This was a frightening and chilling serial killer story. Quite frankly unputdownable!

Get ready for a fast-paced, suspense-packed adventure with DI Robyn Carter, in the new thriller from Carol Wyer. The book is second in a series but works as a standalone.

I loved it. Full stop.

Carter is pulled into a seemingly straightforward investigation when a colleague asks her to look into the death of a hotel manager. Soon more bodies begin to show up each under strange circumstances and with ties to the same hotel. Carter and her team struggle to understand what is going on before more people die.

This book creates a villain who is stunningly creepy and could give Hannibal Lecter a run for his money. Seriously, he’s scary. Wyer is excellent at creating characters and worlds that will transport you and make you double check your locks at the same time. His backstory was well developed and created a vivid picture while satisfying the “thriller” aspect of the novel.

The mystery is also very good and very multi-layered. I had some hints about what was going to happen but did not solve the mystery before the reveal. That was fun, getting some small clues before the author revealed the big picture. In the end everything came together neatly and to my satisfaction.

Robyn Carter was also a well-done character, she was relatable and interesting. Her struggles to perform her job while obeying the rules was a great added supply that really added to the story. It’s something we’ve all been through.

I’m thinking I need to go pick up the first book in the series because if it’s as good as this one I will love it. I’m looking forward to more in the series and from this author. Highly recommended

I don't normally read police procedural or detective books but I'm so glad I've made an exception for this series!

DI Robyn Carter is an amazing character! She's so strong and determined while still being a normal woman. She's clever and caring and I really like her. The supporting characters are great too. Anna and Mitz are particularly awesome!

I had no idea what the outcome would be right until the end. I was left guessing and trying to figure it out and I loved that! This wasn't a mystery that I'd picked apart easily, it was twisty-turny and very gripping! I loved it!!

I'm really looking forward to more from this series.

Secrets of the Dead is the second book in the Detective Robyn Carter crime thriller series. Which I couldn't wait to read after loving Carol’s debut crime novel Little Girl Lost. OMG this series just got a whole lot better with this second installment. I loved it just has much has the first one if not more.

Set in Lichfield we follow Detective Robin on the hunt for a brutal killer who the press call The Leopard. I loved the fact that this is set in a place that is near to me and Carol’s descriptions are spot on and I certainly felt like I was in the story.

A word of warning... be prepared not to get anything done once you start this book. I devoured it in one day, talk about being unputdownable. It is full of tension and plenty of twists and turns and will have you guessing until the end.

We get to know more about Robyn in this story and she is fast becoming one of my favourite detectives.

Carol’s definitely made the right decision coming over to the dark side. I cannot wait to read the next installment.

This is a must read for fans of Angela Marsons which I highly recommend giving it 5 massive stars.

The second book in the series featuring Robyn Carter and her team. A man is found dead at local hotel and Spa Bromley Hall. Several other murders occur and each time an invoice for £250,000 I'd left with the body with the words "Paid in full" written across it in red ink. It is obvious the murders are connected in some way and Robyn needs to find the link quickly. The press are not helping dubbing the killer "The Leopard" which is increasing tension in the community.
Does Bromley Hall hold the key? Are there secrets being kept?

I found this a fast paced read and a good series continuation. The books are very much like MJ Arlidge's Helen Grace series, which I enjoy.
I think the author is onto a good collection here as Robyn is a character that could go on.
Thoroughly enjoyed the book and it was great to read a proper crime book after all the psychological thrillers that have flooded the market!

A very well written police procedural, which I really enjoyed. Sadly something is lacking, for it didn't grab me like some other books I recently read. But all in all worth a try.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘Secrets Of The Dead’ by Carol Wyer, in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
A serial killer is on the loose leaving ‘invoices’ with each of the bodies. DI Robyn Carter and her team are tasked with discovering the connection between victims and finding the identity of the killer, named the ‘Lichfield Leopard’ by journalists, before he can kill anybody else.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Secrets Of The Dead’. I liked the characters and found the plot so tense and gripping that I couldn’t put it down. I look forward to Carol Wyer writing more novels of DI Robyn Carter in the future.

Wow! So it wasn’t a fluke!! Carol Wyer really CAN serve up a first rate crime thriller and continue to do so! Secrets of the Dead follows on from the success of Little Girl Lost which I reviewed a few weeks ago. You can read my review of that book HERE. I loved it and was so desperate to read the next in the series that I had to read it as soon as I received my copy!

Although this case is a standalone storyline for DI Robyn Carter, I would probably advise that you will get the most out of her character and past if you read these books in the order they were released. I do think Carol Wyer has a very warped mind to have come up with the plot for this one. A series of murders seem to be linked in someway although the methods of dispatch for the victims varies depending on who they are. The notes found on them points to one murderer but what is their motive? And how are they linked?

One of the things I love about Carols books is that she’s not afraid to kill off nice people! Some writers would have shied away from murdering a loving parent and leaving her 6 year old child without his mother, and for it to come after showing what a wonderful relationship they had made it even more heart wrenching. Because that’s what happens in the real world-ordinary families have their world’s torn apart every single day by the act of murder and most of them never see it coming. And that’s why The murder of Linda Upton really hit me hard!

The twists and turns came thick and fast here and Robyn certainly had her work cut out for her and the team as she raced against time to save potential victims and catch “The Leopard”. I found the most chilling chapters here were those where I had to go inside the mind of a killer. I think I was shocked how ridiculously easy his thoughts gathered momentum from one seemingly unrelated encounter. Again, this made the crimes involved seem convincingly realistic and therefore scared the hell out of me!

So Carol has proved she can make me howl with laughter and now she’s managed to make me shiver in fear. This series just keeps getting better though so I’m happy to put the giggling aside for now and immerse myself in the dark, disturbing and sorrowful world of Robyn Carter.

I very much enjoyed this novel. I could see a real improvement from the last book in the series (which I also enjoyed) and was pleased to see the progression. I really like Robyn and her determination to find the murderer and I love that she employs her private investigator cousin to help her.
I loved the setting of this story, a fancy spa hotel. The descriptions were good and I could almost picture being there. The plot is strong and I honestly wavered back and forth between who I thought the murderer was. I wasn't surprised at the end but that didn't take away from the story. The only real drawback to the story, for me, was that Robyn is not really revealed as a person. She's a great policewoman but there's not a lot of personal info and we really don't know what's going on in her personal life. I am hoping that as the series moves on, we will get more of a personal glimpse of Robyn and the rest of her team.

Second book in the Robyn Carter series and I enjoyed it as much as Little Girl Lost. Well written, fast paced and a great strong lead character. I enjoyed reading the personal side of Robyn's character and found this to be very refreshing. A great follow up book. many thanks to Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Amazon and Goodreads.

I absolutely loved the first book in the DI Robyn Carter series but OMG Secrets of the Dead has to be the icing on the cake with a cherry on the top! When Carol Wyer went from romantic comedy to crime thriller I really had to think can she pull this off. Well let me say she arrived with her first book and this one definitely means that she is here to stay! She has become the polar opposite in her writing from causing me to laugh till I cried to a dark side that can be matched to the best of any crime writer.

One of the things that makes these books very special to me is that I live locally to the area they are set in. I tell you there are some areas that I will give more than a second glance to now!  It was so exciting and made the characters feel so real knowing they were on street and roads I have travelled on. Once I started this book I knew I wouldn't want to stop. The chapters are short and snappy making it one of those books that you think just one more chapter, which in turn becomes a couple of hundred pages as each one just picks up the pace and intensity that you can't put the brakes on. 

This is a brilliant story line and takes pay back to the ultimate end. As The Leopard strikes, the name the newspapers give the killer, with a tailored execution for each victim, a receipt is left with them, one that made me shiver. 'All Debts Paid'.  I mean as if killing someone isn't enough you got to admit that is some sort of creepy. What it does mean for the police is of course, that these crimes are easy to link, they are all connected to an event and revenge drives this nutter. Still a very hard puzzle to solve. I love a story with lots of threads that eventually come together.

The police force definitely have their work cut out with this one but DI Robyn Carter has that strong and forcefully determination to never give up. Love this DI that I found more about again in this book. What a team, they may not always agree and they may not always get it right but they have each others backs. I am so looking forward to more in this superb series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the copy of this book.

Three murders with seemingly no connection to each other except for a paper saying 'all debts paid'. The leads are few and far between. It is a difficult case for the team but they get there in the end with many twists and turns along the way. It was also great to see another book with Robyn Carter featured. I am very interested to see what happens next. She is functioning well by keeping her demons at bay for now, but it would be interesting to see what will happen if she has to face them head on.

It was a great book. I loved how it all came together in the end. Sometimes, when I have read a really good book, I take time afterwards to marvel at how the author came up with the ideas and how they brought it all together in the end. This was one of those books.

I highly recommend this book and the first book in the series 'Little girl lost'. You will not be disappointed. They are well-written and will keep you gripped from the first page!

Little Girl Lost was Carol Wyer’s first police procedural/psychological thriller. In that novel we were introduced to DI Robyn Carter, shattered by the death of her beloved husband Davies yet determined to prove herself able to lead her team of detectives and solve a complex case. Secrets of the Dead can be read as a standalone novel but I highly recommend reading the first book in the series to appreciate how much Robyn has grown as an investigator.

This second novel opens in dramatic fashion. The manager of an upscale spa is found roasted to death in the hotel’s sauna. Carter’s arch nemesis DI Tom Shearer has ruled the death an unfortunate accident. Robyn’s gut instincts tell her that homicide might be the better call in spite of her boss, DCI Mulholland’s insistence that she focus on her own caseload and not rely so much on her instincts. When a woman turns up dead in a bathtub with obvious signs of trauma and a note indicating her debt had been paid in full, Carter gets to work solving what turns out to be the first of several related murders. As the body count climbs and pressure mounts to find this “Lichfield Leopard” it is up to Robyn and her team to hunt down this revenge seeking killer.

Once again we have a fast paced thriller and an excellent cast of detectives working to solve another challenging case. Wyer gives us enough backstory on each victim to care about their lives and mourn their deaths, hoping that Carter can stop this killer before more senseless killing can occur. I loved seeing how much more focused Robyn is in this second novel of the series. I liked that she is no longer reacting but acting on leads provided to her by her team. Her relationship and reliance on her cousin Ross to ferret out information she might not otherwise obtain by legal means adds another avenue to helping her hunt down killers.

Looking forward to more Robyn Carter mysteries in the future.

ARC received from Bookouture via NetGalley for review.

I was given an ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review By Bookouture, Carol Wyer's publisher. This is something I am more than happy do.

Having read Little Girl Lost, Carol's first thriller I couldn't wait to read her second thriller Secrets of the Dead. This was another captivating read that was gripping from the very first page. Carol has ramped up the intensity, giving more depth to each of the characters and a plot line that made me gag! He descriptions and narrative created images so vivid they played out like a film in my minds eye. I was only grateful to be reading this outside on a sunny day, not at my usual bedtime!

Detective Robyn Carter is called upon to investigate a series of murders the only link to each appears to be a receipt for £250,000 with 'debt fully paid' scribbled in red on the bottom. An unexplained death at the local hotel and spa has Robyn's radar twitching - although it seems like the case of death is a simple heart attack Robyn is not convinced and is immediately thinking 'serial killer'.

Several times I thought I had the plot all sewn up, I'd then turn the page and it was all blown apart - each page turn revealing another twist and gem of a clue. Carol had me second guessing up until almost the last page. I was repeatedly dragged out of my comfort zone back into the heart pounding - breath holding - silent pleading - fingers crossing world that Carol had dragged me into. Wanting justice and revenge - she sure knows how to evoke strong emotions in a reader.

I highly recommend reading both this and if you've not already done so Little Girl Lost - two highly charged thrillers that will leave you finger tapping waiting for the next one.

DI Robyn Carter has lot on her plate. There’s been a recent spate of murders & the victims couldn’t be more different. But Robyn & her crew have no doubt they’re all connected. Each is found with an invoice for £250,000 marked “Paid in full”. The only other thing they have in common is some tie to Bromley Hall, a ritzy Victorian hotel & spa in the Staffordshire countryside.

As they pick away at the investigation, we meet the anonymous killer in alternate chapters & slowly learn his motive & history.

This is one of those books where personal preference will loom large in terms of how much you enjoy it. I’d place it firmly on my “ok” shelf & I’ll try to explain why. The author clearly has some serious skills & the story flows well. But in this crowded & competitive genre, there has to be something that makes a book stand out, something that reaches out & grabs you so you become invested in the story & its characters & I just couldn’t find it here.

First up is Robyn, a hard working cop who has little else in her life. It’s difficult to describe why but she just didn’t come across as a fully fleshed out character. The way she is depicted lacked the depth that would have helped me connect with her. Perhaps I found her a little too earnest or maybe it’s that we’re repeatedly told about her background instead of letting the reader get to know her through her thoughts & actions. She & her colleagues have all the requisite personal problems but their responses seem so mild mannered they would not be out of place in a cozy.

When I read a thriller or police procedural, I want to be kept guessing. When the killer is unmasked, I don’t mind at all if I feel like a complete knob for missing the cleverly concealed clues. Unfortunately, the bad guy in this story is a “person of interest” from the moment they step on the page & I missed that element of suspense.

Despite the nature of the crimes, it’s a very clean read (no sex, swearing, etc.) So it’s merely a case of personal taste. As the old saying goes, not every hat you try on fits but those who prefer a softer murder mystery with a neatly tied ending should find much to enjoy here.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this absolute pleasure to read this book.

I loved the first One and this was no exception. Carol weaves a brilliant tale that does exactly as it says on the front, 'grips and doesn't let go'

Roll on book 3

Have been looking forward to this one sin reading the debut, it didn't disappoint, love all the characters and yet another fantastic storyline. Eager for the next installment.

DI Robyn Carter has come back after a sabbatical to deal with the loss of the love of her life and also their child she miscarried after he died. She comes back to someone being murdered in a local bar with a note left behind. The note states that a debt has been paid. As she investigates further there are more people being murdered with the same note being left behind. Who would be so vicious as to kill innocent people who have done nothing?

DI Robyn Carter was such an amazing character and so much more than what I was expecting. The trials that she has went through not only shows how strong she is but that she is more relatable! NO tonly has she had trials but she has achieved so much in her life that most would have trouble doign wihtout being afflicted by events in their past.

I dont want to say too much about the plot and what happens in the book because the element of suprise is the best part about this book. When I started this I wasnt expecting it to be as near as good as it was. I was epecting a so so book. But i was intrigued thorughout the whole book to find out who it was. And I was kept in the dark the majority of the book. I LOVED THAT! And who it was, was no one that I ever thought it could be.

​This book was everything for me! This was my first Carol Wyer book and I am not even close to being disappointed, other than it ending. I was so sad when it ended but now I am in high anticipation of reading her first Little Girl Lost and waiting for her next book to come out!

Up until now, Carol Wyer has always been my go to author whenever I have needed a marshmallow fix, or a dose of utterly bonkers (yet ah-mazing) humour. When I found out that Ms.Wyer was dabbling in a different genre, my heart sank a little as I felt as though I was going to lose out on such bonkers novels; selfish I know. It didn't occur to me at the time that I could, funnily enough, read the books in her new genre. Doh. I bought Carol Wyer's first crime thriller, Little Girl Lost, which unfortunately is still on my TBR and yet to be read, so I was UBER excited when I got asked to be involved in the blog tour for Carol Wyer's new novel, Secrets of the Dead.

I had no idea what to expect, nor did I have any clue as to how intense the storyline was going to be.

Eeeeesh!!! Robyn Carter is investigating a murder of young mother, Linda Upton, who was found dead in the bath, alongside an receipt for an eye-watering amount of money. Unfortunately, Linda Upton's murder isn't the first, and nor is it the last. It's down to Robyn Carter, and her team to work out whether the murderer is a serial killer and whether they will keep on striking whilst the iron is hot.

Robyn Carter is a fireball of sass!!! You go girlfriend!! At risk of sounding like a twat, Robyn Carter comes across so normal! Yes okay, she thinks she is super woman when it comes to working all the hours with barely any sleep. Some call that stupidity, I call that dedication. Yes, she makes mistakes, but who doesn't? She really was such an incredible character to read a bout; I loved her ballsy attitude alongside her heart of gold. Perfect match.

As for the murders, wow, the idea surrounding the receipt/invoice which the murderer leaves behind with its victims was executed (pardon the pun) brilliantly. I felt as though I was on a constant rollercoaster throughout the entire novel, I had no idea as to how many murders there would be (don't read blurbs) - I was on tenterhooks wondering whether the murderer would strike again, and if they did, how. Part of me wanted to know the murderers reason behind each of their killings, yet part of me didn't because I was nervous about what may be uncovered.

Reading 'Secrets of the Dead', I tried to be clever and see if I could work out the link between the murders (f there was one), and who the hell was going out their way to kill people; but I failed miserably. Carol Wyer kept me guessing until the very last-minute. My heart was pounding. My spine was tingling. Even my breathing was erratic. It didn't matter how intense my reactions were to Wyer's novel, my eyes just had to keep on reading.

Carol Wyer has completely blown me away with her writing, and not for the first time either. Secrets of the Dead is such a gripping, intense tale that will leave you with stumps for nails, an abnormal pulse rate, and in need of a shower due to the nervous sweating.
Secrets of the Dead is a fast paced, power house of a storyline that has been fantastically written by an incredibly talented author. An absolutely brilliant read with a side helping of shocking moments. Just the way that I like it.

Thanks Bookouture.

This is a fast paced gripping thriller the whole way through. I liked the characters and the details of their lives and the writing style makes everything believable. The plot has plenty of twists and turns which kept me guessing the whole way through. Definitely a really good page turner. I would definitely read more Robyn Carter books.