Bad Blood by Angela Marsons @WriteAngie @JanCramervoice @bookouture

the setup…
DI Kim Stone and her team are called to a crime scene only to learn that the man everyone believed was dead (including coroner Keats), was still alive and was transported to the hospital. But he died on the way and all Kim has are the pictures taken of the scene before she arrived. As they start investigating the victim, Eric Gould, another man is discovered near death with signs almost identical to Gould. In the meantime, the team is experiencing another crisis involving DC Stacey Wood. They are all aware that something is off with her and she’s keeping it secret, even from her wife. The reality is both explosive, shocking and potentially career threatening.

the heart of the story…
In any other the story in this series, this case would have been enough to keep my attention and have me sink into the gnarly and complex procedurals. But it was what was going on with Stacey that had me riveted for a variety of reasons. Her decision to hide what was happening was maddening in itself but the danger she faced from the threat and later to her career was equally disturbing. I bounced back and forth between the two situations, completely absorbed into both.

the narration…
I can’t ever imagine not listening to the books in this series because Jan Cramer is the voice in my head for not only the characters but her storytelling skills. She’s outstanding on every level.

the bottom line…
One of the issues faced here was the fact that the victims were not good men, having a history that connected them and other potential victims that was cruel and sordid. The probable suspects were their victims, making them more sympathetic than the men killed. It’s thought provoking, making you examine your own feelings about the matter as it did for Kim and her team. The normally black and white detective was challenged by the gray and it wasn’t easy for Kim. That included Stacey’s situation and for the first time, Kim had to face decisions that would be unsettling beyond the moment. I must admit that I figured out the killer just shortly before the reveal but it was hard up until that moment. This was another layered story that had me hooked from the onset to the last page.

Book Info

• Release Date: November 15, 2023
• Series: DI Kim Stone
• Narrator: Jan Cramer
• Audio Length: 8 hours, 12 minutes
• Publisher: Hachette UK – Bookouture

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