Chilling first chapter was yet again telling us one thing, this will be again another fantastic read.

I love how Angela Marsons always finds new topics for her books and can cover so many different subjects. Can't wait to pick up another one and see what's coming next.

Another brilliant Kim Stone story full of the usual intrigue and plot twists! However I did feel that this story was a little on the short side? Or maybe it was because I flew through it in record time. Suffice to say I cannot wait for the next installment and hoping that there is a little bit of excitement and joy for hardcore Kim! Many thanks to netgalley for an arc in return for my honest opinion.

Kim stone is. A fab main character. Her relationship with her team gives her the anchor she needs to do her job effectively. The plot is twisted and fulfilling . A great read l round

Gripping as always. I cannot get enough of Angela Marsons books. This is the 11th in the series and it certainly didn't disappoint. I'm looking forward to the next one already. Recommended.

Child's Play by Angela Marsons (DI Kim Stone, #11)

This is book #11 in the D.I. Kim Stone series.

When Belinda Evans, a retired college Professor of Child Psychology in her sixties is found dead in a Haden Hill Park playground, Detective Kim Stone's attention is automatically piqued.
When she arrives at the horrific scene she quickly observes that this is no ordinary crime. The victim has been bound and attached to a swing with barbed wire which would dig into her flesh with every creak of the swing.
Forensic investigations will show that the letter X has also been engraved into the back of the victim's neck, further testament that something even more sinister might be afoot here.

The victim's car is found locked and untouched nearby, and her identity is quickly discovered.
An immediate search of the victim's home uncovers a packed overnight bag but little else. Their investigations though, bring them face to face with a woman bearing such a striking resemblance to their victim that they do a double take.
Belinda's sister Veronica makes her presence felt in no uncertain terms and it soon becomes apparent that her relationship with her sister was complicated at best, further piquing the detective's early suspicions as to a possible suspect.

When two more bodies are discovered with the same distinctive marks and in similarly orchestrated scenes, Kim now believes she is looking for a serial killer.

Buckle up for a gripping detective investigation, the kind only Kim Stone and her team can deliver!
What can I say? Angela Marsons once again defies the odds in delivering a new twist to a murder tale...they just don't get old! Love her work.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️'s

Many thanks to Netgalley for my copy to read and review.

This is book 11 in a series and therefore it should be read in order.

Given that this is such a long series you would think that maybe the author would begin to slack a bit, but no. Instead she just gets better and better. What makes the author such a brilliant one is that she continues to give Kim, and the other characters, such believable things to investigate and solve. She also still has the ability to throw me constantly with twists I do not see coming.

This series is one of my to 3 of all time and a highly recommended one to lovers of police procedurals.

An absolute corker, great storyline and intriguing chase. Not sure if needed the side plot around Penn, I love this series.... unputdownable

I reviewed this book some time ago but have only just discovered that the review didn't save. Don't you just hate when that happens? This book is another Angela Marsons cracker. Kim Stone never disappoints. Highly entertaining with the usual twists and turns you come to expect from this author. A highly recommended read.

As always, Angela Marsons delivered another great book! I have read a lot of her books and I always enjoy reading about Kim and her team, who are like a family. I love reading about their adventures and it really feels as though I am there with them while they are doing their investigation.

Thanks so much to Netgalley for a copy of this great book, in exchange for an honest review.

Trotz zahlreicher Vorgänger in dieser Serie, werden die Bücher Von A.M. nie langweilig. Der Stil ist mitreißend wie immer, das Thema neu und die Charaktere vielschichtig. Erfrischender, spannender Lesegenuß.

I am a big Angie Marsons fan and think this series is excellent, however (it's not a but as such...but...you know) I would say this wasn't one of her best books. I had a reading spate to catch up with the series and book 10 I absolutely loved. In comparison this felt a little lacking in something. Kim and the team are back with another new addition (who I sincerely hope stays in for the next book). Bryant and Stacey are back along with Penn, and now they have enlisted the help of a new girl who they nickname Tink.

This case starts with the murder of Belinda Evans and it seems strange from the get go but as two more bodies appear it seems there is a lot more linking these murders than they first thought. The actual story line seemed a little weak in parts if I'm honest, and unlike her other books it just didn't grip me as much. In addition Penn is running a separate story line because he has been pulled off to help close a case by attending court with his old colleagues.

Overall I enjoyed the book as I always do with a Marson's book, but just couldn't help feeling it wasn't quite as good as previous books. What I am looking forward to is the next book and the return of all her colleagues!

I haven't read any of the others in the series, but after this one I definitely want to. The summary seemed interesting so I wanted to check it out and it had me hooked from the beginning. I really enjoyed the short chapters so I could read more of them in one sitting.

I received a free e-copy of Child's Play (DI Kim Stone #11) by Angela Marsons from NetGalley for my honest review.

I can't believe I have never read a book by this author. I will be going back to read this entire series and will be keeping watch for any and all books by Angela Marsons in the future.

A police procedural that is twisted and compelling!

Detective Kim Stone arrives at a crime scene where she finds a woman who is tied to a children's swing with barbed wire There is a letter X carved in the back of her neck. The victim, Belinda Evans, is a retired Professor of Child Psychology. So many secrets to be discovered. Then more bodies are found with the same markings. Detective Stone and her team need to work quickly before there is another victim.

Absolutely heart-pounding! A book you won't want to put down.

Another Kim Stone novel and yet again another cracking read. The story is very plot and story driven, with not as much time given this time to Kim’s personal life and her professional life with her team, but that’s no bad thing per say.
Things move at a very fast pace throughout with an ending that should satisfy the vast majority of readers. These books are just so bloody readable.

You do wonder how long Miss Marsons can keep pumping out these books. We’ve reached book 11 in no time and you do wonder about diminishing returns eventually kicking in. I’m glad to say though that there isn’t even a hint of that yet. The fact that I am rating book 11 a 5 star read says it all. The constant high standard thought this series tells you that Miss Marsons is a very good writer and a bloody good story teller. Each of the 11 books stand up on their own as fantastic reads.

There are a few more to come in the series and I will look forward to them as much as I did the previous ones. Like a treat you know is coming and you know you will love.

A fantastic and consistent series.

Bravo Miss Marsons. Bravo.

Child’s Play is the 11th D I Stone novel and like each previous one, was a wonderful read. Once again there is a horrific murder, D I Stone arrives at Haden Hill park to find Belinda Evans attached to a swing with barbed wire and an ‘X’ carved in the back of her head. This seemingly motiveless murder of a college professor is just the beginning and in quick succession, two more bodies with the distinctive carving are discovered, all with children’s games as part of their staging.
Once again Angela Marsons has written a fast paced psychological, page turning thriller, the familiar characters in this 11th outing only serve to enhance the novel. I cannot wait till the next one is releasd.

This is a great detective /mystery book that you will love. You can read this as a stand alone or as part of the series. The way Angela writes just wants you to keep reading. The characters are so well researched. Highly recommend.

Again we meet with DI Kim Stone and her very interesting team in yet another fascinating and complicated case.

The case starts with finding the body of a respected, retired college professor, killed in a strange way.
Investigating the life of Belinda Evans proved at first something of a challenge. Sonn after, more bodies were discovered, all linked to a special event involving gifted children.
The investigation was as usual interesting to follow, and one can feel the amount of research that Angela Marsons did about such a complicated subject.
The case, that DS Penn was working on at the same time, offered a rather different perspective and made the reader get to know him better. It did not hurt that for a seemingly simple case, it had an unexpected twist, at least it was for me.

I really loved reading this new book of the series and i am looking forward to the next.

Wow, another fantastic instalment from Angela Marsons and Kim Stone! This has been one of my favourites in the series so far and I was genuinely gripped.

I enjoyed meeting a new (temporary, but would happily see them permanent) member of the team, as well as some unnerving suspects. The plot is clever as always and I certainly did not predict whodunit. I also really enjoyed the subplot and did not see that conclusion coming either!

As usual, there is a depth to Angela Marsons's characters and themes, and some of the underlying issues here are deeply moving and thought-provoking. This is balanced by Kim, Bryant and Keats's usual banter, plus, Stacey put a big smile on my face. Bring on the next book!

A stunning, 5* read from Angela Marsons as I have come to expect in this fantastic thriller series.. Amazingly well developed characters, chills, twists and a thumping good narrative all make this an unputdownable read. The author completely and skilfully misled me throughout the story and the final reveals were unexpected and satisfying. Loved getting to know Penn better and, as always, the banter of the team was a joy to witness with Stone and Bryant feeling like old friends. Always end my reviews for these books saying I can’t wait for the next instalment but that’s the truth of it. More please!
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1/2

Detective Kim and her team are back in action when they arrive at Haden Hill Park to the scene of a horrific crime where a woman is tied to a swing with barbed wire . The victim Belinda Evans was a retired college Professor of Child Psychology and when two more victims are found Kim discovers that they are all involved in annual tournament, Brainbox, for gifted children . Kim is racing against time to find the serial killer but is one man short as Penn is called back to his old team to look at an old case he was in charge of which falls apart in court.

Child’s play is the 11 book in DI Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons and is as addictive as the others .Even though not as intense as the last few the plot is well crafted , fast paced and keeps you guessing till the end . Looking forward to reading the next one in the series !

I would like to thank Bookouture & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.