Book Description
The boy’s dark hair shone in the bright lights. His lips seemed about to speak. But his body was cold and his blue eyes would never open again.
When a nineteen-year-old boy, Jamie Mills, is found hanging from a tree in a local park, his death is ruled a suicide. Detective Kim Stone’s instincts tell her something isn’t right. Why, when his mother is told, does she not break down in tears? And how could Jamie have climbed the tree with a recent injury?
Kim should be easing back into work gently after a harrowing case left her body and mind broken, but quickly taking charge of her team, Kim is shocked to learn that Jamie’s parents had sent him to a clinic to ‘cure’ him of his sexuality.
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?
Kim makes a further chilling discovery – the head of the clinic, Celia Gardner, was sent there for conversion therapy when she was sixteen.
Then the body of a young woman is found dead by suffocation, her death also staged to look like a suicide.
Scarred from a previous case that nearly took her life, can Kim unearth the dark secrets within the Gardner family and is she strong enough to stop a terrifying killer silencing the clinic’s previous patients one by one?
A compulsive page-turner that will have your heart hammering in your chest and leave you absolutely reeling when you discover the explosive final twist. If you’re a fan of Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid, and Robert Dugoni, you’ll love Hidden Scars.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'Hidden Scars' by Angela Marsons.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Angela Marsons, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 9th November 2022.
This is the eleventh book I have read by this author and it is the seventeenth book in the 'DI Kim Stone' series but can be read as a standalone. I have previously read the first 7 books in the 'DI Kim Stone' plus the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth book which I loved and would recommend. Sadly I haven't had time to read from the 8th book until the fourteenth but will definitely be making time to as I LOVE KIM STONE!!!
I was originally drawn to this book by its eye catching cover and its intriguing synopsis and title. The synopsis stated 'that this book is' A compulsive page-turner that will have your heart hammering in your chest and leave you absolutely reeling when you discover the explosive final twist. If you're a fan of Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid, and Robert Dugoni, you'll love Hidden Scars.' I am a fan of all three of these authors especially Karin Slaughter so am looking forward to see if it lives up to this statement. I am also a MASSIVE fan of Angela Marsons and the Kim Stone series and if this is half as good as the rest it is sure to be a great read. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 83 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in West Midlands, UK 🇬🇧. The bonus for me of books that are partly or fully based in the UK is that I live in the UK and have sometimes visited places mentioned in the book which makes it easier to picture. I have actually visited the West Midlands on several occasions so am looking forward to see if I recognise anywhere.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective with the main protagonists being Detective Kim Stone, Detective Penn, Detective Stacey Wood and an unknown narrator. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
'Hidden Scars' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Angela discusses/includes sexual assault and hate crime.
OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO US ANGELA!!!! JUST WOW!!!! Seriously love, love LOVED this book!!!! Although, shouldn't be so shocked, it is Angela Marsons and Kim Stone after all!!!! Anyway, on with the review shall I....
Angela's style of writing is absolutely fantastic. She has a way in which she completely absorbs the reader into the book with vivid and graphic descriptions that have you completely lost in the plot. It is the type of book that when you finish you look around and wonder where you are and how is nobody else reacting to the bombshell that has just been dropped!!! The cover IS Kim Stone for me and the name and synopsis suited the plot perfectly.
Most heart racing, nail biting, actually stopped breathing book I've EVER read!!!! I mean how on earth do you do it Angela??? Every single book is more heart racing than the next and this has absolutely smashed it!!! This epic series is the best I have ever read. I mean nobody can beat Kim and the team!!
The storyline is an absolute rollercoaster ride through a multi layered adventure park set in the world of horror and crime!!! There's never just one case with Angela but so much going on, not too much to get you confused but just the perfect amount to keep the pace continuous. The majority of chapters end on cliffhanger so keeps reader addicted and turning pages. Although this book is the 17th book in the epic Kim Stone series it can easily be read as a standalone. I haven't had time to read from books 7 until 14 and I cannot wait to get back to her previous books I never had any point felt I'd missed out something to do with the book. Anything that had been mentioned from previous cases were explained with just the right amount of information, not too much to bore those who have read every book and just enough so new readers know what's happened. The murders and crimes are unique and morbidly intriguing. I was on the edge of my seat, biting my nails whilst feeling my heart pounding into the silly hours of the morning as this is one book that cannot be put down so clear your diaries before picking it up. It fills you with all emotions from fear to laughter, tension to shock. I was not expecting that ending at all on both cases. I was absolutely speechless and actually shouted OMG to which my partner looked at me stupid!!! This is one of the most heartbreaking cases I have ever read and the 'Change' clinic made me feel physically sick. I would love to think that what goes on in this book and the hate crime is unrealistic but sadly it is something that goes on every day. My heart was in my throat the whole way through from the epilogue to the very last sentence. I just could not believe what I was reading. As always the last chapter had me absolutely gobsmacked and I absolutely LOVED IT!!! Well done Angela, I'm getting harder and harder to shock but you had me hook, line and sinker!!!! I seriously NEED to see these amazing books on the big screen!!
If you have been affected by any of the crimes or prejudice in this book please tell someone. Victim support offer support to victims and survivors of hate crime and being attacked verbally, mentally or physically because of your sexuality is exactly that. Please talk to someone about it you can even contact myself just please talk and don't be alone.
Although this is the seventeenth book in the series I had would have had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.
These characters have become like friends to me and each time I meet them it feels like I haven't been far from them for long. Kim and her fierce attitude, DCI Woodward and his stress ball, the hatred for Tracy Frost and so much more. My heart absolutely broke seeing how Kim was suffering because of what happened to her in book 16 (I'm not telling so you will have to grab a copy but let me say that if it affects the absolutely fierce Kim then it's big!). It is just heartbreaking to see Kim not herself. Never seen her looking and feeling so broken for lack of a better term. It's like seeing your mother cry. Strong woman, not something you want or expect. It isn't all crime and sadness though and it had me giggling on several occasions which is brilliant considering it's a crime novel. I love it when authors put some comedy in these novels as it lightens it up at times and Kim's attitude really does make me smile. Angela creates fantastic team dynamics with memorable characters who work together brilliantly and perfectly. Each character is unique and has strong personalities and they just are completely unforgettable. Randomly, its always important for me to like the pathologist in any police procedurals and to click with them as much as the main police team. Their relationship with the main protagonist is also important to me as reader. In this case the pathologist is Keats and how I love the sarcasm between him and the team and his attitude. Stacey and Penn are also strong team members and I love how they work so well together and yet wind each other up constantly. I must say I missed Leanne from the last book (again you'll babe to pick up a copy but it's worth it just to meet Kim's match!!) I absolutely love, love, loved Leanne and her and Kim together were absolutely fantastic. I genuinely never thought that anyone could annoy Kim as much as Leanne but Leanne definitely managed that one. I was in tears laughing at some of their conversations, especially the Toaster!!! 😂 😂 😂 Angela please make Leanne a more permanent member of the team I cannot wait to see these two at it again!!! DI Burns a complete and utter @r$3h0I3 and clapped myself when Kim told him where to go. I honestly wanted to throttle him the way he was speaking to the team especially Stacey, absolutely couldn't stand him and was on edge when Stacey pulled out the envelope screaming in my head for Kim to come out of the office!! I absolutely loved the teams effort to get Kim back including the hilarious Keats and especially the lovable Bryant. Some of the other characters that made an impact on me and are unforgettable include River Harris who had me in stitches and Ted who I absolutely adores and I have loved Kim's random meetings with him through the series. Ted is such a caring, funny man who's relationship with Kim has developed since she was a child and she started seeing him for counselling. Ted is the only one who can read her like an open book. Angela has brought these characters to life over this series and I have yet to meet a team and group of people I like so much. I genuinely miss them between books.
A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS ANGELA MARSONS!!! As always you have done the research and you have created what I can guarantee will be one of the best read books ever!! When are you going to bring Kim to the big screen??? I hope your busy writing cause I cannot wait to get my hands on your next success!!! Seriously what are you waiting for guys??? Stop reading this and get your copy now!!!! This is exactly why you and this series are in my top 2 authors and series!!! You are absolutely amazing and I hope you are busy on your next success because I'm missing the gang already!!!
Overall an absolutely amazing psychological thriller of epic proportions that will keep your heart pounding all night. This is one of the best books I have ever read!!!! An absolute MUST READ!!!
Some of my favourite quotes in this book include the following:
😂 Way too many for me to include!!! I'd end up adding the whole book and giving too much away
Genres covered in this book include Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Police Procedural, Women Sleuths and Psychological Fiction amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Karin Slaughter, Val McDermid, Carol Wyer, Robert Dugoni and page turning, heart pounding, non stop, unputdownable crime books that will shock you!!!!
374 pages.
This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle and £8.79 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5/5 (I LOVE LOVE LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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@AngelaMarsons @Bookouture @Bookworm1986 @bookworm86 @Netgalley
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Angela Marsons is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of the DI Kim Stone series and her books have sold more than 5 million in 7 years.
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, Dead Memories and Hidden Scars 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.
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Purchase Links
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