SILENT SCREAM introduces us to Kim Stone, a character born out of a troubled children's home, who wears her heart on her sleeve. Her unwavering dedication and passion as a police officer, coupled with her deeply memorable character, make her a truly unique and intriguing protagonist.

With its disturbing and horrifying elements, the intricate and multi-layered plot of SILENT SCREAM held my attention from start to finish, building up to a truly shocking ending. This is a must-read for any crime fiction enthusiast, and I'm already looking forward to delving into more of Angela Marsons' work.

The audiobook's narrator, Jan Cramer, delivers a stellar performance that enhances the reading experience. It's a great listen that will leave you satisfied.

I'm deeply grateful to NetGalley for providing me with the audio copy of SILENT SCREAM in exchange for an honest review. And to Angela Marsons, thank you for creating such a captivating series, including the upcoming 36 HOURS, which I'm eagerly anticipating on December 10, 2024!

**Updated Review**

Detective Kim Stone is undoubtedly a ballbuster and a rule breaker. In fact, her boss is keeping a close eye on her.

Teresa Wyatt is dead, and Kim is determined to find out why. Despite being super stressed, this case is personal for Kim. It’s a thrilling first book in the Detective Kim Stone Crime Thriller series that introduces us to Kim and shows her humanity and compassion, even though she’s got a fiery temper.

There are now 21 books in this amazing series, but revisiting this book in audio format was a blast. As we get to know Kim better, we also meet her team members like Stacey, Kevin, and Bryant. Jan Cramer’s narration is spot-on, and it was great to “hear” Kim’s voice, especially when she’s snappy or funny.

Kim’s new case starts with learning more about the victim, Teresa, who was a school principal. Talking to other staff at the school is just the beginning. Kim discovers a 10-year pact that Teresa was a part of, which suggests that there might be other bodies. The investigation is complex and full of twists, so you’ll be on the edge of your seat.

This book had me hooked from the start. One line that really stuck with me was, “Much as they wished to, they knew they were incapable of saving the whole world – but sometimes you just had to deal with what was right in front of you.” And there was a shocking twist that I never saw coming, which left me with a lump in my throat. This book and series are definitely worth checking out!

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Ummm well so much to say, yet I also feel speechless... This is a difficult book to review! I think this may be the first time I've felt so conflicted and literally lost for words!!!

At the beginning of this book, before we are introduced to the psychopathic character, the little comments from DI Kim Stone were light and amusing they made what seemed to be a relatively standard detective psychological thriller a little different. Her character with her partner Bryant is the type of rapport you could envisage on a television drama... Comments regarding how he is balancing out his dancing classes with his fiance so he has to go and hug some hairy men "play rugby" was just one of Kim's little moments of banter with him as she races through traffic lights!

This was so very well narrated by Jan Cramer that I genuinely felt the creepiness from the moment I heard the first transcript of the psychopath is how I will refer to this being so as not to share any spoilers! There are many times I did have to pause and actually take a moment like what have I actually just listened to, then oh wait, what is coming next, etc.

⚠️ This is not for the faint hearted or for anyone who may be triggerered I'd definitely say have awareness this book covers various topics but it's more that it is actually delivered so well in the narration that it makes this as an audiobook even more difficult. Even for someone who has empathy, you will sense it. If you're able to listen with the foresight knowing this and prepared then you can take it as a fictional story and not be caught off guard, then you will enjoy it in the context that is meant. This is just my little word of warning for anyone who may have any sensitivity for any reason to various forms of abuse including but not limited to child abuse, sexual abuse, animal abuse, and in particular very obvious psychopathic tendencies.

I have to say as difficult as these subjects are, this book had my full attention from the very beginning. I was immersed. I believe the author and narrator have clearly done a lot of research into these areas in order to be able to write and narrate the Silent Scream as well as it has been done. From a review standpoint this truly deserves alot of credit from the perspective of the work that is so clearly involved in writing any book and also in narrating to deliver for the listener to actually feel like they can and do feel or sense things from the characters and boy did I. To be able to engage an audience and emote the emotions from my pov shows amazing work!

The story itself obviously had enough structure to keep my interest and I believe the way the writing was done by introducing the characters like DI Kim and Bryant from the beginning in a fun lighthearted way helps ease the reader/listener in to the story before it gets really dark. Not to mention the lovely friendship / co-worker relationship that Kim and Bryant had this really did lighten the subject matters covered in this book. From various forms of abuse, investigating murders, Kims personal life ans difficulties are also brought to the forefront as she delves into the investigation that takes her back to childhood as she discoovers an area durif investigation that used to be an old girls school / home. There really is so much covered in this, and yet i managed to liaten to this over 2 days... So albeit definitely without doubt, this becomes very disturbing at times, but being able to view this as fiction it does keep you intrigued trying to figure out the plot alongside Kim right to the very end!

Absolutely fantasticly well written and narrated together a brilliant combination that brought to life this deep web of so many twists and turns you really didn't quite know what was going to happen next and quite honestly ir has been a long time since I've found a book that has captured me in this way that I really wasn't convinced I had figured out the plot before the end. Albeit it turns out I had, I really was uncertain with this one, which for me shows signs of amazing writing that the author managed to leave me pondering various possibilities and what ifs...

Well, for being speechless, I certainly had a lot to say. As I said, it was definitely one I had very conflicted feelings on how to review, so I done so from the point of the work involved!

With much gratitude, I really appreciated the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for my open, honest review. Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture Audio

4.5⭐️

The first book in the Kim Stone series set in the Black Country.

I’m a fan of the series, it’s great to see this series available in audiobook. I couldn’t resist listening to it in this format. The narrator is Jan Cramer, I’m not sure how I feel about her as a fit, wasn’t what I had in my head.

I think it’s still my favourite of the series, and I think the darkest.
Kim is badly damaged, I’m amazed that she manages to function as well as she does. You definitely see her character develop through the series, she isn’t at her most likeable in this book. I really like the working relationship and friendship between Kim and Bryant.

It’s high on entertainment, lower on authentic police procedure, which is what I enjoy, but we all like different things. A popular author, if you haven’t tried the series yet, give it a go.

Man!!! this story will have you on the edge of your sit bitting your nails trying to fiture out who the killer is and who the killer was of the 3 girls! and the the 4th girl. can you belive it wasn't all the same person! listening back and forth! I still was like who did this and who did that! And I still was wrong!!

Even with the twins I was like everyone else WRONG I thought it was 2 different people nope!! one was dead along! crazy wild ride of a story!!!!

Silent Scream (D.I. Kim Stone #1)
By Angela Marsons, narrated by Jan Cramer

Having never read/heard any of the books, I was aware of the D.I. Kim Stone series, and I'm a big fan of police procedurals. So when I saw that NetGalley was offering the audiobook of the first book in the series, I decided this would be a great time to give the series a try. Be prepared for graphic descriptions and for the action to start immediately.

There is a real feel that these characters have lives that began before I started the audiobook. I like that in a story, that life doesn't seem to start for the characters just because I picked up the book. Even though Kim Stone is in no way likeable, I do like her. She's hard, harsh, and has to remind herself to tone down the rudeness, to sometimes remember to not rush into every situation like a herd of stampeding elephants. Mostly Kim is very content being herself and eschewing time wasting pleasantries. This is a detective that is going to get things done and even if she might push boundaries, she'll protect others who follow her into the fray.

We quickly know that something very bad happened years ago and now those involved are paying the price for their involvement. Kim has a past that removed all external softness from her personality but even as she's barging into scenes, controlling everything that is going on, there is a part of her that is aware of those who need protecting, need compassion, need to be remembered. I can see why this is popular series. Jan Cramer narrates this first book and I liked the way she voices Kim. You know who is in charge, even when Kim might be in the middle of getting dressed down by her superior (more than once).

Thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

dark, twisty, and an ending I didn't see coming - overall, a great crime thriller that was super fast-paced and kept me guessing!

"Teresa Wyatt had the inexplicable feeling that this night would be her last."

Chills! I was hooked after reading that sentence! Silent Scream is the first book in the gripping, thrilling and shocking DI Kim Stone Series! I first read this book in May 2018, but I recently had the pleasure of listening to the audiobook. It was fantastic! Silent Scream wowed me from the very first page, sent shivers up and down my spine, and had me listening to this book long into the night! This book is full of secrets, tension, dread, danger and a raising body count!

Human remains have been found at a former children's home. Through the course of the investigation, it becomes clear that the human remains may be connected to recent murders. But how? Why? Plus, young women/teens from the children's home disappeared ten years ago. What's the connection?

Lots of questions went through my mind while I was reading this: Who is the current killer? What is his/her motivation? Is this the same person responsible for the remains found at the children's home? Is there more than one killer? Whose body was found at the children's home? D.I. Kim Stone is on the case and the reader knows early on that she has demons in her past. Maybe it is just me, but has anyone else noticed the trend to have female investigators have troubled pasts? Or perhaps, maybe it is just coincidence that my book choices have contained these types of characters. hmmmm

This is a book that had an I-did-not-see-that-coming moment in it!!!! Woohoo! The reveal was, well, REVEALING! Seriously, I was shocked, and I love it when a book can shock me and yet have that shock be believable and make sense. Whew! Plus, I really enjoyed how the book went back and forth in time. Giving the reader glimpses into the past and back into the present investigation. The changes in location and time flow very nicely and really help move the plot along and keep things interesting.

If you have not read this series before, dive in and you will not be disappointed! Angela Marsons is an awesome writer and storyteller. This book had me on the edge of my seat, my heart pounding, and doing my own super sleuthing. This series is a must read for me, and it was a joy to go back and listen to the first book in the series. The audiobook version is very well done and is not to be missed.

Gripping, shocking, well thought out, tension filled and hard to put down!

Detective Kim Stone makes her debut in this thriller that involves the discovery of a body buried decades before on the site of a former children’s home. Stone is a strong and interesting protagonist