★★★★★

Third in the DI Amy Winter series, this gripping thriller is not one to miss. Admittedly, I haven't read the first two but this can be read as a stand-alone novel. However, I'll definitely be going back to catch up on those because I'm already craving more. 

While shopping with her sister, DI Amy Winter discovers one particular mannequin is a little too lifelike. Blood oozes from the mouth and the eyelids are held with sellotape to stay open. This is no stunt. 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. But what exactly does he want from Amy? Is she as much at risk as the killer's victims?

The character of Amy is brilliantly written. She's realistic, isn't afraid to stand up for what she believes is right, and is straight to the point. A former police detective herself, I imagine Mitchell has allowed her own experiences to come through in the way Amy thinks and reacts. It's a unique piece of knowledge to have that gives the character more depth. As well as tracking down the murderer, there is a secondary plot that focuses on Amy's personal life but it doesn't steer away from the main story line, which I appreciate.

Mitchell's style of writing is one of my favourites. We aren't given too much description straight away or have an excessive amount of details thrown in our face, which can sometimes make books feel almost overwhelming. It's enough to keep the reader interested and craving more, turning the page fast enough so no time is wasted in finding out what happens next. It's simply that captivating. With short chapters throughout that switch between three different characters, it's easy to pick up and read whenever you have a spare few minutes. In spite of there being multiple characters' point of view, things don't get muddled up, which is something I have experienced with other books. Mitchell does a wonderful job at keeping things unpredictable; when you think you have a clear picture of where things are going, she pulls out another twist that leaves you shocked and begging for answers.

There is one particular chapter I think deserves a mention, but to avoid spoilers I'll keep things brief. Chapter 30 is short yet affected me the most. It's heartbreaking in so many ways and gives the reader a completely new level of understanding for certain characters. Was that Mitchell's intention, to rip our hearts out? Maybe. Maybe not. But it happened and I love her for it.

In short, Left For Dead offers a great plot, well-developed characters and an ending to satisfy everyone.

Left For Dead is available to pre-order now from Amazon before it's July 8 release!

*I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.