Glad to see that Bookouture is adding an audiobook option to the DI Kim Stone series from Angela Marsons. The first two audiobooks are the latest book, 36 Hours, and this book - Silent Scream - the first book in the series.

"When human remains are discovered at a children's home. Detective Kim Stone realizes she's hunting for a killer who may have been killing for decades. Stone and her team are desperate to catch the killer before there are more murders. But Stone must confront her own past before it's too late."

This book introduces to the complex character of Kim Stone. She's very different than the Kim Stone of Book 21. She has an awful backstory that she is constantly struggling with.
You meet her team but don't get too comfortable with them because Marsons is not afraid to kill off a character - any character.
Always some good detective work a wild ending in this series.

Jan Kramer does a nice job with the audio.

Good start to the series.

I thought I had this story figured out and I was SO WRONG! This was my first experience with Angela Marsons' work and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The plot was intriguing with an excellent twist at the end. Perfect for fans of Linda Castillo or Agatha Christie!

This one got me hooked from start to finish. The audio narration is quite good, only had a slight problem with the rate of speech at the begining.

At a friend's recommendation, I finally jumped into the Kim Stone series, eager to see what has her so excited. I was rewarded with a dark, gritty, and fast-paced police procedural that held my attention throughout. This is my first Angela Marsons book and I'd happily read more.

"Silent Scream" kicks off with a string of murders, with Detective Kim Stone in charge of leading the investigation. Raised in a children's home herself, Kim is immediately intrigued by the crimes, which seems to center around people associated with a girl's home many years prior. This series of crimes comes to a head when a local professor finally receives permission for an acheological dig on land near the home. Someone has been blocking his requests to dig, and it soon becomes clear why.

Often gruesome and definitely twisted, this won't be a thriller for everyone, but for those who like to take a good look at the uglier sides of humanity, there's much to enjoy here. The audiobook narration was very well done and helped keep me immersed in the story. While the twists go a bit off the deep end at times, it's a fun ride overall.

Thank you to Angela Marsons, Bookotour Audio, and NetGalley for an audiobook ARC for honest review.

Silent Scream is a book that has been on my TBR for years now. I kept meaning to get around to reading it, but never did. And I kept seeing the subsequent books being released and people seemed to be genuinely enjoying them. This week, the 21st book of the D.I. Kim Stone series was released and honestly it feels daunting to start a series that already has so many volumes. But when I saw that NetGalley had the audiobook version available to listen to of the first book, I jumped at the opportunity to finally see if this was an investment of my time I was willing to engage with.

This book is a thriller mystery through and through. It follows my favorite formula of the genre, with two separate crimes in two distinct timelines. The current timeline finds past associates of a girl's home being murdered in various ways while we learn of past events that lead to the death of several girls at the girl's house. Detective Stone finds herself trying to uncover the identities of the forgotten girls and to save any potential future victims of the current murder spree.

This book was a wild ride. I normally don't listen to thrillers as audiobooks because I find I miss too many details (translation: I get distracted and stop listening closely) but with this book I couldn't stop listening. The narration was perfect and the chapters from the killer's point of view were downright creepy to listen to. This book did have some gruesome details, more than I usually expect from this type of book so if you are easily put off by gore, beware. While I was able to guess several of the twists by the end, I still really enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the rest of the series!

*I would like to thank the publisher, author, and NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review*

A fantastic start to the series, I have enjoyed listening to this story which had me gripped throughout. I look forward to listening to more

Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood…

Years later, a headmistress is found strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country. But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed.

Detective Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades. As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?

5⭐ (story) Suspenseful. Excellent writing. Gripping from the first sentence. This is the first book I've read from Angela Marsons. It will definitely not be the last! I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves police procedurals.

4.5⭐ (audio) I listen to TONS of audiobooks, and as long as the narrator doesn't pull me out of the story, I'm happy. This narrator did an excellent job, adding depth and character through voices and narrative tension. I really enjoyed this one!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

This is the 1st book in the Detective Kim Stone series. I have also read the 21st book and reading them out of order hasn’t hindered my understanding or ability to follow the story. This story tugs at the heartstrings being about children who have been removed from their parent’s and put in care homes.

This is my second book by Angela Marsons and I really like her as an author. Jan Cramer did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A police procedural, a complex plot that is revealed layer after layer and a strong, determined female detective with no people skills and who doesn’t care what others think about her because her only goal is to catch the person who brutally killed three teen-aged girls are what made this a story I couldn’t quit listening to. DI Kim Stone’s childhood was unimaginably horrible, but she emerged from it determined to catch those who would dare to hurt others, especially children. I can’t wait for more Detective Kim Stone.

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D.I. Kim Stone #1
Silent Scream
Angela Marsons
4.07
41,879 ratings3,265 reviews

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Even the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…
Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …
Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

Even the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…
Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …
Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

Human remains are being dug up at an old children's home, but some people want the secrets kept hidden and others are set on revenge.

Kim Stone must uncover the past and fight for justice for the children who didn't have a voice, but these cruel truths lead a little close to home.

This novel had a badass main female character! Although Marsons's main character has her own demons I loved that the reader was able to empathise and connect with them. Several side characters showed conflict with the main character but also showed understanding towards her.

This was a novel with a twist I didn't see coming, including I had to go back and double-check as it left me speechless.

This is a fantastic first novel to a series I can see myself continuing.

A friend of mine recommended this book to me a while ago and as the latest book in the series (number 21 can you believe it?!), is due to be published soon, reading number 1 now felt like as good a time as any.

Full disclaimer; I looked at the cover for this book and was immediately turned off. It just doesn't look like something I would usually go for or enjoy, but I wanted to give it a go. Mostly for the Black Country vibes. The book is set across various locations in the Black Country which is where I spent the first 30 years of my life, so I had to give it a shot. And I'm glad that I did. Not only was it fun recognising all of the place and landmarks, but it was a good plot too.

The case that was being investigated was pretty dark and left a very eerie feeling hovering over me. I had my suspicions about who was involved in the atrocious historical and present crimes and I was partly correct, however there was a twist that I did not see coming.

The one aspect of this book that lost it a star for me was that I didn't feel like I grew close enough to the characters to feel invested in them. There was so much more I wanted to know about Kim and the rest of her team, but it felt surface level. However with a series this long, I'm sure that readers get to know them more as it progresses.

I listened to this on audio and devoured the whole thing in one sitting. I love my thrillers with a dark crime and this story didn't disappoint. I look forward to continuing on with the series and getting to know the returning characters more.

I hadn't listened to any of this series I have now bought the entire series I just loved it. The crime itself was well thought out and I got involved, the narration added to the story and worked well.
The lead character was well though with a hint of back story which I assume that we will discover. She has a unconventional relationship with her career and her team but it works.

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons is an intense and gripping start to the Detective Kim Stone series. The story dives into a chilling murder investigation tied to the haunting secrets of a burned-down children’s home. Kim Stone, a tough and determined detective shaped by her own difficult past, leads the case with unwavering resolve. The dual timeline and well-placed twists keep the suspense high, with a shocking ending that caught me off guard.

While Kim is a polarizing character, her team's dynamic adds depth and balance to the story. The narration by Jan Cramer is excellent, bringing the characters and tension to life. This audiobook is a must for fans of dark and emotional crime thrillers. Looking forward to continuing the series!

In this book we meet Kim Stone and her team for the 1st time

Investigating the murder of Teresa Wyatt, DI Kim Stone and the team are thrown into the past as a 2nd Murder occurs and bodies are found on the grounds of an old girls home

This is a tough storyline as it involves rape and abuse of young girls, however it is well written.

Kim comes across as a no nonsense, take no cr*p woman. She had a tough life, herself growing up in care so this case resonates hard for her and she is determined to bring justice for the bodies found.

I am looking forward to hearing more from Kim and her team

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title

An amazing fast paced story that gripped me from the beginning. I couldn’t listen fast enough as I just wanted to know what happened. Kim is a very troubled lady and very hard and rude so I didn’t warm to her but having said that I also quite like her. A twisty dark thriller that I highly recommend if you enjoy this genre.

psychological-thriller, crime-fiction, law-enforcement, England, suspense, British-detective, procedural, conspiracy, twisty, multiple-murder, investigations, due-diligence, retribution, unpleasant-main-character, unputdownable, riveting, witty, banter, triggers*****

The Children's Home is now an archaeological dig, but its horrors linger in those it has harmed. These years later, some past employees are being murdered and/or threatened with no prosecutable evidence. Led by DI Kim Stone the investigations are done well and are deeply disturbing to all concerned. Riveting yet horrifying.
Voice actor Jan Cramer is very skilled at differentiation of both characters and tone of passages.
I requested and received a temporary digital file from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley.
Avail Feb 20, 2015 #SilentScream by Angela Marsons Narrated by Jan Cramer #NetGalley #DIKimStoneBk1 #Bookouture #PsychologicalThriller #LawEnforcementMystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @kobobooks @waterstones ***** #Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk

The book summary basically lays out the start of the story and introduces the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t say is that the MC, DI Kim Stone, is arrogant, obnoxious, self-absorbed, and is someone who, most of the time, thinks she’s the most important person in the room and the only one who matters. In other words, a very unlikeable person! As a character driven reader, unlikeable MC’s are usually a deal breaker for me. By the 15% mark, when a beloved pet doggie is murdered (poisoned) by the killer, that was it for me. I closed the book and started looking for something else to read. Good grief!!! Don’t most writers know they’re not supposed to kill beloved and innocent family pets! Leave that crap for the horror writers who are known for that.

Anyways, the next day, I picked the book back up so that I could at least provide an honest review. While I didn’t like Kim, I did like her team; Stacy, the youngest and newest member, who is also an ardent gamer, Bryant, an older, seasoned cop as well as a long married and devoted father, Kevin, a younger, single, and conceited cop, who has been kicked out by his pregnant girlfriend and is back living with his parent. It’s revealed pretty early that Kim had a rough childhood being shuffled between a children’s home and numerous foster families. Kim’s mother is a murderer who will spend the rest of her life in a criminal psych ward. Kim also lost her twin brother when they were kids.

The murders continue and a connection is revealed between the victims and an old and burned-out children’s home. Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the murders and the leads they got while searching the burned-out children’s home. The story flips back and forth between Kim, some of the victims (before they were murdered) and the killer, who isn’t identified until the end. The story also flips back and forth between the present day and the past when the children’s home was still operating and full of kids. The investigation was well done, and I had narrowed the killer down to two people but wasn’t really even committed to them. I was totally expecting a shocking end.

The character development for Kim was ok (even though I didn’t like her) and there was enough on her team to qualify them as more than just talking heads. The development for the rest of the characters, with the exception of the killer, were pretty thin. I’m sure in later installments, some of the characters will become more developed. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline was just ok. I wasn’t all that impressed with the writing either. The investigative part of the story was ok, although it might have been better with a better FMC. I also liked the shocking end. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.1 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review.

This series is probably going to be a one and done for me. At first, I thought Kim might be neurodivergent like Zoe Prime (Blake Pierce) who I loved, but she’s not, she’s just a jerk. While I still don’t like Kim Stone, at the very end she did reveal that she actually does have a heart – for kids. Hopefully, that mandatory counseling she has to get will result in some kind of improvement to her personality and character. I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #BookoutureAudio #SilentScream

TW: Animal abuse

The DI Kim Stone series has been on my radar and tbr pile for a while, as I know it is a firm favourite for many readers.

Kim and her team, are faced with what quickly shows itself to be a deeply troubling, dark case. Modern day murders that have roots back to the shameful treatment of the most vulnerable, those who should have been protected. As the years have passed, those culpable believe they have whitewashed themselves, but they haven’t met our determined and belligerent central character yet.

Silent Scream is a gripping dual timeline police procedural, with plenty of misdirection sprinkled throughout. It is tense, with an ending I defy anyone to guess. The characters were well padded out, and believable.
The narration didn’t quite work for me, though I felt Cerys’ accent was spot on. This is a series I look forward to reading in the years to come, as I have come upon it very late. I’m looking forward to picking up book 2, Evil Games next.