Detective Inspector (DI) Kim Stone is transferred yet again to another West Midlands police station. This time is Halesowen under the leadership of Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) Woodward. Her style and lack of social norms are responsible for her being dispatched from one station to another. She’s also got a new team who, on the surface, don’t look promising, especially since their first case is not only gruesome but has all the makings of being the work of a serial murderer.
I started this series a couple of years ago and meant to continue but, as usual, got waylaid by others. This prequel was written after more than ten books into the series and now I’m pretty happy I waited as it’s not only an interesting investigation but a remarkable story of the team and its origins. Instead of proceeding into stories involving a well-functioning detective squad, I got the opportunity to meet them at their most vulnerable and infancy as a group. It was equally as, if not more, interesting as the troublesome case they were handed. Each member’s strengths and weaknesses were on display, including DI Stone who is the enigmatic team leader you’re either going to embrace or be annoyed by.
I’m so glad the author decided to tell their early story as I’m now even more excited to continue. The backstories provide an intimate look into each and how they eventually came to trust and work well with each other, among other revelations. The mystery was a puzzler even though it didn’t seem so at first. It kept me engaged and I had a handful of suspects without correctly solving the identity of the killer. Sometimes a prequel written late in the series is best read in published order. In my opinion, this works well as the intro and should be read first before starting as I have a fresh new perspective about the continuing characters and their working dynamics. I chose to listen to it and the narrator was great. She gave each of the characters a voice that felt well suited to the author’s design and was a good storyteller. Highly recommend the book and the audio version.
Book Info
Release Date: November 14, 2019
Series: DI Kim Stone #.5
Narrator: Jan Cramer
Audio Length: 8 hours, 57 minutes
Publisher: Hachette UK – Bookouture
Blue Mood Café 
Fantastic review Jo!
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Thank you, Nicki💜
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While another really compelling review, I read the first two in this series and, well, I’m one of those who never really warmed to Stone, or the stories. Maybe I should read this one and try again? Maybe…
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I read the first book some time ago and though I liked the story, the series back burnered behind other more compelling ones. This story provides insights that put the team in an entirely different perspective, one that excited me. I’d try it before shelving the series.
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Will do, thanks, Jo!
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Great review, this was one of my favourite reads of last year!
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Thank you, Jacob💜 I understand why.
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I had big plans to make great progress on the series this summer, sadly I did not get very far. Not for lack of enjoyment, there are just too many books and so little time.
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I’m reading the series as part of a group read on Goodreads. So looking forward to it. Good luck getting back to it,Tina.
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I read book one recently, Jonetta, and absolutely loved it. The print came out for the first time in the US. Now I’m excited to go back and check this one out and I loved your review! Did you see that Rachel Caine has terminal cancer? She shared it over on her instagram and it’s heartbreaking. I always think of her along with Angela Marsons for some reason. I think because their series are so well-loved.
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Thank you, Jennifer💜 Yes, I’m following Rachel’s Twitter feed. Her situation just breaks my heart. She’d established a hit and a new following with the Stillhouse Lake series so her fans are now legion.
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Great review Jonetta. I have read the first four in the series, but will see if I can find this one before I continue. I definitely want to know how this group got together and formed into such a great team.
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Thank you, Carla💜 If you’re four books in, you’re going to love this intro!
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I need to start this series so bad! I love it when we get more background for the main characters. Fab review! xx
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Thanks, Yvo💜 I’m now seriously hooked and am thankful we’re doing a series group read on Goodreads.
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I do also like prequels and this one sounds like a good one plus another series to add for me!
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Marialyce, if you like British crime dramas, I think you’d enjoy this one. It’s very much procedural and character driven.
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Ooh… I like the sound of this one Jonetta! 💖
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It was SO good!
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