Great start to this crime thriller series

One of the best books I've listened to this year. I love the cast of characters, Marsons made me want to know more about many of the supporting characters, in addition to my curiosity about Stone's past.

The plot winds its way around and keeps you guessing all the way to the end. The pacing is blazing fast and perfect, I never once wanted to stop listening.

I've already downloaded book 2, Evil Games, can't wait to see what new adventure lies ahead for D.I. Kim Stone.

21 people found this helpful

Superb story and wonderful performance!

Angela has catapulted herself to stand with the best crime writers out there today.

This story is a fantastic blend of mystery, twists and investigation while giving us insight into the mind of the cops and killers involved.

I'm an instant fan and would recommend Angela Mason's to those who love Ranking, Cornwell and Billingham.

18 people found this helpful

Great story! Good plot twists.

DI Kim Stone is the " House M.D." of the English Constabulary. A very good story without unessecary gore or explicit sex, but plenty of action and plot twists. I enjoyed very much and will look for other DI Stone stories

16 people found this helpful

Happy Customer says, "This is aces!"

Having watched Prime Suspect and Endeavor series, I have grown quite fond of British mysteries, colloquial language, humor, and police ranks. A DCI led team lends familiarity to this novel. The characters are well developed and I drew clear pictures of them in my mind. The voices of the performers added a lot to the story.

The story itself derives from what happened to girls at a "care" home, of which the lead character also has first hand knowledge. The action moves along at a good clip and suspense builds to a climax that surprised me. There are more surprises that follow and an epilogue of sorts wrapping up the story with a neat bow. I hate loose ends.

In summary, the plot is suspenseful and the characters are interesting; they keep you coming back. The performance definitely adds to the enjoyment. I gave it 4 stars because I really don't have anything bad to say, but it's not "I Am Pilgrim".

13 people found this helpful

You'll want to keep reading

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I would recommend this book to all my friends who like mysteries. The book is well-written, held my attention and surprised me in the end.

Would you be willing to try another book from Angela Marsons? Why or why not?

I would. I found the story interesting and well-presented

What three words best describe Jan Cramer’s voice?

snappy, blunt, clear

Do you think Silent Scream needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

Of course. There are things in D.I. Kim Stones past that need further exploration.

6 people found this helpful

Ended much better than it began

The dialog in the first chapters is meant to show how the team of detectives is a witty, carefree group of people who are so good at their jobs they can make light of everything. It comes across like an elderly grandmother trying to speak to teenagers in their own language. It's so painful and off target I almost stopped listening. All of the characters come off the same and definitely not very interesting. It doesn't help that the narrator is completely tone deaf to the story. The problems with the dialog fade as the story progresses and the dialog turns to the case, but there are still moments so bad I couldn't help but groan.

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.

And for what it's worth, I don't think the tough-as-nails, fight the system as long as she gets the bad guy police woman would insult her teammates by calling them little girls. In the end she even brags about how great women are. Doesn’t seem like someone like that would find being a girl insulting.

I don’t think I would read another book by this author, and I definitely would not listen to this narrator again, but I’m guessing some people will relate to the way the story is told.

30 people found this helpful

Great exciting story

I took a chance on this book and could not be more pleased! The main plot was original. It was presented and solved at a good pace without a lull or fillers in the story. That was extremely appealing to me. My slight disappointment was one that is committed by many authors. Authors of some genres tend to bend to a need to make the protagonist flawed or persecuted; the usual verbiage is “confront the demons of his/ own past before it's too late. Sell the story! I must admit Kim’s past story was interesting. I want to know more of her situation.

Kim Stone is nothing fantastically different from many lead female detectives. She is aggressive, independent, and fights for the right to solve crimes in her own manner. She does not fall down a rabbit hole after false leads and she has good initiation. She has a loyal team that works well together. She does not go in to make friends with suspects or in the process of solving a mystery. So she must take her political correct partner with her at all times.

I enjoyed the method that Marsons used in her writings. She presented the story from the point of view of the police officers as they are discovering the crimes. We experience their outrage as they work to solve the crimes. Part way in the book we began to hear the inner monologue of the killer and get to know what drives him/her.

It was the pace of the story and the lack of frills that weigh down many mysteries that I enjoyed this book that I will read the series.

4 people found this helpful

Pretty good police procedural

I have not read a book by Angela Marsons before. Was not sure what to expect, but based on reviews, decided to give it a go. Pretty good story--Kim Stone heads up a detective squad that is trying to uncover a serial killer, who murdered young girls from a children's home years earlier. The characters are well-developed, and the story moved with no dull moments. I listened to it in one (long) sitting! Best of all, I have read or heard so many detective books over the years, I can usually predict the ending. But not this one--complete surprise to me. I very much liked the narration by Jan Cramer--though it was just a tiny bit fast for me to keep up with at times. However, I prefer that to reading that is too slow! I plan to get the next book in this series very soon!

8 people found this helpful

Great story

Love all the Twista to the story. I thought I had figured out the bad guy about 3 times in was wrong down to the end. Very well written and narrated. love Detective Kim

3 people found this helpful

Worst reader i have heard

I have listened to hundreds of Audible books and can confidently say that i have never come across s worse reader. The book itself is weak and unbelievable and the main character is so unsympathetic i was disappointed that she made it through the book alive. How readers can be expected to believe that any modern day manager of people could get away with such bad treatment of their team i do not know. Appalling rubbish, in my opinion.

2 people found this helpful