Evil Games (2) (D.I. Kim Stone) Paperback – April 1, 2017

This book is WONDERFUL!!! It had be on the edge of my seat from the very first page. Every chapter (except the final one) ended with a cliff hanger, leaving me unable to put the book down. It also bounced around from situation to situation, location to location, individuals to individuals, making anticipation grow to the climaxing end.This book was well planned out, full of twists, and complex without losing the reader.I’m gleefully on to the next Kim Stone adventure…

I read "Silent Scream" - the first book in this series - and enjoyed it; although I felt it was plot-driven and I wanted more character development, which is not uncommon with first books of a series. But, I was intrigued with the main character, DI Kim Stone, so I downloaded a copy of "Evil Games." I'm happy to report that I like this book much more than the first. Not only is the writing better - more polished and more insightful - but the character development is much deeper. I learned a lot about DI Stone and really got to know her through this novel. As a result, I found this book more interesting and it made me a fan of this series.In addition, the antagonist in this story is very interesting - a true sociopath with a chilling penchant for manipulating others to do her bidding. The interplay between Alex Thorne and DI Stone is quite good. It makes the story much more compelling.I highly recommend this series for anyone who is looking for suspenseful stories built around a strong female character - however flawed she may be. As soon as I finished "Evil Games," I downloaded "Lost Girls," the next book in the series. I look forward to digging into that one straight away.Merrill HeathAuthor of "Timebox" and the Alec Stover Mysteries

I can't believe I just found the Kim Stone series and Angela Marson's. Kim Stone is an amazingly complex character. Trying to figure her out is harder than figuring out the whodunitz! I am so excited to spend the next couple of months reading the next 18 or so of these books. Just amazing! And I am so looking forward to this journey.

I definitely rate Evil Games 5 Stars! I was really impressed with Angela Marsons' Silent Scream. I connected to Kim Stone, and became attached to Bryant, Stace and even Dawson.Marsons created this group of people that I looked forward to meeting up with again. Not only did it seem like catching up, we saw more of them, who they are. **SPOILER** I loved it that Kim saved Barney. She opened up her heart to him. But Kim did not change... she did not become sappy, whiny, lovey-dovey. She still was the same Kim. Just better. Kim's progression has to be slow or I think the emotions flooding back might kill her. **END SPOILER**I like the fact that Kim is ready to pursue Alex, even knowing this might not turn out well for her. I have seen things in people that no one else sees. I don't understand it. And when things come to light you are vindicated, but it is getting to the point of vindication. Kim sinks her teeth in and won't let go.Evil Games really has two cases being worked simultaneously. Both are gripping cases. Once again Angela Marsons has managed to surprise me at the very end! With most books I am able to guess the culprit right away. Not much surprise there. Silent Scream was one of the first books, in a long while, that totally surprised me. I was captivated until the very end. I was cocky and was sure I knew who did it. But, throughout the book I had to reassess. Then I narrowed it down again just to have the rug ripped out from under me. I was pleasantly surprised yet again! Thank you Angela Marsons! Boy, I did not see that coming! Of course we knew Alex was a psycho, we new what she was doing as she was doing it... It was 'how would Kim Stone get her?' that was so intriguing & suspenseful. But, the Dunn case really threw me! We saw the case solved, but then we realised it was not completely solved. That was a hard, draining case.I really like that Angela Marsons saved dogs in both books. First Bryant, now Kim. I cried when Bryant walked back in that apartment and brought the mommy and her babies out with him. I was sick at the conditions of this dog and her crying babies. It really was a beautiful moment. So, here's Barney... inside I was begging Kim to stop them, don't let them take him! I am injured and was not feeling well and my 18 year old son had to help me in to bed. When he asked if he could do anything else I pointed at my Kindle and asked if he would read the next chapter of Evil Games to me. It was the chapter where Kim goes to check on Barney.... of course I cried! It was a great chapter to end with. And then when I picked up reading again I loved how Barney wiggled his way up to Kim. I grew up terrified of these beautiful creatures up to my very first moment with a puppy we adopted after my children and I lost their father. It was a moment with just me and Cricket. My life changed. Looking in his eyes opened up a whole new world for me. Reading Kim's reaction to Barney brought that all back.I think if anyone really enjoyed Silent Scream they can't help but enjoy Evil Game. And if anyone is looking at this book who hasn't read Silent Scream I say purchase both, put this one aside in your library, read Silent Scream first. I pre-ordered this book and was so happy when it came in. I wish there were more! I will wait patiently for Angela Marsons to finish a 3rd installment. Until then I will read other books from her.

DI Kim Stone is at it again. She is a very complex person and has an amazing amount of inner strength. How she is able to get through a day without falling apart is beyond me. As we learn more about Kim, we see she has an incredible support group with the people she has known, the people in her team and other resources she is able to draw on. Kim has strong convictions, strong bonds, and makes strong impressions upon those who come into her life. As the tale expands, we see more of her complexity and her methodology and an intellect that is amazing. I like her more with each book and would give this second book of the series a 4-1/2 star rating if I could. It is critical to her personality and successes that she is very committed to "going with her gut" feelings.I do have a problem with understanding the various colloquialisms, some of which I assume are British and some peculiar to the Black Country region of Great Britain. The Oxford Dictionary of English on my Kindle is very helpful, but sometimes a bit cumbersome. I don't think that my own intuition is always up to gleaning some of the more obscure references and I would like to see a little more effort toward clarifying some of these for her American audience. I'm sure Angela Marsons' readers are primarily from Great Britain, but while it may lend color to the wording, it is also troublesome at times. Notwithstanding this one minor criticism, this is a very good read.

Recomendo.

Detective Inspector Kim Stone is damaged. Her twin brother is dead. Her mother is in a secure psychiatric hospital, charged with his death. Some how Kim makes her way through foster homes and school. Her career in the police sees her dealing with many kinds of crime. She is alone but coping. Determined to see the bad guys get their due justice. Her team are right behind her and the get results. "Evil Games" is A nail biting story from Angela Marsons. Highly recommended.

Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture, and author Angela Marsons, a British author, for an ARC of this book, “EVIL GAMES”, in exchange for an honest review. This is the second instalment in the Detective Kim Stone Series, and even better than her debut novel, “SILENT SCREAM.” WOW what an amazing gifted writer! This is a mystery crime/psychological thriller, that will have you flipping the pages, to see what will happen next.In Evil Games, we continue the journey of DI Kim Stone and her squad of detectives, the interaction of her team, while they are solving crimes. Kim and her team worked on a variety of cases from assault to sexual crimes to murder. The title of the book is so appropriate for this novel.This book is a Game of playing Cat and Mouse! DI Kim Stone takes on this game against Dr. Alexandra Thorne, two very intelligent woman, toying each other.“When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work.With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment.Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, for Detective Stone, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. And this time - it’s personal. “In this novel we know the Who, When, How but need to establish the Why?This sociopath is a very dangerous person, who will stop at nothing to get the end result. This person has No conscience. They are unable to feel concern or love for any other living person. They are masters of manipulation, and able to seduce people.It is very apparent the amount of research that went into writing this novel. It shows! I love the character in Kim, and like that she is human with human faults and emotions. While we get to see a glimpse of her troubled past, we can accept it and her. I will continue to root for her in the coming series.All I can say is I LOVED IT! One is one of the best crime thrillers I've read in a long time. Like I said after reading her first novel, “I will read anything by this author…she is that good!” So get cracking and read both books.

A fast pace gripping thriller. The main character is intriguing, clever and sharp as a razor. The story is full of twists and so well knitted that keeps the reader on the chair's edge. One can almost hear their brain's gears ticking desperately trying to figure out what is coming next. I am looking forward to reading the next book about DI Kim Stone. I would go as far as to say that this is one of the best criminal thriller story I've ever read. A must-read book.

I like this book better than the first one. Very good plot, moves crisply & is well spiced. A definite must read. Reading the first book might help in understanding certain parts faster but is not a must.