Yet another great read from this author. This is the third book in the brilliant Detective Amy Winter series . A fantastic series with a great plot but also a brilliant and intriguing backstory throughout the series. Cant wait for the next book in the series. Highly recommend this series

It is coming up to St Valentine’s Day and Amy has some rare time off work at last. She is out in town shopping with her sister when a Bridal display lures her in to take a good look at the flawless seated mannequin, beautifully dressed in a bejewelled, lacy bridal gown made up with the skill of a practised artist. She looks absolutely gorgeous, relaxing there, thinking about her longed for wedding day. Just when Amy’s eyes have feasted on the store’s window display and it is time for her to make way so that others in the crown can move forward, eagle-eyed Amy notices a slither of bright red blood emerging from the mouth of the display-piece and slowly following the rules of gravity, falling towards her stunning dress. Straight away the awful truth dawns on her; the blonde mannequin is indeed the victim of a flashy, flamboyant murderer, presenting his prey as a piece of art for everyone to admire. Amy, aka DI Amy Winter, calls in the atrocity and her third investigation in this powerful killer thriller series is soon to begin.
With her boss Pike no longer in charge and Donovan having been given the position, Amy and her team begin their meticulous search for answers and evidence. Now sharing a prized and spacious office with her new boss Donovan, she allots each member of her team with tasks to complete. Author Caroline Mitchell, with her invaluable knowledge of police procedures from her time when she was in the force, adds authenticity and realism to her novel and soon the jigsaw has its very first pieces of information to slot in place. An historic murder way back in the past carries the same hallmarks as the current slaying, although both in contrasting areas. Could they be linked? Amy focuses as the investigation gathers pace and a second body is discovered displayed in a famous museum. This odious killer likes to show off but is immaculate in his post murder habits, leaving no forensic evidence. With both current victims linked by the Sugar Babes high class dating agency, Amy is soon making contact with their only other link, an older lady who looks after her girls.
This is the dramatic and lurid opener to this third novel in the popular DI Amy Winter thriller and mystery series. I was absorbed in the story right from the highly original start, throughout the book up and until the ingenious and nerve-wracking ending. The story line was so tense and fast-paced. I look forward to reading novels in a series because I learn more and more about the returning characters as each novel sees further development of their individual stories. This is particularly so here with Amy attending her birth mother’s murder retrial while in the middle of her current case. Her mother and father are a notorious killing duo and in this novel Lillian Grimes makes an unwelcome return to her daughter’s lives. The new characters are, as always created and developed with talent and skill. The psychopathic killer is truly evil and obsessive, self-seeking and driven, odious and daring. He seems to be invisible and always one step ahead of the game.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from publisher Thomas & Mercer through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. I was totally awed throughout the entire story as the twists and turns and blind alleyways came time and time again. This is a 4.5* review and I’m already counting the minutes until the next DI Amy Winter novel is published. You won’t have long to wait, as Caroline is working on the fourth in the series already.

This is the third Amy Winter book and I have to say I enjoyed it more than the second. Amy is a complex character, born Poppy Grimes to a serial killer mother. I recommend reading the series in order to get a better understanding of Amy and her backstory. Left for Dead begins with DI Amy Winter and her sister shopping. Amy stops to admire a display of a bride and notices blood oozing from the "mannequin." It is revealed from the autopsy that the victim was alive when she was placed and "Left for Dead." As more victims turn up, we learn that they all were part of a website called Sugar Babes. We get some insight into the killer's mind as some chapters are from the killer's perspective. The storyline is dark but at the same time this is a well plotted mystery. Caroline Mitchell has created a complex character in Amy Winter and I cannot wait for her next case.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is the third instalment of the DI Amy Winters series and this book leaves the first two in its dust! However this is a series best read in order to get the full effect of what is happening.
When a shop window mannequin turns out to be an actual victim of a crazed killer an autopsy reveals that she was posed I the window while still alive and was “Left for Dead”. When a second body turns up the link between the two is revealed to be that they were both “Sugar Babes” dating older men online. This book as with all of Caroline Mitchells is very dark, very twisted and very addicting. I loved that some of the chapters were narrated by the killer which drags you more into the mess. And of course the ever present shadow of Lillian Grimes hangs over the whole story. This book has it all, a fantastic plot, an expertly woven story and characters that you love to hate. 5 star read.

Left for Dead by Caroline Mitchell is the third 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 Winter 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, her biological parents were serial killers.  Amy's biological father is dead, his wife serving prison time, and she is getting to know the rest of the family.  Perhaps it is her biological parents that is responsible for Amy's ability to get inside the heads of murderers.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Much to Amy's displeasure, DCI Donovan is her new boss, and he seems intent on making her follow the rules.

The body of a woman is posed as a bride in a store display, a heart carved in her chest.  It is Amy, while on a shopping trip with her sister, who notices that it is not a mannequin in the window.  This will not be the last body to appear in a rather strange place.  The investigation leads Amy to the company that was hired to create the display, and further to the owner to the company, Samuel Black.  Amy instantly dislikes the man, and even when another is arrested for the murder, Amy's mind continues to return to Samuel Black.

Meanwhile, Lilian's trial is underway, and Amy fears that her biological mother may get out of jail, and that she will be responsible for the woman's acquittal.

Amy is also battling her own demons.  She wonders if she, too, has the genes that could make her a serial killer.


My Opinions:
I absolutely love this series.  

Amy is an amazing character, very conscious of her own capabilities, and/or lack thereof.  In this book she really explored her own mind.  Caroline Mitchell created a wonderful team to back up Amy, and the criminals that she creates are just as deep and interesting (and usually creepy), as the good guys.   In this case the villain was particularly dark.

The plot was great, and the suspense built up quickly, and was sustained throughout.  The side-line of Lilian's trial did take away a bit from the murder case, but it could have been worse. 

It all flowed smoothly, and although the ending was rather predictable, it does give you an idea of where we are headed next, and I can't wait!

4/5 Stars - A dangerous cat-and-mouse game full of surprises!

This book isn’t so much a mystery as it is an excellent thriller, which leaves readers begging to know what happens next. We know the killer’s identity from the beginning, but the key to the story is whether police can catch him before he kills again - because this guy is one creepy villain. There’s also some wild cards in there that make this book a really exciting.

I really enjoyed getting to know Amy Winter, who has a unique backstory herself, something that features heavily in the book, as she navigates both the court system and her own emotions. I found this storyline an excellent compliment to the main one, and was just as invested in what happened there as in Amy’s professional life. I look forward to seeing that storyline continue to develop.

I also really loved the little twists that were thrown in throughout the book. I don’t want to give anything away, but there are some surprising little details that make you just keep turning pages to see how it is all going to turn out. I was certainly on pins-and-needles at some points.

Overall, this book is an excellent thriller for anyone who likes police procedural or high-action stories. I am excited to see what comes next in this series!

This is such a great series. A cop with serial killer parents isn’t something I’ve ever read before and it works so well. Highly recommend reading these in order but they can be read on their own.

Amy is such a great character and I love seeing her grow and develop with every book. Whilst she’s trying to solve a case her biological mothers conviction is up for appeal which adds even more stress to her life. I love that Amy’s life and her problems always add to the story without getting confusing or distracting.

I’m not normally a fan of knowing who the bad guy is before the end but this just adds to the tension of whether the police will work it out in time. There’s a lot of suspense and an explosive ending.

Cannot wait to read more about Amy

I received a copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture and Caroline Mitchell for allowing me to read this Arc.
Caroline Mitchell is an amazing author. Not one of her books have ever let me down!!
The only problem I have with her books is they leave me craving her next one!!

Left For Dead is the 3rd book in the DI Amy Winter series. I was floored by the last two books in this series & was almost desperate to hold this one & read. Amy Winter is perhaps one of the most interesting characters I have read about given her lineage. Each of the last books had Amy as this brave & savvy young police detective. So it was refreshing to see this book showcase a little more of Amy's vulnerable side. The plot is interesting & the killer's identity is out at almost the start of the book, but that didn't keep me from turning the pages ferociously. The plot was good & there was a great twist at the end. The book was paced very well & the characters too were good. This book too ended on a cliffhanger so now I'm desperate again to read the next book! I cant wait to see what the future has in store for Amy & the Grimes family.

Thank You NetGalley, Bookouture & Caroline Mitchell for an arc!

What a page turner! I ve come to love Caroline Mitchell s books for this reason alone and it didn't let me down! Couldn't put it down till I turned the last page! Fantastic!!!

This is book three in the DI Winter series and after enjoying the first two, I was looking forward to seeing where the story was going to go next.
Amy is out shopping with her sister when they stop to look at a display in a wedding dress shop window. Something about the mannequin looks off to Amy and on further inspection, it is actually a body. When a second body turns up, Amy and the team find themselves on the hunt for a killer who likes to display their victims, leaving little to no trace.
Amy is also still dealing with her unique family situation, which is getting more complicated by the day especially with her biological mothers appeal coming up.
Another really good plot with some good new characters as well as further development on some old favourites!
This could probably be read as a standalone, but to fully understand particularly the backstory around Amy's family, I definitely recommend reading the others first.
Looking forward to the next one!

Left For Dead by Caroline Mitchell
This book is a good police procedural, and I enjoyed it.
The storyline was good and keep me turning the pages right to the end. It is the third book in a series, and while I haven't read the first two I'm sure they would have added to my enjoyment of this story, although the book read very well as a standalone.

Another great read in the DI Amy Winter series.
Amy is shocked to see blood come from a mannequin in a shop window, so immediately calls it in. The victim had been posed for all to see in a shop window so Amy knows she’s looking for a sick and twisted killer.
Amy comes across a man who makes her skin crawl and things he says seem to connect to him being involved, but she has no proof so just has to keep him on her radar.
Donovan has been given the DCI job but Amy isn’t too happy about him being her boss, however, they soon come to an understanding.
We’ve also got Lilian’s trial that Amy is dreading and even more so when her sisters seem to have changed their mind about their mum.
This is a gripping crime thriller with a great final showdown with the killer.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

What a trip reading this book.i read it in one day as I did not want to put it down at all. I have read the previous DI Amy Winter books and this one continued her story very well. It is a stand alone book as it is not dependent upon knowing the characters or their history as enough information is provided throughout the book. From the first page the story begins with the macabre bride in the window and continues with a steady investigative pace that is captivating. A bit disconcerting in places and I wonder how many people now check under their beds at night after reading this superb story. So realistic that it kept me on the edge.
The book, as all the others, ends with room for the next one to follow on and I am hoping that Caroline Mitchell does write more in this set soon as I love the characters written about here. I must also add that as a firm favourite of this author’s style I look forward to any book that she writes.
Highly recommend this author and any books by her.

DI Amy Winter #3

Whilst out shopping with her sister, Amy stops to look at a Valentine's display in a shop window. At first glance the bride looks perfect in her Diamond and lace wedding dress. That is until Amy notices blood oozing from the mannequins mouth. Then a second body is found. It emerges that both women had been "sugar babes", women who arranged dates with older men online.

This is a gripping, steady paced story with a cleverly written plotline. We do learn whodunnit quite early on but I do prefer to try and work it out for myself a I'm reading. I liked Amy. She's a strong character who's not afraid to stand up for what she believes. I'm looking forward to reading the nex installment in this fantastic series when it come out.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing Group UK and the author Caroline Mitchell for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 Stars
Oh, We get so much in this book. We are in the minds of all the players, we have a DI Amy Winter fighting to do right for her victims, and also handle all of her personal issues.
Serial killer, a dating site for Sugar Babies /Old Men, this had so much and creepy too.

A victim on display. A detective on the rails.

Whilst DI Amy Winter is out shopping, she stops to admire a Valentine's Day window display of a beautiful bride encrusted in diamonds and swathed in lace, but there is something about this mannequin that makes Amy look closer and that's when she sees the blood coming from its mouth, she immediately realises this is not your normal shop display dummy, but a real person. When a second victim is found Amy and her team, now overseen by DCI Donovan, discover both victims were members of an online dating agency for older men called 'Sugar Babes'. At the same time as dealing with the investigation, Amy's biological mother, the infamous serial killer Lillian Grimes, is appealing against her conviction and Amy is struggling, so when a third 'Sugar Babe' goes missing, it's no surprise when Amy risks everything to find her.

This is the third in the DI Amy Winter series and they just keep getting better and better. The chapters are short, the plot is so well crafted and the characters portrayed realistically, the story is told by the third person and from the views of both Amy and Samuel Black, the head of the agency behind the display where the first victim is found, who has a penchant for serial killers. As the previous two books, this one reeled me in from the off and kept me hooked throughout. I'm very pleased to hear that the author is planning a fourth one! As I've said in previous reviews for this series, you really do need to read the books in order, as this one references events from both previous books, and it helps get an understanding of the background of the characters. This one is a belter and I highly recommend. Can't wait for the next one!

I'd like to thank Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for the auto approval. I will post my review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

This is another good read in the Amy Winter series but can be read as a stand alone. It switches back and forwards in time, with background information on Amy's birth mother and the investigation team. I liked the excellent plot and character development, with an insight into Amy's personal life too. There are so many twists in this book and it would be a great TV series. I recommend this series of books to lovers of the genre. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

#LeftForDead #NetGalley
A good read.
DI Amy Winter is admiring a Valentine’s Day window display of a perfect bride encrusted in diamonds and resplendent in lace—until she notices blood oozing from the mannequin’s mouth.
This is no stunt. A post-mortem reveals the victim was left to die on her macabre throne for all to see. When a second victim is found, it emerges that both women were ‘Sugar Babes’ arranging dates with older men online—and Amy finds herself hunting an accomplished psychopath.
As she tracks down the killer, Amy’s instincts go into overdrive when the charismatic head of the agency behind the display makes no attempt to hide his fascination with her serial-killer parents.
Caroline has done it again. Her narration was really good that I wasn't able to put it down.
Characters were brilliant.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for giving me an advance copy of this awesome suspense thriller.

The plot: Shopping with her sister, DI Amy Winter is admiring a Valentine’s Day window display of a perfect bride encrusted in diamonds and resplendent in lace—until she notices blood oozing from the mannequin’s mouth.

This is no stunt. A post-mortem reveals the victim was left to die on her macabre throne for all to see. When a second victim is found, it emerges that both women were ‘Sugar Babes’ arranging dates with older men online—and Amy finds herself hunting an accomplished psychopath.

The review: I haven’t read any of the other two books in the DI Winter series. I think reading the other books would help with Winter’s backstory. (Her parents were serial killers and she was adopted by a different family.) That being said, I don’t think it’s necessary to read the other books to enjoy this one. I’m normally not the biggest fan of police procedurals, but I enjoyed the character of DI Winter.

I look forward to reading the other books in the series.