WoW, WoW, WoW..........If I could give The Summer Children by Dot Hutchison "10 stars" I would.
This is the third book in this series and I found this book just took my breathe away. So beautifully written throughout. It was my favourite of the series.
This was an excellent wrap up to the trilogy. Just Brilliant

Dot Hutchison is a fantastic author and looking forward reading more from her.

I highly recommend the series and will be read again in the future.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am A huge fan of Hutchison. Butterfly Garden was one of my favorite psychological thriller books. Although I enjoyed Roses of May and Summer Children, I didn't think they lived up to Butterfly Garden's legacy. The connection to characters and plot seemed forced. Hutchison' writing is exceptional and fast paced. The storyline was easy to follow and flowed nicely but Summer Children was more of a Detective Crime Thriller than a Psychological Thriller.

Dot Hutchison is my girl. Not only is she a brilliant writer, she releases her books on NetGalley to readers WITHOUT approval. You read that right folks! NO approval required. A lady of the people, how can you not be obsessed with this woman?!?

The Collector series is delectably dark and twisted. For some, this is a major appeal. The wrong just seems so right in her stories. I've eaten this series up. However, The Summer Children, lacked something for me. But to be fair, my standards for this woman are high, her previous novels were home runs. And you can't win them all.

The Summer Children synopsis was enticing as hell. But the execution just wasn't what I had anticipated. I felt like the story wasn't nearly as exciting as the previous. It was decent. But my high set standard weren't met. And maybe that is more on me. If you don't expect too much, you won't be let down. And I was expecting much.

I think Dot Hutchison has a great handle on presenting character point of views that truly differentiate and resemble each character through each novel. The 2nd story in the series was from Eddison's point of view. I believe I was reading a story from a man's point of view. With this one, Mercedes' point of view was handled in such a different way. This story was much more emotionally driven, which is true for many females. I just really appreciate Dot's ability to write from diverse point of views.

Overall, I don't think there was anything wrong with the book. I just had high hopes and that weren't quite met. Is it a decent story? Yes. Is it as good as the previous ones? Not for me. BUT....I am only one reader, so try it out for yourself.

And for the record, if there is a forth installment, you bet your ass I will read it!

Shout out to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

I really enjoyed all three books in this series. They aren't so intertwined that you have to read them in order which is nice. If you enjoyed the first two you will like this one but if you haven't read the others this works as a standalone too.

I think it’s unfair to rate any of the author’s follow up novels since The Butterfly Garden set the bar sky high. It will always be one of my favorite horror/thrillers. It is always nice to see characters from the previous two novels visit, but I also enjoyed getting to know new characters as well. Very feminist and female centered characters and storyline.

Book 3 did not disappoint! I LOVED the Butterfly Garden and was really excited for Roses of May, however, I felt that book fell a little short. My expectations were a little lower for The Summer Children after the 2nd book, but it was so good! The subject matter is a little heavy at times but the story flows nicely. I love the inclusion of characters from the previous books as well. Can we get a book 4?

This is the third and final book in The Collector trilogy so, to get the best from it, it is best to have read the first two, The Butterfly Garden and The Roses of May, first. You could, at a push, read all three books as stand alones as the main stories are self contained, but there is a running theme and crossover character inclusion and development to be had throughout the trilogy so I really would recommend reading in order.
In this book, we feature on FBI Agent Mercedes Ramirez and the work she does for the Crimes Against Children division. She arrives home on day after a date with her partner to find a child one her doorstep. A child who is covered in blood and clutching a teddy bear. A child who tells her that an angel killed his parents and then dropped him off at her house where she would be safe. She calls it in and the child is taken to hospital and his house searched whereupon the bodies of his parents are indeed found, slaughtered.
And then another child turns up, and another. On investigation, it is believed that the "angel" is indeed trying to save these children as all appear to have suffered some kind of abuse. Of course, this doesn't justify the brutal way in which these abusers are punished. But to find out who is committing these most heinous crimes, the FBI have to figure out why it is to Mercedes that the unsub delivers the children.
As with book two, the Butterflies from book one pop up in this book too. Another reason to have read that one first. They are still very close to the agents who helped save them from the garden and that link is maintained throughout this instalment too.
I really felt for Mercedes in this book as she could also have been considered a victim in this story as she was the one singled out as the safe person for the children being "saved". Not an insignificant thing and one that impacted not only on both her personal and professional lives but also provided a bit of a blow to her relationship. Obviously with dealing with crimes of the kind depicted within this book, and indeed investigated by the CAC in general, you know what you are letting yourself in for. But here the author has been very careful in including what is necessary for the story to progress without going into all the sordid details. She really has handled the crimes against the children with kid gloves. It's enough that we know what has happened without needing to spell it all out.
But honestly, it's not all doom and gloom. Far from it. Using mostly the art of camaraderie between the FBI agents, the author has managed to keep the book from getting too dark and kept it balanced. There is a real bond between all of them that is evident in the way they behave and look after each other throughout the trilogy and indeed within this book. It's also reinforced by the relationship they still have with the remaining Butterflies from book one. There's a danger that my next statement could come across as a bit twee but I do mean it when I say that they are almost like a big family, so close they have all become.
And now the sad part. This was book three of a trilogy. It's over, it's done. But I'm not ready to leave all the characters yet. I need more, I want more. I wonder what is next for the author and if she will cameo some of these characters in her subsequent books. I hope so; I'm going to miss them. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having read the first 2 books in this trilogy, I was dying to read the third and it was spectacular! It far surpassed my expectations.

The first book was dark, the second one not so much and this one was really dark to the point of being disturbing. The subject matter was not easy to read at times but the book was written so well. I practically devoured it and couldn't put it down at all. I think it would be better to read the series in order and not start with this one, it will give some insight into the characters.

I really enjoyed it and how the series was wrapped up. I only wish there were more books after this one. I hope the author writes another series soon.

This is the third book in the Collector Trilogy but I think it would be fine as a standalone. I did read The Butterfly Garden but not the second book and anything mentioned from The Butterfly Garden was briefly explained. This book focuses on FBI Agent Mercedes Ramirez who was an abused child and who was rescued. She went on to go to college and become an FBI Agent. Someone is murdering the parents of abused children and leaving them on Mercedes porch. This was basically a good read but it dragged on in places and I did not care for all the Spanish phrases that were peppered throughout the book since my Spanish is very limited.

I loved this series from the first book so I was super excited to be able to read the conclusion to the series. This is the final book in the Collector series by Dot Hutchison. This book focuses on the life of the girls after they were freed from the collector. What I didn't like to much was that it also focused on an agent who was looking at the case and it was about the agent solving that cause which didn't have much to do with the butterflies
at all. I didn't feel that this one stood out like the first one did. I did find it sad however to see how hard the girls struggled to deal with a normal life after they were freed. I can't imagine how hard that would have been. Just like the first two books Dot has a way with her words that really pulls the reader in and gets them invested into her characters. Her story telling ability is immaculate and I'm glad I got the chance to see how she finished the series.

The Butterfly Garden was a brilliant book. The author should have stopped there. Book 2 was awful, this one I found slightly better but it was slow, boring and fairly repetitive.

The Summer Children is the third and final book in Dot Hutchinson's The Collector Trilogy. The entire trilogy is brilliant, the final act did not disappoint and I highly recommend the series. Dot Hutchinson brings an amazing cast of characters to life and is an amazing storyteller. This novel was full of suspense; I just couldn’t put down. This was bittersweet because I really enjoyed this cast of characters but knew that this was the final book. My favorite is still The Butterfly Garden as it was my first introduction to Dot's work and I was drawn in to that novels dark and creepy setting. Mercedes's backstory was painful and so very emotional but I enjoyed seeing her successful career and drive to help children. This series is over, I look forward to Dot's next thrilling creation and hope we don't have to wait to long.

I devoured this book, I was a little hesitant after not devouring the second, but this did not disappoint. I couldn't put this down. Dot does an amazing job at developing these characters from start to finish. The story keeps you interested and intrigued the entire time.
This pulled at my heart strings in ways they haven't been pulled in a while. I recommended the first in the series until I was blue in the face and I will do the same with this one.

This may be the third (and I believe final) book in the Collector series, however it can be read and understood as a stand-alone novel. Yes, some characters from the first two novels are featured in this one, however it is done in a way where the reader doesn't get lost or confused.

This novel does touch on some disturbing realities (mainly the abuse of children and how in some cases the abuse is overlooked and/or the system has failed a child), however I feel the author's strong writing style make it more palatable than it otherwise may have been. The sad reality is, sometimes these things do happen and occasionally we as readers need to be taken to a place of discomfort in order to face the reality of the worlds.

I loved getting to see team Mercedes is a part of interact with each other. The obvious bond they had showed just how much they had been through as a team, and what they were willing to do for one another. I will say that while all of these characters are complex and strong in their own ways, Siobhan was not my favorite. I feel as though she had a lot of unrealistic expectations when it came to Mercedes and her job. Also, I enjoyed (as hard as it was) to learn Mercedes background. I think it spoke a lot to her character and why she acted (and reacted) in the ways that she did.

I would definitely recommend this novel to those who enjoy well written police and "whodunit" novels. I will be reading more from this author!

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

I thought this book was okay. There were quite a few Spanish phrases making me wish I knew Spanish! The book alternated between present time from the perspective of FBI agent, Mercedes Ramirez and past events. Admittedly I am a bit confused as to the character that the past events were associated with - I thought it was Mercedes, but then later it seemed like it could be the killer (or perhaps the past events alternated between telling what happened to Mercedes and other chapters on what happened to the killer?) I liked that it wasn't immediately obvious who the killer was - there were a few possibilities which made the book more suspenseful. I received an ARC from NetGalley - my opinions are my own.

I thought I could read this third installment in the series but apparently no. This story involves some of the characters of the previous books (not too much) and I felt lost. I found myself thinking "what do I care about Prya?" (I think that's the right spelling of her name), and was skipping anythinh related to her and those characters, which lead to me feeling at loss regarding other things in the story.

I don't know why I insist in reading books about child abuse either if they depressed me!

Anyway, the book is good. I was totally digging Mercedes until I started skipping content because of past characters I couldn't connect with.

Thank you Netgalley for procuring me with a free copy of this title.

4 stars!

“Those who turn to violence don’t usually have solutions to offer. Or they tried, and lost, and think this is their only way forward.”
The Summer Children is the third (and final) book in the Collector trilogy. The three books even though they are part of a trilogy can easily be read as standalones, they mention previous characters but not enough for the reader to get lost. This one features Agent Ramirez who works at CAC (Crimes against Children), she returns home one night to find a young boy in front of her house, covered in blood and clutching a teddy bear. The boy tells her that the angel killed his parents and then drove him to her house because she would keep him safe.

The pattern continues with even more children showing up at her door over the course of the investigation, both girls and boys and even siblings. While her team is trying to investigate who the killer is, we get flashback chapters of a child narrating their own abuse story and in the middle of the investigation, Agent Ramirez is dealing with her own traumatic past and family fallout as well as her relationship with her girlfriend who is admittedly shaken up to have all these kids showing up in the middle of the night.

“Children don’t get hurt in your little world.”
Dot Hutchison once more delivers a thrilling horror book I couldn’t put down, or get any sleep afterwards. It deals with a lot of abuse against children and I won’t lie, I skipped a few paragraphs here and there even though the book doesn’t go into explicit details. But it is so beautifully written, and Mercedes is a character who is always truthful with the young kids – as they too, have dealt with painful situations – that made her character so likeable and sympathetic.

The Summer Children is not my favorite book in the trilogy, The Butterfly Garden is a hard one to top – in general for its genre, I absolutely loved it – but it’s not as mild as The Roses of May but each book offers something different. The Butterfly Garden gives us an inside of a killer’s mind and MO, the whys and the hows, The Roses of May a bit more mother-daughter dynamic in the midst of a horrific situation and The Summer Children dives into the detective work. Each book has interconnected characters, Inara and Bliss from the Garden are back and I love them. Mercedes with Eddison, Sterling, and Vic are a tight group and their friendly banter brings a levity to the dark genre with a few jokes thrown in as well. Definitely a powerful ending to a haunting trilogy.

This was an excellent wrap up to the trilogy. I really enjoyed seeing the "girls" heal from all their trauma while supporting the FBI team through their own tribulations. While the previous two books were well written and engaging, this one took the cake. Agent Ramirez's story completely came to life and on several instances I had NO CLUE who the perp was going to be. The relationships were well developed and you could practically feel everyone's emotions. I really hope we can get maybe a novella or something with everyone a few years down the line again. I'd love to see more of Sterling and Eddison, they remind me so much of my husband and I.

DNF, thought it was a continuance of the butterfly garden and realized I was wrong. Just didn't grab me like the first book did, but will give it a try later on.

It was a interesting mystery that showed how the sins of the past effect the present in various ways. It