’t want her team finding out about and rightly so. It would change everything and everything Amy has worked for. It’s quite a bombshell for her to take in without everyone judging her as well.
Lillian Grimes is a despicable character that gave me chills and made my skin crawl but oh boy what a fantastically evil character she is. She’s a manipulator as well as a serial-killer and down right psychopath. I’ll admit that after reading this I did have a couple of nightmares and Lillian was right in the middle of them *shivers*.
The story is set in the present with some chapters going back to the past with Amy’s memories. These are probably the ones that set my nightmares off, some are very chilling indeed. The story flows though, it was so easy to read and had me totally gripped from beginning to end.
Truth and Lies is a story I will definitely be recommending, it has everything and more you could ask for in a crime fiction story and I seriously can’t wait for the next spine chilling instalment.

Read a few Caroline Mitchell books not, and this one for me was the best yet. This is a real game of cat and mouth and at times it pulls you right into the story. Loads of twists and turns and trying to figure out who to believe. The book was a real page turner and i found myself up until the early hours trying to get this book finished. Loved the twist at the end too! Really looking forward to the next book. If i could give this book more than 5 stars i would. Thanks Caroline. This book was one of the best books i have read this year.

I would like to thank Thomas & Mercer Publishing and the Netgalley website for this partnership.

I was immediately attracted to the summary and cover: you see Amy looking at her back and this catchphrase that makes you want to read the book: you can't change the flesh and blood.

We find Amy daughter of a serial killer, a detective who wants to follow in her father's footsteps. When one day a letter arrives from Lillian Grimes' prison cell, everything will change.

She committed heinous murders years ago, it's the absolute evil, it's his mother. She's ready to reveal where she hid three bodies if Amy plays her twisted game with her. Her colleagues will investigate the kidnapping of a young girl while Amy faces her dark past. Will she be able to defeat her demons to prevent further murders?

A book read in one go so much I hooked on the story so moving, captivating and full of suspense and twists and turns.

The author takes us back in Amy's dark past with brio too eager to read on.

While I enjoyed the store, I found the first half of the book slow. I felt the story picked up in the second and I wanted to know what was coming next.

I loved this novel!! I am always one for suspense and thriller novels and this one did not disappoint! Highly recommend to anyone who wants a suspenseful and exciting read! The characters were amazing and really drew you into the story.

I have to admit, when I heard about this new series, I wasn't sure what to expect. Mitchell is a wonderful author but I adored her Ruby Preston series and was gutted when it ended, I suppose I wasn't sure how I'd gel with this new officer. And the lack of my #bookboyfriend Nathan Crosby wasn't something I was looking forward to either.
I needn't have worried.
At all.
DI Amy Winter is bloody brilliant and what an introduction to her we have!
Recently promoted to head up a new team in the force, Winter is a firecracker of an officer all set to follow in the footsteps of her late father, until a letter arrives which changes everything.
Lillian Grimes is the remaining half of serial killer duo, the Grimes, who back in the eighties were responsible for the murders of an unknown number of young women.
Lillian is the author of Winter's life-changing letter … and reveals that she's her biological mother.
Grimes starts blackmailing Winter to visiting her under the promise of information that will allow the families of her victims some closure. Winter has no choice but to do as she's told.
From the off, Truth and Lies takes us on an emotional rollercoaster. I was immediately hooked to the characters and Winter is set to be a favourite. A strong woman who has made it in a "mans' world", she has earnt the respect of those around her and is confident in her abilities. Until that letter arrives.
Mitchell has taken the police procedural to another level with this one and I can't wait to see what else she has in store for DI Winter. What a bloody brilliant idea … a police officer who is the daughter of not one, but two serial killers but who was brought up by a high ranking police officer.
The nature vs. nurture argument is evident throughout this one and it's fascinating. Winter has repressed all her memories of her time with her parents, but as soon as she discovers the truth of her parentage, she starts to question everything about herself, and those around her. Is the goodness of the parents who raised enough to outweigh the evil which runs through her veins?
ARRRGGGHHHH!!!!! I need book two now!
As the plot moves forward with the police investigations, Mitchell adds in chapters which take us back in time as Winter starts to remember her childhood … we discover what it was like or her growing up in the home of two serial killers. And it wasn't pleasant. It's no wonder she has buried those memories as deep as she could.
With hints of the true crimes of Moors murderers Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, Truth and Lies is a gritty and harrowing read in places but Mitchell deals with it sensitively. It's one my favourite books of the year and I cannot wait for the nest one!

It’s very exciting when an author you love has a new series to sink you’re teeth into and I couldn’t wait to start this book.

D.I. Amy Winters receives a letter, after the death of her police officer father and discovers her real parents are the notorious serial killers “beasts of Brentwood”. Lillian her mother is in prison and will give her the location of 3 bodies, Only if she jumps through hoops for her!!

A wonderful story that depicts good and evil beautifully and has plenty of twists. An ending that leaves you wanting more. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

A great read and a really good introduction to what I gather will be a series involving DI Amy Winter. Really liked Amy's character and her past was both horrible and intriguing. I was drawn in from the very beginning and it made me want to keep picking it up again and carrying on. Nice twist at the end too!

I was drawn into Truth and Lies by the premise – the idea of a Detective inspector being, unknown to her, the biological daughter of a serial killer was too intriguing to pass up. Unfortunately, the delivery didn’t really do it for me. I was expecting a police procedural – and it would be entirely fair to say that my expectations are what let me down here – but there wasn’t really much sleuthing done. Everything came together a little too conveniently, and I wasn’t entirely convinced by the story or its conclusion.

I really enjoyed the flashbacks to Poppy’s life in the Grimes household at the age of four, but I felt that the suppressed memories came back a little too conveniently, and it raises the questions of memories being unreliable without really exploring this in full.

I thought that the characters were well done, particularly Lillian Grimes and Amy Winter. Lillian is one of those absolutely fantastic villains that you love to hate, and she was extremely convincing as a manipulative psychopath. Amy and the dilemma she finds herself in was also very convincing.