It had seemed so simple. Get in, get the information, get out. But now they were getting inside her mind and she didn’t know how to stop them… This British thriller is, believe or not, a debut novel! So, I am doubly impressed by how well the plot is crafted, with the well timed pacing, and how the author made this jaded reader gasp out loud on more than one occasion. I am a hardened crime and horror reader, so hardened to difficult and gory moments, yet scenes in this book, whilst not graphic still disturbed me hugely. This was mainly because of the way the author portrays the viewpoint of the killer/s. How he/she sees the victim. It left me angry, saddened and all sorts of other feelings. Pretty much the same as Kim Stone is feeling. I was right with her in wanting to catch the bad guys let me tell you. Now when did a crime novel ever reduce me to tears? Let me think..umm....umm...never. But there is a particular scene in this book that is so touching, such an outstanding piece of written fiction that contains so much human emotion and dignity that I had a little tear in my eye. Essentially this book stirred a lot up in me.

Completely mind-blowing… I devoured this book in 24 hours and was sad to have finished it… I couldn’t put it down.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

About Me

I gave 2 stars instead of 1 just because Anatomy and Archeology are treated very well. And also Beth and Nicole’s story, especially in the last chapters: I was fascinated by it and I clap my hands. But it’s too little, because the story is told in a too simple way. The Author says to us whatever she made up through the characters’ talks: this could be ok at a theater or in a movie, but I think that, in a book, it’s just coarseness and incompetence. A writer is supposed to find a way to lead the reader to understand what’s going on without telling them. Too easy let the characters tell it. Everybody can do that. Perhaps that’s why we have more writers than readers… The clues to smashing open this disturbing case lie behind the old Victorian walls of the clinic, run by the Gardner family. They claim that patients come of their own accord and are free to leave at any time. But why are those who attended the clinic so afraid to speak of what happens there? And where did the faded restraint marks on Jamie’s wrists come from? Hasta aquí nada nuevo, pero tiene un punto que engancha y no puedes soltar el libro. En cierto sentido me ha recordado a otros libros que he leído hace tiempo, como los primeros libros de Patricia Gibney y su serie de la inspectora Lottie Parker donde toca el tema de orfanatos, abusos y niños desaparecidos, aunque este tiene un toque distinto. As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late? When Detective Kim Stoneis called to the home of Samantha Brown, she finds the young woman lying in bed with her throat cut and a knife in her hand. With no sign of forced entry or struggle, Kim rules her death a tragic suicide.

The thriller was already above average from the start, with jaw dropping twists, and a furiously frustrating mystery that I simply could not puzzle out. But, the finale, blindsided me, really, really taking me by surprise, and left me flabbergasted and speechless. This doesn’t happen to me all that often, so it goes without saying, that I am definitely on board for book two, and can’t wait to see how this series shapes up.I think it’s a great writing skill of Marsons. She can write realistically about what a detective would see and experience. Doing this type of job is not a walk in the park and she relates this so well! Marsons takes police procedural to the next level. Do not let this bargain bin ass cover fool you. This is top notch writing. My fave series by far. In amongst some darkness with subjects like abuse and neglect there is light with kindness from some of the characters that had us loving them even more. A detective hiding dark secrets, Kim Stone will stop at nothing to protect the innocent. Silent Scream is the first book in the series. Watch out for Evil Games, coming soon. 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.

With Kim and her team still grieving the loss of one of their own, they’re at their weakest and facing one of the most dangerous serial killers they’ve ever encountered. Everything is on the line. Can Kim keep her squad together and find the killer before he claims his next victim? A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong. A caring, upstanding social worker lost to a senseless act of violence. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn’t add up. There is little snippets throughout, at just the right time, giving us a glimpse into the killer’s creepy motives adding some tension to the story for us. I recommend this book to those who only want to eat. I don’t recommend it to those who want to cook too. But a visit to Samantha’s parents rings alarm bells for Kim – there’s something they’re not telling her. And, when she spots a clue in a photograph, Kim realises she’s made a huge mistake. Samantha didn’t take her own life, she was murdered.

Publication Order of D.I. Kim Stone Books

The plot in this book is quite breathtaking and will have you on the edge of your seat. This is a crime fiction but with a mix of psychological thriller. In this thriller Detective Kim Stone is not just a cardboard cutout cop, she is different due to her great work ethic. More of her character is revealed in this book as she goes head-to-head with this sociopath. This character grows exceptionally as the story progresses in this series. The author introduces an array of characters who were present at the end of Crestwood, many of whom could have been responsible for either set of murders. Marsons has written a novel which doesn’t read like a debut. It’s perfectly plotted, complex and succeeds in adding something new to the serial killer sub-genre. It’s a difficult novel to review, not because of any shortcomings, but because to reveal anything at all about the plot would be doing it a serious disservice. The book does occasionally descend into cliché. Things are said about serial killers that have been said before, and at times the characters feel like ones that have been written before. Yet this is a well-trodden area, and in the end Silent Scream is a great addition to it, from a writer who I hope to see more from. Many crime novels are a bit same-same if you know what I mean, it's kind of hard to add elements that make it stand out from the rest on the shelves. Where I think Angela Marsons managed to do this is with her intense characters, especially Detective Inspector Kim Stone. SO well done! Hours before, Steven Harte had walked into Halesowen police station and confessed to having information that would lead Kim to Melody. And he told Kim she’d have a more urgent problem to deal with first. Now Kim must play Steven’s twisted game if she’s to find Grace alive. I can’t believe this is Marsons debut novel. The writing and characterization is excellent. I loved D.I. Kim Stone from the start along with the whole detective team. D.S. Bryant will likely hold my heart though so I’m hoping nothing happens to this guy in the rest of the series. After his intervention with some dogs, I fell in love with this character!

The clues to smashing open this disturbing case lie behind the old Victorian walls of the clinic, run by the Gardner family. They claim that patients come of their own accord and are free to leave at any time. But why are those that attended the clinic so afraid to speak of what happens there? And where did the faded restraint marks identified on Jamie’s wrists come from?She has a real gift for storytelling...the story is focused and compelling, with more than enough twists and turns to keep the plot skimming along at high speed... * Jaffa Reads Too Book Blog *