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syren1532's review against another edition
5.0
Started this book at 4pm this afternoon and just finished it at 10.20pm!
Belinda Lucas is found dead - tied to a children’s swing with barbed wire and stabbed. DI Kim Stone and her team can’t find a motive for her death and her sister is not very forthcoming about their past. Then another body is found - a former child counsellor and he’s connected to Belinda through a competition for child geniuses. The team are a member down as Penn has had to return to his former force for a court case. Unfortunately for Penn things aren’t going well in court and he soon realises that the evidence they had is not as robust as they thought and they might have the wrong Manag in the dock.
Absolutely brilliant read from start to finish. This series just gets better and better.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Belinda Lucas is found dead - tied to a children’s swing with barbed wire and stabbed. DI Kim Stone and her team can’t find a motive for her death and her sister is not very forthcoming about their past. Then another body is found - a former child counsellor and he’s connected to Belinda through a competition for child geniuses. The team are a member down as Penn has had to return to his former force for a court case. Unfortunately for Penn things aren’t going well in court and he soon realises that the evidence they had is not as robust as they thought and they might have the wrong Manag in the dock.
Absolutely brilliant read from start to finish. This series just gets better and better.
Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
slebs55's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you Net Galley for this eBook in exchange for an honest review.
**
Child's Play is the 11th book in the D.I. Kim Stone series; and the first book by Angela Marsons that I've read. While it is a standalone book, I believe reading Marsons previous books on Kim Stone will give a background to herself as an investigator as well as her team.
*
Child's play starts off with a brutal murder in an abandoned park. The victim is posed on a swing set, on first look it would look like a woman sitting on a child's swing set. Upon closer inspection you will see she's been stabbed and has been posed with barb wire wrapped around her.
As DI Kim's team starts to investigate the murder of Belinda Evans they are met with quiet a different story than first thought. As their investigation continues it will lead Kim & team to the world of child genius's and a tournament stemming back decades.
But Belinda's murder isn't the only death linked to this case. By the end there is 3 deaths all tied back to this tournament. Will Kim Stone's team find the murderer before he or she strikes again? Or will there be another death for them to investigate?
**
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Kim Stones team and cannot wait to read more of her books in this series :)
**
Child's Play is the 11th book in the D.I. Kim Stone series; and the first book by Angela Marsons that I've read. While it is a standalone book, I believe reading Marsons previous books on Kim Stone will give a background to herself as an investigator as well as her team.
*
Child's play starts off with a brutal murder in an abandoned park. The victim is posed on a swing set, on first look it would look like a woman sitting on a child's swing set. Upon closer inspection you will see she's been stabbed and has been posed with barb wire wrapped around her.
As DI Kim's team starts to investigate the murder of Belinda Evans they are met with quiet a different story than first thought. As their investigation continues it will lead Kim & team to the world of child genius's and a tournament stemming back decades.
But Belinda's murder isn't the only death linked to this case. By the end there is 3 deaths all tied back to this tournament. Will Kim Stone's team find the murderer before he or she strikes again? Or will there be another death for them to investigate?
**
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Kim Stones team and cannot wait to read more of her books in this series :)
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Detective Kim Stone is rather disturbed when she happens upon the latest murder scene. This time it is a 60ish woman found tied to a chair with an X carved into the back of her neck. The woman's name was Belinda Evans, and when her sister Veronica arrives, Kim hopes that she can begin to find answers. However, two more bodies are found, in a similar fashion.
As the title hints, it has something to do with children. Oddly enough, it is even more so related to the fact that the victims are all involved in child psychology. Currently, there are tournaments involving gifted children. How could people that work with children end up murder victims?
Meanwhile, one of Kim's team members, Penn, is determined to find the killer of a young man, so this leaves Kim short of help at times. So, with numerous suspects and an unending collection of clues, Kim really has her hands full. With the three murders so far, Kim works as fast as possible to prevent any future victims.
Child's Play is the 11th book in the D. I. Kim Stone series. I started with the 8th title and am more than impressed with Angela Marsons' writing style. The cases are intense and the twists and turns that come along are more than enough to keep any serious mystery reader captivated.
The series is going strong, and I really enjoy Kim. As a matter of fact, I really loved the previous title, Dead Memories, and I found this read to be even more intense. One thing that stood out for me in this book is seeing how Penn is blending in with the team. As the newest member, he was not welcomed at first (I am referring to book 9, Fatal Promise). He is doing better, but has been called back to his previous precinct to further investigate the murder of the aforementioned young man.
Each book in the series does deal with new crimes, so this could do well a a standalone. However, when reading police procedural novels, or crime thrillers, I often love the teamwork that I see. When you have a new team member, like Penn, it makes the family-type environment prove its worth. Because I read so many of these, this is very important to me. I cannot help but think of some television dramas I watch on Network TV, because that is exactly what this book and series reminds me of. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for Kim.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Detective Kim Stone is rather disturbed when she happens upon the latest murder scene. This time it is a 60ish woman found tied to a chair with an X carved into the back of her neck. The woman's name was Belinda Evans, and when her sister Veronica arrives, Kim hopes that she can begin to find answers. However, two more bodies are found, in a similar fashion.
As the title hints, it has something to do with children. Oddly enough, it is even more so related to the fact that the victims are all involved in child psychology. Currently, there are tournaments involving gifted children. How could people that work with children end up murder victims?
Meanwhile, one of Kim's team members, Penn, is determined to find the killer of a young man, so this leaves Kim short of help at times. So, with numerous suspects and an unending collection of clues, Kim really has her hands full. With the three murders so far, Kim works as fast as possible to prevent any future victims.
Child's Play is the 11th book in the D. I. Kim Stone series. I started with the 8th title and am more than impressed with Angela Marsons' writing style. The cases are intense and the twists and turns that come along are more than enough to keep any serious mystery reader captivated.
The series is going strong, and I really enjoy Kim. As a matter of fact, I really loved the previous title, Dead Memories, and I found this read to be even more intense. One thing that stood out for me in this book is seeing how Penn is blending in with the team. As the newest member, he was not welcomed at first (I am referring to book 9, Fatal Promise). He is doing better, but has been called back to his previous precinct to further investigate the murder of the aforementioned young man.
Each book in the series does deal with new crimes, so this could do well a a standalone. However, when reading police procedural novels, or crime thrillers, I often love the teamwork that I see. When you have a new team member, like Penn, it makes the family-type environment prove its worth. Because I read so many of these, this is very important to me. I cannot help but think of some television dramas I watch on Network TV, because that is exactly what this book and series reminds me of. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for Kim.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
ring01's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Just love these books
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
Well if awards were to be given out for the opening of a story then Child’s Play would win hands down! You couldn’t get a more thrilling yet gruesome start to a book and the thrills didn’t stop there.
Angela Marsons is a writer who never fails to deliver. With every book and new story, she has the reader gripped with unique and shocking cases. As usual, nothing is ever clear and even the victim’s family members don’t make it an easy ride for Kim and her team making them having to work even harder to solve the case.
The fun and games don’t stop there either as there is a newbie on the team of which I enjoyed Kim’s reaction to them. It was interesting also to see how the force clamps down on the officers working over time and the struggle for them having to go home whilst their minds are very much on the case.
This is such a complex case that had me totally hoodwinked and the author blew me away with the outcome and with who the murderer was. It really makes for some exciting reading.
Child’s Play is a fabulously twisted and dark story that had me tearing through the pages. I couldn’t devour this book quickly enough as I just love this authors books that much, when really I should be savouring them so I don’t have to wait as long for the next one. Don’t know about child’s play but the author certainly knows how to play with the mind of her adult readers. Fantastic read!!!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
Angela Marsons is a writer who never fails to deliver. With every book and new story, she has the reader gripped with unique and shocking cases. As usual, nothing is ever clear and even the victim’s family members don’t make it an easy ride for Kim and her team making them having to work even harder to solve the case.
The fun and games don’t stop there either as there is a newbie on the team of which I enjoyed Kim’s reaction to them. It was interesting also to see how the force clamps down on the officers working over time and the struggle for them having to go home whilst their minds are very much on the case.
This is such a complex case that had me totally hoodwinked and the author blew me away with the outcome and with who the murderer was. It really makes for some exciting reading.
Child’s Play is a fabulously twisted and dark story that had me tearing through the pages. I couldn’t devour this book quickly enough as I just love this authors books that much, when really I should be savouring them so I don’t have to wait as long for the next one. Don’t know about child’s play but the author certainly knows how to play with the mind of her adult readers. Fantastic read!!!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
barusykorova's review against another edition
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? No
1.5
jonetta's review against another edition
4.0
DI Kim Stone and her team face another challenging case, this time one involving former child prodigies. Kim and Bryant are called to the scene of Belinda Evans, a 61-year old academic and former college professor of child psychology. She’s tied to a swing in Haden Hill Park, stabbed to death and secured by barbed wire. Unfortunately, she’s only the first victim of this type macabre killing and it takes a while for connections to be made. The team is hampered somewhat by a new policy limiting their active work hours and new member, Austin Penn, returning to West Mercia for the trial of a case he worked on before his departure.
I have to admit I needed a break from the tension of the last few books where the team members were at risk. It was nice to go back to the basics and see the team in action with lots of humorous moments as they struggle with the new work policy. You just knew they’d find a way around it and one of the remedies was the temporary addition of a new member, Tiffany, who Kim referred to as “Tinks” (think Tinkerbell). Tiffany loved the attention! The case was a real puzzler with any number of suspects and I was still surprised at the outcome. But as engaging as it was, the real thrills came from Penn’s old team as their case fell apart and he had to painstakingly, as only Penn can, revisit and analyze every aspect. The resolution sat me on my heels with unexpected thrills, angst and surprises.
This series never disappoints and I enjoyed everything about this story. Stacey Wood plays a significant role here and I like how she’s coming into her own, gaining confidence to go along with her innate talents. These characters feel like family so I’m invested in all that happens to them…the good, bad and ugly. And, they’re brought magnificently to live by the outstanding performance of the narrator, Jan Cramer, who just adds to my listening experience. Another book that was hard to put down.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
I have to admit I needed a break from the tension of the last few books where the team members were at risk. It was nice to go back to the basics and see the team in action with lots of humorous moments as they struggle with the new work policy. You just knew they’d find a way around it and one of the remedies was the temporary addition of a new member, Tiffany, who Kim referred to as “Tinks” (think Tinkerbell). Tiffany loved the attention! The case was a real puzzler with any number of suspects and I was still surprised at the outcome. But as engaging as it was, the real thrills came from Penn’s old team as their case fell apart and he had to painstakingly, as only Penn can, revisit and analyze every aspect. The resolution sat me on my heels with unexpected thrills, angst and surprises.
This series never disappoints and I enjoyed everything about this story. Stacey Wood plays a significant role here and I like how she’s coming into her own, gaining confidence to go along with her innate talents. These characters feel like family so I’m invested in all that happens to them…the good, bad and ugly. And, they’re brought magnificently to live by the outstanding performance of the narrator, Jan Cramer, who just adds to my listening experience. Another book that was hard to put down.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
blood_rose_books's review against another edition
4.0
This is the 11th yep 11th book in Angela Marsons' DI Kim Stone series, and I highly recommend it. All of the books are unique and interesting and there is only one or two that did not live up to the high standards that I have set for Marsons' as an author. You also need to start at the beginning as the characters are shaped throughout the books; Silent Scream, Evil Games, Lost Girls, Play Dead, Blood Lines, Dead Souls, Broken Bones, Dying Truth, Fatal Promise and Dead Memories.
D.I. Kim Stone and her team are back and the killer really is a Child at Heart:
Kim Stone is summeded to a very disturbing scene. An older women tied to a swing with barbed wire, with an X cut into the back of her neck. The victim is a retired child psychologist, who was known for taking on tough cases and tough case studies. Then two more bodies are discovered with the distinctive X mark as well as having a history of working with children. Kim and her team are on the hunt for a serial killer, one that appears to have links to gifted children. Could Kim and her team finally met their match. This is a game of Cat and Mouse you do not want to loose.
The best part about this book was that I was not able to figure out who the murderer was. I went back and forth between many people within the book and I can say by the end of the book that I got it wrong. Trust me, I do typically figure books out before the end of a book, it's my super power, but I did not see this one coming. Marsons is able to achieve this through her well thought out plots, storytelling and really having the reader in the thick of the investigation with Kim and her team. It is very rare that something is kept from the readers and when it is it is to add suspense to the book. Marsons' is a master of red herring and really showing what detective work is like, following the evidence set before them and where this information leads the investigation.
I do like when there is more than one case occurring within the book as I think that speaks to how detective work occur, you never really have one case on your desk. I just wasn't a fan of Penn going off on his own back to his old squad, even though I get that he was in charge of the case that is now before the courts. Really that whole case could have been a whole book to itself. I did like that it showed more of Penn as a character and the squad that he came from and how much he was appreciated there, but how he feels he is more at home with Kim's team. I just felt that as a whole that Penn story was very disjointed from the other characters as it only involved Penn and no one else.
One Character that I really with there would have been more Alison Lowe in this book. I like her preservative, her constantly reading her coworkers, as well as how she pushes Kim's buttons, constantly. I get she cannot be in every book, but I actually thought she was going to be a permanent member of the team after the last book and I missed having her there. Though I will admit I did like the addition of Tink, add some overeager cheerfulness to the mix and I look forward to see what Kim does with that in the long run, if she is allowed to stay (Please let her stay Marsons).
Well 11 books in and I'm still a huge fan of this series and Marsons's work. It takes a lot to have a reader stick around this long and to keep each book refreshing with new mysteries to solve. Does this have some similar elements to some of her other novels, Yes, but Marsons' creativity with the plot and mysteries makes it new once again. I always look forward to reading her novel and I am looking forward to book 12.
Enjoy!!!
D.I. Kim Stone and her team are back and the killer really is a Child at Heart:
Kim Stone is summeded to a very disturbing scene. An older women tied to a swing with barbed wire, with an X cut into the back of her neck. The victim is a retired child psychologist, who was known for taking on tough cases and tough case studies. Then two more bodies are discovered with the distinctive X mark as well as having a history of working with children. Kim and her team are on the hunt for a serial killer, one that appears to have links to gifted children. Could Kim and her team finally met their match. This is a game of Cat and Mouse you do not want to loose.
The best part about this book was that I was not able to figure out who the murderer was. I went back and forth between many people within the book and I can say by the end of the book that I got it wrong. Trust me, I do typically figure books out before the end of a book, it's my super power, but I did not see this one coming. Marsons is able to achieve this through her well thought out plots, storytelling and really having the reader in the thick of the investigation with Kim and her team. It is very rare that something is kept from the readers and when it is it is to add suspense to the book. Marsons' is a master of red herring and really showing what detective work is like, following the evidence set before them and where this information leads the investigation.
I do like when there is more than one case occurring within the book as I think that speaks to how detective work occur, you never really have one case on your desk. I just wasn't a fan of Penn going off on his own back to his old squad, even though I get that he was in charge of the case that is now before the courts. Really that whole case could have been a whole book to itself. I did like that it showed more of Penn as a character and the squad that he came from and how much he was appreciated there, but how he feels he is more at home with Kim's team. I just felt that as a whole that Penn story was very disjointed from the other characters as it only involved Penn and no one else.
One Character that I really with there would have been more Alison Lowe in this book. I like her preservative, her constantly reading her coworkers, as well as how she pushes Kim's buttons, constantly. I get she cannot be in every book, but I actually thought she was going to be a permanent member of the team after the last book and I missed having her there. Though I will admit I did like the addition of Tink, add some overeager cheerfulness to the mix and I look forward to see what Kim does with that in the long run, if she is allowed to stay (Please let her stay Marsons).
Well 11 books in and I'm still a huge fan of this series and Marsons's work. It takes a lot to have a reader stick around this long and to keep each book refreshing with new mysteries to solve. Does this have some similar elements to some of her other novels, Yes, but Marsons' creativity with the plot and mysteries makes it new once again. I always look forward to reading her novel and I am looking forward to book 12.
Enjoy!!!