The Mind of a Murderer by Michael Wood Published by HarperCollins UK on March 28, 2024
Genres: Police Procedurals, Serial Killers
Series: Dr. Olivia Winter #1
Pages: 454
Format: ARC, eBook
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Buy on Amazon/Barnes & Noble
A DARK PAST
Dr Olivia Winter is a forensic psychologist whose job is to understand the minds of serial killers. Thereās only one monster she canāt 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 Oliviaās help to profile him before he can strike again. But to do so, she will need to confront her own demonsā¦
My Thoughts
The Mind of a Murderer is written by an author who makes readers sit on tenterhooks and hold their breaths out of suspense. The narrative revolves around forensic psychologist Dr. Olivia Winter, who has a dark secret: her dad is a notorious serial killer.
The book begins in a whirlwind as Olivia is awoken by the Police forcefully calling her and asking for help tracking down their newest serial killer, who has left London quaking. As the body count increases and Police seek answers, Olivia must confront her demons.
Olivia is very complicated and imperfect; her personality should be watched closely. She is a forensic psychologist who has dedicated all her life to studying the minds of serial killers, but she does not know how to understand her father.
Throughout the book, Wood uses such a biting and haunted tone of narration that it imprints uncertainty and suspense. Here, the tension builds up slowly as the death toll rises, and Olivia gets closer to the actual reason behind it. This is just perfect pacing. The storyline is highly inventive and full of surprises that get the reader thinking all the way through.
The biggest strength of “The Mind of a Murderer” is Wood’s ability to delve into what makes up minds belonging to serial killers; several weaknesses lie within it. It is evident that the author has done his research and accurately represents what happens.
To summarize, “The Mind of a Murderer” is an interesting and exciting book in the thriller genre. It may be fascinating for readers until the end. Thus, the franchise for this genre is interesting due to its detailed portrayal of characters, setting, and plot, and it is a must-read for all fans. Prepare yourself to be exhilarated and creeped the hell out.
Thank you to HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
About Michael Wood
I am Michael Wood, author of the Sheffield based crime fiction series featuring DCI Matilda Darke. As of 2022 there are ten books in the series and an eleventh will be released in 2023. I’m also the author of two standalone psychological thrillers that are available exclusively with Audible called The Seventh Victim and Vengeance Is Mine. I am constantly scribbling away and have many other projects up the sleeves of my duffel coat. When I’m not writing, I’m usually moaning about having little sleep and talking about my favourite biscuit on social media. Look me up on Facebook (MichaelWoodBooks), Twitter (@MichaelHWood) and Instagram (MichaelWoodBooks). I’m a massive fan of reading crime fiction as I like to keep an eye on the competition and wondering if I can steal any of their ideas, give the characters a Sheffield accent, and pass them off as my own original creation. Happy reading.
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