Wednesday, August 14, 2019

Review - Child's Play

Title:   Child's Play
Author:  Angela Marsons
Series:  D.I. Kim Stone #11
Genre:   Mystery/Thriller
Publisher:  Bookouture
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   352
Date of Publication:  July 11, 2019
My Rating:  4.5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Finally we’re playing a game. A game that I have chosen. I give one last push of the roundabout and stand back. 'You really should have played with me,’ I tell her again although I know she can no longer hear. 

Late one summer evening, Detective Kim Stone arrives at Haden Hill Park to the scene of a horrific crime: a woman in her sixties tied to a swing with barbed wire and an X carved into the back of her neck.

The victim, Belinda Evans, was a retired college Professor of Child Psychology. As Kim and her team search her home, they find an overnight bag packed and begin to unravel a complex relationship between Belinda and her sister Veronica.

Then two more bodies are found bearing the same distinctive markings, and Kim knows she is on the hunt for a ritualistic serial killer. Linking the victims, Kim discovers they were involved in annual tournaments for gifted children and were on their way to the next event.

With DS Penn immersed in the murder case of a young man, Kim and her team are already stretched and up against one of the most ruthless killer’s they’ve ever encountered. The clues lie in investigating every child who attended the tournaments, dating back decades.

Faced with hundreds of potential leads and a bereaved sister who is refusing to talk, can Kim get inside the mind of a killer and stop another murder before it’s too late?

The addictive new crime thriller from multi-million copy, number one bestseller Angela Marsons explores the dark side of child prodigies and will have you absolutely hooked. 

MY THOUGHTS:

Detective Kim Stone is rather disturbed when she happens upon the latest murder scene. This time it is a 60ish woman found tied to a chair with an X carved into the back of her neck. The woman's name was Belinda Evans, and when her sister Veronica arrives, Kim hopes that she can begin to find answers. However, two more bodies are found, in a similar fashion.

As the title hints, it has something to do with children. Oddly enough, it is even more so related to the fact that the victims are all involved in child psychology. Currently, there are tournaments involving gifted children. How could people that work with children end up murder victims?

Meanwhile, one of Kim's team members, Penn, is determined to find the killer of a young man, so this leaves Kim short of help at times. So, with numerous suspects and an unending collection of clues, Kim really has her hands full. With the three murders so far, Kim works as fast as possible to prevent any future victims.

Child's Play is the 11th book in the D. I. Kim Stone series. I started with the 8th title and am more than impressed with Angela Marsons' writing style. The cases are intense and the twists and turns that come along are more than enough to keep any serious mystery reader captivated.

The series is going strong, and I really enjoy Kim. As a matter of fact, I really loved the previous title, Dead Memories, and I found this read to be even more intense. One thing that stood out for me in this book is seeing how Penn is blending in with the team. As the newest member, he was not welcomed at first (I am referring to book 9, Fatal Promise). He is doing better, but has been called back to his previous precinct to further investigate the murder of the aforementioned young man.

Each book in the series does deal with new crimes, so this could do well a a standalone. However, when reading police procedural novels, or crime thrillers, I often love the teamwork that I see. When you have a new team member, like Penn, it makes the family-type environment prove its worth. Because I read so many of these, this is very important to me. I cannot help but think of some television dramas I watch on Network TV, because that is exactly what this book and series reminds me of. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for Kim.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.


ABOUT 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.

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.


10 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great series. Thanks for the review.
    Gemma @ Gemma's Book Nook

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  2. Amazing review Robin, this book looks and sounds absolutely fantastic. I'm really glad you fully enjoyed reading it, thank you so much for sharing your awesome post.

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  3. This looks like something I would really enjoy. Lovely review!

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  4. I love Angela Marsons' books and I'm so far behind. I think I'm only up to #5. Great review!

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  5. Great review. I've never read her work which is surprising as she write in a genre I love. I will have to catch up one day.

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  6. Great review! I love this series. You should try to go back and read the earlier novels, they are just as amazing!

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