Hello friends, and happy Thursday! I had to come back to the blog to participate in a fun project that I’ve been itching to spill the beans about, and IT’S FINALLY TIME! TA-DA! Angela Marsons’ has written a prequel novel to the D.I. Kim Stone series, and it was everything I wanted and more! Below you can find my mini review of this installment, as well as more information about the book and where to buy it.
Title: First Blood
Author: Angela Marsons
Series: Kim Stone #0
Genres: Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Mystery, Suspense, Thriller
5 STARS
SYNOPSIS:
In the darkness of a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. The victim of her next case is about to meet his killer…
When the body of a young man is found beheaded and staked to the ground in a secluded area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene.
Searching the victim’s home, Kim discovers a little girl’s bedroom and a hidden laptop. Why is his sister relieved to hear he’s dead – and where is the rest of his family?
As Kim begins to unearth the dark secrets at the heart of the case, D.C. Stacey Wood finds a disturbing resemblance to the recent murder of Lester Jackson. But that’s not all Stacey finds …
She’s convinced there is a link between the victims and a women’s shelter run by Marianne Forbes, Lester’s niece. A child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. Could Marianne be the key to cracking this case?
With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey is showing signs of brilliance but struggling to hold her nerve and, while D.S. Bryant is reliable and calm, D.S. Dawson is a liability. With his home life in pieces, his volatile behaviour is already fracturing her fragile new team.
Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken? This time, one of her own could be in terrible danger…
Discover where it all began for Kim and her team. An absolutely heart-stopping mystery thriller that will keep you glued to the pages, reading late into the night. Perfect for Kim Stone fans and new readers to the million-copy bestselling series.
It is always a privilege to step into the world of Kim Stone, and when I was approached to do an early read of the latest project in the series, I jumped in glee at the prospect! With no synopsis or clue as to what this book would contain, other than it is a prequel to the series, I dove in blind and am so glad to have done so. While I wondered whether or not the book would heavily feature time from Kim and her twin brother’s horrific childhood, it turns out this book contains the initial case that brought our favorite team together, and the story that bonded each of these detectives together for the foreseeable future. As always, there are chills, thrills, and emotions galore, and as a diehard Kim Stone fan myself, I couldn’t be more satisfied with the way that the author chose to include these details. The case is gory and gripping, the backstories are engaging and informative, and we even get to revisit a past favorite character, which overwhelmed me with waves of nostalgia. If you’re a fan of the series, you NEED this book. If you’re new to Kim Stone, you can certainly start here, although I think this book meant more to me as an established fan than it would have as a starting point. Highly recommended to all lovers of serial killer thrillers!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
-To order FIRST BLOOD by Angela Marsons, click HERE!
I discovered my love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained me the only merit point I ever got. I wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from my partner I began to enter short story competitions in Writer’s News resulting in a win and three short listed entries. I self-published two of my earlier works before concentrating on my true passion – Crime.
After many, many submissions I signed an 8 book deal with Bookouture as their first crime author.
I live in the Black Country with my partner, our bouncy Labrador and potty-mouthed parrot. My books SILENT SCREAM, EVIL GAMES, LOST GIRLS AND PLAY DEAD are all available from Amazon, Kobo and iBooks.
YES! Added it over on Goodreads! 🙂
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