Five people stand around a shallow grave. They all played a part. The pact has been made and their secrets buried.

I listened to this book on audio and it was very well read and kept me engaged throughout. I am from the black Country so listening to the accents and hearing all the place names that I know from my childhood was very nostalgic for me.

This was a shocking and dark police procedural and not for the faint hearted. This was had me laughing, crying and the final twist downright floored me !! Highly recommend. I can't wait to continue this series.

Thank you to Netgalley, Angela Marsons and Bookouture Audio for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Angela Marsons’ Silent Scream is a gripping and complex thriller that introduces readers to the brilliant yet emotionally scarred Detective Kim Stone. From the very first chapter, the tension is palpable as Kim and her team investigate a series of gruesome murders that seem to be connected to a long-buried secret. As the body count rises, Kim must confront her own past while unraveling a mystery that spans decades.

What makes Silent Scream stand out is the depth of its characters. Kim Stone is a fascinating lead—tough, sharp, and sometimes socially awkward, but with a vulnerability that makes her all the more compelling. Her relationships with her team are equally well-developed, bringing an authenticity and camaraderie to the story that enriches the narrative. Kim’s blunt nature and willingness to wade in “boots and all” make her a character you can’t help but root for.

The plot is layered like an onion, with each layer revealing a new twist or turn that keeps you guessing. The setting—a former children’s home—adds a chilling element to the investigation, particularly as Kim’s personal connection to the institution draws on her intuition and empathy. Marsons does a remarkable job of weaving in backstories, making every character feel real and rounded, and the pacing is perfect, maintaining suspense without ever feeling rushed.

Jan Cramer’s narration enhances the experience, bringing the characters to life with her ability to capture both their strength and vulnerability. She perfectly conveys the urgency of the investigation and Kim’s complex nature, making the audiobook an immersive experience.

Silent Scream isn’t just another serial killer thriller. It’s a deep dive into the human psyche and the dark secrets that haunt the characters. Marsons’ writing is sharp, engaging, and full of surprises, with well-placed red herrings that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Fans of crime thrillers and complex character-driven stories won’t want to miss this.

If you haven’t yet discovered the Kim Stone series, Silent Scream is the perfect place to start, and with the prequel First Blood, you’ll be hooked for the entire series. This one will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

The first book in what is now a long running detective series, brilliantly narrated by Jan Cramer, who gives Detective Kim Stone a very believable voice.

Kim is feisty and short tempered and I wasn't sure that I liked her initially, but as the case progresses, along with her determination, Kim's compassion also shines through. The murder victim, a school principle had some dark secrets and the investigation is complex and fascinating. The plot leads us to a former children's home where remains are found and as the body count rises, there are some huge shocks in store. This book is not for the faint hearted!

A recommended read with a gripping plot and a great introduction to who is to become a much-loved literary character.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Angela Marsons and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I listed to the audiobook of the first and last novel in this series. It was a fascinating experience and it helped me to understand how the characters and the setting evolved.
This is an exceting story and I appreciated the style of writing and the narrator.
Well done, highly recommended
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was a fabulous series starter that was narrated very well. Kim Stone is a complex individual whose life has been pretty heartbreaking. But this has hardened her into doing her detective job thoroughly and with deep understanding of human nature. Her team was fabulous and no piece of the story was redundant. There were plenty of twists and turns to keep the momentum going.

Now to read the other books in the series

#netgalley #SilentScream

Silent Scream (Detective Kim Stone Crime Thriller Series # 1) by Angela Marsons
Narrated by Jan Cramer
Publisher: Bookouture Audio
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Published: February 20, 2015

Silent Scream is the first book in the Detective Kim Stone Crime Thriller Series by Angela Marsons. This is the first book I've read by the author and I know it won't be the last!

This book was so intense and I absolutely loved it!!!! I thought Detective Kim Stone was fascinating ad I can't wait to learn more about her!

I thought story was fantastic and I look forward to reading the other books in the series! I have to plan a binge so I can read them all at once!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC in audiobook format.

Angela Marsons' "Silent Scream" is a riveting introduction to the Detective Kim Stone series that grabs your attention from the very first chapter and doesn’t let go until the final word. The audiobook, narrated by Jan Cramer, offers an immersive and chilling experience that perfectly complements the tense and gritty narrative.

The protagonist, Detective Kim Stone, is a complex and compelling character with a tragic past that fuels her relentless pursuit of justice. Her tough exterior and sharp instincts make her an engaging and memorable lead. As Stone delves into the investigation of a series of murders connected to a long-buried secret, Marsons masterfully interweaves multiple plotlines, creating a web of suspense and intrigue that keeps you guessing.

What sets this thriller apart is the depth of the characters and the seamless pacing. Marsons does an excellent job of developing not only the primary characters but also the secondary ones, giving each of them a distinct voice and purpose within the story. The interactions between Stone and her team are particularly well-crafted, adding a layer of authenticity and camaraderie that enriches the narrative.

Jan Cramer's narration is superb, bringing the characters to life with her versatile voice and capturing the tension and urgency of the plot. Her portrayal of Kim Stone is spot-on, conveying both her strength and vulnerability. Cramer's ability to differentiate between characters and her pacing of the dialogue enhance the listening experience, making the audiobook a gripping journey from start to finish.

"Silent Scream" is more than just a typical serial killer thriller; it’s a deep dive into the human psyche and the dark secrets that can tear lives apart. Marsons' writing is sharp, and her ability to maintain a high level of suspense throughout the book is commendable. This audiobook is a must-listen for fans of crime thrillers and those who appreciate a well-told story with complex characters and a plot that twists and turns in unexpected ways.

"Silent Scream" is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that will leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Detective Kim Stone series. Angela Marsons has crafted a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and thrillingly suspenseful, and Jan Cramer's narration makes this audiobook a truly immersive experience.

Enjoy listening! If you're anything like me, this audiobook will have you hooked right until the very end.📚🔍🎧

Firstly, the narration is clear but very slow - it needed speeding up to between 1.25x and 1.4x.

Secondly, the story is also quite slow. That needed the first 30% cutting in half.

After that, everything gets going and I can see we have the makings of a good series. The characters are introduced quite thoroughly and there aren't so many that you lose track.

Having been through the care system herself, DI Kim Stone wants to catch the killer of these girls,even though they were murdered years ago: nothing is going to stand in her way. Rules are broken, corners are cut and her job is on the line.

I enjoyed this book a great deal.

It was a non-obvious mystery, but the clues were there had I been sharp enough to notice them.

The characters were likable. Likable enough that I got emotional a couple times, which is rare for me.

I don't really do detective books but as my first one I liked it very much

A good book which I have read before. Not so keen on the narration but. Will definitely read more in the series

I’ve been meaning to read the Kim Stone series from the beginning (I started at book nine), but haven’t yet. I was therefore delighted to be approved to listen to the Silent Scream audiobook on Netgalley – and what an absolute treat!
I somehow thought that the first book of the series would be slightly clunky with under-developed characters, clumsy plotting and an easily identifiable villain. Some googling shows that this was not in fact Marsons’ first novel; she had written two previous books, both self-published. Silent Scream, however, is not the novel of an almost-debut author.
The characters are fabulously real, rounded and totally believable. It’s amazing how much back-story and depth Marsons manages to convey in so few words. Right from the start we understand DI Kim Stone and her team - the interrelationships, strengths and weaknesses.
It was clever of Marsons to set their first investigation in a children’s home – an institution so well-known and so repugnant to Kim. It enables her to use her excellent policing skills combined with her intuition and empathy for the home’s former ‘inmates’.
I love the way Kim’s always prepared to wade in, boots and all. She never expects her team to do anything she herself wouldn’t do, and isn’t afraid to put herself at risk. There are some very close shaves for her at times.
I was intrigued by the relationships Kim forms with her team and others. She is so utterly blunt and socially inept, undiplomatic and rude that it’s a wonder anyone likes her. And yet she manages to win people over, gaining their respect and friendship.
And no, the villain isn’t obvious at all! Marsons laid a few red herrings, and surprised me!
I absolutely loved listening to this book, which I did obsessively. For others like me who haven’t read the series from the beginning, I highly recommend this. (And read the prequel, First Blood.) For those that haven’t yet discovered the Kim Stone series, start with First Blood, and you then have 21 books to enjoy thereafter!

This one was a bit of a mixed bag. I wasn’t very Ken on Kim the main investigator but her team kind of made up for her and I would like to get to know them more and with all the follow on books in this series I’m guessing they will all star in one or more of them. It seems to be par for the course for the lead police officer to have a dodgy past and to say this fits that bill is an understatement.
I’m not an expert on accents but I did think Stacy’s ‘voice’ tipped between Black Country and Scouce quite often. However other than that I do think the narrator did a pretty good job.

Silent Scream
(Detective Kim Stone Crime Thriller Series Book 1)
Angela Marsons

Reviewer
Debra Gaynor debg121254@gmail.com
Hancock Clarion www.hancockclarion.com
Book Reviews By Debra www.facebook.com/bookreviewsbydebra
This is the first book in the Detective Kim Stone Crime Thriller Series. It was published in 2015. Author Angela Marsons has provided readers with 16 books from this series.
The five of them dug a shallow grave.
Years later, human remains are discovered in the field next to the children’s home. DI Kim Stone is heading the team assigned to the case.
The characters are rather predictable. DI Kim Stone had a terrible childhood. She is strong, independent and doesn’t need a man. Neither does she need rules because she doesn’t like them or follow them. She comes across as sour, uncaring, and incapable of dealing with her past. She comes across as a bully. The plot had too many coincidences. Toward the end the plot is very confusing. There were threads that just don’t make sense. But this is the first book in this popular series.
Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Silent Scream is the first in the Kim Stone series and it kicks of her story with all the thrills! I listened to the audiobook and it was well done. I hadn't read any of the books in this series yet, but will be checking out more! This story had my spine tingling and I didn't want to stop listening!

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audiobook for review!

Detective Kim Stone's first outing and a very enjoyable start to the series. A pact years earlier now members of the group are being murdered, remains in the grounds of an old children's home are also discovered can Kim and her team find the killer before mire are dead. A good well paced novel with plenty of red herrings. Jam Cramer narrating of this book is excellent, easy to listen to. Thanks to Bookoutre Audio and Netgalley for this review ARC.

I love this series and was thrilled to see it’s now available on audio. If you’re new to DI Kim Stone and her team you’re in for a treat.

So here is another bad ass detective, who has zero tolerance to bullshit.
The first books of this kind of detective-phycological trillers is always shocking and brilliant. The mystery around 4 missing girls could capture anyone's attention and keep it alive for couple of hundreds of pages.
I admit that the book is really very well written, detailed, smoothed out. The complex characters are in place, Kim, Briant, the evil guy. The soft spots of Kim and her inner feminine struggles. I am impressed by all of those. However the story and the characters has just felt like I have read it before.

The Silent Scream, by Angela Marsons is book #1 in the multi book Detective Kim Stone crime thriller series, and I am a fan. The story and the voice acting were great. I'm definitely going to read the subsequent books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, audio house, narrator, and author for the opportunity to listen to a complimentary copy of this book in return for review, based upon my honest opinion

This is the first book in the detective Kim Stone series. It was a really good listen. I really enjoyed the main character. Kim Stone, she was funny, fierce and determined. I look forward to reading more books in the series in the future.

I've spent a portion of this year reading the first book in a number of well-regarded mystery/police procedural/mystery series. D.I. Kim Stone is a compelling character with a terrible background. We know early that her mother is institutionalized for a mental illness and that her twin brother died when they were six. So, Kim spent most of her life in "care." This story takes place in "The Black Country" somewhere in England. Kim has not only no social skills but actively poor social skills. She is not without empathy, but you'd better deserve it. She is a very competent Detective Inspector. She loves to restore old motorcycles. She has one good friend, her sidekick at work and sometimes for social time. She respects her team but forgets that not everyone is as driven as she is. She breaks rules, puts herself in very dangerous situations and she will do it again. And that's just book one.

Someone is killing people who obviously have some connection to one another. And.... Something odd has just turned up on the grounds of an abandoned home for girls in care, a terrible and depressing and terrible place to have landed ten or more years ago. And anything else I tell you would be a spoiler. But along the way, we meet some great characters, learn about the victims and their past, and enjoy how the story unfolds with every clue in place and a little twisty surprise at the end. I see why this book was so successful and now I must excuse myself to look for more Kim Stone books. Brilliant of Net Galley to give me Book 1 and Book 21 on audio to read. Think I want to at least check on Books 2-20. The narrator was good. Definitely recommend this novel.