S. F. Prescott

A chilling read!

Michael Wood is the author of the bestselling crime fiction series featuring DCI Matilda Darke and the new psychological thriller series featuring Dr Olivia Winter. As of 2024 there are twelve books in the Matilda Darke series and one Olivia Winter, with more planned for next year. He is also the author of three standalone psychological thrillers The Seventh Victim, Vengeance Is Mine and Chapter One (currently and Audible Original). He is constantly scribbling away and has many other projects up the sleeves of his duffel coat. When he’s not writing, he’s usually moaning about having little sleep and talking about his favourite biscuit on social media.

Published March 28th, 2024.

The book opens with a brutal scene. A serial killer attacks and murders a woman inside her home. I was hooked from the first chapter! The perspective of protagonist, Olivia Winter, was very compelling. The lone survivor of a serial killer who butchered both her mother and sister when she was only nine years old, just so happened to be her father. The trauma influenced her toward a life of studying killers and their motives, often putting herself in dangerous situations as a forensic psychiatrist. Wood writes her flashbacks in vivid and disturbing detail, including the newer crimes committed by the most recent killer she’s trying to catch.

I enjoyed reading from the other perspectives and felt that it added another layer of suspense to the story. Although Sam’s character stuck out as strange, I knew he wasn’t the killer. I was surprised when his behavior escalated over such a short period of time, and didn’t understand how Olivia could sympathize with him. It felt out of character for her and the story overall. The ending was satisfying, and the letter from her father was a nice set up for the next novel in the series, giving it an eerie vibe. Olivia’s love interest was a loose thread in the story and I was curious about their relationship, and if it will continue in the next book.

The pace started off fast and was steady for most of the book, however it lagged at times in the second half and near the end as a lot of her background information was revealed. It recovered in the final scenes, but I would have liked it to continue building right up until the last page. The author’s voice was strong and that’s the main reason I kept turning the pages. His writing style was vivid and I was pulled into the scenes every single time.

For readers who enjoy serial killer stories, complex female protagonists, twisty endings.

Synopsis:

A DARK PAST

Dr Olivia Winter is a forensic psychologist whose job is to understand the minds of serial killers. There’s only one monster she can’t understand, her father.

A NEW IDENTITY

Notorious and brutal, he held a reign of terror until he was caught. His nine-year-old daughter was supposed to be his last victim, but she survived.

A SERIAL KILLER WHO WILL STOP AT NOTHING

Now, a serial killer is stalking the streets of London. As the body count rises, the police need Olivia’s help to profile him before he can strike again. But to do so, she will need to confront her own demons…