The author does a nice job of luring the reader into the next chapter, not just by teasing you, or tossing out tantalizing bait, but by dropping a bombshell on you, guaranteeing you will have to read the next chapter, and the next… While Jamie’s cold, lifeless body lay in the morgue, Detective Kim Stone stared at the empty board in the incident room and felt her anger boil. Why were there no photos, details, or lines of enquiry? While I liked the overall feel of the prequel better, the mystery of this book is really well done. I’m actually pretty proud that I was able to solve it since her first one stumped me. The way Marsons’ writes her mysteries makes you excited if you can actually figure them out. That part is what I love about reading good mysteries and these books sure don’t disappoint. Kim makes a further chilling discovery – the head of the clinic, Celia Gardner, was sent there for conversion therapy when she was sixteen. With only twenty-four hours to make every second of Steven’s interrogation count, and scan his behavior for hidden clues, Kim and her team soon link Steven to the abduction of several vulnerable girls – two were kept for a year and then released, unharmed – but where are Melody and the others?

The thriller was already above average from the start, with jaw dropping twists, and a furiously frustrating mystery that I simply could not puzzle out. But, the finale, blindsided me, really, really taking me by surprise, and left me flabbergasted and speechless. This doesn’t happen to me all that often, so it goes without saying, that I am definitely on board for book two, and can’t wait to see how this series shapes up. Plus, he seems to be the only one D.I. Stone trusts as a friend. I’m looking forward to seeing this dynamic duo and friendship evolve with the rest of the books. The dialogue between them was fantastic; sarcastic, deep and to the point. 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… The plot in this book is quite breathtaking and will have you on the edge of your seat. This is a crime fiction but with a mix of psychological thriller. In this thriller Detective Kim Stone is not just a cardboard cutout cop, she is different due to her great work ethic. More of her character is revealed in this book as she goes head-to-head with this sociopath. This character grows exceptionally as the story progresses in this series. Written by Angela Marsons — You’d be forgiven for thinking you’d seen everything when it comes to serial killer novels. It’s been a while since something really different has come out in the sub-genre, and in its opening Angela Marsons’ Silent Scream does little to separate itself from the norm. But looks can deceive, and so can excerpts. This is a thriller that plays its cards close to its chest right to the end, a serial killer story with depth and a psychological edge, and a debut crime novel that really looks like it could do big things.The pace is enjoyable, straight into the action and it doesn't slow down or let you go. One of those books where I worked out some of the answers but not all, so very satisfied. A fantastic read that I really recommend whether you are a crime lover or not. I will be looking out for more writing from Angela Marsons for sure.

I am a hardened crime and horror reader, so hardened to difficult and gory moments, yet scenes in this book, whilst not graphic still disturbed me hugely. This was mainly because of the way the author portrays the viewpoint of the killer/s. How he/she sees the victim. It left me angry, saddened and all sorts of other feelings. Pretty much the same as Kim Stone is feeling. I was right with her in wanting to catch the bad guys let me tell you.

I think I liked the prequel better than this book when it came to the characters. Angela Marsons does a great job of really introducing everyone and I felt like I could really understand the whole team. I would recommend starting with First Blood because of that. Also, there is something Kim does right at the end of this book that will have even a greater impact if you read First Blood first. In this very dark and atmospheric police procedural, the author has done a fantastic job of creating characters that are real and totally believable, with all their faults and merits. We can totally relate to Kim, and we are drawn further into the story. I love the way Kim's own past is revealed over the course of the book, information is disclosed on a need to know basis. So many twists and turns to this novel, and the ending will have you in awe. I also like that there is a balance between the crime investigation process and the character portrayal. En conjunto me ha gustado y en breve tengo intención de continuar con el siguiente de la serie. Estoy en la duda de 4 o 5*, lo dejaré en 4 y ya veremos el siguiente. I recommend this book to those who only want to eat. I don’t recommend it to those who want to cook too. I loved D.I. Stone right from the beginning. It’s not a matter of knowing when to turn her filter on or off, it’s that she doesn’t seem to have a filter. So, what you see, is what you get with her… at least most of the time.

Beneath the retreat’s cosy façade, Kim and her team uncover a sinister community preying on the emotionally vulnerable. Ultimately the story turned out ok, though not groundbreaking. The author puts in some long passages that are well written and interesting. Maybe later books are built on that foundation, and if so they are probably worth a read, but much of this book was too hit or miss to give it a higher rating. It would probably be better not as an audiobook. As Kim and her team begin to unravel a dark web of secrets, one of the teachers could hold the key to the truth. Yet just as she is about to break her silence, she is found dead. But when human remains are discovered at a former children's home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. DI Kim Stone fast realizes she's on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades. I do all sorts of crime thrillers - especially the Scandi ones - but always endeavour to try out and support home-grown talent. Silent Scream might possibly be far better NOT as an audio book (or perhaps a better narrator)! As stories go, it has all the elements of a disturbing and unsettling crime.As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer, can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it’s too late?" In the darkness of a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. The victim of her next case is about to meet his killer… She has a real gift for storytelling...the story is focused and compelling, with more than enough twists and turns to keep the plot skimming along at high speed... * Jaffa Reads Too Book Blog * As more and more bodies are uncovered the book just gets better and better, like a busy train intersection, all the story lines and people in the book come together neatly at the end to give you the conclusion you have been begging for as you read along. A detective hiding dark secrets, Kim Stone will stop at nothing to protect the innocent. Silent Scream is the first book in the series. Watch out for Evil Games, coming soon.

I don't want to say too much about this book as I feel it is best to go into this book not knowing too much about plot. The brief synopsis is that human remains have been found at a former children's home. Through the course of the investigation, it becomes clear that the human remains may be connected to recent murders. But how? Why? Plus, young women/teens from the children's home disappeared ten years ago. What's the connection? Angela Marsons sure has left us wanting more and we are ready to dive into book two of this series very soon. We can’t wait to see what's in store for DI Kim Stone next. Highly recommended! Lots of questions went through my mind while I was reading this: Who is the current killer? What is his/her motivation? Is this the same person responsible for the remains found at the children's home? Is there more than one killer? Whose body was found at the children's home? D.I. Kim Stone is on the case and the reader knows early on that she has demons in her past. Maybe it is just me, but has anyone else noticed the trend to have female investigators have troubled pasts? Or perhaps, maybe it is just coincidence that my book choices have contained these types of characters. hmmmm The woman’s bright blonde hair floats in the breeze. She almost looks like she could be resting on the soft green grass. But her brown eyes stare unblinking up at the sky, and the final cut across her mouth is dark with blood. Her words silenced forever…

Angela Marsons did a wonderful job with both the protagonist and the supporting characters, both bad and good. The characters are quite unbelievable especially in the close but unromantic relationship between the Detective and her partner Bryant. A sinister air pervades the story creating perpetual tension for the reader. As the story progresses, your interest will not flag for a moment due to the twists and turns. 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. With Kim and her team still grieving the loss of one of their own, they’re at their weakest and facing one of the most dangerous serial killers they’ve ever encountered. Everything is on the line. Can Kim keep her squad together and find the killer before he claims his next victim? The clues to smashing open this disturbing case lie behind the old Victorian walls of the clinic, run by the Gardner family. They claim that patients come of their own accord and are free to leave at any time. But why are those that attended the clinic so afraid to speak of what happens there? And where did the faded restraint marks identified on Jamie’s wrists come from?