Blood Lines by Angela Marsons

A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong. A caring mother and social worker lost to a senseless act of violence. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn’t add up. 

When a local drug addict is found murdered with an identical wound, Kim knows instinctively that she is dealing with the same killer. But with nothing to link the two victims except the cold, calculated nature of their death, this could be her most difficult case yet. 

Desperate to catch the twisted individual, Kim’s focus on the case is threatened when she receives a chilling letter from Dr Alex Thorne, the sociopath who Kim put behind bars. And this time, Alex is determined to hit where it hurts most, bringing Kim face-to-face with the woman responsible for the death of Kim’s little brother – her own mother. 

As the body count increases, Kim and her team unravel a web of dark secrets, bringing them closer to the killer. But one of their own could be in mortal danger. Only this time, Kim might not be strong enough to save them…

I just can’t get enough of the Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons, as soon as a new one is released whatever book I am reading has to be put down so I can jump straight into the next instalment.

Blood Lines is the latest book in the series and this time we revisit the twisted sociopath Dr Alex Thorne who is determined to wreak havoc and finally break Kim Stone. Meanwhile bodies are being investigated when they all show identical stab wounds but they need to find out what connects the victims to have a chance of finding the killer.

This is another gripping and tense read and having the evil and manipulating Alex back gave the storyline the same head fuck feel, as this woman is such an unlikeable, unpredictable and sinister character. I am pleased that this was just a sub plot as I can only take so much of this unbearable woman but I think it worked well having this plot weaved around the main storyline.

Once again the author has us over analysing everything trying to piece little clues together to try and solve the case before the professionals do! Kim Stone is still as frosty as ever and I am so pleased that her character isn’t softening along the way.

Play Dead and Silent Scream still remain my favourites but this is still addictive read that you do not want to miss. I hope it is not too long until we meet up with Kim Stone again.

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Play Dead by Angela Marsons

The girl’s smashed-in face stared unseeing up to the blue sky, soil spilling out of her mouth. A hundred flies hovered above the bloodied mess. 

Westerley research facility is not for the faint-hearted. A ‘body farm’ investigating human decomposition, its inhabitants are corpses in various states of decay. But when Detective Kim Stone and her team discover the fresh body of a young woman, it seems a killer has discovered the perfect cover to bury their crime. 

Then a second girl is attacked and left for dead, her body drugged and mouth filled with soil. It’s clear to Stone and the team that a serial killer is at work – but just how many bodies will they uncover?

And who is next? 

As local reporter, Tracy Frost, disappears, the stakes are raised. The past seems to hold the key to the killer’s secrets – but can Kim uncover the truth before a twisted, damaged mind claims another victim …?


Angela Marsons has taken the title for my favourite crime thriller author, with each book she releases the storyline just gets more twisted and sinister with each one and her latest release Play Dead is no exception.

Detective Kim Stone is back with another disturbing case to solve. Whilst Kim and her team are at Westerley where the study of the human body after death takes place they never expected to come across a fresh body of a woman whose face has been beaten in and her mouth full of soil. As Kim and her team begin to put the pieces together to work out the identity of the girl it isn’t long before another body is found in the same state as the first other than this one is still alive but can they find the answers they need before any more bodies turn up?

This was completely and utterly gripping and unpredictable. The detail and descriptions used makes this such a vivid and gritty read.

Kim Stone is such a marvellous character and although we see little kinks in her armour from time to time which show us that this flawed but loveable character is human after all she still keeps her strong, focused and passionate persona on show. We meet many new characters in this book all who are well developed and some who were suspicious too but we are also rejoined by some of my favourite characters who have been in the previous books too which I loved.

The amount of research that the author must do for each of her books shine through in her storylines in great detail. I cannot believe that this series of books have not been snapped up for a T.V series yet they are screaming out to grace our screens. The authors storylines are just perfection, everything you could want in a dark, twisted crime thriller. I am sure I sound like a broken record when reviewing Angela Marsons books but they are all flawless and not one have had anything about them that I haven’t enjoyed.

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Lost Girls by Angela Marsons

Two girls go missing. Only one will return.

The couple that offers the highest amount will see their daughter again. The losing couple will not. Make no mistake. One child will die.

When nine-year-old best friends Charlie and Amy disappear, two families are plunged into a living nightmare. A text message confirms the unthinkable; that the girls are the victims of a terrifying kidnapping.

And when a second text message pits the two families against each other for the life of their children, the clock starts ticking for D.I. Kim Stone and the squad.  

Seemingly outwitted at every turn, as they uncover a trail of bodies, Stone realises that these ruthless killers might be the most deadly she has ever faced. And that their chances of bringing the girls home alive, are getting smaller by the hour… 

Last year I found myself really getting into psychological crime thrillers which was never a genre I felt comfortable reading but when I read Silent Scream by Angela Marsons I was hooked and couldn't wait to read the next book in the Kim Stone series Evil Games which turned out to hold just the same amount of suspense and grit as the first book. I was a little worried as well as eager to read the latest

book in the series Lost Girls for the pure reason that I typically find by book three of a series I am starting to lose interest and begin to see flaws in the storyline.

Kim is back on another gruelling and tense case, this time two little girls have been kidnapped from families who are extremely close but how strong is a friendship when it is your child's life against theirs?

With a press black out, the game begins but will this be one crime Kim can't crack?

I had no reason to worry about this book as I actually enjoyed this one more than Evil Games and would say it is just as good as Silent Scream ( maybe even a smidge better shhhh). What this author has managed to do is create such a complex main character in Kim who is a cold hard workaholic but after having a little insight into her past we accept this in her character and know that deep down there is still a soft spot hidden away.

The writing style this author has has such a skilled way of absorbing the reader into the storyline and holding their attention by chilling them to the bone and making their minds work over time as you are constantly looking for a little trail of clues to help solve the case. I was so tense reading this book and I was suspicious of everyone but I was still shocked when the identity was revealed as this was not a person I had framed for the crime!

I love how Kim is such a realistic character she doesn't ever go into battle and then come out with fairy wings and glitter dust she takes the punches like a true hero that she is in my eyes.

I still don't feel like Kim has ran her course yet and I really hope we have many more books in this series to come as they are all such gripping compelling reads I just do not understand how on earth these books have not been snapped up for a to series yet as they really would be such a hit so I am keeping my fingers crossed that one day they will grace our screens.

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Evil Games by Angela Marsons

When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work. 

With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment. 

Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, for Detective Stone, each move she makes could be deadly. 
As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. And this time - it’s personal.


Earlier this year I read Silent Scream by Angela Marsons and it was an outstanding read, part of me couldn't wait to read the sequel Evil Games to see what the author has in store for Kim this time around but as I often find I was also very wary about reading Evil Games as when a book has been exceptionally good I can't help but worry if a second book can be as good or better than book one, but luckily for me Evil Games was such an addictive read that didn't disappoint.

Kim has a very disturbing case to solve with the help of Bryant, a father has been arrested after abuse on his own daughter but nothing is ever straight forward for Kim and so when a number of murders are committed with one main link to Doctor Alexandra Thorne who is a psychologist Kim is determined to solve this case but at what cost?

It was great to be back in the company of Kim again, she is such a strong, courageous character and her background and lack of emotion gives her an intriguing edge she is such a great character. This book is very twisted and disturbing which does make it a dark and gritty read but the amazing friendship between Kim and Bryant brings a little light to the storyline, Bryant is the only one who can get Kim to engage in a little light hearted banter even if it is just taking the mickey out of each other!

Angela Marsons has created such a foul, twisted, evil character in Alex as each chapter went by I loathed her more, I don't remember having read a book with such a vulgar villain character so praise to the author here and I hope she managed to sleep at night after writing from this twisted women's point of view!

The book was set at a great pace and my interest was piqued all the way through. The author managed to pull the wool over my eyes I didn't guess who we were looking for in the end so it was a shock when all was revealed. 

This is the second book in the series and although you could read this as a stand alone, I do personally feel that you would benefit more from reading Silent Scream first so you really get to know about Kim and why she is the way she is, not only that it is a fabulous read so you wouldn't want to miss out!

This gets a massive thumbs up from me and I can't wait for book three, please tell me there is a book three!

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1st book in the series

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons

Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood … 

Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country. But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades. 

As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?

I seem to be reading a lot of crime thrillers this year which is not my typical genre but there have been some great releases this year and social media is buzzing about them but I have just finished reading Silent Scream by Angela Marsons and I have to say it is definitely the best one I have read this year.

D.I Kim is called to the murder of a head teacher but what Kim didn’t expect was that the murder would lead to a massively disturbing case of horrific murders that happened in the past and the murderer is still on the loose.

This was such a pacey read and I was so enthralled by this storyline. We are introduced to a vast amount of characters in such a short space of time which had me on alert and suspicious of everyone! It was a gruesome and disturbing  read in places but this only added to the appeal to the storyline and made me route for Kim to find the murderer.

D.I Kim was a hard flawed character which worked well as a main character because as well as the suspense of the murder case there is also intrigue into what has happened in Kim’s past to make her such a loner and brutal character.

I had two suspects in mind but the storyline isn’t predictable so I enjoyed uncovering the clues with D.I Kim and there was a twist that I didn’t see coming. The storyline was action paced and didn’t feel like it was being stretched out at any point.

This was a captivating read that I read in one sitting and currently this book is amazingly only 99p on Kindle and all I can say is it is worth every penny of that and more, I will be picking up future releases by this author and will be recommending this book too.

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