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Alice Quentin #3
The Winter Foundlings
The girl was lying on the steps of the Foundling Museum, dressed all in white. Four girls have disappeared in North London. Three are already dead. Britain's most prolific child killer, Louis Kinsella, has been locked up in Northwood high-security hospital for over a decade. Now more innocents are being slaughtered, and they all have a connection to his earlier crimes. Psychologist Alice Quentin is doing research at Northwood. She was hoping for a break from her hectic London life, but she'll do anything to help save a child - even if it means forming a relationship with a charismatic, ruthless murderer. But Kinsella is slow to give away his secrets, and time is running out for the latest kidnap victim, who is simply trying to survive...
340 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2014
56 people are currently reading
1114 people want to read
About the author
Kate Rhodes
39 books354 followersKate Rhodes is a bestselling UK crime writer. Her latest books are the acclaimed ISLES OF SCILLY MYSTERIES, which have been optioned for TV. Kate has been nominated for the Crime Novel of the Year award and a Library Dagger.
Kate did many different jobs including working as a theatre usherette, a cocktail waitress, and an English tutor at a liberal arts college in Florida. She was born in London but now lives in Cambridge with her husband Dave, and works part-time at Cambridge University, as a creative writing fellow.
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Kate did many different jobs including working as a theatre usherette, a cocktail waitress, and an English tutor at a liberal arts college in Florida. She was born in London but now lives in Cambridge with her husband Dave, and works part-time at Cambridge University, as a creative writing fellow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
February 26, 2015
Unfortunately did not realize this was the third book in this series and I usually don't like picking up books that are already part of a continuing series. Despite that, I liked this one. Good plot, young girls going missing, found dead dressed in white after a short time and a new ten year old taken. The setting, a psychiatric hospital, where a famous killer is incarcerated or is a patient, whichever you refer. he refuses to talk and only writes notes. The main character, Alice, has had past dealings, having helped the police, in particular one certain policeman, and is asked to help again. By talking to Kinsella, since the murders seem to be mimicking his.
So a good plot, interesting setting, a little romance, some profiling and psychological digging made form very interesting and fast paced read. Though in the interest of fairness I questioned some of the actions of Alice, they moved the story forward and provided tension but they were somewhat unbelievable.
ARC from NetGalley.
So a good plot, interesting setting, a little romance, some profiling and psychological digging made form very interesting and fast paced read. Though in the interest of fairness I questioned some of the actions of Alice, they moved the story forward and provided tension but they were somewhat unbelievable.
ARC from NetGalley.
August 28, 2014
It's incredibly rare for me to give five star to a crime novel but this time I had to.
Over the course of just three novels Kate Rhodes has grown into a top-flight crime writer.
She creates characters, situations, stories that are utterly, sometimes horribly believable, and she writes so very well that it is impossible not to be pulled in and held from the first page of the story to the last.
Dr Alice Quentin is a Forensic Psychologist at Guys Hospital in London, but as the story opens she is beginning a six month secondment to Northwood high security hospital, looking in to the care and mental health treatment of some of Britain’s most damaged, most dangerous. criminals.
That was an interesting change, allowing the ongoing story to move into the background, and allowing Alice to be seen clearly in the foreground as capable and compassionate professional woman.
DCI Don Burns contacted Alice, asking that she interview one of Northwood’s patients. Louis Kinsella was Britain’s most prolific, most terrible, serial murderer of children; and there had been more murderers bearing his hallmarks.
Louis Kinsella had been a headmaster, a charity trustee, a pillar of the community. Now he rarely spoke, though he would occasionally deign to communicate by handwritten note, and he had driven one therapist who had worked with hom to a breakdown. He wrote Alice a note, and she was sure that he knew, that he may have been controlling, the recent murders.
He had no contact with the outside world, and so Alice believed that he must have been using, manipulating, somebody from the hospital staff who came into contact with him. But who ….
Alice had wanted a break from her London life and from her work with the police, but she knew that she had to go back. The psychologist attached to the case, Professor Alan Nash, didn’t like that. He had friends in high places, he wanted all of the glory, and he did everything to undermine her. There had been significant changes in DCI Burns’ team since Alice last worked with them too.
Louis Kinsella had been a trustee of The Foundling Museum, and Alice was sure that was significant. She just couldn’t work out how ….
This story is clearly underpinned by detailed research. The practical arrangements in the high-security hospital seemed credible; the different approaches of the staff to their work, the ways they lived and the ways that they coped rang true. That was fascinating.
And I loved learning about The Foundlings Hospital. Kate Rhodes teaches me something new about London with every book, and it is clear that she loves that city that she brings to life on the page.
Kate Rhode’s has written a stunningly brilliant thriller in The Winter Foundlings a psychological thriller at its best. This is a fast paced evocative read that draws you in and holds your attention all the way through to the end. This is a thriller you just do not want to put down it is so well written you just do not want the book to end.
Every element of the plot worked. Alice’s relationships with her mother, her brother and her best fried were touched on; things evolved a little, and shed more light on her character, without the slightest hint of contrivance. Professor Alan Nash reminded me of a certain colleague, and I definitely understood his psychology. Alice’s interviews with Louis Kinsella were chilling, and, though I was willing her on, I feared for her. DCI Burns’ new number two added interest, and I’d love to see her working with Alice again. The interludes with the child who was snatched and held by the killer were very well done, with great subtlety and great clarity.
And there are more things – some many details, all so very well drawn – but I can’t list everything.
They all came together to make a compelling and utterly credible story. The suspense was sustained beautifully, and suspicion fell in many different directions. The writing was so very clever, and I changed my mind so many times.
Just before the end there was a striking, a quite unexpected twist. And the resolution was unexpected, but entirely right.
I shall be surprised if I read a better piece of contemporary crime fiction this year. And I am already anxious to read Kate Rhodes’ next book.
Over the course of just three novels Kate Rhodes has grown into a top-flight crime writer.
She creates characters, situations, stories that are utterly, sometimes horribly believable, and she writes so very well that it is impossible not to be pulled in and held from the first page of the story to the last.
Dr Alice Quentin is a Forensic Psychologist at Guys Hospital in London, but as the story opens she is beginning a six month secondment to Northwood high security hospital, looking in to the care and mental health treatment of some of Britain’s most damaged, most dangerous. criminals.
That was an interesting change, allowing the ongoing story to move into the background, and allowing Alice to be seen clearly in the foreground as capable and compassionate professional woman.
DCI Don Burns contacted Alice, asking that she interview one of Northwood’s patients. Louis Kinsella was Britain’s most prolific, most terrible, serial murderer of children; and there had been more murderers bearing his hallmarks.
Louis Kinsella had been a headmaster, a charity trustee, a pillar of the community. Now he rarely spoke, though he would occasionally deign to communicate by handwritten note, and he had driven one therapist who had worked with hom to a breakdown. He wrote Alice a note, and she was sure that he knew, that he may have been controlling, the recent murders.
He had no contact with the outside world, and so Alice believed that he must have been using, manipulating, somebody from the hospital staff who came into contact with him. But who ….
Alice had wanted a break from her London life and from her work with the police, but she knew that she had to go back. The psychologist attached to the case, Professor Alan Nash, didn’t like that. He had friends in high places, he wanted all of the glory, and he did everything to undermine her. There had been significant changes in DCI Burns’ team since Alice last worked with them too.
Louis Kinsella had been a trustee of The Foundling Museum, and Alice was sure that was significant. She just couldn’t work out how ….
This story is clearly underpinned by detailed research. The practical arrangements in the high-security hospital seemed credible; the different approaches of the staff to their work, the ways they lived and the ways that they coped rang true. That was fascinating.
And I loved learning about The Foundlings Hospital. Kate Rhodes teaches me something new about London with every book, and it is clear that she loves that city that she brings to life on the page.
Kate Rhode’s has written a stunningly brilliant thriller in The Winter Foundlings a psychological thriller at its best. This is a fast paced evocative read that draws you in and holds your attention all the way through to the end. This is a thriller you just do not want to put down it is so well written you just do not want the book to end.
Every element of the plot worked. Alice’s relationships with her mother, her brother and her best fried were touched on; things evolved a little, and shed more light on her character, without the slightest hint of contrivance. Professor Alan Nash reminded me of a certain colleague, and I definitely understood his psychology. Alice’s interviews with Louis Kinsella were chilling, and, though I was willing her on, I feared for her. DCI Burns’ new number two added interest, and I’d love to see her working with Alice again. The interludes with the child who was snatched and held by the killer were very well done, with great subtlety and great clarity.
And there are more things – some many details, all so very well drawn – but I can’t list everything.
They all came together to make a compelling and utterly credible story. The suspense was sustained beautifully, and suspicion fell in many different directions. The writing was so very clever, and I changed my mind so many times.
Just before the end there was a striking, a quite unexpected twist. And the resolution was unexpected, but entirely right.
I shall be surprised if I read a better piece of contemporary crime fiction this year. And I am already anxious to read Kate Rhodes’ next book.
August 13, 2014
The Winter Foundlings – Stunningly Brilliant
I would love to know why I have not heard of Kate Rhodes because I have just finished her latest crime and psychological thriller and oh wow what a stunning read. This is one of the most intense, compelling and absolutely convincing read I have had in a while. Rhode’s prose is excellent and the imagery it gives off is so evocative you feel that you are in the centre of the plot.
The Winter Foundlings is now the third book in the Alice Quentin series and now I have read this I want to read more of her series. Dr Alice Quentin is a Forensic Psychologist who is usually based at Guys Hospital in London but at the moment is on a six month secondment to Northwood high security hospital. For those who were scarred by the TV series Cracker Alice Quentin is the absolute opposite, she is intelligent willing to look at the wider picture and more importantly she works in the field rather than the cosy world of academia.
Alice Quentin is on a research secondment at Northwood looking in to the care and mental health treatment of some of society’s scariest criminals. When a colleague from the Met DCI Don Burns contacts her to approach and interview Britain’s most prolific child killer Louis Kinsella for help in finding a killer who is copying or carrying on his body of ‘work’.
Kinsella rarely communicates with any of the therapists at Northwood unless it is by a handwritten note and he is the reason his last therapist has had a breakdown. It is through his note and her interviews she is able to guide the Met in the investigation, even though her old Masters supervisor Professor Alan Nash is doing everything he can to undermine her.
When Ella Williams goes missing Quentin promises her sister Suzanne that she and the Police will do everything they can to bring her home. In what becomes a race against time and more girls being taken Quentin realises that Kinsella is conducting the disappearances somehow even though he has no contact without the outside world.
It is by finding out about Kinsella’s obsession with The Foundling Museum that somehow Quentin will be able to crack the case. Unfortunately that just seems to be yet another blind alley for the investigation, but Quentin is positive that there are unseen connections that she cannot see. It is by finding what connects the abducted children, Kinsella and his proxy will she be able to crack the case.
Kate Rhode’s has written a stunningly brilliant thriller in The Winter Foundlings a psychological thriller at its best. This is a fast paced evocative read that draws you in and holds your attention all the way through to the end. This is a thriller you just do not want to put down it is so well written you just do not want the book to end.
Kate Rhodes has brilliantly researched this book and especially the high-security hospital aspects, having visited one here in the north the only thing not mentioned are the airlocks between the outside world and those patients. But with Kate’s description of the Laurels she could be describing the many therapy rooms that these hospitals have that and the magnolia paint that seems to be widespread.
The Winter Foundlings has been researched with care and love so everything is on point and no creative licence has had to be used. Alice Quentin is a well developed and developing character as are all the other supporting characters. Through her writing Kate Rhodes has written an atmospheric and in places quite terrifying read and the central character of Dr Alice Quentin is one of the best I have read in a long time.
Kate Rhode’s is another example of an excellent female writer taking crime fiction to another level and long may she continue.
I would love to know why I have not heard of Kate Rhodes because I have just finished her latest crime and psychological thriller and oh wow what a stunning read. This is one of the most intense, compelling and absolutely convincing read I have had in a while. Rhode’s prose is excellent and the imagery it gives off is so evocative you feel that you are in the centre of the plot.
The Winter Foundlings is now the third book in the Alice Quentin series and now I have read this I want to read more of her series. Dr Alice Quentin is a Forensic Psychologist who is usually based at Guys Hospital in London but at the moment is on a six month secondment to Northwood high security hospital. For those who were scarred by the TV series Cracker Alice Quentin is the absolute opposite, she is intelligent willing to look at the wider picture and more importantly she works in the field rather than the cosy world of academia.
Alice Quentin is on a research secondment at Northwood looking in to the care and mental health treatment of some of society’s scariest criminals. When a colleague from the Met DCI Don Burns contacts her to approach and interview Britain’s most prolific child killer Louis Kinsella for help in finding a killer who is copying or carrying on his body of ‘work’.
Kinsella rarely communicates with any of the therapists at Northwood unless it is by a handwritten note and he is the reason his last therapist has had a breakdown. It is through his note and her interviews she is able to guide the Met in the investigation, even though her old Masters supervisor Professor Alan Nash is doing everything he can to undermine her.
When Ella Williams goes missing Quentin promises her sister Suzanne that she and the Police will do everything they can to bring her home. In what becomes a race against time and more girls being taken Quentin realises that Kinsella is conducting the disappearances somehow even though he has no contact without the outside world.
It is by finding out about Kinsella’s obsession with The Foundling Museum that somehow Quentin will be able to crack the case. Unfortunately that just seems to be yet another blind alley for the investigation, but Quentin is positive that there are unseen connections that she cannot see. It is by finding what connects the abducted children, Kinsella and his proxy will she be able to crack the case.
Kate Rhode’s has written a stunningly brilliant thriller in The Winter Foundlings a psychological thriller at its best. This is a fast paced evocative read that draws you in and holds your attention all the way through to the end. This is a thriller you just do not want to put down it is so well written you just do not want the book to end.
Kate Rhodes has brilliantly researched this book and especially the high-security hospital aspects, having visited one here in the north the only thing not mentioned are the airlocks between the outside world and those patients. But with Kate’s description of the Laurels she could be describing the many therapy rooms that these hospitals have that and the magnolia paint that seems to be widespread.
The Winter Foundlings has been researched with care and love so everything is on point and no creative licence has had to be used. Alice Quentin is a well developed and developing character as are all the other supporting characters. Through her writing Kate Rhodes has written an atmospheric and in places quite terrifying read and the central character of Dr Alice Quentin is one of the best I have read in a long time.
Kate Rhode’s is another example of an excellent female writer taking crime fiction to another level and long may she continue.
February 2, 2015
The reviews I always find most difficult to write are the ones on books that make me go ‘Meh’. Unfortunately this is one such book.
In ‘The Winter Foundlings’ we find ourselves in a sort of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ set up. Following a spate of kidnap-murders on very young girls around North London, psychologist Alice Quentin is brought in by the police to interview Louis Kinsella, an inmate at a high security hospital for violent criminals. Someone is ‘copycatting’ Kinsella’s work, and with more bodies turning up and one young girl still missing. Quentin is really up against it to get the details she needs from a reluctant Kinsella in order to catch this child murderer and save the 10 year old Ella.
Sounds pretty good, huh? I do enjoy crime fiction and as a psychology graduate myself I revel in plots centred around the female psychologist protagonist. Yet I just could not get excited during this one at all.
It seemed bizarrely like too much and nothing at all was going on all at once. Little mysteries were peppered throughout that I didn’t find at all intriguing, frankly I just found them annoying.
I couldn’t warm to Quentin at all; in fact there were no likeable characters in there for me, and this was possibly due to a severe lack of any real character development – even the ‘disturbingly evil’ Kinsella seemed like his heart wasn’t really in it. There was also an extremely awkward would-be romance, and recurring references to Quentin’s ‘haunted cottage’ that I presume were there to try, and fail, to unsettle the reader and amounted to nothing.
The investigation and the life of Alice Quentin breaks for brief intervals to give us current kidnap victim Ella’s perspective, but even these are no saving grace. Ella is repeatedly referred to as bright beyond her years, and yet this still didn’t explain why her biggest concern seemed to be how cold she was, rather than the violence she was subjected to or the fear in knowing she will soon be dead. And her manipulation to keep her captor sweet was not at all believable from a 10 year old girl, no matter how bright.
With all the beating about the bush, diversion, and focus on things that turned out to have no relevance to the story; there seemed to be an awful lot of irrelevant build up to a climatic event that took all of two pages to occur and abruptly end.
I stuck with it only to see if I was right about who was behind the murders. And no, I wasn’t – but even that didn’t impress me. I felt that if my guy had done it it might have been a better story!
I must point out that this is the third instalment in a series I am not familiar with, and although it works as a standalone in theory, it may be that you’d need to read the first two Alice Quentin novels in order to appreciate her as a character.
Overall, I’m afraid this one didn’t do it for me at all. In these instances I always try to suggest the kind of reader I think it may appeal to – and I suppose if you want an introduction to the crime thriller genre that isn’t too taxing then you may want to give this a go. I have certainly seen some really glowing reviews for it. But it’s not one I would particularly recommend.
My thanks to the publisher for providing this book for review.
In ‘The Winter Foundlings’ we find ourselves in a sort of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ set up. Following a spate of kidnap-murders on very young girls around North London, psychologist Alice Quentin is brought in by the police to interview Louis Kinsella, an inmate at a high security hospital for violent criminals. Someone is ‘copycatting’ Kinsella’s work, and with more bodies turning up and one young girl still missing. Quentin is really up against it to get the details she needs from a reluctant Kinsella in order to catch this child murderer and save the 10 year old Ella.
Sounds pretty good, huh? I do enjoy crime fiction and as a psychology graduate myself I revel in plots centred around the female psychologist protagonist. Yet I just could not get excited during this one at all.
It seemed bizarrely like too much and nothing at all was going on all at once. Little mysteries were peppered throughout that I didn’t find at all intriguing, frankly I just found them annoying.
I couldn’t warm to Quentin at all; in fact there were no likeable characters in there for me, and this was possibly due to a severe lack of any real character development – even the ‘disturbingly evil’ Kinsella seemed like his heart wasn’t really in it. There was also an extremely awkward would-be romance, and recurring references to Quentin’s ‘haunted cottage’ that I presume were there to try, and fail, to unsettle the reader and amounted to nothing.
The investigation and the life of Alice Quentin breaks for brief intervals to give us current kidnap victim Ella’s perspective, but even these are no saving grace. Ella is repeatedly referred to as bright beyond her years, and yet this still didn’t explain why her biggest concern seemed to be how cold she was, rather than the violence she was subjected to or the fear in knowing she will soon be dead. And her manipulation to keep her captor sweet was not at all believable from a 10 year old girl, no matter how bright.
With all the beating about the bush, diversion, and focus on things that turned out to have no relevance to the story; there seemed to be an awful lot of irrelevant build up to a climatic event that took all of two pages to occur and abruptly end.
I stuck with it only to see if I was right about who was behind the murders. And no, I wasn’t – but even that didn’t impress me. I felt that if my guy had done it it might have been a better story!
I must point out that this is the third instalment in a series I am not familiar with, and although it works as a standalone in theory, it may be that you’d need to read the first two Alice Quentin novels in order to appreciate her as a character.
Overall, I’m afraid this one didn’t do it for me at all. In these instances I always try to suggest the kind of reader I think it may appeal to – and I suppose if you want an introduction to the crime thriller genre that isn’t too taxing then you may want to give this a go. I have certainly seen some really glowing reviews for it. But it’s not one I would particularly recommend.
My thanks to the publisher for providing this book for review.
August 23, 2014
So, the “Alice Quentin” series then – I got confuddled and read out of order, so I read and loved the 2nd book (A Killing of Angels) followed by the 1st book (Crossbones Yard) which I also loved and now here I am back on track with Book 3 – The Winter Foundlings.
For a start every single one of these has been beautifully written, very engaging and wonderfully constructed, top notch crime fiction with a well rounded and likeable yet flawed heroine in Alice Quentin. I have always had a soft spot for fiction written with a psychologist or profiler as a main protagonist (HUGE fan of Tony Hill from Val McDermid and Joe O Loughlin from Michael Robotham) and this series is definitely equal, if not on occasion overtaking those much loved books. The quality of storytelling, addictive reading and intriguing character building both of regular series characters and the supporting cast that arrive with each new case is terrific and each novel raises the stakes and becomes more and more entertaining.
In this instalment, Alice is hoping to take a more sedate role, doing some research at Northwood High Security hospital on the methods and results obtained there in their work with violent criminals – however when a childs body is found and another child goes missing she is once again sucked into the vortex of a police investigation right on her doorstep. With her usual indomitable style she faces danger with determination and it is compelling stuff.
What I love about Alice is how absolutely realistic she is in her thoughts, actions and how she is developing as time moves on. She may be a strong, independant and intelligent woman in what could very much still be described as a mans world – but she is also appropriately scared, able to accept and absorb the advice of others and has no tendency to feel hard done by. I LOVE that about her, she takes things in her stride but equally has very human emotions and responses that keep you right by her side throughout any and all circumstance. If you are going to stick with a series of books, you absolutely need someone in there that you want to know about, need to keep up with and who gives you that “YAY” feeling when you know another part of their story is on the way. Alice does all that and then some, through the extremely clever and great writing from author Kate Rhodes.
There are dark and violent themes running through the narrative, but all done in an authentic and real way with a clear eye towards facts where appropriate, obviously well researched in the backgrounds which gives all these books both an escape from the realities of your real life and an immersion into what could easily be the real life of the person standing next to you. Intelligent plotting with some real edge of the seat moments means that I really really cannot wait for book no 4. In my top 10 series I must read for sure.
Overall a brilliant read and definitely highly recommended for any crime fiction fan – or if you are about to dip your toe in the water of Crime fiction for the first time I think these would be a great start, as they are easy to read but offer great depth of story and character.
For a start every single one of these has been beautifully written, very engaging and wonderfully constructed, top notch crime fiction with a well rounded and likeable yet flawed heroine in Alice Quentin. I have always had a soft spot for fiction written with a psychologist or profiler as a main protagonist (HUGE fan of Tony Hill from Val McDermid and Joe O Loughlin from Michael Robotham) and this series is definitely equal, if not on occasion overtaking those much loved books. The quality of storytelling, addictive reading and intriguing character building both of regular series characters and the supporting cast that arrive with each new case is terrific and each novel raises the stakes and becomes more and more entertaining.
In this instalment, Alice is hoping to take a more sedate role, doing some research at Northwood High Security hospital on the methods and results obtained there in their work with violent criminals – however when a childs body is found and another child goes missing she is once again sucked into the vortex of a police investigation right on her doorstep. With her usual indomitable style she faces danger with determination and it is compelling stuff.
What I love about Alice is how absolutely realistic she is in her thoughts, actions and how she is developing as time moves on. She may be a strong, independant and intelligent woman in what could very much still be described as a mans world – but she is also appropriately scared, able to accept and absorb the advice of others and has no tendency to feel hard done by. I LOVE that about her, she takes things in her stride but equally has very human emotions and responses that keep you right by her side throughout any and all circumstance. If you are going to stick with a series of books, you absolutely need someone in there that you want to know about, need to keep up with and who gives you that “YAY” feeling when you know another part of their story is on the way. Alice does all that and then some, through the extremely clever and great writing from author Kate Rhodes.
There are dark and violent themes running through the narrative, but all done in an authentic and real way with a clear eye towards facts where appropriate, obviously well researched in the backgrounds which gives all these books both an escape from the realities of your real life and an immersion into what could easily be the real life of the person standing next to you. Intelligent plotting with some real edge of the seat moments means that I really really cannot wait for book no 4. In my top 10 series I must read for sure.
Overall a brilliant read and definitely highly recommended for any crime fiction fan – or if you are about to dip your toe in the water of Crime fiction for the first time I think these would be a great start, as they are easy to read but offer great depth of story and character.
February 14, 2015
My review for Winter Foundling will be posted at a later date. Be sure subscribe to Suspense Magazine to read this full review and many more.
March 6, 2015
The Winter Foundlings by Kate Rhodes is as disturbing as it is dark. Rhodes does a masterful job of peeling back the layers of mystery and past evil as she unveils the happenings in an abandoned orphanage and the fate of the children left in its care. A darkness she ties deftly to the missing children that are now left to die, abandoned and beaten in the cold of winter.
Scarred and troubled, Psychologist Alice Quentin has vowed to no longer involve herself in police work. But when small girls begin to disappear and one of them is discovered, dressed in a small cotton gown on the steps of the Foundling museum. She knows she must once again join forces with the police to hunt this killer down.
"..Can you fetch that for me, love?' the man asks.
Over his shoulder, Ella sees her granddad's car arriving, then the man's arm catches her waist, his hand stifling her mouth. She's too shocked to scream as he bundles her into the van. The door slams shut and there's a scratching sound behind her. When she spins round, a ghost is hovering in the shadows. A girl in a white dress, her hair an ugly nest of rat's tails. She is bone-thin, knees pressed against her chest, her body tightly folded. Her dead-eyed stare is terrifying. Suddenly Ella's yelling for help, fists battering the door. Through the van's smoky window she sees her granddad rushing up the school steps..."
Ella becomes the fourth girl to go missing in North London. To research the killer's actions, Alice must confront Louis Kinsella, Britain's most vicious child killer. Kinsella has been locked away for over ten years at Northwood hospital, but it is obvious to Alice and the Police, that the killings are connected to Kinsella. Alice must interview Kinsella but keep herself away from the mind games the killer plays. There is still a missing girl lost and time is passing them all by. But Alice is tougher than her small five foot stature would make her appear to be.
"...The killer understands that taking a child's life is sacred. Killing a child is not like killing an adult. No matter how much pain rains down on them, they never expect to die. The last expression on a child's face is always disbelief..."
Kinsella teases and releases small insights into the killer. But Alice comes to believe that Kinsella knows much more than he is letting on.
"...I heard his footsteps, then a quick indrawn of breath and he was on his mobile, calling for backup. The container explained why Sarah and Amita's skin had been grimed with rust. Flakes of orange metal were peeling from the walls, and I wondered how the girls had coped. Claustrophobia and terror would have overwhelmed me in minutes. I stared into the bleak interior and tried to imagine Ella cowering there. Then my eyes fell on a piece of cloth. It was almost unrecognizable; the cotton must have been white originally, but now it was pockmarked by dark brown stains. A foundling dress lay abandoned on the container's floor..."
The Winter Foundling is a disturbing and horrifying crime thriller that casts a light on the terrible conditions that many orphans and deserted children found themselves in. Abused and abandoned. The Foundlings, as they were known, often were placed in worse care than had they been left to fend for themselves on the streets. The Killer, in his fashion, seeks to uncover this as he takes the girls and does to them what had been done to the Foundlings and then leaves them dressed as the Foundlings had been. A terrible and horrifying proposition.
Rhodes does a masterful work of keeping the novel moving and not letting it mire in the darkness of its subject matter. From this she crafts a tense forensic and psychological thriller that will keep the heart pounding and the pages turning.
A terrific read!
Scarred and troubled, Psychologist Alice Quentin has vowed to no longer involve herself in police work. But when small girls begin to disappear and one of them is discovered, dressed in a small cotton gown on the steps of the Foundling museum. She knows she must once again join forces with the police to hunt this killer down.
"..Can you fetch that for me, love?' the man asks.
Over his shoulder, Ella sees her granddad's car arriving, then the man's arm catches her waist, his hand stifling her mouth. She's too shocked to scream as he bundles her into the van. The door slams shut and there's a scratching sound behind her. When she spins round, a ghost is hovering in the shadows. A girl in a white dress, her hair an ugly nest of rat's tails. She is bone-thin, knees pressed against her chest, her body tightly folded. Her dead-eyed stare is terrifying. Suddenly Ella's yelling for help, fists battering the door. Through the van's smoky window she sees her granddad rushing up the school steps..."
Ella becomes the fourth girl to go missing in North London. To research the killer's actions, Alice must confront Louis Kinsella, Britain's most vicious child killer. Kinsella has been locked away for over ten years at Northwood hospital, but it is obvious to Alice and the Police, that the killings are connected to Kinsella. Alice must interview Kinsella but keep herself away from the mind games the killer plays. There is still a missing girl lost and time is passing them all by. But Alice is tougher than her small five foot stature would make her appear to be.
"...The killer understands that taking a child's life is sacred. Killing a child is not like killing an adult. No matter how much pain rains down on them, they never expect to die. The last expression on a child's face is always disbelief..."
Kinsella teases and releases small insights into the killer. But Alice comes to believe that Kinsella knows much more than he is letting on.
"...I heard his footsteps, then a quick indrawn of breath and he was on his mobile, calling for backup. The container explained why Sarah and Amita's skin had been grimed with rust. Flakes of orange metal were peeling from the walls, and I wondered how the girls had coped. Claustrophobia and terror would have overwhelmed me in minutes. I stared into the bleak interior and tried to imagine Ella cowering there. Then my eyes fell on a piece of cloth. It was almost unrecognizable; the cotton must have been white originally, but now it was pockmarked by dark brown stains. A foundling dress lay abandoned on the container's floor..."
The Winter Foundling is a disturbing and horrifying crime thriller that casts a light on the terrible conditions that many orphans and deserted children found themselves in. Abused and abandoned. The Foundlings, as they were known, often were placed in worse care than had they been left to fend for themselves on the streets. The Killer, in his fashion, seeks to uncover this as he takes the girls and does to them what had been done to the Foundlings and then leaves them dressed as the Foundlings had been. A terrible and horrifying proposition.
Rhodes does a masterful work of keeping the novel moving and not letting it mire in the darkness of its subject matter. From this she crafts a tense forensic and psychological thriller that will keep the heart pounding and the pages turning.
A terrific read!
March 14, 2015
The psychopath and the party girl...
Ten-year-old Ella Williams has been abducted and is being held prisoner. She's the third girl to go missing – the previous two have been murdered, dressed in white dresses of the kind worn by inmates of the old Foundlings Hospital, and their bodies left in cardboard boxes. The murders mirror those of psychopathic killer Louis Kinsella, now a resident in Northwood – a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane – and each time a victim is killed, the killer sends a token to Kinsella. Time is running out for Ella, and it's up to psychologist Alice Quentin to get inside Kinsella's mind and find out what he knows before it's too late.
This is the third in the Alice Quentin series, and I've enjoyed the previous ones. As before, Alice is a likeable protagonist and Rhodes is very strong at creating a sense of place. In this one, Alice has moved away from central London to take up a research post at Northwood. It is nearly Christmas and England is in the grip of a huge freeze, and Rhodes gives a very good sense of snow and ice adding difficulties to all parts of the investigation.
Unfortunately the plot doesn't match up to the atmosphere. It's so similar to The Silence of the Lambs that comparisons must be made, and they don't work in this one's favour. Kinsella is no Hannibal Lecter and Alice is a pale shadow of Clarice Starling. The story is split between Alice's first person past tense narrative and Ella's story, told as third person present tense. There's really very little to the plot – psychopathic killer copycatting another one, investigation wears on with nothing much happening till the big (unbelievable) thriller ending. So the book is padded out with Alice's social life – she keeps telling us she's working every hour to save poor Ella (quietly freezing and starving away in the background) but she manages to fit in three parties, several nights in the pub and a couple of love interests – all this in the space of a couple of weeks. No wonder she's emotionally drained.
Don, the detective in charge of the case and, of course, one of the love interests, has to be made to look incredibly stupid to explain why he doesn't do basic things, like interview the staff at Northwood (his reason being they must have been vetted before they got the job, so they can't possibly be doing anything wrong, can they?), or not searching places because the owners tell him there's no need. It galls me when the police are made to look incompetent for no reason other than to string a story out.
And I'm afraid I also found the ages of the victims made the plot distasteful. Why it should feel worse to read about a five-year old child being cruelly abused and murdered than a twenty-year-old-girl, I'm not sure. I reckon we have it programmed into our genes that we owe more protection to the young, even when they're fictional. But whatever the reason, it left a very unpleasant after-taste. Without wishing to get too psychobabbly, somehow descriptions of abuse and violence in a book that is trying to say something meaningful about a serious subject are bearable. But when they're done purely for 'entertainment', I don't find them so. And this book falls into the latter category.
Personally, I think the serial killer motif has been done now, and child-killing serial killers especially so. But hey! As I usually do, I've had a look to see what other people are saying and the book is getting 5-star reviews all round, so I guess it must be me! There's no doubt it's well written in terms of characterisation and atmosphere, so I guess if this is the kind of thing you like, then you'll like this. 2½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, St Martin's Press.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Ten-year-old Ella Williams has been abducted and is being held prisoner. She's the third girl to go missing – the previous two have been murdered, dressed in white dresses of the kind worn by inmates of the old Foundlings Hospital, and their bodies left in cardboard boxes. The murders mirror those of psychopathic killer Louis Kinsella, now a resident in Northwood – a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane – and each time a victim is killed, the killer sends a token to Kinsella. Time is running out for Ella, and it's up to psychologist Alice Quentin to get inside Kinsella's mind and find out what he knows before it's too late.
This is the third in the Alice Quentin series, and I've enjoyed the previous ones. As before, Alice is a likeable protagonist and Rhodes is very strong at creating a sense of place. In this one, Alice has moved away from central London to take up a research post at Northwood. It is nearly Christmas and England is in the grip of a huge freeze, and Rhodes gives a very good sense of snow and ice adding difficulties to all parts of the investigation.
Unfortunately the plot doesn't match up to the atmosphere. It's so similar to The Silence of the Lambs that comparisons must be made, and they don't work in this one's favour. Kinsella is no Hannibal Lecter and Alice is a pale shadow of Clarice Starling. The story is split between Alice's first person past tense narrative and Ella's story, told as third person present tense. There's really very little to the plot – psychopathic killer copycatting another one, investigation wears on with nothing much happening till the big (unbelievable) thriller ending. So the book is padded out with Alice's social life – she keeps telling us she's working every hour to save poor Ella (quietly freezing and starving away in the background) but she manages to fit in three parties, several nights in the pub and a couple of love interests – all this in the space of a couple of weeks. No wonder she's emotionally drained.
Don, the detective in charge of the case and, of course, one of the love interests, has to be made to look incredibly stupid to explain why he doesn't do basic things, like interview the staff at Northwood (his reason being they must have been vetted before they got the job, so they can't possibly be doing anything wrong, can they?), or not searching places because the owners tell him there's no need. It galls me when the police are made to look incompetent for no reason other than to string a story out.
And I'm afraid I also found the ages of the victims made the plot distasteful. Why it should feel worse to read about a five-year old child being cruelly abused and murdered than a twenty-year-old-girl, I'm not sure. I reckon we have it programmed into our genes that we owe more protection to the young, even when they're fictional. But whatever the reason, it left a very unpleasant after-taste. Without wishing to get too psychobabbly, somehow descriptions of abuse and violence in a book that is trying to say something meaningful about a serious subject are bearable. But when they're done purely for 'entertainment', I don't find them so. And this book falls into the latter category.
Personally, I think the serial killer motif has been done now, and child-killing serial killers especially so. But hey! As I usually do, I've had a look to see what other people are saying and the book is getting 5-star reviews all round, so I guess it must be me! There's no doubt it's well written in terms of characterisation and atmosphere, so I guess if this is the kind of thing you like, then you'll like this. 2½ stars for me, so rounded up.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, St Martin's Press.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
August 26, 2014
Firstly how have I not heard of this author before? This is probably one of the best books I've read so far this year and I am already considering ignoring my review TBR so that I can get my hands on Kate's previous books. A faultless novel is a rare thing but Kate Rhodes has achieved one with The Winter Foundlings. From the book's chilling opening until its heart stopping finale Kate had my heart in a vice-like grip and didn't let it go until the final page. I occasionally finish a book that leaves me wishing I was better at writing reviews, this is one of those books.
Plot wise I very rarely talk further than the blurb in my reviews anymore but when the body of a young girl is found on the steps of the Foundling Museum it becomes clear that somebody is carrying on the work of Britain's most prolific child killer, Louis Kinsella. Alice Quentin is the psychologist sent to question Kinsella. Kinsella is evil, even more scary because of how relaxed and in control he is. Alice and the police attempt to piece together various puzzle pieces in their attempt to stop the killer before more young children are killed. As a prolific reader of crime fiction I'm very much of the belief that you should trust nobody. For that reason I suspect every character we meet. The problem with that? Overlooking one or two...
The book isn't for the faint hearted. The murder and abduction of children is always difficult to read about, in fiction and in real life yet this novel actually felt like real life. It was a very realistic tale and that makes it all the more haunting, hard hitting and leaves one hell of an emotional impact. The story is told in a way that will have parents cuddling their children extra tight before bed and making the rest of us feeling grateful for our safety... Even the cover is chilling with the shoes in the snow. Rest assured though that despite the book's nature, this is a book you wont want to put down. I mostly waited to read it at night, adding to the atmosphere it definitely had me well and truly scared in places.
Despite being the third book in the series Rhodes does a fantastic job of continuing Alice Quentin's story for returning readers but at the same time she doesn't alienate new readers and there was never a time where I felt out of place in the book. In actual fact I warmed to Alice quite quickly, she reminded me a little of Lynda La Plante's Anna Travis personality wise. Enough detail is given about previous books without whole plots being given away and it's definitely done in a way that will make new readers want to read the previous books ASAP. Moving at a quick pace with increasing tension throughout the pages turn themselves and before you know it the book is over however this is a story that will remain with you long after you have finished reading. The use of stars as a rating system for books is flawed when I look at some of my other 5 star ratings, for that reason there's no hesitation in making this book the latest addition to my Hall of Fame.
Thanks to Hodder (via bookbridgr) for the review copy.
Plot wise I very rarely talk further than the blurb in my reviews anymore but when the body of a young girl is found on the steps of the Foundling Museum it becomes clear that somebody is carrying on the work of Britain's most prolific child killer, Louis Kinsella. Alice Quentin is the psychologist sent to question Kinsella. Kinsella is evil, even more scary because of how relaxed and in control he is. Alice and the police attempt to piece together various puzzle pieces in their attempt to stop the killer before more young children are killed. As a prolific reader of crime fiction I'm very much of the belief that you should trust nobody. For that reason I suspect every character we meet. The problem with that? Overlooking one or two...
The book isn't for the faint hearted. The murder and abduction of children is always difficult to read about, in fiction and in real life yet this novel actually felt like real life. It was a very realistic tale and that makes it all the more haunting, hard hitting and leaves one hell of an emotional impact. The story is told in a way that will have parents cuddling their children extra tight before bed and making the rest of us feeling grateful for our safety... Even the cover is chilling with the shoes in the snow. Rest assured though that despite the book's nature, this is a book you wont want to put down. I mostly waited to read it at night, adding to the atmosphere it definitely had me well and truly scared in places.
Despite being the third book in the series Rhodes does a fantastic job of continuing Alice Quentin's story for returning readers but at the same time she doesn't alienate new readers and there was never a time where I felt out of place in the book. In actual fact I warmed to Alice quite quickly, she reminded me a little of Lynda La Plante's Anna Travis personality wise. Enough detail is given about previous books without whole plots being given away and it's definitely done in a way that will make new readers want to read the previous books ASAP. Moving at a quick pace with increasing tension throughout the pages turn themselves and before you know it the book is over however this is a story that will remain with you long after you have finished reading. The use of stars as a rating system for books is flawed when I look at some of my other 5 star ratings, for that reason there's no hesitation in making this book the latest addition to my Hall of Fame.
Thanks to Hodder (via bookbridgr) for the review copy.
May 19, 2016
I had mixed opinions about this. I entered a giveaway to win this book, on the strength of the plot, and I was excited when I read it. In truth though, as much as I *did* enjoy the read, I was left a little disappointed.
The story follows a sassy female criminal psychologist, and her involvement in trying to solve the murder/disappearance of a number of young girls - which requires her to interview an arrogant, mysterious, intellectual, psychopathic murderer who teases her with cryptic clues and bargains with her. Yes, the book did start to come over as 'The Silence of the Lambs' in places. The plot, and much of the pace, however, was pretty compelling - despite my reservations below, I did find the book generally easy to read, and was keen to find out what was going to happen next. I imagine many people would enjoy the book, there is plenty to like if it's your kind of thing.
But sadly for me it did feel slightly clichéd and it frequently irritated me in the style and in several of the characters. The woman narrator was very annoying - the usual irritation of a professional woman seemingly constantly thinking about all the men she encounters in terms of whether she fancies them or whether they are horrible chauvinists who constantly belittle her. This was built upon by her ridiculous ability to intuit (or just assume) detailed personalities and entire life histories from the way people look upon first meeting them. Psychologist or psychic?
Describing a smoky room as '..the atmosphere contained more carbon than oxygen..' (owtte) was just utterly ridiculous, and the hypocrisy of this character claiming '..being a psychologist, it stopped me from commenting on people's love lives..' when she had spent the majority of the book doing so.. I couldn't tell if the author was being ironic or just forgetful.
Nevertheless, once the quirks that stuck in my craw were set aside, once the irrelevant details were overlooked (that saying about Chekhov's gun springs to mind), it was basically a pretty decent little crime thriller.
I received a copy of this book from Hodder, via the Goodreads Book Giveaway programme. This did not affect my opinion or the honesty of my review.
The story follows a sassy female criminal psychologist, and her involvement in trying to solve the murder/disappearance of a number of young girls - which requires her to interview an arrogant, mysterious, intellectual, psychopathic murderer who teases her with cryptic clues and bargains with her. Yes, the book did start to come over as 'The Silence of the Lambs' in places. The plot, and much of the pace, however, was pretty compelling - despite my reservations below, I did find the book generally easy to read, and was keen to find out what was going to happen next. I imagine many people would enjoy the book, there is plenty to like if it's your kind of thing.
But sadly for me it did feel slightly clichéd and it frequently irritated me in the style and in several of the characters. The woman narrator was very annoying - the usual irritation of a professional woman seemingly constantly thinking about all the men she encounters in terms of whether she fancies them or whether they are horrible chauvinists who constantly belittle her. This was built upon by her ridiculous ability to intuit (or just assume) detailed personalities and entire life histories from the way people look upon first meeting them. Psychologist or psychic?
Describing a smoky room as '..the atmosphere contained more carbon than oxygen..' (owtte) was just utterly ridiculous, and the hypocrisy of this character claiming '..being a psychologist, it stopped me from commenting on people's love lives..' when she had spent the majority of the book doing so.. I couldn't tell if the author was being ironic or just forgetful.
Nevertheless, once the quirks that stuck in my craw were set aside, once the irrelevant details were overlooked (that saying about Chekhov's gun springs to mind), it was basically a pretty decent little crime thriller.
I received a copy of this book from Hodder, via the Goodreads Book Giveaway programme. This did not affect my opinion or the honesty of my review.
July 26, 2014
My View:
A psychological thriller to make your pulse race.
Set in the winter, the snow blanketing the ground, the footprints around the outside of Alice’s house are obvious and startling. This narrative sets a scene of cold, isolation and desperation so real that you can feel it. The psychiatric hospital looms forebodingly over the countryside, its inmates the direst and most maniacal you can imagine; madness bounces off the high security walls; Kate Rhodes sets a diabolical scene that is littered with death and abuse, some in the past, some in the present.
The plot is convincing and has enough twists and turns to keep you second guessing who the villain may be…I enjoyed the characterisations - Louis Kinsella is the epitome of evil, Alice is open, honest and strong yet not perfect. I like the physiological insights she provides.
Despite this being the 3rd book in the Alice Quentin series it was not a barrier to enjoying this read, and enjoy I did, despite the satisfying ending I wanted more. I will seek the earlier books and look forward to the next release in this series, I am sure there must be one being penned right now.
A psychological thriller to make your pulse race.
Set in the winter, the snow blanketing the ground, the footprints around the outside of Alice’s house are obvious and startling. This narrative sets a scene of cold, isolation and desperation so real that you can feel it. The psychiatric hospital looms forebodingly over the countryside, its inmates the direst and most maniacal you can imagine; madness bounces off the high security walls; Kate Rhodes sets a diabolical scene that is littered with death and abuse, some in the past, some in the present.
The plot is convincing and has enough twists and turns to keep you second guessing who the villain may be…I enjoyed the characterisations - Louis Kinsella is the epitome of evil, Alice is open, honest and strong yet not perfect. I like the physiological insights she provides.
Despite this being the 3rd book in the Alice Quentin series it was not a barrier to enjoying this read, and enjoy I did, despite the satisfying ending I wanted more. I will seek the earlier books and look forward to the next release in this series, I am sure there must be one being penned right now.
April 2, 2015
Once again I picked up a book mid-series without knowing it. :( It sucked me in right away, and then when I looked it up online realized it was book #3 in the series. I kept reading because I was enjoying it and honestly, it didn't seem to make a difference that I hadn't read the first two books.
I liked the writing style and the story but it only gets 3 stars from me because it felt a little too much like Silence of the Lambs...the big bad serial killer that will only speak to one person (Clarice) and tricks her into sharing personal information before he'll talk to her about the current serial killer. That felt tired and cliqued. Despite that, I liked the book enough to keep reading.
I liked the writing style and the story but it only gets 3 stars from me because it felt a little too much like Silence of the Lambs...the big bad serial killer that will only speak to one person (Clarice) and tricks her into sharing personal information before he'll talk to her about the current serial killer. That felt tired and cliqued. Despite that, I liked the book enough to keep reading.
May 7, 2015
A brilliant psychological thriller beautifully written. Now here is an author I could read again and again. This psychological thriller had me riveted from start to finish so much so I read it in a day!
Whats it about?
Young girls are being snatched off the streets and their bodies turn up sometime later all dressed in white victorian nightdresses similar to the ones in the Foundlings Hospital Museum.
There is nothing for the police to go on to find the killer, and so psychologist Alice Quentin is asked to help find something they can start with.
(Goodreads) Synopsis: Four girls have disappeared in North London. Three are already dead. Britain’s most prolific child killer, Louis Kinsella, has been locked up in Northwood high-security hospital for over a decade. Now more innocents are being slaughtered, and they all have a connection to his earlier crimes. Psychologist Alice Quentin is doing research at Northwood. She was hoping for a break from her hectic London life, but she’ll do anything to help save a child – even if it means forming a relationship with a charismatic, ruthless murderer. But Kinsella is slow to give away his secrets, and time is running out for the latest kidnap victim, who is simply trying to survive.
Told between Alice’s point of view and one of the young victim’s telling her own story which is distinguished by using a different font, it is a powerful touch with some powerful words:
It’s his stare that frightens her, his eyes wide and comfortless. She resorts to the method that always works best, twisting her mouth into its biggest smile.
Arriving at the Laurels psychiatric prison for the criminally insane to start some research, she is searched and here Rhodes gives us a lighthearted explanation of the seriousness of being there.
The smaller woman ave me an apologetic look before turning my handbag upside down and sharing it vigorously.……..’’You wouldn’t believe the stuff people try and take inside. Drugs, flick knives, you name it.”I processed the idea while she searched my belongings. It was hard to imagine anyone bringing weapons into a building packed with psychopaths, unless they had a death wish themselves.
Then she begins a nightmare relationship with the notorious child murderer Kinsella, whose work is being copied or directed(?) by him with these murders and it seems that everyone around him is a suspect.
Somehow Rhodes manages to bring a sense of genuine evilness in Kinsella with such small pieces of conversations, I just shuddered with horror as he meets with Alice.
Each of the characters have such a depth to them, the staff of capable professionals with seemingly damage in their pasts which you get to know throughout the novel.
Of course I did my usual, ‘he’s the one, no maybe its woman, no maybe all of them!’ but the intrigue is that all of them showed something that all was not as it seems.
The draw and fascination of such a vile serial killer was totally evident in the writing, and who hasn’t been drawn into a real life news item that both fascinates, horrifies and disgusts at the same time? Rhodes shows us the need to try and understand how people can carry out such terrible deeds and the need to stop it happening.
I love the pace of the book, steady yet thrilling. As the investigation is struggling to come up with anything concrete the victims’ point of view reminds me of how little time could be left for this child. Such clever and knowing observations about people makes this book an intelligent read. I like the way comments’ are revisited so that every line written has meaning.
There is so much more to this novel than a crime thriller. This is as much about Alice’s own story as we learn about her family and relationships which all blend nicely together. I liked Alice and wanted so much for her to find a relationship that mattered.
The Foundlings Hospital museum reminds us of our history in relations to caring for orphans and this is summed up compassionately by Rhodes with her description of what Alice sees in the exhibits:
I stared at the rows of tokens, neatly labelled and dated. There were buttons, matchboxes, and pincushions, but the one that touched me most deeply was a scrap of red fabric, cut in the shape of a heart. Every mother must have dreamed that her luck would change, and one day she could return to collect her child. I felt sure the killer had stood exactly where I was standing now.
Far from being all doom and gloom Rhodes brings us back with some lighter characters and moments that stopped me from feeling all doom and gloom as I read. I love the description of the snow filled scene she describes:
So far the cottage had resisted every attempt to raise its temperature, but when I pulled back the curtains, I stopped caring. Edgemoor Woods had turned into the perfect Christmas card, the sky an empty shimmer of blue, lines of fresh snow balanced on the branches of conifer trees.
I absolutely loved this book.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Many thanks to the publisher for a paperback copy in return for my honest review.
Whats it about?
Young girls are being snatched off the streets and their bodies turn up sometime later all dressed in white victorian nightdresses similar to the ones in the Foundlings Hospital Museum.
There is nothing for the police to go on to find the killer, and so psychologist Alice Quentin is asked to help find something they can start with.
(Goodreads) Synopsis: Four girls have disappeared in North London. Three are already dead. Britain’s most prolific child killer, Louis Kinsella, has been locked up in Northwood high-security hospital for over a decade. Now more innocents are being slaughtered, and they all have a connection to his earlier crimes. Psychologist Alice Quentin is doing research at Northwood. She was hoping for a break from her hectic London life, but she’ll do anything to help save a child – even if it means forming a relationship with a charismatic, ruthless murderer. But Kinsella is slow to give away his secrets, and time is running out for the latest kidnap victim, who is simply trying to survive.
Told between Alice’s point of view and one of the young victim’s telling her own story which is distinguished by using a different font, it is a powerful touch with some powerful words:
It’s his stare that frightens her, his eyes wide and comfortless. She resorts to the method that always works best, twisting her mouth into its biggest smile.
Arriving at the Laurels psychiatric prison for the criminally insane to start some research, she is searched and here Rhodes gives us a lighthearted explanation of the seriousness of being there.
The smaller woman ave me an apologetic look before turning my handbag upside down and sharing it vigorously.……..’’You wouldn’t believe the stuff people try and take inside. Drugs, flick knives, you name it.”I processed the idea while she searched my belongings. It was hard to imagine anyone bringing weapons into a building packed with psychopaths, unless they had a death wish themselves.
Then she begins a nightmare relationship with the notorious child murderer Kinsella, whose work is being copied or directed(?) by him with these murders and it seems that everyone around him is a suspect.
Somehow Rhodes manages to bring a sense of genuine evilness in Kinsella with such small pieces of conversations, I just shuddered with horror as he meets with Alice.
Each of the characters have such a depth to them, the staff of capable professionals with seemingly damage in their pasts which you get to know throughout the novel.
Of course I did my usual, ‘he’s the one, no maybe its woman, no maybe all of them!’ but the intrigue is that all of them showed something that all was not as it seems.
The draw and fascination of such a vile serial killer was totally evident in the writing, and who hasn’t been drawn into a real life news item that both fascinates, horrifies and disgusts at the same time? Rhodes shows us the need to try and understand how people can carry out such terrible deeds and the need to stop it happening.
I love the pace of the book, steady yet thrilling. As the investigation is struggling to come up with anything concrete the victims’ point of view reminds me of how little time could be left for this child. Such clever and knowing observations about people makes this book an intelligent read. I like the way comments’ are revisited so that every line written has meaning.
There is so much more to this novel than a crime thriller. This is as much about Alice’s own story as we learn about her family and relationships which all blend nicely together. I liked Alice and wanted so much for her to find a relationship that mattered.
The Foundlings Hospital museum reminds us of our history in relations to caring for orphans and this is summed up compassionately by Rhodes with her description of what Alice sees in the exhibits:
I stared at the rows of tokens, neatly labelled and dated. There were buttons, matchboxes, and pincushions, but the one that touched me most deeply was a scrap of red fabric, cut in the shape of a heart. Every mother must have dreamed that her luck would change, and one day she could return to collect her child. I felt sure the killer had stood exactly where I was standing now.
Far from being all doom and gloom Rhodes brings us back with some lighter characters and moments that stopped me from feeling all doom and gloom as I read. I love the description of the snow filled scene she describes:
So far the cottage had resisted every attempt to raise its temperature, but when I pulled back the curtains, I stopped caring. Edgemoor Woods had turned into the perfect Christmas card, the sky an empty shimmer of blue, lines of fresh snow balanced on the branches of conifer trees.
I absolutely loved this book.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Many thanks to the publisher for a paperback copy in return for my honest review.
March 3, 2015
This was a hang-on-to-the-very-end true mystery if I’ve ever read one. I guess it is the third book in the Alice Quentin series, but I didn’t feel like I’d missed anything not having read the first two. I’m not a series fan, but I can definitely see the draw after (unknowingly) reading a few this year! And I’ll be on the look out for more from Ms. Rhodes.
Alice Quentin is a psychologist and in this book she has signed on for a six-month stint at a high-security hospital (Northwood) housing some of the most dangerous criminals in London. Hoping for some downtime to focus on some research, Alice is soon drawn into a new case. This one involving the abduction and later killing of young girls. Conveniently her new position also helps in the current case, as it seems this latest killer may be continuing (or copying) the killing spree of a high-profile inmate at Northwood, Louis Kinsella. Alice is back and forth between Northwood and London throughout the book working both angles of the case.
The build-up of the book is really well done, but I felt like the ending was really rushed. Like getting to 96% of the book and still not having answers! It was all wrapped up and definitely a surprise, I just found myself wanting more information in the end. But in true mystery sense, I was racking my brain trying to figure out who the killer was throughout the whole story.
And fun fact, The Foundling Museum, referenced throughout the book, and the motivation for the killer (not a spoiler – it’s in the title!) is a real place in London, initially a hospital or home for abandoned children. And now the museum, which Alice visits in the book, pays tribute and holds some items from those children. Fortunately, it does not appear that this rest of the story holds any truth!
The Foundling Hospital Collection spans four centuries and contains paintings, sculpture, prints, manuscripts, furniture, clocks, photographs and ephemera. Some of the most poignant items in the Collection are the foundling tokens. These were pinned by mothers to their baby’s clothes and upon entry, the Hospital would attach them to the child’s record of admission. As foundling babies were given new names, these tokens helped ensure correct identification, should a parent ever return to claim their child. The children were not allowed to keep their tokens, which were frequently everyday objects, such as a coin or button. The Hospital gradually evolved a more sophisticated administrative system, whereby mothers were issued with receipts. So the practice of leaving tokens died out at the beginning of the nineteenth century. (from Foundling Museum website)
I really liked Alice as a character and really experienced the case right along side her. Scared for her at times, but with the utmost respect. There was just the right amount of personal life thrown in with the case that rounded this book out really well.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to preview. Great book, check it out!
http://mydogearedpurpose.com/2015/03/...
Alice Quentin is a psychologist and in this book she has signed on for a six-month stint at a high-security hospital (Northwood) housing some of the most dangerous criminals in London. Hoping for some downtime to focus on some research, Alice is soon drawn into a new case. This one involving the abduction and later killing of young girls. Conveniently her new position also helps in the current case, as it seems this latest killer may be continuing (or copying) the killing spree of a high-profile inmate at Northwood, Louis Kinsella. Alice is back and forth between Northwood and London throughout the book working both angles of the case.
The build-up of the book is really well done, but I felt like the ending was really rushed. Like getting to 96% of the book and still not having answers! It was all wrapped up and definitely a surprise, I just found myself wanting more information in the end. But in true mystery sense, I was racking my brain trying to figure out who the killer was throughout the whole story.
And fun fact, The Foundling Museum, referenced throughout the book, and the motivation for the killer (not a spoiler – it’s in the title!) is a real place in London, initially a hospital or home for abandoned children. And now the museum, which Alice visits in the book, pays tribute and holds some items from those children. Fortunately, it does not appear that this rest of the story holds any truth!
The Foundling Hospital Collection spans four centuries and contains paintings, sculpture, prints, manuscripts, furniture, clocks, photographs and ephemera. Some of the most poignant items in the Collection are the foundling tokens. These were pinned by mothers to their baby’s clothes and upon entry, the Hospital would attach them to the child’s record of admission. As foundling babies were given new names, these tokens helped ensure correct identification, should a parent ever return to claim their child. The children were not allowed to keep their tokens, which were frequently everyday objects, such as a coin or button. The Hospital gradually evolved a more sophisticated administrative system, whereby mothers were issued with receipts. So the practice of leaving tokens died out at the beginning of the nineteenth century. (from Foundling Museum website)
I really liked Alice as a character and really experienced the case right along side her. Scared for her at times, but with the utmost respect. There was just the right amount of personal life thrown in with the case that rounded this book out really well.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to preview. Great book, check it out!
http://mydogearedpurpose.com/2015/03/...
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March 30, 2017Darum geht’s:
Ausgerechnet im eiskalten und verschneiten Winter zieht sich die Psychologin Alice Quentin auf’s Land zurück, um im Hochsicherheitsgefängnis Laurels eine Studie über die schlimmsten Gewaltverbrecher des Landes durchzuführen. Dort sitzt auch der berühmte Kindermörder Kinsella und als die Polizei eine Verbindung zwischen ihm und der aktuellen Serie von Kindermorden herstellt, wird Alice von Ermittler Burns um Hilfe gebeten. Sie soll versuchen, Informationen aus Kinsella herauszulocken.
So fand ich’s:
Die ersten beiden Bücher um Alice Quentin „Im Totengarten“ und „Blutiger Engel“ fand ich bemerkenwert wegen Alices facettenreichem Charakter. Einerseits eine sture, taffe und mutige Frau, andererseits aber von Ängsten und Phobien gequält, musste sie sich immer wieder beweisen und ihr Gleichgewicht finden. Leider hat sie im aktuellen Buch ihre Ängste komplett abgelegt und veränderte sich dadurch in die Richtung einer x-beliebigen Person ohne Besonderheiten. Sogar ihre verrückte Familie und ihre exzentrische Freundin Lola hielten sich in diesem Band zurück. Damit fiel ein großer Teil dessen weg, was diese Reihe für mich zu etwas Einzigartigem macht.
Der Kriminalfall wurde zwar von der Polizei bearbeitet und auch Alice bemühte sich, über den manipulativen Kinsella an Informationen über die aktuelle Mordserie zu kommen, doch mit wenig Erfolg und entsprechend langatmig und ziellos waren die Ermittlungen.
Einzig die undurchsichtigen Charaktere rund um das Hochsicherheitsgefängnis machten die Erzählung wieder interessanter. So einige Menschen schienen als T��ter bzw. Gehilfe in Frage zu kommen und weil Alice sich ständig in deren Gesellschaft befand und auch ihr Privatleben mit ihnen vermischte, erzeugte das einen gewissen Grusel und Spannung.
Gleichzeitig beobachten wir die entführte Ella und bangen und leiden mit ihr, hoffen, dass sie nicht die nächste Tote wird. Von den Szenen aus Ellas Sicht hätte ich gerne viel viel mehr gehabt, denn das junge Mädchen ist clever, sympathisch und ungeheuer mutig.
Der flüssige Schreibstil ließ sich wie üblich sehr angenehm lesen, aber die Geschichte hat mich nicht wirklich gefesselt. Sicher war das solide Krimikost, aber im Vergleich zu den Vorgängerbänden fehlte mir das Besondere, um das Buch von gängiger Massenware zu unterscheiden.
Zudem hieß die Kneipe des Ortes „Krähenhorst“. So oft wie das erwähnt wurde, reichte es, um mich zu nerven, auch wenn das nur eine Kleinigkeit ist. Ich kenne z. B. „Adlerhorst“, aber bei Krähen heißt das meiner Meinung nach Nest. Ob das nun ein dummer Kniff der Autorin oder ein Übersetzungsfehler war, weiß ich nicht. Gestört hat es mich in jedem Fall.
Auch wenn dieser Band im Vergleich zu den beiden Vorgängern abfällt, werde ich der Serie trotzdem treu bleiben und hoffe darauf, dass ein nächster Band wieder zur alten Form zurückfindet.
Ausgerechnet im eiskalten und verschneiten Winter zieht sich die Psychologin Alice Quentin auf’s Land zurück, um im Hochsicherheitsgefängnis Laurels eine Studie über die schlimmsten Gewaltverbrecher des Landes durchzuführen. Dort sitzt auch der berühmte Kindermörder Kinsella und als die Polizei eine Verbindung zwischen ihm und der aktuellen Serie von Kindermorden herstellt, wird Alice von Ermittler Burns um Hilfe gebeten. Sie soll versuchen, Informationen aus Kinsella herauszulocken.
So fand ich’s:
Die ersten beiden Bücher um Alice Quentin „Im Totengarten“ und „Blutiger Engel“ fand ich bemerkenwert wegen Alices facettenreichem Charakter. Einerseits eine sture, taffe und mutige Frau, andererseits aber von Ängsten und Phobien gequält, musste sie sich immer wieder beweisen und ihr Gleichgewicht finden. Leider hat sie im aktuellen Buch ihre Ängste komplett abgelegt und veränderte sich dadurch in die Richtung einer x-beliebigen Person ohne Besonderheiten. Sogar ihre verrückte Familie und ihre exzentrische Freundin Lola hielten sich in diesem Band zurück. Damit fiel ein großer Teil dessen weg, was diese Reihe für mich zu etwas Einzigartigem macht.
Der Kriminalfall wurde zwar von der Polizei bearbeitet und auch Alice bemühte sich, über den manipulativen Kinsella an Informationen über die aktuelle Mordserie zu kommen, doch mit wenig Erfolg und entsprechend langatmig und ziellos waren die Ermittlungen.
Einzig die undurchsichtigen Charaktere rund um das Hochsicherheitsgefängnis machten die Erzählung wieder interessanter. So einige Menschen schienen als T��ter bzw. Gehilfe in Frage zu kommen und weil Alice sich ständig in deren Gesellschaft befand und auch ihr Privatleben mit ihnen vermischte, erzeugte das einen gewissen Grusel und Spannung.
Gleichzeitig beobachten wir die entführte Ella und bangen und leiden mit ihr, hoffen, dass sie nicht die nächste Tote wird. Von den Szenen aus Ellas Sicht hätte ich gerne viel viel mehr gehabt, denn das junge Mädchen ist clever, sympathisch und ungeheuer mutig.
Der flüssige Schreibstil ließ sich wie üblich sehr angenehm lesen, aber die Geschichte hat mich nicht wirklich gefesselt. Sicher war das solide Krimikost, aber im Vergleich zu den Vorgängerbänden fehlte mir das Besondere, um das Buch von gängiger Massenware zu unterscheiden.
Zudem hieß die Kneipe des Ortes „Krähenhorst“. So oft wie das erwähnt wurde, reichte es, um mich zu nerven, auch wenn das nur eine Kleinigkeit ist. Ich kenne z. B. „Adlerhorst“, aber bei Krähen heißt das meiner Meinung nach Nest. Ob das nun ein dummer Kniff der Autorin oder ein Übersetzungsfehler war, weiß ich nicht. Gestört hat es mich in jedem Fall.
Auch wenn dieser Band im Vergleich zu den beiden Vorgängern abfällt, werde ich der Serie trotzdem treu bleiben und hoffe darauf, dass ein nächster Band wieder zur alten Form zurückfindet.
August 12, 2014
I don't usually read books out of sequence, but I had no idea that The Winter Foundlings was the third instalment of the Alice Quentin series. However, this really does not detract from the story in any way. The Winter Foundlings works very well as a stand-alone thriller as the author is adept at incorporating snippets of Alice's past into the current storyline. Saying that, I do really want to go back and read the first two in this series; Crossbones Yard (June 2012), and A Killing of Angels (July 2013).
Alice Quentin is a psychologist and she is usually based in a large London hospital, but has accepted a secondment to Northwood high-secure psychiatric hospital where she is carrying out a research project.
Young girls are being murdered. Four youngsters have gone missing, three bodies have been found and the third girl is still missing. The disappearances and killings bear the trademark of Louis Kinsella, a serial killer who is a patient at Northwood. Alice is asked to interview him, to try to get him to shed some light on what is happening.
The Winter Foundlings is a very well researched story that depicts life in a modern high-security hospital extremely well. The author writes authentically about both the patients and the staff of the unit. As a working environment, a high-security hospital is pretty unique and the staff develop a close bond with each other, along with a sense of humour that is often misunderstood. Kate Rhodes has managed to convey the strange world of life behind locked doors and barred windows, whilst still keeping the reader intrigued in a very clever plot that has red herrings and twists and turns throughout.
Alice Quentin is a great character. It is clear that she has battled her own demons, and carries a far bit of baggage about her past. I will be interested to discover more about her relationship with her mother and her brother Will who both appear fleetingly in this story.
The human brain is a complex machine and when a wire becomes loose, or the chemicals within it become unbalanced we are often presented with psychotic and violent behaviour. Louis Kinsella is most certainly a psychopath; extremely intelligent, manipulative and a cold-blooded killer. Kate Rhodes has created a monster who reminded me at times of Hannibal Lector and John Kramer from the Saw movies.
I enjoyed The Winter Foundlings very much. I enjoyed the chase to discover the truth about the killings, I enjoyed the cast of multi-layered and realistic characters and I enjoyed the setting. Kate Rhodes has created an excellent lead character in Alice Quentin, I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series.
Alice Quentin is a psychologist and she is usually based in a large London hospital, but has accepted a secondment to Northwood high-secure psychiatric hospital where she is carrying out a research project.
Young girls are being murdered. Four youngsters have gone missing, three bodies have been found and the third girl is still missing. The disappearances and killings bear the trademark of Louis Kinsella, a serial killer who is a patient at Northwood. Alice is asked to interview him, to try to get him to shed some light on what is happening.
The Winter Foundlings is a very well researched story that depicts life in a modern high-security hospital extremely well. The author writes authentically about both the patients and the staff of the unit. As a working environment, a high-security hospital is pretty unique and the staff develop a close bond with each other, along with a sense of humour that is often misunderstood. Kate Rhodes has managed to convey the strange world of life behind locked doors and barred windows, whilst still keeping the reader intrigued in a very clever plot that has red herrings and twists and turns throughout.
Alice Quentin is a great character. It is clear that she has battled her own demons, and carries a far bit of baggage about her past. I will be interested to discover more about her relationship with her mother and her brother Will who both appear fleetingly in this story.
The human brain is a complex machine and when a wire becomes loose, or the chemicals within it become unbalanced we are often presented with psychotic and violent behaviour. Louis Kinsella is most certainly a psychopath; extremely intelligent, manipulative and a cold-blooded killer. Kate Rhodes has created a monster who reminded me at times of Hannibal Lector and John Kramer from the Saw movies.
I enjoyed The Winter Foundlings very much. I enjoyed the chase to discover the truth about the killings, I enjoyed the cast of multi-layered and realistic characters and I enjoyed the setting. Kate Rhodes has created an excellent lead character in Alice Quentin, I'm really looking forward to reading more in this series.
March 16, 2015
Awesome book! I just loved The Winter Foundlings by Kate Rhodes. I had not read the first two books in the Alice Quentin series and it certainly didn't matter to my enjoyment of this wonderful psychological thriller.
The Winter Foundlings is set in London. Kate Rhodes was able to inspire such a sense of place that I decided I wanted to go to London again! Right now!
Normally Dr. Alice Quentin is a forensic psychologist at Guys Hospital in London. However Alice has started a six month term at Northwood high security hospital. Northwood houses the worst of Britain's mentally unstable killers. The Winter Foundlings focuses on the child killer Louis Kinsella. He is a horrible man but Alice is able to get through his thick shell. He freakishly looks almost exactly like her deceased alcoholic abusive father. He picks up on that and is able to play and taunt Alice. But she perseveres in the hope of discovering who is influencing on the outside...who is Louis getting to continue his reign of terror in London?
Alice is a very believable character as are the those in her world. Her friends and family are very believable as are the new people in her life at Northwood. It was interesting to see her relationship with Detective Don Burns as well.
Great book! I cannot wait until the next one, River of Souls, which is out in June. I now need to read the first two in the series! Highly recommend!
The Winter Foundlings is set in London. Kate Rhodes was able to inspire such a sense of place that I decided I wanted to go to London again! Right now!
Normally Dr. Alice Quentin is a forensic psychologist at Guys Hospital in London. However Alice has started a six month term at Northwood high security hospital. Northwood houses the worst of Britain's mentally unstable killers. The Winter Foundlings focuses on the child killer Louis Kinsella. He is a horrible man but Alice is able to get through his thick shell. He freakishly looks almost exactly like her deceased alcoholic abusive father. He picks up on that and is able to play and taunt Alice. But she perseveres in the hope of discovering who is influencing on the outside...who is Louis getting to continue his reign of terror in London?
Alice is a very believable character as are the those in her world. Her friends and family are very believable as are the new people in her life at Northwood. It was interesting to see her relationship with Detective Don Burns as well.
Great book! I cannot wait until the next one, River of Souls, which is out in June. I now need to read the first two in the series! Highly recommend!
February 16, 2015
The Winter Foundlings
This is the third book in the series, and I have not read the previous books.
Alice Quentin is a psychologist who decides to study treatment methods at a high-security prison. Taking a break from her hectic London life and from the police work that has left her emotionally exhausted, Alice looks forward to her work at Northwood.
Her attempt to avoid police work comes to an end almost immediately when she is asked to interview Louis Kinsella, the notorious former headmaster who was convicted of killing young girls. Now, someone is imitating Kinsella's methods, and three young girls have been abducted and later found dead. A fourth is missing, but is hopefully still alive.
The killer has not only copied Kinsella's signature, but has sent tokens to Kinsella. Alice is desperate to save ten-year-old Ella Williams, but Kinsella is playing with her. The author plants suspicion about various characters who might be communicating with Kinsella, because when he does deign to help, his predictions about what will happen next actually occur.
Kate Rhodes has some staunch fans, and the book was interesting enough to hold my attention, but I wasn't that taken with Alice, the secondary characters never came off the page, and the plot didn't feel credible.
NetGalley/Minotaur Books
Mystery/Crime. Feb. 24, 2015. Print version: 352 pages
This is the third book in the series, and I have not read the previous books.
Alice Quentin is a psychologist who decides to study treatment methods at a high-security prison. Taking a break from her hectic London life and from the police work that has left her emotionally exhausted, Alice looks forward to her work at Northwood.
Her attempt to avoid police work comes to an end almost immediately when she is asked to interview Louis Kinsella, the notorious former headmaster who was convicted of killing young girls. Now, someone is imitating Kinsella's methods, and three young girls have been abducted and later found dead. A fourth is missing, but is hopefully still alive.
The killer has not only copied Kinsella's signature, but has sent tokens to Kinsella. Alice is desperate to save ten-year-old Ella Williams, but Kinsella is playing with her. The author plants suspicion about various characters who might be communicating with Kinsella, because when he does deign to help, his predictions about what will happen next actually occur.
Kate Rhodes has some staunch fans, and the book was interesting enough to hold my attention, but I wasn't that taken with Alice, the secondary characters never came off the page, and the plot didn't feel credible.
NetGalley/Minotaur Books
Mystery/Crime. Feb. 24, 2015. Print version: 352 pages
July 7, 2015
Book Review originally published here: http://www.iheartreading.net/mini-rev...
I’m amazed I haven’t heard more about this author before because her book is pretty amazing.The Winter Foundling offers an interesting setting (a psychiatric hospital), where Britian’s most prolific child killer is locked up, an engaging main character who is a psychologist (rather than the usual detective) and a plot that is fast-paced and ruthless. A gripping thriller that I’d recommend to all thriller fans.
I’m amazed I haven’t heard more about this author before because her book is pretty amazing.The Winter Foundling offers an interesting setting (a psychiatric hospital), where Britian’s most prolific child killer is locked up, an engaging main character who is a psychologist (rather than the usual detective) and a plot that is fast-paced and ruthless. A gripping thriller that I’d recommend to all thriller fans.
April 4, 2015
It has been about 9 months since I read the first two books in this series so I went back to look at my comments and the plot summaries. The plot seemed familiar although it apparently isn't from this series. Alice's phobias, which were so prominent in the first book, are not really mentioned here. The author has apparently written two more books since this one but they have not been released yet. I hope for something a bit different.
June 1, 2015
I received my copy of The Winter Foundlings, by Kate Rhodes through the Good Reads First Reads program.
This book was a step out of my comfort zone, but one I was glad to have taken.
After assisting the police on a particularly difficult, gruesome case, psychologist Alice Quentin decides to leave her job and life in London in order to take a post at The Laurels, a high security psychiatric hospital outside the city. Her purpose at the hospital is to observe their cutting edge treatment regime, gather information for a book, but soon she is pulled back into assisting the police force she has just left behind. Young girls are being abducted and murdered across London by what appears to be a serial killer copying the crimes of Louis Kinsella, a convicted child killer and pedophile who is incarcerated at the Laurels. Despite the harsh warnings of the high burnout rate, psychological torment and physical danger she is in working at the Laurels, Alice does take the job and does agree to help the London cops with their investigation. This puts her back in the circle of Don Burns, the chief investigator she not only worked with in the past, but also felt an undercurrent of attraction to. Alice puts Don on her list of reasons to get away from London, having commitment and relationship issues, turning down his dinner invitation after the last case. The police want Alice to interview Kinsella in hopes of shedding light on the current killer. Turns out Kinsella is a true psychopath. He has seduced many vulnerable people over the years to take up his craft and continue his work.
At the point in the story, the connection with Kinsella has a certain Hannibal Lector feel to it, but rather than offering insight into the current serial killer, Kinsella gleefully seems to have absolute information on the abductions, torture and killings. Having opted not to communicate verbally to anyone in years, Kinsella decides to connect with Alice. He is a master manipulator, and dangles such bait as telling Alice the date of the next abduction, and how many days until the killer disposes of the body. Too much information. Clearly Kinsella has a connection to the killer, inside of the institution. Certain that the killer has a connection with the Foundling Museum, the site of a former orphanage/hospital, Alice is also sure that one of her co-workers is also involved.
As this is book three in the Alice Quentin series, there is an overall story arc occurring. Alice’s brother is a reforming addict, her mother is diagnosed with Parkinsons, she deals with the fall out of having an abusive father, she has feelings for her former co-worker Don Adams, and a pregnant best friend, strikes up a friendship with co-worker Judith, and a sexual relationship with co-worker Tom. These relationships colour her present state of mind as she navigates the staff at the Laurels, searching for the clues to stop the current serial killer. It seems in order to work at the Laurels, one must be somewhat quirky themselves, and each co-worker has tendencies and characteristics that could easily put them under suspicion, including Tom and Judith. Alice is in true danger. She is stalked, her home is broken into, someone clearly does not want her finding answers, and given the warnings she receives from every angle about working at the Laurels, it is true that someone inside is involved.
This was a well-paced read, and while it lacked heart in your throat action, I did find myself turning pages both hoping and dreading the short chapters from Ella’s perspective. I was at the same time happy that she was in fact okay, and terrified that something would happen to her. This was the most difficult part of the read, the reason the book was a step-out for me – I typically refuse to read anything where a child is in danger. The book can be read as a stand-alone, there is enough back ground information for the reader to form an understanding of the characters’ pasts and relationships, but reading in order would likely offer more justification for actions and decisions. There were a few relationships/plot lines that were not resolved by the end of the novel and I am hoping that they were carry over to the next installment. I enjoyed the book so much that I plan to read the first two novels and have already recommended it to several people.
This book was a step out of my comfort zone, but one I was glad to have taken.
After assisting the police on a particularly difficult, gruesome case, psychologist Alice Quentin decides to leave her job and life in London in order to take a post at The Laurels, a high security psychiatric hospital outside the city. Her purpose at the hospital is to observe their cutting edge treatment regime, gather information for a book, but soon she is pulled back into assisting the police force she has just left behind. Young girls are being abducted and murdered across London by what appears to be a serial killer copying the crimes of Louis Kinsella, a convicted child killer and pedophile who is incarcerated at the Laurels. Despite the harsh warnings of the high burnout rate, psychological torment and physical danger she is in working at the Laurels, Alice does take the job and does agree to help the London cops with their investigation. This puts her back in the circle of Don Burns, the chief investigator she not only worked with in the past, but also felt an undercurrent of attraction to. Alice puts Don on her list of reasons to get away from London, having commitment and relationship issues, turning down his dinner invitation after the last case. The police want Alice to interview Kinsella in hopes of shedding light on the current killer. Turns out Kinsella is a true psychopath. He has seduced many vulnerable people over the years to take up his craft and continue his work.
At the point in the story, the connection with Kinsella has a certain Hannibal Lector feel to it, but rather than offering insight into the current serial killer, Kinsella gleefully seems to have absolute information on the abductions, torture and killings. Having opted not to communicate verbally to anyone in years, Kinsella decides to connect with Alice. He is a master manipulator, and dangles such bait as telling Alice the date of the next abduction, and how many days until the killer disposes of the body. Too much information. Clearly Kinsella has a connection to the killer, inside of the institution. Certain that the killer has a connection with the Foundling Museum, the site of a former orphanage/hospital, Alice is also sure that one of her co-workers is also involved.
As this is book three in the Alice Quentin series, there is an overall story arc occurring. Alice’s brother is a reforming addict, her mother is diagnosed with Parkinsons, she deals with the fall out of having an abusive father, she has feelings for her former co-worker Don Adams, and a pregnant best friend, strikes up a friendship with co-worker Judith, and a sexual relationship with co-worker Tom. These relationships colour her present state of mind as she navigates the staff at the Laurels, searching for the clues to stop the current serial killer. It seems in order to work at the Laurels, one must be somewhat quirky themselves, and each co-worker has tendencies and characteristics that could easily put them under suspicion, including Tom and Judith. Alice is in true danger. She is stalked, her home is broken into, someone clearly does not want her finding answers, and given the warnings she receives from every angle about working at the Laurels, it is true that someone inside is involved.
This was a well-paced read, and while it lacked heart in your throat action, I did find myself turning pages both hoping and dreading the short chapters from Ella’s perspective. I was at the same time happy that she was in fact okay, and terrified that something would happen to her. This was the most difficult part of the read, the reason the book was a step-out for me – I typically refuse to read anything where a child is in danger. The book can be read as a stand-alone, there is enough back ground information for the reader to form an understanding of the characters’ pasts and relationships, but reading in order would likely offer more justification for actions and decisions. There were a few relationships/plot lines that were not resolved by the end of the novel and I am hoping that they were carry over to the next installment. I enjoyed the book so much that I plan to read the first two novels and have already recommended it to several people.
August 16, 2014
This, the third in the Alice Quentin series has our protagonist leaving Guy’s to carry out a study of psychopaths at Northwood. She is leaving London and her work with the Metropolitan Police as an advisor following the trauma of her last case with them, A Killing of Angels.
This book has a very strong story-line which links the present crimes to those committed by infamous Louis Kinsella who had killed young girls years previously and was the subject of renowned psychologist Alan Nash’s published study. In the present day a killer is pursuing young girls and presenting them in cardboard coffins dressed up in a Victorian white dress as were worn by the foundlings who were taken into the Foundling Hospital in London, before sending Louis Kinsella a token in a macabre imitation of the tokens originally given to the children by those families who hoped to reclaim their children when the hospital originally opened.
As in the previous books in this series The Crossbones Yard and A Killing of Angels our protagonist’s character is well-defined and likeable. Alice’s family is still the backdrop to the main plot but continues to give the reader an insight into her beginnings and why she sometimes reacts the way she does. The other characters are also realistic, obviously readers of the whole series will have already met DCI Don Burns but there are also a whole host of new characters to get to know and to confuse the investigation.
The plot is well thought out, the whodunit had me totally fooled although in no way undermined by the preceding story. With a pace that is swift but not so much so that this feels like there is too much packed into the story and despite the harrowing story-line none it is not gruesome. I like the fact that as in Crossbones Yard the story links back to historical fact. Alice visiting the exhibitions at the Foundling Museum had the hair on the back of my neck standing on end because this part is not a story, it really happened. To add the feeling of claustrophobia and horror England is gripped in the midst of a snowy winter and it is testament to the author’s skill in that I felt chilled to the bone.
I’m sure this book would read well as a standalone book as there is no complex story arc. This is my favourite book of the series mainly because of the link to the historical background and I have my fingers crossed that Kate Rhodes has another book in the pipeline.
I’d like to thank the publishers Hodder & Stoughton who gave me a copy of this book in return for my honest review. The Winter Foundlings was published on 14 August 2014
This book has a very strong story-line which links the present crimes to those committed by infamous Louis Kinsella who had killed young girls years previously and was the subject of renowned psychologist Alan Nash’s published study. In the present day a killer is pursuing young girls and presenting them in cardboard coffins dressed up in a Victorian white dress as were worn by the foundlings who were taken into the Foundling Hospital in London, before sending Louis Kinsella a token in a macabre imitation of the tokens originally given to the children by those families who hoped to reclaim their children when the hospital originally opened.
As in the previous books in this series The Crossbones Yard and A Killing of Angels our protagonist’s character is well-defined and likeable. Alice’s family is still the backdrop to the main plot but continues to give the reader an insight into her beginnings and why she sometimes reacts the way she does. The other characters are also realistic, obviously readers of the whole series will have already met DCI Don Burns but there are also a whole host of new characters to get to know and to confuse the investigation.
The plot is well thought out, the whodunit had me totally fooled although in no way undermined by the preceding story. With a pace that is swift but not so much so that this feels like there is too much packed into the story and despite the harrowing story-line none it is not gruesome. I like the fact that as in Crossbones Yard the story links back to historical fact. Alice visiting the exhibitions at the Foundling Museum had the hair on the back of my neck standing on end because this part is not a story, it really happened. To add the feeling of claustrophobia and horror England is gripped in the midst of a snowy winter and it is testament to the author’s skill in that I felt chilled to the bone.
I’m sure this book would read well as a standalone book as there is no complex story arc. This is my favourite book of the series mainly because of the link to the historical background and I have my fingers crossed that Kate Rhodes has another book in the pipeline.
I’d like to thank the publishers Hodder & Stoughton who gave me a copy of this book in return for my honest review. The Winter Foundlings was published on 14 August 2014
February 18, 2015
A resplendent tale that is written with ease and perfection, you are easily caught up in a horrific crime. I was thankful that in this prose the crimes against children were not glorified in sickening detail and being written so well did not take away the intensity.
Young Psychologist Alice Quentin is asked for her services at Northwood high-security hospital, outside of London to get in the mind of a notorious child killer, Louis Kinsella. A string of young girls have been abducted and killed that is very similar to Louis’ MO.
The narration is done in the voice of Alice and one of the victims, 11 year old Ella. In the voice of Alice, you are introduced to the employees of Northwood that have warned Alice of Louis manipulative mind. In establishing a relationship with Louis, Alice is reminded of her own father and fears. Louis is a master of others weakness and seems to pull Alice in a disarray. In her conversations with Louis, he seems to know the perpetrators next move. Alice realizes she is running out of time.
Ella is establishing a relationship with her abductor; it is her only way of survival. The reader is clueless as to whom this copycat that idolizes Louis ideology is.
I did come up with who I thought the killer was, however, Kate Rhodes expertly weaves her characters that leave the reader utterly surprised.
A special thank you, St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books
and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Young Psychologist Alice Quentin is asked for her services at Northwood high-security hospital, outside of London to get in the mind of a notorious child killer, Louis Kinsella. A string of young girls have been abducted and killed that is very similar to Louis’ MO.
The narration is done in the voice of Alice and one of the victims, 11 year old Ella. In the voice of Alice, you are introduced to the employees of Northwood that have warned Alice of Louis manipulative mind. In establishing a relationship with Louis, Alice is reminded of her own father and fears. Louis is a master of others weakness and seems to pull Alice in a disarray. In her conversations with Louis, he seems to know the perpetrators next move. Alice realizes she is running out of time.
Ella is establishing a relationship with her abductor; it is her only way of survival. The reader is clueless as to whom this copycat that idolizes Louis ideology is.
I did come up with who I thought the killer was, however, Kate Rhodes expertly weaves her characters that leave the reader utterly surprised.
A special thank you, St. Martins Press, Minotaur Books
and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
August 28, 2017
The third instalment in a series that keeps getting better and better.
"Ella Williams is ten years old...She's just been abducted by a killer - someone who kidnaps young girls, holds them for a few weeks then returns their bodies...The crimes are clearly linked to notorious child murderer Louis Kinsella, locked away in a high-security hospital...To save Ella's life, psychologist Alice Quentin must form a relationship with Kinsella. But he is slow to give up his secrets, and all the while, time is running out..."
This book has been on my to-be-read pile for a long time and now I've read it I'm kicking myself for waiting so long. It was a treat to be reunited with psychologist Alice Quentin and the other recurring characters in the series. As for the new cast of characters introduced for this story, well there were some truly fascinating individuals.
The crimes at the centre of the main plot - the abduction and murder of young girls - are the stuff of nightmares and yet the author manages to alternate the horror of their predicament with moments that develop Alice's personality more than in the first two books.
The pace of the action is spot on and the cleverly plotted mystery surrounding the identity of the killer kept me guessing until the end.
Highly recommended and could be read as a standalone, though as always I strongly suggest starting the series at the beginning and reading in order . In this case: Crossbones Yard and A Killing of Angels.
"Ella Williams is ten years old...She's just been abducted by a killer - someone who kidnaps young girls, holds them for a few weeks then returns their bodies...The crimes are clearly linked to notorious child murderer Louis Kinsella, locked away in a high-security hospital...To save Ella's life, psychologist Alice Quentin must form a relationship with Kinsella. But he is slow to give up his secrets, and all the while, time is running out..."
This book has been on my to-be-read pile for a long time and now I've read it I'm kicking myself for waiting so long. It was a treat to be reunited with psychologist Alice Quentin and the other recurring characters in the series. As for the new cast of characters introduced for this story, well there were some truly fascinating individuals.
The crimes at the centre of the main plot - the abduction and murder of young girls - are the stuff of nightmares and yet the author manages to alternate the horror of their predicament with moments that develop Alice's personality more than in the first two books.
The pace of the action is spot on and the cleverly plotted mystery surrounding the identity of the killer kept me guessing until the end.
Highly recommended and could be read as a standalone, though as always I strongly suggest starting the series at the beginning and reading in order . In this case: Crossbones Yard and A Killing of Angels.
April 28, 2015
The Winter Foundlings is the third book in the Alice Quentin series. I haven't read the first two books (which has shocked me, as this book was so good). But this didn't spoil my enjoyment at all and anyone could read this as a standalone.
This excellent thriller is creepy and filled with nail-biting suspense. It's brilliantly written and well constructed. I could tell that the author had researched her subject well. The story flows along at a steady pace and keeps you guessing until the end. The little twists and turns keep up the momentum and try (successfully in my case) to steer you in the wrong direction.
I love Alice's character - she's feisty and determined and has a complex past, yet remains realistic and very likeable. The short chapters from young Ella's point of view are sad, chilling and disturbing in places, so may not appeal to the faint hearted.
I recommend The Winter Foundlings to any crime fiction fan who likes their book to have interesting characters and an in-depth well-researched story.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.
This excellent thriller is creepy and filled with nail-biting suspense. It's brilliantly written and well constructed. I could tell that the author had researched her subject well. The story flows along at a steady pace and keeps you guessing until the end. The little twists and turns keep up the momentum and try (successfully in my case) to steer you in the wrong direction.
I love Alice's character - she's feisty and determined and has a complex past, yet remains realistic and very likeable. The short chapters from young Ella's point of view are sad, chilling and disturbing in places, so may not appeal to the faint hearted.
I recommend The Winter Foundlings to any crime fiction fan who likes their book to have interesting characters and an in-depth well-researched story.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the publisher through Bookbridgr in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2015
The Winter Foundlings is a story of several missing and killed children in England with the same pattern, aka a serial kidnapper. Alice, the psychologist who works for the police force is trying to save the one child who is still missing by interviewing a serial kidnapper/child killer who is in jail/prison (mental facility?) who it appears the current killer is copy-catting his MO for his crimes.
This seems to be a take off of "Silence of the Lambs" as Louis Kinsella is made out to be a man who can get under your skin and make you do things. When he is interviewed, he is handcuffed to the chair so he will not attack. I found it very similar except of course for the type of people that were being killed (in this case; children) Louis Kinsella takes a special liking t Alice and will only allow her to interview him.
I found this book to be a little on the predictable side. I also found myself wandering away at certain parts, and not really caring who the killer turned out to be.
This book was provided to me by netgalley for my honest review.
This seems to be a take off of "Silence of the Lambs" as Louis Kinsella is made out to be a man who can get under your skin and make you do things. When he is interviewed, he is handcuffed to the chair so he will not attack. I found it very similar except of course for the type of people that were being killed (in this case; children) Louis Kinsella takes a special liking t Alice and will only allow her to interview him.
I found this book to be a little on the predictable side. I also found myself wandering away at certain parts, and not really caring who the killer turned out to be.
This book was provided to me by netgalley for my honest review.
June 9, 2015
Gripping from the start when 10 year old Ella Williams is abducted by a killer.Someone is kidnapping young girls,holds them for a few weeks (keeping them in a freezer) then returns their bodies clothed in white foundling dresses. This is a dark,psychological thriller and so absorbing.
The crimes are clearly linked to notorious child murderer Louis Kinsella, locked away in a high-security hospital. Is it a copycat? Or is he giving someone direct orders from behind bars?
To save Ella's life, psychologist Alice Quentin must form a relationship with Kinsella. But he is slow to give up his secrets, and all the while, time is running out...
Dr Alice Quentin,a Forensic Psychologist who is usually based at Guys Hospital in London but at the moment is on a six month secondment to Northwood high security hospital,is an interesting and engaging character.
I have read all 3 novels involving Alice Quentin and have enjoyed them all.The character has been well developed over time. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
The crimes are clearly linked to notorious child murderer Louis Kinsella, locked away in a high-security hospital. Is it a copycat? Or is he giving someone direct orders from behind bars?
To save Ella's life, psychologist Alice Quentin must form a relationship with Kinsella. But he is slow to give up his secrets, and all the while, time is running out...
Dr Alice Quentin,a Forensic Psychologist who is usually based at Guys Hospital in London but at the moment is on a six month secondment to Northwood high security hospital,is an interesting and engaging character.
I have read all 3 novels involving Alice Quentin and have enjoyed them all.The character has been well developed over time. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
March 4, 2019
Rating: 4.25 stars
Okay, wow, this book was way better than I expected. It was on my tbr pile for almost two years now and I just don’t understand why. It’s so good.
Kate Rhodes is an amazing writer and I’m really looking forward to read more by her. I just love her writing style! The whole story was so thrilling that I wasn’t able to put it down. I haven’t been able to read a book that quickly in months!
The whole plot was just incredible. I loved that there were so many suspects so that I wasn’t able to figure out who the killer was. I was pretty sure I had figured it out but boy was I wrong. Loved the plot twist!
Alice Quentin’s a good protagonist. I really liked her and her thinking process.
There’s not much to criticize about this novel. The only thing that bothered me somehow is the ending. It felt a bit rushed. That’s the only reason why I’m not giving this 5 stars. Still, definitely worth reading. I can highly recommend this!
To sum up: It’s a really good novel with an unpredictable plot twist and the author’s writing style is amazing!
Okay, wow, this book was way better than I expected. It was on my tbr pile for almost two years now and I just don’t understand why. It’s so good.
Kate Rhodes is an amazing writer and I’m really looking forward to read more by her. I just love her writing style! The whole story was so thrilling that I wasn’t able to put it down. I haven’t been able to read a book that quickly in months!
The whole plot was just incredible. I loved that there were so many suspects so that I wasn’t able to figure out who the killer was. I was pretty sure I had figured it out but boy was I wrong. Loved the plot twist!
Alice Quentin’s a good protagonist. I really liked her and her thinking process.
There’s not much to criticize about this novel. The only thing that bothered me somehow is the ending. It felt a bit rushed. That’s the only reason why I’m not giving this 5 stars. Still, definitely worth reading. I can highly recommend this!
To sum up: It’s a really good novel with an unpredictable plot twist and the author’s writing style is amazing!
June 10, 2015
Kate Rhodes makes the grade in this novel. The best of her three novels this case sees Alice Quentin interviewing a serial killer when two girls goe missing. The cases mirror crimes committed years ago. One of the girls turns up dead and Alice once more helps Detective Inspector Burns to try and solve the case as another girl goes missing. The novel moves quickly and see Alice taking a 6 month sabbatical at a mental health institution for offenders deemed not fit for jail. Alice's confused feelings for Burns leads her into a fling with a gym instructor. Linked to the Foundling Museum this case is the best yet in this series and I am liking Kate Rhodes more and more.
November 21, 2016
What an amazing book. I loved how Alice is constantly getting herself into dangerous situations. Working with the police and maintaining her day job sure keeps her busy. When she starts working for laurels, her whole life changes. Does she finally find love? Does her relationship with her mother continue to be cold and structured? Will working with the worst criminals in the world finallyhavee an effect on her? Find out in this awesomely creepy book!
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