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DI Amy Winter #2
The Secret Child
DI Amy Winter knows evil. She’s lived through it.
Four-year-old Ellen is snatched by a stranger in the dead of night. Her devastated mother, Nicole, receives four identical phials and a threatening note in a familiar scrawl that chills her to the bone. But she always knew this would happen. She’s been expecting it for years…
According to the note, one of the phials is poisoned. Nicole is given a deadly challenge: if she drinks one, the sadistic kidnapper will notify the police of Ellen’s location. The sender claims to be Luka Volkov but Luka is supposed to be dead, killed long ago in a fire that haunts all those involved.
DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the discovery that she is the daughter of a serial killer, and her childhood trauma only makes her more determined to bring Ellen home. When another child is taken, Amy finds herself in a race against time. To rescue the children, must she seek help from the one person she wants to forget…?
Four-year-old Ellen is snatched by a stranger in the dead of night. Her devastated mother, Nicole, receives four identical phials and a threatening note in a familiar scrawl that chills her to the bone. But she always knew this would happen. She’s been expecting it for years…
According to the note, one of the phials is poisoned. Nicole is given a deadly challenge: if she drinks one, the sadistic kidnapper will notify the police of Ellen’s location. The sender claims to be Luka Volkov but Luka is supposed to be dead, killed long ago in a fire that haunts all those involved.
DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the discovery that she is the daughter of a serial killer, and her childhood trauma only makes her more determined to bring Ellen home. When another child is taken, Amy finds herself in a race against time. To rescue the children, must she seek help from the one person she wants to forget…?
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2019
2435 people are currently reading
2861 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Mitchell
41 books2,177 followersNew York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017 and the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018.
** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **
Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries
Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries
Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries
The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM
The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage
** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **
Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries
Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries
Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries
The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM
The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 485 reviews
February 11, 2019
I confess I could be accused of neglecting those nearest and dearest to me during the reading of The Secret Child, but I place the blame firmly on author Caroline Mitchell for producing such a riveting read in this, the second in the DI Amy Winter series!
This time around, the story deals with the distressing subject of experimentation on children. It primarily focuses on Luka Volkov, an intelligent and promising little boy, brought from his home in Russia to England in 1984 by doctor Hugh Curtis, on the promise of a first class education, food and board, and with the added bonus of numerous sightseeing trips thrown in - a dream come true for this inquisitive child. Luka is accompanied by his mother Sasha, but his father Ivan stays in Russia and warns his wife that the offer seems too good to be true. - his words will prove to be very prophetic!
The experiments, carried out in the name of medical science, would turn any child from a sweet and loving character into a vengeful adult. Fast forward to the present, and someone claiming to be Luka, is planning to make the staff at the Curtis Institute pay for their cruelty and indifference, and if it means hurting their families too, well, that’s no more than they deserve! Just one problem here - Luka was killed in a fire at the Curtis Institute!
When Doctor Curtis’s four year old daughter Ellen is snatched in the middle of the night, it’s only the beginning of the perpetrator’s highly sophisticated game of cat and mouse.
DI Amy Winter has an eclectic team supporting her, each of them bringing their own unique perspective to the table, but they will have reason to question her motives when they discover a secret that Amy has only recently discovered herself - that her parents are serial killers! With the mother of all cases to investigate they really need to pull together as they normally do, especially as time is of the essence. The clock is ticking!
This is a wonderfully balanced police procedural, featuring characters good, bad and innocent, where motivations vary from pure, to malicious, to bordering on insane. With Amy and her team in hot pursuit of the perpetrator, the action is truly relentless, with many twists and turns.
The narrative picks carefully at the scabs of fractured and damaged personalities, where old wounds are opened anew, and old hatreds spew forth into the present, creating a truly heart stopping and compelling read!
*Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
This time around, the story deals with the distressing subject of experimentation on children. It primarily focuses on Luka Volkov, an intelligent and promising little boy, brought from his home in Russia to England in 1984 by doctor Hugh Curtis, on the promise of a first class education, food and board, and with the added bonus of numerous sightseeing trips thrown in - a dream come true for this inquisitive child. Luka is accompanied by his mother Sasha, but his father Ivan stays in Russia and warns his wife that the offer seems too good to be true. - his words will prove to be very prophetic!
The experiments, carried out in the name of medical science, would turn any child from a sweet and loving character into a vengeful adult. Fast forward to the present, and someone claiming to be Luka, is planning to make the staff at the Curtis Institute pay for their cruelty and indifference, and if it means hurting their families too, well, that’s no more than they deserve! Just one problem here - Luka was killed in a fire at the Curtis Institute!
When Doctor Curtis’s four year old daughter Ellen is snatched in the middle of the night, it’s only the beginning of the perpetrator’s highly sophisticated game of cat and mouse.
DI Amy Winter has an eclectic team supporting her, each of them bringing their own unique perspective to the table, but they will have reason to question her motives when they discover a secret that Amy has only recently discovered herself - that her parents are serial killers! With the mother of all cases to investigate they really need to pull together as they normally do, especially as time is of the essence. The clock is ticking!
This is a wonderfully balanced police procedural, featuring characters good, bad and innocent, where motivations vary from pure, to malicious, to bordering on insane. With Amy and her team in hot pursuit of the perpetrator, the action is truly relentless, with many twists and turns.
The narrative picks carefully at the scabs of fractured and damaged personalities, where old wounds are opened anew, and old hatreds spew forth into the present, creating a truly heart stopping and compelling read!
*Thank you to Netgalley, Thomas and Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for my ARC. I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange *
March 2, 2019
3.5 stars
Police procedural about a Detective Inspector who happens to be the child of notorious serial killers. This is book two in the DI Amy Winters’ series--it is a character-driven, fast-paced read with a suspenseful mystery and compelling lead character.
DI Amy Winter finds herself drawn into a game of cat and mouse with a kidnapper. At the same time, she must deal with the fall out from the exposure of her past. She finds herself in the public spotlight with her every move being evaluated. She also can’t escape from her deranged birth mother, who will do whatever it takes to remind Amy where she comes from!
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it as much as I loved the first book in the series. I wanted more interaction between Amy and Lillian. The dynamic between these two characters is fascinating. I found the mystery interesting, but I didn’t really care that much about it--it was quite an intriguing premise, but there was something about it that just failed to grip me. Perhaps, I was just more interested in Amy’s personal life. However, I was still engaged and by the end I found myself thinking that I couldn't wait to read what happens in the next book in the series!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review.
Police procedural about a Detective Inspector who happens to be the child of notorious serial killers. This is book two in the DI Amy Winters’ series--it is a character-driven, fast-paced read with a suspenseful mystery and compelling lead character.
DI Amy Winter finds herself drawn into a game of cat and mouse with a kidnapper. At the same time, she must deal with the fall out from the exposure of her past. She finds herself in the public spotlight with her every move being evaluated. She also can’t escape from her deranged birth mother, who will do whatever it takes to remind Amy where she comes from!
While I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it as much as I loved the first book in the series. I wanted more interaction between Amy and Lillian. The dynamic between these two characters is fascinating. I found the mystery interesting, but I didn’t really care that much about it--it was quite an intriguing premise, but there was something about it that just failed to grip me. Perhaps, I was just more interested in Amy’s personal life. However, I was still engaged and by the end I found myself thinking that I couldn't wait to read what happens in the next book in the series!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2021
The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter #2) by Caroline Mitchell (Author), Elizabeth Knowelden (Narrator)
DI Amy Winters is still struggling with the fact that she is the daughter of a serial killer but life must go on. Because of the publicity regarding her parentage, a kidnapper wants to talk to DI Winter during his negotiations. Now she's in a race against time and a madman to save two children while also dealing with the crazy fans and followers of her imprisoned biological mother.
Book #2 moves fast and furiously, moving between two timelines, the present and 1984. In the past timeline we follow Luka, a young boy, who was lured from his home country for what were supposed to be experiential "learning" opportunities. Instead, an unethical doctor is using children for his own devious medical experiments, with sometimes deadly results. Now someone wants that doctor and his minions to pay for what was done all those years ago. Amy may be the only person who can stop the present day deadly threats before they are carried out.
Amy's exterior demeanor is no nonsense and hard but she's cracking under the pressure that comes with knowing the identity of her parents. She is facing her own doubts about herself along with her team's questioning her motivations and subtle sabotage from her less than trustworthy boss. I'm looking forward to what happens in book #3 as we continue to follow Amy at work and as she tries to deal with her emotions concerning her horrifying family background.
Published April 18th 2019
This was a Kindle Unlimited audio selection.
DI Amy Winters is still struggling with the fact that she is the daughter of a serial killer but life must go on. Because of the publicity regarding her parentage, a kidnapper wants to talk to DI Winter during his negotiations. Now she's in a race against time and a madman to save two children while also dealing with the crazy fans and followers of her imprisoned biological mother.
Book #2 moves fast and furiously, moving between two timelines, the present and 1984. In the past timeline we follow Luka, a young boy, who was lured from his home country for what were supposed to be experiential "learning" opportunities. Instead, an unethical doctor is using children for his own devious medical experiments, with sometimes deadly results. Now someone wants that doctor and his minions to pay for what was done all those years ago. Amy may be the only person who can stop the present day deadly threats before they are carried out.
Amy's exterior demeanor is no nonsense and hard but she's cracking under the pressure that comes with knowing the identity of her parents. She is facing her own doubts about herself along with her team's questioning her motivations and subtle sabotage from her less than trustworthy boss. I'm looking forward to what happens in book #3 as we continue to follow Amy at work and as she tries to deal with her emotions concerning her horrifying family background.
Published April 18th 2019
This was a Kindle Unlimited audio selection.
May 23, 2019
A fast-paced, riveting read! Book 2 definitely lived up to my expectations and has solidified my readership for Caroline Mitchell's DI Amy Winter series.
In The Secret Child DI Amy Winter's latest investigation finds her in a cat and mouse race against time with a kidnapper bent on revenge. The story opens with four year old Ellen being kidnapped from her bedroom. Her mother receives a package containing four vials from "Luka". She must drink one in order for the kidnapper to contact the police with information on Ellen.
It's not long before we find that her father the esteemed Dr. Curtis is the real target. Why? What secrets are the people connected with the Curtis Institute hiding? Who is behind this devious plot to destroy them?
When a second child is abducted, Amy's team are in for a fight against time to uncover deeply buried secrets in order to save them.
The story was fast paced, filled with secrets and twists and made for a gripping read!
Thank you to Caroline Mitchell, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book. I can't wait to see what book 3 brings our way!
In The Secret Child DI Amy Winter's latest investigation finds her in a cat and mouse race against time with a kidnapper bent on revenge. The story opens with four year old Ellen being kidnapped from her bedroom. Her mother receives a package containing four vials from "Luka". She must drink one in order for the kidnapper to contact the police with information on Ellen.
It's not long before we find that her father the esteemed Dr. Curtis is the real target. Why? What secrets are the people connected with the Curtis Institute hiding? Who is behind this devious plot to destroy them?
When a second child is abducted, Amy's team are in for a fight against time to uncover deeply buried secrets in order to save them.
The story was fast paced, filled with secrets and twists and made for a gripping read!
Thank you to Caroline Mitchell, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an arc of this book. I can't wait to see what book 3 brings our way!
March 24, 2019
The Secret Child is the second book in the DI Amy Winter series but worked very well as a stand-alone novel for me.
DI Amy Winter and her team are investigating the case of four-year-old Ellen who was kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night by a stranger. Her Mother is in the hospital after drinking from a vial she received in her home, telling her if she chooses one of the four vials she received to drink, her daughter would be freed. Shortly, thereafter, another child goes missing. His father also received vials with instructions to choose one to drink. The sender is supposedly a man who was believed to be dead. Is he alive? Is someone using his identity? What is the endgame?
While investigating the case, DI Winter's past becomes known to the public and while she struggles with the public and her co-workers, knowing her link to serial killers, she continues to investigate the missing children who have links back to psychological/scientific studies conducted in the past.
This was an interesting cat and mouse book. The story is told using two timelines - Luka and the study conducted in the past, and the investigation in the present day. Through this storytelling the reader learns, the connections between some of the characters and what might have motivated the current kidnapping of the children.
I enjoyed the police procedural and how the author balanced DI Winter's professional life and her private life. I thought this book had just the right amount of both. I am sure I missed some of the relationship connections and background from the first book, I feel I was given enough information to make inferences and did not feel that missing the first book in this series, hampered my enjoyment of this one at all.
This was another engaging and riveting police procedural featuring a female lead detective with flaws, intensity and strong nerves. I found it to be quite enjoyable and a captivating read.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
DI Amy Winter and her team are investigating the case of four-year-old Ellen who was kidnapped from her home in the middle of the night by a stranger. Her Mother is in the hospital after drinking from a vial she received in her home, telling her if she chooses one of the four vials she received to drink, her daughter would be freed. Shortly, thereafter, another child goes missing. His father also received vials with instructions to choose one to drink. The sender is supposedly a man who was believed to be dead. Is he alive? Is someone using his identity? What is the endgame?
While investigating the case, DI Winter's past becomes known to the public and while she struggles with the public and her co-workers, knowing her link to serial killers, she continues to investigate the missing children who have links back to psychological/scientific studies conducted in the past.
This was an interesting cat and mouse book. The story is told using two timelines - Luka and the study conducted in the past, and the investigation in the present day. Through this storytelling the reader learns, the connections between some of the characters and what might have motivated the current kidnapping of the children.
I enjoyed the police procedural and how the author balanced DI Winter's professional life and her private life. I thought this book had just the right amount of both. I am sure I missed some of the relationship connections and background from the first book, I feel I was given enough information to make inferences and did not feel that missing the first book in this series, hampered my enjoyment of this one at all.
This was another engaging and riveting police procedural featuring a female lead detective with flaws, intensity and strong nerves. I found it to be quite enjoyable and a captivating read.
Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
March 14, 2019
A four year old girl is kidnapped. Could the kidnapper really be Luka Volkov, who was supposedly killed by fire years ago? Luka, who as a child, was the subject of a psychological experiment run by the father of the kidnapped girl.
The story vacillates back and forth between the kidnapping and Amy's personal story. In Truth and Lies, Amy learned she was the daughter of a husband-wife pair of serial killers. Her father is dead but her mother is in prison and is seeking a re-trial. And to make matters worse, her biological mother is using Adam, Amy's ex-fiancé to cause even more trouble for Amy.
Amy is a haunted, driven soul. Because of her background, she finds it difficult to have personal relationships. And Adam is such a jerk it's no wonder she's continuing to have trust issues. Flip side, I loved that Mitchel painted Luka as an almost sympathetic character.
Mitchell keeps the story moving at a fast pace. it's one of those books you keep finding an excuse to keep reading rather than getting on with life. And yes, I knew how this was going to end but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. And Mitchell left us with a few loose ends to ensure a book three.
My thanks to netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of this book.
The story vacillates back and forth between the kidnapping and Amy's personal story. In Truth and Lies, Amy learned she was the daughter of a husband-wife pair of serial killers. Her father is dead but her mother is in prison and is seeking a re-trial. And to make matters worse, her biological mother is using Adam, Amy's ex-fiancé to cause even more trouble for Amy.
Amy is a haunted, driven soul. Because of her background, she finds it difficult to have personal relationships. And Adam is such a jerk it's no wonder she's continuing to have trust issues. Flip side, I loved that Mitchel painted Luka as an almost sympathetic character.
Mitchell keeps the story moving at a fast pace. it's one of those books you keep finding an excuse to keep reading rather than getting on with life. And yes, I knew how this was going to end but that didn't affect my enjoyment of the book. And Mitchell left us with a few loose ends to ensure a book three.
My thanks to netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of this book.
January 30, 2019
This is the 2nd book in the DI Amy Winter series by author Caroline Mitchell. I have to say I really like reading this authors books and this is another exceptional addition to her growing list of books. I will admit to having an added reason for liking this series in that I was thrilled to have my name used for one of Amy's team, DC Gary Wilkes. Who knows I might have a leading role in one of books in the future.
In this second book four-year-old Ellen is snatched by a stranger leaving her mother Nicole distraught. Later Nicole receives four identical phials with a threatening note that one of the phials is poisoned and if she drinks one, the kidnapper will notify the police of her daughters whereabouts. The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov who was supposedly killed in a fire years ago.
DI Amy Winter recently discovered that she is the daughter of a serial killer and her past childhood trauma only makes her more determined to bring Ellen home. When another child is taken Amy faces a race against time to locate the kidnapped children before they come to any harm.
Caroline Mitchell writes great thrillers that are fast paced, well thought out and obviously great characters. Do yourself a favour if you haven't already read any of her books start now I am pretty sure you won't be disappointed.
I would like to thank Net Galley and the author Caroline Mitchell for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
In this second book four-year-old Ellen is snatched by a stranger leaving her mother Nicole distraught. Later Nicole receives four identical phials with a threatening note that one of the phials is poisoned and if she drinks one, the kidnapper will notify the police of her daughters whereabouts. The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov who was supposedly killed in a fire years ago.
DI Amy Winter recently discovered that she is the daughter of a serial killer and her past childhood trauma only makes her more determined to bring Ellen home. When another child is taken Amy faces a race against time to locate the kidnapped children before they come to any harm.
Caroline Mitchell writes great thrillers that are fast paced, well thought out and obviously great characters. Do yourself a favour if you haven't already read any of her books start now I am pretty sure you won't be disappointed.
I would like to thank Net Galley and the author Caroline Mitchell for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2024
Audiobook narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden 9h 43 minutes 41 seconds
Hot damn! This was a wickedly fantastic listen that made it difficult to put down. So I didn't! Yes, I plowed through it this Saturday, only taking breaks for meals and a shower. The sequel to Truth and Lies was one of my eagerly anticipated books and it did not disappoint.
DI Amy Winter and her team are in a mad scramble to find a missing child from a very dangerous man. Add to the mix is Amy's personal life which is about to become known to all. Very important to read Book 1 so that you don't feel you've missed something.
Goodreads review published 10/08/19
Hot damn! This was a wickedly fantastic listen that made it difficult to put down. So I didn't! Yes, I plowed through it this Saturday, only taking breaks for meals and a shower. The sequel to Truth and Lies was one of my eagerly anticipated books and it did not disappoint.
DI Amy Winter and her team are in a mad scramble to find a missing child from a very dangerous man. Add to the mix is Amy's personal life which is about to become known to all. Very important to read Book 1 so that you don't feel you've missed something.
Goodreads review published 10/08/19
March 20, 2019
Caroline Mitchell burst onto the detective/suspense scene with her debut thriller, Truth and Lies. Now she is back with the second installment in this gripping series with The Secret Child. While I am nearly always leery of second books, this one is just as good as the first and had me glued to its pages from the very first page!
DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the shocking revelations that she uncovered in the first book, Truth and Lies, all of which are explained fully in this one but I won’t reveal them here. With no time to fully process what is now her explosive, in-the-headlines life, she is thrust into a kidnapping/murder/arson case when four-year-old Ellen is snatched from her bed and the home is set on fire and her mother, subsequently is murdered. The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov, a child prodigy of Ellen’s father who came from Russia to participate in a special study for children just like Luka. The problem is that Luka is supposed to be dead, the victim of a tragic fire many years before. When a second child is taken, DI Winter is forced to call upon all of her resources in order to solve this very sordid, convoluted case which will bring more personal harm to herself with possible repercussions for her entire team.
I love police/detective stories. They are, by far, my favorite genre even above thrillers/suspense. For Mitchell to keep me intrigued, surprised, even gasping out loud at certain points, is a testament to her exceptional writing abilities. There is, quite literally, so much going on with the story. Every single character, every member on Winter’s team, is an important player. Each person who worked at the “school” where Luka lived, every victim and their family, everyone who comes in contact with Winter becomes a fully developed character. In most books, that’s a downfall as too much information has to be processed. Mitchell, however, seamlessly weaves each of these characters together, blends their stories into one just as you might do so in your own life. There is no gap, no hole, just a steady flow in the narrative with one surprise and twist and terrifying turn after another. It is utterly brilliant.
The Secret Child can, absolutely, be read as a stand-alone. There is enough back story so that you never will wonder what is happening or who is who. However, both of Mitchell’s books are outstanding works and I highly encourage you to read Truth and Lies as well as The Secret Child. I will now be waiting anxiously for Mitchell’s next incredible book in this series!
DI Amy Winter is still reeling from the shocking revelations that she uncovered in the first book, Truth and Lies, all of which are explained fully in this one but I won’t reveal them here. With no time to fully process what is now her explosive, in-the-headlines life, she is thrust into a kidnapping/murder/arson case when four-year-old Ellen is snatched from her bed and the home is set on fire and her mother, subsequently is murdered. The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov, a child prodigy of Ellen’s father who came from Russia to participate in a special study for children just like Luka. The problem is that Luka is supposed to be dead, the victim of a tragic fire many years before. When a second child is taken, DI Winter is forced to call upon all of her resources in order to solve this very sordid, convoluted case which will bring more personal harm to herself with possible repercussions for her entire team.
I love police/detective stories. They are, by far, my favorite genre even above thrillers/suspense. For Mitchell to keep me intrigued, surprised, even gasping out loud at certain points, is a testament to her exceptional writing abilities. There is, quite literally, so much going on with the story. Every single character, every member on Winter’s team, is an important player. Each person who worked at the “school” where Luka lived, every victim and their family, everyone who comes in contact with Winter becomes a fully developed character. In most books, that’s a downfall as too much information has to be processed. Mitchell, however, seamlessly weaves each of these characters together, blends their stories into one just as you might do so in your own life. There is no gap, no hole, just a steady flow in the narrative with one surprise and twist and terrifying turn after another. It is utterly brilliant.
The Secret Child can, absolutely, be read as a stand-alone. There is enough back story so that you never will wonder what is happening or who is who. However, both of Mitchell’s books are outstanding works and I highly encourage you to read Truth and Lies as well as The Secret Child. I will now be waiting anxiously for Mitchell’s next incredible book in this series!
September 12, 2020
The follow-up to the thrilling & chilling book one, Truth and Lies, in the addictive DI Amy Winter series!
The fire he’d lit had caused a diversion, sending the babysitter spiralling into panic downstairs. Nobody saw him slip out the side door with the child in his arms. It wouldn’t stop there. He was on a mission. Soon more children would be silently taken from their homes. Thoughts of justice finally being served spurred him onwards and he deposited the child in the back seat of the rented car. ‘Where are we going?’ Ellen said as he strapped her in. ‘On an adventure. Now be quiet. I need to concentrate.’ He could not afford for his migraine to return. When pain closed in, sanity took a back seat and his actions were driven by a stronger force. The scream of sirens cut through the night, hastening his movements as he jumped into the driver’s seat. Starting the car, he floored the accelerator and gravel rattled against the undercarriage as he sped away.
********
The Secret Child by Caroline Mitchell is a suspence thrilling series at it's finest, full of twists and shocking events, this second installation definitely lived up to the first one! I recommend reading the books in order as there is much that happens in book one that it crucial to the storyline in the second.
Both books in this series made my nerves feel like a high tension power lines on the verge of snapping! I've recently been reading some series back to back but I think this one is my favorite this year! I received this book from NetGalley which introduced me to the talented Caroline Mitchell and prompted me to get my first taste of her books in Truth and Lies! I have a new favorite author and I'm happy I have others on my shelves just waiting to be read!
I love DI Amy Winter and I can't wait to read book three as there is a brilliant cliff hanger leading up to the next story!
Don't miss out on this addictive DI Amy Winter series!
With thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer publishing, and Caroline Mitchell for this advanced digital copy for me to read and review.
The fire he’d lit had caused a diversion, sending the babysitter spiralling into panic downstairs. Nobody saw him slip out the side door with the child in his arms. It wouldn’t stop there. He was on a mission. Soon more children would be silently taken from their homes. Thoughts of justice finally being served spurred him onwards and he deposited the child in the back seat of the rented car. ‘Where are we going?’ Ellen said as he strapped her in. ‘On an adventure. Now be quiet. I need to concentrate.’ He could not afford for his migraine to return. When pain closed in, sanity took a back seat and his actions were driven by a stronger force. The scream of sirens cut through the night, hastening his movements as he jumped into the driver’s seat. Starting the car, he floored the accelerator and gravel rattled against the undercarriage as he sped away.
********
The Secret Child by Caroline Mitchell is a suspence thrilling series at it's finest, full of twists and shocking events, this second installation definitely lived up to the first one! I recommend reading the books in order as there is much that happens in book one that it crucial to the storyline in the second.
Both books in this series made my nerves feel like a high tension power lines on the verge of snapping! I've recently been reading some series back to back but I think this one is my favorite this year! I received this book from NetGalley which introduced me to the talented Caroline Mitchell and prompted me to get my first taste of her books in Truth and Lies! I have a new favorite author and I'm happy I have others on my shelves just waiting to be read!
I love DI Amy Winter and I can't wait to read book three as there is a brilliant cliff hanger leading up to the next story!
Don't miss out on this addictive DI Amy Winter series!
With thanks to NetGalley, Thomas and Mercer publishing, and Caroline Mitchell for this advanced digital copy for me to read and review.
December 3, 2019
3.5 stars.
It was great to get back into DI Amy Winter’s life! I love her character and immediately reconnected with her in this book. She is a strong yet vulnerable character whose take charge personality had me rooting for her team to solve their case.
The main case itself was interesting but lacked the tension and build up I felt in the first book in the series. I was invested, but not gripped by the story. Having Amy face her serial killer mother in jail was a brilliant addition to the novel that I wish would have had a stronger focus throughout.
Overall, this was an entertaining and enjoyable book. I love Amy’s character and look forward to what may come next. This was a Traveling Sister read with Brenda.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
It was great to get back into DI Amy Winter’s life! I love her character and immediately reconnected with her in this book. She is a strong yet vulnerable character whose take charge personality had me rooting for her team to solve their case.
The main case itself was interesting but lacked the tension and build up I felt in the first book in the series. I was invested, but not gripped by the story. Having Amy face her serial killer mother in jail was a brilliant addition to the novel that I wish would have had a stronger focus throughout.
Overall, this was an entertaining and enjoyable book. I love Amy’s character and look forward to what may come next. This was a Traveling Sister read with Brenda.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
March 9, 2019
Recently, DI Amy Winter has had a very bad, awful, no good time of it. Her beloved father has died. Amy then found he was her adoptive dad, and that she was the child of Britain’s most notorious serial killers; Jack and Lillian Grimes, the Beasts of Brentwood. To add to her joy, Amy's fiance cheated on her the day before the wedding. He then aids Lillian in further tearing her life apart. To add to the fun, some planted evidence in the Beasts case may help free Lillian. Her birth family being rediscovered, with one exception, is another waking nightmare.
In The Secret Child Amy can only feel life is looking up when Dr Hugh and Nicole Curtis’s four year old child, Ellen, is kidnapped. This is what Amy does. She finds people, she handles high profile murders. She has always thought she had an affinity for the darkness of others. Now she knows why and she decides to fully embrace her former self, four year old Poppy Grimes, to keep others from suffering.
The story is told in alternating timelines, the recent story of the kidnapping, then the older story of the thought-to-be dead kidnapper, Luka Volkov losing of his soul, as a victim of Dr Curtis and others.
A second child, Toby, is taken. Wheelchair bound Toby is the son of a former employee of Dr Curtis at his facility where Luka spent time as a child.
Concerning the second child, a star is being deducted because there is a huge information gap. Amy suddenly has knowledge of Toby's kidnapping with no clue to the reader of how she gained this knowledge. A child being taken would garner a huge amount of police attention, but nothing is said about this. Just suddenly Amy asks to speak to Toby in a phone call from the kidnapper. I reread this section of the book several times, and consulted with another reviewer. Nope, no explanation.
Mitchell develops especially inventive plot lines, dealing with grotesqueries we would rather not confront. Using a four year old child as bait to commit psycho sexual murders? Check. Giving parents the choice of drinking poison to save their child? Check. Oh yeah, Mitchell can do it all.
The Secret Child is all about the story, not so much the characters, although the villains are terrific. Amy is a prickly pear, pushing friends away; she might pay for this in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review
In The Secret Child Amy can only feel life is looking up when Dr Hugh and Nicole Curtis’s four year old child, Ellen, is kidnapped. This is what Amy does. She finds people, she handles high profile murders. She has always thought she had an affinity for the darkness of others. Now she knows why and she decides to fully embrace her former self, four year old Poppy Grimes, to keep others from suffering.
The story is told in alternating timelines, the recent story of the kidnapping, then the older story of the thought-to-be dead kidnapper, Luka Volkov losing of his soul, as a victim of Dr Curtis and others.
A second child, Toby, is taken. Wheelchair bound Toby is the son of a former employee of Dr Curtis at his facility where Luka spent time as a child.
Concerning the second child, a star is being deducted because there is a huge information gap. Amy suddenly has knowledge of Toby's kidnapping with no clue to the reader of how she gained this knowledge. A child being taken would garner a huge amount of police attention, but nothing is said about this. Just suddenly Amy asks to speak to Toby in a phone call from the kidnapper. I reread this section of the book several times, and consulted with another reviewer. Nope, no explanation.
Mitchell develops especially inventive plot lines, dealing with grotesqueries we would rather not confront. Using a four year old child as bait to commit psycho sexual murders? Check. Giving parents the choice of drinking poison to save their child? Check. Oh yeah, Mitchell can do it all.
The Secret Child is all about the story, not so much the characters, although the villains are terrific. Amy is a prickly pear, pushing friends away; she might pay for this in the next book.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review
July 4, 2019
Disappointed
After the brilliant first book, I was looking forward to reading the sequel. But it just was nowhere near as good as the first book.
I just didn't really relate to the characters this time. I felt as if I could walk away at any time.
I will probably try again with another of her books as hopefully this was a blip.
After the brilliant first book, I was looking forward to reading the sequel. But it just was nowhere near as good as the first book.
I just didn't really relate to the characters this time. I felt as if I could walk away at any time.
I will probably try again with another of her books as hopefully this was a blip.
March 1, 2019
I am a big fan of Caroline Mitchell books, especially the police procedurals. DI Amy Winter is such a complex character and one that I truly can't get enough of. I am really looking forward to seeing where she goes in the next books in this brilliant series. I did not want to put this book down, completely sucked into the story.
Amy is still trying to come to terms with the bombshell revelations from the first book. She is trying to keep it a secret from her colleges and the public but it has changed the way that she sees the world. She is single again and throws herself into her work. The case is is time is challenging, 2 kids have been taken and the kidnapper will only talk to Amy. As the investigation continues it seems that the parents are hiding deep dark secrets from their past. The book jumps from the present to the past as we learn about these secrets and find out who would want to hurt these families.
If you haven't read any of these books then I strongly suggest that you grab them now. Thanks to Amazon UK Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Amy is still trying to come to terms with the bombshell revelations from the first book. She is trying to keep it a secret from her colleges and the public but it has changed the way that she sees the world. She is single again and throws herself into her work. The case is is time is challenging, 2 kids have been taken and the kidnapper will only talk to Amy. As the investigation continues it seems that the parents are hiding deep dark secrets from their past. The book jumps from the present to the past as we learn about these secrets and find out who would want to hurt these families.
If you haven't read any of these books then I strongly suggest that you grab them now. Thanks to Amazon UK Publishing and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
February 10, 2019
Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer for this arc.
I loved Truth and Lies -- the first on this series -- and was prepared for a minor letdown reading The Secret Child.
There was NO letdown. This was just as twisty and fast paced as the first DI Amy Winter story, but this time there were a lot of familiar characters along for the ride. Plus some new evil ones as well and a whole host of victims. While there were some convenient coincidences in the story, it didn't detract my reading enjoyment.
I loved Truth and Lies -- the first on this series -- and was prepared for a minor letdown reading The Secret Child.
There was NO letdown. This was just as twisty and fast paced as the first DI Amy Winter story, but this time there were a lot of familiar characters along for the ride. Plus some new evil ones as well and a whole host of victims. While there were some convenient coincidences in the story, it didn't detract my reading enjoyment.
December 12, 2019
3.5 stars
I really enjoyed Truth and Lies the first book in the DI Amy Winter series and I was fascinated with the storyline here with our main character DI Amy's background. The baggage she carries is different from most characters with secrets from the past. Lilly was one fascinating character, and I was excited to see more of that dynamics here in The Secret Child. The story here in this one focuses more on the crime and it's a disturbing one but didn't really take off for me. It starts off as a cat and mouse game and I love a good one but then turned more into a wild goose chase. I also wanted more with Amy and Lilly and was disappointed I didn't see the dynamics between them as I did in the first one.
I love Amy and she is an interesting character and I liked her drive, compassion and strength she has for the victims here in the story. When her pasts catches up to her I loved how her drive kept her focused on what she needed too. The dynamics between her and her team are interesting and I enjoyed that.
Overall I enjoyed this one and look forward to future books in this series
I shared this reading experience with my reading sister Lindsay!
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley.
I really enjoyed Truth and Lies the first book in the DI Amy Winter series and I was fascinated with the storyline here with our main character DI Amy's background. The baggage she carries is different from most characters with secrets from the past. Lilly was one fascinating character, and I was excited to see more of that dynamics here in The Secret Child. The story here in this one focuses more on the crime and it's a disturbing one but didn't really take off for me. It starts off as a cat and mouse game and I love a good one but then turned more into a wild goose chase. I also wanted more with Amy and Lilly and was disappointed I didn't see the dynamics between them as I did in the first one.
I love Amy and she is an interesting character and I liked her drive, compassion and strength she has for the victims here in the story. When her pasts catches up to her I loved how her drive kept her focused on what she needed too. The dynamics between her and her team are interesting and I enjoyed that.
Overall I enjoyed this one and look forward to future books in this series
I shared this reading experience with my reading sister Lindsay!
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley.
June 3, 2019
Book two of this series loved the first book slightly better a slow start, But got better as it goes along.amy adopted but has a past she wants to forget but shes a cop and needs information from someone she wants to forget, kidnapping kids and shes on the case,with another story of a boy brought to this country and being used as an experiment promises of a new life from the poverty of Russia,how is he involved great story love caroline Mitchell's work looking forward to the next book.
June 7, 2019
I received this kindle e-book through a Goodreads Giveaway. While this is the second book in the series, I did not have trouble getting into the book. It is well written with lots of twists and turns. A few of the subjects tackled include serial killers, kidnapping, childhood trauma, medical experimentation, infidelity, police efforts to solve the crime(s), and how news agencies sometimes handle tips and information.
This book had me hooked early and kept me riveted for the duration. This is the first book that I have read by Caroline Mitchell, but it won't be the last.
This book had me hooked early and kept me riveted for the duration. This is the first book that I have read by Caroline Mitchell, but it won't be the last.
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May 24, 2021
May 22, 2021 – Finished Reading
I have decided to DNF this for the time being and shelve it 'DNF - Try Again'.
32.0% "The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter, #2) - by Caroline Mitchell
Audiobook - 09:35 Hours - Narrator: Elizabeth Knowelden
Listened to: 03:05 Hours - Balance: 06:30 Hours
From my Reading Activity:
"One third of the way into this book and I am struggling to continue. This is surprising because I loved Amy Winter #1. Plus, I am not enjoying Elizabeth Knowelden's narration. I'm not sure how to describe it, but "breathy" and "precious" come to mind."
I have decided to DNF this for the time being and shelve it 'DNF - Try Again'.
32.0% "The Secret Child (DI Amy Winter, #2) - by Caroline Mitchell
Audiobook - 09:35 Hours - Narrator: Elizabeth Knowelden
Listened to: 03:05 Hours - Balance: 06:30 Hours
From my Reading Activity:
"One third of the way into this book and I am struggling to continue. This is surprising because I loved Amy Winter #1. Plus, I am not enjoying Elizabeth Knowelden's narration. I'm not sure how to describe it, but "breathy" and "precious" come to mind."
April 15, 2019
DI Amy Winter is back with a mystery crime to solve. This time someone kidnaps the kids and this someone has dark past which is linked to the kids’ parents. Very good crime suspense/thriller, fast paste page turner without any boring conversations and scenes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2019
The Secret child by Caroline Mitchell was a thriller that kept me hooked from the first page. I enjoyed the first book in this series and was eagerly awaiting this sequel and it did not disappoint.
DI Amy Winters is in a race agents time to find a missing four year old girl.
The kidnapper is in contact with her but is playing a deadly game.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
DI Amy Winters is in a race agents time to find a missing four year old girl.
The kidnapper is in contact with her but is playing a deadly game.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 18, 2019
The Secret Child by Caroline Mitchell is the second in the DI Amy Winter mystery series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Thomas & Mercer, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Warning – May contain spoilers from previous books)
DI Amy Winters is a strong, rather competitive, independent woman, responsible for running a team to handle high profile cases. Her team includes DS Paddy Byrne, DC Molly Baxter and DC Steve Moss. Although Amy was fostered by wonderful people, she has recently learned that her biological parents are serial killers, and she has a new family. This is not common knowledge, and she wants it kept that way...
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Four-year-old girl Ellen Curtis is missing, taken from her bedroom, and her parents are sure they know the identity of the killer. The problem – he died in a fire many years ago.
When a second child is taken, it becomes apparent that the kidnapper is targeting Ellen’s father and his work at a facility many years ago. The kidnapper starts playing a game with Amy, and she has no choice but to play along.
Meanwhile, Amy can’t seem to get away from her biological mother, who, even from a jail cell interferes with her daughter’s life. Adam Rossi, Amy’s ex-boyfriend is a journalist, and still in love with her. So when convicted murderer Lillian Grimes invites him to come see her in prison, mentioning a connection to Amy, he is curious. But he wouldn’t do anything that may hurt Amy, would he?
Amy’s frustration is starting to show.
My Opinions:
I am really enjoying this new series. The author continues to add depth to all her characters, including her villains. I like how Amy continues to struggle with her identity, but stays focused on her current case. As well, she takes time to look after her team members. The author created a very likable protagonist.
Caroline Mitchell overlapped the topic of child endangerment across the kidnapped children, the kidnapper and Amy. The story is told from their different perspectives. They all suffered, and I was left feeling sorry for each of them.
Although I figured out a great deal of the plot and the end twist beforehand, this fast-paced thriller had me from the start. Caroline Mitchell is a smooth writer, and her books are easy to read.
Definitely recommend this. The author left me with hints of things to come…I can’t wait.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
December 28, 2019
Well, where to start with this book. It totally had everything. If I had a checklist of things I wanted in a book then this one had it all. I absolutely loved the first book in the series but for me this one found another gear. It had the same kickass detective, the warped mind games from her serial killer mother a tense and intricate plot but throw in kids and experiments and I’m hooked. I was forced to put this book down when visitors came and I don’t mind saying I couldn’t wait for them to leave. I think this has to be my favourite book by this author and I’ve read them all. Needless to say I highly recommend this book and I’ve already pre-ordered the next.
June 27, 2020
Caroline Mitchell has really outdone herself with this second book of the Amy Winter series. I did find the subject matter hard to read - illegal experimentation on young children - but the author crafts a riveting, anxiety inducing read that has you fervently praying for a nasty ending for the evil doers. A wonderful two plot story that is seamlessly woven together and left my heart thumping as to what the final outcome would be. Thoroughly recommended read.
September 8, 2024
Another really solid book in this series! I’m really enjoying the character development and interesting and gritty storylines! The time it’s taken me to read the first two of these books is absolutely not related to how brilliant these books are!
March 12, 2023
Ever since I read Truth And Lies (the first book in the DI Amy Winter series), I’ve been eagerly waiting for The Secret Child to be published, and freaking hell it was definitely worth the wait. Amy’s biological parents are notorious serial killers, not the best background for a Detective I must admit! But that’s what makes this series refreshingly original and highly compelling. Before you ask “Yes” The Secret Child could be read as a stand-alone, but would I recommend it? No, personally I think you need to read the books in order, Amy has such a fascinating and original backstory it would be a shame if you didn’t follow her disturbing tale from the beginning.
Amy is the Detective leading the case of the kidnapping of four-year-old girl Ellen, taken from her home in the middle of the night. Days later Ellen’s mother receives a parcel, along with a note, nothing strange about that you may think but the person who sent the parcel has been dead for years! Told across two timelines the author reveals a sorry tale, but my god it made for a nail-biting, heart thumping read. Although I would never condone kidnapping, I couldn’t help but feel empathy for a character whose own tortured childhood shaped the adult they become.
This book is as much about the characters as it is about the crimes committed, the author has created some fabulous characters, Amy, the kidnapper and her serial killer mother all added to my overall enjoyment of this read. Even from behind prison bars Amy’s evil mother Lillian Grimes continues to manipulate Amy and those around her, she’s one twisted mother ****** that’s for sure, and yet I couldn’t help being fascinated and disgusted in equal measures by her character, what makes a mother turn into a feared killer? How can she possibly consider herself to be a victim? Amy has her flaws like many a fictional Detective, but it’s hardly surprising when you consider who her parents are! The author gives an in-depth insight into Amy character, as she reveals more details of Amy’s very disturbing past, you can’t help but feel her pain and confusion, her constant dissecting of her personality looking for any psychopathic traits she may have inherited from her parents.
There is so much I loved about this book, the characters, the plot which draws on real events making it even more shocking, the shifting between past and present. Add to the fact The Secret Child is one of those reads that reels you in with a promising prologue and keeps you in its grips with an intense and captivating read, it’s definitely a series I would recommend to crime thriller lovers. I’m eager to see where Caroline Mitchell’s twisted imagination takes her next, and that’s the beauty of her writing no two books are the same, so roll on the next book which I will read come hell or high water.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
Amy is the Detective leading the case of the kidnapping of four-year-old girl Ellen, taken from her home in the middle of the night. Days later Ellen’s mother receives a parcel, along with a note, nothing strange about that you may think but the person who sent the parcel has been dead for years! Told across two timelines the author reveals a sorry tale, but my god it made for a nail-biting, heart thumping read. Although I would never condone kidnapping, I couldn’t help but feel empathy for a character whose own tortured childhood shaped the adult they become.
This book is as much about the characters as it is about the crimes committed, the author has created some fabulous characters, Amy, the kidnapper and her serial killer mother all added to my overall enjoyment of this read. Even from behind prison bars Amy’s evil mother Lillian Grimes continues to manipulate Amy and those around her, she’s one twisted mother ****** that’s for sure, and yet I couldn’t help being fascinated and disgusted in equal measures by her character, what makes a mother turn into a feared killer? How can she possibly consider herself to be a victim? Amy has her flaws like many a fictional Detective, but it’s hardly surprising when you consider who her parents are! The author gives an in-depth insight into Amy character, as she reveals more details of Amy’s very disturbing past, you can’t help but feel her pain and confusion, her constant dissecting of her personality looking for any psychopathic traits she may have inherited from her parents.
There is so much I loved about this book, the characters, the plot which draws on real events making it even more shocking, the shifting between past and present. Add to the fact The Secret Child is one of those reads that reels you in with a promising prologue and keeps you in its grips with an intense and captivating read, it’s definitely a series I would recommend to crime thriller lovers. I’m eager to see where Caroline Mitchell’s twisted imagination takes her next, and that’s the beauty of her writing no two books are the same, so roll on the next book which I will read come hell or high water.
All my reviews can be found at http://thebookreviewcafe.com
March 23, 2025
3,5 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
April 15, 2019
DI Amy Winters is the child of serial killers but after being adopted into a loving home she's now a detective inspector heading a team of police on her second big case. Someone had kidnapped a child. The only problem is the kidnapper is supposed to be dead.
This book picked up where the last seemed to leave off. Amy's mother is still appealing her murder convictions, trying to mess with Amy's head and interfere in her life. The most important thing to Amy is finding the missing child and solving her latest case.
The kidnapping case is an interesting one. The backstory leading up to the present day kidnapping was a page turner by itself. The continuation of Amy's dramatic life will keep me reading this series. The way her mind works and the wrongs she feels she wants to right knowing the evil her birth parents caused.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy to honestly review.
This book picked up where the last seemed to leave off. Amy's mother is still appealing her murder convictions, trying to mess with Amy's head and interfere in her life. The most important thing to Amy is finding the missing child and solving her latest case.
The kidnapping case is an interesting one. The backstory leading up to the present day kidnapping was a page turner by itself. The continuation of Amy's dramatic life will keep me reading this series. The way her mind works and the wrongs she feels she wants to right knowing the evil her birth parents caused.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy to honestly review.
March 4, 2019
Finished reading: March 3rd 2019
"We are all justified by our wants and needs. Who's to say my reasons aren't just as valid as yours?"
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
August 19, 2020
THE SECRET CHILD is the second book in a new series by bestselling author Caroline Mitchell, a police procedural, featuring DI Amy Winter, the daughter of a serial killer.
The books in the DI Amy Winter Series include:
Truth and Lies (Book 1)
The Secret Child (Book 2)
Left For Dead (Book 3)
DI Amy Winter knows evil. She’s lived through it.
In the second novel of the series, DI Amy Winter is recovering from the revelations that she discovered in the first book, Truth and Lies. As everything is explained fully in this novel, it can be read as a standalone, but I recommend that you take advantage and read the novels in sequence to get a full appreciation of the storyline.
Now DI Amy Winter is assigned a case involving a kidnapping, murder and arson case when four-year-old Ellen is snatched from her bed and the home is set on fire and her mother, Nicole, subsequently is murdered. The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov, a child prodigy of Ellen’s father who came from Russia to participate in a special study for children just like Luka.
But Luka is supposed to be dead, the victim of a tragic fire many years before. When a second child is taken, DI Winter is forced to call upon all of her resources in order to solve this complex case.
A race against time…but to rescue the children, will Amy resort to get help from the one person from her past that caused her childhood trauma?
Another fast-paced thriller that is sure to please. On to book three.
The books in the DI Amy Winter Series include:
Truth and Lies (Book 1)
The Secret Child (Book 2)
Left For Dead (Book 3)
DI Amy Winter knows evil. She’s lived through it.
In the second novel of the series, DI Amy Winter is recovering from the revelations that she discovered in the first book, Truth and Lies. As everything is explained fully in this novel, it can be read as a standalone, but I recommend that you take advantage and read the novels in sequence to get a full appreciation of the storyline.
Now DI Amy Winter is assigned a case involving a kidnapping, murder and arson case when four-year-old Ellen is snatched from her bed and the home is set on fire and her mother, Nicole, subsequently is murdered. The kidnapper claims to be Luka Volkov, a child prodigy of Ellen’s father who came from Russia to participate in a special study for children just like Luka.
But Luka is supposed to be dead, the victim of a tragic fire many years before. When a second child is taken, DI Winter is forced to call upon all of her resources in order to solve this complex case.
A race against time…but to rescue the children, will Amy resort to get help from the one person from her past that caused her childhood trauma?
Another fast-paced thriller that is sure to please. On to book three.
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