This series is one of my favorite detective series and I look forward to a new book coming out, and this one did not disappoint either. Coming after the events from book #16, Kim had to regain her footing with being back to work, but she ends up jumping into a new mystery. One of the things I enjoy the most about Marson’s writing is that the “killer” isn’t obvious throughout the book, there is a lot of guessing as to how it is going to end and I enjoy that I have to follow along for the whole journey to understand how it will end.



** I was given a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review**

This is by far one of my favourite series ever and it just keeps getting better! Angela Marsons is so talented and I love getting back in touch with these characters. Another 5 ⭐️ read for me!

Absolutely adore the Kim Stone series and this didn't disappoint. The character just gets stronger and stronger and love the way she cares about her team. The plot was outstanding and kept the reader turning those pages to a phenomenal ending as usual.

Hidden Scars is set two months after Kim was brutally beaten by escaped psychopath, Symes. She is physically healed, but mentally and emotionally, probably not ready to be back in the field. She is supposed to be working in the office, but when she goes in for her first day and sees the way her replacement, Ian Burns is treating both her team and cases that land on their desks, she is adamant that she is ready to be in the field. First Ian Burns is the DI that botched the search for Symes, but he is ignoring the questions and suggestions from the team and has Stacey fetching coffee! The case that had been closed as a suicide has Stacey upset, so they begin to investigate and find out that there is no way the victim could have climbed that tree to hang himself. It leads them on a search into conversion therapy and even more victims. Can they find the evidence and the murderer pretending to help others?

Kim has always been prickly, tenacious, and has no patience for those she feels are wrong, so when she returns and takes her team back, her behavior was only to be expected. I was thrilled to see her back after the horrid beating she had taken in the last book. Kim had a few confrontations with Burns as he wanted to cherry pick cases he thought would bring notice to him, and she let him and others know she had his number. The difference between the way the two led the same team was like night and day. I found most of this story realistic and that reality is not fair. Kim's team rallied when she came back, especially as Stacey was close to putting in her transfer. It was nice to see Bryant take Kim to task in this story. They were not just a team, but friends who need to be there for one another, as well as accept help from each other, a lesson Kim needed, but is hard to swallow. Penn is also dealing with situations at home with his brother who he is the guardian of, as well as his personal relationships. With the reader learning more about the team and their "Hidden Scars" there is also a very complicated case to solve. I had no idea who the killer was, but as it was revealed, I found myself saying "aha". Once again, Jan Cramer does an amazing job with the narration adding the taut feelings that kept me listening when I should have been doing other things. Another winner in the DI Kim Stone series.

#HiddenScars #NetGalley The 17th book in the DI Kim Stones series but it is still as fresh and exciting as the first book. I love the character of Kim and also her loyal team. After 2 months off work after a near desk experience, it seemed like Kim was easing back into work with a more hands off, desk bound job. But we needn't have worried, she was soon back to her investigative best with plenty of action and twists and turns. Looking forward to book 18 in this series.

This is the seventeenth book in the series featuring Detective Kim Stone. Kim is easing herself back into work after been off for two months following her brush with death. Her return can’t come soon enough for the members of her team as their stand in boss DI Burns has been very difficult to work with and undermined all their work. A young boy, Jamie, has tragically committed suicide but Kim senses this is not a straightforward case. DI Burns dismissed the case so she starts the investigation into his death on her own and soon discovers it is a murder inquiry. Jamie was linked to a clinic that Kim realises needs further investigation. The clinic appears to be trying to change people’s sexuality using very unconvincing methods. This is a very sensitive subject covering conversion therapy and gay people who are forced, often by family who can’t accept their sexuality, to change who they are. After another victim is found and Kim and her team have to follow a dark and sinister path to solve the case. I have enjoyed reading this and the dynamics between Kim and her team. it had me gripped until the last page and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

WOW!!! Firstly let me just say this is going to be one tough read to beat for my end of year favourite. This is the most powerful and intense read I have ever read.

In the next edition of DI Kim Stone we find her returning back to her team after 2 months recuperating from the last case. After being told by her boss to take it easy and jump in when she is ready, in true Kim Stone fashion – that’s was pretty much straight away.

Her interest was piqued instantly about a suicide for a young man, the acting DI Burns who had been filling in her role was quite frankly making a shambles of the job and most certainly alienating her team and their abilities to do the job.

This was the most intense and powerful case ever to have hit the team and if it wasn’t for the wonder that is Stacey Wood they may never have cracked the case.

I absolutely loved the development from the start of the case to the finish, it was no who done it for me, I had no idea throughout and thought it was very cleverly written. My favourite part of the book however, has to be the shell that is cracking around stone.

Hidden Scars hit me on a deeply personal level, it started to pick at my own scars that have never fully healed. It is heavily set around the conflicts of sexuality, and the LGBTQ community. I found it hard to read in some places as it did take me back to a time when that was predominant in my own life but was written with complete sensitivity.

I was completely captivated by the story, and was also shocked to read of the things of the past and what could still be happening in this day and age even with how far we have come when it comes to the LGBTQ community.

This is definitely a book I would recommend to just about anyone. Absolute fantastic job and I can not wait to see what comes next.

The Kim Stone series keeps on giving. It is definitely a series that is best read in order but worth doing. Look forward to reading the next one.

HIDDEN SCARS SIX GRAVES is the 17th book in the D.I. Kim Stone crime-thriller series by best-selling author Angela Marsons. Angela Marsons remains one of my favorite mystery authors, and her publisher, Bookouture, always publishes the very best novels. I have read all of her books…and she keeps getting better. I don’t want this series to end!

It was so refreshing to touch base with Kim’s CID team again: DS Bryant, DS Penn, and DC Stacey Wood. Her team are driven and compassionate in their work. The characters keep getting stronger and stronger. We also touch base with Kim’s boss, DCI Woodward, Alison Lowe, the behaviorist, Keats, the local pathologist, and Mitch, the lead forensic technician and …and who could forget Kim’s faithful dog, Barney. Love that dog!

The novel opens with Detective Kim Stone’s return to work after her near-death experience at the hands of the killer, Symes. Still mending her broken mind and body from her last harrowing case, Kim is supposed to be easing back into work gently. During her absence, the team was being destroyed by DI Burns, an ambitious person only on the path that will lead to promotion. Stacey is ready to request a transfer off the team as she can’t work with him, as he disrespects her and treats her as a second-class citizen. Kim resumes her duties and kicks Burns out, when she immediately realizes her team is ready to revolt.

Kim’s first case was of a nineteen-year-old boy, Jamie Mills who was found hanging from a tree in a local park, his death is ruled a suicide. Detective Kim Stone’s instincts tell her something isn’t right.

A follow-up with his mother reveals no sign of emotional distress at the loss of her son?

But then she finds a crucial, overlooked detail: Jamie had a recent injury that would have made it impossible for him to climb the tree. He must have been murdered.

Kim visits Jamie’s parents and is shocked to hear that they had sent him to a clinic to ‘cure’ him of his sexuality. According to his mother, Jamie was introverted and prone to mood swings.

After investigation of the clinic, the clinic run by the Gardner family, claim that patients come of their own accord and are free to leave at any time. But why are those that attended the clinic so afraid to speak of what happens there? And what about restraint marks on Jamie’s wrists?

Then the body of a young woman is found dead by suffocation and Kim learns that the victim spent time at the clinic too, and her death was also staged to look like a suicide.

Kim and her team must stop a killer from silencing the clinic’s previous patients.

This was a fast-paced crime thriller, with relatable characters, and short chapters that kept the suspense level high. Another brilliant read that gripped you from beginning to the end. Another winner!

My thanks to the author, Bookouture and Netgalley for my digital copy.

Another brilliant story from the unofficial Queen of crime. Kim Stone is one of my favourite detective characters and I can't wait to see what Angie has her getting up to next.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Another great read from this brilliant author. Recommended.

I loved this latest instalment of the Kim Stone series. After being being almost beaten to death in the last book Kim returns to work prepared to take a back seat, which you just know isn’t going to happen for long. She isn’t the type to sit back and let the obnoxious Burns take the reins especially with the way he treats Stacey and his lazy policing.
This book covers a tough and emotive subject, that is almost unbelievable and yet totally believable. As always I was drawn in very fast, always routing for Kim, Bryant, Stace and Penn. The characters just come to life more and more in every book.
I can’t help but think what a fantastic tv series these books would make.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!! The Kim Stone series is by far one of my favourite of all time. The usual gripping twists and turns. I honestly dont think Angela Marsons knows how to write a mediocre/bad book.

Well this one was something completely NEW! When we get to book 10+ in a series, it’s always a worry that it just won’t be as good as the older ones. Angela Marsons has totally delivered on bringing us an amazing new instalment! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

The Kim Stone series from Angela Marsons is a series I have always been curious about. I have been meaning to give it a try for many years and in these long standing series, I like to read the latest book (as it is already book 17) and see how in depth the author goes not only with the plot but also with the character development of the investigating team....
Well I can see why Angela Marsons series is still going strong. Both important aspects of a good police procedural are well developed. Absolutely fantastic plot educating the reader on current crime aspects of our society. In this instance, conversion therapy...how interesting!!!!
I absolutely loved this book and will now add this series to my "TBR" list for sure!

It would not at all be surprising to discover a long-running series losing steam, running its course, becoming stale and predictable and boring. I'm sure we can all name an example. We won't, because we are nice people but you know ... However, somehow, Angela Marsons keeps defying the odds. 'Hidden Scars' is book 17 in the bestselling DI Kim Stone series and all these books and years later, it still feels as fresh and topical as ever. I'm beginning to think this author sold her soul to the devil 😉.

'Hidden Scars' is not an easy read. It'll have your brain go into overload mode with thinky-thoughts long after you've finished the book. At the centre of the story is a clinic. A place where desperate people go to change something about themselves. Not their nose, or their boobs, or their bums ... no, these people would very much pleaseandthankyou (or are sometimes forced to) change their sexuality because life is so much easier when you're a heterosexual. But the methods this clinic is using are dubious, to say the least. Why do their clients have to sign non-disclosure agreements? Worse, why are they dying?!

Cue the arrival of Kim. She's supposed to be taking things nice and easy, and slowly. Ha! I think long-time readers of this series had a nice chuckle at that, since that isn't at all how Kim rolls. Yes, she is different. Yes, she has hidden and maybe not so hidden scars herself. Frankly, it just makes the reader root for her even harder. If I were the victim of a crime, I'd definitely want her fighting my corner. Even if maybe she isn't at 100%. Meanwhile, Stacey is trying to find a missing man. His wife thinks something bad has happened to him but all signs point to him leaving of his own free will. Penn is struggling to adapt to a new version of his little brother. And Bryant, ... still dependable, fabulous, rock-to-lean-on Bryant.

Plenty going on, as you can see. I always love the, in my opinion, perfect balance this author achieves between the personal, private lives of these characters and their jobs. The investigation into the deaths Kim and her team are trying to solve held my interest throughout. I couldn't at all figure out why these people were dying or who was killing them. The ultimate revelation was rather sad, I thought. But Angela Marsons soon wiped that feeling off the page with just one word. You'll have to read the book yourself to find out what it is. If you're a fan, like I am, you'll have quite the smile on your face.

In short, the Kim Stone series is still going as strong as ever and 'Hidden Scars' is a fabulous new addition. I can't wait for the next one!

This is one of my top 5--top 2?--series to read, so it does become difficult to think critically about each book, especially 17 books in. However, each book remains fantastic, and I especially like that Marsons doesn't shy away from the consequences of previous plotlines. (I'm being purposely vague here for spoilery reasons.) The mysteries remain sharp, as the characters continue to grow and change.

I honestly don’t think I will ever get tired of reading about Kim, Bryant, Stacey and Penn. I love these characters and I love seeing them work together. And let’s not forget about Barney who is the best boy.

This was probably one of the toughest books of Marson’s to read. It felt very raw to me but also well-researched. I found it hard to read during the moments that the everyone struggled to believe that conversion therapy was real, but honestly even though I knew conversion therapy was real, I thought it was old (in my country. I know how brutal other countries can be and still are). So imagine my surprise when I found out that it was actually just made illegal to promote, advertise or profit from it in Canada in 2022.

For such a difficult topic, Marsons wrote it well. I was equally surprised at how everyone was shocked this was happening, but also how well Kim handled it especially considering how abrasive Kim can be sometimes.

The little side mystery was awesome and unexpected. I love that Marsons gives us closures on those. I was honestly shocked and would have loved a little more on that one.

Loved this one! Already looking forward to the next!

Thank you to NetGalley, Boukouture and Angela Marsons for the eARC.

Well Angela Marsons has done it again! Another fantastic Kim Stone book. Kim is back and even though she is still struggling with everything that has happened she can't bare to see how to cases and being conducted and how her team is being treated!
Kim does what she is good at and knows how to get the most out of her team to get to the bottom of everything.
We get more character development with this book and you just keep loving the characters more and more with each book!
This is a fantastic series to get into and you won't be disappointed! I can't wait for the next installment.

Another Kim Stone book that I enjoyed reading. Found the conversion therapy an interesting theme to the book., I really don’t know how the author does it! Loved this series, hope there will be another book to follow on.