5*

How do you catch a killer who leaves no trace?

A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong. A caring, upstanding social worker lost to a senseless act of violence. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn’t add up. When a local drug addict is found murdered with an identical wound, Kim knows instinctively that she is dealing with the same killer. But with nothing to link the two victims except the cold, calculated nature of their death, this could be her most difficult case yet.

Desperate to catch the twisted individual, Kim’s focus on the case is threatened when she receives a chilling letter from Dr Alex Thorne, the sociopath who Kim put behind bars. And this time, Alex is determined to hit where it hurts most, bringing Kim face-to-face with the woman responsible for the death of Kim’s little brother, her own mother.

Oh, yes! I did it! Thank you book pimp 😉 for the wee nudge and the encouragement along the way. Couldn’t have done it without you!

In case you didn’t know, I set myself the challenge to get caught up on the Kim Stone series before book 6 is published and I totally nailed it! No applause, please. Oh, okay, go on, a little bit. I’ll wait.

Before you ask, yes, I know I haven’t posted the previous review that long ago but after everything, you didn’t really think I wouldn’t try my hardest to be around for the publication day of book 6, did you? (spoiler : I will be.)

So Blood Lines, the fifth in the series and really, I’m running out of words to describe the awesomeness that is Detective Kim Stone and her creator Angela Marsons. There was a part of me that wondered if the author could keep up the level I’ve now become accustomed to. Would there be a blip? Would I think Angela Marsons had lost her writing mojo? Would I, with pain in my heart, be inclined to hand out four stars instead of five? (Who knew I was this good at drama?)

The answer is : heck no!

A woman is found stabbed to death in her car. It looks like a robbery gone wrong. But when a second body is found with the exact same wound, Kim knows she’s dealing with the same killer. The victims don’t seem to have anything in common so what’s the connection? And who is lurking in the shadows?

Meanwhile Alex and her fabulously manipulative talent are providing a huge distraction, forcing Kim to face her past head-on.

Since we last saw Alex in Evil Games, I always felt that a silly inconvenience of being incarcerated wouldn’t stop her from trying to get into Kim’s head. So as soon as I realised she was making a comeback, I was on the edge of my seat! Her evil games know no limits. She may just be my favourite baddie and even behind bars, she’s a force to be reckoned with.

So again, I’ll say, this one is the best one yet in the series. Angela Marsons raises the bar every single time. I know I’m repeating myself but it’s true. This series just goes from strength to strength and book 5 is another cracking addition. I’m so looking forward to reading the next one and I will never lose track of this series again!

Blood Lines was published in November 2016.

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