Book19, and as still as fresh as ever!!

I totally forgot about the cliff hanger from the previous book until I was a few pages in to this one.

Wow AM does not disappoint. Absolutely loved every second of this book, kind of have a vague idea about what may be developing for number 20.

This one defiantly kept me guessing though, right until the end when I was practically shouting the warnings!!

If you are new to Kim and the team I thoroughly suggest reading them in order so you have the chance to get to know the characters and watch them develop.

Thank you for giving me to opportunity to review this title. Now I just have to be patient and wait for number 20!!

Although this is not my favorite in this series, it continues to be a five star book. Filled with her usual balance of mystery and suspense, the writer keeps the reader interested. I feel that this would be a difficult stand alone book since so much of the past is talked about or alluded to. A book which I would certainly recommend to others.

I can't believe we are on book 19 of this series and every one of them has been amazing. How Angela comes up with these stories and every one of them different and well researched is mind blowing. I loved how Leanne King is back even if it is just a few pages their conversations always make me smile. This is the best series I have ever read and love Kim and her team, roll on the next book, keep writing them Angela. An easy 5 stars for me.

Angela Marsons continues to be, in my opinion, the queen of police procedural thrillers, not least because every single instalment in the Kim Stone series is consistently excellent.
This new chapter again doesn't shy away from difficult subjects and whilst the investigation is excellent, there is just enough of a back story in there to keep us up to date on all the great characters in the team.
Fast paced, thrilling and one of those novels that has you watching the percentage figure on your kindle and not wanting it to end.
Easy 5 stars from me.

Thanks to Angela and NetGalley for allowing me to read Bad Blood, the 19th book in the D.I. Kim Stone series, before the publication date.
There is a distinctly different feel to this book which Angela explains in the epilogue.
It is still a well-crafted story which weaves many threads to great effect.

Families come in all shapes and sizes and for D.I. Kim Stone, her team is her family. She will go to any lengths to protect and support them, although she would never admit that.
Now she finds herself torn between her role as the Senior Officer in the team and the matriarchal role she has in Team Family. All this at a point where there are so many lines of enquiry and her own mentor, DCI Woodward is asking too many questions.

The team are made aware that the first 2 victims had been members of a group known as the “Superior Six”, aka the “Psycho Six” in Welton Hall, a Young Offenders Institution. (The term YO is something of a euphemism since the residents have all been convicted of serious crimes which they committed at a young age.)

Desperate to identify the rest of the group with a view to warning them that they may also be at risk, Kim contacts Welton Hall where the scene could best be described as an irresistible force ( Kim) meets an immovable object (governor, Josephine Kirk). Kirk’s resistance and obstructive behaviour generates more work for the team.

As the story unfolds, it provides insight into the justice system, presenting the reader with the views of people who have worked within the system and leaving the reader to ponder the very topical pros and cons of incarcerating criminals.

There are plenty of red herrings, twists and turns to keep the reader engaged.
Given the parallels of Team Family and the Superior Six Family, I think it would potentially be suitable for a book club discussion.

Another 5 star corker from Marsons! Given this is the 19th (20th if including the prequel) in this series it's amazing how Angela keeps the Kim Stone momentum going. In this case, we see a serial killer seeking revenge on the past leaving his victims temporarily incapacitated until their death. I also love how Stacey's problems have been dealt with. It takes a look at vigilant groups and how their actions can either assist or detract from police work. I can't wait for Stone's next case. I feel like an extra member of the team with the way Marson's writing draws you in!

Somehow this is number 19 in the Kim Stone series and if you’re thinking there is no way that a series could go on for this long and still be just as exciting and well written as the very first book you would be wrong. I have rated every single one of these books five stars and I’m not sure there is another series out there that has been rated as highly by me. That’s really saying something too, because I am the kind of reader who adores a series and I am an devoted reader of so many of them but few can hold a candle to this one, it is definitely one of my very favorites.

One of the things I’ve enjoyed the most about Kim as a character is how very black and white she views the world. She is confident in her beliefs and rarely goes back and forth about situations after she’s made a decision for herself or her team. This book explored the gray areas of life where there isn’t always an easy answer and it was fascinating to see Kim navigate uncharted waters. Vigilante justice plays a role in one of the cases Kim and crew are working and that’s a concept that always gets me thinking. In Marsons skilled hands she leads the reader down a dark and dangerous path alongside the team and the entire ride was suspenseful, entertaining and wholly satisfying. Besides an intricate plot in terms of the team’s caseload, you also have some happenings that have shifted the dynamics between Kim, Bryant, Stacy and Penn. This added an emotional layer to the story and it also added even more depth to the fantastic characterization that I’ve come to expect from the author. If you like very well written crime fiction with incredible characters, fast pacing and complex plotting this one is a must!

My rating: 5 stars! I have been a huge fan of Ms. Marsons for a number of years and have read all her books. I have always felt (and seen) that when a author starts a series as long as this, that they follow the same path and the books becomes predictable. That is not in the case with this author. She knows when to shake up a book and leave you guessing for the next book. That was what happened in this book ... there was a sense of karma well played out (and quite satisfying!) I know when I read her books I am in for the ride of my life, trying to figure out who is the bad guy ... and I never get it right! There are a number of sub plots that play out in this book and the author ties them up quite nicely. I truly recommend reading this series ... but I would recommend starting at the beginning with Silent Scream. You could read each novel as a stand alone but you get a broader picture when you know the history of all the characters. The author was only supposed to write 16 novels ... and we are now on the 19th novel. I truly hope she does not stop writing about Kim Stone and her merry band of dedicated detectives!!

I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel in return for a honest and unbiased review

Angela Marsons is a master storyteller. Even though this is book 19 in the Kim Stone series the stories just keep getting better. There's always a new angle which is explored through the crimes in each book. There is also the familiarity of the characters that we have come to love and who now feel like family. Each book is both new and familiar while keeping us all guessing through the clever plotlines. With each book I say I'm going to savour it but I always end up unable to put it down and reading it in just a few hours! There are not enough positives to describe just how good these books are!

Angela Marsons' talent never fails to impress me as this is now book 19 and still SO strong! I really loved this book a lot. I found the case they were investigating to be super strong and interesting. And I also really enjoyed the subplot with the team as well. A great solid read if you're a fan of Kim Stone! Please keep these coming!

I love this series of Kim Stone and have read every one. They are all fantastic and this is no exception. I love Angela Marsons style of writing. A great storyline with a few twists and turns that had me gripped from the first page and I couldn't put it down. The relationship between her team is so lovely like genuine friendship between them all. I can't wait for the next book. Please don't keep us waiting too long!

Kim and Bryant are called to the discovery of a mans body found under a tree . Yet when they arrive the paramedics are desperately trying to save the victims life.

In the end it is all to no avail as he does indeed die on the way to hospital..
The photographs taken at the scene show the man with his arms raised above his head, his legs spread apart.
There is no other evidence at the scene, it having been destroyed during the frantic efforts of the paramedics.

The autopsy however reveals the dead man Eric Gould was indeed the victim of murder.
The question is why?

On the surface he appears to have been an ordinary young man that is until Kim and the team dig into his past. As a teenager he was found guilty of attacking his girlfriend and locked away.
Checking social media reveals bruises on the face of his current girlfriend/ fiance, it seems he has not changed.

Other bodies turn up, they too have had their bodies posed into the shape of letters. Their bones actually broken to make the shapes possible.

It quickly becomes clear from their inquiries the victims were once part of a group who were incarcerated together . The group were known to have bragged about their crimes none of them ever showing any remorse.
Could this be the work of a vigilante group seeking revenge for the crimes they committed in their youth?

Running alongside the main story is the situation Stacey finds herself in. A man involved in a previous case is stalking her, scaring her and making her life a misery. Stacey has kept this to herself, telling no-one, not Kim not even her wife Devon.
Then the stalker is killed when a car hits him.
No longer a secret the fall out causes a rift between Kim and Stacey. Will they be able to overcome it?

Suspense filled, action packed, totally gripping.
I just cannot get enough of Detective Kim stone and her team.
An absolute cracker of a read , cannot wait for the next one in the series.

This is the 19th in the Kim Stone and team investigations and is as brilliant as ever. It helps if you have followed the series but is just as good if you haven’t. The storyline is unusual and gripping, keeping the suspense going throughout all the twists. Well paced, moments of high tension relieved by humour. The closeness of the team Kim has assembled grows with every book with what feels like genuine friendship; so well written. I loved it from start to finish, which came all too quickly as towards the end I simply couldn’t put it down. Do read the series, they are wonderful.

What can I say that hasn't already been said about this series? 19 books in and Ms Marsons is every bit as crafty and devious with her crimes as she has ever been, the story just as adrenalin fuelled and compelling as we could wish for. Add in a touch of personal jeopardy for one of the team - we hate to see them suffering, but at the same time it gets our dander up and makes me, for one, completely invested in the story - and the recipe for an attention grabbing, sleep stealing, boster of a read is right there in front of us. And this is one heck of a case, one that definitely didn't lead us in quite the direction I was expecting.

Now, if you have read the previous book (and if not why not), then you know which of the team might be in a little bit of a muddle. And that is the polite way of saying that one of them is knee deep in a whole pile of doodoo. Things have escalated since our last outing with very stark consequences. I don't want to say too much about that as it may spoil things for people not quite up to date with the series, but it's fair to say that events lead to distraction, which, in turn, lead to mistakes being made. The whole plot line, which loops in and out of the main investigation, taking more of Kim's time than she might have liked, has a really emotional edge and carries on a very topical element from the previous book. It's all too common and believable and given everything that has been in the headlines over the past few years, probably all too relatable for many readers too. Well handled by Angela Marsons, this part of the book really does hit you in the gut for many reasons, and had me questioning just how far people might go to seek revenge.

Which actually ties in very nicely with the main investigation to be fair. It's fair to say that the victims are not necessarily all of good repute. Of course it takes some time for that to come to the fore, and as we learn about each victim in turn it is hard to see what connects them. They seem very different in both character and fortune, but one thing that is not different is the level of violence meted out on them by the killer, or killers, in this case. I actually found myself very intrigued by the case really quickly, the author being adept at creating a very puzzling, and sometimes slightly grotesque (but not gratuitous) set of circumstances in which her victims are dispatched. that's certainly the case here, the killer playing a canny game which makes it hard for the team to capture any evidence, forensic or otherwise. And with someone delighting in playing games with the team, it's not hard to think that this might be the one who gets away>

I love the pacing and tension throughout the books in the series, and it is definitely a doozy of a book in that sense. With everything going on with the team member, and the potential repercussions of that, plus the escalating violence that Kim, Bryant and co are faced with, it really is one of those books that captures your attention and doesn't let go. There is a lot of anger, an outlet for the aforementioned tension amongst the team, but it is not necessarily directed where you might think. But in spite the seriousness of what is going on, and the case they are investigating, there are those classic lighter moments, such as when Kim heads off on a tangent to try and drag one of their more friendly, and tolerated, consultants into the case. It was classic Kim Stone and made me chuckle.

It's those kind of moments, the blend of light and dark, that Angela Marsons always nails that make this such a brilliant series. When the case calls for the need to be serious, you can guarantee that Kim is all focus and resolve, as are the team. But just when that intensity threatens to overwhelm, we get those moments of humour, never at the expense of the victims, but just to reset the balance. touch, allow us a breather before she leads us further into the case. Towards the end of the book there is a real escalation of tension and jeopardy and I am beginning to wonder whether Angela Marsons loves her lead character after all as she really keeps putting her through hell. After this I think she needs a nice long break, of her choosing rather than enforced - that never ends well - with just her Barney and a little less violence. Then again, that's exactly the kind of thing to send Kim round the bend so, as you were.

Another absolute cracker of a read that fans of the series will love. And as we're on book 19 now, I'm assuming that talks are already well underway about books 27 onward, right Bookouture?

Bad Blood is book 19 in the Kim Stone series (wow how time has flown) and another brilliant episode in it. The quality of the authors writing never falters. It just gets better and better.
When a phone call from Keats saying that have found a body. Kim and Bryant rush to the scene only to find out that the body is still alive. But when the paramedics get them to the hospital, they soon die. The person has been given the lethal drug Fentanyl that slows down the heart rate to a minimal level that a person becomes into a dead like state. Who wants to kill this person and why?
When the killer goes on social media and and causes havoc and try and persuade people to make false claims to the Police to deter finding him, Kim stone and her team have their work cut out. When another body is found which is also linked to their last case it causes repercussions in the team, especially between Kim and Stacey. Can they hold it together and find the killer before they strike again?
Thank you Bookouture for a copy of Bad Blood this is another 5-star read from me. Another gripping, intriguing read, and I heard that it is going to be made into a TV series. It’s brillant news. I can’t wait.

I keep promising myself that I am going to read more of this series, but in order as this would really add to my enjoyment as I could understand more of the backstories So reading this as a standalone it was a good police procedural and it worked it just would have been better for me knowing more, but that is my problem and not the books so I am taking that outside.

I liked the premise of the crime and to be honest I didn't work it out, which I loved, so that all worked for me. I must read more of this series as the writing and characters are really good.

I was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

I recently read the book, Bad Blood, by Angela Marsons and I was thoroughly impressed. The storyline is gripping and the characters are well developed and engaging. The story follows Detective Kim Stone as she investigates the murder of a young woman in a small town. The town is riddled with secrets and Kim must unravel the truth before the killer strikes again. The suspense builds throughout the novel and the twists and turns keep the reader on their toes. I found myself hooked from start to finish and I could not put the book down.
The writing was well crafted and the dialogue was believable. I could easily imagine the characters and the setting of the story. Angela Marsons did an excellent job of creating an atmosphere of suspense and mystery.
Overall, I highly recommend Bad Blood by Angela Marsons. It is a page-turner and will keep you guessing until the very end.

The 19th installment of the bestselling Kim Stone series, Bad Blood, finds Kim Stone investigating the murders of several men who grew up in a juvenile criminal institution after committing serious crimes a decade previously. The victims are found close to death, but unable to move or talk before dying shortly after being discovered. The bodies are posed, and there are messages from the murderer. In addition, those who read the previous installment of this series will remember that Stacey is traumatized after being stalked by Terrence Birch, a witness to a crime, and doesn’t tell anyone, including her wife and Stone. Birch is found in the road after a hit and run.

Marsons (who has a wife of her own) is one of my favorite authors, and her books have kept me on the edge in most of her books. However, this one focuses too much on Stacey and her wife, Devon, which is a lesbian relationship that most of us readers can’t relate to and is very uncomfortable because the intimacy is emphasized; previously, this relationship hasn’t taken a primary role, so it has been tolerable since the other supporting characters are relatable. I have nothing against LBGTQIA+, but choose not to read about it, so this book is my least favorite of the series. Marsons is excellent at developing her characters, so the others are still the great friends we are used to reading about, but with the Stacey/Devon thing, it goes too far.

Marsons is an excellent storyteller, and the story is easy to follow and the suspense builds throughout. The suspects are numerous, and even Devon is a suspect in the hit and run sub-plot for a time. There are ups and downs and surprises.

Unfortunately, this is a bit sloppily written, and hopefully, readers will read the previous excellent books before reading this one. No one can expect every book of an author to be fabulous, so I will keep reading the subsequent novels to come and will just remember that some of my favorite characters were able to progress in this novel (such as Penn and Lynne), and that is a good thing.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.

Absolutely brilliant!
I love this series and this is one of my favourites as it has a bit of everything that I love in a book. There’s murders, there’s Kim’s individual brand of humour and there’s some emotional moments when the truth comes out about someone close to Kim.
With the discovery of a body it’s not clear at first if he was murdered but after the post mortem, Keats gives the news that he was injected with with a lethal dose of fentanyl.
The killer then takes to social media and causes chaos for the investigation. With the body count rising, Kim and the team know they need to pull out all the stops to catch this killer.
Kim is also keeping a close eye on another case as the outcome could shatter her friend’s life.
This is a brilliant crime thriller and I highly recommend this series.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Can this really be the 19th Kim Stone crime thriller? It amazes me that Angela Marsons can come up with more and more stories and ensure that each one is as original as it is intriguing. I've been a fan since book one and in my opinion she has never dropped a star. I have loved every book as much if not more than the previous one. I look forward to the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book