First Blood

By: Angela Marsons

Narrated by: Jan Cramer

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

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....

When the body of a young man is found beheaded and staked to the ground in a secluded area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene. 

Searching the victim’s home, Kim discovers a little girl’s bedroom and a hidden laptop. Why is his sister relieved to hear he’s dead - and where is the rest of his family? 

As Kim begins to unearth the dark secrets at the heart of the case, DC Stacey Woodward becomes convinced that this murder is somehow linked to a women’s shelter. As a child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable. 

With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey is showing signs of brilliance but struggling to hold her nerve and, while D.S. Bryant is reliable and calm, D.S. Dawson is a liability. With his home life in pieces, his volatile behaviour is already fracturing her fragile new team. 

Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken? This time, one of her own could be in terrible danger....

Discover where it all began for Kim and her team. An absolutely heart-stopping mystery thriller. Perfect for Kim Stone fans and new listeners to the million-copy best-selling series.

This audio edition includes exclusive bonus content. In conversation with narrator Jan Cramer, Angela Marsons talks about her writing process, her journey to being published, and never-before-told insights into the series and Kim Stone’s character. Not available in other formats.

A detective hiding dark secrets, Kim Stone will stop at nothing to protect the innocent.

©2019 Angela Marsons (P)2019 Bookouture

What a great surprise

So this is how this team got started. Very interesting.

This series is a favorite of mine so this surprise prequel was another must-read for me.

Kim, which is easy to understand, has had problems at previous assignments and gets sent to “Woody”’s team. There she meets her new crew - Stacey, Dawson, and Bryant. It was fun to get to know the beginnings of this team.

Even though Kim was given a day to learn the team, they are immediately thrown into a gruesome murder investigation which soon escalates. As typical of Angela Marsons, we are led down many paths during the investigation. The story is disturbing but hard to put down. And it’s worth it for the little revelation at the end.

The narration by Jan Cramer does, as usual, enhance the story. Very well done!

5 people found this helpful

Detective Kim Stone Book 12

Author Angela Marsons continues her outstanding Detective Kim Stone series with FIRST BLOOD. Kim gets a fresh start with a new team in this modern detective thriller. Narrator Jan Cramer can always be counted on to deliver superb narration.

One of many things I like about Audible is their classification of series novels. Audible failed to classify this novel First Blood as part of the Kim Stone series. Yesterday I finished Mark Dawson's The Assassin which is part of his Isabella Rose series but was not noted as such by Audible.

10 people found this helpful

Almost Perfect

If you’re like me, you look forward to a new Kim Stone novel. First Blood will not disappoint. I don’t know how Marsons does it, churning out two books per year without losing her literary mojo!

I’ve mentioned my one gripe in previous reviews and I’ve attributed it in the past to Jan Cramer, but I’ve come to realize it’s not entirely her fault. Every time she reads from the killer’s perspective, she reads it like she’s the “Wicked Witch of the West”. I expect each section to end with “I’ll get you and your little dog too!” I’ve come to realize the fault lies with Marsons. These vignettes are the one flaw in her novels. They serve no purpose, are entirely superfluous.

On a side note, there’s a twist toward the end that will warm the heart of any reader of the Kim Stone series. No spoiler, just be prepared to feel a gentle tug on your emotions.

4 people found this helpful

Enlightening and Intriguing

I was a little hesitant when I realized this was going back to the beginning of the team after I had already read every single installment in the series and was waiting for the next one. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend all fans of this series to read/listen to how this amazing team came together. And yes I was sad at one of the characters because I know what happens down the line but still enjoyed knowing how this character started out in the team (no spoilers from me!) And I absolutely loved the interview at the end between the amazing narrator Jan Kramer and the very talented author Angela. So interesting to hear both of them discuss their individual rituals while reading or writing their current novel.
And last but certainly not least, the mystery and murder investigation was fascinating as always, and once again I did not foresee the conclusion ahead of time. I never want this series to end!

2 people found this helpful

Best beginning ever!

Angela never disappoints. She amazing! The series is wonderfully written that Kim and her team are part of my family. Can't wait for the next book. Thanks Angela for a superb series.

2 people found this helpful

Awesome

I loved this book as I did the rest of the series. Jan makes the story more real and the characters come to life.

Highly recommended series.

1 person found this helpful

Meh. Good - but not really crucial

I love Kim Stone - I LOVE her. This was, however, kinda meh. I had hoped to get some more back story about her, but there's actually more of that in the rest of the series.

It's fine. It's not fantastic.

An excellent addition to the series

Angela Marsons has written an excellent addition to the series. I love the idea of going back to the beginning to discover how Kim’s team came together. I highly recommend this book to fans of the series. And to new fans this is a good way to get your feet wet.

Brilliant police procedural

Ms Marsons has done us all a huge favor by taking us back to the creation of protagonist Kim Stone and team. Beautifully plotted. Highly recommend! Narrator Jan Cramer is superb as always. The author-narrator interview was icing on the cake.

WOW!!!

Brilliantly written prequel to the Kim Stone series!! I loved it! The personal touch at the end of the book was really special! Thank you Angela Marsons and Jan Kramer.......i highly recommend this book to all readers! Absolutely fantastic!!!

FANTASTIC!!

Absolutely love this series and this prequel is the icing on the cake. Finding out where it all began for Kim Stone and her team.

Narration by Jan Cramer is excellent as usual, the series wouldn't be the same without her, and the conversation with Angela and Jan at the end is insightful and wonderful to listen to.

Can't wait for more Kim Stone.. .please!!

1 person found this helpful

best Kim Stone book so far

although this is the start chronologically, i really enjoyed reading it after Childs Play, and all the books in the series. Already knowing and liking the characters meant this was a journey into how they all jelled in their first case as a team. i listen while i walk, and passers by must have thought me mad laughing out loud at Kims wonderful dry wit. Angela Marsons, dont ever stop writing Kims story......

1 person found this helpful

Brilliant

I have read all the books in this series but only have the last 2 on audio. This is an awesome series and I can not recommend it highly enough. It’s one nail biting instalment after another.
Absolutely gripping from start to finish. Hope there will be more.
❤️🥰😍

2 people found this helpful

brilliant!!

After listening to all the other DI Kim stone books, it's great seeing how the and her 'oddball team come together.
Again Jan Cramer ruined parts of the story. over reacting etc. she's ok applying her voice to play Kim's part. but everyone else is terrible.

Fluctuates between bearable and annoying

First prepare to withstand the awful initial narration, with strange intonation and peculiar word cadences. Ride it out. You can do it. Eventually it either improves or you become dulled to it. Persevere.
Next there are the moments where the book becomes a recruitment handbook for the police force, with character's 'thought' text so contrived it makes you cringe. Again, hold firm, ride it through, for there are some reasonably extensive sections, admittedly later in the book, where the narrator finally seems to get to grips with the task in hand, and you barely notice her. If you are fortunate these moments will coincide with a section with an acceptable standard of writing and it's an ok book. Treasure these moments, they are rare.
The story is ok, with a bit of a twist. The characters are almost caricatures.

The worst part about it is the narration, with the portrayal of the baddie winning my personal award for worst narration ever. I don't think I'll ever listen to another book narrated by Jan Cramer.

Don't expect much and you won't be disappointed

Great story - dreadful narration

I always enjoy the Kim Stone stories, but they really are marred by the dreadful narration.

The narrator was so bad

I cannot comment on the story as I could not listen to this narrator passed chapter 3. Waste of a credit

Love this series

I love this series and can never wait for the next book to come out. Please keep them coming Angela - I’m addicted.
As a Pelsall girl it was lovely to get a mention in First Blood too.
Thank you and please hurry with the next one. I love Kim and the team xx
Sally Silver

Really glad to have this prequel.

Really great for fans like myself to get this prequel, it was great to learn how it all began for Kim and her team, it was also great to get an interview between the author and the narrator of the series. A lot of questions were answered in this book. We also find out more about the other members of kim’s team and there careers before coming together.