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D.I. Kim Stone #18
Deadly Fate
The woman’s bright blonde hair floats in the breeze. She almost looks like she could be resting on the soft green grass. But her brown eyes stare unblinking up at the sky, and the final cut across her mouth is dark with blood. Her words silenced forever…
Late one evening, as the final church bell rings out, Sandra Deakin’s cold and lifeless body is found in the overgrown graveyard with multiple stab wounds. When Detective Kim Stone rushes to the scene, the violence of the attack convinces her that this murder was deeply personal. What could have caused such hate?
As the team dig into Sandra’s life, they discover she believed she could communicate with the dead. Was that why she was targeted? The last people to see her alive were a group of women who had a session with her the night before she was killed, and as Kim and her team pay them a visit, they soon learn each of the women is lying about why they wanted Sandra’s help…
Kim realises she must dig deep and open her mind to every avenue if she’s going to stand a chance at solving this case. And when she learns that Sandra was banned from the church grounds and had been receiving death threats too, she’s ever more certain that Sandra’s gifts are at the heart of everything.
But just when she thinks she’s found a lead, the broken body of a nineteen-year-old boy is found outside a call centre – a single slash across his mouth just like Sandra’s. Kim knows they are now racing against time to understand what triggered these attacks, and to stop a twisted killer.
But they might be too late. Just as Kim sits down at a local psychic show she discovers something that makes her blood run cold. Both Sandra and the call centre were named in an article about frauds. And this show stars the next name on the list. She looks around the audience with a feeling of utter dread, certain the killer is among them…
Totally addictive with a final twist that will leave you shouting out loud, you’ll want to inhale Deadly Fate in one sitting. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid and Robert Dugoni will love the new crime thriller from the number one multi-million-copy bestselling author Angela Marsons.
Can be read as a standalone.
Late one evening, as the final church bell rings out, Sandra Deakin’s cold and lifeless body is found in the overgrown graveyard with multiple stab wounds. When Detective Kim Stone rushes to the scene, the violence of the attack convinces her that this murder was deeply personal. What could have caused such hate?
As the team dig into Sandra’s life, they discover she believed she could communicate with the dead. Was that why she was targeted? The last people to see her alive were a group of women who had a session with her the night before she was killed, and as Kim and her team pay them a visit, they soon learn each of the women is lying about why they wanted Sandra’s help…
Kim realises she must dig deep and open her mind to every avenue if she’s going to stand a chance at solving this case. And when she learns that Sandra was banned from the church grounds and had been receiving death threats too, she’s ever more certain that Sandra’s gifts are at the heart of everything.
But just when she thinks she’s found a lead, the broken body of a nineteen-year-old boy is found outside a call centre – a single slash across his mouth just like Sandra’s. Kim knows they are now racing against time to understand what triggered these attacks, and to stop a twisted killer.
But they might be too late. Just as Kim sits down at a local psychic show she discovers something that makes her blood run cold. Both Sandra and the call centre were named in an article about frauds. And this show stars the next name on the list. She looks around the audience with a feeling of utter dread, certain the killer is among them…
Totally addictive with a final twist that will leave you shouting out loud, you’ll want to inhale Deadly Fate in one sitting. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid and Robert Dugoni will love the new crime thriller from the number one multi-million-copy bestselling author Angela Marsons.
Can be read as a standalone.
360 pages, Paperback
First published May 25, 2023
1968 people are currently reading
1210 people want to read
About the author
Angela Marsons
45 books4,956 followersAngela is the author of the Kim Stone Crime series. She discovered a love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained her the only merit point she ever got.
Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.
She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.
Angela is now signed to write a total of 16 Kim Stone books for http://bookouture.com and has secured a print deal with Bonnier Zaffre Publishing.
Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.
She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.
Angela is now signed to write a total of 16 Kim Stone books for http://bookouture.com and has secured a print deal with Bonnier Zaffre Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 462 reviews
May 11, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up
What happens when DI Kim Stone and psychics cross paths?
Deadly Fate is book #18 is aptly titled mystery/procedural about a killer who is murdering psychics.
The team is called in to solve the murder of a psychic, but one murder turns into three. Furthermore, a suspect has taken a very unhealthy liking to one of Kim’s team.
While all team members were present, Stacey had the main storyline. Penn, Kim, and Bryant played a heavy role in solving the crimes, but their personal lives and narratives were a bit bare. Given the events of the previous book, I was expecting more from Kim’s character in this installment. Thankfully, Barney makes some appearances.
The best part about this book is the exploration of the legitimacy of psychics--Marsons shows all sides: from people’s need to believe, tricks one might play, and the psychology behind the trade. Kim’s wavering belief towards the end was a nice touch.
In addition, there are two other storylines--one revolving around the death of a homeless man and the other around a stalker.
The tone is dark and moody, and the mysteries are intriguing. Deadly Fate is heavier on the investigation and the crimes than the characters themselves. For this reason, I felt like I was missing the heart of the series.
Not a favorite, but solid overall. We will see how things play out in the next installment.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
What happens when DI Kim Stone and psychics cross paths?
Deadly Fate is book #18 is aptly titled mystery/procedural about a killer who is murdering psychics.
The team is called in to solve the murder of a psychic, but one murder turns into three. Furthermore, a suspect has taken a very unhealthy liking to one of Kim’s team.
While all team members were present, Stacey had the main storyline. Penn, Kim, and Bryant played a heavy role in solving the crimes, but their personal lives and narratives were a bit bare. Given the events of the previous book, I was expecting more from Kim’s character in this installment. Thankfully, Barney makes some appearances.
The best part about this book is the exploration of the legitimacy of psychics--Marsons shows all sides: from people’s need to believe, tricks one might play, and the psychology behind the trade. Kim’s wavering belief towards the end was a nice touch.
In addition, there are two other storylines--one revolving around the death of a homeless man and the other around a stalker.
The tone is dark and moody, and the mysteries are intriguing. Deadly Fate is heavier on the investigation and the crimes than the characters themselves. For this reason, I felt like I was missing the heart of the series.
Not a favorite, but solid overall. We will see how things play out in the next installment.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2023
TW: stalking
Writing: basic | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 3/5
SYNOPSIS
Kim and the gang are tasked with finding out why someone is killing psychics.
MY OPINION
Now ya'll know I LOVE this series (despite the horrendous covers), but this was extremely subpar. While the topic of psychics was interesting and I certainly did learn a thing or two on how they pull off their act, the elements of what makes this series great were missing.
1. Kim seemed like she caught a flu and was a shell of herself. And not in the way she was after she almost lost her life in Book #16. Her usual banter and sass was missing. I don't always agree with Kim's opinions, but I would've liked her to at least have one in this book. What happened here!?
2. Stacey....... GWURL????? I don't want to get into spoilers but the way she was actin wasn't adding up. Her behaviour would've been acceptable if she was a regular degular member of society, but as a whole ass cop???? Get a grip. I'm really not excited to see this storyline continue.
3. The writing was extremely basic. I wouldn't say Angela is ever Shakespeare with the keyboard, but this was almost elementary.
Tbh the saving grace of this book was the in-depth look at how psychics do what they do. I can see this sparking a thousand book club discussions. I'm one of those people who are curious to know what a psychic would say to me, but only if it's positive LOL. I don't wanna hear some negative shit okay I'm already anticipating failure and unhappiness anyways 😂
Anyways, will this stop me from reading the series? Of course not. I'm a for-lifer. But, I will be promptly forgetting that I read this and waiting (impatiently) for #19!
PROS AND CONS
Pros: psychic stuff was interesting, multiple cases
Cons: bants and writing were bland, Stacey's behaviour made no sense, just mehness all around
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
Writing: basic | Plot: 3/5 | Ending: 3/5
SYNOPSIS
Kim and the gang are tasked with finding out why someone is killing psychics.
MY OPINION
Now ya'll know I LOVE this series (despite the horrendous covers), but this was extremely subpar. While the topic of psychics was interesting and I certainly did learn a thing or two on how they pull off their act, the elements of what makes this series great were missing.
1. Kim seemed like she caught a flu and was a shell of herself. And not in the way she was after she almost lost her life in Book #16. Her usual banter and sass was missing. I don't always agree with Kim's opinions, but I would've liked her to at least have one in this book. What happened here!?
2. Stacey....... GWURL????? I don't want to get into spoilers but the way she was actin wasn't adding up. Her behaviour would've been acceptable if she was a regular degular member of society, but as a whole ass cop???? Get a grip. I'm really not excited to see this storyline continue.
3. The writing was extremely basic. I wouldn't say Angela is ever Shakespeare with the keyboard, but this was almost elementary.
Tbh the saving grace of this book was the in-depth look at how psychics do what they do. I can see this sparking a thousand book club discussions. I'm one of those people who are curious to know what a psychic would say to me, but only if it's positive LOL. I don't wanna hear some negative shit okay I'm already anticipating failure and unhappiness anyways 😂
Anyways, will this stop me from reading the series? Of course not. I'm a for-lifer. But, I will be promptly forgetting that I read this and waiting (impatiently) for #19!
PROS AND CONS
Pros: psychic stuff was interesting, multiple cases
Cons: bants and writing were bland, Stacey's behaviour made no sense, just mehness all around
____________________________
For some sick reason, do you want to hear more of my nonsense? Check out my podcast: Novels & Nonsense streaming everywhere.
May 3, 2023
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley, and Bookoutune and one of my favourite authors Angela Marsons for an early copy of her book.
This is book 18 in this brilliant series, what a read from the start.Kim Stone and her team on a case of a womans body found at a graveyard. She had a brutal wound across her mouth.kim and her team trying to find the culprit when another murder of someone from a call centre for psychics as the first victim gave readings was that the connection?while stacey another member of the team is being watched by a stalker who becomes obsessed with her.what a brilliant ending leading up to book 19..I cant wait for the next instalment going to be exciting and intense like all her books...highly recommend this series. A brilliant author...
This book will be reviewed on goodreads, Amazon UK,and waterstone's..
This is book 18 in this brilliant series, what a read from the start.Kim Stone and her team on a case of a womans body found at a graveyard. She had a brutal wound across her mouth.kim and her team trying to find the culprit when another murder of someone from a call centre for psychics as the first victim gave readings was that the connection?while stacey another member of the team is being watched by a stalker who becomes obsessed with her.what a brilliant ending leading up to book 19..I cant wait for the next instalment going to be exciting and intense like all her books...highly recommend this series. A brilliant author...
This book will be reviewed on goodreads, Amazon UK,and waterstone's..
May 3, 2023
Deadly Fate is the 18th book in the Kim Stone series and once again, Marsons has written a well done, believable police procedural.
The primary story revolves around the death of a psychic. The woman was brutally murdered while walking her dog. Kim and her team are faced with numerous suspects. And right on the tail of the first killing, comes the second of a phone psychic. I really enjoyed the insights into how psychics work. And like Marsons, I’ve always been curious about whether any of them truly have any real ability. It’s a question she purposely leaves open.
What I love about these stories is that there are always multiple subplots, including finding the identity of a dead homeless man, a stalker and the resolution of a long ago death of a young boy. In the end, she does a masterful job of tying them into a neat ending.
Part of the success of any police procedural series is a team that the reader can bond with. And I am a big fan of this entire team. Marsons does a good job of finding the right mix between the cases and their personal lives.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
The primary story revolves around the death of a psychic. The woman was brutally murdered while walking her dog. Kim and her team are faced with numerous suspects. And right on the tail of the first killing, comes the second of a phone psychic. I really enjoyed the insights into how psychics work. And like Marsons, I’ve always been curious about whether any of them truly have any real ability. It’s a question she purposely leaves open.
What I love about these stories is that there are always multiple subplots, including finding the identity of a dead homeless man, a stalker and the resolution of a long ago death of a young boy. In the end, she does a masterful job of tying them into a neat ending.
Part of the success of any police procedural series is a team that the reader can bond with. And I am a big fan of this entire team. Marsons does a good job of finding the right mix between the cases and their personal lives.
My thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.
May 25, 2023
D.I. Kim Stone is still going strong in this gripping and hard to put down addition to this fantastic series!
Should the psychics have seen their deaths coming?
In Deadly Fate, Kim is on the hunt for a killer who is targeting psychics. The murders are horrific and appear to be personal. Why would someone want to kill them? That is the question that Kim and her team are tasked with answering. As they begin their investigation, Stacy, one of the investigators, has caught the attention of a stalker.
The stakes are high in this book as the body count is rising and Stacy appears to be in danger. Marson has the team working non-stop in this pulse pounding and tense book. I could feel Kim's determination to solve the case. She puts all her energy into her cases and this book was no exception. This book shows the team’s investigation skills and small glimpses into their private lives. Being that this is the eighteenth book in the series, readers know the team and it is always a pleasure to learn more about their lives. This also means that when they are in danger or being stalked like Stacy, it gets emotions flowing and hearts beating.
Marson presents readers with suspects, and I did my own super sleuthing along with the team. I was shocked at the reveal and did not see it coming at all! I love it when that happens. Plus, the book ends with a nail-biting cliff hanger! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
As always this was a well written and well thought out book that was gripping and hard to put down! This is one of my favorite series and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Should the psychics have seen their deaths coming?
In Deadly Fate, Kim is on the hunt for a killer who is targeting psychics. The murders are horrific and appear to be personal. Why would someone want to kill them? That is the question that Kim and her team are tasked with answering. As they begin their investigation, Stacy, one of the investigators, has caught the attention of a stalker.
The stakes are high in this book as the body count is rising and Stacy appears to be in danger. Marson has the team working non-stop in this pulse pounding and tense book. I could feel Kim's determination to solve the case. She puts all her energy into her cases and this book was no exception. This book shows the team’s investigation skills and small glimpses into their private lives. Being that this is the eighteenth book in the series, readers know the team and it is always a pleasure to learn more about their lives. This also means that when they are in danger or being stalked like Stacy, it gets emotions flowing and hearts beating.
Marson presents readers with suspects, and I did my own super sleuthing along with the team. I was shocked at the reveal and did not see it coming at all! I love it when that happens. Plus, the book ends with a nail-biting cliff hanger! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
As always this was a well written and well thought out book that was gripping and hard to put down! This is one of my favorite series and I highly recommend it.
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
May 16, 2023
Detective Kim Stone had thought nothing could shock her, but the brutal death of a woman in the graveyard, with eleven stab wounds and one violent swipe across her mouth had Kim realising this murder was personal. Sandra Deakin had been a psychic, a well-known and popular woman who had many clients. But someone had reason to kill her. Kim, Bryant, Penn and Stacey had their work cut out, their deep digging into not just Sandra's life, but other psychics who lived in the area. The next to lose their life in the same brutal manner was a young man who worked in the psychic call centre - Kim couldn't work out the reason for this death other than the connection.
When a popular psychic came to town, ready to do a show in the local theatre, Kim knew she needed to warn this woman. Her safety was paramount. While Kim and another officer people watched those who were watching the show, Penn and Stacey were locked in offshoot investigations. Penn had found a tenuous link to a ten year old cold case, while Stacey watched reams of footage. Would they put it all together before another person died? Would they discover the motive - something which was puzzling them all?
Deadly Fate is the 18th in the DI Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons and it was brilliant! Filled with gritty tension, heartstopping moments and deep, dark mysteries, I loved every minute. But Ms Marsons, what's with the ending? That means I have to wait until #19 for answers!! How can I wait that long? Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When a popular psychic came to town, ready to do a show in the local theatre, Kim knew she needed to warn this woman. Her safety was paramount. While Kim and another officer people watched those who were watching the show, Penn and Stacey were locked in offshoot investigations. Penn had found a tenuous link to a ten year old cold case, while Stacey watched reams of footage. Would they put it all together before another person died? Would they discover the motive - something which was puzzling them all?
Deadly Fate is the 18th in the DI Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons and it was brilliant! Filled with gritty tension, heartstopping moments and deep, dark mysteries, I loved every minute. But Ms Marsons, what's with the ending? That means I have to wait until #19 for answers!! How can I wait that long? Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 1, 2023
the setup…
DI Kim Stone and DS Bryant are called to the grounds of a church where the body of Sandra Deakin lay. She was brutally stabbed and mutilated, found by one of the church’s bell ringers. When they discover that she’s a psychic as a profession, the field of suspects grows, including competition, disgruntled clients and family members. At the same time, the medical examiner divulges to Kim that he has a John Doe from the morning, knowing full well that she will also make it a priority to identify him, even though he died of natural causes.
the heart of the story…
The investigation requires that the belief in psychics be explored…whether they truly have a gift or more an ability to skillfully read clues and lead people to think there’s truth in what they do. I found it fascinating as Kim rightly consulted a psychologist with the expertise to send her in fruitful directions, especially when more victims turned up. DS Penn was assigned responsibility for identifying the John Doe, knowing he’d be as dogged as Kim in the pursuit and he was. That led down unexpected paths and so did the main investigation, which included a ten-year old missing persons case. But the thing that gave me chills is DC Stacey Woods’ interview with a potential suspect who poses an ongoing threat. As intrigued as I was with the world of psychics, it was this plot line that gave me heartburn.
the narration…
I’ve only read one book in this series because Jan Cramer’s performances for the audio version are utterly outstanding. I ignored the opportunity to read this story early, for free, waiting until the audiobook was released because she’s that good.
the bottom line…
I love that I always seem to learn something new in this series, even when I’m unprepared for it. Whether you believe in some people having paranormal gifts or not, this investigation gave you science and psychology to ponder. I was stuck trying to figure out the killer this time, even though the clues were there. The side plots were equally engaging and the return of a past character ended up having an extraordinary impact on Kim, bringing me to tears with that ending. But, the saga involving Stacey continues and I’ll be on pins and needles until the next book…hurry! I inhaled this one.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
DI Kim Stone and DS Bryant are called to the grounds of a church where the body of Sandra Deakin lay. She was brutally stabbed and mutilated, found by one of the church’s bell ringers. When they discover that she’s a psychic as a profession, the field of suspects grows, including competition, disgruntled clients and family members. At the same time, the medical examiner divulges to Kim that he has a John Doe from the morning, knowing full well that she will also make it a priority to identify him, even though he died of natural causes.
the heart of the story…
The investigation requires that the belief in psychics be explored…whether they truly have a gift or more an ability to skillfully read clues and lead people to think there’s truth in what they do. I found it fascinating as Kim rightly consulted a psychologist with the expertise to send her in fruitful directions, especially when more victims turned up. DS Penn was assigned responsibility for identifying the John Doe, knowing he’d be as dogged as Kim in the pursuit and he was. That led down unexpected paths and so did the main investigation, which included a ten-year old missing persons case. But the thing that gave me chills is DC Stacey Woods’ interview with a potential suspect who poses an ongoing threat. As intrigued as I was with the world of psychics, it was this plot line that gave me heartburn.
the narration…
I’ve only read one book in this series because Jan Cramer’s performances for the audio version are utterly outstanding. I ignored the opportunity to read this story early, for free, waiting until the audiobook was released because she’s that good.
the bottom line…
I love that I always seem to learn something new in this series, even when I’m unprepared for it. Whether you believe in some people having paranormal gifts or not, this investigation gave you science and psychology to ponder. I was stuck trying to figure out the killer this time, even though the clues were there. The side plots were equally engaging and the return of a past character ended up having an extraordinary impact on Kim, bringing me to tears with that ending. But, the saga involving Stacey continues and I’ll be on pins and needles until the next book…hurry! I inhaled this one.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
April 30, 2023
This was a hard 3.5 stars (rounded up) for D.I. Kim Stone. One of my favourite police procedural series and it missed the mark in a few respects.
While the serial killer plot was fine and I found the focus on psychics interesting and unique, it was less engaging than I've grown used to from Angela Marsons and I wasn't desperate to keep reading all the time.
There is a stalker side story in this and I considered it very well researched.
My biggest gripes are that the big reveal at the end came on quite abruptly and the characters we know quite well now, given this is book 18 in the series, were doing sh*t that they just ordinarily wouldn't - making stupid or bad choices. There were only about 3 parts that I laughed at Kim's banter in this one so that was a bit unusual too.
Either way, I will ofc continue with the series and this was enjoyable enough to want to keep going.
⚠️ Check TWs online, includes stalking ⚠️
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Expected Publication Date: 25 May 2023
While the serial killer plot was fine and I found the focus on psychics interesting and unique, it was less engaging than I've grown used to from Angela Marsons and I wasn't desperate to keep reading all the time.
There is a stalker side story in this and I considered it very well researched.
My biggest gripes are that the big reveal at the end came on quite abruptly and the characters we know quite well now, given this is book 18 in the series, were doing sh*t that they just ordinarily wouldn't - making stupid or bad choices. There were only about 3 parts that I laughed at Kim's banter in this one so that was a bit unusual too.
Either way, I will ofc continue with the series and this was enjoyable enough to want to keep going.
⚠️ Check TWs online, includes stalking ⚠️
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Expected Publication Date: 25 May 2023
August 8, 2023
What can I say? Angela Marsons just keeps bringing the goods.
If you are not familiar with Angela Marsons or the inimitable Kim Stone yet, then you are truly missing out.
If police procedurals, serial killers, stalkers and crime fiction is your thing, this is the series you need to start reading!
This story gets right into the action from the start when the mutilated body of a woman is found in a churchyard cemetery.
Particularly disturbing is the way in which the body has been mistreated, with multiple and erratic stab wounds to the body and a disturbing, yet deliberately brutal gash to each side of the mouth… making it look like a garishly wide grin.
Clearly not just an opportunistic murder robbery, this is obviously personal, and Kim Stone and her team waste no time seeking clues to the killer and their motives…starting right there at the church.
18 books in and still as gripping as the first, Angela Marsons keeps coming up with uniquely captivating mysteries that keep the reader guessing from start to finish.
The stories never get stale or predictable and always have lots of background stories going on to keep you glued to the pages and guessing.
Although it could easily be read as a standalone, you will want more…it is a riveting read with a psychic twist, and a nicely balanced segue leading towards a next book in the series.
I’m already looking forward to the next installment!
I really hope to see this series on the screen some day soon as a BBC hit series! They’re that good.
5⭐️s!
With many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advance copy to read and review.
If you are not familiar with Angela Marsons or the inimitable Kim Stone yet, then you are truly missing out.
If police procedurals, serial killers, stalkers and crime fiction is your thing, this is the series you need to start reading!
This story gets right into the action from the start when the mutilated body of a woman is found in a churchyard cemetery.
Particularly disturbing is the way in which the body has been mistreated, with multiple and erratic stab wounds to the body and a disturbing, yet deliberately brutal gash to each side of the mouth… making it look like a garishly wide grin.
Clearly not just an opportunistic murder robbery, this is obviously personal, and Kim Stone and her team waste no time seeking clues to the killer and their motives…starting right there at the church.
18 books in and still as gripping as the first, Angela Marsons keeps coming up with uniquely captivating mysteries that keep the reader guessing from start to finish.
The stories never get stale or predictable and always have lots of background stories going on to keep you glued to the pages and guessing.
Although it could easily be read as a standalone, you will want more…it is a riveting read with a psychic twist, and a nicely balanced segue leading towards a next book in the series.
I’m already looking forward to the next installment!
I really hope to see this series on the screen some day soon as a BBC hit series! They’re that good.
5⭐️s!
With many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advance copy to read and review.
April 22, 2023
What can you say after 18 books? This series is amazing. These books never get old, that’s for sure. The mystery is fresh, with twists that you don’t see coming. The characters are still great. Honestly, I could keep reading this series up to book 50. My favorite DI series ever.
June 28, 2023
Interesting and intriguing primary plot-line; a serial killer targeting psychics.
Confusing and less interesting side-stories.
And what the hell is going on with Stacy?
Confusing and less interesting side-stories.
And what the hell is going on with Stacy?
May 6, 2023
Book 18 in the series and this isn’t one of the stronger ones.
Someone’s killing psychics, there’s a legacy case and there’s a stalker!
The multiple storylines are handled fine but the whole thing is a little pedestrian, bordering on cosy thriller at times.
I don’t know what’s up with Kim in this book but she’s extremely one dimensional and just not her usual self at all. Feels like she’s going through the motions rather than being the star of the show.
Also what’s up with Stacey and the way she handled her storyline? Felt totally unrealistic, especially for a cop, and was just written to add some jeopardy to the storyline. Her decisions and thought processes on it were bizarre.
The whole psychic angle was pretty interesting though and the look at their practices and people attracted to them made up somewhat for the lacklustre book.
Look it’s book 18 and it’s hard to hit it out of the park every time, especially when you reach this number, and to be fair to Marsons, more often than not the books have been a great read.
This isn’t one of them unfortunately. It’s not a bad book per se. It’s just all a little flat and instantly forgettable.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
Someone’s killing psychics, there’s a legacy case and there’s a stalker!
The multiple storylines are handled fine but the whole thing is a little pedestrian, bordering on cosy thriller at times.
I don’t know what’s up with Kim in this book but she’s extremely one dimensional and just not her usual self at all. Feels like she’s going through the motions rather than being the star of the show.
Also what’s up with Stacey and the way she handled her storyline? Felt totally unrealistic, especially for a cop, and was just written to add some jeopardy to the storyline. Her decisions and thought processes on it were bizarre.
The whole psychic angle was pretty interesting though and the look at their practices and people attracted to them made up somewhat for the lacklustre book.
Look it’s book 18 and it’s hard to hit it out of the park every time, especially when you reach this number, and to be fair to Marsons, more often than not the books have been a great read.
This isn’t one of them unfortunately. It’s not a bad book per se. It’s just all a little flat and instantly forgettable.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
April 23, 2023
It is not often that a series can be 18 books in and still be going strong. This book dropped onto my kindle on Saturday morning and I started and finished it the same day. I cannot get enough of Detective Kim Stone and her team. I do believe that all 18 books have been 5 stars reads. Now if that doesn’t make you want to read it I don’t know what will.
Kim is called to the scene of a murder in a church graveyard. The victim is a well known local psychic. As always there are plenty of directions that this case will take the team, and Kim being who she is, will find a few tangents to go off on as well. We see some familiar faces return to assist in this case and have an ending that has me busting for book 19 already.
A lot of what makes these books so incredible is the characters. The team know each other so well, and lol out for one another. Their banter is fun, they work together so well and you really care about them as a reader. There is humour thought this book, while dealing with such dark cases. You don’t get that very often in crime fiction and it works so well.
Thanks so much to the lovely team at Bookouture for approving my request for this book so quickly. An absolute pleasure to read and review these books. Deadly Fate publishes on May 25th.
Kim is called to the scene of a murder in a church graveyard. The victim is a well known local psychic. As always there are plenty of directions that this case will take the team, and Kim being who she is, will find a few tangents to go off on as well. We see some familiar faces return to assist in this case and have an ending that has me busting for book 19 already.
A lot of what makes these books so incredible is the characters. The team know each other so well, and lol out for one another. Their banter is fun, they work together so well and you really care about them as a reader. There is humour thought this book, while dealing with such dark cases. You don’t get that very often in crime fiction and it works so well.
Thanks so much to the lovely team at Bookouture for approving my request for this book so quickly. An absolute pleasure to read and review these books. Deadly Fate publishes on May 25th.
June 17, 2023
EXCERPT: All the women appeared to have ulterior motives for attending the psychic night: abducted kids, criminal records, controlling husbands, and dying wishes. Their lives were filled with personal issues and questions that might or might not have been answered by the psychic on Thursday night. Had they been secretly disappointed, embarrassed, angry? Enough to harm her? How much emotional investment had the women in the readings? she wondered.
And, more importantly, did any of it have anything to do with the murder of Sandra Deakin?
ABOUT 'DEADLY FATE': The woman’s bright blonde hair floats in the breeze. She almost looks like she could be resting on the soft green grass. But her brown eyes stare unblinking up at the sky, and the final cut across her mouth is dark with blood. Her words silenced forever…
Late one evening, as the final church bell rings out, Sandra Deakin’s cold and lifeless body is found in the overgrown graveyard with multiple stab wounds. When Detective Kim Stone rushes to the scene, the violence of the attack convinces her that this murder was deeply personal. What could have caused such hate?
As the team dig into Sandra’s life, they discover she believed she could communicate with the dead. Was that why she was targeted? The last people to see her alive were a group of women who had a session with her the night before she was killed, and as Kim and her team pay them a visit, they soon learn each of the women is lying about why they wanted Sandra’s help…
Kim realises she must dig deep and open her mind to every avenue if she’s going to stand a chance at solving this case. And when she learns that Sandra was banned from the church grounds and had been receiving death threats too, she’s ever more certain that Sandra’s gifts are at the heart of everything.
But just when she thinks she’s found a lead, the broken body of a nineteen-year-old boy is found outside a call centre – a single slash across his mouth just like Sandra’s. Kim knows they are now racing against time to understand what triggered these attacks, and to stop a twisted killer.
But they might be too late. Just as Kim sits down at a local psychic show she discovers something that makes her blood run cold. Both Sandra and the call centre were named in an article about frauds. And this show stars the next name on the list. She looks around the audience with a feeling of utter dread, certain the killer is among them…
MY THOUGHTS: I loved this somewhat quieter addition to the DI Kim Stone series. For once Kim isn't rushing at everything like a bull at a gate, she isn't pissing people off - well, maybe just one or two - and she isn't putting herself in danger of being maimed or even killed. That doesn't mean, however, that there isn't someone close to her in danger. She is somewhat more thoughtful and far less judgemental. I like it.
I also enjoyed the topic - that of psychics. Are they all charlatans, or do some people have the ability to see and hear things that most of us mere mortals miss? I appreciated the insights into how psychics work and that the author leaves us to make up our own minds.
There's a good range of suspects in the psychic killings, and I had no idea who was behind them until the final reveal.
As is usual with this series, there's plenty going on other than the main investigation: the death of a homeless man; the historical disappearance of a teenage boy; a rogue clergyman, and a stalker.
I'm also delighted to see Tinks back working with Kim. I hope that she is going to become a regular character.
The full five stars from me. I had been putting off reading Deadly Fate because I really wasn't in the right space for a full-on and frantically paced violent thriller, which is the norm for this series.
Although this is the 18th book in this series, this could probably be read as a stand-alone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#DeadlyFate #NetGalley
I: @angelamarsonsauthor @bookouture
T: @WriteAngie @Bookouture
#contemporaryfiction #fivestarread #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural #serialkillerthriller
THE AUTHOR: Angela is the author of the Kim Stone Crime series. She discovered a love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained her the only merit point she ever got.
Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.
She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Deadly Fate by Angela Marsons for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
And, more importantly, did any of it have anything to do with the murder of Sandra Deakin?
ABOUT 'DEADLY FATE': The woman’s bright blonde hair floats in the breeze. She almost looks like she could be resting on the soft green grass. But her brown eyes stare unblinking up at the sky, and the final cut across her mouth is dark with blood. Her words silenced forever…
Late one evening, as the final church bell rings out, Sandra Deakin’s cold and lifeless body is found in the overgrown graveyard with multiple stab wounds. When Detective Kim Stone rushes to the scene, the violence of the attack convinces her that this murder was deeply personal. What could have caused such hate?
As the team dig into Sandra’s life, they discover she believed she could communicate with the dead. Was that why she was targeted? The last people to see her alive were a group of women who had a session with her the night before she was killed, and as Kim and her team pay them a visit, they soon learn each of the women is lying about why they wanted Sandra’s help…
Kim realises she must dig deep and open her mind to every avenue if she’s going to stand a chance at solving this case. And when she learns that Sandra was banned from the church grounds and had been receiving death threats too, she’s ever more certain that Sandra’s gifts are at the heart of everything.
But just when she thinks she’s found a lead, the broken body of a nineteen-year-old boy is found outside a call centre – a single slash across his mouth just like Sandra’s. Kim knows they are now racing against time to understand what triggered these attacks, and to stop a twisted killer.
But they might be too late. Just as Kim sits down at a local psychic show she discovers something that makes her blood run cold. Both Sandra and the call centre were named in an article about frauds. And this show stars the next name on the list. She looks around the audience with a feeling of utter dread, certain the killer is among them…
MY THOUGHTS: I loved this somewhat quieter addition to the DI Kim Stone series. For once Kim isn't rushing at everything like a bull at a gate, she isn't pissing people off - well, maybe just one or two - and she isn't putting herself in danger of being maimed or even killed. That doesn't mean, however, that there isn't someone close to her in danger. She is somewhat more thoughtful and far less judgemental. I like it.
I also enjoyed the topic - that of psychics. Are they all charlatans, or do some people have the ability to see and hear things that most of us mere mortals miss? I appreciated the insights into how psychics work and that the author leaves us to make up our own minds.
There's a good range of suspects in the psychic killings, and I had no idea who was behind them until the final reveal.
As is usual with this series, there's plenty going on other than the main investigation: the death of a homeless man; the historical disappearance of a teenage boy; a rogue clergyman, and a stalker.
I'm also delighted to see Tinks back working with Kim. I hope that she is going to become a regular character.
The full five stars from me. I had been putting off reading Deadly Fate because I really wasn't in the right space for a full-on and frantically paced violent thriller, which is the norm for this series.
Although this is the 18th book in this series, this could probably be read as a stand-alone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#DeadlyFate #NetGalley
I: @angelamarsonsauthor @bookouture
T: @WriteAngie @Bookouture
#contemporaryfiction #fivestarread #crime #detectivefiction #murdermystery #policeprocedural #serialkillerthriller
THE AUTHOR: Angela is the author of the Kim Stone Crime series. She discovered a love of writing at Primary School when a short piece on the rocks and the sea gained her the only merit point she ever got.
Angela wrote the stories that burned inside and then stored them safely in a desk drawer.
After much urging from her partner she began to enter short story competitions in Writer's News resulting in a win and three short listed entries.
She used the Amazon KDP program to publish two of her earlier works before concentrating on her true passion - Crime.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Deadly Fate by Angela Marsons for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
December 18, 2025
#perskaičiau
Angela Marsons "Žiauri lemtis"
Nebūna prastų Angela Marsons knygų, NE-BŪ-NA!
Labai smagu buvo sugrįžti pas detektyvę inspektorę Kimą Stoun ❤️ Panašu, kad pagaliau pajudėjom iš sąstingio taško ir Kima vėl su milžinišku užsidegimu narpliojo bylą, kurioje viskas sukasi apie aiškiaregystę.
Labai patiko autorės pasirinkta tema 👌 Daug naujų įžvalgų, apie kurias manau anksčiau net nesusimąsčiau. Klaidžiojimas tarp patiklumo ir beviltiško noro gauti tik tokius atsakymus, kurie numaldytų širdies sopulius. Tikrai labai įtraukianti serijos knyga 👏
Labai noriu paraginti dar nesusipažinusius su šia serija nedelsti ir kibti skaityti, man tai ta trilerių serija, kurioje nuolat paskęstu, siužetas begalo įtraukiantis. temos nuolat kinta ir neatsilieka nuo šiandieninių aktualijų, o ne retai ir priverčia pergalvoti gyvenimo prioritetus ar pasirinkimus, kurie gali turėti ilgalaikes pasėkmes. Labai patiko!
P.S. Knygos pabaiga žada, kad sekanti serijos knyga pažers dar daugiau įtempto siužeto ir iššūkių veikėjų gyvenimuose. ❤️
4.5⭐/5.0
Angela Marsons "Žiauri lemtis"
Nebūna prastų Angela Marsons knygų, NE-BŪ-NA!
Labai smagu buvo sugrįžti pas detektyvę inspektorę Kimą Stoun ❤️ Panašu, kad pagaliau pajudėjom iš sąstingio taško ir Kima vėl su milžinišku užsidegimu narpliojo bylą, kurioje viskas sukasi apie aiškiaregystę.
Labai patiko autorės pasirinkta tema 👌 Daug naujų įžvalgų, apie kurias manau anksčiau net nesusimąsčiau. Klaidžiojimas tarp patiklumo ir beviltiško noro gauti tik tokius atsakymus, kurie numaldytų širdies sopulius. Tikrai labai įtraukianti serijos knyga 👏
Labai noriu paraginti dar nesusipažinusius su šia serija nedelsti ir kibti skaityti, man tai ta trilerių serija, kurioje nuolat paskęstu, siužetas begalo įtraukiantis. temos nuolat kinta ir neatsilieka nuo šiandieninių aktualijų, o ne retai ir priverčia pergalvoti gyvenimo prioritetus ar pasirinkimus, kurie gali turėti ilgalaikes pasėkmes. Labai patiko!
P.S. Knygos pabaiga žada, kad sekanti serijos knyga pažers dar daugiau įtempto siužeto ir iššūkių veikėjų gyvenimuose. ❤️
4.5⭐/5.0
June 21, 2023
DEADLY FATE is the 18th book in the D.I. Kim Stone crime-thriller series by best-selling author Angela Marsons. Angela Marsons remains one of my favorite mystery authors, and her publisher, Bookouture, always publishes the very best novels. I have read all of her books…and she keeps getting better. I don’t want this series to end!
It was so refreshing to touch base with Kim’s CID team again: DS Bryant, DS Penn, and DC Stacey Wood. Her team are driven and compassionate in their work. The characters keep getting stronger and stronger. We also touch base with Kim’s boss, DCI Woodward, Alison Lowe, the behaviorist, Keats, the local pathologist, and Mitch, the lead forensic technician and …and who could forget Kim’s faithful dog, Barney. Love that dog!
A woman walks her Lab in the graveyard by a church for the last time…
The novel opens with Detective Kim Stone regaining her strength, mending her broken mind and body from her last harrowing case, enjoying her Sunday working on her bike with her beloved Barney by her side, when she receives a call from Keats, the local pathologist to meet him at St. John’s, a Town Centre church.
When Kim arrives at the site, she is presented with a female victim on the ground who had been stabbed multiple times…the woman’s mouth had been slashed right across her face. It had been a brutal attack. There was no evidence of sexual assault. Nothing taken. Someone she knew?
Forensic techie identified the victim as 41-year-old Sandra Deakin.
After further investigation, the team discover that the victim was a local medium, referred to as “Psychic Sandy”. Why was she targeted? The last people to see her alive were a group of women who had a session with her the night before she was killed, and each of the women are lying about their reasons for attending the session.
Sandra had been banned from the church grounds and had been receiving death threats.
But then body of a nineteen-year-old boy, Azim, is found outside a psychic hotline, – the manner of death the same as Sandra’s.
Detective Kim Stone’s instincts tell her something isn’t right. She must now stop a serial killer before he attacks again.
This was a fast-paced crime thriller, with relatable characters, and short chapters that kept the suspense level high. The book ends with a nail-biting cliff hanger! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Another brilliant read that gripped you from beginning to the end. Another winner!
My thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.
It was so refreshing to touch base with Kim’s CID team again: DS Bryant, DS Penn, and DC Stacey Wood. Her team are driven and compassionate in their work. The characters keep getting stronger and stronger. We also touch base with Kim’s boss, DCI Woodward, Alison Lowe, the behaviorist, Keats, the local pathologist, and Mitch, the lead forensic technician and …and who could forget Kim’s faithful dog, Barney. Love that dog!
A woman walks her Lab in the graveyard by a church for the last time…
The novel opens with Detective Kim Stone regaining her strength, mending her broken mind and body from her last harrowing case, enjoying her Sunday working on her bike with her beloved Barney by her side, when she receives a call from Keats, the local pathologist to meet him at St. John’s, a Town Centre church.
When Kim arrives at the site, she is presented with a female victim on the ground who had been stabbed multiple times…the woman’s mouth had been slashed right across her face. It had been a brutal attack. There was no evidence of sexual assault. Nothing taken. Someone she knew?
Forensic techie identified the victim as 41-year-old Sandra Deakin.
After further investigation, the team discover that the victim was a local medium, referred to as “Psychic Sandy”. Why was she targeted? The last people to see her alive were a group of women who had a session with her the night before she was killed, and each of the women are lying about their reasons for attending the session.
Sandra had been banned from the church grounds and had been receiving death threats.
But then body of a nineteen-year-old boy, Azim, is found outside a psychic hotline, – the manner of death the same as Sandra’s.
Detective Kim Stone’s instincts tell her something isn’t right. She must now stop a serial killer before he attacks again.
This was a fast-paced crime thriller, with relatable characters, and short chapters that kept the suspense level high. The book ends with a nail-biting cliff hanger! I can't wait to see what happens in the next book! Another brilliant read that gripped you from beginning to the end. Another winner!
My thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.
August 8, 2023
4 stars
Psychics are not my favourite topic. Mostly because some people put way too much faith in them. Which is basically what this book is about. Only, you know, people die. Brutally.
Yay, crime novels
Psychics are not my favourite topic. Mostly because some people put way too much faith in them. Which is basically what this book is about. Only, you know, people die. Brutally.
Yay, crime novels
May 12, 2023
'Deadly Fate' is book 18 in the DI Kim Stone series and Angela Marsons isn't showing any signs of slowing down. You'd think she would have run out of subjects by now, but nope. This time around we dive into the murky world of psychics.
The body of Sandra Deakin is found in a graveyard. She's been stabbed eleven times and her mouth has been mutilated. This murder feels awfully personal but who could possibly hate Sandra that much? The team soon discovers Sandra was known as a psychic. Does her job have anything to do with her death? Did something happen at her last meeting? Is a rival psychic responsible for her murder? Maybe it's the local Father, whose church is right next to the churchyard. Or does the truth lie closer to home with her husband and stepdaughter? Oy with the options!
There is so much going on in this latest addition. Because, as always, Kim and her team tend to have more than one case on the go and so it is here. Especially because Kim seems to be picking up new ones along the way, much to Bryant's annoyance. It's not like they don't already have enough on their plate. Yet, this is what I like so much about this series. Just when you think you might get an answer about one topic, your attention is drawn back to something else entirely and it really holds your attention and keeps you on your toes.
There's the case of the homeless John Doe who was found dead under a bridge, but whose appearance seemed somewhat at odds with the life he led. Kim can't stand people not having a name, families not being informed and she won't let this one go. Neither will Pen, who's pretty much like a dog with a bone. I adore Pen, I really do. He will go above and beyond to do the right thing, and he has really earned his place on this team.
Pen's dogged determination to solve that case leaves Stacey doing a lot of work regarding Sandy's murder on her own. Along the way she picks up some unwanted attention. That's all I'm going to say about that, apart from ... creepy. We also welcome back Eloise and the ever-fabulous Tink, who should most definitely get a place on the team some day. If there's a petition going to make that happen, I'll gladly sign it ten times over. She's such a wonderful character and always brings a smile to my face.
So many threads in 'Deadly Fate'. Some might even get tangled up together somehow. The psychic angle is done really well. There's no judgment here, no mocking or anything like that. There are those who believe, those who would like to believe, and those who are sceptical. There are those who treat it like a joke and those who can't seem to make a single decision without the guidance of a psychic. A lot of good questions are asked that make you think. Do psychics, whether you believe in them or not, do any harm? Is it mostly about giving people hope? Or the chance to move on? What makes people believe?
I must admit I got a wee emotional at the end. I won't tell you why, but I'm sure that you'll know what I'm talking about when you get to that particular page. To be honest, I don't always appreciate it when my crime fiction leaves me with a lump in my throat, but this was so wonderfully done that I could only applaud it.
Snappy chapters make this one addictive story, and like with any of the other books in this series, I was hooked from start to finish. Of all the mysteries that 'Deadly Fate' had to offer, I managed to solve a measly one. I'd be such a failure as a detective. But all credit to this author, for still being able to keep me guessing until the end. For still being able to keep this series as fresh as it was at the beginning. For still keeping me engrossed, and engaged, and invested in these characters and their lives. For leaving readers on a cliffhanger, again, which promises many more great things to come in book 19. Bring it on, I say!
The body of Sandra Deakin is found in a graveyard. She's been stabbed eleven times and her mouth has been mutilated. This murder feels awfully personal but who could possibly hate Sandra that much? The team soon discovers Sandra was known as a psychic. Does her job have anything to do with her death? Did something happen at her last meeting? Is a rival psychic responsible for her murder? Maybe it's the local Father, whose church is right next to the churchyard. Or does the truth lie closer to home with her husband and stepdaughter? Oy with the options!
There is so much going on in this latest addition. Because, as always, Kim and her team tend to have more than one case on the go and so it is here. Especially because Kim seems to be picking up new ones along the way, much to Bryant's annoyance. It's not like they don't already have enough on their plate. Yet, this is what I like so much about this series. Just when you think you might get an answer about one topic, your attention is drawn back to something else entirely and it really holds your attention and keeps you on your toes.
There's the case of the homeless John Doe who was found dead under a bridge, but whose appearance seemed somewhat at odds with the life he led. Kim can't stand people not having a name, families not being informed and she won't let this one go. Neither will Pen, who's pretty much like a dog with a bone. I adore Pen, I really do. He will go above and beyond to do the right thing, and he has really earned his place on this team.
Pen's dogged determination to solve that case leaves Stacey doing a lot of work regarding Sandy's murder on her own. Along the way she picks up some unwanted attention. That's all I'm going to say about that, apart from ... creepy. We also welcome back Eloise and the ever-fabulous Tink, who should most definitely get a place on the team some day. If there's a petition going to make that happen, I'll gladly sign it ten times over. She's such a wonderful character and always brings a smile to my face.
So many threads in 'Deadly Fate'. Some might even get tangled up together somehow. The psychic angle is done really well. There's no judgment here, no mocking or anything like that. There are those who believe, those who would like to believe, and those who are sceptical. There are those who treat it like a joke and those who can't seem to make a single decision without the guidance of a psychic. A lot of good questions are asked that make you think. Do psychics, whether you believe in them or not, do any harm? Is it mostly about giving people hope? Or the chance to move on? What makes people believe?
I must admit I got a wee emotional at the end. I won't tell you why, but I'm sure that you'll know what I'm talking about when you get to that particular page. To be honest, I don't always appreciate it when my crime fiction leaves me with a lump in my throat, but this was so wonderfully done that I could only applaud it.
Snappy chapters make this one addictive story, and like with any of the other books in this series, I was hooked from start to finish. Of all the mysteries that 'Deadly Fate' had to offer, I managed to solve a measly one. I'd be such a failure as a detective. But all credit to this author, for still being able to keep me guessing until the end. For still being able to keep this series as fresh as it was at the beginning. For still keeping me engrossed, and engaged, and invested in these characters and their lives. For leaving readers on a cliffhanger, again, which promises many more great things to come in book 19. Bring it on, I say!
April 22, 2023
When the body of local psychic Sandra Deakin is discovered, DI Kim Stone and her team realize they are facing a brutal killer. Despite evidence that the victim fought valiantly, the number and manner of stab wounds proves a vengeful killer.
Kim is determined to find the killer, all while finding the motive that was behind killing the psychic. Meanwhile her team is looking into other cases, so they are as busy as ever, and after a second psychic’s body is found, Kim is more determined than ever to solve her latest case.
I am not sure how Angela Marsons does it, but she grabs the reader’s attention from the very first page and the tension increases page after page. While Kim’s case is paramount, Penn is looking for answers after the body of a homeless man was found. Meanwhile, Stacey is facing a hairy predicament. These cases may have been separate, but the bond and connection between Kim and her team is undeniably strong. And the conclusion! Waiting for book nineteen will be brutal!
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Kim is determined to find the killer, all while finding the motive that was behind killing the psychic. Meanwhile her team is looking into other cases, so they are as busy as ever, and after a second psychic’s body is found, Kim is more determined than ever to solve her latest case.
I am not sure how Angela Marsons does it, but she grabs the reader’s attention from the very first page and the tension increases page after page. While Kim’s case is paramount, Penn is looking for answers after the body of a homeless man was found. Meanwhile, Stacey is facing a hairy predicament. These cases may have been separate, but the bond and connection between Kim and her team is undeniably strong. And the conclusion! Waiting for book nineteen will be brutal!
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
May 30, 2023
Another fantastic five star read that kept me reading late into the night. I know this series is coming to an end and like most fans I have been with Kim since the beginning. I can't believe this author has left us all hanging by our fingertips. So cruel I am sure other readers will agree with me we want the next book now please!!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
May 1, 2023
Well, here we are on the eighteenth book in the Kim Stone series! Now normally at this point I would have given up on a long-running series as they tend to lose their lustre, become repetitive and, dare I say, boring! (rather like my eighteenth review for this series!) but that’s not the case here. Angela Marsons writes each book like it’s her first. Her plots are imaginative, never boring and they are such a thrill to read. Deadly Fate is no different. Once again, the queen of crime has written a cracker of a book that readers will devour. Smart, gripping and packed with enthralling characters, this darkly addictive tale will reel you in from the get-go.
DI Kim Stone and her team are on the hunt for a vicious serial killer, seemingly targeting members associated with the psychic community. When it comes to intricate plotting nothing daunts Marsons, her research into the fascinating subject of Psychics/Mediums is second to none. It’s such an original topic for a crime thriller. There are various threads running through the plot that ensure the pace never waivers. As Deadly Fate progresses, what the reader thinks are random unrelated crimes deftly intertwine, but not before we have the opportunity to be armchair sleuths trying to fit the various bits of the puzzle together.
Normally at this point in the series it feels like there’s nothing left to know about the main characters, but Marsons constantly proves you wrong! There are so many layers to Kim and her team that make them likeable and relatable. Personally, it’s one of the strengths of this series. I always feel like I’m meeting up with old friends. I share their highs and lows, their hopes and dreams. The camaraderie and humour between the group adds a lighter note to the darkness of the plot and is a release from the nail biting tension.
Angela Marsons is a writer of extraordinary talents, gritty and taut Deadly Fate is an expertly crafted novel with well-placed twists and turns. With heart and skill, Angela Marsons keeps you hooked from the first page until the last. This is such a brilliant addition to an outstanding crime series and one I would highly, highly recommend to all crime thriller lovers.
All My reviews can be found at https://www.instagram.com/thebookrevi...
DI Kim Stone and her team are on the hunt for a vicious serial killer, seemingly targeting members associated with the psychic community. When it comes to intricate plotting nothing daunts Marsons, her research into the fascinating subject of Psychics/Mediums is second to none. It’s such an original topic for a crime thriller. There are various threads running through the plot that ensure the pace never waivers. As Deadly Fate progresses, what the reader thinks are random unrelated crimes deftly intertwine, but not before we have the opportunity to be armchair sleuths trying to fit the various bits of the puzzle together.
Normally at this point in the series it feels like there’s nothing left to know about the main characters, but Marsons constantly proves you wrong! There are so many layers to Kim and her team that make them likeable and relatable. Personally, it’s one of the strengths of this series. I always feel like I’m meeting up with old friends. I share their highs and lows, their hopes and dreams. The camaraderie and humour between the group adds a lighter note to the darkness of the plot and is a release from the nail biting tension.
Angela Marsons is a writer of extraordinary talents, gritty and taut Deadly Fate is an expertly crafted novel with well-placed twists and turns. With heart and skill, Angela Marsons keeps you hooked from the first page until the last. This is such a brilliant addition to an outstanding crime series and one I would highly, highly recommend to all crime thriller lovers.
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May 22, 2023
And just like that I finished the 18th book in this series, how is that possible?! You may think that after this far into a series (that really must be read in order) things may feel a bit repetitive or stale but you would be wrong. Every time I start a new Kim Stone book I know I’ll be reading something fresh and that the author will put her own unique spin on a crime thriller and it’s such a fun experience to be guaranteed an amazing and captivating read. Also a for sure five star read is always nice too!
This time around the team delves into the world of psychics and that’s a concept I’ve always been fascinated by. One of those things I’m not quite sure I believe in or not but it sure was entertaining to read about. As always there is more than one case on Kim’s plate and the way the author bounces between these various plot points is just so clever. There’s never a dull moment and at times I was holding my breath as the tension was so high. I adore the characters in this series so much and there was an underlying thread running through this one pertaining to one of my beloved team members that raised my anxiety to an all time high. I know that’s annoyingly vague but once you read it you’ll know exactly what I mean. In regards to this particular plot point there was a cliffhanger type of ending which just made me totally desperate for the next book. All major plot points in the book are addressed perfectly though, this was just a little thread that I’m sure will be picked back up in book nineteen and I’ll be impatiently waiting its release.
This time around the team delves into the world of psychics and that’s a concept I’ve always been fascinated by. One of those things I’m not quite sure I believe in or not but it sure was entertaining to read about. As always there is more than one case on Kim’s plate and the way the author bounces between these various plot points is just so clever. There’s never a dull moment and at times I was holding my breath as the tension was so high. I adore the characters in this series so much and there was an underlying thread running through this one pertaining to one of my beloved team members that raised my anxiety to an all time high. I know that’s annoyingly vague but once you read it you’ll know exactly what I mean. In regards to this particular plot point there was a cliffhanger type of ending which just made me totally desperate for the next book. All major plot points in the book are addressed perfectly though, this was just a little thread that I’m sure will be picked back up in book nineteen and I’ll be impatiently waiting its release.
May 16, 2023
I can't believe that 18 books into the series, and I still await with baited breath for the next story.
I love the short chapters, they really help to keep the pace going, although its not so good for your sleep quotient,
The combination of the familiar team and the locations always set near where I live, help to really feel part of the team,
Once again there are 2 stories being investigated, that seem to be totally separate but will they join up?
Once again, I wholeheartedly recommend this and the entire series, there is not a bad book amongst them.
I thank the publisher , Author and Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion
I love the short chapters, they really help to keep the pace going, although its not so good for your sleep quotient,
The combination of the familiar team and the locations always set near where I live, help to really feel part of the team,
Once again there are 2 stories being investigated, that seem to be totally separate but will they join up?
Once again, I wholeheartedly recommend this and the entire series, there is not a bad book amongst them.
I thank the publisher , Author and Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest opinion
May 18, 2023
Finished reading: May 5th 2023
"Psychics trade in emotion. They bank on uncertainty and hope. Most subjects want to be comforted."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
June 16, 2023
4.25⭐
The writing style is still captivating but the obvious lead into the next book cliffhanger concerning DC Woods's stalker (and discombobulating for those who may read the series out of order) was a little too cheezie for me.
The writing style is still captivating but the obvious lead into the next book cliffhanger concerning DC Woods's stalker (and discombobulating for those who may read the series out of order) was a little too cheezie for me.
December 23, 2023
This was a very middle of the bunch crime story which probably places it quite low in this series that has offered a few top ones. This was enjoyable as part of the series, as a stand alone I don’t think it would stand out in any way. The story is ok and works well, a couple of storytelling tricks that I didn’t like (such as keeping some details from the reader in a clunky way), but nothing too upsetting. An ok read.
May 17, 2023
4.5 stars
Deadly Fate by Angela Marsons is the 18th in the Detective Kim Stone Police Procedural series.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture, and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Series Background: (Contains spoilers from previous books)
DI Kim Stone learned to be tough. Her mother, who recently died of cancer, was being held in a home for the criminally insane due to actions that almost killed Kim, and resulted in her brother's death. Kim had little to do with her. Although Kim's social skills are lacking, her heart is in the right place, and her detective skills outstanding . Her team consists of: Bryant, her right hand man and friend, and the person who voices concerns in a much more diplomatic way than Kim ever would; Stacey, who can find required information in a seemingly bottomless computer system; and Austen Penn, who for some reason, enjoys attending autopsies.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Kim and her team investigate the death of Sandra Deakin, who was found in a graveyard, with multiple stab wounds (including one across the face). Sandra believed she could communicate with the dead, so she often walked through the graveyard with her dog, much to the dismay of the local clergy, who had banned her from the church.
Sandra is a psychic, and recently met with a group of women who wanted readings. They were all there for a specific purpose, but none really got what they wanted, and tensions rose.
When a 19-year old boy is found dead just outside the call center where he works as a psychic, things take another turn.
Kim, of course, thinks that psychics are all frauds, but she will have to open her mind if she wants to solve this one.
Meanwhile, Penn is on his own search, and Stacey has a stalker.
My Opinions:
For the first time.....I don't have to deduct 1/2 star for the cover. I love this new one!!!!!
I guess, as the blurbs state, you could read this as a stand-alone novel, but I would strongly recommend reading these books in order. You really need the back-ground of each character to truly understand them.
The book touches on a number of topics. One topic that is covered quite extensively is psychics, and whether they are fraud or not, and reasons why people believe. It also made you wonder whether frauds do harm. Homelessness was also touched upon, and why some actually choose this lifestyle. Gambling and stalking are also topics that were discussed.
The characters in this series are like family. I was happy to see Eloise make an appearance, and Tink.
The plot, and the different cases were all really good. For the first time, I have a story-based complaint (not bad for 18 books)....I didn't like being kept hanging with one of the cases. I usually find that more inexperienced writers will leave a cliff-hanger so that you want to read the next book in the series. Marsons doesn't have to do that, and I was disappointed.
Anyway, despite the cliff-hanger, I am looking forward to book 19!
For a more complete review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, author information and a favorite quotation or two from the book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
August 3, 2023
Angela Marsons continues to pen excellent crime thrillers staring DI Kim Stone. In Deadly Fate, Kim and her team are trying to find someone who is murdering pyschics. The first victim is found in an overgrown cemetery by the local priest. The murder had been vicious, so Kim was sure this death was personal. She had led a séance the night before, so that is where Kim begins her investigation. This leads them into a deep dive of the psychic world, going to shows, meeting with an author who debunks psychics and eventually befriending some of them. They know that the women at the original séance were lying about things, but was one of them capable of murder. When more psychics end up dead, it becomes a race against time.
Deadly Fate might be the 18th book in the Kim Stone series, but each book and case is as good as or better than the one before it. It amazes me that Angela Marsons comes up with such interesting cases for each story. I found the psychic storyline very interesting, learning about the tells they use and the type of information they can use to make it look like they know what they are talking about. The one thing I liked was how many people leave these shows or readings feeling good, and that is a positive even if it is fake. There was also a John Doe that they were trying to identify and DS Penn was on that case. Stacey was being stalked, so there was a suspenseful and scary storyline there. I love seeing the full team in action and when all these cases/plots come together it is so satisfying. With all the clues and investigation shared with the reader, I had a lot of suspects but did not guess the killer or the motivation for the kills until all was revealed. Another excellent story in this series. I have been listening to this series since the 5th book and love the narration by Jan Cramer. She is the voice of Kim Stone for me, and does a great job with all the others on the team. Her tone and expression are not over the top, but add to the suspense and tenseness of the book. If you enjoy audiobooks, I definitely recommend you listen to this series, but I did enjoy the ones I read as well. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
Deadly Fate might be the 18th book in the Kim Stone series, but each book and case is as good as or better than the one before it. It amazes me that Angela Marsons comes up with such interesting cases for each story. I found the psychic storyline very interesting, learning about the tells they use and the type of information they can use to make it look like they know what they are talking about. The one thing I liked was how many people leave these shows or readings feeling good, and that is a positive even if it is fake. There was also a John Doe that they were trying to identify and DS Penn was on that case. Stacey was being stalked, so there was a suspenseful and scary storyline there. I love seeing the full team in action and when all these cases/plots come together it is so satisfying. With all the clues and investigation shared with the reader, I had a lot of suspects but did not guess the killer or the motivation for the kills until all was revealed. Another excellent story in this series. I have been listening to this series since the 5th book and love the narration by Jan Cramer. She is the voice of Kim Stone for me, and does a great job with all the others on the team. Her tone and expression are not over the top, but add to the suspense and tenseness of the book. If you enjoy audiobooks, I definitely recommend you listen to this series, but I did enjoy the ones I read as well. I can't wait for the next book in this series.
May 27, 2023
Angela Marsons D.I. Kim Stone is hands down one of the best series I have ever been graced to read. I was so pleased when I was given the opportunity to read Deadly Fate! This, as per usual, was so well-written that I got automatically sucked into the drama and the events surrounding it. I don't want to give a lot away, but I need book 19 ASAP!
Thank you, Netgalley and Bookouture, for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you, Netgalley and Bookouture, for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
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