A police procedural, a complex plot that is revealed layer after layer and a strong, determined female detective with no people skills and who doesn’t care what others think about her because her only goal is to catch the person who brutally killed three teen-aged girls are what made this a story I couldn’t quit listening to. DI Kim Stone’s childhood was unimaginably horrible, but she emerged from it determined to catch those who would dare to hurt others, especially children. I can’t wait for more Detective Kim Stone.

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D.I. Kim Stone #1
Silent Scream
Angela Marsons
4.07
41,879 ratings3,265 reviews

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Even the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…
Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …
Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

Even the darkest secrets can’t stay buried forever…
Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood …
Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.

But when human remains are discovered at a former children’s home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she’s on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.

Human remains are being dug up at an old children's home, but some people want the secrets kept hidden and others are set on revenge.

Kim Stone must uncover the past and fight for justice for the children who didn't have a voice, but these cruel truths lead a little close to home.

This novel had a badass main female character! Although Marsons's main character has her own demons I loved that the reader was able to empathise and connect with them. Several side characters showed conflict with the main character but also showed understanding towards her.

This was a novel with a twist I didn't see coming, including I had to go back and double-check as it left me speechless.

This is a fantastic first novel to a series I can see myself continuing.

A friend of mine recommended this book to me a while ago and as the latest book in the series (number 21 can you believe it?!), is due to be published soon, reading number 1 now felt like as good a time as any.

Full disclaimer; I looked at the cover for this book and was immediately turned off. It just doesn't look like something I would usually go for or enjoy, but I wanted to give it a go. Mostly for the Black Country vibes. The book is set across various locations in the Black Country which is where I spent the first 30 years of my life, so I had to give it a shot. And I'm glad that I did. Not only was it fun recognising all of the place and landmarks, but it was a good plot too.

The case that was being investigated was pretty dark and left a very eerie feeling hovering over me. I had my suspicions about who was involved in the atrocious historical and present crimes and I was partly correct, however there was a twist that I did not see coming.

The one aspect of this book that lost it a star for me was that I didn't feel like I grew close enough to the characters to feel invested in them. There was so much more I wanted to know about Kim and the rest of her team, but it felt surface level. However with a series this long, I'm sure that readers get to know them more as it progresses.

I listened to this on audio and devoured the whole thing in one sitting. I love my thrillers with a dark crime and this story didn't disappoint. I look forward to continuing on with the series and getting to know the returning characters more.

I hadn't listened to any of this series I have now bought the entire series I just loved it. The crime itself was well thought out and I got involved, the narration added to the story and worked well.
The lead character was well though with a hint of back story which I assume that we will discover. She has a unconventional relationship with her career and her team but it works.

Silent Scream by Angela Marsons is an intense and gripping start to the Detective Kim Stone series. The story dives into a chilling murder investigation tied to the haunting secrets of a burned-down children’s home. Kim Stone, a tough and determined detective shaped by her own difficult past, leads the case with unwavering resolve. The dual timeline and well-placed twists keep the suspense high, with a shocking ending that caught me off guard.

While Kim is a polarizing character, her team's dynamic adds depth and balance to the story. The narration by Jan Cramer is excellent, bringing the characters and tension to life. This audiobook is a must for fans of dark and emotional crime thrillers. Looking forward to continuing the series!

In this book we meet Kim Stone and her team for the 1st time

Investigating the murder of Teresa Wyatt, DI Kim Stone and the team are thrown into the past as a 2nd Murder occurs and bodies are found on the grounds of an old girls home

This is a tough storyline as it involves rape and abuse of young girls, however it is well written.

Kim comes across as a no nonsense, take no cr*p woman. She had a tough life, herself growing up in care so this case resonates hard for her and she is determined to bring justice for the bodies found.

I am looking forward to hearing more from Kim and her team

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this title

An amazing fast paced story that gripped me from the beginning. I couldn’t listen fast enough as I just wanted to know what happened. Kim is a very troubled lady and very hard and rude so I didn’t warm to her but having said that I also quite like her. A twisty dark thriller that I highly recommend if you enjoy this genre.

psychological-thriller, crime-fiction, law-enforcement, England, suspense, British-detective, procedural, conspiracy, twisty, multiple-murder, investigations, due-diligence, retribution, unpleasant-main-character, unputdownable, riveting, witty, banter, triggers*****

The Children's Home is now an archaeological dig, but its horrors linger in those it has harmed. These years later, some past employees are being murdered and/or threatened with no prosecutable evidence. Led by DI Kim Stone the investigations are done well and are deeply disturbing to all concerned. Riveting yet horrifying.
Voice actor Jan Cramer is very skilled at differentiation of both characters and tone of passages.
I requested and received a temporary digital file from Bookouture Audio via NetGalley.
Avail Feb 20, 2015 #SilentScream by Angela Marsons Narrated by Jan Cramer #NetGalley #DIKimStoneBk1 #Bookouture #PsychologicalThriller #LawEnforcementMystery @goodreads @bookbub @librarythingofficial @barnesandnoble @kobobooks @waterstones ***** #Review @booksamillion @bookshop_org @bookshop_org_uk

The book summary basically lays out the start of the story and introduces the primary storyline. What the book summary doesn’t say is that the MC, DI Kim Stone, is arrogant, obnoxious, self-absorbed, and is someone who, most of the time, thinks she’s the most important person in the room and the only one who matters. In other words, a very unlikeable person! As a character driven reader, unlikeable MC’s are usually a deal breaker for me. By the 15% mark, when a beloved pet doggie is murdered (poisoned) by the killer, that was it for me. I closed the book and started looking for something else to read. Good grief!!! Don’t most writers know they’re not supposed to kill beloved and innocent family pets! Leave that crap for the horror writers who are known for that.

Anyways, the next day, I picked the book back up so that I could at least provide an honest review. While I didn’t like Kim, I did like her team; Stacy, the youngest and newest member, who is also an ardent gamer, Bryant, an older, seasoned cop as well as a long married and devoted father, Kevin, a younger, single, and conceited cop, who has been kicked out by his pregnant girlfriend and is back living with his parent. It’s revealed pretty early that Kim had a rough childhood being shuffled between a children’s home and numerous foster families. Kim’s mother is a murderer who will spend the rest of her life in a criminal psych ward. Kim also lost her twin brother when they were kids.

The murders continue and a connection is revealed between the victims and an old and burned-out children’s home. Most of the story revolves around the investigation of the murders and the leads they got while searching the burned-out children’s home. The story flips back and forth between Kim, some of the victims (before they were murdered) and the killer, who isn’t identified until the end. The story also flips back and forth between the present day and the past when the children’s home was still operating and full of kids. The investigation was well done, and I had narrowed the killer down to two people but wasn’t really even committed to them. I was totally expecting a shocking end.

The character development for Kim was ok (even though I didn’t like her) and there was enough on her team to qualify them as more than just talking heads. The development for the rest of the characters, with the exception of the killer, were pretty thin. I’m sure in later installments, some of the characters will become more developed. The pacing was steady to fast and the storyline was just ok. I wasn’t all that impressed with the writing either. The investigative part of the story was ok, although it might have been better with a better FMC. I also liked the shocking end. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.1 that I will be rounding down to a 3star review.

This series is probably going to be a one and done for me. At first, I thought Kim might be neurodivergent like Zoe Prime (Blake Pierce) who I loved, but she’s not, she’s just a jerk. While I still don’t like Kim Stone, at the very end she did reveal that she actually does have a heart – for kids. Hopefully, that mandatory counseling she has to get will result in some kind of improvement to her personality and character. I want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #BookoutureAudio #SilentScream

TW: Animal abuse

The DI Kim Stone series has been on my radar and tbr pile for a while, as I know it is a firm favourite for many readers.

Kim and her team, are faced with what quickly shows itself to be a deeply troubling, dark case. Modern day murders that have roots back to the shameful treatment of the most vulnerable, those who should have been protected. As the years have passed, those culpable believe they have whitewashed themselves, but they haven’t met our determined and belligerent central character yet.

Silent Scream is a gripping dual timeline police procedural, with plenty of misdirection sprinkled throughout. It is tense, with an ending I defy anyone to guess. The characters were well padded out, and believable.
The narration didn’t quite work for me, though I felt Cerys’ accent was spot on. This is a series I look forward to reading in the years to come, as I have come upon it very late. I’m looking forward to picking up book 2, Evil Games next.

SILENT SCREAM introduces us to Kim Stone, a character born out of a troubled children's home, who wears her heart on her sleeve. Her unwavering dedication and passion as a police officer, coupled with her deeply memorable character, make her a truly unique and intriguing protagonist.

With its disturbing and horrifying elements, the intricate and multi-layered plot of SILENT SCREAM held my attention from start to finish, building up to a truly shocking ending. This is a must-read for any crime fiction enthusiast, and I'm already looking forward to delving into more of Angela Marsons' work.

The audiobook's narrator, Jan Cramer, delivers a stellar performance that enhances the reading experience. It's a great listen that will leave you satisfied.

I'm deeply grateful to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing me with the audio copy of SILENT SCREAM in exchange for an honest review. And to Angela Marsons, thank you for creating such a captivating series, including the upcoming 36 HOURS, which I'm eagerly anticipating on December 10, 2024!

Full disclosure… I’ve read this book and all of the Kim Stone books since but this was my first time listening to one of her audiobooks and I’m now buying the rest of them to listen to! Jan Kramer does a fabulous job of narrating with various accents and dialects and I cannot tell you how relieved I am to finally be able to hear the Black Country dialect!
This book was even better than I remember and I LOVED getting to read about a character we don’t have anymore in sone future books and appreciate that particular character so much more!
I’ve already started listening to Evil Games and I’m loving it just as much!!!

The opening long running audio book had me gripped. The narrator actually voiced di Kim atone exactly as I imagined her. As always a growing murder mystery full of colourful characters. It was lovely thexway the dialogue was written and now the past was dripped in to give depth to the heroine of this long running saga. It felt a short listen engaging sadly teue to life and full of twists till the end. A good strong female heroine gave this the meat on the bones. So entertaining. A fantastic first listen. Will have to check out tge others.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author and narrator

**Updated Review**

Detective Kim Stone is undoubtedly a ballbuster and a rule breaker. In fact, her boss is keeping a close eye on her.

Teresa Wyatt is dead, and Kim is determined to find out why. Despite being super stressed, this case is personal for Kim. It’s a thrilling first book in the Detective Kim Stone Crime Thriller series that introduces us to Kim and shows her humanity and compassion, even though she’s got a fiery temper.

There are now 21 books in this amazing series, but revisiting this book in audio format was a blast. As we get to know Kim better, we also meet her team members like Stacey, Kevin, and Bryant. Jan Cramer’s narration is spot-on, and it was great to “hear” Kim’s voice, especially when she’s snappy or funny.

Kim’s new case starts with learning more about the victim, Teresa, who was a school principal. Talking to other staff at the school is just the beginning. Kim discovers a 10-year pact that Teresa was a part of, which suggests that there might be other bodies. The investigation is complex and full of twists, so you’ll be on the edge of your seat.

This book had me hooked from the start. One line that really stuck with me was, “Much as they wished to, they knew they were incapable of saving the whole world – but sometimes you just had to deal with what was right in front of you.” And there was a shocking twist that I never saw coming, which left me with a lump in my throat. This book and series are definitely worth checking out!

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Ummm well so much to say, yet I also feel speechless... This is a difficult book to review! I think this may be the first time I've felt so conflicted and literally lost for words!!!

At the beginning of this book, before we are introduced to the psychopathic character, the little comments from DI Kim Stone were light and amusing they made what seemed to be a relatively standard detective psychological thriller a little different. Her character with her partner Bryant is the type of rapport you could envisage on a television drama... Comments regarding how he is balancing out his dancing classes with his fiance so he has to go and hug some hairy men "play rugby" was just one of Kim's little moments of banter with him as she races through traffic lights!

This was so very well narrated by Jan Cramer that I genuinely felt the creepiness from the moment I heard the first transcript of the psychopath is how I will refer to this being so as not to share any spoilers! There are many times I did have to pause and actually take a moment like what have I actually just listened to, then oh wait, what is coming next, etc.

⚠️ This is not for the faint hearted or for anyone who may be triggerered I'd definitely say have awareness this book covers various topics but it's more that it is actually delivered so well in the narration that it makes this as an audiobook even more difficult. Even for someone who has empathy, you will sense it. If you're able to listen with the foresight knowing this and prepared then you can take it as a fictional story and not be caught off guard, then you will enjoy it in the context that is meant. This is just my little word of warning for anyone who may have any sensitivity for any reason to various forms of abuse including but not limited to child abuse, sexual abuse, animal abuse, and in particular very obvious psychopathic tendencies.

I have to say as difficult as these subjects are, this book had my full attention from the very beginning. I was immersed. I believe the author and narrator have clearly done a lot of research into these areas in order to be able to write and narrate the Silent Scream as well as it has been done. From a review standpoint this truly deserves alot of credit from the perspective of the work that is so clearly involved in writing any book and also in narrating to deliver for the listener to actually feel like they can and do feel or sense things from the characters and boy did I. To be able to engage an audience and emote the emotions from my pov shows amazing work!

The story itself obviously had enough structure to keep my interest and I believe the way the writing was done by introducing the characters like DI Kim and Bryant from the beginning in a fun lighthearted way helps ease the reader/listener in to the story before it gets really dark. Not to mention the lovely friendship / co-worker relationship that Kim and Bryant had this really did lighten the subject matters covered in this book. From various forms of abuse, investigating murders, Kims personal life ans difficulties are also brought to the forefront as she delves into the investigation that takes her back to childhood as she discoovers an area durif investigation that used to be an old girls school / home. There really is so much covered in this, and yet i managed to liaten to this over 2 days... So albeit definitely without doubt, this becomes very disturbing at times, but being able to view this as fiction it does keep you intrigued trying to figure out the plot alongside Kim right to the very end!

Absolutely fantasticly well written and narrated together a brilliant combination that brought to life this deep web of so many twists and turns you really didn't quite know what was going to happen next and quite honestly ir has been a long time since I've found a book that has captured me in this way that I really wasn't convinced I had figured out the plot before the end. Albeit it turns out I had, I really was uncertain with this one, which for me shows signs of amazing writing that the author managed to leave me pondering various possibilities and what ifs...

Well, for being speechless, I certainly had a lot to say. As I said, it was definitely one I had very conflicted feelings on how to review, so I done so from the point of the work involved!

With much gratitude, I really appreciated the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for my open, honest review. Thank you to Netgalley & Bookouture Audio

4.5⭐️

The first book in the Kim Stone series set in the Black Country.

I’m a fan of the series, it’s great to see this series available in audiobook. I couldn’t resist listening to it in this format. The narrator is Jan Cramer, I’m not sure how I feel about her as a fit, wasn’t what I had in my head.

I think it’s still my favourite of the series, and I think the darkest.
Kim is badly damaged, I’m amazed that she manages to function as well as she does. You definitely see her character develop through the series, she isn’t at her most likeable in this book. I really like the working relationship and friendship between Kim and Bryant.

It’s high on entertainment, lower on authentic police procedure, which is what I enjoy, but we all like different things. A popular author, if you haven’t tried the series yet, give it a go.

Man!!! this story will have you on the edge of your sit bitting your nails trying to fiture out who the killer is and who the killer was of the 3 girls! and the the 4th girl. can you belive it wasn't all the same person! listening back and forth! I still was like who did this and who did that! And I still was wrong!!

Even with the twins I was like everyone else WRONG I thought it was 2 different people nope!! one was dead along! crazy wild ride of a story!!!!

Silent Scream (D.I. Kim Stone #1)
By Angela Marsons, narrated by Jan Cramer

Having never read/heard any of the books, I was aware of the D.I. Kim Stone series, and I'm a big fan of police procedurals. So when I saw that NetGalley was offering the audiobook of the first book in the series, I decided this would be a great time to give the series a try. Be prepared for graphic descriptions and for the action to start immediately.

There is a real feel that these characters have lives that began before I started the audiobook. I like that in a story, that life doesn't seem to start for the characters just because I picked up the book. Even though Kim Stone is in no way likeable, I do like her. She's hard, harsh, and has to remind herself to tone down the rudeness, to sometimes remember to not rush into every situation like a herd of stampeding elephants. Mostly Kim is very content being herself and eschewing time wasting pleasantries. This is a detective that is going to get things done and even if she might push boundaries, she'll protect others who follow her into the fray.

We quickly know that something very bad happened years ago and now those involved are paying the price for their involvement. Kim has a past that removed all external softness from her personality but even as she's barging into scenes, controlling everything that is going on, there is a part of her that is aware of those who need protecting, need compassion, need to be remembered. I can see why this is popular series. Jan Cramer narrates this first book and I liked the way she voices Kim. You know who is in charge, even when Kim might be in the middle of getting dressed down by her superior (more than once).

Thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.