DESCRIPTION:
In a quiet kitchen, where two mugs wait by the kettle to be filled, Sheryl Hawne lies in a pool of blood. Her only daughter, Katie, is found at her side, still clutching the murder weapon and apparently incapable of speech. To Detective Kim Stone, the case seems open and shut. But Katie is in no state to be questioned, so Kim and the team must dig deep to understand what triggered this brutal act.
Soon, they learn that Katie participated in beauty pageants as a child, and her mother kept a shrine to her achievements. As Kim gazes at the golden trophies and shiny rosettes, she is forced to wonder if this was what set Katie on the path to murder…
But then Kim receives a shocking call. Another woman is dead. And with Katie safely locked up, she cannot be the killer. The second victim also entered her daughter in pageants, and a broken tiara is found thrust down her throat. Someone clearly feels that these mothers are guilty – and that they deserve to die. Forcing back the memories of her own monstrous mother, Kim vows to find justice for these women, no matter what pain they caused.
Now more than a day behind their killer, Kim races to learn more about a competitive world where appearances are everything and mothers will go to any lengths to ensure their daughters triumph. Buried somewhere in this dark past is the key to unlocking the case… but will Kim be able to find it before another family is destroyed forever?
The twentieth book in the international, multi-million-copy bestselling series, Guilty Mothers will have you glued to the pages. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid and Robert Dugoni will devour this gripping crime thriller.
BUY LINKS:
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Author: Angela Marsons
Series: D. I. Kim Stone Book #20
Publisher: Bookouture
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 415
Date of Publication: May 30, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
It is a sad fact that that some pageant moms can be described as “narcissistic zombie robots”. As this book begins, the question is, did Katie Hawne kill her mother in cold blood? Despite odd, childlike behavior displayed by Katie, D. I. Kim Stone and her team just might have an open-and-shut case with the most recent murder they are investigating. However, there is soon a second victim, and with telling evidence that the cases are connected, Kim quickly becomes sure of Katie’s innocence. Kim and her partner Penn are now beginning to see the sad and unfortunate reality of what can go on with little girls and their mothers in the pageant world.
Is it an oedipus complex, Munchausen by proxy or narcissistic mother/daughter relationships that are the backdrop of an often ongoing part of a toxic world of pageants? While Kim is addressing the brutality behind the murders that tie into past pageants, there is a separate case with Kendrick and Tiff, a Constable making a big imprint on the CID. A body that was discovered proved to be that of a missing man. However, this discovery involves much more when it comes to a deep problem with another type of family dynamic.
Oh. My. Word! Angela Marsons is talented beyond belief. Guilty Mothers ran the gamut when it came to me experiencing a plethora of emotions. Shock. Sadness. Rage. Even brought me to tears more than once. To say I loved this book would be a gross understatement. I loved it so much that I had to stop and go back and reread sections. The draw to this book is indescribable. This stunning book, a one-sitting read, had me holding my breath, grabbing my cheeks, and holding back tears.
It is amazing how Ms. Marsons continues to breathe life into this amazing crime fiction series. And can I reiterate how she makes the reader FEEL? How this mega talented author evokes strong feelings in her readers! Oh my! Now I have to wait for Book 21!
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
She lives in Worcestershire with her partner and their 2 cheeky Golden Retrievers.
She first discovered her love of writing at Junior School when actual lessons came second to watching other people and quietly making up her own stories about them. Her report card invariably read "Angela would do well if she minded her own business as well as she minds other people's".
After years of writing relationship based stories (The Forgotten Woman and Dear Mother) Angela turned to Crime, fictionally speaking of course, and developed a character that refused to go away.
She is signed to Bookouture.com for a total of 28 books in the Kim Stone series and her books have been translated into more than 27 languages.
Many of her books, including Blood Lines, Dead Souls, Broken Bones, Fatal Promise and Dead Memories reached the #1 spot on Amazon on pre-orders alone and the translation of Dead Souls, La Verita Sepolte, recently won the prestigious Primo Bancarella award.
Sign up to Angie's newsletter to receive a download of ONE HOUR - a FREE and exclusive short story about a life-changing moment for a young Kim Stone. https://www.bookouture.com/angela-marsons
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