I started this book very confused, and I think that not having read the first two books caused that. There were missing elements that led to me not getting into the book at first, mostly that she was in a f/f relationship and the scene about the sexual harassment because I thought Mercedes was just a weirdly chosen male name. That being said, once I locked those elements in I did enjoy the book. Well written, good pace, I especially liked the interjecting scenes with the backstory of the children. The vagueness of "the angel" at first and how the character gradually fills out with details through their horror-stricken stories was especially good. Characters were believable, and the ending was just. Overall, a good read, I would have liked a little more description. There were some scenes that I felt left a little too much to the reader's imagination and could have been very powerful where instead they fell a tad short. I recommend doing the other two books first before trying to re-read the group so it makes more sense.

This is the third book in the Collector series – but the first I have written. In all honesty, that was a huge shame for me because at some points I floundered with the characters and reference to the earlier books. Clearly this can be read as a stand-alone but I am sure my considerable enjoyment of this book would have been enhanced had I read the earlier books.

The Summer Children was presented through the character of Mercedes Ramirez an FBI agent within the Crimes Against Children unit. Mercedes herself was subjected to abuse as a child, a fact that was ignored by her extended family from whom she is estranged to such a degree that she has to change her phone whenever they track her down. Her family is now her colleagues, an intriguing cast of characters, close-knit, dedicated and supportive of one another to the nth degree.

Returning home one evening she finds a boy, bloody and bruised waiting on her porch with a teddy bear. He has been told by the ‘Angel’ to wait for Mercedes who will keep him safe. What follows is a sometimes harrowing catalogue of crimes against children and the efforts made by the authorities to protect and save them.

This is a really well written book with strong characterisation and staggering plot development and structure. I cannot praise it enough. However, I would urge you to read it as it is powerful and moving and just tragically sad.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

This series remains one of my favourites, but The Summer Children now holds the title as my favourite entry.

As before, we're following our team of agents - now including Sterling from Roses of May, yay! - and this time the focus is on Mercedes. Unlike the last books, we don't spend this one looking through the view of the subject of a case, but directly from Mercedes herself.

There's something about the way that Dot Hutchison writes such horrific things that allows me to read without being overwhelmed. None of these books deal with run of the mill badness, but this one in particular deals with the true evil that visits all too many children. She never downplays or shies away from it, but somehow she manages to write hope between even the bleakest lines; some people don't make it through awful things, but even then there's the reminder that others will. It's a delicate balance and a testament to her ability as a writer that these books deal with the worst in people without being <i>about</i> it - instead they're about all the people who face that darkness as victims or hunters and the good that they find in each other.

As always, the extended family of this unit includes Priya, Inara and Bliss, and I love that they seem to be on track for being a permanent fixture in the series.

This was a phenomenal book in an amazing series. I was provided with a free copy for review by Netgalley and the publisher but my opinions are my own. As with the others I'll be buying both the digital and the physical copy anyway!

I loved this final book in the trilogy! The Butterfly Garden had my attention from the first page and so I was invested in the characters already. And even though this novel deals with horrific instances of child abuse and murder, if you can stomach that you are in for a real treat of a novel! We see the FBI agents, Mercedes, Eddison, Sterling, and Vic as humans with compassion as well as all the flaws that come with life's challenges--especially dealing with the kinds of crimes they do. And so beyond the plot of a self-proclaimed "angel" killing the parents of abused children, we see protagonist Mercedes facing relationship problems, family secrets from the past, and a host of work issues. I also loved re-connecting with the "butterfly girls" from the garden as they continue their healing process. Lots of humor and poignant moments made this book an incredibly satisfying conclusion to this trilogy. I do hope to see more from this FBI family in the future!

This is the 3rd book in the Collector’s Trilogy but it definitely can be read as a stand alone. I've read all 3 books and absolutely couldn't wait until the 3rd installment came out. All 3 books are creepy chilling thrillers which focus on an FBI team. Each book deal with a different case. This one centers on a killer, dressed like an angel, who kills abusive parents & delivers the kids to an FBI agent to keep the safe. Hutchison does a fantastic job of drawing you in to her characters. I literally didn't want to put this book down. Really sad to see this series end but I’m hoping she follows it with something similar.

I don't normally read murder/mystery/suspense novels. I can't even begin to tell you what drew me to the first book, <i> The Butterfly Garden </i>, but whatever it was, I'm thankful. I can't say that it drew me into reading other books in this type of genre, but I've enjoyed every book in this series in ways I can't describe.

Hutchinson is good at writing the heart wrenching, but leveling it with humor and love. The relationship within this team of agents is perfect - warm, affectionate, serious, happy. The relationship they have with girls that they've rescued from other terrible situations is handled just right, giving them a solid base to start their lives from. Mercedes and Siobhan's relationship gives insight into how same sex relationships can work and do suffer from the same hang ups as relationships always have. There is so much diversity in the relationships within Hutchinson's books.

I cried, I laughed, I cringed, I cried and laughed some more. There were parts that were truly terrible, and parts that were light and amazing and everything just balanced.

Were there parts of the story that I think were probably not quite realistic? Possibly, but they didn't detract anything from the story. I admire that Hutchinson doesn't give everyone a happy ending; some times, no matter how hard you try, you aren't always going to be in time to save everyone. It gives good depth to the story and to the character development.

I hope Hutchinson continues to write in this series - they just keep getting better and better, every time.

Reviews take into consideration the characters, plot, and the skill that both are told. Dot Hutchison excels with the development of in depth character personalities and fast moving story. I did read "The Butterfly Garden" the first in this Collector series. It was a telling that stays with the reader after the last page is turned. The Summer Children is the third in this series but could be picked up as a stand-alone. Presentation of a team of FBI agents focused on Crimes Against Children are a close nit group with the job being their number one priority. Agent Mercedes Ramirez feels especially close to these abused youngsters because her past mirrors theirs in many ways. But.. when ANGEL starts leaving children on Mercedes' porch; research into this gruesome crime spree must be solved before more murders are committed. Suspenseful, "Who is Angel" and why is Mercedes the one that will keep these kids SAFE? "A copy of this book was provided by Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley with no requirements for a review. Comments above are my honest opinions."

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of The Summer Children. This is the third book in the series, I really LOVED the first book and this one, the third in the series, was so far the best of them all. I loved the characters and felt I had a vested interest in them, I feel the love and friendship the characters had with one another is what made the third book the most enjoyable so far in the series.

The story starts with FBI Agent Mercedes Ramirez coming home from a date night to a child on her porch covered in blood and stating that an “angel” told him Ramirez would take care of him. What happens from there is a case of bloodied children being left for Ramirez, although the children are unharmed, for the most part, why are they showing up on her doorstep?

The subject matter is be a little tough but written in a way to also show compassion, love, caring and friendship. I enjoyed this book and will be adding it to my physical copy in my library.

This is the third in the Collector Triology. I loved the first, Butterfly Garden, but I haven't read the second yet, The Roses of May. I will be correcting that shortly. I just skipped over here to the third and I'm kind of glad I did because this way it kind of really makes me want to read that second one with all the references to it. Plus it shows this one stands on its own.

All the characters are really well drawn. Love, love, love Detective Ramirez. She's very witty. Throws a spanish line out now and then. Its always pretty much cursing which I do, too, so I love it. Everything is always prettier in spanish and no one yells at you for cursing.

Some of the inside references made me laugh. The Killer Klown reference slayed me.  And if you don't know what it references, just google.

Though it is the crux of the subject of the book, it gave just a little info on being a foster child. But it worked within the storyline. And a fabulous storyline it is. Very fast paced.

I have two complaints. Some dialogue appeared to be repeated immediately within a page when not necessary. And, the ending seemed to go on for ever. Just when you thought it was done, another chapter would pop up. And then another and another. Though all would have been good endings, we only needed one.

But all in all, I seriously enjoyed it and would most definitely recommend.

Thank you NetGalley for this copy.

An excellent conclusion to a fantastic trilogy. The Collector started by focusing on the victims of a psychopath, while the FBI team trying to figure out what was happening was mostly a sideline. The second novel gave equal attention to the victim and the same law-enforcement team. Now the spotlight shines on Mercedes Ramirez, one of the cops. Kids are being left on her porch by and "angel" who takes them out of horrific situations by killing their parents. Mercedes mostly worries about the kids, but she has to work with other FBI teams to try to stop and apprehend the killer. Me, I would have given the murderer a medal, being that the parents were monsters, but once the baddie starts making mistakes, the spree has to stop. Mercedes is also worried about the system itself. Yes, the kids won't be abused by their parents anymore, but it's not like their lives in the foster system will be perfect from now on. The girls that the team rescued in the previous installments are also part of this story, as they try to move on and leave behind the nightmares that they endured. But the main focus is with the team. Now, I want to believe that FBI agents that deal with these cases are just as united as Vic's people, but this part was a little implausible (how they stay at each other's houses all the time and such). I still loved the whole book from start to finish and the only thing I dislike is how there will be no more books in this series.

I don't really know what I was expecting. I read the book before this and was disappointed that it wasn't really a continuation of The Butterfly Garden. The characters are mentioned as they are in this book but it's not the same. Some parts of the story were interesting but the rest didn't hold my attention.

FBI agent Mercedes Ramirez finds an abused, blood-covered little boy on her front porch clutching a teddy bear. He tells her an angel killed his parents and made him watch. The angel also told him he would be safe with Mercedes. Soon more children show up on her front porch and Mercedes and her fellow agents must race to find out who the killer is and why they picked her. I was very excited to read the final book in the Collector series and it definitely did not disappoint! My emotions ran the gauntlet between horror at what abuses were inflicted on the children, anger at the failure of the overburdened system to keep these children safe after being removed from an abusive environment and happiness for the progress and healing of the victims from the first two books in the series achieved. I became quite attached to several of the characters over the series and will miss them, which proves how incredible Dot Hutchison's writing is. Although I enjoyed this book, I must advise readers that this book contains very vivid scenes of child abuse that will be disturbing to read.

4.5 stars. A seriously great read.

I read the three books in this series in order and I recommend that though I don't think it's strictly necessary. If you want to jump right in with this book, you'll be just fine. In some ways, I think this is the best book of the trilogy, but the more I think on it, the more the books can't really be compared to each other. They're all so different.

The series as a whole centers around an FBI task force, the second and third books more so than the first, and each book focuses on a different member of that group. In each book there is a case to be solved and the case from this book might be the most interesting: Agent Ramirez finds abused children on her doorstep who claim they've been sent there by an angel who just murdered their parents. I mean, come on. That's the coolest premise I've read in a long time. And the book doesn't fail to deliver.

One of the best things I can say about this book is how memorable the characters are. I read each of these books right when they came out, so went about a year between them, and I still had no trouble remembering who was who and what their history was. Let me just say this is not a common occurrence for me. I have trouble remembering what happened from week to week on tv shows, let alone a year between books. But not here. Every character is as vivid and filled out as a real-life person. And they all play off each other so well, in a way that feels so real, so true.

I hope this author writes more books. She's got a lifelong fan in me. And if you give her a try, probably in you too.

SO I was already a fan, just so everyone is aware. I loved the first in the series, the second was a little lacking for me, but the third...fantastic. I thought this was very close to how I felt when I finished The Butterfly Garden.

I just love the characters, and all our favorites make the return with a new face thrown in as well. The story ebbs and flows and draws you in. You just want to read, read, and read some more. I love the banter between the agents and of course the butterflies relationship with Pryia.

Mystery aspect, yes, I was still guessing at the end. If you are a fan of this series, you will enjoy this third novel. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I enjoyed this book. It was nice to catch up with some of my favorite characters. I don’t want to give anything away, pick up a copy, and enjoy!

This is the 3rd book in the collector series. I really enjoyed this series. It did focus more on Mercedes personal life than on the case itself , but all in all well worth the read

Was waiting for this to come out.
And it didn't disappoint!
Can't wait for more from this author.


Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an early release of this book

I would like to thank Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advance copy of The Summer Children, the third novel in The Collector Series, featuring FBI Agent Mercedes Ramirez.

Mercedes returns home from date night to find a bloodied child on her doorstep. 8 year old Ronnie Wilkes is unharmed and says an angel killed his mum and dad and took him to Mercedes who would keep him safe. He is just the first.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Summer Children which is another fine addition to a very readable series. As Mercedes works for CAC (Crimes against Children) the subject matter can be harrowing and will not suit all readers but for those of a stronger constitution it is an absorbing read. The premise of a vigilante killing abusive parents is not original but Ms Hutchison puts her own stamp on it with some chilling detail and linking it to Mercedes' past.

The novel is told from Mercedes' first person viewpoint, interspersed with first person accounts of the fears and experiences of an unnamed child. I like the immediacy of living the investigation with Mercedes which puts a human face on a difficult subject and makes it more personal as she deals with her own feelings and the child's chapters are a master stroke, really explaining what an abused child suffers. They are difficult to read but very informative and really put the rest of the novel into perspective.

It is not, however, all doom and gloom or darkness in the novel. Mercedes and the team have strong bonds so there is humour in the banter between them, ongoing domestic issues and lots of love and support. Despite the difficult subject matter it makes for a pleasant read.

I found The Summer Children impossible to put down so I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

I have been following this series ever since I read the first book back in 2016. The Butterfly Garden blew me away with one of the most disturbing and twisted serial killer cases I’ve encountered to this date. And somehow, I think The Summer Children is my new favorite of the series. Because while I remember having some doubts about the pace in the middle of the first book, it was literally hook, line and sinker with The Summer Children. I practically devoured this third book of The Collector series and couldn’t let go until the final page. Dot Hutchison has created another intense, disturbing and painful case, and this time things are getting really personal for Mercedes Ramirez. The Summer Children is intense until the very last page and despite the heavy subject I loved every single minute of the ride. Why? First of all, the writing style is just as strong as ever, engaging, gritty and with a perfect mix of suspense, shocking moments and a healthy dose of bantering and a dash of humor. I also loved the mix of normal chapters with the thoughts in cursive! The characters are both well developed and very easy to like and I just love the dynamics between Mercedes and the rest of her team. And no, I’m not just biased by the fact she consistantly uses Spanish phrases and words in her dialogue (don’t worry, non-Spanish speakers will still be able to understand the dialogue perfectly!) The characters in general feel very realistic and all have their flaws and history, making them that much more human and very easy to warm up to. The serial killer in this case has an underlying message that will make you think… A trigger warning is in place for graphic scenes and child abuse for those who can’t stomach these elements in stories. But not without a note that these elements are very well incorporated into the story and not abused in any way. There are also lots of twists and turns included as they try to figure out who is behind it all. The Summer Children was strong from start to finish and this is the main reason this third book is now my new favorite of the series. And I just can’t wait to find out what the next book has in store for us next year.

I thought it was going to be hard to outshine The Butterfly Garden, since it’s one of the best/most disturbed serial killer characterizations I’ve come across. But somehow, I think The Summer Children is the best book yet. From a consistant and superfast pace to likeable and realistic characters, a well developed plot and another intriguing and disturbing case… This third book just ticked all the boxed for me. Add the joy of revisiting old favorite characters and their bantering, and you have a new favorite The Collector book. Can you guess already I can recommend this one if you can stomach the graphic scenes and child abuse triggers?

I have received a netgalley arc (in return for an honest review) of every book in the Collector Series by Dot Hutchison and each one was brilliant, captivating and beautiful. Each one disturbing, funny, uncomfortable and passionate.



The Summer Children was no different. I laughed, I cried and I enjoyed myself. I ate up page after page, deeply involved with some new characters and old characters I have grown to love.



Anyone who knows me well can tell you Butterfly Garden is one of my favorite novels of all time and I have re read it every year since it came out. The Summer Children will be the same. I was so invested and so interested. I am hopeful that there will be more novels in this collection. The story line was colorful, original and nerve wracking.



This book is not for a the faint of heart, it is for lovers of TV like SVU and Criminal Minds. There is child abuse, murder and rape in this novel. While I am against rape as plot in many ways and recently read a book that I hated because of it's use of rape...This novel handles it with the care needed, and in a way that makes you remember that in real life these things happen to children.



I also liked that the main character, Mercedes, is a Hispanic lesbian and she is written in a tasteful way that showcases the diversity needed in literature.



The character dynamics and development are rich and made me feel so connected to each of them I was sad to leave their world.



I will be buying a physical copy of this novel as well, to support the author and so I can physically grip it's pages and cover as I re read it every year.



Thank you Dot Hutchison- I looked forward to everything you write.