This is the first book of a new series by the Caroline Mitchell featuring DI Amy Winter. I have read every book published by the author and not only enjoyed them immensely but have always been impressed by the consistently high standard set by her. This book is sure to be another top seller and I am sure the series will grow and grow. The main focus of the book "Amy" is complex as all good thriller characters tend to be and she has dark secrets that she would prefer stay that way.
DI Amy Winter hopes to follow in the footsteps of her highly respected police officer father and all is progressing rather well until she receives a letter from the prison cell of Lillian Grimes. The writer of the letter was half of the notorious husband and wife serial killers who committed a series of killings many years ago. The letter contains a revelation that will change Amy for ever and shatter her life as she knows it.
Lillian Grimes is a psychopathic murderer and Amy’s biological mother and she now wants to reveal the location of three of her victims but at a cost. Amy's work colleagues actively search for a young missing girl who was kidnapped from her home while Amy must face her own dark past and try to uncover the missing bodies.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to all my Goodread friends. One more point, I was honoured to be included as a minor character in Amy's team in this book and it was a great thrill for me. I have proudly told everyone who will listen to me and have great hopes to be included in future books in this series.

I would like to thank the author Caroline Mitchell for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Wow what a start to this new series featuring Amy Winter. Having read this authors other series I can say that this one looks like it could be the best one yet.

Really love the new lead character and what a past she has. One of the most moving and action packed books.

It was one of the most gripping crime books that I have ever read. Truly one that will become a masterpiece and sell millions of copies

A brand new series from one of the best authors out there. This is a great start to the new D I Amy Winters.

Unbeknown to Amy she started life as the daughter of a pair of notorious serial killers and when she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, the survivor of the pair, she’s horrified to learn the truth. Lillian offers to tell Amy where the bodies are buried, but Amy must concede to her demands. Her father was a well liked police officer and she is upset that her secret may come out.

Then a girl goes missing and it’s a race against time to find her. Lillian says she knows where she is, but is she telling the truth?

This is one gripping story, the characters are brilliant and I just had to keep reading to find out what was the truth and what was lies. It is a most enjoyable read, and plenty to get your teeth into.

My thanks to Caroline for the ARC and the publishers.

This is just what I needed to get out of my thriller-funk. It seems every thriller lately is a “gripping thriller with a shocking twist” but most disappoint me! I can always count on Caroline Mitchell to give me a book that will surprise me. I didn’t see this ending coming until she started breaking it down for me. I was so tickled with where she took this story!

My only complaint is that I am so done with the DCI’s who are so insecure in themselves that they can’t encourage their DI’s to succeed. That instead they undermine them or don’t listen because their ego is too large. If it wasn’t a situation that happens so frequently in these police procedural thrillers than I wouldn’t even mention it but it kind of bugs me! However, this didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story. It is definitely reasonable to see that situation. While I’m talking about the characters, I’ll continue, I really liked Amy. She was strong but was real. You could see her as more than just a cop. She loved her family and friends and seemed to have wanted to be there for them, to help them. I admired her strength under pressure and her ability to see the larger picture!

Ms. Mitchell created an interesting crew. The secondary characters were really strong as well. I enjoyed Paddy a lot. I enjoy the spotty humor tossed throughout the pages. Who could think that a dying woman could make jokes but I laughed whole-heartedly when Gladys said “... I want my headstone to offer free Wi-Fi, so they’ll come and visit me more often.” I mean, has a truer thought about death in this century ever been said? Ms. Mitchell’s writing continues to keep me rushing through the pages and furiously trying to figure out whodunnit before she breaks it down for me. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing where Ms. Mitchell will take us and what she’ll put her petiole through. This book is the true essence of compulsive read, a page turner. From the very first word, Truth and Lies captivated me from the start.

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.

Every time I see Caroline Mitchell is publishing a new book I get really excited, but when she brings out a new book that’s also the first book in a new crime series well let’s just say my excitement reaches fever pitch. Truth And Lies is the first book in the DI Amy Winter series and what a cracking start to the series it turned out to be. There are so many police procedure crime thrillers on the market, so for me personally to commit to a new crime series it’s got to grab me by the throat, with an interesting protagonist, gripping story line and plenty of heart thumping moments that leave me desperate to read more and guess what? Truth And Lies ticks every box and more.

Full review to follow on my blog and will then edit this review

The first in what I hope will be a long series featuring DI Amy Winter, what a brilliant idea for a crime thriller where the cop's daughter is a serial killer. I have read all of Caroline's previous books and her writing just goes from strength to strength. Every time I read one of her books I think oh this is the best and then she goes and tops it, in my opinion this is definitely her best so far. Until the next one that is !!!

Very gripping and tense!

Caroline Mitchell is starting off a new series with a very complex but interesting main character. The story itself is very capable of holding your attention and you will want more!

DI Amy Winter follows in her father’s footsteps to tackle crime and take on killers. Ironically, the worst criminal she faces is her own mother, a serial killer who promises to identify the locations of her victims if Any plays along with her twisted games. This is a nail biter, with one of the most devious killers I’ve encountered in a book

I have read all Caroline Mitchell books and she never lets her readers down but I must say this her best yet gripping twisty once you start it you wont want to put it down Amy has just laid her dad to rest then she gets a letter and her world and who she thought she was is turned up side down secrets and lies and her childhood past starts to come back this series going to be brilliant so can not wait for next one she gonna be a kick ass DI the people she works with some have there own problems and one hates her wont say no more I highly recommend and her other books as well so cant wait for book 2

A truly outstanding read!
Mitchell writes with an authenticity that few authors can add this book is set to be the beginning of a brilliant new series. With a fast paced, gritty and twisted plot and intriguing characters I can't wait to see what happens next!

I am absolutely loving this first book in a brand new series. I would even go as far as saying this is the authors best book yet.

The story line had me gripped from the off. I mean having serial killers for parents? Well obviously you know that things are going to be very interesting to say the least and I wasn't disappointed. Amy is such a great character and the fact that she is in the police force makes her true parentage even harder to come to terms with.

So many crime books tend to have men as the baddies so it was really refreshing to have a woman in that role. Lillian from first meeting her, I loathed but in the same breath I was fascinated wanting to know more and how she could do what she had. She is very much a manipulator and you can feel Amy's frustrations with having to deal with her.

There are quite a few twists and turns which really keeps you on your toes and I literally could not put the book down from picking it up. I basically read this book in one afternoon as I was well and truly hooked and I had to know how everything was going to end. This was such a fantastic start to a new series and I loved getting to know the team. I have no idea how the author will top this but I will be counting the days until her next one is out.

Truth And Lies is a heart stopping and enthralling read that grabs you from the very first page and keeps you there until the very last. Brilliant!

A great thriller by Mitchell. Amy Winter is a superb character coupled with a great plot line. Worth the read.

DI Any Winter is not having a good day. The unexpected death of her father and the arrival of a letter from Lillian Grimes turns her orderly world upside down. Amy knows she was adopted but has pushed away all memories of her early life. Lillian and Jack Grimes were called the 'Beasts of Brentwood' as they were serial killers responsible for the deaths of many women. They are also Amy's biological parents, a fact that Amy has been able to repress. Lillian will share the locations of three of their victims, but only with Amy and only on her terms.
Amy wants nothing to do with her biological mother, but if she ignores Lillian's demands, three families desperate for closure will suffer. Amy chooses to do the right thing for the victim's families but at what personal cost. Long buried memories begin to surface and it is possible that the past will destroy Amy's future. Just what kind of cruel and twisted game is Lillian playing?
I really liked the characters, especially Amy and Paddy(a member of her team). While the tone of the book is serious(serial killers and abduction) there is also humor throughout and this was a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Truth and Lies is the first book I've read by Caroline Mitchell and it won't be my last. If you enjoy a good twisty mystery, I would recommend this book.
I received an ARC of this book from Amazon Publishing UK and Thomas & Mercer through NetGalley.

Thankyou to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Caroline Mitchell for the opportunity to read an advanced readers copy of Truth And Lies.
I am reeling after finishing this book. This is not the first novel I have read from this author, but this book is clearly the best she has written to date. I love the lead female character and cannot wait to see where Ms Mitchell takes her next.
The storyline was well thought out and fast paced with an ending I did not see coming. I am usually able to deduce the plot early on in a novel, but this one had me stumped ( not an easy thing to do. Lol. )
If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. most definitely, highly recommend this book for lovers of unpredictable, unputdownable thrillers. And don't make the mistake of picking it up to start reading If you have anything planned for your day. I read tis book through the night. Thankfully I didn't have to worry about working the next day.

I have read quite a few books from Caroline over the years and enjoyed them all, the first being Paranormal Intruder and I just love the way she writes.

In my opinion this is a different sort of read which soon draws you into the storyline making it a gripping read and an excellent page turner.

If you are looking for a good read I recommend you give it a try.

A fast paced suspenseful book as detective Amy tries to solve a young girls kidnapping all while trying to solve another cold case. Amy follows in her adoptive father's footsteps to become a police officer/detective. Amy knew she was adopted but didn't really know or remember the circumstances as how she came to live with her new parents at the age of 4. After receiving a bizarre letter in the mail Amy realizes that her biological parents were "The beasts" who murdered and buried a number of young women. Amy's bio mother offers to tell her where the bodies are buried in return if Amy tries to prove that her mom was innocent of the murders, and that her father was the cause of all the brutality. This book is one of those you can't put down as you try to solve the mysteries with Amy.

Well, unputdownable is one way to describe this OUTSTANDING latest novel from Caroline Mitchell! Seriously this one absolutely blew my mind!

When 15-year-old Hermione Parker goes missing there is a race to find her and just what connection can she have to a cold case over 30 years old?  Perfectly plotted and intertwined the two stories are bright together in a way that makes total sense. There was a point where I wanted to shake Amy and tell her to confess her identity to her superiors but then we wouldn't have had the rest of the story would we!

Amy Winter finds out a secret about her past;  it is about to shatter her life into a thousand pieces. She has a choice to make and no matter which option she takes it will mean reopening old wounds for her. With a dark and heartbreaking start, Truth and Lies is reminiscent of the Fred and Rosemary West and Moors murders case, hard-hitting but not gratuitous it leaves you in no doubt as to the kind of woman we are dealing with when we are introduced to Lillian Grimes!

Caroline Mitchell has a knack of writing bold and convincing characters and Amy Is no different, there is an authenticity about her that allows the reader to connect and that back story means that immediately the reader is drawn in and wanting to find out more. It satisfies our desire for the macabre, our need for crime and psychological thrillers that crawl under our skin and stay there! In Truth and Lies, Caroline Mitchell satisfies this need and beyond!

Paddy is Amy's DS and boy is he a man with a secret! There's something endearing  about him from the start and you kind of understand why he's living the life he does. I found these scenes involving Paddy's secret to be extremely powerful in their delivery and that's all I'm saying so as not to give any secrets away.

When Amy first meets her biological mother, Lillian, in prison I could feel myself recoil and the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Lillian Grimes will make your skin crawl for sure. The stench of evil was captured perfectly. As Lillian manipulates Amy into doing what she wants in return for information about the missing girls it will get right under your skin. She's evil and Caroline Mitchell has got her character down to a T. The characterisation in this novel is outstanding and the author brings each of them to life skillfully and realistically.

It would be easy to criticise Amy for not divulging her true identity, however, looking at it from her perspective not only did she feel a sense of responsibility to the families of the murdered girls but she also felt a sense of guilt by association as well as a very real fear of rejection from her colleagues and peers should get background be discovered. All combined gave a better understanding of why she did what she did.

The flashbacks to 1986 were profoundly disturbing as we watched events unfold through the eyes of Amy as a child. The horrors, never graphically described, struck me to the core. This one has it in bucketfuls dysfunctional families, guilt, lies and dark secrets. It explores domestic abuse, manipulation and online trolling. The book does it so well.

This story catches your attention and does not let go until the very end, it is written with a depth of knowledge and understanding and characters are brought to life before you. Some you will warm to, some will repulse you and some will manipulate your mind...be warned. Just when you think Caroline Mitchell has reached her best she smacks you right between the eyes with something even better! This is police procedural/psychological noir at it's best, it draws you in and spits you out at the end a broken mess!

review will be on my blog as part of the blog tour

Now THAT is what I am talking about!!!! What a fantastic start to a new series!

DI Amy Winter's is quite the interesting character. This book starts with a bang and doesn't let up. The 1985 chapters were captivating. Amy is dealt a blow when everything she has ever known comes crashing down around her after her father dies. Bits and pieces are interspersed throughout of her past as memories start to resurface. How intriguing! .

"The Beasts of Brentwood" a serial killer couple convicted for the murder of young women, including one of their daughters. What role do they play in Amy's life? Well well well..... Bravo to the author! What some authors lack for me is an interesting character with a past that pulls you in and wants you to continue reading about them, not so with this author/series. I cannot wait to read more!

Fast paced, well written, intriguing, twisty, I will eagerly be waiting for the next book in this series!

A big thank you to Amazon Publishing/Thomas & Mercer/NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

This was a riveting novel that kept me hooked from the first page. Imagine finding out that your birth parents were actually two of the most famous serial killers of modern time and your mother wants to meet you. This is how the book starts and it takes you on a journey as our heroine tries to find the bodies of some of their victims as well as looking for another missing girl at the same time. I loved this book and look forward to the next one

I will start by saying I am pleased to see this advertised as Amy WInter (book1) which means there are more books planned. Great! I like Amy as a main character, with her intriguing back story. I am guessing there will be more that comes out in future books. I won't give too much away but I look forward to seeing how the different relationships develop. So overall, good story, good characters, good twists, What more could you want.

"In 1987, Lillian Grimes, nicknamed the beasts of Brentwood, was sentenced to life in prison for her part in the murders of nine young women." Six of those bodies had been recovered. Three families were still having to deal with the fact that their loved one had never been found, never been properly put to rest. Jack Grimes was the other beast, and he died in prison before he could tell. And Lillian wasn't talking. Until now. Lillian is convinced the police manipulated the evidence, and wants someone to help clear her conviction. And she knows just who should help her- DI Amy Winters.

Amy was shocked when a letter arrived from Lillian in prison. She knew she'd been adopted, but until now, she had no idea just what kind of life she had left behind. All those nightmares she'd been having- well they may have been memories. And if she wants to get the location of the remaining bodies, if she wants to get some closure for the remaining families- then she's going to have to play Lillian's game.

This was my first book by Caroline Mitchell. I'm not police, nor am i British, but it sure felt realistic as i read it. I thought Lillian Grimes was so well written. Her lies felt like truths. you might have fallen to her side if you didnt have Amy's memories. I appreciated that they were written in a way clearly depicted the depravity of the couple, yet didnt leave you needing to calm your stomach. . i thought the use of social media was very relevant and realistic. I liked the side characters, especially Paddy.Also, i did not form a strong opinion about who kidnapped Hemmy. Usually, i figure it out pretty early., but not this time. Not only that, there was a pretty big thing that i didnt see coming! This was was fast paced, well written, and hard to put down. I'm curious to see where the series goes next.

Thanks to Netgalley/ Amazon Publishing / Caroling Mitchell for this ARC

This has gone straight in to my top ten books this year. Wow! Totally gripped from the very first chapter right to the end. I loved Amy's character what she had to go through and overcome. I lived the twist at the end it made me smile.
I think this would make a brilliant film

Truth and Lies

The start of a brand new series featuring D I Amy Winters. Adopted from the age 4 by Robert and Flora Winters, Amy grows up in a loving happy home eventually following her adoptive father Roberts footsteps into the police force. With a knack for understanding, cracking and bringing down serial killers D I Winters is exceptional at her job, not actually knowing that serial killers blood is running through her veins. Amy receives a letter from prolific child killer Lillian Grimes claiming to be her birth mother and promising to reveal the location of three victims - but Amy has to play along to her twisted games first. Brilliant start to a new series. I can’t wait for the next instalment !

Truth and Lies. Caroline Mitchell


Straight off, I loved this book.

Take a sprinkling of Fred and Rose West and add a pinch of Myra Hindley and there you have the main villain in this book.

Lillian Grimes is in prison for being one half of a husband and wife team that went from swinging to killing. Carrying out deprived sex attacks and killing their victims after luring them into their home. The victims were buried in the garden, under the cellar floor, and in the walls.

Lillian’s husband killed himself in prison but had already told police there were three other victims. He named them but didn’t say where they were buried.

Now Lillian is using that to her advantage. She wants to drip the information to detectives, but she has a price.

DI Amy Winter is a pocket rocket of a detective. At 5”2 she is not very tall but don’t ever underestimate her.

Amy’s dad was one of the cops who put Lillian in prison, his recent death has left a hole, but she is determined to carry on.

When Lillian gets in touch and says she will only deal with Amy, and will take her to the first burial site, Amy has no idea of the effect it’s going to have on her.

As Lillian plays her mind games a young girl is kidnapped. Amy and her team should be concentrating on the kidnapping, but Amy’s head is with the missing bodies and the revelations Lillian keeps making.

This book is tremendous. I can’t remember a book ever having me hooked so quickly, and keeping me hooked so thoroughly until the very last page.

Caroline Mitchell is an ex-Detective and her experience always shines through in the reality of her books; but this book has taken it to another level.

The tension is brilliant. The inter-weaving of the plot lines make the story play out wonderfully.

The reference to Fred and Rose, and Myra Hindley, at the beginning of this blog are not waffle. The crimes Lillian has been convicted of are Fred and Rose’s crimes, or bloody close to them. The fact that Hindley also tried to curry favour by taking the police to the moors to show where the bodies of some of the victims were buried, is also very reminiscent of Lillian’s behaviour.

But there was something else that Rose West and Myra Hindley had in common, and so has Lillian.

What an utterly compelling read. One that had me doing my own research to see if my thoughts were right. Just my kind of book.

Oh, and there’s a twist right at the end. Please let there be a sequel. I want to know what happens next.

Pages: 348
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publishing Date: 30th August 2018.

Wow just wow . The word twisted is not enough for this story. It's dark it's twisted and it's emotional. Brilliant writing I can't wait for the next part to this series

Truth and Lies is a brilliant dark crime thriller. DI Amy Winter was adopted at the age of 4 year by a police officer and his wife, she followed her father into the force and has made a name for herself as an excellent detective. Her father was instrumental in discovering and sending to prison serial killers Jack and Lillian Grimes.
After receiving a letter sent from prison by Lillian Grimes Amy discovers she was their daughter and was taken into care after shocking discoveries at their home and their subsequent inprisonment. Lillian writes if Amy comes to visit her in prison she will tell her where the remains of 3 missing girls bodies are to give their families final peace.
The reader is given flashbacks to what Amy starts remembering of her horrific childhood which are frightening and heartbreaking.
So starts a fight against time to find the bodies and also a missing 15 year old that has been kidnapped that Amy is sure is somehow linked to her evil birth mother.
Whilst Lillian is manipulating Amy there are a cast of other well thought out characters all adding to the depth of this book. The pace is relentless, with some twists I didn't see coming
A great read and I really look forward to reading more books involving DI Winter.
My thanks to net galley and publisher for opportunity to review this book honestly.

I received an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!!!!

I devoured this book in 24hrs. Well written with deep characters that draw you in to their world.
Good twist that I didn't see coming.
Scarily thought provoking as to how one person can affect another person's life, and those around them, so profoundly.
I was left with questions at the end of the book and I imagine that's what the author wanted, just to get you thinking.
Would highly recommend this book a d I will be looking out for more books from this author.

How much can the world expect one person to go through in such a small amount of time. The stunted cycle of grief that Amy has to deal with within the first forty pages of the book shape the rest of the story. She has to fortify herself to gut her way through the mess that is now her life, her job, and her past. There are so many people out there that have years to wait to have to work through baggage that has been set aside, but to have it be decades and so much of a life lived. To then go back to something so painful and realize you are not who you thought you were and your identity has to shift with all the memories that come with this new knowledge. You feel so much of what Amy is going through and that is credited to the author, Caroline Mitchell and Truth and Lies is a great beginning to the DI Amy Winter series. I cannot wait for the next book to come out and am so thankful to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I am completely over books with Lies, Secrets, Girl and Sister in the title, so was not going to request this, but having seen several 5 star reviews from GR friends, and having a weakness for tormented female detective series, went ahead, and I am very glad I did.

In some ways a fairly standard British police procedural, the hook here is that DI Amy Winter is the daughter of an infamous pair of serial killers, responsible for the murders of a series of young women and girls in the mid-eighties. Adopted by the detective leading the case when she was four, Amy has repressed all her memories of her time with her birth parents, but when she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes from prison, offering to reveal the location of three remaining bodies in exchange for a meeting, and vulnerable from the recent death of her Dad, she begins to remember some of the trauma, including the murder of her older sister, Sally-Anne. Meanwhile, her team are searching for a kidnapped teenager, whose captors have not asked for a ransom, but instead seem to be seeking Lilian's release...

I like thrillers where the writing is good enough not to become a distraction: there are enough descriptions to get a sense of what everyone looks like, and the atmosphere of specific locations, where relevant, without feeling the need to describe every room the heroine enters, or every cup of coffee she drinks. This was very well plotted, with a cast of suspects wide enough not to be able to work out whodunnit, but not so many as to be confusing. Some of Amy's team members are dealing with their own problems, some are arseholes, and some will hopefully be developed further in future books. We hear enough about Lillian's crimes to understand what a monster she is, but there is no gratuitously described violence or sexual abuse. Hemmy the kidnapped girl was spunky enough to make me care about her plight, and I am happy to report that the cat survives, and nothing bad happens to Amy's pug either.

The author is a former detective herself, which showed in the processes and relationships of the investigation. I will look forward to the next book in this series and am happy to match my friend's five stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon UK publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This book had me from the very beginning. I love that it kept me engaged the entire time. I couldn't wait to see how it ended. I would highly recommend to all my fellow readers. Thank you for the chance to review this book!

Detective Inspector Amy Winter has always wanted to be like her father - a great cop and an inspiration to all. She has followed in his footsteps all the way and now heads a special crimes unit that deals with serial killers and the lowest of the low in the crime world. She has a reputation for understanding criminals like nobody else, which has always made her question why.

Lillian Grimes is one half of the ‘Beasts of Brentwood’, a murderous husband and wife duo who tortured and killed numerous women and girls in the 1980s. Amy’s father put them away, but now that Robert Winter is dead, Lillian is reaching out to Amy to reveal a secret that will change Amy’s life forever.

Intermingled with her personal struggles is Amy’s wish to fulfil her father’s legacy and locate the bodies of the last three victims of the Brentwood murders. Plus, a new kidnapping has emerged; the daughter of a local celebrity has gone missing, but what does it have to do with Lillian Grimes and her games?

For the full review, please visit: https://vocal.media/authors/lestat-de-lioncourt

This was one crazy ride! I liked it and look forward to the next one (this is the beginning of a series). The characters, plot, and dialogue were interesting. There were quite a few twists, maybe more than necessary? Towards the end, I started to feel as though everything was tied together too nicely, unrealistically. Some twists were more obvious and others not so much. The epilogue was perfect.

This my first read by this author. I see that she was was a former detective and this apparent as her work feels authentic. I will definitely check out more of her work and would recommend you do too!

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Amazon Publishing for a copy in exchange for a review.

Truth and Lies is the first book in a new series by Caroline Mitchell and the first book that I have read by this author.

The main character, DI Amy Winters, has a secret. Her biological parents were serial killers and now her mum had got in touch with her. Simultaneously a 15 year old girl has gone missing. What is the link? Is there a link?

The book then follows Winters as she tries to solve this mystery and hopefully prevent another death.

It is a fast moving story with a number of twists and turbos that will keep you reading. The ending also opens up various options for the follow up book.

Thoroughly recommended

Detective Inspector Amy Winter is the adopted daughter of a highly respected policeman. All she wants is to be as good a law enforcement officer as her father was; someone he would have been proud to call his daughter. Sadly Amy’s father has just passed away as this opening story starts. Amy is in for the shock of her life. It is broken to her by renowned criminal Lillian Grimes, one half of the psychopathic team of murderers known as ‘The Beasts of Brentwood’, killer of nine young women. The letter came from prison and began a whirlwind of activity. Lillian offers to reveal the burial places of 3 of her husband’s victims. Of course she claims to be innocent and wrongfully sentenced to life imprisonment. She tells Amy the truth of her parenthood; she, Lillian Grimes is her birth mother. Her father is dead. What a jaw-dropper!
This chilling thriller is a roller-coaster of a ride. I loved every minute of it with all its twisty turns, dark alleyways and an ample scattering of red herrings. I thought Amy was a fantastic character and I am already looking forward to finding out more about her. I think Caroline Mitchell’s writing is superb; tight, complex yet totally compelling and thoroughly enjoyable. It’s so hard to put it down. The characters in her story are expertly created and developed throughout the novel. It’s a must-read crime procedural with plenty of thrills and spills.
I received this novel through my membership of NetGalley and from publisher Thomas and Mercer, all in return for an honest review. It’s a 4.5* review from me. All the opinions are my own with no influence from other parties. It’s an excellent read for lovers of this genre

I'd give this book four stars for it's fast past and mystery details. I liked the protagonist who seemed to have what it takes to be a police detective. Her complicated personal life bleeds over into her investigations, and she is a well developed character. It was definitely a page turner. Some parts of it didn't seem believable, but I continued reading along because the plot moved so fast.

When I read what this book was about I thought what an intriguing story this might be little did I know this book would be great! Lillian and Jack were they really a murdering duo of serial killers or was Lillian just a pawn in her husband's sick fantasies? or was she the mastermind behind the torturing and killing of young girls? and now what is Lillian up to calling her daughter who is now a cop trying to get her to remember her past. Is it to reconcile? or does she have something more sinister up her sleeve? SO many questions and you really will need to start this book when you have time to just finish quickly because this book just grabs you from the first pages. Loved Amy Winter and glad to see this is book one in the series. Perfect suspenseful read. Loved it. Definitely would recommend to anyone who loves a great suspense book!!!

OH WOW what an outstanding introduction to the series DI Amy Winter. I’ve read books by Caroline Mitchell before but this is way up there in the top spot.

Amy was adopted at the age of 4 by a well respected police officer and his wife and following in his footsteps, Amy joined the force and has made quite a name for herself where serial killers are concerned, she seems to be able to get into their mind but has never been able to explain it.

After the sudden death of her father, Robert Winter, Amy is in turmoil, she receives a letter from prison from Lillian Grimes, one half of a husband/wife serial killer team nicknamed “the Beasts of Brentwood” who killed and raped young girls at their home. The content of the letter shatters Amy’s world as she knows it as Lillian is claiming to be her biological mother, can this be true? Lillian has requested a visit from Amy in return for the location of three of the last three victims of Lillian and Jack Grimes and be able to give their families peace. Can Amy put her own personal feelings aside to help them?

In the meantime, 15 year old Hemmy goes missing, how does this relate to Lillian Grimes or does it? Amy must play along with Lillian’s games to get to the truth and find out exactly what Lillian wants and find Hemmy before its too late!!!

This is a fast paced suspenseful thriller that will have you holding your breath and reading into the early hours, you just need to know and the twists, oh holy f***, absolutely brilliant. I can’t wait for the next book in the series and will definitely be recommending this to my friends and family.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and of course the very talented Caroline Mitchell for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Book one in a new series featuring DI Amy Winter and a promising start to this crime series. I love the author's books and this did not disappoint. I loved the character of Amy but Lillian left me wanting to murder her! A great cast of characters, just waiting to be developed, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader enthralled. Another sure fire winner from Caroline Mitchell. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC. I have no hesitation in recommending this new series of crime thrillers. Reviewed on Goodreads and Facebook with Amazon to follow on publication day.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the book in exchange for an honest review.
This is the first in the D I Amy Winter series and it was an excellent start to a police series. The book and storyline was totally engrossing and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I will read more by Caroline Mitchell.
Highly recommended.

A bit 'Fred & Rose West' but still a really good book. Compelling writing. Will definitely be reading book 2.

Blog Tour Review will be published 21/08/18 - http://readingruby.co.uk/truth-and-lies-by-caroline-mitchell

Caroline Mitchell is a seasoned author in her own write, having previously written an entire police-procedural series, which I have never read. However, when given the chance to join the Blog Tour for her newest release, ‘Truth and Lies’, I couldn’t resist.

The plot was enthralling, especially for a police procedural, which I am usually not the biggest fan of. However, this was a FAST moving thriller, which kept you on the edge of your seat! The race against time to find a missing teenage girl kept you needing to keep reading, and I absolutely devoured this one.

The jokes between Gladys and Paddy made it all the more enjoyable, and I actually laughed out loud at the line: “I want my headstone to offer free Wi-Fi, then they’ll come and visit me more often”.

Overall, I’d highly recommend that you check ‘Truth and Lies’ out if you’re looking for a new crime/thriller fiction to get into, especially as this is only the beginning of, what is shaping up to be, an incredible series.

Great writing, her plots always impress me!
Caroline Mitchell is one of those authors that goes to the top of my reading pile. Always fast-paced and very, very clever. She creates some seriously dark and scary stuff. I found it exciting in a dark way, I couldn’t stop reading.
The end of chapter five, goosebumps! The last chapter, double goosebumps!! Oh my word, it’s going to be a great series, getting to know a new team is always enjoyable too.
Amy’s background is very interesting indeed, and I liked how her thoughts and dreams became more meaningful as more about her past was revealed.
I liked Paddy and his side-story. And how his story fitted in as a piece of the jigsaw totally caught me out…brilliant.
Loved Dotty the Pug.
I cannot recommend all her work enough.
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK, Thomas & Mercer and Caroline Mitchell for the review copy in which I give my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this one, but it wasn't my favourite by Caroline Mitchell.
That said it was a good solid read, that I didn't want to put down, and couldn't wait to pick up again when I had to.
I'm intrigued to see what's next

Having read and loved all of this author's previous books, I was quite excited to see that she had started a new series. Even more so when I read the blurb. Even with the prevalence of the top cop having "family issues" relating to their current cases, I knew that given her track record, the author could pull it off; give me something that others lack.
Amy Winter just wanted to be as good a cop as her father. And, to date, she has been doing very well, reaching the rank of DI. But her world shatters when she receives a letter from Lillian Grimes, currently in prison for her part in a serial killer duo, responsible for a string of deaths along with her husband. It claims that she is Amy's biological mother and it is to her, and her alone, that she will divulge the resting places of her final three victims. But there are conditions...
Meanwhile, Hemmy, a young girl goes missing and Amy's colleagues go all in to try and find her. Amy is distracted, still reeling from the shock of the revelations of her personal life. When the two collide with the kidnappers demands for Lillian's release, Amy is torn between keeping her secret, bringing peace to Lillian's victim's relatives, and bringing the young girl home.
Well, this book hit the ground running and didn't let up until the end; delivering shock after shock as Amy's life is turned upside down and inside out. Forced to revisit a past that she has previously blocked, and reconnect to a family she didn't remember she had. All through emotional blackmail from her mother in exchange for information of where the bodies were buried. This stirs up memories and dreams in Amy as she comes to terms with who she was. There is definitely a lot going on and that's not even touching on poor Hemmy's plight. Where the past is important, a young girl's life is still at stake and Amy faces a race against time as she is forced to play Lillian's depraved games.
Everything you'd expect to find, and indeed need, in a book of this genre is present here. There are power struggles with some colleagues within the force and support from others. There is some great banter and humour which keeps the book balanced, especially with the crimes within being so nasty. Pacing is darned near perfect and I did like the part where the author recognises that there are actually more people working a case than are ever identified, working in the background, meaning that what is being told is kept moving in the foreground for the reader. That I guess stems from her real life experience, making the overall story feel more real.
I could also say so much about Amy but I think that it is best that other readers find her in their own time. She really does go through so much in this book and her development, even just within this first outing, is quite vast. Personally, I took to her from the beginning and, by the end, I had really got to like her and was quite sad when I had to leave her; well, until next time.
I mentioned already that there are a lot of books of this genre that feature the personal lives of the investigators infiltrating the cases that they are trying to solve. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of this, especially as it seems to be becoming the norm rather than the exception. But, here it is done very well indeed and with the way the past is brought into the present seamlessly, it really didn't matter to me. What will be interesting however is where the author takes the character of Amy in the next book. I for one will be very interested to see.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Caroline Mitchell has done it again!! DI Amy Winters is amazing and I love her already.... I hope this is the first of a long series about this strong but real detective with a past. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would not hesitate... this book is brilliant!!

This is a police procedural with a twist. Amy Winters wants nothing more than to follow in her highly respected police officer fathers footsteps. She has recently been promoted and life is going well for her. Until she gets a letter from Lillian Grimes - one half of the husband and wife serial killing team from prison. In this letter she tells Amy that she is her biological mother. She also says that she will tell her the location of 3 of her victims, but at a cost to Amy. Lillian is pure evil and likes to play mind games with people. Her world is rocked, so soon after losing her father she must decide what to do now.

Such a great story and a ending that has me hanging for book number 2. Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased

Truth and Lies builds suspense from page one. DC Amy Winters is reeling from the loss of her respected police officer father when a letter from a serial killer arrives. Amy's biological mother is one half of the couple labeled the Beasts of Brentwood, responsible for the deaths of nine young women. Amy struggles with her identity, wondering if her genetics disqualify her from police work. Lillian manipulates Amy into family reunions and unwanted memories while leading her to the burial sites of the still missing women. Each uncovered memory is a kick to the stomach as Amy remembers her traumatic first four years. A new high profile missing case is tossed to her team while Amy is jumping through hoops for the psycho who gave birth to her. The writing runs smooth, draws the reader in, and leaves you emotionally invested in the characters. Full of twists and unexpected surprises, the pages fly by before ending way too soon. Ms. Mitchell will be on my to read list for the foreseeable future and I am already impatient for the next DC Amy Winters novel. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy.

Wow, Wow, Wow.......More twists and turns than an alpine pass.
This is the first Caroline Mitchell book that I have read and I am already searching for her previous books.
Cant wait for the second in the series.

You have to read this book :)

This is the first book in a new series featuring DI Amy Winter.

As if the unexpected death of Amy's father, who she has loved and tried to emulate by going into law enforcement, isn't enough, she receives a letter that is even more upsetting. The letter is from a notorious serial killer named Lillian Grimes. Both Lillian and her husband, Jack, were sent to prison years ago for killing several young girls and women. As Amy reads the letter from Lillian Grimes she learns that both Lillian and Jack are her biological parents.

Amy is well aware that she was adopted, but since it happened at a young age, she's been able to block past memories. Her biological mother has agreed to reveal the spots where three of their earlier victims are buried in return for a few tasks directed by the twisted psychopath. Amy, the prominent DI, has no desire to have her true bloodline revealed, but at the same time is torn between wanting to do the right thing and protecting herself.

What Concerned Me: Absolutely nothing

What I Liked Most: This is an excellent author who knows how to develop characters, gives just the right amount of description, and keeps the story moving. Perhaps because Caroline Mitchell is a former police detective, the book rings true in many ways. This is the first thing I've read by Mitchell, but I'm sure it won't be the last.

Truth and Lies was very hard for me to put down, plus kept me jumping for answers. If you like thrillers you won't go wrong with this book! I highly recommend it.

Absolutely stunning! Wow this book kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat rapidly turning the pages., I really couldn’t get enough of it. A really really good book, loved it. Full of tension, suspense, twists and angst that made it hard to tear myself away from the book, and that ending, just wow! Highly recommended just brilliant.