When a DI Stone book is on my reading list everything else is put down as I know once I pick it up it isn't closed until it's finished.

This is book 18 in the fantastic DI Stone series. These books just get better and better and with this book the author leaves us on a cliffhanger and eagerly awaiting book 19.

There are 3 main storylines in this book that are all intertwined with Kim and her team investigating them separately. What I love most about this series is that not only are the storylines always gripping, but the characters have become like my friends and I'm so invested in them.

There's nothing more I can say about this series that I haven't said 17 times before. It is a must read series for all fans of crime fiction.

'Deadly Fate' is book 18 in the DI Kim Stone series and Angela Marsons isn't showing any signs of slowing down. You'd think she would have run out of subjects by now, but nope. This time around we dive into the murky world of psychics.

The body of Sandra Deakin is found in a graveyard. She's been stabbed eleven times and her mouth has been mutilated. This murder feels awfully personal but who could possibly hate Sandra that much? The team soon discovers Sandra was known as a psychic. Does her job have anything to do with her death? Did something happen at her last meeting? Is a rival psychic responsible for her murder? Maybe it's the local Father, whose church is right next to the churchyard. Or does the truth lie closer to home with her husband and stepdaughter? Oy with the options!

There is so much going on in this latest addition. Because, as always, Kim and her team tend to have more than one case on the go and so it is here. Especially because Kim seems to be picking up new ones along the way, much to Bryant's annoyance. It's not like they don't already have enough on their plate. Yet, this is what I like so much about this series. Just when you think you might get an answer about one topic, your attention is drawn back to something else entirely and it really holds your attention and keeps you on your toes.

There's the case of the homeless John Doe who was found dead under a bridge, but whose appearance seemed somewhat at odds with the life he led. Kim can't stand people not having a name, families not being informed and she won't let this one go. Neither will Pen, who's pretty much like a dog with a bone. I adore Pen, I really do. He will go above and beyond to do the right thing, and he has really earned his place on this team.

Pen's dogged determination to solve that case leaves Stacey doing a lot of work regarding Sandy's murder on her own. Along the way she picks up some unwanted attention. That's all I'm going to say about that, apart from ... creepy. We also welcome back Eloise and the ever-fabulous Tink, who should most definitely get a place on the team some day. If there's a petition going to make that happen, I'll gladly sign it ten times over. She's such a wonderful character and always brings a smile to my face.

So many threads in 'Deadly Fate'. Some might even get tangled up together somehow. The psychic angle is done really well. There's no judgment here, no mocking or anything like that. There are those who believe, those who would like to believe, and those who are sceptical. There are those who treat it like a joke and those who can't seem to make a single decision without the guidance of a psychic. A lot of good questions are asked that make you think. Do psychics, whether you believe in them or not, do any harm? Is it mostly about giving people hope? Or the chance to move on? What makes people believe?

I must admit I got a wee emotional at the end. I won't tell you why, but I'm sure that you'll know what I'm talking about when you get to that particular page. To be honest, I don't always appreciate it when my crime fiction leaves me with a lump in my throat, but this was so wonderfully done that I could only applaud it.

Snappy chapters make this one addictive story, and like with any of the other books in this series, I was hooked from start to finish. Of all the mysteries that 'Deadly Fate' had to offer, I managed to solve a measly one. I'd be such a failure as a detective. But all credit to this author, for still being able to keep me guessing until the end. For still being able to keep this series as fresh as it was at the beginning. For still keeping me engrossed, and engaged, and invested in these characters and their lives. For leaving readers on a cliffhanger, again, which promises many more great things to come in book 19. Bring it on, I say!

Really enjoyed this book, it was actually three cases that were being simultaneously investigated by Kim and her team. They were very cleverly interlinked to form a really good read. The best bit was the loose ending with Stacey’s story which I am sure will continue with the next book. I can’t wait!

I always look forward to another Kim Stone novel, and, yes, partly because like Kim, I'm a Black Country woman. I love the way that Angela Masons weaves in a particular sense of place, setting the crimes and characters within an area that I know (and in which I live, so there's a thrill to that.) In this, the (astounding, I know...) EIGHTEENTH novel, Masons tells the tale of murdered psychics, and like others who have reviewed this novel, it's clear she's done her homework, and that, in itself, is fascinating. This novel is another twisted tale, and it's exactly what we've come to expect of Angela Masons. How she manages to keep placing Kim Stone and her colleagues in these situations, I don't know, but what I do know is this is an easy to read, engaging story, and for those of us who have formed a connection with the character Kim Stone, it won't be a disappointment. More please, Angie :).

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Book 18 in the brilliant DI Kim Stone series.

Late one evening Kim is called out when the body of a woman is discovered in church grounds. When she sees the vicious aftermath of the horrific attack Kim knows this has a personal feel about it. Who could hate this woman so much they'd inflict these injuries to her?

What follows is an intricate, fast paced plot with the trademark lighter moments that always make me laugh out loud.

A word of warning. Don't pick this up anywhere near your bedtime. You won't want to put it down.

I love this series and I'm already waiting with baited breath for the next one.

Eighteen books in and Angela Marsons keeps coming up with fresh ideas and multifaceted plots in one of my favourite series.

DI Kim Stone has recovered from the beating that nearly killed her (two books ago) and is fully back at her best, leading her team of DS Bryant, DS Penn and DC Stacey Wood. When a woman known as ‘Psychic Sandy’ is killed while walking her dog in a churchyard, the team investigates the guests at a dinner party where she recently gave readings, only to find they are all lying giving them a number of suspects to investigate. Furthermore, Terence Birch the man who found Sandy in the churchyard is already well known to police for his unrelenting stalking of a woman, who had to go into hiding to escape him, and the priest at the Church seems to have a shady past as well. For Kim, no victim deserves to not have the crime against them solved, although in asking Penn to find out what he can about a man found dead on the streets who looks too well-groomed to be homeless, as well as looking into the cold case of a missing boy who was never found herself, the team have their hands more than full.

Clearly there is a lot going on in this novel, but somehow all the cases are easily and masterfully juggled and the novel has more lightness and humour about it than the previous two novels in the series. Marsons takes us into the world of psychics and the techniques they use to ply their trades but also gives us some hints that some of them may in fact have a real gift that can’t be easily explained. There is also a dark thread creeping into the end of the book, foreshadowing danger for one of Kim’s team in the future. With intelligent writing and characters whose personalities we get to know through their actions and banter with each other, this series continues to deliver enjoyable and novel crime fiction.

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

A body is found in the local churchyard, brutally stabbed multiple times. Kim wonders what psychic Sandra Deakin had done to merit such violence and gets the team to dig deeper into her life. A second murder of a young man outside a psychic call centre makes her think that the motive has to do with the victims’ jobs, especially when she learns of a newspaper article denigrating them.

I thoroughly enjoyed Deadly Fate, which has a gripping plot and several smaller, but equally interesting subplots. There is never a dull moment and even some humour and it is constantly busy with developments and reveals. It is told from the investigative point of view with all the team members contributing as the various investigations unfold. There is also a small contribution from one of the bad guys, but that will continue on into the next novel so I’m not elaborating.

This is a high octane read with Kim and her team juggling several investigations. I would like to say it’s effortless, but that’s only the appearance presented by a well oiled, professional team. Instead it requires hard work and resourcefulness. Each plot line, except the ongoing one, is gradually investigated and unraveled, so I was very impressed by the way they all come together in symmetry. It’s a clever trick to weave them together so successfully. I was gripped by the novel and read it one sitting and that’s the first time in a long time that I can say that as I’m having concentration issues. Therefore it’s a full 5 stars from me.

Deadly Fate is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks to Angela and NetGalley for allowing me to read Deadly Fate before the publication date.
Goodness, where do I start to review this book which has so many storylines.
This skilfully crafted story is a definite page turner which touches on thought provoking topics.
Angela’s sense of humour is prevalent, but I won’t give away any spoilers.

DI Kim Stone is called to the report of a woman’s body being found in a churchyard by the church bellringer, Terence Birch.

The victim is Sandra Deakin, who has been stabbed multiple times. Sandra’s work at private parties as Psychic Sandy has drawn disapproval from a number of people, including Father George Markinson who has barred Sandra from the church.

Her last appointment had been at the home of a group of women who attend the same yoga class.
It soon becomes clear that they each have secrets.

When 19 year old Azim Mahmood, is found dead outside a call centre where he works on a psychic hotline, Kim is even more certain that the deaths are related to the activities of psychics. The hotline preys on the vulnerable clientele who are desperate for information at any cost , believing that they are talking to real psychics.

Meanwhile, DS Penn is tasked with identifying a John Doe. A homeless man, Jericho, is able to tell Penn that the man was known as Dan, although that was not his real name. Dan had only been living rough for a few years after his gambling addiction had lost him everything.

I’ve been a fan of Detective Kim Stone since the very first book and I can’t believe we’re already up to number 18.
This one has a number of plot strands, some of which come together at the end and one which I would expect to feature heavily in book 19.
Kim and her team are called on to investigate the death of a local psychic, Sandra Deakin. As well as this they are looking into the demise of a vagrant, albeit from natural causes. In the course of the investigation they also encounter a very creepy stalker- more than enough to keep the, busy in this fast paced novel.
The book itself spends a lot of time looking into the world of psychics and questioning whether what they say is truly a gift or merely a form of trickery to make money out of unsuspecting and gullible believers.
Very cleverly the author puts both sides of the argument but really leaves it up to the reader to make their own decision.
As the action hots up and more murders occur, Kim, Bryant, Stacey and Penn are in a race against time to solve the case and stop the killer in their tracks.
As ever this book is cleverly plotted with interlinking events which gradually come together as the team try and get to work out what is happening.
A thoroughly enjoyable read which I raced through over the course of a bank holiday weekend.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

We're up to number 18 in the Kim Stone series and it's still as fresh and exciting as the first. Angela Marsons writes in a way which makes it difficult to put her books down. You can't say that you'll finish reading at the end of a chapter, oh no, you'll be reading late into the night because you need to know what happens next. Deadly Fate was a pleasure to read, with several different stories intertwining and one in particular building up to what will hopefully play a big part in book 19.

Something like four story "threads" push the needle toward the highly entertaining end in this, the 18th book in the series featuring Detective Kim Stone. Resolutions happen by the end - well, except for one, which no doubt will be a focus in the next installment (I can't wait)!

The overarching story here is the gruesome murder of local psychic Sandra Deakin in a church cemetery. Her last appearance alive was at a "reading" for a group of women who, upon further investigation, aren't coming clean about their experiences with and feelings about the dead woman. Several other folks, in fact, are less than glowing in their description of Sandra and others who ply the psychic trade. But who among them, if anyone, would go so far as to kill her?

Meanwhile, one of Kim's colleagues finds the dead body of a homeless man under an underpass. Natural causes or not, something triggers the thought that something's not quite right here, requiring further investigation (even if it's mostly off the books). Also meanwhile, a case involving a missing boy that's been closed for years grabs Kim's attention, and as someone always intent on finding justice, she just can't let it pass without further investigation. And as if all this weren't enough, another of Kim's close colleagues becomes the center of someone else's attention - but it's a spotlight that isn't welcome.

Needless to say, there's plenty of action in this one, and I daresay that series fans will be happy. As for me, I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for providing me with a pre-release copy to read and review. Good job!

When the body of a psychic is found stabbed in a graveyard a murder enquiry opens that affects not just DI Kim Stone but all of her team with other cases being drawn into their workload and personal life. As other murders as committed the suspect list grows.
This is another great read from Angela Marsons I found it hard to put the book down and when finished found I had thoroughly enjoyed reading from cover to cover.

Kim Stone, Bryant and the team never disappoint. Marsons’ books are always fast paced, with a few smaller storylines mixed in, to keep the pages turning…fast!
Hoping the end is a big clue to the plot of the next book!

Another fantastic five star read that kept me reading late into the night. A real page turner with a cliff hanger that left me speechless. Oh please Angela I need the next book now PLEASE!!! I know this gripping and very addictive series is coming to the end but this was so cruel. Atmospheric, chilling and creepy as hell. Loved,loved it!!!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A great Kim Stone thriller which is could not put down. The story is based upon a local psychic being found murdered in a local graveyard- during the investigation different things materialise creating multiple investigations into different unsolved crimes. Well written as ever, love the characters and can’t wait for the next one!

When psychic Sandra Deakin is found brutally stabbed to death in a graveyard, Detective Kim Stone knows this is a deeply personal attack. As she investigates the last people to see Sandra alive, she discovers that everyone is lying. As the team try to find the killer, another body is found... Can they solve the murders before the killer strikes again?

Another brilliant entry to the series, I loved this one. The story was gripping and keeps you guessing, full of shocks and twists. Great to see Kim and the others again. Can't wait for the next one!!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

I
Am hanging in ti the cliff you left us on by the skin of my teeth!!

What a belter!!

As usual A.M has done it again, now I’m patiently waiting for the next one.

I have just started re-reading the whole series again, to refresh my memory of the team and keep myself occupied in the ‘tumbleweed’ of reading.

You could read this as a stand alone, but hanging out with all the characters is much more fun!

This is book 18 in the DI Kim Stone series. This has been a great series so far. I couldn’t put this one down. Highly recommend the read!

Detective Kim Stone is called to the scene when a body is found at a church cemetery. The victim, Sandra Deakin, was stabbed several times. Who wanted her dead?

Upon investigating, Kim and her team learn that Sandra claimed that she could communicate with the dead. People either loved or hated her for her ability. A group of women who had an appointment with Sandra seem to be the last who saw her alive. It’s not long before Kim and her team realize that each of these ladies are hiding some part of the truth. Could one of them be the killer?

There is a long list of suspects in this case, including the church minister. It seems like each lead ends in a dead end. When another victim is attacked and stabbed, the team races to find the killer before anyone else falls victim. Will the they find out who’s responsible before it’s too late?

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely well worth waiting for with my wife ( a big Ms Marsons fan) and I devouring this latest instalment to the DI Kim Stone series. Hopefully, the next one is on the cards for late 2023.

The story is slightly unusual with the victim apparently able to speak to the dead (?).

No more, just another 5 star book (10 if you count both of us!)

Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture for the chance to read and review.

An absolute MUST for any Kim Stone fan! As always I was hooked from the first page and everything stopped until I was done, I read until my eyes hurt! The one thing I love about these books is I never see it coming and I’m normally pretty good as guessing the bad guy! The only issue I have is having to wait for the new book to be released!!! Recommend to EVERYONE!