The Mind of a Murderer (Dr Olivia Winter, Book 1)

By: Michael Wood

Narrated by: Olivia Mace

The best person to understand a serial killer is one of his victims. Meet Dr Olivia Winter.

‘I was hooked from the first page… mind-blowing and gripping. I am eagerly awaiting the next instalment’ Angela Marsons

‘Chilling, unnerving [and] pacey’ John Marrs

‘A searingly intense, utterly captivating character-driven thriller, and destined to be one of 2024’s most memorable pieces of crime fiction’ B P Walter

‘Perfectly paced – intriguing and relentless through to a pitch perfect conclusion’ Will Shindler

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…

The pulse-pounding brand new thriller from the bestselling author of the Matilda Darke series is available now!

***

Are you ready to join Olivia Winter as she takes on the hunt for a serial killer?

‘A master of horror and suspense’

‘This twisty tale of murder and mayhem is mind-blowing'

‘Outstanding’

‘Definitely not for the faint-hearted'

‘PHENOMENAL'

‘So compulsive'

‘Full of twists you didn’t see coming'

‘The very definition of a deftly paced, high stakes thriller'

‘A must-read'

‘Excellent plotting'

‘I’ll be surprised if I read a better book this year'

‘My heart was in my mouth'

‘I could not put it down'

‘Real characters, fast plot and dark side'

©2024 Michael Wood (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

‘Dark, devious and shot through with a mounting sense of tense unease, this is Michael Wood at his best.’ Neil Broadfoot

‘As cosy as a hug from Jeffrey Dahmer’ David Jackson

Questionable

Positives - the overarching premise of the book is decent, however the narration holds everything together. .

Negatives - The characters are simple, clichéd, cardboard cutouts. The Incel, the devorced cop, the "fragile" forensic scientist that turns to sex as a distraction.

Many questionable things happen most notibly the DCI asking a victim out on a date hours after her surviving an attempted rape.

A spectacular story of survival and redemption!

Michael Wood's “The Mind of a Murderer” is exquisitely presented with suspenseful storytelling. (Wood is a favorite of mine.) From the opening chapter, I was hooked, and Olivia Mace’s exceptional narration only added to the experience. Dr. Olivia Winter, a forensic psychologist, is complex and intriguing. Her dark past, marked by her father's brutal crimes, makes her uniquely qualified to understand the minds of serial killers. But as she delves into the latest murder investigation, she confronts her own demons. Wood's writing is impeccable, weaving intricate layers of tension and suspense. This mystery is relentlessly devious, with each twist and turn expertly brought to the forefront, leaving me craving more. And that’s exactly what I received, thank you very much. This cast of characters are multi-dimensional and well-developed, with Olivia being a standout. Her struggles to resolve her past and present are captivating, making her a most relatable character. Mace's narration is too-notch, bringing the characters to life with her expert precision and flair. Her tone and pacing perfectly complement the story, adding to the tension and non-stop suspense. Overall, “The Mind of a Murderer” is an audictive thriller that kept me listening late into the night. With its intricate plot, complexellent characters and exceptional narration, it's a must-listen. Epic, indeed! I’m already looking forward to Book 2 in the Olivia Winter series, “The Devil’s Code.” Mr. Wood, I’m hoping you’re planning Book 3.

💥✍️👏🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍️💥

It was fine.

I’d pre-ordered this, with some trepidation as I’d (somewhat unreasonably I admit) taken against in Michael Wood for killing off half my favourite characters in another series (I DID say I was being unreasonable!) Anyway, I decided I’d get over myself and give his new series a go.

Having done so I have so many nitpicking niggles with it, with Olivia herself as a character, with her practice, the sex scenes …but basically it’s an ok book, overwritten and far too long, but ok. I didn’t love it and I don’t think I’ll be reading the second in the series, I certainly won’t be pre-ordering it. I realise I’m not being overly detailed about why it wasn’t for me, but I don’t want to leave spoilers.

The narration however was great. I had to speed it up just to get through it, but that wasn’t down to the narrator, just the length of the book and my desire to get through it.

Eh

It was ok, nothing great. Olivia did stupid things and got on my nerves. Not as good as his other books.