SECRETS OF THE DEAD by Carol Wyer, a serial killer crime thriller is the second book in the Detective Robyn Carter series. Having really enjoyed the debut, Little Girl Lost, I was very anxious to read the second book in the series. WOW…another winner, and I liked it more than the first novel. These books in the series keep getting better!

“Three murders. Three innocent victims. What secrets did they share with their killer?”

Miles Ashbrook, the hotel manager was found burnt and charred early in the morning in the hotel sauna of a luxury spa at Bromley Hall. It appears he had a heart attack in the sauna. The door to the sauna wasn’t locked with little cause for suspicion. CCTV cameras show him entering the sauna at 11:00P.M. Alone and no one shows in the camera all night. The cleaner found him early in the morning. Awaiting autopsy report…alcohol in system?

“When a young mother is found drowned in the bath, clutching a receipt saying ‘all debts paid’, Detective Robyn Carter knows it’s just the beginning of a harrowing case. She recognizes the signs of a serial killer, and when a second victim with a receipt is found, her worst fears are confirmed.”
Then more bodies start showing up…with invoices attacked to the victims. Is there a serial killer stalking all these victims? And is there a connection between the victims?

With the local press buzzing around, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. The press have named the killer as the “Lichfield Leopard” because of his speed in disappearing and his brutality. Can Robyn stop the most twisted killer of her career before it’s too late? Her team hasn’t been able to come up with a link between the two bodies.

The killer was always one step ahead of them and they had no idea who he was!

But then Robyn discovers an unsettling clue she thinks could unlock the case.

Robyn is a strong female protagonist, dedicated to her job and team. She has been through some tough times but bounces back and moves on with her life.

I liked Robyn’s quote to her stepdaughter:

“Many of life’s problems can be solved if you treat them like a puzzle. You just have to gather the pieces and eventually, through juggling them about, you’ll work out the answer.”

This novel will hook you from the first page till the last. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Many thanks to Carol Wyer, Bookouture (My favourite Publisher) and NetGalley, for the ARC.

Another page turning thriller from Carol Wyer and the second book featuring Robyn Carter. A series of seeming unrelated murders are carefully brought together and a delusional killer is finally caught. A cast of interesting characters all linked to a seemingly accidental death at an expensive spa. Well written and kept my interest until the end.

Note: This book was received from the publisher in return for an honest review

Secrets of the Dead is the second book in the DI Robyn Carter series by Carol Wyer taking place after Little Girl Lost, Secrets of the Dead begins with a body discovered in the sauna of an upmarket country hotel, assigned to DI Shearer, Robyn finds herself stepping on his toes when an acquaintance from her gym is convinced the conclusion of suicide Shearer has arrived at is wrong.

Soon Robyn catches a case of her own when a body is found in a bar, complete with an invoice for two hundred and fifty thousand, stating the debt has now been paid in full, a second body is soon found and thanks to the press the Lichfield Leopard is born.

Little Girl Lost was one of the first books I received from NetGalley and reviewed here on my blog, I absolutely loved it, so when I saw the follow up Secrets of the Dead appear on NetGalley I very excitedly clicked request and was very pleased to receive my approval email. I had an exam that week so I decided that Secrets of the Dead would be my reward for studying and completing my exam. I was certainly not disappointed!

Once again Carol has created a wonderful plot, a story of twists and turns that gives the reader just enough clues to make them think they know what’s happening before throwing in a twist to leave them second guessing themselves. The plot is well paced, and fantastically written, I especially enjoyed the chapters written from the killer’s point of view and trying to guess if I’d already seen the character from Robyn’s perspective.

Would I Recommend?

Yes! For the second time Carol has created a fabulous story, it could easily be read as a standalone but if you’ve not yet read Little Girl Lost you’re missing out! Go pick it up! This series is one of the best new series of the year! I’m already counting down to book three!

Another heart racing thriller from Carol Wyer featuring DI Robyn Carter. Carter is a great character, strong and resilient yet enough self doubt to make her human. Carter and her team race to find the identity of a serial killer and to protect his remaining 'could be' victims. Fast paced with great plotting and believable characters.

First book that I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the mystery, and it had a great ending

Detective Robyn Carter is back. The unpopular manager at a hotel/spa has been found dead in a sauna - it seems the temperature was too high and he died of a heart attack. Robyn isn't convinced that it's an accident as the victim knew he had a heart condition which would be exacerbated by high temperature. Then the manager of a pub is killed and an invoice for £250,000 is left on his body, Soon another two bodies are discovered with the same invoices on them and Robyn and her team find that the hotel/spa is the connection. Great story which kept me gripped from the beginning. Enjoyed the first book in this series too and hope there will be more to come.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Carol Wyer for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A brilliant, well written thriller which is unputdownable. Non stop action from start to finish.

I love Robyn as a character, an unstoppable whirlwind who is doggedly determined to solve every case. Perfect murder detective material.

Little Girl Lost was such a good start to this series and this book lived up to that one. The character of DI Carter is such that you root for her. The story was an enjoyable roller coaster ride.

Secrets of the Dead is the second installment of the DI Robyn Carter series. I haven’t read the first book, Little Girl Lost, but I didn’t feel it diminished my ability to enjoy this story. And oh my… did I ever enjoy this story!

Three murders. Three innocent victims. What secrets did they share with their killer?

DI Robyn Carter is on the hunt for a killer. Three people are dead, their murders obviously connected—but how? What did they have in common, apart from a cryptic note found on their bodies? DI Carter is determined to find out, hopefully before anyone else turns up dead.

This story has a fairly large cast of characters, but they are all, in their way, crucial to the story. I’m in awe of how Wyer presents the reader with multiple threads and delicately weaves them all together for a mind-blowing tale overflowing with thrills and chills. I can’t say much about the particulars of the story, other than to note it is a fast-paced story with plenty of action that kept me reading into the wee hours of the night.

I’m looking forward to reading more about DI Robyn Carter in the future, and will be keeping my eye out for news about the next book in the series. In the meantime, I’ll look for a way to work the first book into my reading schedule!

If you love reading a good crime thriller, I highly recommend giving Secrets of the Dead a read. You won’t be sorry!

Little Girl Lost was Carol Wyer’s first attempt at writing in another genre, if I can even call it that. I didn’t know this so when I read Little Girl Lost I actually thought she’d been a thriller writer for ages, I really was so blown away with her debut thriller. I’ve taken a big liking to DI Carter, her team and the complex case she tackled then and I’m thrilled to report that the sequel keeps up the same high standards as her first novel. I am one very satisfied reader for the second time.

The first strangeness ripples through the pages when a manager of the Bronwin Hall spa hotel is found in a sauna, burnt to a crisp. Did he die of a heart attack as reported by the police, or not? A family friend is convinced he wouldn’t go into a sauna of his own volition and DI Carter agrees when she’s heard all of her arguments. She sends her cousin Ross, a private investigator, to investigate further. A few days later, a bar owner is found with a bizarre note on him and her attention is focused on solving this case. She discovers the smallest detail about the bar owner that could tie the two victims together though, even if they don’t seem to have anything other in common; there was no note on the first victim after all and the body of the manager showed no wounds at all. What’s more, he was caught on camera going into the sauna.

I’m not going to say any more than that Carol Wyer has the amazing capacity to think up yet another excellent plotline that’s keeping the reader on its toes again. She’s great at launching a thread, then leaving it to rest for a bit, keeping the reader more than occupied with something that is very attention-grabbing, only to get back to it later on, with the most perfect timing. I loved the whole idea of the calling card left behind by the killer, which was a great way to speculate about who was next and how many there were still to come. I also enjoyed the fact that I really got to know the victims, even if it crushed me every time one of them was killed off. That brief personal connection is what really makes it all the more engaging. There was one person in particular, who I cared and sympathised with right from the start and while his plotline kept returning, I realised there was a big chance he could be next 😉 which made me a bit sad already.

All along the investigation the reader is rewarded with snippets of the killer’s past. Even though his youth was one of bullying and torture, I never sympathised with him at any given time. I found a clue in his past when he relays certain events that happened to him and figured out who DI Carter was after but I’m sure many readers will still be surprised.

The killer’s mind in this novel is quite simple and he’s just a disturbed and weird individual, so even though I did really liked this one I still like the first novel just that eetsy little bit more.

This is the second in the DI Robyn Carter series but it's the first one for me, I will certainly go back and read the first book although this book did work well as a stand alone. It has a good plot is easy to follow and not too many characters.

I have read the first book in this series and enjoyed it. The second book builds on the characters and their back stories.
There is a serial killer working like the Grim reaper and collecting debts. This is fast paced and a good thriller.
I like the Character of Detective Robin Carter, she is brilliant but also slightly flawed which makes her far more believable.
Will definately read this author again and look forward to the next instalment.

This is the second book from Carol Wyer featuring DI Robyn Carter, how did I miss the first one? This book was a fantastic read and works well as a standalone but I like to follow a series of books and relate to the past events that have taken place, so I will definitely be reading Little Girl Lost, the first book in the series.
I reall engaged with Robyn and her team, including her cousin Ross who is a private detective. They are chasing a serial killer and you will feel you are part of the investigation. There are plenty of twists and turns and also an unexpected ending, A brilliant read and I can't wait for her third book in this series which is published in September.
Thank to Net Galley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This is the second book in a police procedural series about Detective Robyn Carter and although it can be read as a stand alone, I suggest you read book one to find out more about Robyn's background.
It starts with an interesting death- a hotel manager, Miles Ashbrook, dies in his hotel's own sauna but it appears at first to be natural causes. Robyn is asked to investigate further by Tricia, an acquintance from her gym who knew him and then there are more deaths which appear to be unconnected at first. Whilst trying to puzzle out what is happening Robyn is in a race against time to stop the killer before he strikes again.
Told from Robyn's viewpoint and also from the murderer', the novel moves at a frantic pace.
There are a number of clues about the killer's identity but I was well into the book before I had an inkling of who it might be.
The characters are well described, even the murderer and I enjoyed the personal information both about Robyn and her colleagues. Still grieving for her dead partner, Davies, she gets support from both her cousin Ross, an ex copper and PI who helps with the investigation and other members of her team.
She is tough and clever gradually working out the clues which will lead her in the right direction.
Perfect for murder mystery fans although a bit chilling in places when we get an insight in the serial killer's mind and motivation. If you like Sarah Hilary or Angela Marsons thrillers you will definitely like this.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am now looking forward to the next in the series
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

Another great read from Carol Wyer. I couldn't work out who the murderer was at all! Even though we knew why he was doing it to a certain extent, there was no solutions given - just hard police and private eye work.

An excellent book!

Secrets of the Dead is the second outing for fiesty DI Robyn Carter – and it doesn't disappoint.

The book opens with a grisly discovery – a hotel manager is discovered dead in the hotel sauna after somehow becoming trapped in there. Early reports indicate that he would not have entered the sauna due to a lifelong heart condition. So why was he in there out of hours, and is this foul play at work?

A young Mother found dead in the bath in just her underwear, with a 'note' indicating a debt has been paid is the next unfortunate to cross Robyn's path. Sadly, she isn't the last victim of the media dubbed 'Lichfield Leopard' - the receipts are piling up.

How are these cases connected? Are they even connected at all? Robyn is sure the answer to this is a resounding yes – but how to prove it? A narrative from the 'Leopard' keeps us on our toes throughout this gripping, fast paced thriller that will keep you asking questions right until the very end.

Robyn Carter is a breath of fresh air - a great new character, feisty, strong, determined - I can't wait to read more about her!

Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbot, Patricia Gibney.

My review of Carol Wyer's Secrets of the Dead

Carol Wyer's second DI Robyn Carter novel is zoom, zoom, zoom... Carol Wyer gives us a roller coaster in the dark, where you don't see what's coming next. Twisty, turny, stomach dropping. Yep, that's Secrets of the Dead.

To be honest, at 10%, I restarted the book. Why? Because I began reading this book within seconds of finishing Wyer's Little Girl Lost. Handling one roller coaster so soon after another without feeling woozy is quite a difficult task for me. I took a day off of reading and started over. Whew. But after the wonderfulness that is Little Girl Lost, I couldn't wait.

First of all, if you have not read Little Girl Lost, run out and get it NOW. Oh, I mean... where I was going with that was - if you haven't read Little Girl Lost, that's OK because Secrets of the Dead can consumed as a stand alone as well.

Like many crime novels, Secrets of the Dead begins with a few murders. The first murder appears disconnected from the others, but the next two murders are definitely connected. On each person, there is an invoice for 250,000 pounds. Paid for with their lives.

DI Robyn Carter is on the case, enlisting the help of her sweet dear cousin Ross, detective turned PI. I love Ross. But everywhere Robyn turns she hits walls. And then the press scared the public, her boss was frustrated, and Robyn and her team were bone-weary. My eyeballs soaked up this book in a ferocious manner after restarting it.

I did notice a few reviews mention that there were too many characters to keep track of. A tip for kindle readers. Highlight the name of each character at first mention so you can easily refer back if you need a refresher.

My Thoughts

DI Robyn Carter is not my favorite character in the book. Of course, I like her, especially her unconventional devious ways of solving crime. But Ross, Mitz, and Anna are who I most enjoy and connect with. They are such a big part of the story, that I'm not feeling any lacking by connecting to the adjunct characters.

This was yet another definite 5-star book for me. Go read it. :-)

Just a note

As an aside, there was a scene where Robyn was racing toward another murder passing Aldi and Tesco, turning right onto X street. (The street name escapes me).

I shop at Aldi here in the states and chuckled at the mention of Aldi. So, I googled Aldi and the street name mentioned. Low and behold I found a street view of that Aldi on Google Maps. It was very cool to meander around the streets of Litchfield from my iPad in the very same locations mentioned in Secrets of the Dead. Does that make me a dirty stalker of fictional characters?

Thank you to netgalley, bookouture, and Carol Wyer for an advanced copy of this book. My review is honest and unbiased.

Thank you to net galley, the publishers and of course the author Carol.

Another great book, nearly to the same high standards at the first.
Three murders. Three innocent victims. What secrets did they share with their killer?

A manager of a hotel/spa is found burnt and dead in the hotels sauna having been there overnight. The sauna is set to a very high temperature, much higher than for normal usage and Robyn suspects immediately that there may be foul play involved. Is this suicide or not?

A bottle of bubble bath and colourful, plastic boats were scattered in small puddles on the floor. In the bathtub lay Linda Upton, fully-clothed, her lips a shade of blue, and her bloodshot eyes wide open.

When a young mother is found drowned in the bath, clutching a receipt saying ‘all debts paid’, Detective Robyn Carter knows it’s just the beginning of a harrowing case. She recognises the signs of a serial killer, and when a second victim with a receipt is found, her worst fears are confirmed.

With the local press whipping the public into a frenzy, Robyn is under pressure to solve the crime yesterday. But her team can’t find a link between the two bodies, and the cracks are starting to show.

Just when her leads have dried up, Robyn discovers an unsettling clue she thinks could unlock the case. But as she chases across the plush carpets and manicured lawns of the wealthy elite, honing in on the killer’s shocking motive, one of her own is put in terrible danger.

The press call him The Leopard for his stealth, speed and brutality. Our villain starts to like his new name "The Leopard" Can Robyn stop the most twisted killer of her career before it’s too late?

A heart-pounding, toe-curling, one-sitting serial killer thriller that will hook you from the first page till the last. Perfect for fans of Angela Marsons, Rachel Abbott, Sharon Bolton and Karin Slaughter

Carol Wyer keeps the story, the action and the pace at a fast moving thriller ride.

I think as we read further books we will get to know her team even better, as they work so hard alongside their leader Robyn.

DI Robyn Carter is a character you just like so much a dedicated policewoman, a great character.

A four star book from me.

Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read Secrets of the dead by Carol Wyer, for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Detective Robyn Carter series, and I loved her first book - Little Girl Lost this was Brilliant read.
This book was also fantastic read as well, it was well written and twisted and kept you guessing throughout especially at the end.

Three murders of innocent people but how are they connected?
Detective Robyn Carter and her team are on the case. It doesn’t matter how hard they try, they can't find a link between the 3 victims. Now, the press are now calling him the “Lichfield
Leopard” for his stealth speed and brutality of each murder.
Can Robyn and her team stop the most twisted killer of her career before its too late?

The first victim was a Hotel manager was found burnt and dead in the hotel Sauna where he works. A young mother is found drowned in her bath. There are signs of a struggle in several rooms of her house. More bodies turn up and they have something on common a Note that is left beside each body. An invoice for the all the same amount £250,000, stating that the debt has been repaid.
But repaid for what? Detective Carter and her team will need to find out why?? What are the Links? Did they know each other?
This book will keep you guessing right to the end!

I loved this book and 5* review. If you are a fan of Authors Robert Bryndza, Angela Marson, You will love Little Girl lost and Carol’s latest Secrets of the dead.

Reviews on Goodreads and Amazon uk