How do you catch a killer who leaves no trace?

A victim killed with a single, precise stab to the heart appears at first glance to be a robbery gone wrong. A caring, upstanding social worker lost to a senseless act of violence. But for Detective Kim Stone, something doesn’t add up.

When a local drug addict is found murdered with an identical wound, Kim knows instinctively that she is dealing with the same killer. But with nothing to link the two victims except the cold, calculated nature of their death, this could be her most difficult case yet.

Desperate to catch the twisted individual, Kim’s focus on the case is threatened when she receives a chilling letter from Dr Alex Thorne, the sociopath who Kim put behind bars. And this time, Alex is determined to hit where it hurts most, bringing Kim face-to-face with the woman responsible for the death of Kim’s little brother – her own mother.

As the body count increases, Kim and her team unravel a web of dark secrets, bringing them closer to the killer. But one of their own could be in mortal danger. Only this time, Kim might not be strong enough to save them…

My thanks to Bookouture for my review copy.

Kim Stone is back in Blood Lines, the new thriller from Angela Marsons. This alone is reason to celebrate. But in Blood Lines we also have the return of Kim’s nemesis: Doctor Alexandra Thorne.

Thorne first crossed paths with Kim in Evil Games and she believes they have unfinished business. A cold-hearted sociopath who holds no regard for human life or the feelings of others, Thorne is only interested in getting revenge on Kim and she knows exactly how to get what she wants and where Kim is most vulnerable.

However, Detective Stone has no idea what Doctor Thorne has in store for her and she and her (increasingly wonderful) team are investigating the murder of a social worker – seemingly victim of a robbery gone wrong. The woman has been stabbed and her body left in her car in a remote location.  With little sign of a motive for her murder things will soon take an unexpected twist when a second body is found with a similar stab wound but this time it is a young drug addict that has died.  With no apparent link between the two murder victims Stone and her team will have to be at their very best to solve these crimes. Easier said than done when Doctor Thorne is about to start messing with Kim’s head again.

Blood Lines is the fifth book in the series and, I believe, the one which relies most upon the previous titles to heighten the drama. Kim’s relationship with Alex Thorne does draw upon events in Evil Games but Blood Lines takes their enmity to a new level.

I just cannot find enough good things to say about this series. With Blood Lines Angela Marsons has brought us another fantastically gripping adventure. Stone always seems to be at her very best when the odds seem stacked against her and in this latest book there seem points where she faces an impossible task. Once again her colleagues will provide the support, professionally, personally and emotionally which Kim needs and can rely upon.

A new book from Angela Marsons is a high point in my year. From the moment I hear of a new Kim Stone novel I start to count down the days to release – I am never disappointed. These are the stories I want to read.

Blood Lines is available now in paperback and digital formats. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blood-Lines-Detective-Stone-thriller/dp/1786810999/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1478470799&sr=8-1&keywords=blood+lines

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