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D.I. Kim Stone #13
Deadly Cry
You have to stop me from hurting anyone else. I don’t want to do these horrible things. Help me before I’m forced to do it again. And I will do it again because I have no choice. I’ve never had a choice.
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son missing.
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery.
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists.
But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is… with whom?
And if Kim doesn’t find them soon, another innocent soul will die.
The multi-million-copy bestselling Detective Kim Stone series is every bit as addictive, original and exciting as readers say and you’ll be hooked from the very first page. Nobody does it better than the Queen of Crime, Angela Marsons.
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son missing.
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery.
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists.
But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is… with whom?
And if Kim doesn’t find them soon, another innocent soul will die.
The multi-million-copy bestselling Detective Kim Stone series is every bit as addictive, original and exciting as readers say and you’ll be hooked from the very first page. Nobody does it better than the Queen of Crime, Angela Marsons.
373 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2020
2751 people are currently reading
2392 people want to read
About the author
Angela Marsons
45 books4,962 followersAngela is the author of the Kim Stone Crime series. She discovered a love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained her the only merit point she ever got.
Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.
She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.
Angela is now signed to write a total of 16 Kim Stone books for http://bookouture.com and has secured a print deal with Bonnier Zaffre Publishing.
Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.
She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.
Angela is now signed to write a total of 16 Kim Stone books for http://bookouture.com and has secured a print deal with Bonnier Zaffre Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 671 reviews
October 12, 2020
13th in the ever popular DI Kim Stone series, and it’s clear that Angela Marsons has bought all the red herrings at her local fish market, because she’s used them to maximum effect in Deadly Cry!
Katrina, a young mother, has gone missing whilst on a shopping trip with her daughter. The child is discovered crying and distraught, clutching her teddy bear, but sadly, some hours later, Katrina’s body is found - her neck had been broken. Who on earth would want to kill a mother out shopping with her young daughter?
Kim needs to get some answers, but a few days into the investigation, another young mother is found dead with a broken neck. This time around though, her 6 year old son who was with her, is missing. This news shocks Kim to the core - not only are they looking for a killer, but it looks like the perpetrator has abducted the little boy too!
Kim knows that time is of the essence if they’re to find the missing child, and when she begins to receive letters from the killer pleading with her to stop him killing again, it’s all systems go for the team - objectives - to find the child and bring him home safely, and to comply with the killer’s wishes to stop him doing it again!
Despite the gravity of this case, there’s still some banter between Kim and her team, which adds much needed lightness and joy to the proceedings, however, amongst all this lively and amusing dialogue, is a really moving scene involving Penn and his brother Jasper, and it was written so beautifully and with such poignancy, that it left me an emotional wreck. Exceptionally well done Ms Marsons!
I also love how she continues her character development in terms of both the personal and professional growth of her team members, especially Penn and Stacey this time around. Stacey is proving to be immensely capable, and she looks to have a highly successful career ahead of her. Another winner for Angela Marsons in this highly addictive series!
*My thanks to Bookouture for an ARC for which I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
Katrina, a young mother, has gone missing whilst on a shopping trip with her daughter. The child is discovered crying and distraught, clutching her teddy bear, but sadly, some hours later, Katrina’s body is found - her neck had been broken. Who on earth would want to kill a mother out shopping with her young daughter?
Kim needs to get some answers, but a few days into the investigation, another young mother is found dead with a broken neck. This time around though, her 6 year old son who was with her, is missing. This news shocks Kim to the core - not only are they looking for a killer, but it looks like the perpetrator has abducted the little boy too!
Kim knows that time is of the essence if they’re to find the missing child, and when she begins to receive letters from the killer pleading with her to stop him killing again, it’s all systems go for the team - objectives - to find the child and bring him home safely, and to comply with the killer’s wishes to stop him doing it again!
Despite the gravity of this case, there’s still some banter between Kim and her team, which adds much needed lightness and joy to the proceedings, however, amongst all this lively and amusing dialogue, is a really moving scene involving Penn and his brother Jasper, and it was written so beautifully and with such poignancy, that it left me an emotional wreck. Exceptionally well done Ms Marsons!
I also love how she continues her character development in terms of both the personal and professional growth of her team members, especially Penn and Stacey this time around. Stacey is proving to be immensely capable, and she looks to have a highly successful career ahead of her. Another winner for Angela Marsons in this highly addictive series!
*My thanks to Bookouture for an ARC for which I have given an honest unbiased review in exchange*
October 16, 2020
A Killer Without A Motive. A Crime Without Passion? What kind of killer is this?
DI Kim Stone and her team are thrown when an innocent young mother is murdered for no apparent reason. When another young mother is killer a day later, the team finds themselves at a loss. With the help of some old frenemies, the team identifies a crafty and powerful murderer.
I read this series for the team: Kim, Bryant, Stacey, and Penn. In this addition, Penn is struggling with a loss. Stacey finally seems happy, and Kim and Bryant were pretty calm. My biggest complaint about this book is that there was not enough of the team featured. My favorite moments were scenes when they all worked together, but my overall favorite scene involved Penn and his brother Jasper.
The mysteries were not my favorite. They usually lure me in, but this time, I felt a lack of connection. However, the team kept me motivated to find out what in the world was going on. I was thrown a bit when all was revealed.
Overall, this was another solid installment to the series. While not a favorite, it was still really good. It’s fast-paced and sharply written. In the next book, I want more Kim, more Stacey, more Bryant, and, especially, more of Penn!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
DI Kim Stone and her team are thrown when an innocent young mother is murdered for no apparent reason. When another young mother is killer a day later, the team finds themselves at a loss. With the help of some old frenemies, the team identifies a crafty and powerful murderer.
I read this series for the team: Kim, Bryant, Stacey, and Penn. In this addition, Penn is struggling with a loss. Stacey finally seems happy, and Kim and Bryant were pretty calm. My biggest complaint about this book is that there was not enough of the team featured. My favorite moments were scenes when they all worked together, but my overall favorite scene involved Penn and his brother Jasper.
The mysteries were not my favorite. They usually lure me in, but this time, I felt a lack of connection. However, the team kept me motivated to find out what in the world was going on. I was thrown a bit when all was revealed.
Overall, this was another solid installment to the series. While not a favorite, it was still really good. It’s fast-paced and sharply written. In the next book, I want more Kim, more Stacey, more Bryant, and, especially, more of Penn!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
November 16, 2020
EXCERPT: I did it. I killed her, and there was a satisfaction to the twist of the neck that was morbidly gratifying for me. A slight thing, she didn't put up much of a fight, but it wouldn't have mattered if she had. She was going to die regardless.
ABOUT 'DEADLY CRY': In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son missing.
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery.
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists.
But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is… with whom?
And if Kim doesn’t find them soon, another innocent soul will die.
MY THOUGHTS: 13 books, and Marsons still gets me every time! You know how some books are promoted with the claim 'massive twist you won't see coming!' . . . there's no need for Marsons to claim this, but that is what you get. Unexpected, well executed twists, a gripping suspenseful plot, and our favourite characters complete with all their idiosyncrasies and shared histories. So, there's a clue. This is book #13 in a series. You might read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it. But I guarantee that you will get a lot more from Deadly Cry if you start this series from the beginning. It is a series where the first book is really good, and each successive book is even better.
DI Kim Stone is the focus of this series. I didn't much like her initially, but the writing and the plotting were superb, so I continued with the series. Since then I have become quite fond of Kim. She doesn't have much of a filter. What she thinks she tends to say. Occasionally she will demonstrate great restraint, but only occasionally, and the stakes have to be high. She can be very rude, to everyone. Even her friends, her team. She doesn't discriminate. She admits to not being good at playing nice, not even with her dog who is her best friend. She has a love/hate relationship with pathologist Keats, who gives as good as he gets. Their mutually disparaging banter provides some light relief in amongst the tension and suspense. Kim must drive her boss, DCI Woodward, totally insane with her total disregard for authority, although he has enough trust in her to give her free rein when she seems to need it most.
Regulars, Stacey, Bryant and Penn, Kim's back up team and the closest thing she has to friends, continue to support her and are joined by 'profiler' Alison (read this book and you will understand why I have placed 'profiler' in quotation marks), who also appeared in the previous book. I hope that we see more of her in the future. The characters personal lives take the back seat compared to the cases the team is working on, but there's enough going on with them to keep our interest in them as individuals and not just crutches for Kim.
I have finished Deadly Cry (previously titled 'Death Score') in less than 24 hours. I now have only one question - when can I have #14?
⭐⭐⭐⭐.8
#DeadlyCry #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Angela is the author of the Kim Stone Crime series. She discovered a love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained her the only merit point she ever got.
Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.
She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.
Angela is now signed to write a total of 16 Kim Stone books.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Deadly Cry (DI Kim Stone #13) by Angela Marsons for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
ABOUT 'DEADLY CRY': In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son missing.
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery.
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists.
But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is… with whom?
And if Kim doesn’t find them soon, another innocent soul will die.
MY THOUGHTS: 13 books, and Marsons still gets me every time! You know how some books are promoted with the claim 'massive twist you won't see coming!' . . . there's no need for Marsons to claim this, but that is what you get. Unexpected, well executed twists, a gripping suspenseful plot, and our favourite characters complete with all their idiosyncrasies and shared histories. So, there's a clue. This is book #13 in a series. You might read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it. But I guarantee that you will get a lot more from Deadly Cry if you start this series from the beginning. It is a series where the first book is really good, and each successive book is even better.
DI Kim Stone is the focus of this series. I didn't much like her initially, but the writing and the plotting were superb, so I continued with the series. Since then I have become quite fond of Kim. She doesn't have much of a filter. What she thinks she tends to say. Occasionally she will demonstrate great restraint, but only occasionally, and the stakes have to be high. She can be very rude, to everyone. Even her friends, her team. She doesn't discriminate. She admits to not being good at playing nice, not even with her dog who is her best friend. She has a love/hate relationship with pathologist Keats, who gives as good as he gets. Their mutually disparaging banter provides some light relief in amongst the tension and suspense. Kim must drive her boss, DCI Woodward, totally insane with her total disregard for authority, although he has enough trust in her to give her free rein when she seems to need it most.
Regulars, Stacey, Bryant and Penn, Kim's back up team and the closest thing she has to friends, continue to support her and are joined by 'profiler' Alison (read this book and you will understand why I have placed 'profiler' in quotation marks), who also appeared in the previous book. I hope that we see more of her in the future. The characters personal lives take the back seat compared to the cases the team is working on, but there's enough going on with them to keep our interest in them as individuals and not just crutches for Kim.
I have finished Deadly Cry (previously titled 'Death Score') in less than 24 hours. I now have only one question - when can I have #14?
⭐⭐⭐⭐.8
#DeadlyCry #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Angela is the author of the Kim Stone Crime series. She discovered a love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained her the only merit point she ever got.
Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.
She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.
Angela is now signed to write a total of 16 Kim Stone books.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Deadly Cry (DI Kim Stone #13) by Angela Marsons for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
September 30, 2020
Always a joy to read the latest in the terrific Angela Marson's West Midlands based crime series featuring the unforgettable DI Kim Stone and her brilliant police team. It's a quiet period and Kim is not best pleased when she is ordered to by her boss, DCI 'Woody' Woodward to attend an Emergency Planning Meeting (EPT) with Superintendent Lena Wiley, a woman with a certain reputation, agent Kate Sewell, and others. The meeting is to cover the protection detail of a Z-list celebrity, Tyra Brooks, a glamour model promoting her kiss and tell book about her life and affair with a married footballer that has brought her threats, raising concerns over her book signings and appearances. Kim has to leave when she gets the call about the discovery of the dead body of a mother, whose young daughter Mia had been left in a shopping centre, 25 year old Katrina Nock's neck has been broken.
So begins a taxing and most twisted of investigations for Stone and her team. Parallel to this, DC Stacey Wood has her wedding to Devon to plan and is working a cold case rape inquiry part time, a case that never went to court, where the police had problems with the victim's statement. The victim is reluctant to talk, but is clearly still emotionally traumatised by her experience, now living a walled off, locked up life, not mixing with the outside world. Stacey is a tenacious and determined investigator, and the more she digs, including into that of another rape case with a similar MO, the more it begins to emerge that it is going to be a hot potato of a case for the police. In the meantime, the team struggle with getting any leads in Katrina's murder, as Kim receives a letter from the killer saying he wants her help to stop him committing these heinous crimes. As other murders occur, and a child is abducted, Kim and her team have to push themselves to their very limits to make any progress at all.
As always, Marsen's gives us a absolutely riveting crime read, and in common with so many of her other books in this series, there is a theme, and here it is particular aspects of dysfunctional families, especially those lacking boundaries, and the troubling, degrading, and abusive relationships formed that can often prove to be impossible to break in future years, evolving and escalating to brutal and deadly levels, to a complete horror show. Kim finds herself unable to follow orders, potentially jeopardising her relationship with Woody and Bryant has no qualms about speaking truth to her about her behaviour towards the team. Stacey's development and progress is stellar, her growing confidence and ability is a joy to observe. This is another wonderfully entertaining and riveting crime read in this series, I love the wit and banter amongst the team, the rock solid relationships and developments in the police team, such as a griefstricken DS Penn trying to be strong for his brother, Jasper, and the insights provided into graphology in identifying personality traits. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
So begins a taxing and most twisted of investigations for Stone and her team. Parallel to this, DC Stacey Wood has her wedding to Devon to plan and is working a cold case rape inquiry part time, a case that never went to court, where the police had problems with the victim's statement. The victim is reluctant to talk, but is clearly still emotionally traumatised by her experience, now living a walled off, locked up life, not mixing with the outside world. Stacey is a tenacious and determined investigator, and the more she digs, including into that of another rape case with a similar MO, the more it begins to emerge that it is going to be a hot potato of a case for the police. In the meantime, the team struggle with getting any leads in Katrina's murder, as Kim receives a letter from the killer saying he wants her help to stop him committing these heinous crimes. As other murders occur, and a child is abducted, Kim and her team have to push themselves to their very limits to make any progress at all.
As always, Marsen's gives us a absolutely riveting crime read, and in common with so many of her other books in this series, there is a theme, and here it is particular aspects of dysfunctional families, especially those lacking boundaries, and the troubling, degrading, and abusive relationships formed that can often prove to be impossible to break in future years, evolving and escalating to brutal and deadly levels, to a complete horror show. Kim finds herself unable to follow orders, potentially jeopardising her relationship with Woody and Bryant has no qualms about speaking truth to her about her behaviour towards the team. Stacey's development and progress is stellar, her growing confidence and ability is a joy to observe. This is another wonderfully entertaining and riveting crime read in this series, I love the wit and banter amongst the team, the rock solid relationships and developments in the police team, such as a griefstricken DS Penn trying to be strong for his brother, Jasper, and the insights provided into graphology in identifying personality traits. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
October 30, 2020
"You have to stop me from hurting anyone else. I don't want to do these horrible things, I don't want to kill anyone, but I have no choice. You have to understand that I have no power to stop."
A killer who does not want to kill. A killer who wants to be stopped. DI Kim Stone has her hands full in this killer of a novel by Angela Marsons. This is book #13 a series which is still going strong! Kim Stone is a strong female character who has a sharp mind, a sharp tongue and will not stop until she gets to the bottom of things.
A young mother has gone missing at a busy shopping center. Her dead body is found later. What was the motive for killing her? Did the killer know the victim? Is this a random act of violence? Days later another victim is found. The killer writes a letter(s) to DI Stone. The plot thickens....
There is a lot going on in this book. Murders that do not make sense. There does not seem to be a rhyme or reason to the killings and what is with the scratches left on the bodies? How long has this killer been killing? How far back do these crimes go? Why does the killer want to be stopped?
Could this work as a stand-alone? Perhaps, but it is always so nice to see the continuing of each character’s storylines. The team is very likeable with great camaraderie and with each book we get to see them grow, fall in love, face hardships, grieve, form stronger bonds, get to know their loved ones, etc.
Another great installment!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
A killer who does not want to kill. A killer who wants to be stopped. DI Kim Stone has her hands full in this killer of a novel by Angela Marsons. This is book #13 a series which is still going strong! Kim Stone is a strong female character who has a sharp mind, a sharp tongue and will not stop until she gets to the bottom of things.
A young mother has gone missing at a busy shopping center. Her dead body is found later. What was the motive for killing her? Did the killer know the victim? Is this a random act of violence? Days later another victim is found. The killer writes a letter(s) to DI Stone. The plot thickens....
There is a lot going on in this book. Murders that do not make sense. There does not seem to be a rhyme or reason to the killings and what is with the scratches left on the bodies? How long has this killer been killing? How far back do these crimes go? Why does the killer want to be stopped?
Could this work as a stand-alone? Perhaps, but it is always so nice to see the continuing of each character’s storylines. The team is very likeable with great camaraderie and with each book we get to see them grow, fall in love, face hardships, grieve, form stronger bonds, get to know their loved ones, etc.
Another great installment!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 9, 2020
Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.
Murder victims are starting to pile up, and there seems to be no rhyme nor reason as to how they are being chosen. Can it really be that they are picked at random? DI Kim Stone and her team are going to need to have all systems engaged to solve this one. When the killer posts a letter to Kim, it is clear that the perp is desperate to end the bad behavior, but is unable to do it. A handwriting expert comes into play, as well as a behavioral expert. This story highlights just how fragile the human psyche can be.
At this point, Kim's crew is starting to feel like family. Stacey and Penn are puzzle solvers extraordinaire. You want them connecting the dots for you. The back and forth between Kim and Bryant is always a hoot. Kim seems slightly less acerbic-tongued, but make no mistake - she will still cut you off at the knees if she thinks you have it coming. Already looking forward to the next one. Keep 'em coming!
Murder victims are starting to pile up, and there seems to be no rhyme nor reason as to how they are being chosen. Can it really be that they are picked at random? DI Kim Stone and her team are going to need to have all systems engaged to solve this one. When the killer posts a letter to Kim, it is clear that the perp is desperate to end the bad behavior, but is unable to do it. A handwriting expert comes into play, as well as a behavioral expert. This story highlights just how fragile the human psyche can be.
At this point, Kim's crew is starting to feel like family. Stacey and Penn are puzzle solvers extraordinaire. You want them connecting the dots for you. The back and forth between Kim and Bryant is always a hoot. Kim seems slightly less acerbic-tongued, but make no mistake - she will still cut you off at the knees if she thinks you have it coming. Already looking forward to the next one. Keep 'em coming!
October 12, 2020
Kim Stone is one of my favorite DIs, so a new book in this series is cause to rejoice. She is prickly, opinionated, hard nosed and doesn’t put up with any BS. As she says “I’m barely able to play nice with my own dog and he’s my best friend.”
This time around, a killer is sending Kim letters asking her to stop him. And she’s being forced to deal with a pseudo celebrity arriving for a book signing and a possibly wrong rape conviction.
This is a great character driven series, with a complete team that engages me. All of the individuals have their issues, be it the loss of a family member or an upcoming wedding. My one issue was a hanging plotline concerning Penn and a “close” friend.
Marsons’ books move fast and pack a punch.
I recommend it for fans of Archer Mayor and Joy Ellis, two other authors that know the value of great team dynamics.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
This time around, a killer is sending Kim letters asking her to stop him. And she’s being forced to deal with a pseudo celebrity arriving for a book signing and a possibly wrong rape conviction.
This is a great character driven series, with a complete team that engages me. All of the individuals have their issues, be it the loss of a family member or an upcoming wedding. My one issue was a hanging plotline concerning Penn and a “close” friend.
Marsons’ books move fast and pack a punch.
I recommend it for fans of Archer Mayor and Joy Ellis, two other authors that know the value of great team dynamics.
My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
November 11, 2020
Angela Marsons has once again delivered a highly original plot in this thirteenth book of her terrific Kim Stone series. Kim is at her irascible but brilliant best as she argues with Woody, her boss and nags her team of Bryant, Penn and Stacey to work harder. Fortunately they are all used to her and have developed thick skins, although her partner Bryant does feel compelled to speak to her about the way she treats the team, especially while Penn is grieving the loss of his mother and Stacey is anxious about her upcoming wedding and also dealing with a cold rape case of rape where a convicted rapist was suspected but never charged.
Kim is feeling particularly grumpy about being sent to attend a planning committee for the visit of a minor celebrity to a bookshop for a book-signing for her tell all expose of an affair with a married football star. However, a call about the murder of a young mother whose child was found wandering alone in the mall, gives her an excuse to leave. A second, almost identical murder of a young woman whose child is this time abducted, has Kim's team scratching their heads and struggling to find connections. A further murder and a communication from someone who could be the killer, has Kim calling in a profiler and a graphologist to see if they can help narrow down the type of person they should be looking for.
This is a busy, tightly written book where the various strands of the plot are expertly juggled. The killer is hard to guess and there are quite a few blind alleys in the investigation before the pieces start to fall into place. One of the best things about this series is the growth of the characters. It's great to see Kim's team working so well together and maturing through the series. Stacey is turning into an excellent detective and Penn is much more confident of his place in the team. Marsons has some fun with Kim's grumpiness and to everyone's relief makes sure she now has a new project to work on in her down time. Let's hope it's not too long before we see what's next in the lives of these engaging characters.
With many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a digital copy to read
Kim is feeling particularly grumpy about being sent to attend a planning committee for the visit of a minor celebrity to a bookshop for a book-signing for her tell all expose of an affair with a married football star. However, a call about the murder of a young mother whose child was found wandering alone in the mall, gives her an excuse to leave. A second, almost identical murder of a young woman whose child is this time abducted, has Kim's team scratching their heads and struggling to find connections. A further murder and a communication from someone who could be the killer, has Kim calling in a profiler and a graphologist to see if they can help narrow down the type of person they should be looking for.
This is a busy, tightly written book where the various strands of the plot are expertly juggled. The killer is hard to guess and there are quite a few blind alleys in the investigation before the pieces start to fall into place. One of the best things about this series is the growth of the characters. It's great to see Kim's team working so well together and maturing through the series. Stacey is turning into an excellent detective and Penn is much more confident of his place in the team. Marsons has some fun with Kim's grumpiness and to everyone's relief makes sure she now has a new project to work on in her down time. Let's hope it's not too long before we see what's next in the lives of these engaging characters.
With many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a digital copy to read
September 30, 2020
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this compelling character-driven police procedural. I am always delighted to read a new book in Angela Marsons' series featuring DI Kim Stone. The author has maintained high standards and psychological insights throughout this 13 book series. I have admired the way that Kim and her team have shown personal and professional growth throughout the well-written and gripping series. The engrossing criminal proceedings in Death Score make it a compelling read-alone, although the preceding books will give further insight into the characters' backgrounds, personalities, personal lives, and their work which enriches the reading experience. Kim has forged together a very effective investigative group. Her dynamics with Bryant is fascinating. She ignores orders from her boss, Woody, displaying rude words and behaviour towards the other police officers due to the stress of a very complex case.
Stacy is investigating a rape case that never went to court. It has enough similarities to a previous rape where a convicted man is in prison, but with sufficient differences to preclude him from the second. Stacy is an increasingly impressive and dedicated part of the team. We learn more about Penn's home life and his capabilities.
Kim is annoyed at being ordered to attend a meeting to plan for the protection of a minor celebrity at a book signing. The woman has written about her affair with a married football star and has received threats. Kim leaves when she receives a call about a murdered woman found with her neck broken. Her small daughter is found unharmed in the shopping mall they were visiting. The next day, another young mother is found murdered in the same manner. Her young son has been abducted. Kim receives the first of several letters from the unknown killer. He pleads with her for help in stopping his crimes, over which he feels he lacks control.
The team is working under stress, feeling the pressure to rapidly identify the killer before the young boy is killed and a third woman murdered. A profiler and a graphologist are added to the case for their additional insight. Everyone is determined to solve this very complicated case and they work well together, but time may be running out. Another woman is found dead. Is the little boy still alive? Will he be saved in time? Even the experienced profiler is unable to perceive any motive.
I always enjoy the stories about criminal investigations by Kim and her team and hope there are more in the future.
Stacy is investigating a rape case that never went to court. It has enough similarities to a previous rape where a convicted man is in prison, but with sufficient differences to preclude him from the second. Stacy is an increasingly impressive and dedicated part of the team. We learn more about Penn's home life and his capabilities.
Kim is annoyed at being ordered to attend a meeting to plan for the protection of a minor celebrity at a book signing. The woman has written about her affair with a married football star and has received threats. Kim leaves when she receives a call about a murdered woman found with her neck broken. Her small daughter is found unharmed in the shopping mall they were visiting. The next day, another young mother is found murdered in the same manner. Her young son has been abducted. Kim receives the first of several letters from the unknown killer. He pleads with her for help in stopping his crimes, over which he feels he lacks control.
The team is working under stress, feeling the pressure to rapidly identify the killer before the young boy is killed and a third woman murdered. A profiler and a graphologist are added to the case for their additional insight. Everyone is determined to solve this very complicated case and they work well together, but time may be running out. Another woman is found dead. Is the little boy still alive? Will he be saved in time? Even the experienced profiler is unable to perceive any motive.
I always enjoy the stories about criminal investigations by Kim and her team and hope there are more in the future.
November 22, 2025
The thirteenth book in this addictive series begins with two women being strangled to death on consecutive days. When the killer contacts Kim directly the race is on the find him before he murders again. While this is going on Stacey is busy with another case trying to discover whether an imprisoned man is actually guilty of the crime for which he has been jailed.
All the regular team are present and the police procedural aspect of the book is well developed as each team member goes about their particular part of the investigations. The characters are all great and I really enjoy the way they add a little humour to lighten the seriousness of the crimes. As usual an excellent read in all ways. Five stars.
All the regular team are present and the police procedural aspect of the book is well developed as each team member goes about their particular part of the investigations. The characters are all great and I really enjoy the way they add a little humour to lighten the seriousness of the crimes. As usual an excellent read in all ways. Five stars.
October 20, 2020
This is such a great series. Each book has a different type of villain and this one is no exception. Kim Stone and Bryant arrive at a murder scene that shows no sign of violence. It is a clean kill, no blood, the woman had her neck broken. The woman’s young child was found unharmed at a nearby shop. Kim is struggling to come up with a motive for this one. The next day the same thing happens, a young mother has her neck cleanly broken, only this time her child has been taken. Again, there seems to be no motive.
Then Kim gets a letter, addressed to her from the killer. It seems he is almost looking to be caught. He appears reluctant to kill but says he cannot stop - only Kim can stop him! What does it mean? There is more murder and other baffling discoveries but I will leave you to discover these for yourself. There are other plot strands that are skillfully woven into the story. Everything is relevant!
Because Kim is under enormous pressure to catch a killer who leaves no clues (or does he?) she is particularly snarky. Her long suffering team put up with it good naturedly however. Stacey really comes into her own and makes some stunning breakthroughs. It won’t be long until she is promoted I’m sure. Penn and his younger, autistic brother, Jasper, are still struggling after the death of their mother. These people have become like family in the course of this series. My only negative is the ending! It seemed so convenient and out of left field but even so I give this 4. 5 stars, unfortunately rounded down. My thanks go to Netgalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for providing a copy. My opinions are my own.
Then Kim gets a letter, addressed to her from the killer. It seems he is almost looking to be caught. He appears reluctant to kill but says he cannot stop - only Kim can stop him! What does it mean? There is more murder and other baffling discoveries but I will leave you to discover these for yourself. There are other plot strands that are skillfully woven into the story. Everything is relevant!
Because Kim is under enormous pressure to catch a killer who leaves no clues (or does he?) she is particularly snarky. Her long suffering team put up with it good naturedly however. Stacey really comes into her own and makes some stunning breakthroughs. It won’t be long until she is promoted I’m sure. Penn and his younger, autistic brother, Jasper, are still struggling after the death of their mother. These people have become like family in the course of this series. My only negative is the ending! It seemed so convenient and out of left field but even so I give this 4. 5 stars, unfortunately rounded down. My thanks go to Netgalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for providing a copy. My opinions are my own.
October 25, 2021
DI Kim Stone is designated to represent her police district on the committee tasked with the planning for a high profile celebrity event. She’d rather be anywhere else so when she receives reports of a little girl found abandoned in a mall, Kim and DS Bryant get involved. Not long after, the child’s mother is found dead, her neck broken. The next day, the body of another woman is found, killed in a similar manner but her six-year old son is missing. Meanwhile, DC Stacey Woods is investigating an older rape case from another district that is not only perplexing but may have implications on another solved case.
Everything about this story was intriguing and it is essential to pay attention to the minute details. There are whiffs of connections but not necessarily overt paths to those conclusions. Even the team was struggling to figure things out, as stressed as I was about that missing child. In addition, there were personal issues impacting one of the team members that was a rather lovely and heartwarming distraction.
I wish I could say the climax was a surprise but there was a tiny clue that led me to the proper deductions. But, instead of being disappointed, I was extremely satisfied to have solved these tough cases and the journey to get there was the thing. The foundation laid for a new relationship also made me happy and I hope it continues to move in the right direction. All of these plot lines were enhanced by the skilled narrator, Jan Cramer. She continues to be the voice of this series for me and I’ll always listen to these books because of her.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
Everything about this story was intriguing and it is essential to pay attention to the minute details. There are whiffs of connections but not necessarily overt paths to those conclusions. Even the team was struggling to figure things out, as stressed as I was about that missing child. In addition, there were personal issues impacting one of the team members that was a rather lovely and heartwarming distraction.
I wish I could say the climax was a surprise but there was a tiny clue that led me to the proper deductions. But, instead of being disappointed, I was extremely satisfied to have solved these tough cases and the journey to get there was the thing. The foundation laid for a new relationship also made me happy and I hope it continues to move in the right direction. All of these plot lines were enhanced by the skilled narrator, Jan Cramer. She continues to be the voice of this series for me and I’ll always listen to these books because of her.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
October 14, 2020
Deadly Cry is an absolute RAPID READ......
I don't know how Angela Marsons does it every time. And we're celebrating at #13 in this sizzlin' series. The chapters are chunked with high interest and splendid detail while being short and page-turnable in split seconds. The usual crew keeps the zingers going in the dialogue while evolving with their own professional and private lives.
Let's crack this one open.
D.I. Kim Stone has been given orders to attend a meeting on police protection involving a book signing for a bit of a has-been celebrity. Tyra Brooks has penned a tell all book detailing her latest affair. Kim sits bleary-eyed listening to the details and eyeballing the routes to be guarded. Her phone rings and now there's more serious business to attend to.
A young woman's body has been found nearby. Her death must have come within moments. And in the same vicinity is a child sobbing in a local store aisle. Much to Kim's dismay, the two are connected. Who would have murdered a young mother leaving her child behind? And why?
Kim's team has been undergoing life changes as well. DS Penn's mother passed away leaving him the sole care of his special needs brother. Stacey Wood is in the middle of planning her upcoming wedding to her partner and not everything is going well. Angela Marsons has a gift for keeping her characters dipped in their humanity. She recognizes that great sacrifice comes with the job.
Marsons knows how to juggle multiple threads in her storylines. Stacey and Penn have been given a stack of cold case files to sort through in the midst of everything else. Stacey zeroes in on two rape cases that peak her interest. Although very different in nature, Stacey locks on to something that may connect the two.
And then....there's another body. And complicating things is a letter that is addressed personally to Kim from the killer. Kim seeks help from Alison Lowe, a behaviorist profiler, who has assisted Kim in the past. There seems to be something highly unusual about this murderer. And they know that it's just a matter of time before the next one.
Deadly Cry can be read as a standalone. Believe me, a RAPID READ is what we all need about now. And Angela Marsons works her magic once again. A Wowzer every time.
I received a copy of Deadly Cry through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bookouture and to the talented Angela Marsons for the opportunity.
I don't know how Angela Marsons does it every time. And we're celebrating at #13 in this sizzlin' series. The chapters are chunked with high interest and splendid detail while being short and page-turnable in split seconds. The usual crew keeps the zingers going in the dialogue while evolving with their own professional and private lives.
Let's crack this one open.
D.I. Kim Stone has been given orders to attend a meeting on police protection involving a book signing for a bit of a has-been celebrity. Tyra Brooks has penned a tell all book detailing her latest affair. Kim sits bleary-eyed listening to the details and eyeballing the routes to be guarded. Her phone rings and now there's more serious business to attend to.
A young woman's body has been found nearby. Her death must have come within moments. And in the same vicinity is a child sobbing in a local store aisle. Much to Kim's dismay, the two are connected. Who would have murdered a young mother leaving her child behind? And why?
Kim's team has been undergoing life changes as well. DS Penn's mother passed away leaving him the sole care of his special needs brother. Stacey Wood is in the middle of planning her upcoming wedding to her partner and not everything is going well. Angela Marsons has a gift for keeping her characters dipped in their humanity. She recognizes that great sacrifice comes with the job.
Marsons knows how to juggle multiple threads in her storylines. Stacey and Penn have been given a stack of cold case files to sort through in the midst of everything else. Stacey zeroes in on two rape cases that peak her interest. Although very different in nature, Stacey locks on to something that may connect the two.
And then....there's another body. And complicating things is a letter that is addressed personally to Kim from the killer. Kim seeks help from Alison Lowe, a behaviorist profiler, who has assisted Kim in the past. There seems to be something highly unusual about this murderer. And they know that it's just a matter of time before the next one.
Deadly Cry can be read as a standalone. Believe me, a RAPID READ is what we all need about now. And Angela Marsons works her magic once again. A Wowzer every time.
I received a copy of Deadly Cry through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bookouture and to the talented Angela Marsons for the opportunity.
November 14, 2020
With little Mia clutching a teddy bear the staff had given her, and crying her eyes out, DI Kim Stone and Bryant both were horrified at the thought of the girl’s mother missing. And then her body was found. Kim and her team were embroiled in a murder case once again – and with a second woman being murdered the following day, and her little boy Archie vanishing, the team knew the race was on. But it was the letter from someone who claimed he needed to be stopped, addressed to Kim, that had them scrambling to work out the way to tackle this situation.
When Detective Stacey Wood was given another case to work through, it touched her deeply. She was determined to solve it, so working the two cases within the team meant they were working twelve hour days and more. Kim and her team needed to stop the killer before more women died – but could they?
Deadly Cry is the 13th in the DI Kim Stone series by author Angela Marsons and once again it was another brilliantly laid out story, with a plot that threw twists and turns up all the way through. Kim Stone is the ultimate character – strong, determined, prepared to walk the fine line and disobey direct orders if she doesn’t believe those orders are right. The twist at the end blew me away – I had no idea that was coming – and isn’t that the best way for a thriller to end! A series that I highly recommend. Bring on #14!!
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Detective Stacey Wood was given another case to work through, it touched her deeply. She was determined to solve it, so working the two cases within the team meant they were working twelve hour days and more. Kim and her team needed to stop the killer before more women died – but could they?
Deadly Cry is the 13th in the DI Kim Stone series by author Angela Marsons and once again it was another brilliantly laid out story, with a plot that threw twists and turns up all the way through. Kim Stone is the ultimate character – strong, determined, prepared to walk the fine line and disobey direct orders if she doesn’t believe those orders are right. The twist at the end blew me away – I had no idea that was coming – and isn’t that the best way for a thriller to end! A series that I highly recommend. Bring on #14!!
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 12, 2020
Book 13 of the Kim Stone series and absolutely no signs of slowing down. Deadly Cry is another addictive page turner that I read in a day. Once I start these books it is impossible to put them down. Kim and the team are like family now and every part of the story will have an impact on you one way or another. I have said it before and I will say it again, if you have not met Kim Stone what are you waiting for?
This time we have bodies piling up daily, with no apparent connection. Why is the killer writing letters to Kim and asking her to stop him? As always there are plenty of twist and suspects to consider. At the same time Stacey is working an unsolved rape case and she is determined to find out what really happened. On top of all of this, Kim is asked to babysitting a visiting social media celebrity, much to her disgust.
The banter and the interaction of the team is a big part of what makes these books so good. Kim is not the most sociable and friendly person but she always gets the job done. She respects her team and vice versa. I would want them helping me if I was in trouble.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
This time we have bodies piling up daily, with no apparent connection. Why is the killer writing letters to Kim and asking her to stop him? As always there are plenty of twist and suspects to consider. At the same time Stacey is working an unsolved rape case and she is determined to find out what really happened. On top of all of this, Kim is asked to babysitting a visiting social media celebrity, much to her disgust.
The banter and the interaction of the team is a big part of what makes these books so good. Kim is not the most sociable and friendly person but she always gets the job done. She respects her team and vice versa. I would want them helping me if I was in trouble.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.
January 6, 2021
Another gripping read by Angela Marsons with twists and turns!
A little girl is found abandoned in a shopping mall. Some time later her mother is found murdered nearby.
The police is baffled as to the motive and manner of the murder. Nothing is taken and it seems the murder has been committed without rage or any other emotion.
And then another body is found in a park. Another young woman murdered in the same manner of the first victim. With a difference: her six year old son has been taken.
A little girl is found abandoned in a shopping mall. Some time later her mother is found murdered nearby.
The police is baffled as to the motive and manner of the murder. Nothing is taken and it seems the murder has been committed without rage or any other emotion.
And then another body is found in a park. Another young woman murdered in the same manner of the first victim. With a difference: her six year old son has been taken.
May 25, 2021
Deadly Cry by Angela Marsons. Oops! I read this one out of order by inadvertently skipping over #12, Killing Mind. I shall have to correct my error, sooner rather than later, because this series is so, so good! Having read #13 by mistake, I don’t think it will bring bad luck. And nothing seems to have happened to any of the characters, thankfully, that will spoil the plot of the previous book.
So, having gotten all that out of the way, here’s Deadly Cry once again bringing together DI Kim Stone and her merry band of detectives, Stacey Wood, Bryant, and Penn. Kim and Bryant are in the vicinity and respond when a woman goes missing while shopping with her young girl. Sadly, the mother is later found dead. It appears to be a senseless crime. When a second, similar murder occurs the following day, anxieties mount. There is one big difference, however. A child is taken.
With Penn dealing with a death in his immediate family and Stacey working on another case, Kim and Bryant initially investigate on their own. Eventually, the others are pulled back in, along with former behaviorist Alison Lowe, who has not consulted with the police since her life was threatened while working a case a year earlier.
As usual, Ms Marsons had me hooked from beginning to end. Having recently finished her prequel, First Blood, I am dazzled once again by the character development of each team member. The rapport among them is superb and never feels forced. We get updates on what’s happening with Stacey, much more about what’s going on with Penn, and snippets about Kim and her attempts to buy parts for a new motorcycle project. Bryant’s life outside work is barely mentioned; he is ever the loyal trooper who isn’t afraid to speak his mind in private. Stone’s relationship with DCI Woodward is sometimes turbulent because Kim can come across as a rebellious rule-breaker, who in fact truly cares about victims and fairness for everyone involved. However, Kim and Woody have a mutual respect and understanding for one another that comes through in every book.
The plot kept me guessing. I’m not sure there is any way I could have figured this one out, although there was one portion I did put together. So I’m happy both ways. Now I will backtrack to read Killing Mind.
5 stars
November 13, 2020
Kim Stone #13
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddybear, clinging to it in an absence of her mother, Katerina. Hours later, katerina's body is found in an abandoned building. Detective Kim Stone thinks it looks like a quick functional murder but her instincts tell her differently. Days later another body is found in a local park, her six year old son is missing.
I don't know how Angela Marsons manages to pull another book out of the bag but I'm glad she does. A killer is committing murders that don't seem to have any motive. They bring in Alison Lowe, the behaviourist they had worked with on a previous case. There's a lot going on in the book: murder, a cold case, an abduction and a celebrity who needs protection. This is a fast paced read which held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #AngelaMarsons for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddybear, clinging to it in an absence of her mother, Katerina. Hours later, katerina's body is found in an abandoned building. Detective Kim Stone thinks it looks like a quick functional murder but her instincts tell her differently. Days later another body is found in a local park, her six year old son is missing.
I don't know how Angela Marsons manages to pull another book out of the bag but I'm glad she does. A killer is committing murders that don't seem to have any motive. They bring in Alison Lowe, the behaviourist they had worked with on a previous case. There's a lot going on in the book: murder, a cold case, an abduction and a celebrity who needs protection. This is a fast paced read which held my attention throughout.
I would like to thank #NetGalley, #Bookouture and the author #AngelaMarsons for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2021
Book 13 in this excellent series featuring D.I. Kim Stone and her team and it’s as fresh and as enjoyable as it’s ever been.
A child clutches her teddy bear in a shopping centre as her mother Katrina has gone missing. Hours later her body is found nearby with her neck broken. On the face of it, Detective Kim Stone thinks it just looks like a quick , clean murder, but her instincts are telling her something else is going on with this case.
When a few days later, another woman’s body is found, killed in the same way, and this time her young child is missing, Kim knows she not only faces a race against time to save the boy, but also to stop more murders taking place.
When the killer starts sending letters to Kim telling her he doesn’t want to kill again and that she is the only one who can stop him, she knows the case is a hugely complicated one. One that she can’t find a motive for at all.
This is probably the best detective series out there at the moment. All these books are hugely readable. Characters are brought to life in a realistic and well rounded way. Kim’s team are all as interesting as each other which gives the books real weight. Kim of course is a fantastic anchor for the whole series. A brilliantly written character that you just absolutely love, despite her short comings.
Of course it’s all well and good having great characters, but when you are writing crime, you need good stories and also be able to tell a good story. Marsons knocks it out of the park again here. A beautifully crafted story with a sort of two story arc theme, along with finding time for more development of the main characters in the series. Stacey especially, has shone in the last two or three books and again is a star in this one.
You could easily read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it but if you are considering it, I’d recommend checking out the whole series. There isn’t a weak one in it. No filler at all. The books have been knocked out at an amazing pace over the last few years but still all feel like they’ve been given the care and attention they need and they never disappoint.
An easy five star review for me. This series consistently keeps me excited as a reader and it’s one that I always have an eye on for the next release.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A child clutches her teddy bear in a shopping centre as her mother Katrina has gone missing. Hours later her body is found nearby with her neck broken. On the face of it, Detective Kim Stone thinks it just looks like a quick , clean murder, but her instincts are telling her something else is going on with this case.
When a few days later, another woman’s body is found, killed in the same way, and this time her young child is missing, Kim knows she not only faces a race against time to save the boy, but also to stop more murders taking place.
When the killer starts sending letters to Kim telling her he doesn’t want to kill again and that she is the only one who can stop him, she knows the case is a hugely complicated one. One that she can’t find a motive for at all.
This is probably the best detective series out there at the moment. All these books are hugely readable. Characters are brought to life in a realistic and well rounded way. Kim’s team are all as interesting as each other which gives the books real weight. Kim of course is a fantastic anchor for the whole series. A brilliantly written character that you just absolutely love, despite her short comings.
Of course it’s all well and good having great characters, but when you are writing crime, you need good stories and also be able to tell a good story. Marsons knocks it out of the park again here. A beautifully crafted story with a sort of two story arc theme, along with finding time for more development of the main characters in the series. Stacey especially, has shone in the last two or three books and again is a star in this one.
You could easily read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it but if you are considering it, I’d recommend checking out the whole series. There isn’t a weak one in it. No filler at all. The books have been knocked out at an amazing pace over the last few years but still all feel like they’ve been given the care and attention they need and they never disappoint.
An easy five star review for me. This series consistently keeps me excited as a reader and it’s one that I always have an eye on for the next release.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2020
It’s no secret that I absolutely adore Angela Marsons and her Kim Stone series. Angie is one of the few authors who I will drop everything for when I have her latest book in my possession, which is why I have spent the whole day reading Death Score as quickly as I could. Very few authors can maintain the high quality of storytelling and character development that Angie does so well; each book really does surpass the last one and I finish each and every one in absolute awe. I never want Angie to stop writing books.
There’s not much more I can say about this series without becoming repetitive, so repetitive I shall become. I simply love Kim Stone. The opening to Death Score is just typical Kim as she finds herself in a meeting she does not want to be in at all. It was a joy to be back with Kim and all of the characters that I have grown to love over the course of this series. It’s funny how everything that is usually unlikeable about a person is oftentimes the things I like most about Kim. Her don’t give a fuck attitude is actually quite admirable in places. That said her attitude in this book surpassed even that of the previous stories and I was left wondering just how many lives she can have when it comes to how she carries out her job and in dealing with her superiors. Then again I guess her success rate does kind of make up for it.
The cast of characters here is nothing short of superb. Despite Kim’s standoffishness and complete lack of social skills with every single person she encounters, the genuine affection that she has for her team is clear to see, and that affection is what allows her team to work so well together and what has helped shape them into the excellent detectives they have grown into. None more so than the fantastic Stacey. The last few books especially she has been allowed to shine as a character and here in Death Score that Kim Stone influence, both the good and the bad, shows just how far Stacey will go in her quest for answers and justice. I am excited for future books to see where Stacey’s character continues to go (and I am a little sad we didn’t get a wedding epilogue of her and Devon).
One of the things I enjoy most about series crime fiction is regularly following all of the characters. And it’s not just Stacey who is a favourite of mine. When I think back to when we first met Penn, it’s hard to imagine him becoming the character that surely all readers now also love too. Alongside the main storyline we are given insights into the personal lives of these characters which really humanises them and helps us as readers to empathise with them and understand them more. Penn’s relationship with his brother is one of my favourites to read about, and I’m sure Angie makes it her personal mission to make my eyes leak with each one of her books.
The storyline here was nothing short of outstanding. Angie has written about some sick and twisted individuals over the course of this series and I pick each book up wondering just how on Earth she is going to do it all over again. It is astonishing just how different each of these books are, never becoming stagnant and only ever leaving me wanting more. The psychological element of these stories is always done extremely well, and this is clearly testament to the research Angie puts into her stories. For the majority of Death Score I became fixated on one character and thought I had the whole plot worked out. After so many books I should have realised that there was more than one twist waiting around the corner to well and truly bitch slap me across the face.
Something Angela Marsons always does is draw real emotion from me as a reader. Something only two other crime writers have done (Michael Connelly and Chris Carter). Yes these stories are fictional, but the talent of Angie is such that these characters and their lives are so believably portrayed that it doesn’t feel like fiction. Everything is so realistically told that genuine emotional is felt by me as I read and these stories stay with me for a long time afterwards, in fact some of the stories from the previous books still do. That’s how fantastic and memorable they are, but also speaks volumes to the effect they had on me as I read. I really don’t want to say too much about the plot, as it’s best discovered by readers for themselves but if I was to rank each plot in this series so far, the one here in Death Score would definitely be near the top.
I could talk forever about my love for this series and for its incredible author who has been one of the most amazing people to me during my on/off blogging years. I finish each one bursting with pride for the success Angela Marsons continues to have and finishing each one leaves me desperate for more. There surely isn’t a crime fan alive who hasn’t devoured this series already, but if there is, then you need to start it straightaway. In the meantime for those who have followed this series since the beginning, then I know you will just love Death Score. This really is just an outstanding series that only goes from strength to strength and I am already counting down the days to next book. I cannot wait to see where Angela Marsons take Kim and her team next.
There’s not much more I can say about this series without becoming repetitive, so repetitive I shall become. I simply love Kim Stone. The opening to Death Score is just typical Kim as she finds herself in a meeting she does not want to be in at all. It was a joy to be back with Kim and all of the characters that I have grown to love over the course of this series. It’s funny how everything that is usually unlikeable about a person is oftentimes the things I like most about Kim. Her don’t give a fuck attitude is actually quite admirable in places. That said her attitude in this book surpassed even that of the previous stories and I was left wondering just how many lives she can have when it comes to how she carries out her job and in dealing with her superiors. Then again I guess her success rate does kind of make up for it.
The cast of characters here is nothing short of superb. Despite Kim’s standoffishness and complete lack of social skills with every single person she encounters, the genuine affection that she has for her team is clear to see, and that affection is what allows her team to work so well together and what has helped shape them into the excellent detectives they have grown into. None more so than the fantastic Stacey. The last few books especially she has been allowed to shine as a character and here in Death Score that Kim Stone influence, both the good and the bad, shows just how far Stacey will go in her quest for answers and justice. I am excited for future books to see where Stacey’s character continues to go (and I am a little sad we didn’t get a wedding epilogue of her and Devon).
One of the things I enjoy most about series crime fiction is regularly following all of the characters. And it’s not just Stacey who is a favourite of mine. When I think back to when we first met Penn, it’s hard to imagine him becoming the character that surely all readers now also love too. Alongside the main storyline we are given insights into the personal lives of these characters which really humanises them and helps us as readers to empathise with them and understand them more. Penn’s relationship with his brother is one of my favourites to read about, and I’m sure Angie makes it her personal mission to make my eyes leak with each one of her books.
The storyline here was nothing short of outstanding. Angie has written about some sick and twisted individuals over the course of this series and I pick each book up wondering just how on Earth she is going to do it all over again. It is astonishing just how different each of these books are, never becoming stagnant and only ever leaving me wanting more. The psychological element of these stories is always done extremely well, and this is clearly testament to the research Angie puts into her stories. For the majority of Death Score I became fixated on one character and thought I had the whole plot worked out. After so many books I should have realised that there was more than one twist waiting around the corner to well and truly bitch slap me across the face.
Something Angela Marsons always does is draw real emotion from me as a reader. Something only two other crime writers have done (Michael Connelly and Chris Carter). Yes these stories are fictional, but the talent of Angie is such that these characters and their lives are so believably portrayed that it doesn’t feel like fiction. Everything is so realistically told that genuine emotional is felt by me as I read and these stories stay with me for a long time afterwards, in fact some of the stories from the previous books still do. That’s how fantastic and memorable they are, but also speaks volumes to the effect they had on me as I read. I really don’t want to say too much about the plot, as it’s best discovered by readers for themselves but if I was to rank each plot in this series so far, the one here in Death Score would definitely be near the top.
I could talk forever about my love for this series and for its incredible author who has been one of the most amazing people to me during my on/off blogging years. I finish each one bursting with pride for the success Angela Marsons continues to have and finishing each one leaves me desperate for more. There surely isn’t a crime fan alive who hasn’t devoured this series already, but if there is, then you need to start it straightaway. In the meantime for those who have followed this series since the beginning, then I know you will just love Death Score. This really is just an outstanding series that only goes from strength to strength and I am already counting down the days to next book. I cannot wait to see where Angela Marsons take Kim and her team next.
April 14, 2021
Thank you to Angela Marsons, Bookouture and NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As always Death Score starts at 100mph and never lets up. DI Kim Stone has a standoffish generally rude attitude, with few social skills. Yet she has a genuine affection for her team, which is why they work so well together, the banter between Kim and Bryant is legendary. Stacey’s character is rapidly growing, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for her next. Penn, well when I think back to Penn arriving on the team, it is difficult to imagine it is the same character.
As always, the plot is superb. There have been many very sick and twisted people in her books and I always wonder how she can possibly follow that, but every single book leaves me wanting more.
Somehow Angela can write hard hitting action, gory details and then write with such compassion (tissues required) about into the personal lives of these characters which really humanises them and helps us as readers to empathise with them and understand them more.
You could easily read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it but if you are considering it, I’d recommend checking out the whole series. There isn’t a weak one in it. No fillers at all. The books have been knocked out at an amazing pace over the last few years but still all feel like they’ve been given the care and attention they require, and they never disappoint.
Angela Marsons is one of the few authors, who I will drop everything for when I have her latest book in my possession. Very few authors can not only maintain the high quality of storytelling and character development but continue to surpass the previous book every time. I am in awe of her immense talent, please keep writing.
Everything is so realistically told that genuine emotion is felt by me as I read and these stories stay with me for a long time afterwards, in fact some of the stories from the previous books still do. That’s how fantastic and memorable they are, but also speaks volumes to the effect they had on me as I read. I really don’t want to say too much about the plot, as it’s best discovered by readers for themselves but if I was to rank each plot in this series so far, the one here in Death Score would be near the top. In fact, this book is not just in my top 3 for the year, it is very high up in my all-time top reads. As you have probably guessed by now, I highly recommend this book.
Merged review:
Thank you to Angela Marsons, Bookouture and NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As always Death Score starts at 100mph and never lets up. DI Kim Stone has a standoffish generally rude attitude, with few social skills. Yet she has a genuine affection for her team, which is why they work so well together, the banter between Kim and Bryant is legendary. Stacey’s character is rapidly growing, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for her next. Penn, well when I think back to Penn arriving on the team, it is difficult to imagine it is the same character.
As always, the plot is superb. There have been many very sick and twisted people in her books and I always wonder how she can possibly follow that, but every single book leaves me wanting more.
Somehow Angela can write hard hitting action, gory details and then write with such compassion (tissues required) about into the personal lives of these characters which really humanises them and helps us as readers to empathise with them and understand them more.
You could easily read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it but if you are considering it, I’d recommend checking out the whole series. There isn’t a weak one in it. No fillers at all. The books have been knocked out at an amazing pace over the last few years but still all feel like they’ve been given the care and attention they require, and they never disappoint.
Angela Marsons is one of the few authors, who I will drop everything for when I have her latest book in my possession. Very few authors can not only maintain the high quality of storytelling and character development but continue to surpass the previous book every time. I am in awe of her immense talent, please keep writing.
Everything is so realistically told that genuine emotion is felt by me as I read and these stories stay with me for a long time afterwards, in fact some of the stories from the previous books still do. That’s how fantastic and memorable they are, but also speaks volumes to the effect they had on me as I read. I really don’t want to say too much about the plot, as it’s best discovered by readers for themselves but if I was to rank each plot in this series so far, the one here in Death Score would be near the top. In fact, this book is not just in my top 3 for the year, it is very high up in my all-time top reads. As you have probably guessed by now, I highly recommend this book.
As always Death Score starts at 100mph and never lets up. DI Kim Stone has a standoffish generally rude attitude, with few social skills. Yet she has a genuine affection for her team, which is why they work so well together, the banter between Kim and Bryant is legendary. Stacey’s character is rapidly growing, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for her next. Penn, well when I think back to Penn arriving on the team, it is difficult to imagine it is the same character.
As always, the plot is superb. There have been many very sick and twisted people in her books and I always wonder how she can possibly follow that, but every single book leaves me wanting more.
Somehow Angela can write hard hitting action, gory details and then write with such compassion (tissues required) about into the personal lives of these characters which really humanises them and helps us as readers to empathise with them and understand them more.
You could easily read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it but if you are considering it, I’d recommend checking out the whole series. There isn’t a weak one in it. No fillers at all. The books have been knocked out at an amazing pace over the last few years but still all feel like they’ve been given the care and attention they require, and they never disappoint.
Angela Marsons is one of the few authors, who I will drop everything for when I have her latest book in my possession. Very few authors can not only maintain the high quality of storytelling and character development but continue to surpass the previous book every time. I am in awe of her immense talent, please keep writing.
Everything is so realistically told that genuine emotion is felt by me as I read and these stories stay with me for a long time afterwards, in fact some of the stories from the previous books still do. That’s how fantastic and memorable they are, but also speaks volumes to the effect they had on me as I read. I really don’t want to say too much about the plot, as it’s best discovered by readers for themselves but if I was to rank each plot in this series so far, the one here in Death Score would be near the top. In fact, this book is not just in my top 3 for the year, it is very high up in my all-time top reads. As you have probably guessed by now, I highly recommend this book.
Merged review:
Thank you to Angela Marsons, Bookouture and NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As always Death Score starts at 100mph and never lets up. DI Kim Stone has a standoffish generally rude attitude, with few social skills. Yet she has a genuine affection for her team, which is why they work so well together, the banter between Kim and Bryant is legendary. Stacey’s character is rapidly growing, and I can’t wait to see what is in store for her next. Penn, well when I think back to Penn arriving on the team, it is difficult to imagine it is the same character.
As always, the plot is superb. There have been many very sick and twisted people in her books and I always wonder how she can possibly follow that, but every single book leaves me wanting more.
Somehow Angela can write hard hitting action, gory details and then write with such compassion (tissues required) about into the personal lives of these characters which really humanises them and helps us as readers to empathise with them and understand them more.
You could easily read this as a stand-alone and enjoy it but if you are considering it, I’d recommend checking out the whole series. There isn’t a weak one in it. No fillers at all. The books have been knocked out at an amazing pace over the last few years but still all feel like they’ve been given the care and attention they require, and they never disappoint.
Angela Marsons is one of the few authors, who I will drop everything for when I have her latest book in my possession. Very few authors can not only maintain the high quality of storytelling and character development but continue to surpass the previous book every time. I am in awe of her immense talent, please keep writing.
Everything is so realistically told that genuine emotion is felt by me as I read and these stories stay with me for a long time afterwards, in fact some of the stories from the previous books still do. That’s how fantastic and memorable they are, but also speaks volumes to the effect they had on me as I read. I really don’t want to say too much about the plot, as it’s best discovered by readers for themselves but if I was to rank each plot in this series so far, the one here in Death Score would be near the top. In fact, this book is not just in my top 3 for the year, it is very high up in my all-time top reads. As you have probably guessed by now, I highly recommend this book.
November 21, 2020
DEADLY CRY is the 13th book in the D.I. Kim Stone crime-thriller series by best-selling author Angela Marsons. Angela Marsons remains one of my favorite mystery authors, and her publisher, Bookouture, always publishes the very best novels. I have read all of her books…and she keeps getting better. I don’t want this series to end!
You have to stop me from hurting anyone else. I don’t want to do these horrible things. Help me before I’m forced to do it again. And I will do it again because I have no choice. I’ve never had a choice.
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
Then a few days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son, Archie is missing.
Kim’s four team members consist of Bryant, Stacey, Penn and Tiff, a new character. But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and planning her upcoming wedding and Penn grieving the loss of his mother to cancer, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. Meanwhile, Stacey and Penn are assigned to work on cold-case files. When a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
Kim gets help from Alison Lowe, a handwriting analyst and behaviorist profiler, who has assisted Kim in the past. Now when Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer, they make a shocking discovery.
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists. What does this mean? Are they random scratches, or is the killer is using them to communicate with someone?
Time is running out…and it is all a game!
If you haven’t read this series, get cracking and get into it! You will not regret it, and will keep coming back for more! Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author and Bookouture via Net Galley for my digital copy.
You have to stop me from hurting anyone else. I don’t want to do these horrible things. Help me before I’m forced to do it again. And I will do it again because I have no choice. I’ve never had a choice.
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
Then a few days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son, Archie is missing.
Kim’s four team members consist of Bryant, Stacey, Penn and Tiff, a new character. But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and planning her upcoming wedding and Penn grieving the loss of his mother to cancer, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. Meanwhile, Stacey and Penn are assigned to work on cold-case files. When a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
Kim gets help from Alison Lowe, a handwriting analyst and behaviorist profiler, who has assisted Kim in the past. Now when Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer, they make a shocking discovery.
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists. What does this mean? Are they random scratches, or is the killer is using them to communicate with someone?
Time is running out…and it is all a game!
If you haven’t read this series, get cracking and get into it! You will not regret it, and will keep coming back for more! Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the author and Bookouture via Net Galley for my digital copy.
November 13, 2020
Deadly Cry (previously titled Death Score) is the thirteenth book in the brilliant Kim Stone series - fourteenth if you include the prequel. Sometimes by this stage, plots can start to become stale or predictable as authors run out of ideas - this certainly is not happening, which is impressive given Marsons brings them out twice a year. The main reason I’ve dropped a star here, for the first time in about eight of her books, is the sheer preposterousness of the idea that one small team/town could have faced quite so many serial killers within just a few years. I’m pretty sure no one will guess the perpetrator this time, but I found the reveal of who/how/why so unbelievable that I felt a bit cheated. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a great book and Kim’s complicated personality is as compelling as ever, but I’m starting to prefer mysteries & thrillers with a credible plot scenario.
A young girl loses her mother in a shopping mall - and soon after the woman is found dead, her neck broken. The following day, another is found - but this time her child has been taken, and the killer is writing letters to Kim pleading with her to make him stop. Meanwhile Kim is having to attend meetings regarding security for a minor celebrity’s book tour, Penn is grieving for his mother, and Stacy picks up a rape case that was never taken to court despite the assailant being behind bars. Under pressure from their superiors and the media, the team seek help from a graphologist and a profiler, and only together can they stop the twisted perpetrator.
One of the great things about this series is that it’s not all about the tortured protagonist - in fact Kim is now more balanced and has mostly put her past trauma behind her. Her hilarious grumpiness is part of her charm, and her team love her for it. Here Stacy is arguably just as important in solving the case, and I liked that she’s no longer letting her insecurities stop her doing her job. It was nice to see Alison the behaviourist again, and see even tricksy reporter Frost evolving into a character we can root for. Reading about Penn’s loss was hard for me as this week marks a year since my mother died, also of cancer, but I liked the progress of his character arc too, and Bryant, my favourite, is as solid and dependable as ever.
I don’t want to spoil the mystery by saying anything about the investigation, but as ever there are twists, red herrings and surprises - and kudos for coming up with another shockingly unexpected reveal, but I’m hoping that in future books we might move away from serial killers with nonsensical motives, and that Kim can investigate some more realistic murder cases?
4.5 rounded down. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. Death Score is published today.
A young girl loses her mother in a shopping mall - and soon after the woman is found dead, her neck broken. The following day, another is found - but this time her child has been taken, and the killer is writing letters to Kim pleading with her to make him stop. Meanwhile Kim is having to attend meetings regarding security for a minor celebrity’s book tour, Penn is grieving for his mother, and Stacy picks up a rape case that was never taken to court despite the assailant being behind bars. Under pressure from their superiors and the media, the team seek help from a graphologist and a profiler, and only together can they stop the twisted perpetrator.
One of the great things about this series is that it’s not all about the tortured protagonist - in fact Kim is now more balanced and has mostly put her past trauma behind her. Her hilarious grumpiness is part of her charm, and her team love her for it. Here Stacy is arguably just as important in solving the case, and I liked that she’s no longer letting her insecurities stop her doing her job. It was nice to see Alison the behaviourist again, and see even tricksy reporter Frost evolving into a character we can root for. Reading about Penn’s loss was hard for me as this week marks a year since my mother died, also of cancer, but I liked the progress of his character arc too, and Bryant, my favourite, is as solid and dependable as ever.
I don’t want to spoil the mystery by saying anything about the investigation, but as ever there are twists, red herrings and surprises - and kudos for coming up with another shockingly unexpected reveal, but I’m hoping that in future books we might move away from serial killers with nonsensical motives, and that Kim can investigate some more realistic murder cases?
4.5 rounded down. My thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC which allowed me to give an honest review. Death Score is published today.
April 25, 2021
DI Kim Stone is out to find the murderer of a young mother who is discovered in an abandoned building while her daughter is left holding a teddy bear in a busy shopping centre. A few days later a second woman's body is found and her six year old son is missing ,Kim knows she has to race against time to bring the little boy home alive.
Deadly Cry is the 13th book in the DI Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons. This really is an outstanding series and it continues in the same vein, exciting plot, gritty characters and so very well written. Cannot wait to read the next one !
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
Deadly Cry is the 13th book in the DI Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons. This really is an outstanding series and it continues in the same vein, exciting plot, gritty characters and so very well written. Cannot wait to read the next one !
I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
November 12, 2020
Deadly Cry is the thirteenth instalment in the Detective Inspector Kim Stone series, set in the West Midlands and sees the tough, stubborn and no-nonsense Kim back with a bang. DI Stone and DS Jim Bryant have called at a shopping centre to purchase coffee after a tedious and useless Diversity Awareness training session when Stone catches a glimpse of a little girl, four-year-old Mia Nock, clutching her favourite teddy to her chest all alone wondering the aisles of a shop without the presence of a parent or guardian. Meanwhile, a few hours later that same day, the body of Katrina Nock is discovered; her neck has clearly been broken and it looks very much like a cold-blooded, clinical kill and certainly not the perpetrators first foray into the business of murder. It was much too clean-cut for that to be the case. But who could be so evil and heartless as to murder a mother out shopping with her child? A few days later the body of Louise Webb-Harvey is discovered in the local park. She had the same telltale signs on her neck and her son, six-year-old Archie, was missing. Kim is suspicious that there's much more to the story, as the two crimes are evidently linked, and she receives confirmation of this when she is sent a letter from the killer begging her to help him to cease the killing once and for all.
This is a riveting and engrossing procedural from the very beginning, and I loved the darkly comical attitude Kim has as she attends the dreaded Diversity program; she never stops moaning and sniping sarcastically about it to her colleagues making for an amusing and laugh-out-loud start. It's well written, impeccably plotted and full of banter which flows back and forth between the team members at all times. There's never a dull moment as the action never ceases and the story moves at a rollicking pace. The killer reaching out to Kim is an interesting development and the quirky, introverted investigator extraordinaire must ascertain whether the reason stated in the letter for getting in touch with her really is the murderer's true motivation for the plucky correspondence. Either way, the killer turned out to be unguessable, much to my delight, and the twisty-turny narrative interspersed with misdirection has you going off on a tangent and fingering the wrong party several times over. My only concern was that I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough for my liking as it is another real page-turner and an exciting and compelling must-read for all crime connoisseurs. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
This is a riveting and engrossing procedural from the very beginning, and I loved the darkly comical attitude Kim has as she attends the dreaded Diversity program; she never stops moaning and sniping sarcastically about it to her colleagues making for an amusing and laugh-out-loud start. It's well written, impeccably plotted and full of banter which flows back and forth between the team members at all times. There's never a dull moment as the action never ceases and the story moves at a rollicking pace. The killer reaching out to Kim is an interesting development and the quirky, introverted investigator extraordinaire must ascertain whether the reason stated in the letter for getting in touch with her really is the murderer's true motivation for the plucky correspondence. Either way, the killer turned out to be unguessable, much to my delight, and the twisty-turny narrative interspersed with misdirection has you going off on a tangent and fingering the wrong party several times over. My only concern was that I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough for my liking as it is another real page-turner and an exciting and compelling must-read for all crime connoisseurs. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.
September 29, 2020
This is the 13th book in the DI Kim Stone series by author Angela Marsons. I have loved this series from the very start and cannot recommend it any higher. Great characters, good plots and excellent writing.
I only received this book yesterday and read it cover to cover in one day, I just couldn't put it down.
The body of a young mother is discovered in an abandoned building while her daughter is left holding a teddy bear in a busy shopping centre. What can the motive be for this senseless murder while the mother was out shopping with her young daughter. DI Kim Stone senses is out to find the murderer of what appears to be a one off crime. A few day's later a second woman's body is found with her neck broke and her six year old son is missing. When a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
I am already looking forward to the next Angela Marson's book.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying another excellent book in return for an honest review.
I only received this book yesterday and read it cover to cover in one day, I just couldn't put it down.
The body of a young mother is discovered in an abandoned building while her daughter is left holding a teddy bear in a busy shopping centre. What can the motive be for this senseless murder while the mother was out shopping with her young daughter. DI Kim Stone senses is out to find the murderer of what appears to be a one off crime. A few day's later a second woman's body is found with her neck broke and her six year old son is missing. When a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
I am already looking forward to the next Angela Marson's book.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying another excellent book in return for an honest review.
September 30, 2020
This is a series that I will never get tired of. The author has a real talent of keeping each book fresh and exciting with characters you can't help but root for. Long live Kim Stone! I read this book really quickly, which is unusual for me as I usually listen to audio books. It's a real page turner as the body of a young mum is tragically found in an abandoned building while her daughter is left wandering around in a shopping centre. As more victims are found this quickly becomes personal for Kim Stone and she and her team vows to bring the killer to justice. This is done in the usual brilliant Angela Marsons style with engaging characters and subplots which lighten the darkness throughout. I would not hesitate in recommending this pacy, engaging, well written book to anyone.
September 25, 2023
Thank you to Net Galley, The publishers and my friend Angela Marsons, for the latest in the DI Kim Stone series, number 13.
It is nice to say I am up to date with a series, and yes I have read every one of books in this series.
One thing that I think is so important in this series of books is Bryant, the relationship between Stone and Bryant is the always the highlight of these books, Bryant's dry humour and clever sarcasm is perfect to the tough external toughness and hardness of Stone. Stacey and Penn of course as well with their own life's.
You have to stop me from hurting anyone else. I don’t want to do these horrible things. Help me before I’m forced to do it again. And I will do it again because I have no choice. I’ve never had a choice.
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son missing.
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery.
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists, some don't ?
But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is… with whom?
And if Kim doesn’t find them soon, another innocent soul will die.
The multi-million-copy bestselling Detective Kim Stone series is every bit as addictive, original and exciting as readers say and you’ll be hooked from the very first page.
One of the best of Police Crime thriller authors Angela Marsons.
So why a four stars, I think it's because of my own favourite type of thriller is action thriller often action packed from the start, so sometimes a Police thriller or a Psychological thriller can be slower, that's all.
It is nice to say I am up to date with a series, and yes I have read every one of books in this series.
One thing that I think is so important in this series of books is Bryant, the relationship between Stone and Bryant is the always the highlight of these books, Bryant's dry humour and clever sarcasm is perfect to the tough external toughness and hardness of Stone. Stacey and Penn of course as well with their own life's.
You have to stop me from hurting anyone else. I don’t want to do these horrible things. Help me before I’m forced to do it again. And I will do it again because I have no choice. I’ve never had a choice.
In a busy shopping centre, a little girl clutches a teddy bear, clinging to it in the absence of her mother, Katrina. Hours later, Katrina’s body is discovered in an abandoned building. For Detective Kim Stone, it looks like a quick, functional murder. But Kim’s instincts tell her there’s more to this senseless murder than meets the eye. What was the motive for killing a young mother out shopping with her child?
Days later, a second victim is found in a local park, her neck broken just like Katrina’s and her six-year-old son missing.
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
But with her colleague, Detective Stacey Wood, working on another unsolved crime and a member of the team grieving the loss of a close relative, Kim is struggling to make inroads on what is fast becoming a complex case. And when a handwritten letter from the killer lands on Kim’s desk addressed to her, and pleading for help, she knows time is running out to bring the little boy home alive.
With the support of a handwriting analyst and profiler, Kim and the team begin to get inside the mind of the killer and make a shocking discovery.
Some of the victims have scratch marks on their wrists, some don't ?
But these are no random scratches. The killer is using them to communicate with someone. The question is… with whom?
And if Kim doesn’t find them soon, another innocent soul will die.
The multi-million-copy bestselling Detective Kim Stone series is every bit as addictive, original and exciting as readers say and you’ll be hooked from the very first page.
One of the best of Police Crime thriller authors Angela Marsons.
So why a four stars, I think it's because of my own favourite type of thriller is action thriller often action packed from the start, so sometimes a Police thriller or a Psychological thriller can be slower, that's all.
May 6, 2023
Vėl grįžau pas savo mylimą Kimos "šeimą". Skaitant tryliktą serijos dalį, nori to ar ne, jautiesi kaip susitikęs seną gerą draugą. Žinai, ko tikėtis, pažindintis nebereikia - lieka tik apsipalaiduoti ir bandyti kartu su komanda išnarplioti naują galvosūkį.⠀
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Šį kartą, tiriamos dvi bylos. Pagrindinė - jaunų moterų nužudymai. Viena dingsta leisdama laiką su dukra, kita nužudoma ir pagrobiamas jos šešiametis sūnus. Steisė kapstosi po senas, neišaiškintas bylas ir nusprendžia rasti teisingumą išprievartavimo byloje. Autorė, kaip visada nepamiršta ir asmeninių komandos narių problemų. ⠀
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"Mirtinas šauksmas" patiko labiausiai iš visų knygų, išleistų po "Užverstos kortos". Tikrai įdomus siužetas, puikiai susijungę skirtingi tyrimai ir įtempta pabaiga - dar vienas priminimas, kodėl man taip patinka Marsons detektyvai. ⠀
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Skaitę žino, kad autorė kiekvieną kartą nagrinėja skirtingas temas ir mėgsta į knygą pakviesti įdomių "pagalbininkų". Šįsyk, įtraukė grafologą (rašysenos ekspertą). Nors buvau kiek skeptiška, bet buvo labai įdomu paskaityti apie rašysenos analizę. Nebūčiau patikėjus, kad iš to, kaip žmogus rašo, galima pasakyti tiek daug.⠀
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Dar kartą įsitikinau, kad Marsons detektyvai, visiška mano komforto zona - viskas sava, gelbėja, kai užklumpa neskaitadieniai ir visada garantuoja greitą, kokybišką detektyvinę mįslę 👏 Lauksiu kitų dalių!
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Šį kartą, tiriamos dvi bylos. Pagrindinė - jaunų moterų nužudymai. Viena dingsta leisdama laiką su dukra, kita nužudoma ir pagrobiamas jos šešiametis sūnus. Steisė kapstosi po senas, neišaiškintas bylas ir nusprendžia rasti teisingumą išprievartavimo byloje. Autorė, kaip visada nepamiršta ir asmeninių komandos narių problemų. ⠀
⠀
"Mirtinas šauksmas" patiko labiausiai iš visų knygų, išleistų po "Užverstos kortos". Tikrai įdomus siužetas, puikiai susijungę skirtingi tyrimai ir įtempta pabaiga - dar vienas priminimas, kodėl man taip patinka Marsons detektyvai. ⠀
⠀
Skaitę žino, kad autorė kiekvieną kartą nagrinėja skirtingas temas ir mėgsta į knygą pakviesti įdomių "pagalbininkų". Šįsyk, įtraukė grafologą (rašysenos ekspertą). Nors buvau kiek skeptiška, bet buvo labai įdomu paskaityti apie rašysenos analizę. Nebūčiau patikėjus, kad iš to, kaip žmogus rašo, galima pasakyti tiek daug.⠀
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Dar kartą įsitikinau, kad Marsons detektyvai, visiška mano komforto zona - viskas sava, gelbėja, kai užklumpa neskaitadieniai ir visada garantuoja greitą, kokybišką detektyvinę mįslę 👏 Lauksiu kitų dalių!
October 24, 2021
A young mother and her child are shopping when the mother disappears. Her body is found hours later in an alley; her neck broken. D.I. Kim Stone doesn't understand why someone would lure a mother away from her child and kill her. As Kim works the case, another mother is found murdered in a park the next day. This time her child was taken. Now Kim and her team must stop a killer before he hurts an innocent child.
The books I've read in the last few weeks have been disappointing, so I was eager to get back to this series. This book did not disappoint. We had two mysteries in this book. First Kim and company are trying to figure out who broke the necks of two women and kidnapped a child. This was a very difficult mystery to figure out. I really didn't have a clear suspect picked out while I was reading the book.
Along with the primary case, Stacey is also working a cold case in her spare time. Since the investigating department never made an arrest, cold cases have been moved to another department for a second look. A little over a year ago, Lesley Skipton was assaulted and raped while walking home one night. The original investigators believed they knew who the culprit was; but said that Lesley would not make a good witness at a trial. Stacey needed to talk to Lesley to discover why she would not make a good witness.
This book was fantastic. The mysteries kept me guessing. In ever came close to uncovering the villains. My rating: 5 Stars.
The books I've read in the last few weeks have been disappointing, so I was eager to get back to this series. This book did not disappoint. We had two mysteries in this book. First Kim and company are trying to figure out who broke the necks of two women and kidnapped a child. This was a very difficult mystery to figure out. I really didn't have a clear suspect picked out while I was reading the book.
Along with the primary case, Stacey is also working a cold case in her spare time. Since the investigating department never made an arrest, cold cases have been moved to another department for a second look. A little over a year ago, Lesley Skipton was assaulted and raped while walking home one night. The original investigators believed they knew who the culprit was; but said that Lesley would not make a good witness at a trial. Stacey needed to talk to Lesley to discover why she would not make a good witness.
This book was fantastic. The mysteries kept me guessing. In ever came close to uncovering the villains. My rating: 5 Stars.
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