Angie Marsons never fails to deliver in her Kim Stone series.
In this book the issue of people
trafficking and prostitution is addressed carefully and allowing the characters dignity.
There are powerful forces for good but also arguments about justice and the letter of the law. Really made me think.

EXCERPT: 'It is lucky for you that I have a way for you to pay me back. You're not the first, you see. You craved your independence, sought a way to speed your journey to adulthood and you have succeeded. This is your debt and your responsibility. You got exactly what you wanted. '
(She) could not deny that there was some truth in his words.
'You have been successful in escaping the clutches of your mother. She is no longer in charge of your decisions and this next one you will make yourself.
(She) held her breath. There was a mesmerizing quality to his voice that, although it filled her with fear, she felt compelled to listen to.
'You are here, alone, with no money, no friends and no safety net yet you have the one thing that will set you free.'
(She) frowned.
He raised one eyebrow and looked her up and down. 'You have your body.'
For a few seconds, (she) was confused. She thought about her hands, arms, legs, feet and as she thought about the bits in between her fear turned to abject horror.

THE BLURB: They thought they were safe. They were wrong.
The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone – one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood.

As three more sex workers are murdered in quick succession, each death more violent than the last, Kim and her team realise that the initial killing was no one-off frenzied attack, but a twisted serial killer preying on the vulnerable.

At the same time, the search begins for the desperate woman who left her newborn baby at the station – but what looks like a tragic abandonment turns even more sinister when a case of modern slavery is uncovered.

The two investigations bring the team into a terrifying world of human exploitation and cruelty – and a showdown that puts Kim’s life at risk as shocking secrets from her own past come to light.

MY THOUGHTS: Angela Marsons just keeps on writing absolutely compelling, gripping thrillers. Broken Bones is #7 in the DI Stone series, and mostly, with a few notable exceptions, the author has either run out of steam and is rehashing tired old story lines, or I have become bored with the series. Not so with Marsons. I made the mistake of beginning Broken Bones when I went to bed. At 1.30 am I was still reading.

Marsons character development is crucial to her success. With every book in this series we learn a little more about Kim, about what makes her tick, and we see progression in her relationships with her team, and of those between the team members.

I haven't always liked Kim. I understood why she was like she was, but I didn't like her. Admired, but not liked. However, over the series, Kim has grown and in Broken Bones we see a side of Kim that we never previously knew existed. And I wanted to hug this prickly, independent woman.

This is a story of human greed, greed for money, for position. But it is also a wonderfully touching story of mothers, and just how far they will go to protect their children. But beware, there is also an extremely evil mother in evidence, one who sees in her daughter the way to escape her own sordid life.

5 very bright stars. 💓☆☆☆☆☆💓

Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Broken Bones by Angela Marsons for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review is also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

I could not put this book down. I was immediately drawn into the intense plot. If you enjoy a good thriller I recommend this book.

BROKEN BONES is book #7 of the outstanding DI Kim Stone series. Angela Marsons remains one of my favourite mystery authors, and her publisher, Bookouture always publishes the very best novels. I have read all of her books…and she keeps getting better…and all of her novels are outstanding!

The characters are so well-developed and continue to grow with each new instalment in the series.

They thought they were safe. They were wrong.

The murder of a young prostitute and a baby found abandoned on the same winter night signals the start of a disturbing investigation for Detective Kim Stone – one which brings her face to face with someone from her own horrific childhood.

As three more sex workers are murdered in quick succession, each death more violent than the last, Kim and her team realise that the initial killing was no one-off frenzied attack, but a twisted serial killer preying on the vulnerable.

But the search for the desperate woman who abandoned her newborn baby at the station turns even more disturbing when a case of modern slavery is uncovered.

Kim and her team investigate two separate cases at the same time. Kim works with Bryant at her side; and pairs Dawson and Stacey together. In this novel, the team takes on illegal immigration, human trafficking, and prostitution, the topics being well-researched by Ms. Marsons, adds credibility and a human element to her characters and the plot.

The two investigations bring the team into a terrifying world of human exploitation and cruelty – and a showdown that puts Kim’s life at risk as shocking secrets from her own past come to light.

If you have not started reading this series, you are really missing out on a real gem. Grab a copy of Silent Scream (book 1), put your feet up and allow yourself to escape to another world. You will soon find yourself racing through the series.

My thanks to Angela Marsons, Bookouture and netgalley for the ARC. Can't wait for more!

Book 7 in the series was worth waiting for Angela Marsons has a great insight into human frailty and captures this in her writing. Great character development of Kim and her team, an intriguing plot and great momentum will keep you reading to that shocking discovery in the last chapter. We have murder, prostitution, an abandoned baby and human slavery. A must read. Thank you Net Galley for my copy. I reviewed on Goodreads and Amazon.

BROKEN BONES showcases perfectly the genius of Angela Marsons’ writing. She effortlessly holds the reader in the palm of her hand from start to finish. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll cringe in horror and gasp at the gritty realism of difficult issues that the author treats with sensitivity and real insight while managing to challenge our society’s often stereotypical views.

From the moment I began reading BROKEN BONES, Book 7 in the DI Kim Stones series, I was truly riveted. This, of course, will come as no surprise to the legions of fans who follow this superb series. True to form, Broken Bones is a rollercoaster for the reader. Tension, fear and even tears accompanied my read as I fell under the spell of the enthralling storytelling.

Kim and Bryant, my favourite detective partnership, make a very welcome return and how I’ve missed their almost telepathic connection, their deep understanding and mutual respect for each other. Stacey and Dawson pair up, lightening the awful subject matter with their entertaining quips and backbiting. And Dawson’s secret adds a nice touch. This is a dynamic duo who help to decipher a tangled mystery involving tough issues such as the underground sex trade and modern day slavery.

The narrative is, as ever, moves along at a pace that guarantees to prohibit the reader from getting everyday duties done in the home. If this is a problem, set time aside; it’s worth it! There’s no falling asleep reading your Kindle in bed . . . once BROKEN BONES sinks its teeth in, sleep becomes merely an inconvenience.

BROKEN BONES is a fantastic read which grips from word go and ends with a shocking and totally unexpected twist. In short, yet another masterpiece from Queen of Crime, Angela Marsons.

It intrigues me how the momentum has been kept going in this series and how much you become engaged with the characters Kim Stone and Bryant. As always the novel starts with an horrific event which makes your toes curl. The murders of sex workers and an abandoned baby keeps the team busy until they discover darker underlying mischief which jeopardises Kim. Pathologists seem to be a grumpy breed. I wonder if it goes with the job. Lots of wit and banter. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for letting me read it. I shall post this to Amazon and my blog.

I cannot recommend or praise Angela Marsons' books enough. I'm always left wanting more, and not in a bad way, when I read the Kim Stone detective series. - can't wait for the next one!! They are absolutely fantastic and just get better and better. You can read them as a stand alone, but for the best experience start with the first and treat yourself.

Thanks to Netgalley, publishers Bookouture and author Angela Marsons for giving me an arc in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I love these books so much that even though I've been given a free copy, I have supported the author and purchased it.

Love Kim Stone!!

An abandoned baby and murdered prostitutes take center stage in Broken Bones.This installment of the DI Kim Stone series sheds light on the ugly underworld of human trafficking. This is a dark, gritty read, with some surprising twists and turns.

On a snowy Christmas Day, Kim Stone happens to be the one to discover an abandoned baby. Briefly responsible for caring for the baby, Kim reflects on her own broken childhood.Soon after Kim discovers the baby, she is tasked with investigating the death of a murdered prostitute, leading her to reconnect with one of her childhood “allies”.” When another prostitute gets killed, and a young girl goes missing, Kim realizes that there is much more going on than meets the eye. With her team by her side (Stacey, Dawson, and Bryant are all back!), Kim will stop at nothing to take down the heinous criminals who view human beings as nothing more than commodities.

Kim Stone is the heart of this series. No matter what horrific situation she and her team are investigating, I always feels comforted knowing that Kim will take down the villain(s), even if it means putting her own life on the line. While I love and appreciate her kick-ass nature, her unflinching loyalty to her team, friends, and even those that some might consider to be her enemies is what I love most about her character. This installment left me with my heart pounding, and, surprisingly, a little teary eyed.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 out of 5. This series just doesn't get stale. If you haven't given them a shot yet, start with the first book. It may seem like a lot to catch up on, but they really are best enjoyed in order and it never takes me long to read a book by Angela Marsons. It's worth the time getting to know these characters!

The new year will be anything but quiet for Detective Kim Stone. It all starts with an abandoned baby outside of the station... she's the one who finds the young boy wrapped in a blanket and left behind. They have no idea where he came from and why someone gave him up... but Kim never has just one thing on her plate at once. A young mother is brutally murdered. Soon they discover she was a sex worker, and more prostitutes turn up dead. While the cases are completely different, they may end up going down a similar path... deep inside a world of modern slavery, murder, abuse, and extortion.

This is a dark, gritty book. Very absorbing. I always go into every book by Angela Marsons expecting something great, and she hasn't failed me yet. She has a gift for writing complex and intriguing characters to go along with her dark and brutal mysteries. Highly recommended to any fan of thrillers and mysteries, particularly those who enjoy their women kickass.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and Bookouture, thank you! My review is honest and unbiased.

Kim Stone is back and man, am I happy about it. Angela Marsons is a master, and while the genre might be flooded this book (and series) is fresh and exciting. The no holds barred approach to the seedier side of contemporary British life is tense, thrilling and gripping.

Another great addition to the D.I. Kim Stone series! This book does not disappoint. There is a lot going on in this book and it keeps you hooked until the end. Kim and Bryant are investigating the death of a young prostitute. As the murder count for the prostitutes increases, Kim and Bryant stumble on a missing person case that may tie in with their case. Meanwhile, Kim's team members, Kev and Stacey, are searching for the mother of an abandoned baby.

This story was fast paced with some unexpected twists in the end. Love the partnership between Kim and Bryant. I definitely recommend this book and the whole series. Can't wait for the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for an ARC of "Broken Bones" in exchange for an honest review.

I love the character Kim Stone- she has a heart of gold hidden beneath a very tough exterior. She gets the best out of her team and they have her back aswell. In this book she is literally left holding the baby which is highly amusing. There are several crimes and mysteries that they need to solve before more harm comes to anyone else.
It was a really gripping story where you really don't want to put your book down and miss any of the storyline. Things like sleep have to be put of hold whilst you are in the middle of the latest investigation. Although I've been in a bit of a reading slump- this book had me truly back turning the pages and deep inside the heart of the story. I just could not leave it.

I've loved every one in this series and Broken Bones, the 7th book, is no exception. Kim is back again and she's just as ballsy as ever, another element of her past is revealed as she comes face to face with someone from her childhood which stirs up a lot of memories for Kim.

This one sees Kim and the team investigating two cases, the death of a young prostitute and a baby that has been abandoned at the station, but their investigations lead them to something far more sinister than they had ever anticipated when they are drawn into the world of modern day slavery and human trafficking.

Broken Bones sees her paired up again with her partner Bryant and they take on the death of the young girl, whilst Dawson and Stacey are paired up to investigate the case of the abandoned baby and they are all determined to bring the perpetrators to justice.

The author once again got my attention from the first page and did not let go till the very end, I was completely hooked. I know every time I open a book by Angela Marsons that I won't be disappointed, she delivers every single time, her work is exceptional and the fact that it's set in an area local to me feels like I'm wrapping myself in an old familiar cosy blanket.

I would like to thank Bookouture for the auto approval. I will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon UK & US and share on Twitter. 5 easy stars from me.

Broken Bones is book seven in the Kim Stone series and the series is going strong! I pretty much throw myself over this book when I got it since I always find that Angela Marson's has an uncanny ability to write crime books that make your heart ache. And, this book is not an exception.

Sex workers have a low position in society and this book really explores their situations. Their vulnerability and tragic life. Marson's really knows how to write about situations that feel so right in time. That's what I love about this series. From racism in the last book to this book with young girls falling prey to other people's vileness. She knows how to write engaging stories that are tuned into the problem of this modern world. I won't give away too much of the storyline, but reading about these young girls and how other people prey on them, well it's awful!

The story is straight through engaging and thrilling. And, also very sad and of course. There is so much evil in the world and this book truly shows that. It's also surprising, although I did suspect that there must be some twist to the story.

There is a sideline story to this book, about a baby that has been left on the steps at the police station, and that storyline was equally interesting to follow. And, it grabbed your heart just as much as the
murder of the sex worker storyline did.

This is the seventh book in the DI Kim Stone series and it is like meeting up again with old friends. The book begins with a young prostitute pushed off a roof to her death and an abandoned baby. More prostitutes are found murdered, each death more violent. Is there a serial killer on the loose? This book deals with modern day slavery, illegal immigrants and the grooming of young girls into prostitutes. It is a book that you cannot put down, an excellent read, can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

All things truly wicked start from innocence.

Life becomes complicated as it spills out. Decisions made, or those thrust upon us by the stifleness of others, can be a deadly mix.

Temperatures plummeting bring more than a chill to the air. D.I. Kim Stone comes upon a baby bundled in a woolen shawl sleeping in a child carrier. That's not the vision you expect to see right outside the doors to the Halesowen police station. Who would leave this little bundle on a night like this?

Before Kim and the other officers can even alert Child Protective Services, a call comes in that a young sixteen year old girl has been found dead in Hollytree. From all indications it appears to be a suicide while jumping off the top of a tower. But then Hollytree is the displacement capital of Black Country. Lauren Goddard will certainly have a story to tell from silenced lips.

Angela Marsons presents the 7th D.I. Kim Stone book in this mighty successful series. Like fine wine in an oaken barrel, both Stone and Marsons just get better and better. Marsons keeps her finger on the pulse of reality at all times. Her storylines always reflect the landmines set in place in the real world of crime and address the monumental challenges of those who fight the good fight on a daily basis. Nodding your head, you know that true evil is lurking out there and trying to get a foothold in your own backyard.

And that evil focuses on those innocents who are so easily fooled.......the ones who trade one unpleasant situation for a deadly, horrific exchange. Evil flows too readily on ground that once was sacred.

Marsons packs this suitcase with layers of prostitution, procurement of young girls, devious trades, murder and mayhem. There's even the likes of a disinterment here. But before the whites of your eyes go big, remember that Marsons paints reality as it should be painted. We wake up each morning to a completely different world than just the day before.

And above all, the writing is always the draw here. Marsons' characterizations are front and center and the dialogue is smart, snarky, and even humorous at times. We will experience the bloom effect within Kim herself and the peeling back of layers on my favorite Stacey Wood. Broken Bones can be read as a standalone for those whose interest is peaked. Then return to #1 to see what all the buzz is about. Marsons is a dynamo who is accelerating to the top of the crime/thriller kingdom........and rightfully so.

I received a copy of Broken Bones through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Bookouture and to the very talented Angela Marsons for the opportunity.

A video review is available on the blog.
Wow! OMG! This book is just brilliant and full of surprises!

This is book number 7 in the Kim Stone series and there is no way this series is going stale. This is another up to date, gripping crime thriller that moves along quicker than Kim's ninja bike.
I love the short chapters and the true to life characters, flaws and all.
Already waiting in anticipation for book number 8!!

Have read all the Kim Stone books. Absolutely love them and this is no exception! A little less action packed and more cerebral this time, but didn’t detract from the brilliant story telling of Angela Marsons. Kim is still by herself and I would like for her to meet a like minded partner. I liked that we got to learn more about Stacey in this instalment. Bring on the next one!