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Two little children are missing from the same seaside town, and only Kim Stone can find out why…
With the investigation into the boys’ disappearance going nowhere, Detective Kim Stone and her team have been sent halfway across the country to help. But they have a second secret mission: to find out if the dark rumours about the local cops are justified, and if that’s why the children are still lost. Far from home, they must get close to their targets by pretending to be incompetent, lazy and at each other’s throats – and the strain is starting to tell.
All Kim wants to do is investigate both cases properly. She knows she’s the only hope these little boys have… but she can’t blow her cover. Then, just when Kim starts to make headway with a woman brave enough to speak out about one of the local detectives, she is found dead. Did Kim’s questions get her killed? How deep does the rot go?
When another body is found, Kim has a lead at last – one that tells her she’s facing some of the worst criminals she’s ever known. The time for playing nice is over… but can she bring these children home, when time is running out and she cannot trust a single soul?
A completely gripping page-turning crime thriller from no.1 multi-million-copy bestseller Angela Marsons. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Karin Slaughter and Robert Dugoni.
Title: Little Children
With the investigation into the boys’ disappearance going nowhere, Detective Kim Stone and her team have been sent halfway across the country to help. But they have a second secret mission: to find out if the dark rumours about the local cops are justified, and if that’s why the children are still lost. Far from home, they must get close to their targets by pretending to be incompetent, lazy and at each other’s throats – and the strain is starting to tell.
All Kim wants to do is investigate both cases properly. She knows she’s the only hope these little boys have… but she can’t blow her cover. Then, just when Kim starts to make headway with a woman brave enough to speak out about one of the local detectives, she is found dead. Did Kim’s questions get her killed? How deep does the rot go?
When another body is found, Kim has a lead at last – one that tells her she’s facing some of the worst criminals she’s ever known. The time for playing nice is over… but can she bring these children home, when time is running out and she cannot trust a single soul?
A completely gripping page-turning crime thriller from no.1 multi-million-copy bestseller Angela Marsons. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Karin Slaughter and Robert Dugoni.
Can be read as a standalone.
BUY LINKS:
Amz: https://geni.us/
Apple: https://ow.ly/G1i750VNJN9
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Author: Angela Marsons
Series: D. I. Kim Stone Book #22
Publisher: Bookouture
Publisher: Bookouture
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 358
Date of Publication: August 12, 2025
My Rating: 5 Stars
MY THOUGHTS:
Two preteen boys go missing, one after another. This case sends DI Kim Stone and her team clear across the country to investigate in Blackpool. With no clues about the first boy’s disappearance, her boss assigns them the case after a second boy goes missing.
There are no clues to help them to know even where to start looking for the boys. They aren’t entering a warm and fuzzy environment either. Between reports of corruption, racism, homophobia and misogyny, Kim knows that she and her team would not be welcomed. Kim hopes to preempt what is going on in Blackpool by assigning specific roles to her team. They are a well-oiled machine, but the force in Blackpool doesn’t need to know that.
Stacey, Penn, Bryant join Kim and they all begin working feverishly hard as they begin to launch their investigation. The lack of cooperation from the local force makes it clear right from the start what they are dealing with. Kim finds it extremely frustrating and tragic that no one seemed to care about the missing boys. She is truly disturbed and disappointed that notices or anything of that nature to bring attention and concern for the missing boys had been in the works.
Two conflicting emotions completely kept me riveted to this 22nd book in the compelling D. I. Kim Stone series. The first was pure fury and frustration with the adults who should have been interested in the welfare of the missing boys. However, Angela Marson’s ability to evoke sadness while Kim and her team do everything they can to find the boys alive hit me much harder, especially as things began to unfold.
This story is equally compelling and heartbreaking, not for the faint of heart. It’s clear that anyone can feel a strong sense of compassion for the welfare of the missing boys, regardless of whether they are parents. Angela Marson’s writing is captivating, and she has kept this addictive series fresh. While this was easily a one-afternoon read, I could have kept reading for hours. As always, I eagerly anticipate the next book in the series.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Angela Marsons is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of the DI Kim Stone series. Her books have sold more than six million copies, and have been translated into over thirty languages.
She lives in Worcestershire with her wife, cheeky Golden Retrievers, and a Bernedoodle.
Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Angela Marsons here: https://www.bookouture.com/angela-marsons
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