Kims physical injuries maybe vastly improved and though she may well have been able to convince her therapist she has come through the mental trauma and is well enough to return to work gradually, .
this is not quite true as she is still subject to recurring nightmares.
Following her absence she finds her team in a sorry state, Bryan and Penn are not being effectively used and poor Stacy is considering asking to transfer out due to D I Burns, Kims misogynistic replacements attitude.
Kim witnessing one such incident dismisses him from her team, much to their delight.
One of the cases he chose to ignore was a 19 year old man Jamie Mills, found hanging from a tree.
It doesn`t take Kim long to realize Jamie was the victim of murder.
An investigation is no sooner underway when another apparent suicide, of 22 year old Sarah Laing, points once again to it being a staged murder.
Inquiries reveal both Jamie and Sarah had been attending a clinic " Change" run by the Gardner family.
They are a "Conversion Clinic" allegedly helping cure people of their homosexuality.
Slowly but surely they build up a picture of what the patients are being subjected to. The clinic uses shock therapy, withholding food, even rape to cure them.
Can Kim and the team get the proof of what is going on inside "Change", are people cured and leaving to start a new life or are they just bodies that are being accepted as suicides?
This is a dark, intense read.
An excellent addition to a fantastic series which just keeps on getting better and better.
May there be many more instalments featuring fearless Kim and her terrific team.

Kim Stone is back and, oh my, what a book this is. So many layers and such a complex and emotive case that it’s no wonder it gets right under Kim’s skin. She’s exactly the kind of Detective to take this case personally, even when she hasn’t faced danger and her own mortality head on, but given what happened in the previous book, Six Graves, Kim is nursing new demons that add a layer of volatility to an already focused and determined mind.

Actually, I say an emotive case, there are actually two cases on the go, one that takes the focus of the majority of the team, the main premise of the novel, and one that has really hit a nerve with Stacey. The first is the death of a young man, framed to look like a suicide, that leads the team into a very murky world with prejudice and intolerance at its very heart. The second is the case of a missing husband who, to all intents and purposes, looks as though he has left of his own accord. But this is a Kim Stone story, and whether seemingly innocent or not, something has to be a miss for it to have caught Stacey’s attention. No longer ‘just’ the junior of the team, she’s really developing great instincts and it’s been wonderful seeing the author chart her journey and her growth as a character and as a police officer.

The two cases intersect each other seamlessly, to a point where you don’t really see one stop and the other begin. This is one of Angela Marsons’ real skills – she manages to engage the reader’s interest on both on each investigation that whilst one may take a back seat for most of the book, there is enough attention given that it always had me wondering ‘what if’? Could this be an elaborate double bluff by Ms Marsons? Were there things that linked the two cases that none of us could see yet. Given how the lead case evolves, you would easily think that anything was possible, so be prepared for misdirection and sleight of hand. Nothing is as it seems in this book.

Well … nearly nothing. One thing that does happen exactly as we expect is the camaraderie and the team spirit between our main characters. Do not get me wrong – Kim Stone is damaged in ways far beyond what the eye can see. The author has brilliantly captured that turmoil, the conflict within Kim that affects her in ways that occasionally upset the rhythm of the team. But what it doesn’t do is change her tenacity and whilst the team, Bryant especially, may have to work extra hard to keep in step with Kim, you know that eventually, physical and mental impairments aside, Kim is going to come good.

I love this team, their a great mixture of characters, and I like that we get to see some more of the personal side of their lives now too. The more we see of them outside of work, the easier it is to understand the way they act and work together inside of it. There’s real friendship there, even if Kim is not the first one to show it, and the way this is expressed in the book makes you feel a real part of the team – of the family – as you embark on each new thrilling instalment. And shock f all shocks there is one major revelation I definitely did not see coming. Completely unexpected and, to be fair, I’m not sure I had cottoned on that we didn’t know it before. But now we do. And what has been told, cannot be unsaid …

There is a real feeling of pace and tension throughout this novel, as well as themes that will make any rational persons blood boil. With a touch of gaslighting, a huge amount of catfishing and an unhealthy dose of obsession, prejudice and murder, it’s a sure fire, action filled investigation, that leads to the high stakes, jeopardy laden conclusion of the case, just the way we like it. There is the usual banter, although it is often muted, understandably, as Kim’s fuse seems even shorter than normal – also understandably.

But it is in the tender moments in this book that I think the real power lies. In the people who make their presence felt in Kim’s life, sometimes in poignant ways, other times in humorous ones. The closing chapter has an emotional resonance you will find hard to ignore and in which we, for once, see part of Kim’s vulnerability laid bare to those she holds dearest. What an ending.

Not as shockingly intense as it’s predecessor, but in it’s own subtle but effective way this is another most definitely recommended book.

DI Kim Stone is back!! Two months on from her brutal attack. She's declared fit and ready to return to work. But Kim knows how to work the system and no one is really sure she's ready least of all Kim.

But with the man who played a big part in her attack left in temporary charge and the team in disarray. Kim has no choice but to step back in, especially when she overhears how DI Burns is referring to their latest case. A case they wouldn't be investigating if it wasn't for her.

And what a harrowing, eye opening case it is. As Hidden Scars delves in to the world of alleged treatments for people who are gay and either don't want to be or whose families can't except it.

And as Kim, Bryant, Penn and Stacey dig and link a series of supposed suicides back to a clinic called Change. They learn some shocking and heartbreaking truths. Which leave them more determined than ever to find the killer and shut the clinic down.

Meanwhile, Stacey is also diligently searching for a missing person. But have they just had enough of life or has something far more sinister happened?

And with fantastic pacing, great humour, and twists you won't see coming. Hidden Scars is a cracking read. That I genuinely couldn't put down and I'd implore anyone who has not yet read the series to pick it up today!

I say it every time - how can Angela Marsons possibly keep the standard up but she does. Amazingly. Kim Stone is back after virtually being beaten to death in the previous book. And thank goodness for that - where would us loyal readers be without her?

Another rollercoaster of a read from Angela Marsons, I love the Kim Stones series, I love how the characters develop and grow as we get to know them more. I love that every book is well thought out. This was no exception, also gave some insight to a subject I had no clue about! I eagerly await the next book

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this much-anticipated ARC. I have read all 17 books in the Kim Stone series. Angela Marsons has made these crime thrillers/police procedurals fresh and compelling. It has been a pleasure to watch the growth of Kim and her intelligent and likeable team members.

Kim's childhood was marred by abuse and a terrible tragedy. This resulted in her having difficulties relating to people on a personal level. She is sympathetic and relates fiercely to victims of crime. She has become very protective of her police team and appreciates their varied strengths. They, in turn, respect and admire Kim's leadership and work well together.

In her last investigation, Kim came very close to death and has been absent from work for two months. Her recovery from physical injuries and mental trauma has been ongoing. She is able to convince (f00l) the therapist that she has progressed further along in recovery than in reality and still has disturbing nightmares. She now has permission to ease herself gradually back into work.

Kim is shocked to return to her office in an unhappy state of disarray caused by her replacement. He ignores cases that should be further investigated as he is waiting for a high-profile case that will lead to his advancement and glory. Bryan and Penn are underutilized. Stacey (a competent detective) has been made useless due to the temporary leader's blatant misogyny. Kim dismisses him to the delight of her team and rushes full force into work. The detectives are restored to their former duties.

A 19-year-old man, Jamie Mills, was found hanging from a tree, and the case was written off as suicide. It takes Kim only a short time to find clues confirming he was murdered. His parents seem cold and strangely untroubled by his death. Next, a short time later, 22-year-old Sarah Laing's apparent suicide shows clues that it was a staged murder.

The topic of conversion therapy is the focus of the central mystery. Through various means of emotional manipulation, behaviour modification, and shaming, conversion therapy aims to change a gay individual to a heterosexual orientation. Early this year, a bill was passed in Canada to make conversion therapy a crime. It was learned that Jamie and Sarah both attended a conversion clinic run by the Granger family. Kim and team members discovered that participants in the therapy were forced to undergo horrendous treatment to eliminate homosexual thoughts and behaviour. Those admitted to the conversion clinic had to sign a non-disclosure clause and were unwilling or afraid to talk about what they endured. The investigation is complicated. Kim and team need to find out why former patients are being killed before more deaths occur.

A secondary mystery has Stacey searching for a missing husband, Gabriel Denton, an accountant. His wife is distraught, claiming he was a wonderful, devoted husband, and his absence is out of character for him. Stacey learns that he was in an emotional but platonic relationship with a co-worker and withdrew a large sum of money from the bank before he vanished. Now, she has reason to believe he was killed.

Kim came back to work full force at a hectic time and against all advice. I look forward to her next investigation and hope she will not suffer any negative repercussions in health after all her bravery and hard work. Recommended!

It's safe to say that Detective Inspector Kim Stone has been around the block a few times - this is the 17th book in the series, for goodness sake - but this time she's struggling to get back in the swing of things after being savagely beaten and way too close to death.

There are several concurrent plot lines going on here, and more than a few characters (and all their relatives and coworkers) to keep straight. Among the first casualties is Jamie Mills, who is found hanging from a tree in what initially is ruled a suicide by an officer in Kim's department who is intent on finding high-profile cases to work on that will better serve his career mobility. That and the fact that he's racist, sexist and homophobic mean he really rankles his co-workers, who are not only enlightened but very loyal to Kim (who despises him also).

Meantime, a distraught wife asks Kim's team buddy Stacey to find her missing husband; that, too, doesn't rise to the promotion-oriented officer's level of interest and, were it not for Stacey's instincts, would have been swept under the rug.

With help from her trusty partner and good friend Alan Bryant, Kim digs in her heels (no matter how much they, along with the rest of her body, still hurt) and broadens the investigation into Jamie's death. That in turn leads to a clinic that purports to use conversion therapy methods to "change" gay people back to what they insist nature intended. The methods they use are no less than horrific, but the owners continue to tout the clinic's exemplary success rate. The pro-LBGTQ perspective is a strong focus throughout, by the way - almost overkill, in my mind, given that in this day and age most readers (at least those who want to be) already are aware and accepting of the facts with regard to the basic issues thereof.

When another victim is murdered and has connections to the clinic, though, Kim and her team redouble efforts to dig into what's really going on - forcing Kim to push the limits of her post-injury physical and mental condition to get to the truth. All in all, another one well done - many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review a pre-release copy. I'm ready for No. 18 - bring it on!

It's a few months after the conclusion of the previous book and Kim is going back to work after recovering from her injuries.
The are pleased to see her back as they have been lumbered with a lazy glory hunter, who wouldn't take ono cases in case the "big one" came and they were already tasked with something. He has also made Stacey the teams tea girl and administrator to everyone's disgust.
One of the cases that Burns decided wasn't worth further investigation was a young man who had been found hanged. Burns had written it off as a suicide, but Kim notices things he didn't and is it opened as a murder investigation. Then two other murders that are dressed up as suicide occur and there are links to a clinic that specialises in Conversion Therapy.
At the same time,. Stacey is looking into the disappearance of a husband. He appears to have vanished.
I love this series, the characters are flawed and it's nice to see. What person wouldn't be in their jobs?

While Kim is still on leave after nearly being killed by a determined, disturbed and evil murderer (in the Detective Kim Stone last story number 16 in the series), her temporary replacement Burns is becoming ever more disliked by her team, Penn, Stacey and Bryant. Instead of working on cases that need attention as they come in, all he is bothered about is making a name for himself by waiting for a really juicy, sexy case that will prove to everybody how skilled and smart he is. He is also belittling or berating Kim’s team and they have had enough of sitting around. They are a great team, never better than when they are on the chase.
Kim is due to come back, working in the station and not yet ready for her usual duties. When she arrives she notices a discarded case, put down as suicide. She starts investigating the details because instinct tells her there have been mistakes, omissions and lack of professionalism. She takes her partner Bryant to the scene of the so-called suicide, asking him to climb up the tree, and within minutes she is certain the young boy has indeed been murdered. She is determined to get justice for the lad, called Jamie Mills. Jamie’s mother and father do not want her to pursue with her investigations. Kim cannot believe what she is hearing. She is totally on the trail. Jamie couldn’t have climbed up the tree as a recent injury would have made it impossible. So the case is reopened as suspicious death, and the demise of Burns.
The team are reunited and alongside much research and planning they head to a swish clinic that Jamie has recently attended, hoping to find out more about Jamie’s problems. They feel uneasy about their reception and the secrecy the Gardner family (the founding owner and her family) seem to be hiding. Gradually they put together the pieces and the case makes progress.
Time is of the essence when another body is found suffocated and also staged as a suicide. It is the body of a young woman. More work is done to find out whether the young lady knew Jamie and if so where they met. This team work well together, sharing their findings and keeping their colleagues safe. Most of all they know that Kim is fighting to keep her work and her terror of what she has been through apart. They admire and respect Kim. It is a dream team, but can they solve the problem before someone else dies?
This series is spot on for me. I wait for each novel to be announced. I am in awe of the incisive and well researched storytelling and enjoy meeting Kim and her team once again. Each novel reveals more information about the team. They are like family to me and I care about what happens to them. I also enjoy meeting new characters and admire the details of their input into the story. Angela’s themes are modern, important and her insight is far reaching. This novel has two separate exciting stories for the reader to enjoy. The main novel is about Conversion Therapy, gay sex, power and shame. This novel has two separate exciting stories for the reader to enjoy, and two nail biting, shocking but wonderful finales.
I was so excited when I saw this new novel and requested it for review. I quickly received a complimentary copy from publisher Legend Press through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you so much for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. It’s a 4.5* review from me, and a recommendation that this is a very good read.

Detective Kim Stone is back!

Jamie Mills, a nineteen year old boy was found hanging from a tree. The death was initially ruled as a suicide and DI Kim Stone was surprised at how his mother didn't seem to be too upset about his death. However, as further investigation goes on, similar deaths have occured and soon, DI Stone and her partner discovers a ruthless place, where they carry out some horrible acts on people to redeem their "sins".

This was quite a page turner! So many twists and turns and from the first page to the last page, I was literally hooked into the story. I couldn't even put the book down and I only read this book in a span of two days, wanting to know what is going to happen next and who is the actual killer. This also deals with LGBTQ issues and how some society is dealing with this issues through brtual schemes. Overall, I actually enjoyed reading this book and cannot wait to read more of Kim Stone series! Worth five stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.

I am always massively excited to read a new Kim Stone story and this one certainly didn't disappoint. Kim has just returned to work after nearly being killed and is supposed to be taking it easy. But when a young man is found hanging from a tree she is convinced this is not a suicide. When it becomes evident that the man was gay but had attended a clinic for aversion therapy, alarm bells start to ring. This is a great story that will keep you on the edge of your seat til the end. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

Another brilliantly written book from one of my favourite series of books going, Book 17 and I’m still hooked. Kim Stone is back with her team where she belongs and although she may not be the fierce detective that she is in previous books I’ve no doubt in my mind that she will get right back up there in time! And that last line of the book! A long time coming, loved it!

Book 17 in the Detective Kim Stone Series and another cracking police procedural that can easily be read as a stand-alone. As always the writing is excellent and the storyline great. Two main strands to the book; a missing man whose behaviour seems completely out of the norm and a young man who appears to have committed suicide. The main theme of the story is gender identity and the shocking use of conversion clinics.

Briefly, having returned to work on a trial basic following the horrific events in the last book Kim is shocked to find the acting DI is treating her team badly and is only interested in pursuing high profile cases. He has ordered the team to close a recent incident of a hanged 19 year old as suicide, although the team aren’t convinced. Kim isn’t going to sit back and watch this so after a rather emotional, but accurate outburst, she takes back control of her team. Time to delve further…

This is quite a dark read with issues raised that may be triggers for some but they are integral to the story and not gratuitous. This was fast paced with plenty of action and some truly shocking scenes. Some great twists and turns and a shocking conclusion to both threads made this a page turning read. Loved it.

What a great return to action. All the twists and turns are still there. Welcome back Kim. I really enjoyed reading your story again.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of Hidden Scars, the seventeenth novel to feature DI Kim Stone of West Midlands Police.

Jamie Mills’ hanging has been written off as suicide, but Kim, recently returned to work after recovering from a brutal attack in her last case, thinks he was murdered and sets about proving it. A second murder made to look like suicide leads her to a clinic which claims to cure their clients of homosexuality.

I thoroughly enjoyed Hidden Scars, which is an event filled read with several twists and turns that takes on the fairly horrific practice of conversion therapy. It is mostly told from Kim’s point of view with the odd chapter from an imprisoned person with no explanation more than their experience.

The novel centres on Kim and her role as leader of the team. No, she’s not fully recovered from her ordeal, if she ever will be, but after a day of desk work she’s ready to take the lead in this new investigation if only to protect her team from her replacement. Soon she’s in her stride and despite some new found empathy she’s as feisty as ever. There’s a lovely story about her teammate, Penn, to bring a little light into what is quite a depressing investigation.

The plot is interesting. I learned a lot about abuse masquerading as therapy and shared every part of Kim’s thinking on the subject. I don’t want to get into the detail of the motive as that would mean spoilers, but it also is a kind of brainwashing and I found it fascinating. The investigation itself moves along at a fast pace with all sorts of developments and reveals and even manages to solve a couple of related crimes.

Hidden Scars is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

A very emotive subject dealt with in a very sensitive way, I have read all of Angela Marsons books and never tire of her writing style and the characters she creates. This is definitely a book that I will re-read, it is that entertaining

OMG! Kim Stone is the best! Marsons has done it again with an absolute page turner. This woman is the queen of crime.

Totally unputdownable.
I love Angie Marsons, she always delivers.
I eagerly await every book as they come out, and read them right away…..I just can’t wait.
The plot was fast-paced and I couldn't put it down, reading at every opportunity. The short chapters are perfect for that. The quality truly blows me away with each book. The books are just so effortless to read. I love them.
Fabulous as always, I love Kim Stone and her team.
Many thanks to Bookouture for the early copy, in which I give my honest opinion.

After nearly dying two months previously (in book #16), DI Kim Stone returns to her team who have clearly missed their Guv. Her replacement, a weasel of a DI out purely for glory has relegated talented IT geek Stacy to admin and desk work while passing off cases without investigating thoroughly. In this case, a spate of murdered poorly disguised as suicide.

The team end up delving into the world of gay conversion therapy, a horrifically barbaric practice which is thankfully illegal to do in my state here in Australia. Luckily in Angela Marsons’ capable hands, this isn’t exploited for shock value but is thoroughly interrogated for what it is a practice and the harm it causes.

This book is another tour de force by Angela Marsons, who seventeen books into this superior series, shows no signs of getting stale. This is huge part to allowing her characters to grow, showing glimpses of changes in their personal lives or in their career development. This is one of the best police procedural around, and if you haven’t already read one of the Kim Stone series, I highly recommend starting,

She's back, knew she wouldn't stay down, brilliant and emotive plot, you feel like jumping in the book and giving some a slap, couldn't put it down until I'd finished, fantastic read