Angela Marsons can't write a boring chapter if she tried. Her Kim Stone series is one of the best. A tight plot that teases out clues until a surprising conclusion, a pool of victims and suspects who are believable and complex characters and, most importantly, Kim and her team - their principles, their banter and the relentless investigations. Broken Bones is a great read. After keeping them apart in the previous volume, Stace and Kev are back together, trying to find out who left a baby outside of the police station. Kim and Bryant (oh Bryant, you are simply awesome!) are investigating the death of several prostitutes. I had it all worked out... until I realized that I knew nothing. The story is even more heartbreaking this time around and Kim is simply the best. Her angles are getting softened, but she cares about the dregs of society as much as she cares for her friends. She doesn't care that the victims are neglected by everyone else, to her they are women with dreams and hopes and it still angers her that someone took their lives. I can't wait for the next one.

Those of you who follow me on Facebook and Twitter will know how much I adore this series. I count down the weeks between release dates and eagerly watch the Bookouture pages for news on the Netgalley release, praying to whatever god may be listening that I am approved to read an advanced copy. I knew that the release of this one was coming up and every day for two weeks, I watched every single notification that Kim or Noelle posted, waiting with baited breath for it to be about Broken Bones. Then, last Friday, 6  October, I was working. I was editing a book and was almost done so decided to carry on into the night to finish it. I turned off all my social media and was a really good girl. And guess what. When I logged on to Facebook at about 10.00 p.m. I saw it. 
Broken Bones is available on NetGalley. 
Bloody charming!!! (jokes!!) 
I hot-footed straight over to NG and luckily, those ladies are the ball and one of them (I'm guessing Kim 'cause I prayed to the goddess of gin - I'll pray to ANYONE when it comes to books!!!! ) approved me. I then abandoned my family, grabbed a bottle of wine, some scented candles, a box of mint Matchmakers, and my kindle and headed to my freshly made bed. I was in bookworm heaven!!! Mind you, I typically see the posts just before dinner time and end up having to buy the kids takeaway for tea as there is no way I can cook with a #DIKimStone book sat waiting to be read, so actually, not seeing it till later saved me thirty quids' worth of curry! Every cloud eh?! 
Anyway. 
The book. 
Did I like it? HHhhmmmmm ...
HELL YEAH I FREAKING DID!!!! 
I don't even know where to start because Marsons' just gets better and better, her plots are slick, her writing intelligent, and her characters are like family. 
Reading Broken Bones felt like catching up with those family members you love but hardly get to see in person. It's a sign of a phenomenal author to be able to create that connection between reader and character, and Marsons just has it. That x factor that makes everything she writes special. In fact, it's more than special ... her books are exquisite. 
That is why this review is going to be a little different. 
Although the plot is amazing; we see the team split up, working with officers they haven't worked with properly before, being left to their own devices, and a little twist to the team that I thought was wonderful - I don't want to rant on about that. 
What I do want to talk about is the author. 
Every book she writes is better than the last. Her writing gets stronger with each one, you can see where she has pushed herself to make the subtle changes to the structure of the story she gives us. She would be more than within her rights to just use the same formula from book one, but why would she? She has more respect for her characters and her readers than that. So, she pushes herself to give us more (again, where that comes from I do not know but I see it and feel it when I read her work). She includes everything you need and want in a police procedural but adds so much more, things that you didn't know were missing from the other books from this genre until you read her work. 
There is a significant element to her characters' development. Every book teaches us more about them, every book reveals a little more as they grow and learn and love. It really is a pleasure to read about them. Like I said, they are like family now. 
I cannot praise her writing enough. Any aspiring authors reading this, buy all her books IMMEDIATELY and try and dissect how she does it. She's got a winning formula!!!
In case I haven't been clear, Broken Bones is utterly amazing.
Buy it.
Now.

Wow! This author raises the bar with every book! This book is perfection, a masterpiece and I don't know what I could write here that would do the book justice. So all I would like to say is, if you haven't read this author, what are you waiting for? Her books are not only top notch crime novels, every one brilliant and unputdownable, pacy and thrilling, but they are also a social commentary on the issues facing Britain today. She writes with heart and shows the shades of grey in every person, even hardened killers. I've just spent the last few days ENGROSSED in this amazing book. Her books not only give hours of reading pleasure but they make us CARE and make us want to try and change the world in our own small ways. This author is one of the best and most versatile writers out there and I cannot wait for more from her. Highly recommended. Five stars are not enough for this fantastic book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishers for this review copy. This is the 7th book in the DI Kim Stone series. If you haven’t read the others…..where have you been?!!!!

DI Kim Stone and her team are thrown into an investigation when a young prostitute is murdered. On the same night, a baby is left in the car park of the police station. The body count starts to increase when more prostitutes are found murdered with each one being more violent than the next, and it looking more likely that there is a serial killer on the loose. As well as having to try and find the killer, Kim also has to work out who abandoned the baby. What starts off looking like an abandonment of a mother who can’t cope, begins to turn into an investigation into modern day slavery.

DI Kim Stone is back!! Despite having a ‘To Be Read’ list as long as my arm, I put aside everything to start this one as soon as I got it! The story begins with a heart-thumping prologue of a young girl being pushed to her death from the top of a tower block and the action certainly doesn’t stop there. It carries on fast and furious with Kim and her team working furiously to try and put all the pieces together. I love Kim Stone’s character. She’s strong and gutsy, yet has a hidden sensitive side which we see a lot of in this book. Her team are also all back, and it makes you feel like you’re being enveloped into a big group hug of people that you know so well. Her team all work so well together and Kim obviously still retains the highest respect from them that she has held all throughout the previous books.

The book is fast paced with what seems like two separate stories running alongside each other. The suspense builds up so fast and I couldn’t wait to get to the end for everything to be revealed. I’ve said it in every review of this series so far but I love the fact that it is set locally for me, and I can relate the places that are mentioned in this book! Particularly excited with this one when Brierley Hill Street was mentioned, as I work there!!!

An excellent read, as usual and this was definitely my favourite book of the series so far! Roll on book 8!

At this point, after reading and enjoying all seven books in this series, i don't think Angela Marsons can write a book i won't love. It was a brilliant and well written story with the characters i am deeply invested in continuing on their professional and personal journeys. I can't wait for the next one.

Amazingly, this is the seventh title featuring D.I. Kim Stone, and her team, and this series just gets better and better. The more I read about Kim, Bryant, Dawson, Stacey and the other characters, the more I like them. This novel starts in the Black Country on Christmas Day, but you can forget goodwill to all men, or, indeed, young girls. This novel deals with some very contemporary, and hard hitting themes, including modern day slavery, illegal immigration, the manipulation of young girls into sex workers and gangs.

Christmas Day for Kim involves the discovery of an abandoned baby outside the police station and the body of a young prostitute. As Dawson and Stacey try to discover who abandoned their baby on a cold, winter’s night, Kim and Bryant have to break the news to a mother that her young daughter was a sex worker. This is a hard hitting novel, which deals with uncomfortable truths about the use of debt, and threats,to force young women into working for unscrupulous people, while Dawson and Stacey’s investigation leads them into uncovering the reality for many migrant workers.

Without doubt this is one of the best crime series around at the moment. Angela Marsons has created a fantastic lead character in the strong, yet vulnerable, Kim Stone, and in the people that surround her. I look forward to reading many more in the series. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advance copy of Broken Bones in exchange for an honest review. In this book we see vulnerable teenagers being preyed on and groomed for the sex trade and an abandoned baby has been left at the police station and the team must try to find its mother while Kim Stone tries to solve the murder of a young prostitute. When 3 more prostitutes are murdered the hunt is on for a serial killer!!! I have read and loved all of Angela Marson's books to date and in my opinion this is Kim Stone at her very best What I also enjoyed was the banter between Kim and her team and laughed along with them a number of times and it helped the book no to be too heavy given the dark subject matter of the storyline. This is my favourite book in the series and as with all of Angela Marsons book it's getting another 5 stars from me !!!!

This is the 7th book in the series and unfortunately my first book by this Author. Nonetheless this book (2 cases) kept me firmly on the couch reading. Not knowing the characters or their previous relationships did not matter. A thoroughly enjoyable mystery book. Thank you NetGalley, Bookoutre and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book 7 wow fantastic read, I have missed Kim stone! Finished in one sitting couldn’t put it down. Brilliant can’t wait to see what other adventures happen in the next one!

A compelling read, following the activities of Inspector Kim Stone and her team. Two interesting cases run in parallel; one involving deaths of prostitutes, the other an abandoned baby.
As all the books in the series, this tells very plausible stories, with enough personal detail about the members of the investigating team to make them interesting (and to want to find out what happens to them on a personal level in the next book).
An enjoyable, plausible and informative read at the same time and sufficiently dramatic to keep the reader's interest right to the end.

As expected, another stellar read from Angela Marsons. The team are again drawn into a complicated, twisted case with almost too many threads and suspects but Marsons tight plotline and fast pace keep the reader both engaged and guessing.

I love the Kim Stone series and Angela Marsons is one of my favourite authors so I was super excited to read this. Did not disappoint!

Stunningly good are the words that spring to mind after finishing the book. It's dark, it's twisted and I couldn't put it down. I loved it. It was great to see Kim and the gang back, it was like seeing old friends again.

Everything about this book was great, the writing style, the plot, the characters. There was nothing in this book that I thought was a little "meh".

So when is the next one out? I'm ready!

A seriously good book that is best read in order but can also be read as a stand alone. If you haven't read this series I highly recommend that you do they are all brilliant.

I would like to give this book 6 stars but I can't so 5 it is. Definitely in my top 3 of 2017.

Oh my word, she's done it again!!!  Broken Bones is the 7th Installment of the DI Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons - and all I can say is that they just keep getting better and better!!

Two cases - a murdered prostitute and an abandoned baby - both cases take the team on a gripping whirlwind with an ending you will not see coming!! (That's all I'm going to say about the plot as I can't stand reviews that tell you the full story!!!!)

I read this book in two sittings and I couldn't put it down!!  I was on the edge of my seat reading this book, I loved how each chapter took you in a different direction to the last and often ended in a cliff hanger that made you want to continue to find out what happened next!!

I absolutely love Angela's books!  Her characters and the world she creates is so realistic and entertaining that it almost makes you want to quit your job and join the team - I mean who wouldn't want to work with Kim, Bryant, Stacey & Dawson??  Not only does she tell such wonderful stories in each book, but the detailed background to each character is well thought out and just adds layers to each book!

People always write in reviews that the Author is "the next [insert top ten bestseller]" and I'm not going to insult Angela and say that.  She is Angela Marsons and she is amazing so get reading!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC - I'm so happy to have received it after all my begging on twitter lol!!

I was so happy to get an advanced copy of this! I love Kim Stone, Broken Bones is 7th in her series and it's just as if not better than the rest! We get to see Kim out of her comfort zone well and truly and also a softer side of Dawson, I remember not liking him too much at first but now he's an old friend. This one is focused on the sex trade and I'm saying no more! Read it for yourself seriously it's fab and I'm sad it's over. Write more soon please!!

This is Kim Stone at her finest . Action packed tense and heart stopping . A twisted story that just keeps getting more and more twisted . Brilliant cant wait for more from this series

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Kim investigates the deaths of three prostitutes with Bryant, while the rest of her team looks for the mother of a three month old baby, abandoned at the police station. Their enquiries lead them to a factory employing exclusively Romanian workers all living at the same address, and to the body of a Romanian man whose leg has been broken in twelve places.

Excellent as usual, with short chapters moving things forward quickly. The sections describing Ellie and her relationship with Roxanne were chilling. The working relationship between Kim and Bryant was humorously portrayed. I feel that the author is attempting to develop something similar with the other members of the team, Stacey and Dawson, but I'm not feeling it yet. There was a certain amount of hearkening back to previous instalments, which (while I did read them) I couldn't clearly recall, and these interrupted the flow somewhat.

Recommended.

Broken Bones by Angela Marsons is the seventh book in the DI Kim Stone series. We are back with Kim and her trusty team of Dawson, Bryant and Stacey.

A young prostitute is murdered on the same night a baby is abandoned. As more bodies turn up, each killed in a more violent way than the one before, Kim and her team realise they are dealing with a serial killer. Add into the mix a case of modern slavery and we’re led deep into the world of exploitation and cruelty as they try to solve both cases.

I have loved Angela’s books from the first instalment and this book is no exception. In fact I can easily say each it is my favourite to date. You are drawn in from the very first page and instantly gripped by the plot line. Kim and her colleagues feel like old friends and you find yourself living an breathing each page with her. Kim is a strong character but also has her vulnerable moments making her easy to identify with. This book is gritty and fast paced and gathers momentum with each turn of the pace.

I can highly recommend this book to all and would give it a fabulous five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Angela for the chance to review. I look forward to book 8 in the series.

Simply brilliant. Firstly the plot is amazingly good and keeps you hooked from the first page. I really didn’t see the ending coming and really really enjoyed this read. Secondly being reintroduced to the world of Kim and Bryant et al is like catching up with old friends. Kim seems in a better place too less looking back and seems happier in her skin. I can’t recommend this book enough. I read it in one day and feel bereft now I’ve finished it

what can i say!!! another amazing instalment in the Kim Stone series. i finished this book in 2 sittings!

the team again work against the clock to solve murders, abduction, illegal immigrants and an abandoned baby!

i really hope there are many more books in this series. many thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

It’s here, the 7th book in the DI Kim Stone series. I tweeted, as soon as it became available, that Angela Marsons was the only author that I put other books down for, to read hers when they come out.

Did it live up to my expectations?

Hell Yes!

Detective Inspector Kim Stone and her team are back. The story starts with a young girl sitting on the roof of a Black Country Tower Block on Christmas Day. She gets pushed off, but will anybody ever know it wasn’t suicide?

Over the next few weeks, as the midlands is covered in snow, a baby is abandoned outside Kim’s Police Station, a prostitute is murdered on her patch, and as the team become involved in solving these crimes they become start to uncover a slave trade ring of forced labour.

The books takes the reader into the underworld of prostitution, drugs, and modern slavery.

With the team recovering from the events of a few months earlier, Kim pairs-up her young Detective Sergeant Kevin Dawson, with her young Detective Constable Stacey Wood. This partnership is the Yin and Yang of policing. Full-on-Kevin is a typically out-going personality that likes to push the limits, and is full of self-confidence. Black Country-Girl-Stacey, is quiet, methodical, and deep thinking. They both have a positive effect on each other, and bring the best out of each other as people, and as Police Officers. As they investigate the abandoned baby case they are thrust into the world of illegal immigrants and forced labour.

Meanwhile Kim uses her trusted old-hand, Sergeant Bryant, to keep her on the right side of the line that divides pushing Police Procedures to the limit, and breaking the law.

Kim and Bryant look into the death of the prostitute and the investigation takes them to the seedier side of two “titutions” that go hand in hand. Destitution and Prostitution.

Bully boy pimps, gangs, drugs, the horror of street-walking-sex-trade workers, physical abuse, and grooming are day-to-day occurrences for the prostitutes of the Black Country. Now, just to make matters worse, somebody has killed one of their own. As Kim and Bryant start their investigation they come across some familiar faces and the reader gets to see the other side of the lives of the street girls. The vulnerable women and the desperation that leads them into the life they live.

The investigations of the murdered prostitute and the abandoned baby are only the start of a series of crimes that have the team stretched to the limit physically and emotionally as the book roars to an end on a bleak cold night.

When I first started blogging I said I was dubious about prolific authors who publish more than 1 book a year. My thoughts, and experiences, were that a good book takes time to write, and that anybody who wrote 2, or more, each year was just churning out words and hoping their fans would keep buying.

Angela Marsons has proved the exception to that. 7 books in this series in a little over 2 years; and over 2 million copies sold. Each book raises the bar, each book is better than the last.

The only other author that has kept me hooked on a series, of Police procedural books, for this long is Tess Gerritsen with her Rizzoli and Isles series; and that is not bad company to be in.

As with Gerritsen, Angela Marsons books are as much about her characters as they are about the crimes they investigate. It cannot be a coincidence that readers invest in these two authors. I always look forward to seeing what Kim and her team are up to, in their private lives, and in the investigation.

Angela Marsons remains my favourite author, and there are a lot of good authors out there at the moment.

I can’t wait for book number 8.