‘Hidden Scars’ by Angela Marsons | @WriteAngie @bookouture

Found this hiding away in my drafts folder and figured I’d share it with you today. Better late than never, right?

Author : Angela Marsons
Title : Hidden Scars
Series : DI Kim Stone #17
Pages : 350
Publisher : Bookouture
Publication date : November 9, 2022
Source : Netgalley

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

When a nineteen-year-old boy, Jamie Mills, is 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 – but it’s not her investigation and her temporary replacement is too busy waiting for the next big case to be asking the right questions.

Why would a seemingly healthy boy choose to end his life?
Why does his mother show no sign of emotional distress at the loss of her son?

Still mending her broken mind and body from her last harrowing case, Kim is supposed to be easing back into work gently. 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.

| MY THOUGHTS |

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!

Amazon UK Hidden Scars is available to buy! While you’re there, preorder the next one 😉.

Thanks to Bookouture for the advanced review copy, which I received via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.