Hidden Scars

Kim Stone #12 to #21



I went down a rabbit hole with Kim Stone. After eleven novels starring Angela Marsons’ brilliant, abrasive, sympathetic Detective Inspector, I was so enamoured with these characters, the mysteries, and all the other greatness that make these novels, I just couldn’t get enough of them.



Every waking minute that could be spent on the novels, would be.



Ok, a few times I would start to despair at the loss of the rule of law in the USA, witnessing how people like you and me are impacted by what that despicable orange person does.



And then I would immediately return to Kim Stone and her team. Penn, Stacey, Bryant (whose given name I now finally know!), Frost, and, interestingly, Leanne - they all have their moments. The stories always address relevant contemporary issues, they’re believable, suspenseful and thrilling.



I cannot review those novels individually anymore because once I had finished one (without taking the time for my usual highlights, notes, and annotations), I’d jump right into the next. I’d probably be facing the worst book hangover in decades if there hadn’t been a certain book to spare me that trouble.



Just know if you’re into mysteries and police procedurals (in rural Britain), you cannot go wrong with Angela Marsons’ Kim Stone.



Thus, I’m awarding five stars out of five to each and every instalment from #12 to #21 and will be copying this review to each of these.

I'm not sure what I can say that I haven't said in perhaps the last 10 reviews of books in this series, but I loved it.

This instalment focused on murders which have links to a ‘sexuality conversion clinic' - given the subject, this was quite hard to read in places. It's unbelievable that these types of institutions exist and perform these ‘treatments' on people, a lot of times unwillingly. Less unbelievable are the bigoted disgusting people who believe being gay needs ‘cured', it's just beyond words that these people can still have views like this in this day and age.

As this is book 17, I would definitely recommend against picking this up without reading earlier books. Whilst each book focuses on a different case, there is a huge backstory to uncover with Kim and her team which happen in previous books.