Utterly brilliant, as fabulous as I have come to expect from this author and series.

And it's not afraid to tackle a tricky topic, in an eye opening way. The methods that clinics use to try to persuade people that they are straight are horrific, sickening and make for tough reading at times, as DI Kim Stone discovers a link between such a clinic and some victims whose deaths were staged as suicides.

Watching this investigation take place, it must have at time been as tough for the author to write as it was to read, and what is truly scary is that it's based on reality, these places I believe do exist and the people that run them are the sorts that should have died out with the dinosaurs, their views are that pre-historic.

Set a few months after the previous book, we see Kim returning to work, and at least initially this had a slightly different vibe to previous stories, as I wasn't sure if Kim was really up to much. What was also despicable is how her team has been treated in her absence, especially the nasty piece of work that took over in charge of the team.

From start to finish this book played on my mind and I think will stick with me for a time to come. It is another incredibly addictive story, in this ridiculously brilliant series, that I just can't get enough of I already want to read the next book, and just impressed that even after 17 books the quality is still so impressively high.

A must read not just for fans of the series, but also for everyone just due to the subject matter that is at the heart of it.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily

Detective Kim Stone has returned to work after taking several months off as she recovered from her near-death experience at the hands of a killer. She thought it would be a slow process returning to the job, but her inept DCI stand-in made sure that wasn’t the case. Now her team has to quickly adjust to her return, as well, but they couldn’t be happier about it. They start by looking further into a suicide case that turns out to be anything but.

After another staged suicide victim is found, the team discovers a commonality in a clinic that both victims had been admitted to. A type of rehab, I suppose, but one that helps you recover from being gay. At first, no one can believe a place like this actually exists, but the team learns that facilities like these are sadly common. What’s not common is what former patients eventually reveal to them about their ‘treatment’ at the clinic. Kim is now fiercely determined to shut this place down, whether it’s connected to the staged suicides or not.

Even though she’s clearly been affected by her recent trauma, no one practices denial like Kim. But in some of the more poignant passages, she opens up to Bryant more than ever before and it’s quite emotional and sweet. And that unexpected reveal at the end – I didn’t even realize it was something I never knew before! This is such a great story and a perfect example of why this is one of the most popular book series out there.

Another brilliant book in the Kim Stone series.
This one had me absolutely gripped from the start. I always love the characters and it was great to see Stone back to working with her team.
Definitely recommend.

I don't know why I'm surprised, but once again, Angela has gone and written a blinder!! I have to say, this is quite possibly the best book I've EVER READ!!!! Detective Kim Stone and her crew are finding their recovery after recent events difficult, what with Kim's slow recovery, and shutting herself away to heal, I think it made it even more poignant when they were reunited to work the latest whodunnit.
Read it or miss out: simples!!

Hidden Scars (Detective Kim Stone Book 17) by Angela Marsons. Enjoyed this book, not necessarily the subject manner but the compelling way and care taken in telling of the story. As always, this series gets better and better. Ingenious way to finally learn Byrant's first name. And Kim's take down of Burns is epic. Ready for #18.

Thank you to the Angela Marsons, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book

Good book! This book had suspense, intrigue, action, murder, serial killers, and a great who done it! The storyline was very interesting and a bit crazy at what they did to people! but it kept me glued to my Kindle! I will definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for my advanced reader copy. I have been a fan of angie and the Kim stone series since book one was released and this newest release did not disappoint. I loved seeing a different side to the Kim we all know and love. The repercussions of last book are still being felt and I loved observing the way this affected Kim and the other members of the team. The story line was a tough read but very intriguing and left me curious about the subjects discussed, very of current times. I cannot wait to see where Kim and the team goes from here.

Kim Stone is returning to work after two months recuperating after her previous case nearly ended in her death. Her team has struggled in her absence - the man put in charge is the man that didn't listen to them during the last case and this is what led to Kim being seriously injured. DI Burns is only interested in cases that will put his name on the map and he is ignoring the skills of the team.

On the day of her return she watches as he tells Stacey to remove a victim's photo from the board - it has been classed as a suicide and even though Stacey has doubts he's not interested. He's also shut down a missing person case Stacey has started investigating as he's sure the husband has decided to leave his wife. Within a few hours Kim has proved he's wrong and that the victim, Jamie, could not possible have killed himself in the mode he was discovered. This revelation leads to the discovery of groups and a clinic set up for aversion therapy or sexual adjustment. These organisations claim to be able to treat a person and ultimately "cure" them of their homosexuality. When further murders disguised as suicide occur a link between the clinic and the victims are found.

Another fabulous read in this series by Angela Marsons - they never disappoint.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Love the way all details from each book are carried through seamlessly to the next. Its well written, with good characters and a great premise. Plenty of suspense and keeps you wanting more. Great page turner. Look forward to future writings from Angela Marsons.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

Who’s Alan?

What an amazing read, yet again from Angela Marsons.

I was hooked from the beginning. Drawn right back in from where we left off last time. I’m almost disappointed that I’m not actually one of the team being sent out to uncover the next clue in the mystery!

Fantastic all the way through with a twist that I did not see coming even with my hood specs on!

Can’t wait for the next one

I thoroughly enjoyed this. One of the things I appreciate about Angela Marsons' writing is that in this series no detail is forgotten. We join Kim Stone and her team months after the trauma of her last case. During the series of crimes they investigate, she is trying to overcome the impact of everything she went through. This is woven neatly through the story.
This book is centred around a series of hate crimes made to look like suicides. This introduces Kim and the team into the world of gay conversion practices and the experiences of people who have endured them through choice or otherwise.
As ever this is well written and I didn't want to put it down. The individual characters are well drawn and it's clear that the long standing characters have developed since the first book in the series,
It's not necessary to read the whole series to enjoy this book and it could be picked up and enjoyed as a standalone. I highly recommend it.

This is book seventeen in the DI Kim Stone series by author Angela Marsons. While many other long running series lose their impact this series still holds my full attention and goes from strength to strength. Good characters, exciting plots and so well written make this series well worth reading.

Nineteen-year-old Jamie Mills is found hanging from a tree in a local park and immediately identified as suicide. But Detective Kim Stone’s gut feeling is that there is something not quite right with this case. Her temporary replacement is not giving his full attention to any incidents that are not likely to turn into the high profile case he yearns for.
The question is why would a teenager want to end his life and why is his mother showing no signs of grief. Kim instantly spots a flaw in the case, Jamie had an injury that required a leg brace
that would have made it impossible for him to climb the tree. Leaving Kim with the only other feasible conclusion that it must have been murder. Kim is in no doubt that she must take charge of her team and visits Jamie’s parents where she learns that they had sent him to a clinic to ‘cure’ him of his sexuality. The picture Jamie’s mother paints of her son is much different to the one told by his friends.

The clinic Jamie was sent to is run by the Gardner family, who appear to run the business by fear as those that attended the clinic are afraid to speak of what happens there. When the body of a young woman is found dead by suffocation, Kim discovers that she attended the clinic and her death was also staged to look like a suicide.
This is an excellent series and one I particularly look forward to reading.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A solid four star read I love the Kim Stone series.
. Great premise. Well written. Good characters. Page turner. Plenty of suspense to keep me guessing Would definitely read the next offering.. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

The latest detective kim stone book.
Hidden scars it is a brilliant tale of twists and turns .a lot of them unexpected keeping the reader guessing to the end,just what you want as a reader. it was a total rollercoaster of a tale,i have not read angela marsons before but will read all the other books in this series..
Thank you netgallery for letting me read this book .angela marsons is a blinding writer of crime novels and cant rate her highly enough .

Thanks to bookouture and netgalley for letting me review this book.. I love the kim stone books, hidden scars was no different, there can never be enough kim stone.
Kim returns to work after what happened in book 16. Kim plays the physcologist telling her what she needs to hear, in order to allow kim back to work.
In kims absence her team is being led by DI burns, who is ambitious, likes to choose his cases, cuts corners and made decisions which ended up in kim getting hurt., he also treats dc stacey wood as a glorified admin.. when kim returns to work, the team are elated, but their boss has changed., however she isnt happy the way di burns is treating her team, and that the victims have no names and that burns is quick to decide that a young mans body is suicide. Kim quickly works out that this was no suicide after finding out jamies parents had sent their son to a special clinic, to try and cure him of being gay. After more murders are being put down to suicides, kim and the team find out the clinic uses shock therapy and rape amongst other despicable things to cure their patients.. No one will talk to the team about what goes on there as they have signed NDAs. Will someone speak out as to what really happens in the clinic? Or will more bodies be put down to suicides?
O.M.G this is brilliant, twists, turns and there is also a darkness in parts with the content. If you only read one book, make it this one, you wont be disapointed. Personally i was also very shocked to find out what bryants first name is....... read to find out

Hidden Scars is aptly named as Kim returns to work after recovering from the injuries incurred during the last story. But just because her body has healed, doesn’t mean she has. And to top it off, DI Burns has been assigned the interim charge of her unit. Burns is a #1 A**H*** and the team is barely holding together.
I just adore Kim. Her willingness to do whatever gets the job done always tickles me.
But the book’s title actually has multiple meanings. The book tackles the issue of sexual identity and the disturbing practice of conversion therapy. It’s a dark, ugly topic and it really threw me for a loop. I can only hope that Angela exaggerated the methods used.
It’s rare that I assign a mystery a full five stars. But this one deserves it. Great pacing, fabulous character development, lots of humor and an ending I did not see coming.
This series is always strong and this book continues that trend. This is not a book to start the series as too much will have been missed.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.

We start with the aftermath of Kim's encounter with Symes, and her recuperation. as she is supposed to be easing herself back to work. But her love of her team and what they are having to ignore and the way they have been treated in her absence. Means she returns with all guns blazing.

It goes without saying that the plot is superb, and that Ms Marsons has found another way to depict sick and twisted people. I would love to know how much research goes into every book, Before she crafts not just one story but usually at least 2 stories that entwine with each other.

Whereas this one isn't as gory as some? Or am I becoming oblivious to it? But the usual hard hitting amazing writing is still there, humanizing and pulling us readers in to emphasize. This time the main subject matter is conversion therapy, which i have to admit I was ignorant of, not anymore!

It was great to see Stacey finally be allowed out of the office and have a case of her own, Things develop with Penn and his home life and a secret is revealed at the end of the book. One I had to say I hadn't particularly noticed.

The only bad thing about this book is iit's all over and we have to wait 6 months to book 18.

Thank you to Angela Marsons, her publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an Advanced Readers Copy of this amazing book, in exchange for my unbiased review.

This new Kim Stone book is as good as ever and another wonderful addition to the series.

Kim is struggling after her ‘episode‘ with Symes - can she make it back to work and keep her team together? And can Penn find out what‘s wrong with Jasper?

Be warned though… I know some of the subject matter can be horrific in these books, but this one will make you so VERY angry. 😡😡😡

All the stars, as usual!

Omg Angie has done it again. Bloody loved this book. Kim's story just keeps growing and growing. Read in 2 days as i couldn't put it down. Finally we find out Bryant's first name lol. Cant wait for the next one.

The Queen of crime, Angela Marson has done it again, with Hidden Scars the 17th book in the Kim Stone series.
For two months Kim has been recuperating from her injuries that she experienced in book 16. She can’t wait to get back into the fore and get stuck into another case. Her boss Woody wants her to take it slow and easy. But when she sees the morale of her team totally crushed by DI Ian Burns, especially Stacey who he has turned into the team’s tea lady. She feels that she needs to step up immediately before she loses her team forever.
Her first case that gets her attention is the alleged suicide 19-year-old Jamie Wells, who her adversary DI Burns has just brushed it under the carpet. She goes to the scene of the crime with Bryant and straight way Kim knows that something is not right, and that the victim’s death is not suicide but murder. When she tells the parents of the victims of her findings, she gets a different reaction than she was expecting. The parents just want to bury him and not think much about it.
Another body is found this of 22-year-old Sarah Laing with the same M.O as Jamie. As the team discover that both victims were gay. Is this evidence of a hate crime? Going further they discover that both went to a centre called Exodus that deals with Conversion therapy or treatments for young people who voluntarily had treatments that were some ways traumatic, and they couldn’t come to terms that they were gay. But when they visit the center the owners are not forthcoming with their answers and any patients there were given NDO agreements so not to discuss what went on there. But that doesn’t deter Kim to find out what went on there and what is the on there. What is the link to Exodus to Jaime and Sarah?
Thank you Bookoutre for a a copy of Hidden Scars. This is another brilliant episode in the series which I loved. Like another reviewer has said it feels like you are at home while reading a Kim stone book and I agree. This is another gripping fast paced thriller and Ms Marsons has done exceptional work on the research of ‘conversion camps and conversion therapy and which I found it was sensitively written. I was so glad that the team has got back together and like the banter between the team and that slowly Kim is getting back to her old self again. This is another great story you won’t be disappointed. 5 stars from me.