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ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! Unicorns jump through Rainbows, light Music is playing in the background, while you stroll barefoot through grass and savor the wet feeling from the morning dew. HEA all around. SCREEEETCH the sound of fingernails on the
chalkboard, sorry, took a wrong turn.
Trigger-warning: children, psychological and physical torture promised and short torture-scenes, but not too explicit or drawn out. Cruelty to animals. No rape, little to no romance, no sex.
Nearly read this great page-turner in a day, only sleep and the need to cook and eat something prevented that - although I usually read while eating. This was also fueled by great pacing, no dull times in the middle and a lot of relatively short chapters - you always think, you can read just one more ... .
Gritty, horrific, dark tale, and I tried to guess the mastermind, but was wrong twice.
The hint at a coming romance in the last book was not pursued. Great storytelling, great women, betrayal, the whole lot.
Ending is it a bit much, but believable written in the situation with Kim running towards the end-fight. Nicely done, and she is not entirely alone this time.
Very highly recommended page-turner, as good as the last book, and I do not regret that I already bought all available books in the series. Just have to keep myself from reading them back-to-back, as there are only two left and sometimes (James Patterson, I am looking at you!) I get fed up with too much writing in the same style from the same author.
After a few disappointments, or series which tend to offer too much Romance (Celina Grace - Kate Redman Mysteries, which I still consider good, but not supergood 3-4 stars), this is even better than Robert Bryndza - Detective Erika Foster, which so far only features 3 books.
In 2016 these 3 series (Kim Stone, Erika Foster, Kate Redman) where all new to me, and while comparable, Kim and Erika score the highest points in (to me) new crime-thriller-mystery, fiction, non-SF, non-Fantasy. Not as far out as Mo Hayder, who also had some lesser books (Pig Island, Tokyo/Devil of Nanking dragged in places), not as epic as Val McDermid.
Angela Marsons is an author I will probably buy other books without hesitation and without checking reviews or blurbs first (until I get burned).
chalkboard, sorry, took a wrong turn.
Trigger-warning: children, psychological and physical torture promised and short torture-scenes, but not too explicit or drawn out. Cruelty to animals. No rape, little to no romance, no sex.
Nearly read this great page-turner in a day, only sleep and the need to cook and eat something prevented that - although I usually read while eating. This was also fueled by great pacing, no dull times in the middle and a lot of relatively short chapters - you always think, you can read just one more ... .
Gritty, horrific, dark tale, and I tried to guess the mastermind, but was wrong twice.
The hint at a coming romance in the last book was not pursued. Great storytelling, great women, betrayal, the whole lot.
Ending is it a bit much, but believable written in the situation with Kim running towards the end-fight. Nicely done, and she is not entirely alone this time.
Very highly recommended page-turner, as good as the last book, and I do not regret that I already bought all available books in the series. Just have to keep myself from reading them back-to-back, as there are only two left and sometimes (James Patterson, I am looking at you!) I get fed up with too much writing in the same style from the same author.
After a few disappointments, or series which tend to offer too much Romance (Celina Grace - Kate Redman Mysteries, which I still consider good, but not supergood 3-4 stars), this is even better than Robert Bryndza - Detective Erika Foster, which so far only features 3 books.
In 2016 these 3 series (Kim Stone, Erika Foster, Kate Redman) where all new to me, and while comparable, Kim and Erika score the highest points in (to me) new crime-thriller-mystery, fiction, non-SF, non-Fantasy. Not as far out as Mo Hayder, who also had some lesser books (Pig Island, Tokyo/Devil of Nanking dragged in places), not as epic as Val McDermid.
Angela Marsons is an author I will probably buy other books without hesitation and without checking reviews or blurbs first (until I get burned).
bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
I really about this series and am very fond of this character. Though child trauma isn't new territory for this series, I found this one a little harder to take than the previous two because of the nature of the crime Kim needed to crack. I will be back for more, though, as Kim is just a fantastic character who continues to grow with each book. I loved the ending of this one because of what it shows about who Kim is at heart.
litwithleigh's review against another edition
2.0
YEP. 2 stars. Very sad face.
SYNOPSIS
Two girls are kidnapped; two families pitted against each other to see which girl survives. Kim Stone must catch the sickos responsible to bring both girls home alive.
MY OPINION
Y'all know I LOVE Miss Marsons and this series, but I was really disappointed in this one. And yes, I know the ratings for this go brazy, but here I am, on outlier island... which tbh is my home address.
Anyways. Why 2 stars?
1. This shit was TOOOO long. About 100 pages too long. There were a lot of unnecessary chapters and scenes. Like Symes getting a bj by a homeless guy. Who asked??? Even though this series tends to be on the longer side, there's usually enough juiciness to keep me hooked. Unfortunately this instalment was bone dry.
2. She really just glazed over the DV incidents regarding one of the couples. Kim knew mans was punching on his wife and went full Helen Keller in response. Out of sight out of mind I guess? And then at the end when Bryant was like "if he plays his cards right she'll prob forgive him" or some shit I was like nah. Arrest him? He literally broke the law and you know it?? The only cards he should be playing is with other inmates.
3. Kim was on her worst behaviour. Goading Brad into "pushing" her so she could arrest him, bring him to the station, and force him to work with a sketch artist was doing too much. I get that it's important he help a brutha out, but if you can't find a better way to convince him than whipping out the ole unlawful arrest maneuver then that's on you. Also her deep dislike for that negotiator guy was so ironic... You literally have the same personality. Maybe a good time for some self reflection?? No?? Ok just keep hating him then.
SPOILERS SO KEEP ON SCROLLING
4. Plot holes galore. Why did Will keep Suzie for so long? How did Symes not know about it? But seriously... he had months to get some $$ from Suzie's mom and instead spent his own money keeping the girl (barely) alive. What was the point? And if Will liked to work alone so much, how did Heather get brought in and promoted to big boss lady? Did they ever say who tampered with Karen's car? Why didn't they install security cameras at the home?
5. WTFFFF was that resolution to the Dewain Wright case. You can't be serious.
All in all, I would've rated this 3 stars (generously) but it was simply too dismissive of DV. Not cool.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: I still like this series
Cons: dismissive about DV, plot holes, too long, dragged in some parts, Kim was peak annoying, repetitive, ending *fart noises*
SYNOPSIS
Two girls are kidnapped; two families pitted against each other to see which girl survives. Kim Stone must catch the sickos responsible to bring both girls home alive.
MY OPINION
Y'all know I LOVE Miss Marsons and this series, but I was really disappointed in this one. And yes, I know the ratings for this go brazy, but here I am, on outlier island... which tbh is my home address.
Anyways. Why 2 stars?
1. This shit was TOOOO long. About 100 pages too long. There were a lot of unnecessary chapters and scenes. Like Symes getting a bj by a homeless guy. Who asked??? Even though this series tends to be on the longer side, there's usually enough juiciness to keep me hooked. Unfortunately this instalment was bone dry.
2. She really just glazed over the DV incidents regarding one of the couples. Kim knew mans was punching on his wife and went full Helen Keller in response. Out of sight out of mind I guess? And then at the end when Bryant was like "if he plays his cards right she'll prob forgive him" or some shit I was like nah. Arrest him? He literally broke the law and you know it?? The only cards he should be playing is with other inmates.
3. Kim was on her worst behaviour. Goading Brad into "pushing" her so she could arrest him, bring him to the station, and force him to work with a sketch artist was doing too much. I get that it's important he help a brutha out, but if you can't find a better way to convince him than whipping out the ole unlawful arrest maneuver then that's on you. Also her deep dislike for that negotiator guy was so ironic... You literally have the same personality. Maybe a good time for some self reflection?? No?? Ok just keep hating him then.
SPOILERS SO KEEP ON SCROLLING
4. Plot holes galore. Why did Will keep Suzie for so long? How did Symes not know about it? But seriously... he had months to get some $$ from Suzie's mom and instead spent his own money keeping the girl (barely) alive. What was the point? And if Will liked to work alone so much, how did Heather get brought in and promoted to big boss lady? Did they ever say who tampered with Karen's car? Why didn't they install security cameras at the home?
5. WTFFFF was that resolution to the Dewain Wright case. You can't be serious.
All in all, I would've rated this 3 stars (generously) but it was simply too dismissive of DV. Not cool.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: I still like this series
Cons: dismissive about DV, plot holes, too long, dragged in some parts, Kim was peak annoying, repetitive, ending *fart noises*
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
I just finished Angela Marson’s Lost Girls. It is a D.I. Kim Stone Novel. Two nine year old girls have been abducted from Old Hill Leisure Centre (British spelling). Karen Timmins (one of the mums) has asked for Kim. After getting the details, Kim insists on being the Officer in Charge of the case. Kim will stop at nothing to get back Amy and Charlie (the little girls). The kidnappers are pitting the parents against each other by making them bid (like an auction). The highest bidder will get their child returned to them. The team works to identify the kidnappers and find out where they are keeping the girls. They have their work cut out for them if they are going to rescue these girls in time.
Lost Girls is a riveting novel. It will hold your attention from the first page to the last. It is a great, well-written story. Angela Marson’s novels just keep getting better. I give Lost Girls 5 out of 5 stars. The only negative thing I have to say about Lost Girls is I wish the mystery had been a little more difficult. I was able to figure out who the mastermind was behind the kidnapping early in the book. However, that did not take away from my enjoyment of this novel (and I wanted to see if I was right). Please be aware that there is extreme violence in this book.
I received a complimentary copy of Lost Girls from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/11/lost-girls.html
Lost Girls is a riveting novel. It will hold your attention from the first page to the last. It is a great, well-written story. Angela Marson’s novels just keep getting better. I give Lost Girls 5 out of 5 stars. The only negative thing I have to say about Lost Girls is I wish the mystery had been a little more difficult. I was able to figure out who the mastermind was behind the kidnapping early in the book. However, that did not take away from my enjoyment of this novel (and I wanted to see if I was right). Please be aware that there is extreme violence in this book.
I received a complimentary copy of Lost Girls from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.
http://bibliophileandavidreader.blogspot.com/2015/11/lost-girls.html
celtic67's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first book I have read by this author. Being the 3rd in the series there is some back story I missed but I enjoyed the read nonetheless . The character Kim Stone has you laughing, shaking your head and at times saying why did you do that! But you find yourself rooting for her and her team. Fast, furious and enjoyable read. Will be reading more by this author. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC,
charmedlassie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Child abuse, and Murder
jodilynn9's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0