Bad Blood

Detective Kim Stone, Book 19

By: Angela Marsons

Narrated by: Jan Cramer

Length: 8 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

The victim is lying under the trees, arms lifted above his head, unnaturally still. His muscles are slack. His eyes are empty. There are no signs of life. But he is not quite dead....

When Detective Kim Stone races to the crime scene, there is no body waiting for her: The paramedics are desperately trying to save the victim’s life. But there is something very strange about the way the man was found, his arms raised above his head, his legs spread apart. When he dies on the way to the hospital, Kim is certain she’s on the hunt for a killer…but all evidence at the scene has been destroyed.

The dead man, Eric Gould, seems ordinary, until the team dig into his past. As a teenager, he was locked away for attacking his girlfriend, and Kim suspects he was hurting his fiancé now. Was someone trying to stop history repeating?

Then another man is found on the verge of death, his bones broken to force him into an unnatural shape. The team realise the killer is sending a message—the victims’ bodies are spelling out their sins. As boys, they were both part of a group of six who bragged about their terrible crimes. But they were children then, and when she sees the grief on the faces of their loved ones now, Kim swears to find answers.

Is someone finally getting revenge…or do they think these men are still dangerous? The killer is threatening to strike again, and the only way Kim can crack the case is by tracking down the rest of the six first.

But then a revelation about what one of her team is suffering makes Kim understand why people take the law into their own hands. Do these victims deserve what’s coming to them? Or is there even more to fear from their brutal killer?

Bad Blood is a brilliantly gripping crime thriller with a reveal you’ll never see coming. Fans of Karin Slaughter, Robert Dugoni, and Val McDermid will love the latest compulsive listen from multi-million-copy best seller Angela Marsons.

Can be listened to as a stand-alone.

©2023 Angela Marsons (P)2023 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Story

Story was engaging and I love that the characters growth with one is expanded every book

Totally engrossing

Stone and her team are a family, basically. Interesting dynamics form a consistent backstory to a twisty mystery that dies not disappoint! I enjoy this series and finished the book quckly so i could re-listen and savor! Def worth the credit!

Another excellent Kim Stone book from Angela Marsons

My favourite!
Just love
Angela Marsons’ books
Great story and superb cast of characters as usual
Always impatiently waiting for her next book

Very good series.

Love this series. Consistently good and I love that it’s mainly about the cases and the team dynamic. New cases but with a thread of a storyline throughout the series. I personally enjoy that we’ve made it this far in to the series and there isn’t a love interest or romantic side to it. I oftentimes feel like it can ruin the story. I just want to read about the case and solve the puzzles. No nonsense!

Kim is awesome!

Angela has done it again. Her main character, Kim, is sharp, vulnerable and sarcastic. What’s not to love? Angela’s superb writing abilities keeps the listener engaged every moment. Angela, keep up the good work!

Good book

Really liked the story and characters! The description is very impressive. Really enjoyed the entire story

A Moral Dilemma

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.

Kim at her best!

I enjoyed being part of Kim's evolution. She's come a long way from her stoic beginning. Can't wait for another Kim mystery.

Engaging Story and Twist

Angela Marsons does it again! Great conclusion to the Stacy story line from the last book. I loved that it took until the end to figure out the true motive behind the killings. Also enjoyed the pros and cons of vigilantes. I didn’t like how the portrayal of death by fentanyl wasn’t completely accurate but it was still a good story line. Jan Kramer is an amazing narrator.

A great addition to the series

I love the series and always look forward to the next. I enjoy the audiobooks as the narrator gives the book so much life. This story adds dimension to the characters.