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D.I. Kim Stone #0
First Blood
Meet Detective Kim Stone. A detective hiding dark secrets. She’ll stop at nothing to protect the innocent.
In the darkness of a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. The victim of her next case is about to meet his killer…
When the lifeless body of a young man is found in a secluded woodland area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene.
Searching the victim’s home, Kim finds a little girl’s bedroom and a hidden laptop, but where is the child? And why does the man’s own sister seem relieved that he’s dead?
As Kim begins to unearth the shocking truth about the victim, a disturbing resemblance is spotted with the recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall with multiple stab wounds.
Both these men had dark secrets and Kim discovers a link to a women’s shelter. As a child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. Could the shelter be the key to cracking this case?
With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey is showing signs of brilliance but struggling to hold her nerve and, while D.S. Bryant is reliable and calm, D.S. Dawson is a liability. With his home life in pieces, his volatile behaviour is already fracturing her fragile new team.
Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken? This time, one of her own could be in terrible danger…
In the darkness of a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. The victim of her next case is about to meet his killer…
When the lifeless body of a young man is found in a secluded woodland area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene.
Searching the victim’s home, Kim finds a little girl’s bedroom and a hidden laptop, but where is the child? And why does the man’s own sister seem relieved that he’s dead?
As Kim begins to unearth the shocking truth about the victim, a disturbing resemblance is spotted with the recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall with multiple stab wounds.
Both these men had dark secrets and Kim discovers a link to a women’s shelter. As a child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. Could the shelter be the key to cracking this case?
With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey is showing signs of brilliance but struggling to hold her nerve and, while D.S. Bryant is reliable and calm, D.S. Dawson is a liability. With his home life in pieces, his volatile behaviour is already fracturing her fragile new team.
Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken? This time, one of her own could be in terrible danger…
412 pages, ebook
First published November 14, 2019
2658 people are currently reading
3791 people want to read
About the author
Angela Marsons
57 books5,003 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 626 reviews
August 8, 2022
I love these characters!
First Blood is a prequel to the DI Kim Stone series. This installment covers the investigation into a brutal serial killer and how the team came to be.
I jumped into this series a little late, and I have always meant to catch up on the first few books in the series, so I was excited to see how it all began.
My favorite part about this book was seeing the team’s early interactions--the mistrust, suspicions, and almost instant camaraderie with some and instant dislike between others. Keats and Kim's snarky banter had me giggling. But, I was especially emotional seeing one character again.
First Blood is a great introduction to the series. The murders are gruesome, there is a surprising twist concerning the killer, and the team members are endearing, even Dawson.
Marsons sets the bar high for procedurals, and this book is no exception. I recommend First Blood to those interested in starting this series and/or craving a well-written, character-driven procedural.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
First Blood is a prequel to the DI Kim Stone series. This installment covers the investigation into a brutal serial killer and how the team came to be.
I jumped into this series a little late, and I have always meant to catch up on the first few books in the series, so I was excited to see how it all began.
My favorite part about this book was seeing the team’s early interactions--the mistrust, suspicions, and almost instant camaraderie with some and instant dislike between others. Keats and Kim's snarky banter had me giggling. But, I was especially emotional seeing one character again.
First Blood is a great introduction to the series. The murders are gruesome, there is a surprising twist concerning the killer, and the team members are endearing, even Dawson.
Marsons sets the bar high for procedurals, and this book is no exception. I recommend First Blood to those interested in starting this series and/or craving a well-written, character-driven procedural.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2020
A very good mystery/crime book. After seeing reviews from Farah, Paromjit, and Aamina on this series, I knew I had to try this. I love a good mystery/crime book especially with a hard-nosed female protag. DI Karen Stone is everything I was hoping for. A woman that bounces around many teams since she doesn’t care much for people, but she’s great at her job and will go right up to the line to get it done. This is actually the prequel of the series and I’m glad I started here. Karen is again in charge of a new team but this time her new team might just stick. As most of you know I’m anal about reading books in order so I liked how this really felt like the true beginning of Karen’s new chapter. We also learned a bit of her heartbreaking childhood and the connection her new boss has to her.
I should probably mention that since I read so much lesfic that this is Not an LGBTQ book, however, there is one detective that might be bisexual or a lesbian. There is no romance or any sex scenes in this book. We do follow the two male and one female detectives home to get a feel of their home life, but we don’t yet know what Karen’s home life is like.
In this book the serial killer is killing people that mostly deserve it so you don’t really feel sorry for the victims. Some of the following books I’m sure that will change. This book does touch on women and children being abused but because most of it already happened, it’s not as hard to read as it could have been. I was impressed with the mystery. I had a good guess on who I thought was the killer, someone not too obvious, but then I still picked the wrong killer anyway so Marsons’ sure had me stumped. I’m always happy when a mystery author can stump me like that.
I think it was Farah who told me these books are like Law and Order SVU episodes if they took place in England. I have to agree with her and as someone who loves that show, this book really worked for me. It also has this addictive quality. I finished this book only a few hours ago and I’m already twitching to read the next one. I have a lot of ARC’s to get done so I need to take some time, but I will absolutely be coming back to this series soon.
I should probably mention that since I read so much lesfic that this is Not an LGBTQ book, however, there is one detective that might be bisexual or a lesbian. There is no romance or any sex scenes in this book. We do follow the two male and one female detectives home to get a feel of their home life, but we don’t yet know what Karen’s home life is like.
In this book the serial killer is killing people that mostly deserve it so you don’t really feel sorry for the victims. Some of the following books I’m sure that will change. This book does touch on women and children being abused but because most of it already happened, it’s not as hard to read as it could have been. I was impressed with the mystery. I had a good guess on who I thought was the killer, someone not too obvious, but then I still picked the wrong killer anyway so Marsons’ sure had me stumped. I’m always happy when a mystery author can stump me like that.
I think it was Farah who told me these books are like Law and Order SVU episodes if they took place in England. I have to agree with her and as someone who loves that show, this book really worked for me. It also has this addictive quality. I finished this book only a few hours ago and I’m already twitching to read the next one. I have a lot of ARC’s to get done so I need to take some time, but I will absolutely be coming back to this series soon.
September 22, 2020
Detective Inspector (DI) Kim Stone is transferred yet again to another West Midlands police station. This time is Halesowen under the leadership of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Woodward. Her style and lack of social norms are responsible for her being dispatched from one station to another. She’s also got a new team who, on the surface, don’t look promising, especially since their first case is not only gruesome but has all the makings of being the work of a serial murderer.
I started this series a couple of years ago and meant to continue but, as usual, got waylaid by others. This prequel was written after more than ten books into the series and now I’m pretty happy I waited as it’s not only an interesting investigation but a remarkable story of the team and its origins. Instead of proceeding into stories involving a well-functioning detective squad, I got the opportunity to meet them at their most vulnerable and infancy as a group. It was equally as, if not more, interesting as the troublesome case they were handed. Each member’s strengths and weaknesses were on display, including DI Stone who is the enigmatic team leader you’re either going to embrace or be annoyed by.
I’m so glad the author decided to tell their early story as I’m now even more excited to continue. The backstories provide an intimate look into each and how they eventually came to trust and work well with each other, among other revelations. The mystery was a puzzler even though it didn’t seem so at first. It kept me engaged and I had a handful of suspects without correctly solving the identity of the killer. Sometimes a prequel written late in the series is best read in published order. In my opinion, this works well as the intro and should be read first before starting as I have a fresh new perspective about the continuing characters and their working dynamics. I chose to listen to it and the narrator was great. She gave each of the characters a voice that felt well suited to the author’s design and was a good storyteller. Highly recommend the book and the audio version. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
I started this series a couple of years ago and meant to continue but, as usual, got waylaid by others. This prequel was written after more than ten books into the series and now I’m pretty happy I waited as it’s not only an interesting investigation but a remarkable story of the team and its origins. Instead of proceeding into stories involving a well-functioning detective squad, I got the opportunity to meet them at their most vulnerable and infancy as a group. It was equally as, if not more, interesting as the troublesome case they were handed. Each member’s strengths and weaknesses were on display, including DI Stone who is the enigmatic team leader you’re either going to embrace or be annoyed by.
I’m so glad the author decided to tell their early story as I’m now even more excited to continue. The backstories provide an intimate look into each and how they eventually came to trust and work well with each other, among other revelations. The mystery was a puzzler even though it didn’t seem so at first. It kept me engaged and I had a handful of suspects without correctly solving the identity of the killer. Sometimes a prequel written late in the series is best read in published order. In my opinion, this works well as the intro and should be read first before starting as I have a fresh new perspective about the continuing characters and their working dynamics. I chose to listen to it and the narrator was great. She gave each of the characters a voice that felt well suited to the author’s design and was a good storyteller. Highly recommend the book and the audio version. 4.5 stars
Posted on Blue Mood Café
August 9, 2022
Pure brilliance
Merry Christmas ! This is the best early Christmas present ever. One I was not expecting and didn't even know I wanted.
I was shocked to see this book be reviewed as I had no idea about it. I immediately bought and downloaded a copy. Forgot about the ARC 's I have due to be reviewed, moved the 195 books in my TBR pile to one side and started to read. Once you start this I suggest you lock the door and turn off your phone , after you have phoned in sick for work. You will not want to put this down.
This is the prequel to the series and illustrates how the team came together, and where they came from . But most importantly shows the start of the relationship between the various characters and the strengths and weaknesses. All wrapped up in a cracking case that would have made a wonderful story anyway, even if it wasn't introducing the series. 5 stars is no where near enough.
You may need a box of tissues by the end.
Thank you Aunt Angela.
Merry Christmas ! This is the best early Christmas present ever. One I was not expecting and didn't even know I wanted.
I was shocked to see this book be reviewed as I had no idea about it. I immediately bought and downloaded a copy. Forgot about the ARC 's I have due to be reviewed, moved the 195 books in my TBR pile to one side and started to read. Once you start this I suggest you lock the door and turn off your phone , after you have phoned in sick for work. You will not want to put this down.
This is the prequel to the series and illustrates how the team came together, and where they came from . But most importantly shows the start of the relationship between the various characters and the strengths and weaknesses. All wrapped up in a cracking case that would have made a wonderful story anyway, even if it wasn't introducing the series. 5 stars is no where near enough.
You may need a box of tissues by the end.
Thank you Aunt Angela.
November 29, 2019
Love love love!! So good to go back to where it all began with Kim and the team. There is so much to take in with this book and just made me love them all so much more. Thank you Angela Marsons!!
February 10, 2023
It has been a long time since I read a Kim Stone Book. This one shows us a great deal more of Kim's life before she became a detective and also her early days on the force. Kim is a no-nonsense character and that alone often makes her unpopular with her teammates. Unpopular has never bothered or stopped her from doing brilliant police work solving difficult cases. This case they are handed is a brutal one and the motive for murder is not immediately apparent. Just how sympathetic we should be towards the victim is not immediately known either, but it is still an "edge of your seat" story...especially the opening chapter, which sets the scene right away, putting the reader at the scene of the soon to be brutal murder. We are allowed to see the aftermath, and that is quite enough believe me. This is the first case that Kim has worked with this particular team, and it is also Keats first time as the pathologist working alongside Kim. The case turns out to be complex and the author packs a lot into these first few pages to give us a clear picture of how all forces at play do or don't fit together. Kim calls the case "kinky" and she's far from wrong and she believes it is linked to other cases. The motive soon becomes clearer. There is a large suspect pool that keeps us constantly changing our mind. While this is a dark and deadly case...it's high on thrills, intrigue, mystery and tension.
February 25, 2020
3.5 to 4 Stars. I am a longtime fan of the D.I. Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons. Detective Kim Stone has problems in relating to others and in reading emotions. She has been considered rude and in the past and has had difficulty working with other police officers. However, she does feel great empathy towards victims of physical and mental abuse. She is a brilliant investigator, brave, dedicated, and determined to solve crimes and bring the guilty to justice. Throughout the series, Kim has shown a lot of personal growth.
There is enough background on Kim and her colleagues to make this book work well as a stand-alone, but new readers will enjoy the previous cases and the personal and interpersonal growth of her team.
This book takes the reader back in time when Kim became the leader of the Halesowen Police Station. Kim needs to assess the strength and weaknesses of the three team members newly assigned to her and to direct them to tasks where they are most capable. Almost immediately there is a gruesome murder case that seems to relate to other crimes of a similar nature.
Kim gets off to a rough start due to her own personality quirks and to her reputation of being difficult to get along and work well with others. Her team tries not to be intimated and to tolerate her leadership. As the team come to appreciate Kim’s direction and to respect her, they also begin to learn to cooperate and become cohesive in investigating a very complex case. They all play an essential part in saving an innocent doctor from a vicious serial killer and in solving a series of murders.
There is enough background on Kim and her colleagues to make this book work well as a stand-alone, but new readers will enjoy the previous cases and the personal and interpersonal growth of her team.
This book takes the reader back in time when Kim became the leader of the Halesowen Police Station. Kim needs to assess the strength and weaknesses of the three team members newly assigned to her and to direct them to tasks where they are most capable. Almost immediately there is a gruesome murder case that seems to relate to other crimes of a similar nature.
Kim gets off to a rough start due to her own personality quirks and to her reputation of being difficult to get along and work well with others. Her team tries not to be intimated and to tolerate her leadership. As the team come to appreciate Kim’s direction and to respect her, they also begin to learn to cooperate and become cohesive in investigating a very complex case. They all play an essential part in saving an innocent doctor from a vicious serial killer and in solving a series of murders.
May 10, 2021
First Blood by Angela Marsons. Words cannot express how much I’ve missed this series! Now that I’ve read this prequel, I need to read one more before moving on to the newest book, the 14th already. How time flies!
Rather than taking the reader back through many of the painful details of D.I. Kim Stone’s childhood, Ms. Marsons gives us only the bare bones facts. What we get in this taut tale is the introduction to Stone’s new team as she’s being reassigned yet again. She’s become infamous as someone who does not “play well with others.” As those who have read any books in the series can attest to, Kim Stone is not a warm, fuzzy woman. She is, rather, a very competent, dedicated police officer who is not averse to bending the rules if it will help capture a criminal, particularly if said criminal is one who has harmed women or children.
When Kim’s three team members appear in their new squad room, they are nervously anticipating their meeting with their new boss because her reputation precedes her. Stacey Wood, a young woman of Nigerian heritage, has only recently been promoted to Detective Constable. She’s sharp as a tack and eager to please. Detective Sergeant Bryant is a seasoned veteran. He’s not flashy, but he’s steady, and in this book, he is Kim’s right-hand man. Then there’s D.S. Kevin Dawson. Is he going to be the problem child? He has marital problems. He’s cocky. He makes a very poor first impression...second impression...Can he redeem himself, or at the end of the first case, will he be sent packing?
The case turns out to be a real humdinger. The body of a man is found nailed to the ground. The man has been stabbed, tortured, and mutilated. Hidden evidence turns up in the man’s home, and the man’s sister professes to be glad that he’s dead. Kim barely has time to process this when another body turns up. And so it goes...
Stacey works furiously, phoning contacts, working the computer, using every techie tool at her disposal to help in the search for information. Bryant, as I said, accompanies Stone, driving her wherever she needs to go and offering his tuppence-worth of thoughts while trying to get to know his new boss (don’t call me “Marm”) better.
Meanwhile, Dawson dawdles. Much to his surprise, the new boss’ approach is not what he expects. Even as he decides to dig into his own theories, eventually she has a “chat” with him. Perhaps there can be an understanding, even some middle ground?
This book was thoroughly enjoyable, despite the disgusting nature of the crimes. Marsons does not go overboard in her descriptions, but through her characters, she does indicate a strong intolerance for abuse of vulnerable human beings and also of those who take the law into their own hands, even if their motives are perhaps understandable. Now that I have read almost all of the subsequent books, it was interesting to see how the team was introduced and what their first week together was like.
4.5 stars
January 17, 2020
4.5
Angela Marsons is one of my “I don’t want to know what is the book about before reading, I don’t want to read any reviews or see any ratings, I just want to dive in, blind” authors. She never disappoints.
First Blood is a prequel to the series. This is where it all begins; where four diverse characters converge to become one of our favorite detective teams.
In the meantime, there is a killer with a thirst for blood and he is on a roll. He is going to strike again and again unless he is caught.
Angela Marsons is one of my “I don’t want to know what is the book about before reading, I don’t want to read any reviews or see any ratings, I just want to dive in, blind” authors. She never disappoints.
First Blood is a prequel to the series. This is where it all begins; where four diverse characters converge to become one of our favorite detective teams.
In the meantime, there is a killer with a thirst for blood and he is on a roll. He is going to strike again and again unless he is caught.
November 14, 2019
Oh, my giddy aunt I can’t believe that Angela Marsons has finally written the VERY book I’ve been fantasying about, First Blood a PREQUEL to the Kim Stone books, yes you read that right!!!!!! Anyone who follows this series will love this book. As a huge fan I’ve watched Kim and her team (and surrogate family) evolve and grow into living, breathing characters. I’ve always wondered about the previous years, and what forces bought Kim, Bryant, Stacey, and Dawson together, well here Lie all the answers in First Blood the exciting and riveting prequel. **a word of warning** you will struggle to put this book down, forget about eating, drinking, sleeping, and work, this book will consume your every waking moment.
As per Angela Marsons she doesn’t hang about in drawing the reader in, from the promising and shocking prologue to the very last page the author keeps you firmly in her clutches. We first meet Kim as she’s seconded to Halesowen, or rather she’s forced upon them after being transferred from West Bromwich, after a communication issue with a chauvinistic senior officer! Kim’s newly gained team are full of reservations, about working with her, sadly for Kim her reputation proceeds her, she’s known for being difficult, lacks social skills, and is considered bloody-minded.
Their first case together sees them hunting a serial killer, that kills their victims in the most savage way, besides finding a killer, they also have the added challenge of being a new team. It was interesting to see how the dynamics between the team shifted as their strengths and weaknesses became clear. Bryant is solid and dependable, Stacey is keen and passionate about her work, Dawson ambitious, lazy and rebellious. As for Kim she has to learn to work as part of a team, rather than being a ‘one-man band’, which takes some doing especially when you don’t trust or like people!
As the plot develops and the team close in on the killer, the book takes a dark turn, one that’s horrifying, and unsettling, and yet you have to read on, racing on to the dramatic conclusion. First Blood is peppered with chapters narrated by an unknown voice, the fury that radiates from these chapters is palatable, It’s seldom I feel any sympathy towards a serial killer in a crime thriller, but Angela Marsons has managed to do just that, I found myself questioning my own moral compass. A small part of me had a small amount of respect for this killer, even though it conflicts with my own thoughts on murder, at the same time I struggled to summon up any sympathy for the victims.
As you would expect with any good crime thriller, it’s very well written (but we’re talking Angela Marsons here, so I expected nothing less, she sure knows how to draw the reader in. There are more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, the tension ramps out with every turn of the page, there are gory crime scenes (not for the fainthearted), brilliant characters that immediately draw you in, misdirection at every turn. In fact, it’s the perfect crime thriller read. Without a shadow of a doubt Angela Marsons has written another best seller, highly, highly recommended.
All my reviews can be found at www.thebookreviewcafe.com
As per Angela Marsons she doesn’t hang about in drawing the reader in, from the promising and shocking prologue to the very last page the author keeps you firmly in her clutches. We first meet Kim as she’s seconded to Halesowen, or rather she’s forced upon them after being transferred from West Bromwich, after a communication issue with a chauvinistic senior officer! Kim’s newly gained team are full of reservations, about working with her, sadly for Kim her reputation proceeds her, she’s known for being difficult, lacks social skills, and is considered bloody-minded.
Their first case together sees them hunting a serial killer, that kills their victims in the most savage way, besides finding a killer, they also have the added challenge of being a new team. It was interesting to see how the dynamics between the team shifted as their strengths and weaknesses became clear. Bryant is solid and dependable, Stacey is keen and passionate about her work, Dawson ambitious, lazy and rebellious. As for Kim she has to learn to work as part of a team, rather than being a ‘one-man band’, which takes some doing especially when you don’t trust or like people!
As the plot develops and the team close in on the killer, the book takes a dark turn, one that’s horrifying, and unsettling, and yet you have to read on, racing on to the dramatic conclusion. First Blood is peppered with chapters narrated by an unknown voice, the fury that radiates from these chapters is palatable, It’s seldom I feel any sympathy towards a serial killer in a crime thriller, but Angela Marsons has managed to do just that, I found myself questioning my own moral compass. A small part of me had a small amount of respect for this killer, even though it conflicts with my own thoughts on murder, at the same time I struggled to summon up any sympathy for the victims.
As you would expect with any good crime thriller, it’s very well written (but we’re talking Angela Marsons here, so I expected nothing less, she sure knows how to draw the reader in. There are more twists and turns than a rollercoaster, the tension ramps out with every turn of the page, there are gory crime scenes (not for the fainthearted), brilliant characters that immediately draw you in, misdirection at every turn. In fact, it’s the perfect crime thriller read. Without a shadow of a doubt Angela Marsons has written another best seller, highly, highly recommended.
All my reviews can be found at www.thebookreviewcafe.com
December 16, 2019
In the darkness of a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. The victim of her next case is about to meet his killer…
When the body of a young man is found beheaded and staked to the ground in a secluded area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene.
Searching the victim’s home, Kim discovers a little girl’s bedroom and a hidden laptop. Why is his sister relieved to hear he’s dead – and where is the rest of his family?
As Kim begins to unearth the dark secrets at the heart of the case, D.C. Stacey Wood finds a disturbing resemblance to the recent murder of Lester Jackson. But that’s not all Stacey finds …
She’s convinced there is a link between the victims and a women’s shelter run by Marianne Forbes, Lester’s niece. A child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. Could Marianne be the key to cracking this case?
With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey is showing signs of brilliance but struggling to hold her nerve and, while D.S. Bryant is reliable and calm, D.S. Dawson is a liability. With his home life in pieces, his volatile behaviour is already fracturing her fragile new team.
Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken? This time, one of her own could be in terrible danger…
Discover where it all began for Kim and her team. An absolutely heart-stopping mystery thriller that will keep you glued to the pages, reading late into the night. Perfect for Kim Stone fans and new readers to the million-copy bestselling series.
A detective hiding dark secrets, Kim Stone will stop at nothing to protect the innocent.
Chilling, compelling, gripping, and also great to see all these great characters from the start.
As Angela Marsons says herself, the more books we read of DI Kim Stone, the more we wanted to know the personalities, especially there earlier lives...
This book starts, perfectly at the beginning, yes number twelfth in the series, but a great decision to go back to the start. Seeing all the squad and how the became a great family a great team, so good in their own roles they performed.
Great to see DI Kim Stone and her strong character, her conversations with Keats are so good, Bryant and his great strength and quite support to Kim Stone.
Four stars for me.
When the body of a young man is found beheaded and staked to the ground in a secluded area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene.
Searching the victim’s home, Kim discovers a little girl’s bedroom and a hidden laptop. Why is his sister relieved to hear he’s dead – and where is the rest of his family?
As Kim begins to unearth the dark secrets at the heart of the case, D.C. Stacey Wood finds a disturbing resemblance to the recent murder of Lester Jackson. But that’s not all Stacey finds …
She’s convinced there is a link between the victims and a women’s shelter run by Marianne Forbes, Lester’s niece. A child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. Could Marianne be the key to cracking this case?
With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey is showing signs of brilliance but struggling to hold her nerve and, while D.S. Bryant is reliable and calm, D.S. Dawson is a liability. With his home life in pieces, his volatile behaviour is already fracturing her fragile new team.
Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken? This time, one of her own could be in terrible danger…
Discover where it all began for Kim and her team. An absolutely heart-stopping mystery thriller that will keep you glued to the pages, reading late into the night. Perfect for Kim Stone fans and new readers to the million-copy bestselling series.
A detective hiding dark secrets, Kim Stone will stop at nothing to protect the innocent.
Chilling, compelling, gripping, and also great to see all these great characters from the start.
As Angela Marsons says herself, the more books we read of DI Kim Stone, the more we wanted to know the personalities, especially there earlier lives...
This book starts, perfectly at the beginning, yes number twelfth in the series, but a great decision to go back to the start. Seeing all the squad and how the became a great family a great team, so good in their own roles they performed.
Great to see DI Kim Stone and her strong character, her conversations with Keats are so good, Bryant and his great strength and quite support to Kim Stone.
Four stars for me.
June 16, 2021
As a long time fan of Kim Stone, I was immediately drawn into this backstory of the first time the team works together. It’s a trip back in time to when they didn’t know each other and were still learning each other’s strengths and foibles. And such fun to see them all younger!
Kim has no sooner been assigned to the Halesowen station when the team is assigned a grisly murder.
I read a lot of police procedural and mysteries. So, I just want to give a shout out to Angela Marsons for consistently providing a well told story. This story has a great plot about vigilantism, and I actually enjoyed learning about the original meaning of old nursery rhymes.
The audiobook contains a fabulous interview with Angela Marsons. And yes, Angie, there are definitely readers that appreciate a good police procedural without a romantic aspect.
I listened to this and I wasn’t enthralled by Jan Cramer’s narration. Her voice for the murderer sounds like she’s channeling the wicked witch of the west with its ugly whisper.
Kim has no sooner been assigned to the Halesowen station when the team is assigned a grisly murder.
I read a lot of police procedural and mysteries. So, I just want to give a shout out to Angela Marsons for consistently providing a well told story. This story has a great plot about vigilantism, and I actually enjoyed learning about the original meaning of old nursery rhymes.
The audiobook contains a fabulous interview with Angela Marsons. And yes, Angie, there are definitely readers that appreciate a good police procedural without a romantic aspect.
I listened to this and I wasn’t enthralled by Jan Cramer’s narration. Her voice for the murderer sounds like she’s channeling the wicked witch of the west with its ugly whisper.
January 26, 2020
This is the 12th book in the DI Kim Stone series by author Angela Marsons.
I have followed this series from the very start and thoroughly enjoyed every minute reading it. This one carries on with that same consistency and is yet another great read. An added interest to me is that I live close to many of the locations mentioned in these books.
Detective Kim Stone is about to start a new stage in her career when she begins life at Halesowen Police Station. Not only is she to meet her new team but very quickly she is about to come across a killer.
Kim and her new team are rushed to nearby Clent Hills when a beheaded body of a young man is found staked to the ground in a secluded woodland area. On searching the victim's home, Kim finds a little girl's bedroom and a hidden laptop, but where is the child? And why does the man's own sister seem relieved that he's dead?
On further investigations Kim discovers similarities to a recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall with multiple stab wounds. Both men had dark secrets and Kim discovers a link to a women's shelter. As a child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. Could the shelter be the key to cracking this case?
There are also issues with her team Kim needs to resolve to keep her team working together to catch the killer before another life is taken?
This is such a consistently well written series that is a must for all lovers of crime thrillers.
I have followed this series from the very start and thoroughly enjoyed every minute reading it. This one carries on with that same consistency and is yet another great read. An added interest to me is that I live close to many of the locations mentioned in these books.
Detective Kim Stone is about to start a new stage in her career when she begins life at Halesowen Police Station. Not only is she to meet her new team but very quickly she is about to come across a killer.
Kim and her new team are rushed to nearby Clent Hills when a beheaded body of a young man is found staked to the ground in a secluded woodland area. On searching the victim's home, Kim finds a little girl's bedroom and a hidden laptop, but where is the child? And why does the man's own sister seem relieved that he's dead?
On further investigations Kim discovers similarities to a recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall with multiple stab wounds. Both men had dark secrets and Kim discovers a link to a women's shelter. As a child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. Could the shelter be the key to cracking this case?
There are also issues with her team Kim needs to resolve to keep her team working together to catch the killer before another life is taken?
This is such a consistently well written series that is a must for all lovers of crime thrillers.
December 5, 2021
FIRST BLOOD is the prequel to the Kim Stone series by best-selling author Angela Marsons. Having read all of Angela’s other books in the series I couldn’t wait to read this. It is here that we get to go back in time and see how the team originally came together with the introduction of Kim Stone to her team.
Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. Stacey Wood, a young sharp black woman has only recently been promoted to Detective Constable, a techie, and is ready to please. DS Bryant, Kim’s right-hand man is a steady experienced officer. D.S. Kevin Dawson is cocky and unreliable currently having marital problems. Kim has to keep her eye on this one to see if he can redeem himself or will she have to let him go.
Kim barely had time to introduce herself to them when they are assigned a new case - a young man whose mutilated beheaded body has been found in the woods nearby. Discovering that the victim was a pedophile, four very different people must work together to stop a killer.
On searching the victim's home, Kim finds a little girl's bedroom and a hidden laptop, but where is the child? And why does the man's own sister seem relieved that he's dead?
Kim discovers similarities to a recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall with multiple stab wounds. Both men had dark secrets and Kim discovers a link to a women's shelter.
There are also issues with her rookie team Kim needs to resolve to keep her team working together to catch the killer before another life is taken. Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken?
This prequel reflects depth to the storyline…where it all began for Kim and her team and provides a complement to this best-selling series. Love this series!
Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. Stacey Wood, a young sharp black woman has only recently been promoted to Detective Constable, a techie, and is ready to please. DS Bryant, Kim’s right-hand man is a steady experienced officer. D.S. Kevin Dawson is cocky and unreliable currently having marital problems. Kim has to keep her eye on this one to see if he can redeem himself or will she have to let him go.
Kim barely had time to introduce herself to them when they are assigned a new case - a young man whose mutilated beheaded body has been found in the woods nearby. Discovering that the victim was a pedophile, four very different people must work together to stop a killer.
On searching the victim's home, Kim finds a little girl's bedroom and a hidden laptop, but where is the child? And why does the man's own sister seem relieved that he's dead?
Kim discovers similarities to a recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall with multiple stab wounds. Both men had dark secrets and Kim discovers a link to a women's shelter.
There are also issues with her rookie team Kim needs to resolve to keep her team working together to catch the killer before another life is taken. Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken?
This prequel reflects depth to the storyline…where it all began for Kim and her team and provides a complement to this best-selling series. Love this series!
November 23, 2019
A wonderful "head's up" into a fantastic series.
Great complex characters giving a good insight as to how the various members gelled into "the team."
Great complex twisty story, fast paced easy read. And it was a real book! So many of these "prequels" are no more than short stories.
Now to figure out when I've got a block of time to binge-read the entire series!
Great complex characters giving a good insight as to how the various members gelled into "the team."
Great complex twisty story, fast paced easy read. And it was a real book! So many of these "prequels" are no more than short stories.
Now to figure out when I've got a block of time to binge-read the entire series!
December 28, 2021
I read the first book in this series and immediately knew this is a series I want to continue. I like crime books and DI Kim Stone brings more to the books than just the crime investigation. While this books is published far later in the series, it is a prequel and I was told that it would be good to read this next as it explains how Stone’s team gets together, it also gives background info on the individual members and the team dynamics. I liked getting to know the team better and of course it has a good unpredictable hunt to catch a serial killer.
December 15, 2019
This is a fantastic addition to the Kim Stone series! I’m so glad Angela Marsons thought of this angle! Her team of characters have been so wonderfully developed over the years; I have to think regression might have been a difficult task. Well done, Ms. Marsons!
November 17, 2019
The news that Angela Marsons had released a surprise prequel to the Kim Stone series hit social media two days ago, and I added it to my “want to read” and “buy soon” shelves immediately, telling myself that as soon as I’d cleared my six overdue reviews, I would read it. Who was I kidding, within half an hour I had bought it and am feeling proud of myself just for finishing the one I was currently reading first, plus going to a surprise wedding and sleeping. I’ve basically read it in one sitting today and have no regrets.
This is the book that fans of the series have been waiting for, even if they didn’t know it, but if you haven’t read any before this will also be the perfect introduction (and I envy you the reading bliss that lies ahead!) and if you’re only part way through the series, it helps round out the characters’ personalities.
DI Kim Stone arrives at Halesowen station, assigned to a new team for the umpteenth time after her dour demeanour, uncompromising attitude and intolerance of chauvinism have made her a pariah amongst detectives in the West Midlands. She has barely had time to introduce herself to them when they are assigned a new case - a young man whose grotesquely mutilated body has been found in the woods nearby. Discovering that the victim was a paedophile, four very different people must work together and learn each other’s strengths to stop a killer on a mission.
Having read all of this amazing series, getting to time-travel back five years and meet Bryant, Dawson and Stacey as Kim does was a wonderful treat. While we have gotten to know and (mostly) love them through their later adventures, the chance to see them through Kim’s fresh eyes, including more physical description than I can previously recall, was just brilliant. Bryant looks like Bradley Walsh - fantastic! On that subject, I am so happy that Bookouture have finally (well I hope) stopped the completely overused red-coat-covers and given us an image - albeit shadowed - of Kim’s face: it’s perfect! I know some readers like to envisage characters’ for themselves but I’m not one of them and in the absence of a TV adaptation (which would be fabulous) I’m so pleased to finally have a sense of how to picture her.
The mystery itself doesn’t disappoint either, as the team follow the clues and we get brief glimpses of the killer’s mindset. Yes I guessed who it was, but only because I read so many police procedurals, and that didn’t spoil it at all. It was also a relief to know that (minor spoiler alert) no major characters were harmed in the making of this story. Knowing what will happen in the future just made the introductions all the more poignant. And the small but major revelation at the end was, as MasterCard say, priceless.
What else can I say - read this book, you won’t regret it! 5 happy stars!
This is the book that fans of the series have been waiting for, even if they didn’t know it, but if you haven’t read any before this will also be the perfect introduction (and I envy you the reading bliss that lies ahead!) and if you’re only part way through the series, it helps round out the characters’ personalities.
DI Kim Stone arrives at Halesowen station, assigned to a new team for the umpteenth time after her dour demeanour, uncompromising attitude and intolerance of chauvinism have made her a pariah amongst detectives in the West Midlands. She has barely had time to introduce herself to them when they are assigned a new case - a young man whose grotesquely mutilated body has been found in the woods nearby. Discovering that the victim was a paedophile, four very different people must work together and learn each other’s strengths to stop a killer on a mission.
Having read all of this amazing series, getting to time-travel back five years and meet Bryant, Dawson and Stacey as Kim does was a wonderful treat. While we have gotten to know and (mostly) love them through their later adventures, the chance to see them through Kim’s fresh eyes, including more physical description than I can previously recall, was just brilliant. Bryant looks like Bradley Walsh - fantastic! On that subject, I am so happy that Bookouture have finally (well I hope) stopped the completely overused red-coat-covers and given us an image - albeit shadowed - of Kim’s face: it’s perfect! I know some readers like to envisage characters’ for themselves but I’m not one of them and in the absence of a TV adaptation (which would be fabulous) I’m so pleased to finally have a sense of how to picture her.
The mystery itself doesn’t disappoint either, as the team follow the clues and we get brief glimpses of the killer’s mindset. Yes I guessed who it was, but only because I read so many police procedurals, and that didn’t spoil it at all. It was also a relief to know that (minor spoiler alert) no major characters were harmed in the making of this story. Knowing what will happen in the future just made the introductions all the more poignant. And the small but major revelation at the end was, as MasterCard say, priceless.
What else can I say - read this book, you won’t regret it! 5 happy stars!
February 14, 2021
I have read several of the books in the Kim Stone series and have enjoyed them all. This is a prequel to the series. In this story DI Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station for the first time after yet another transfer. She meets Chief Inspector (DCI) Woodward and then her new team. Before the new team even has the opportunity to get to know each other they are called out to particularly gruesome murder scene. The body of a man was found staked to the ground and beheaded.
D.C. Stacey Wood is a rookie with no experience. D.S. Bryant is steady, reliable and calm. D.S. Dawson is arrogant, self-centered and has personal issues. Kim has her own issues. She has been transferred from police station to police station. She is difficult to work with and lacking in social skills. But they are a team and this is where it started.
Kim and Bryant go to the victims home where they discover a hidden laptop and a little girl's bedroom but no child. When they go to notify the next of kin, the victim's sister, she is shocked but not saddened. More like relieved. Stacey is showing promise with her technical skills and ability to find information. Dawson meanwhile is doing his own thing and showing signs that is a not team player. Arrogant. Self-centered. It doesn't look like he will be with the team for long.
Stacey's skills soon find other murder cases that appear to be similar to theirs. And the investigation soon leads them to a women’s shelter run by Marianne Forbes, the niece of one of the murder victims. Readers of other books in the series know that Kim was a child of the foster care system. Her social skills may not be great but she has great empathy for those who find themselves caught in the system too.
The team is driven and works marathon hours to try and solve the murders and prevent someone else from becoming a victim. The murders revolve around child abuse and it is hard to find a lot of sympathy for the victims but Kim does not let that deter her in her resolve to find the murderer and stop him.
This was a terrific addition to the series. Going back to explain how everyone met and the team formed. And it is a terrific story that will keep the reader turning the pages trying to learn the identity of the murderer.
D.C. Stacey Wood is a rookie with no experience. D.S. Bryant is steady, reliable and calm. D.S. Dawson is arrogant, self-centered and has personal issues. Kim has her own issues. She has been transferred from police station to police station. She is difficult to work with and lacking in social skills. But they are a team and this is where it started.
Kim and Bryant go to the victims home where they discover a hidden laptop and a little girl's bedroom but no child. When they go to notify the next of kin, the victim's sister, she is shocked but not saddened. More like relieved. Stacey is showing promise with her technical skills and ability to find information. Dawson meanwhile is doing his own thing and showing signs that is a not team player. Arrogant. Self-centered. It doesn't look like he will be with the team for long.
Stacey's skills soon find other murder cases that appear to be similar to theirs. And the investigation soon leads them to a women’s shelter run by Marianne Forbes, the niece of one of the murder victims. Readers of other books in the series know that Kim was a child of the foster care system. Her social skills may not be great but she has great empathy for those who find themselves caught in the system too.
The team is driven and works marathon hours to try and solve the murders and prevent someone else from becoming a victim. The murders revolve around child abuse and it is hard to find a lot of sympathy for the victims but Kim does not let that deter her in her resolve to find the murderer and stop him.
This was a terrific addition to the series. Going back to explain how everyone met and the team formed. And it is a terrific story that will keep the reader turning the pages trying to learn the identity of the murderer.
May 24, 2025
First Blood by Angela Marsons is a prequel in the ongoing D.I. Kim Stone series counting 12 books so far. I haven’t read the other books so I am missing the nostalgic feel some reviewers have about going back to the beginning. The characters are all new to me but we do get to know them a bit during this murder investigation. I think it was a good read, with an interesting plot that kept going. I didn’t guess who the killer was so that’s always a plus.
All characters involved are a blank canvas (if you start the series fresh like I did), but as the story progresses we get little bits and pieces revealed. With crime procedural dramas like this the main focus is on the investigation. We are in the heads of most major characters involved so there are many pov shifts – done by very short chapters (there are 116(!) and I thought that worked very well. With an ensemble cast we need to feel how everyone is doing.
So the book starts in 2014, 2 weeks before Christmas. Detective Inspector Kim Stone and her newly cobbled together squad of misfits are plunged head first into a gruesome murder case. We find out that the victims were not undeserving of their fate. As the detectives are finding their feet in this case we are looking over their shoulder and into their lives. It is an addictive read, the storytelling is compelling and chilling and I've got the next book in the series already lined up.
No romance, no sex. Our main Kim Stone feels A-sexual to me but there might be a lesbian future for Detective Constable Stacey Wood.
Themes: Britain, new crime team, difficult to work with, nursery rhymes, pedophilia, Kim’s dark past.
4 Stars
------------
re-reading this one to start the serie in earnest. It's been 5 years and I don't remember enough so here we go again.
All characters involved are a blank canvas (if you start the series fresh like I did), but as the story progresses we get little bits and pieces revealed. With crime procedural dramas like this the main focus is on the investigation. We are in the heads of most major characters involved so there are many pov shifts – done by very short chapters (there are 116(!) and I thought that worked very well. With an ensemble cast we need to feel how everyone is doing.
So the book starts in 2014, 2 weeks before Christmas. Detective Inspector Kim Stone and her newly cobbled together squad of misfits are plunged head first into a gruesome murder case. We find out that the victims were not undeserving of their fate. As the detectives are finding their feet in this case we are looking over their shoulder and into their lives. It is an addictive read, the storytelling is compelling and chilling and I've got the next book in the series already lined up.
No romance, no sex. Our main Kim Stone feels A-sexual to me but there might be a lesbian future for Detective Constable Stacey Wood.
Themes: Britain, new crime team, difficult to work with, nursery rhymes, pedophilia, Kim’s dark past.
4 Stars
------------
re-reading this one to start the serie in earnest. It's been 5 years and I don't remember enough so here we go again.
April 15, 2025
Every legend starts somewhere — and Kim Stone’s begins in blood.
After finishing all “regular” entries of Angela Marsons' Kim Stone series, I remembered reading about a prequel. “First Blood” was quickly discovered and read with glee. It’s the story of how Kim meets her new team for the first time and gets thrown quickly into a gruesome murder.
As can be expected from a Kim Stone novel, the mystery was engaging, relevant, and full of suspense. We also get a closer look at all of the team members much earlier in their careers: Stacey has just moved to CID and is rather insecure but quickly discovering her most important skills. She is far from the self-confident, married woman she becomes but already very likeable.
»Stacey was proud of her Nigerian heritage even though she had never stepped foot outside England and was equally proud to be British.«
Dawson, at this point, is an insufferable arse: he prefers sleeping in his car to going home and facing the music with his partner. He is hardly recognisable in this one, and too much of a nuisance during much of it for my taste.
»Yeah, Stacey had spent the day pounding the keyboard without stepping out of the office once. And yes, those efforts had yielded some results, he admitted grudgingly, but that wasn’t real police work. That was an office job.
And DS Bryant had spent the day following the boss around the outskirts of this case, driving her wherever she wanted to go. That wasn’t his idea of the job, either.«
Bryant, thankfully, is Bryant. He is the calm, collected, competent detective he will be during the entire series. It was good to see him already mostly as himself.
»‘You wanna check the cost of putting me on your insurance, Bryant. I’ll pay.’
He laughed politely.
‘Yeah, I’m not kidding,’ she said, as he neared the location to which she’d directed him.«
Kim herself is only slightly different: We learn that she’s been handled like a hot potato due to her sometimes sub-par social skills. Her placement with DCI Woodward, quickly styled “Woody”, is no coincidence. Her early insights into her team members are interesting to read and seeing her in “early action” is enticing.
Woody’s character gets some “rounding out” as well. We get to better understand why he acts generously towards Kim – in this case as well as later ones.
»‘But this is like asking me to finish a jigsaw puzzle while keeping half of the pieces in your pocket.’
He nodded. ‘Yes, I’m afraid that does seem to be the case.’
If she didn’t know better she’d think he was enjoying the challenge he’d laid before her.
‘So, Stone, time to see just how creative you and your team can get.’«
All in all, this prequel was a good read. It does feel slightly “anachronistic”, having read it after all the other novels, but it’s still very much worth a read.
Four stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
After finishing all “regular” entries of Angela Marsons' Kim Stone series, I remembered reading about a prequel. “First Blood” was quickly discovered and read with glee. It’s the story of how Kim meets her new team for the first time and gets thrown quickly into a gruesome murder.
As can be expected from a Kim Stone novel, the mystery was engaging, relevant, and full of suspense. We also get a closer look at all of the team members much earlier in their careers: Stacey has just moved to CID and is rather insecure but quickly discovering her most important skills. She is far from the self-confident, married woman she becomes but already very likeable.
»Stacey was proud of her Nigerian heritage even though she had never stepped foot outside England and was equally proud to be British.«
Dawson, at this point, is an insufferable arse: he prefers sleeping in his car to going home and facing the music with his partner. He is hardly recognisable in this one, and too much of a nuisance during much of it for my taste.
»Yeah, Stacey had spent the day pounding the keyboard without stepping out of the office once. And yes, those efforts had yielded some results, he admitted grudgingly, but that wasn’t real police work. That was an office job.
And DS Bryant had spent the day following the boss around the outskirts of this case, driving her wherever she wanted to go. That wasn’t his idea of the job, either.«
Bryant, thankfully, is Bryant. He is the calm, collected, competent detective he will be during the entire series. It was good to see him already mostly as himself.
»‘You wanna check the cost of putting me on your insurance, Bryant. I’ll pay.’
He laughed politely.
‘Yeah, I’m not kidding,’ she said, as he neared the location to which she’d directed him.«
Kim herself is only slightly different: We learn that she’s been handled like a hot potato due to her sometimes sub-par social skills. Her placement with DCI Woodward, quickly styled “Woody”, is no coincidence. Her early insights into her team members are interesting to read and seeing her in “early action” is enticing.
Woody’s character gets some “rounding out” as well. We get to better understand why he acts generously towards Kim – in this case as well as later ones.
»‘But this is like asking me to finish a jigsaw puzzle while keeping half of the pieces in your pocket.’
He nodded. ‘Yes, I’m afraid that does seem to be the case.’
If she didn’t know better she’d think he was enjoying the challenge he’d laid before her.
‘So, Stone, time to see just how creative you and your team can get.’«
All in all, this prequel was a good read. It does feel slightly “anachronistic”, having read it after all the other novels, but it’s still very much worth a read.
Four stars out of five.
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Ceterum censeo Putin esse delendam
April 26, 2020
And so it begins...
The plot. Newly transferred DI Kim Stone is about to meet her new team after joining Halesowen Police Station. Before she's even able to form an opinion of them, a call comes in about a dead body that's been found. Kim and her team are immediately put to the test when it becomes clear that they might be dealing with a serial killer.
The characters. The first character we meet is DI Kim Stone. She doesn't play well with others, is a bit of a rule breaker, has no patience whatsoever but is remarkably good at solving crimes. Next is DS Bryant, the most senior and possibly also the most resilient member. DC Wood is the youngest with clearly something to prove as the people pleaser she is. Finally there's DS Dawson, the problem child with a chip on his shoulder.
The writing. Normally I'm not a fan of having to read several different POVs but for this book and the various characters it was the perfect choice. This wasn't just about Kim and her journey, it was about shining a light on all the different characters and taking a look at the story as it developed from every possible angle. Job well done Ms. Marsons!
The special. A great cast of characters, each with their own unique POV, racing against the clock to find a killer, coupled with brilliant writing makes for one hell of a page turner!
The negative. As much as I liked this book, its main focus was introducing the various characters. I had a few moments when I just wanted the narrative to pick up speed a little instead of showing the various personality traits of the team members.
The verdict. Enough with the introductions, let's get to the nitty-gritty shall we? Although now that I've said that, I'll probably regret it once I get to book three.
The plot. Newly transferred DI Kim Stone is about to meet her new team after joining Halesowen Police Station. Before she's even able to form an opinion of them, a call comes in about a dead body that's been found. Kim and her team are immediately put to the test when it becomes clear that they might be dealing with a serial killer.
The characters. The first character we meet is DI Kim Stone. She doesn't play well with others, is a bit of a rule breaker, has no patience whatsoever but is remarkably good at solving crimes. Next is DS Bryant, the most senior and possibly also the most resilient member. DC Wood is the youngest with clearly something to prove as the people pleaser she is. Finally there's DS Dawson, the problem child with a chip on his shoulder.
The writing. Normally I'm not a fan of having to read several different POVs but for this book and the various characters it was the perfect choice. This wasn't just about Kim and her journey, it was about shining a light on all the different characters and taking a look at the story as it developed from every possible angle. Job well done Ms. Marsons!
The special. A great cast of characters, each with their own unique POV, racing against the clock to find a killer, coupled with brilliant writing makes for one hell of a page turner!
The negative. As much as I liked this book, its main focus was introducing the various characters. I had a few moments when I just wanted the narrative to pick up speed a little instead of showing the various personality traits of the team members.
The verdict. Enough with the introductions, let's get to the nitty-gritty shall we? Although now that I've said that, I'll probably regret it once I get to book three.
May 1, 2020
3 COMFY STARS
D.I Kim Stone has bounced around a lot of teams, her no nonsense attitude and determination to solve her cases can rub some the wrong way, but luckily that's something she can more than comfortably live with. Here I was able to see the team from book one develop and and Kim get her footing as she navigates working with a team, as they try and capture a serial killer.
Overall an easy read, didn't cause the ache in my chest that manifested in book one, but it kept me engaged and there were some tense moments. I also liked the background given on the characters it's made them that more visible in my mind.
Potential Triggers:
D.I Kim Stone has bounced around a lot of teams, her no nonsense attitude and determination to solve her cases can rub some the wrong way, but luckily that's something she can more than comfortably live with. Here I was able to see the team from book one develop and and Kim get her footing as she navigates working with a team, as they try and capture a serial killer.
Overall an easy read, didn't cause the ache in my chest that manifested in book one, but it kept me engaged and there were some tense moments. I also liked the background given on the characters it's made them that more visible in my mind.
Potential Triggers:
August 15, 2022
Tons of twists to keep you on your toes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are a fan of a series of stories, then you know that sometimes it is hard to break into one, even if they are a standalone read.
In this new release, we are offered the backstory of the Kim Stone thrillers that are loaded with police procedurals and crimes that need to be solved. Especially when you are new to the series, why not start at the beginning?
This story is full of tension, twists, and complex characters that bring the book full circle. Well detailed with intricate weaving in and out, along with a few surprises along the way too, Marsons catches the attention which has me clammering for the next installment.
I know that I am thrilled to find a new series to follow, and I think you will love it too! I cannot wait to learn more about these developing, complex characters and catch a gruesome murderer or two!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/first-blood-...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you are a fan of a series of stories, then you know that sometimes it is hard to break into one, even if they are a standalone read.
In this new release, we are offered the backstory of the Kim Stone thrillers that are loaded with police procedurals and crimes that need to be solved. Especially when you are new to the series, why not start at the beginning?
This story is full of tension, twists, and complex characters that bring the book full circle. Well detailed with intricate weaving in and out, along with a few surprises along the way too, Marsons catches the attention which has me clammering for the next installment.
I know that I am thrilled to find a new series to follow, and I think you will love it too! I cannot wait to learn more about these developing, complex characters and catch a gruesome murderer or two!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/first-blood-...
December 14, 2020
Potevo aspettare l'offerta ma non ce la facevo più. Volevo assolutamente leggerlo. Già uno all'anno è sofferenza pura amando questa autrice così l'ho preso a €2,99. (Chiamiamola droga annuale. Una delle tante. Aspetto impaziente ogni anno un nuovo libro di Angela Marsons tradotto. Fra poco mi sa che devo passare agli originali per crisi di astinenza).
Leggere di quando tutto ebbe inizio dopo sei libri è un po' strano. Ormai sappiamo che Kim è stronza ma stronza per un motivo e poi io non la considero nemmeno così stronza. Sapete che mi piace il suo carattere. .
Dawson era uno veramente subdolo .
Stacy .
Bryant .
È il giusto ripasso. Con un libro all'anno dopo un po' perdi anche le fisionomie dei caratteri anche se mi sono fatta alcuni appunti mentali. Kim Stone ha i capelli neri corti, Dawson è un po' così così e casinista a volte e Stacy, dopo che me lo sono ricordata, è .
Naturalmente al capitolo 27 non poteva mancare il primo incontro con
Vi chiedo scusa se in questa recensione che faccio mentre leggo scrivo cose banali ma vorrei usarla in futuro nel caso mi ridimenticassi le cose. Come una serie di appunti.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER (personaggi)
○ Sergente Bryant: 1,80m, più grande di Kim Stone, veste in tiro per ora.
○ Agente Investigativa Stacy: 22 anni (ora), di colore, nigeriana.
○ Sergente Dawson: Giovane, dopo tot libri ha messo un po' la testa a posto. Casinista. Piano malefico iniziale fallito.
FINE SPOILER FINE SPOILER FINE SPOILER
Stupendo. Ho già detto che amo Kim Stone? Ho amato anche questo libro anche se è un prequel. Ora aspettiamo il 7. (Questo andrebbe dopo il decimo o undicesimo ma è prequel quindi immagino si potesse tradurre quando si voleva). 💖
Leggere di quando tutto ebbe inizio dopo sei libri è un po' strano. Ormai sappiamo che Kim è stronza ma stronza per un motivo e poi io non la considero nemmeno così stronza. Sapete che mi piace il suo carattere. .
Dawson era uno veramente subdolo .
Stacy .
Bryant .
È il giusto ripasso. Con un libro all'anno dopo un po' perdi anche le fisionomie dei caratteri anche se mi sono fatta alcuni appunti mentali. Kim Stone ha i capelli neri corti, Dawson è un po' così così e casinista a volte e Stacy, dopo che me lo sono ricordata, è .
Naturalmente al capitolo 27 non poteva mancare il primo incontro con
Vi chiedo scusa se in questa recensione che faccio mentre leggo scrivo cose banali ma vorrei usarla in futuro nel caso mi ridimenticassi le cose. Come una serie di appunti.
SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER (personaggi)
○ Sergente Bryant: 1,80m, più grande di Kim Stone, veste in tiro per ora.
○ Agente Investigativa Stacy: 22 anni (ora), di colore, nigeriana.
○ Sergente Dawson: Giovane, dopo tot libri ha messo un po' la testa a posto. Casinista. Piano malefico iniziale fallito.
FINE SPOILER FINE SPOILER FINE SPOILER
Stupendo. Ho già detto che amo Kim Stone? Ho amato anche questo libro anche se è un prequel. Ora aspettiamo il 7. (Questo andrebbe dopo il decimo o undicesimo ma è prequel quindi immagino si potesse tradurre quando si voleva). 💖
September 2, 2021
First Blood by Angela Marsons is the prequel to the D.I. Kim Stone Mystery series. Detective Kim Stone makes a start at Halesowen Police Station with a new team and their first case is a man who has been beheaded and his genitalia removed. I loved getting to know detective Kim Stone and the members of her team. She is strong, capable, with a no nonsense attitide and very determined although lacking in social skills. It was interesting to meet the other members and learn of their backgrounds and how they came to work well together. An enjoyable and captivating book making me eager to start the series.
December 31, 2025
4⭐️ = Good (4.5*)
Paperback.
#0.5 in the DI Stone series (prequel).
Having read a couple further on in this series, I was pleased to learn that a prequel has been written. It was good to get the background history of all the characters.
This was very believable- well as believable as a serial killer can be. Fascinating characters with individual personalities.
The storyline was gritty and I was thoroughly engaged throughout.
Paperback.
#0.5 in the DI Stone series (prequel).
Having read a couple further on in this series, I was pleased to learn that a prequel has been written. It was good to get the background history of all the characters.
This was very believable- well as believable as a serial killer can be. Fascinating characters with individual personalities.
The storyline was gritty and I was thoroughly engaged throughout.
November 17, 2019
As a ginormous fan of the D. I. Kim Stone series, I was excited and privileged to be given an advance chance to read the latest book of the series, which unlike the others doesn't move the series on, but instead is a prequel.
This is the story of how Stone, Stacey, Bryant, and Dawson and their first week as a new team. We see how Kim's reputation preceded her, we get insights into all the officers personal lives, and get to see them working together almost instantly.
For fans of the series this is the book we didn't necessarily know we needed until well you have read it, I was completely hooked on seeing the roots of the series take hold, from a place earlier than Book 1. Would think work as an entry point to read before book 1 if you are new to the series, well I'm too hooked to know for sure, but I'd recommend you read them all as they are fabulous books.
I completely devoured this book, I was almost upset that I had to pause reading to watch a musical, as I had started it on the tube on the way to the theatre, read more in the restaurant, then enjoyed the show, and read on the tube on the way home, and instead of then doing some work or arguably anything productive I did the only thing possible and finished this book. Well I needed to see how it all turned out, and just who was behind the crimes.
I did have my theories but they were wide of mark, and the level of detail at times for the bodies was sickening. I was kept guessing throughout and enjoyed seeing just how all the different members of the team work.
As a fan of the series and knowing what a well form partnership Bryant and Stone have, it was amusing to see their first week together, learning the base of each other quirks, and seeing if they could learn when the other was joking or not.
And the other teaming of Stacey and Dawson, well that was rather interesting, I got to see a whole new side to both of them, which may yet make me see them in a new light come the next book.
I genuinely not sure what else I can realistically say without spoiling this book, or the series, but what I can say is this is genius. It's a wonderful thriller that kept me o my toes, is a very welcome addition to the series, and the sorts of victims well frankly I did't have too much sympathy with them.
I also loved the teams first meeting with the pathologist Keats, and even the journalist who occasionally pops up in the regular books had a fleeting conversation with Kim. Plus I got to understand more about the various rivalries in the different Midlands Police forces. And as someone who at this time of year does love a Christmas book, there were mentions of Christmas, and I got an understanding of D.I. Kim Stone's feelings towards the holiday season (not relevant to the story perhaps, but I liked finding out anyway).
This really is the book where is all begins, and I know I for one am delighted to have read it.
Thank you to Kim Nash at Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
This is the story of how Stone, Stacey, Bryant, and Dawson and their first week as a new team. We see how Kim's reputation preceded her, we get insights into all the officers personal lives, and get to see them working together almost instantly.
For fans of the series this is the book we didn't necessarily know we needed until well you have read it, I was completely hooked on seeing the roots of the series take hold, from a place earlier than Book 1. Would think work as an entry point to read before book 1 if you are new to the series, well I'm too hooked to know for sure, but I'd recommend you read them all as they are fabulous books.
I completely devoured this book, I was almost upset that I had to pause reading to watch a musical, as I had started it on the tube on the way to the theatre, read more in the restaurant, then enjoyed the show, and read on the tube on the way home, and instead of then doing some work or arguably anything productive I did the only thing possible and finished this book. Well I needed to see how it all turned out, and just who was behind the crimes.
I did have my theories but they were wide of mark, and the level of detail at times for the bodies was sickening. I was kept guessing throughout and enjoyed seeing just how all the different members of the team work.
As a fan of the series and knowing what a well form partnership Bryant and Stone have, it was amusing to see their first week together, learning the base of each other quirks, and seeing if they could learn when the other was joking or not.
And the other teaming of Stacey and Dawson, well that was rather interesting, I got to see a whole new side to both of them, which may yet make me see them in a new light come the next book.
I genuinely not sure what else I can realistically say without spoiling this book, or the series, but what I can say is this is genius. It's a wonderful thriller that kept me o my toes, is a very welcome addition to the series, and the sorts of victims well frankly I did't have too much sympathy with them.
I also loved the teams first meeting with the pathologist Keats, and even the journalist who occasionally pops up in the regular books had a fleeting conversation with Kim. Plus I got to understand more about the various rivalries in the different Midlands Police forces. And as someone who at this time of year does love a Christmas book, there were mentions of Christmas, and I got an understanding of D.I. Kim Stone's feelings towards the holiday season (not relevant to the story perhaps, but I liked finding out anyway).
This really is the book where is all begins, and I know I for one am delighted to have read it.
Thank you to Kim Nash at Bookouture for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
February 18, 2024
I can see how people are die hard Kim Stone fans. The audiobook is fantastic and I guessed totally wrong but I will be reading more books in the series. 4.5 stars rounded up.
June 12, 2024
Prequel della serie, che ho religiosamente letto in ordine di pubblicazione, questo romanzo ci fa vedere la formazione della squadra guidata da Kim Stone, che si occupa di una serie di omicidi ai danni di pedofili, che vengono mutilati dei genitali per ovvi motivi. Kim e i suoi sottoposti - che noi già conosciamo bene e che sono qui presentati in una veste quasi inedita - si ritagliano un ruolo tutto loro all'interno della squadra, facendo vedere in cosa sono più versati. E malgrado qualche falsa partenza, la squadra funziona davvero, rimettendo al loro posto tutti coloro che non avrebbero puntato un solo penny su di loro.
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