Scan barcode
martyfried's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably my favorite of the series so far. There was a lot going on, with two major stories that were not connected, plus some background on Kim's mother and why Kim hates her so much. I was a little put off in some ways about that, as her mother was obvious nutty as a fruitcake, and although she did some really bad things, she was not totally in control. I felt she should be locked up, but not hated. But then, if I had gone through the experience Kim did, I might feel differently.
The most interesting story was the evil psychologist from the past that is a psychopath and enjoys destroying the lives of the vulnerable. She's in prison, but is smart and manipulative, and can probably get out if she puts her mind to it. And when she does, she has Kim in her sights as the one most likely to destroy.
There was some good interaction between Kim and her team, which is getting more interesting as I get to know them. Looking forward to more of this series.
The most interesting story was the evil psychologist from the past that is a psychopath and enjoys destroying the lives of the vulnerable. She's in prison, but is smart and manipulative, and can probably get out if she puts her mind to it. And when she does, she has Kim in her sights as the one most likely to destroy.
There was some good interaction between Kim and her team, which is getting more interesting as I get to know them. Looking forward to more of this series.
toellandback's review against another edition
5.0
Blood lines is the fifth outing for DI Kim Stone and not only are her team - Dawson, Bryant and tech-savvy Stacey - back in force but also sees the return of Doctor Alexandra Thorne from Evil Games and shes just as nasty and manipulative in this one.
When two bodies have identical wounds but no other connections, Stone and her team are perplexed as they seek answers which don't appear to be there.
The characters, as always, are great and their own human flaws are becoming more apparent. Kim is still haunted by events from her youth and these are again brought to the forefront with Doctor Thorne playing a particularly vicious part is dragging up the memories.
It's a cracking read but read the first four - or at the very least Evil Games - to get the full depth of Doctor Thorne.
When two bodies have identical wounds but no other connections, Stone and her team are perplexed as they seek answers which don't appear to be there.
The characters, as always, are great and their own human flaws are becoming more apparent. Kim is still haunted by events from her youth and these are again brought to the forefront with Doctor Thorne playing a particularly vicious part is dragging up the memories.
It's a cracking read but read the first four - or at the very least Evil Games - to get the full depth of Doctor Thorne.
leona_omahony's review against another edition
5.0
From the first page I just knew this book was going to be good. However as I progressed through the chapters it wasn't good it was pure brilliant. Having read and loved Ms Marsons previous books I was so excited to begin this one and wow talk about a thriller of a book. I love DI Kim Stone and the rapport she has with her team. Ms Marsons has really developed the character in this series and I think this is so important in a book series. I also loved the fact I was completely wrong about the perpetrator and my guess was way off the mark. Fantastic book, can't wait for the next one.
steph1rothwell's review against another edition
4.0
The Kim Stone series is one of my favourites, but it is also one ( of many) that I have not kept up with. I am determined to catch up this year and what a cracker to start with. I’m surprised I have any nails left!
There are two threads in the novel. A woman who is found dead in her car, swiftly followed by another death is the case that Kim and her team are trying to solve but the other, far more intimidating story is the threat that Kim faces from her past.
That is Alexandra Thorne, in prison, but still able to manipulate and control just for enjoyment. I don’t think that I have come across a character quite as scary as her. It wasn’t just Kim, there were also inmates and prison officers who suffered due to her actions. I was aching for someone to stand up to her, if only to wipe the smile from her face when she got what she wanted time and time again.
The author does an excellent job of showing the differing personalities in Kim’s team. You get to see strengths but also their faults. I include Kim, whose main weakness was allowing Alexandra to get to her, but it would take a very strong person who could cope with what she had to face. I also had appreciation for the way mistakes were acknowledged and solved as a team. There was no room for blame.
This is a series that I have enjoyed since it began and I am looking forward to starting my catch up.
There are two threads in the novel. A woman who is found dead in her car, swiftly followed by another death is the case that Kim and her team are trying to solve but the other, far more intimidating story is the threat that Kim faces from her past.
That is Alexandra Thorne, in prison, but still able to manipulate and control just for enjoyment. I don’t think that I have come across a character quite as scary as her. It wasn’t just Kim, there were also inmates and prison officers who suffered due to her actions. I was aching for someone to stand up to her, if only to wipe the smile from her face when she got what she wanted time and time again.
The author does an excellent job of showing the differing personalities in Kim’s team. You get to see strengths but also their faults. I include Kim, whose main weakness was allowing Alexandra to get to her, but it would take a very strong person who could cope with what she had to face. I also had appreciation for the way mistakes were acknowledged and solved as a team. There was no room for blame.
This is a series that I have enjoyed since it began and I am looking forward to starting my catch up.
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
I am a huge fan of this series and have enjoyed all of the books in it so far. Evil Games up to now was one of my favourites in the series due to the sociopath, Alex Thorne. She was a brilliant ‘baddie’ and I was praying that at some point the author would bring her back. Well Alex is back and BOY does it make for some riveting reading.
I didn’t realise how much I had missed Kim until I picked up Blood Lines and started reading it. She is very damaged yet she seems to have mellowed more since we last caught up with her. She has a hard exterior and very few people get to see the fragile and wonderful person she is inside.
Kim and her team are working on a case which pretty much demands all of their attention. Alex Thorne though has other ideas. In her own twisted way she admires Kim but she has made it her mission to get revenge on her for putting her behind bars.
Alex has just got to be the best villain ever! I know she’s evil but I absolutely love her. She appears to have no emotions whatsoever and manipulates everyone she meets. I really hated her, yet had to take my hat off to her for being so clever. I couldn’t help but fear for Kim as Alex is not someone to be crossed and I knew whatever plans Alex had for Kim, it certainly wouldn’t be pleasant.
I actually found the whole Kim and Alex, as well as the case Kim is working on, quite emotionally charged. Alex seems to know what buttons to press on Kim and it triggers a lot of unpleasant memories. Kim’s emotions felt very raw and extremely real and at one part I was physically sobbing my heart out with her.
Blood Lines is without a doubt the best in the series to date. It is a gripping, emotional and addictive read. My only concern is how the author is going to top this book as how can you improve on perfection itself? Outstanding!!!!
My thanks to to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t realise how much I had missed Kim until I picked up Blood Lines and started reading it. She is very damaged yet she seems to have mellowed more since we last caught up with her. She has a hard exterior and very few people get to see the fragile and wonderful person she is inside.
Kim and her team are working on a case which pretty much demands all of their attention. Alex Thorne though has other ideas. In her own twisted way she admires Kim but she has made it her mission to get revenge on her for putting her behind bars.
Alex has just got to be the best villain ever! I know she’s evil but I absolutely love her. She appears to have no emotions whatsoever and manipulates everyone she meets. I really hated her, yet had to take my hat off to her for being so clever. I couldn’t help but fear for Kim as Alex is not someone to be crossed and I knew whatever plans Alex had for Kim, it certainly wouldn’t be pleasant.
I actually found the whole Kim and Alex, as well as the case Kim is working on, quite emotionally charged. Alex seems to know what buttons to press on Kim and it triggers a lot of unpleasant memories. Kim’s emotions felt very raw and extremely real and at one part I was physically sobbing my heart out with her.
Blood Lines is without a doubt the best in the series to date. It is a gripping, emotional and addictive read. My only concern is how the author is going to top this book as how can you improve on perfection itself? Outstanding!!!!
My thanks to to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
jonetta's review against another edition
5.0
She’s ba-a-a-ck!
DI Kim Stone and her team are investigating the stabbing murder of a well-regarded social worker that’s presenting a tough challenge for them. When a second murder occurs with similar characteristics but no other apparent relationship, Kim needs her full, undivided attention to solve these cases. But she’s highly distracted because her very real nemesis, incarcerated psychologist Alex Thorne, is up to no good from behind prison walls.
I was intimidated by Alex Thorne when she first appeared in [b:Evil Games|25067570|Evil Games (DI Kim Stone, #2)|Angela Marsons|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588321125l/25067570._SY75_.jpg|44752433], finding her one of the most diabolical characters I’d encountered in fiction. Somehow I knew we hadn’t heard the last of her and, sure enough, she’s back at it, getting in Kim’s head like no one else is able to do. While the murder cases were interesting and true puzzlers, I was distracted by what was going on with Alex and Kim. Believe me, it was not a given that Kim would win this encounter without residual consequences and she made lots of missteps.
This is a riveting story that will not let you go. I cannot even comment on the strength or substance of the murder investigations as I was so wrapped up in the sideshow. It was as outrageous as we would expect from the manipulative Ms. Thorne and just as gnarly as the chief cases. And, as usual, the narrator heightened my anxiety with her exceptional performance. It was a relief when this one ended because my nerves were shot. Yes, I’m loving it!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
DI Kim Stone and her team are investigating the stabbing murder of a well-regarded social worker that’s presenting a tough challenge for them. When a second murder occurs with similar characteristics but no other apparent relationship, Kim needs her full, undivided attention to solve these cases. But she’s highly distracted because her very real nemesis, incarcerated psychologist Alex Thorne, is up to no good from behind prison walls.
I was intimidated by Alex Thorne when she first appeared in [b:Evil Games|25067570|Evil Games (DI Kim Stone, #2)|Angela Marsons|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588321125l/25067570._SY75_.jpg|44752433], finding her one of the most diabolical characters I’d encountered in fiction. Somehow I knew we hadn’t heard the last of her and, sure enough, she’s back at it, getting in Kim’s head like no one else is able to do. While the murder cases were interesting and true puzzlers, I was distracted by what was going on with Alex and Kim. Believe me, it was not a given that Kim would win this encounter without residual consequences and she made lots of missteps.
This is a riveting story that will not let you go. I cannot even comment on the strength or substance of the murder investigations as I was so wrapped up in the sideshow. It was as outrageous as we would expect from the manipulative Ms. Thorne and just as gnarly as the chief cases. And, as usual, the narrator heightened my anxiety with her exceptional performance. It was a relief when this one ended because my nerves were shot. Yes, I’m loving it!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
blood_rose_books's review against another edition
5.0
Angela Marsons: Blood Lines Normally with this series it is not necessary to read the previous books in the series (Silent Scream, Evil Games, Lost Girls and Play Dead), but this book is the exception. At the very least you need to read Evil Games in order to understand the cat and mouse game that Kim and Alex have going on. That book really set the past history that they have. That said all the books are really good reads and I think you will want to continue on after you read the first book Silent Scream. What is the connection between a local caring upstanding social worker and a local drug addict have in common. Kim and her team are baffled as the only connection is the same precise stab wound to the heart. To make matters worse Kim is off her game with the return of Alex Thorne, who is not done with Kim yet. As the body count continues to grow, Kim cannot seem to focus on the case as Alex is forever in her mind, trying but failing Kim becomes more and more wrapped up in her "Game". Mike Drop....Pen Drop....Book Drop..... Not sure which one applies to books, but I was extremely excited when I saw that Alex was going to be back in this book. Alex is one of my favourite antagonist in a mystery series. Alex is not only the master of manipulation but an actor who is able to become the person that you want her to be. It is very interesting that Alex is able to understand emotions but not feel them. Although Alex is not able to manipulate Kim as much as should would like in this book (face to face time is hard when you're in prison), we are still able to the resources that Alex has and her reach even when she was in prison were astounding. Her planning and forethought really point to the sociopath that she is, and well as you can probably tell I just loved having her back. Alex is not even the main issue/case in this book, Alex really acts as a diversion to Kim and really takes a toll on Kim mentally that her work is suffering. The main mystery is also interesting and I will say that the diary entries will make more sense at the end of the book. It was nice to see that Kim has changed from the first book and has made strides since the very first book. Her growth has been slow but Marsons does allow some milestones in her personality and relationships. You can really see this with her relationship with Bryant. We also see more of her haunting past, and while we had some of the information in previous books, there was more elaboration of the events. I'm not sure if I just never noticed it in the previous books in this series, but Stacey's slang really bothered me in this book. It just seemed more pronounced and constant and well just annoying to me. It is something very minor overall in the book but I guess it was there enough that I really began to notice it. This is one of my favourite thriller/mystery series that I read and I was so excited when Alex was back in this book. I cannot wait for Marsons to release another book in this series. Enjoy!!!
If You Like This,
Check These Out Too:
If You Like This,
Check These Out Too:
meg728's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing!
Another fabulous page turner with Detective Kim Stone!
Marsons’ imagination and creativity in writing this series of books just gets better and better with each novel I read!
You can’t help by love Stone and Bryant, her partner, as they fight for the victims they encounter along with those that have had not had the best hand in life dealt to them along the way!
Brilliant, not just this book but the whole series so far!
Another fabulous page turner with Detective Kim Stone!
Marsons’ imagination and creativity in writing this series of books just gets better and better with each novel I read!
You can’t help by love Stone and Bryant, her partner, as they fight for the victims they encounter along with those that have had not had the best hand in life dealt to them along the way!
Brilliant, not just this book but the whole series so far!