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vesper1931's review against another edition
3.0
When a stabbed female victim is discovered in her car, Detective Inspector Kim Stone and her team are called out to investigate. But this is only the start.
What are the plans of Doctor Alexandra Thorne while she serves her prison sentence. Although the Thorne has appeared on a previous book in the series (which I have not read) I didn't find that it was necessary to know the details.
An interesting read which just about kept my interest, with enough diverse characters to keep the plot flowing.
A NetGalley Book
What are the plans of Doctor Alexandra Thorne while she serves her prison sentence. Although the Thorne has appeared on a previous book in the series (which I have not read) I didn't find that it was necessary to know the details.
An interesting read which just about kept my interest, with enough diverse characters to keep the plot flowing.
A NetGalley Book
mariliis's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jennamorrison's review against another edition
5.0
I received a copy of this via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
Yet again Angela Marson has surpassed herself. Each book in the DI Kim Stone series has been better than the last, and Blood Lines is no exception.
The return of the devious and manipulative Dr Alex Thorne means Kim is under more threat than ever, and leads to a fantastic and gripping story line. The usual characters are here, but the scenes with Kim and Alex are the most thrilling of all.
As always, I highly recommend this book, and the others in the series if you have not yet read them, and I cannot wait to read the next one!
Yet again Angela Marson has surpassed herself. Each book in the DI Kim Stone series has been better than the last, and Blood Lines is no exception.
The return of the devious and manipulative Dr Alex Thorne means Kim is under more threat than ever, and leads to a fantastic and gripping story line. The usual characters are here, but the scenes with Kim and Alex are the most thrilling of all.
As always, I highly recommend this book, and the others in the series if you have not yet read them, and I cannot wait to read the next one!
bookish_teacher_reads's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic. Each book keeps getting better. The fact that Kim Stone goes up against a previous nemesis, just makes the story more intense.
fictionophile's review against another edition
5.0
Another stellar addition to an already great series.
Full review to follow.
Full review to follow.
veronica87's review against another edition
3.0
Finished another Kim Stone book and while I like what I've read so far, I can't join the ranks of the many who rave about this series. I'd need to see more character development, and not just for the MC, for that to happen.
Dr. Alex Thorne, the sociopathic nemesis from the second book, makes her presence felt again which, considering she's locked up at a women's facility, is quite a feat. Frankly, her POV chapters felt like a wash-rinse-repeat of her machinations in the earlier book and I simply started skipping over them completely. And you know what? I didn't feel the rest of the story suffered at all from my decision. There was simply nothing new to see there, folks.
There are matters with Kim's mother that she has to attend to and which pull on her usual tunnel vision focus. It really bugs me how mental illness is being handled in this series as it pertains to Kim's mother. I get that she did a terrible thing. I get that Kim still holds a lot of anger over it. But her mother isn't evil. She's a schizophrenic with delusional thought processes. Untreated, as she must have been when Kim and Mikey were kids, schizophrenics experience an impaired reality that nevertheless feels very real to them. Kim is smart enough to know the difference between mental illness and true evil. It's presentations like this that keep a stigma on mental illness and having worked in the field for 20 years it just rubs me the wrong way.
As for the murder mystery du jour, it was interesting and I did enjoy having some more focus on Dawson again. However, I once again felt that the motivation for the killer was a bit of a stretch...or maybe not so much the motivation itself but the choice of victims. I don't know, it seems like the author tries too hard to make it always be the least likely (and most improbable, most unbelievable) person in all these books.
Dr. Alex Thorne, the sociopathic nemesis from the second book, makes her presence felt again which, considering she's locked up at a women's facility, is quite a feat. Frankly, her POV chapters felt like a wash-rinse-repeat of her machinations in the earlier book and I simply started skipping over them completely. And you know what? I didn't feel the rest of the story suffered at all from my decision. There was simply nothing new to see there, folks.
There are matters with Kim's mother that she has to attend to and which pull on her usual tunnel vision focus. It really bugs me how mental illness is being handled in this series as it pertains to Kim's mother. I get that she did a terrible thing. I get that Kim still holds a lot of anger over it. But her mother isn't evil. She's a schizophrenic with delusional thought processes. Untreated, as she must have been when Kim and Mikey were kids, schizophrenics experience an impaired reality that nevertheless feels very real to them. Kim is smart enough to know the difference between mental illness and true evil. It's presentations like this that keep a stigma on mental illness and having worked in the field for 20 years it just rubs me the wrong way.
As for the murder mystery du jour, it was interesting and I did enjoy having some more focus on Dawson again. However, I once again felt that the motivation for the killer was a bit of a stretch...or maybe not so much the motivation itself but the choice of victims. I don't know, it seems like the author tries too hard to make it always be the least likely (and most improbable, most unbelievable) person in all these books.
owenreads's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
“It was the difference between ‘have a piece of cake’ and ‘this cake is delicious’."
Somewhat enjoyable story because it bounds along in the usual pace dragging you along, albeit a bit formulaic.
Herein with have two villains for Kim Stone to tackle. One killing out in the World; one trying to get into her head, again.
Villain #1 is seemingly killing at random, and I found the reasoning both a stretch, and sort of lame.
Villain #2 is Alex Thorne. Who is locked up, but out for revenge. She seemed to me, to be trying a bit hard in this book. She was the puppet master in the last book, but here she is barely malevolent.
mvptp's review against another edition
2.0
I hate Alex Thorne. I hated everything about her presence in this book and it made this bad to follow. I even skipped some of her scenes because I was so annoyed by her presence. I know she shows up again and I'm honestly debating whether to continue this series for that alone.
Please just move on from that plot its annoying but I do love the main characters and the main murder was good so I want give it a one for that alone
Please just move on from that plot its annoying but I do love the main characters and the main murder was good so I want give it a one for that alone
soovailyn's review against another edition
3.0
Mini-Review:
This story did not feel like an original tale. It seemed to be a rinse & repeat of the previous story about Alex with minor changes in details. If this was the first book of the series, it would have been fine but it's not. I was disappointed in the overall plot and the lack of progression to the series.
This story did not feel like an original tale. It seemed to be a rinse & repeat of the previous story about Alex with minor changes in details. If this was the first book of the series, it would have been fine but it's not. I was disappointed in the overall plot and the lack of progression to the series.
suspensethrill's review against another edition
5.0
While there is nothing I can say regarding this series that hasn’t already been said, I hope to convey the wonder and awe I’m in regarding the Kim Stone series. Somehow Angie consistently tops each book with the next (although as readers we never can imagine that happening until we reach the next book), and our love of this close knit team grows with each story read. It’s rare to find an author with such talent to draw you in to her world and make you feel a part of it so completely, but that’s just what she does with these books. Her flawed characters are deep, complex, and emotional; she manages to find our most vulnerable fears and fleshes them out in her books, forcing us to face them head on. While the series is notoriously violent and graphic, Marsons manages to portray it in the most delicate and respectful of ways. None of the graphic material is sheerly for shock value; there is always a proper place for the how and why it happens to further the story and tie us to the characters emotionally.
My initial reaction to this installment was respect for the depth of emotion involving Kim and her history. I was squealing with delight when Angie brought back our favorite villain; the monster created in Dr. Alexandra Thorne is so thoroughly genius I would be pleased to see her pop in and out of the series to it’s completion. Her character somewhat reminds me of Gretchen Lowell in [a:Chelsea Cain|48557|Chelsea Cain|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402611700p2/48557.jpg]’s [b:Heartsick|657034|Heartsick (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #1)|Chelsea Cain|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1317065387s/657034.jpg|643122] series; a beautiful woman who remained under the radar for so long but eventually was outed due to the total lack of emotion and conscience. While there was a case the team was working on throughout the book, Kim and Alex go head to head in a battle of dangerous control that added variety and life to the series. I thoroughly love how we get to know each character in Kim’s team a little more with each book and was really thrilled to have had a deeper insight into Kim’s mother. I was left with a few questions that I’m interested in seeing answered possibly in the next book.
On a more personal note, I think one of the reasons this series has become so successful is due to Angie herself. She has made a point to connect with her readers by going beyond typical social media interaction, as have most authors in the Bookouture sphere. I can’t tell you just how many personal conversations we’ve had, or how many times she has shot me an email just to check and see how myself and my family are doing. That heart of gold, mixed with talent galore, has ensured the success of a series that will continue longer than many authors can dream of. I’m so incredibly ecstatic to see such an honorable person getting the recognition she deserves, along with her partner Julie, who plays an integral role in the publishing of these novels as well. Thank you ladies for all you do, and if you have been holding off on the series but “keep meaning to read them”, jump on the Kim train and join in the fun! I promise, this is one series you won’t regret reading if you enjoy thrillers of a darker nature.
*As always, many thanks to the author and Bookouture for spoiling us rotten with review copies of the highest standard. It’s been my pleasure to provide an honest review!
My initial reaction to this installment was respect for the depth of emotion involving Kim and her history. I was squealing with delight when Angie brought back our favorite villain; the monster created in Dr. Alexandra Thorne is so thoroughly genius I would be pleased to see her pop in and out of the series to it’s completion. Her character somewhat reminds me of Gretchen Lowell in [a:Chelsea Cain|48557|Chelsea Cain|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1402611700p2/48557.jpg]’s [b:Heartsick|657034|Heartsick (Archie Sheridan & Gretchen Lowell, #1)|Chelsea Cain|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1317065387s/657034.jpg|643122] series; a beautiful woman who remained under the radar for so long but eventually was outed due to the total lack of emotion and conscience. While there was a case the team was working on throughout the book, Kim and Alex go head to head in a battle of dangerous control that added variety and life to the series. I thoroughly love how we get to know each character in Kim’s team a little more with each book and was really thrilled to have had a deeper insight into Kim’s mother. I was left with a few questions that I’m interested in seeing answered possibly in the next book.
On a more personal note, I think one of the reasons this series has become so successful is due to Angie herself. She has made a point to connect with her readers by going beyond typical social media interaction, as have most authors in the Bookouture sphere. I can’t tell you just how many personal conversations we’ve had, or how many times she has shot me an email just to check and see how myself and my family are doing. That heart of gold, mixed with talent galore, has ensured the success of a series that will continue longer than many authors can dream of. I’m so incredibly ecstatic to see such an honorable person getting the recognition she deserves, along with her partner Julie, who plays an integral role in the publishing of these novels as well. Thank you ladies for all you do, and if you have been holding off on the series but “keep meaning to read them”, jump on the Kim train and join in the fun! I promise, this is one series you won’t regret reading if you enjoy thrillers of a darker nature.
*As always, many thanks to the author and Bookouture for spoiling us rotten with review copies of the highest standard. It’s been my pleasure to provide an honest review!