It had seemed so simple. Get in, get the information, get out. But now they were getting inside her mind and she didn’t know how to stop them… suicide.
But a visit to Samantha’s parents ring alarm bells for Kim – there’s something they’re not telling her. And, when she spots a clue in a photograph, Kim realises she’s made a huge mistake. Samantha didn’t take her own life, she was murdered.
Then a young man’s body is found in a local lake with his throat cut and Kim makes a link between the victim and Samantha. They both spent time at Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life.
Beneath the retreat’s cosy façade, Kim and her team uncover a sinister community preying on the emotionally vulnerable.
Sending one of her own undercover into Unity Farm is high risk but it’s Kim’s only hope if she is to catch a killer – someone Kim is convinced the victims knew and trusted.
With Bryant distracted by the emergence of a harrowing case close to his heart, and an undercover officer in way over her head, Kim’s neck is on the line like never before. Can she protect those closest to her before another life is taken?
An unbelievably gripping crime thriller from multi-million copy bestseller Angela Marsons that will have you hooked on the Detective Kim Stone series.
Read what everyone is saying about the Detective Kim Stone series:
‘Marsons for me is the QUEEN of this genre. She knows how to add the human touch to each story and I just adore her. Bloody FABULOUS.’ Postcard Reviews
‘The uber-sharp Kim Stone has to be one of the best detectives out there.’ Bookpreneur
‘D.I. Kim Stone is the most fascinating character to arrive on the scene since Val McDermid gave us Tony Hill.’ Mark Edwards
‘Just wow. This is police procedural at its best…It is complex, intriguing, and the writing hooked me in completely.’ Rachel’s Random Reads
‘Her plots are slick, her writing intelligent, and her characters are like family… It’s a sign of a phenomenal author to be able to create that connection between reader and character.’ Emma the Little Book Worm
‘The Kim Stone series is one of the best crime series ever written.’ Book Addict Shaun
‘I just LOVE this author and LOVE Kim Stone!! If you haven’t yet read any of Angela Marsons’ books, you’re seriously missing out.’ Relax and Read Book Reviews
‘The Detective Inspector Kim Stone books are nothing short of brilliant.’ Nigel Adams Book Worm
‘Angela Marsons is a keen observer of human nature, and her wide cast of characters are both fascinating and distinct from each other…it is immediately clear why her books stand out from the crowd. Chilling and compelling plots, brilliant characterisation…addictive from start to finish.’ Rachel Abbott
‘If you haven’t read any of her books yet then you are seriously crazy! What are you waiting for!’ Chapterinmylife
‘I blooming love this series. I love Kim, her vulnerability and tenacity, I love the interaction and banter between the characters.’ Goodreads Reviewer
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DI Kim Stone and DS Bryant are called to the apartment of a young girl, Samantha Brown, who appears to have committed suicide. Both Kim and Bryant agree to the initial findings once they’ve examined the scene. But it’s the strange reaction by the parents when they make the notification that has Kim taking pause and further reflecting on every aspect of that scene. A subtle thing out of place has everyone reversing their opinions and delving deeper. Meanwhile, Bryant is intensely distracted and completely out of sorts as the potential upcoming parole of a vicious murderer has him worried for the victim’s family and one of the survivors.
The title is aptly crafted as examination into Samantha’s life leads the team to a place called Unity Farm, led by charismatic Jake Black who appears to have used the organization to create a cult for nefarious purposes. As typical for these type groups, Unity Farm is shrouded in secrecy while still feeling like things are all above board and everyone is happy being there. I’m always highly curious as to how seemingly well adjusted people fall prey to these places and leaders. This story provides a perspective I found chilling as the methods used are rather insidious but highly plausible. Bryant’s case was equally heartbreaking and maddening, giving us a side of the man we’re not used to seeing. It was also interesting to see how Kim handled her trusted colleague and friend when he presented her with some tough challenges and they both faced ethical dilemmas.
I enjoyed this story with its dual plot lines. Investigating Samantha’s murder led to a labyrinth of secrets and murky characters. The undercover assignment made me uneasy from start to finish, with good reason. I’ll leave it at that and not spoil it with revealing details. I loved seeing another side of Bryant, having him be so off balance and, frankly, out of character. All of this in the capable hands of narrator Jan Cramer who made this another compelling listening experience. She had a plethora of characters to manage this time as they were from so many different backgrounds. This series never misses.
This book is a statement that shouts, Angela Marsons continues to be the queen of her craft! Absolutely fabby-dabby-do. The research that must have gone into writing this book must have been phenomenal and it definitely paid off. I appreciated it fully.
I loved Kim Stone at the end of this book, she made me feel quite emotional. What an amazing character.
Onto the case. Intriguing is the word. Once I knew what ‘Unity Farm’ was, I then knew that this book had to skip all my reading queues. This is an area of psychology I find absolutely fascinating and I was so chuffed to bits that Angela Marsons had chosen to base Kim’s next case in this area. Oh my, this book was unputdownable.
As a fellow Midlander, I love the settings of Angie’s books. They make me feel like I’m home. I adore the Black Country accent that some of the characters use and I love the references to local places that I know. Again, the word home comes to mind.
Moving onto characters, I absolutely fell for Tiff. I wanted to almost mother her. And boy was her storyline one of the most compelling I’ve read in a while. The intensity kept me going into the early hours. And Kane’s character – superb! A whole new level of insight into this subject matter.
In summary, Angela Marsons does it again! Killing Mind – compelling, addictive, brilliantly written and it left me with that wowser feeling! For crime fiction lovers, this has to be a must read!
A.Marsons has become one of my favorite authors- Kim Stone is a winner and never disappoints
I love the Detective Kim Stone series! The cases keep you guessing as to who is involved and why. The main characters are so well written and I love how they interact with each other. This is a series that I hope continues for a long while.
Angela Marsons is without a doubt one of the best crime writers around today, and Killing Mind is a case study in the brilliance of her plotting and character work. It’s a breath by breath suspense builder, fascinating study into the world of cults, clever series continuation where the characters pull you straight back in. Honestly, you kind of run out of superlatives when you review Marsons. Here I am again. One of my go to authors – Killing Mind is a page shredding, palm sweating, race to the end.
Killing Mind by Angela Marsons has DI Kim Stone called to the home of Samantha Brown. By all appearances, it looks like the woman took her own life. Kim and her trusty sidekick Bryant visit Myles and Kate Brown to notify them of their daughter’s death. Something feels off to Kim and she rushes back to the crime scene for a second look. Kim is now positive that Samantha was murdered, but she needs to prove it to her boss in order to begin an investigation. Kim and her team are called out when a dead man is pulled from a lake. The man did not drown, his throat was cut just like Samantha’s. They soon find a connection between the two victims and it leads the team down a sinister path. Killing Mind is the 12th A DI Kim Stone Crime Thriller. I do recommend reading the series in order. Each book builds upon the previous one in this engaging series. I thought Killing Mind was well-written and the story moved along at a fast pace. I like the diverse cast of characters that continue to develop. Penn is fast becoming a member of the team. They still miss Dawson, but, while Penn cannot replace him, he shows what he can add to the group. Kim and her team are a hardworking bunch. Bryant is a little distracted because a rapist and killer is up for parole. This case is what led Bryant to working in CID. One of the man’s victim’s is still alive and fearful that the man will come after again. The father of another victim has never been able to recover. Kim and the rest of the team busy with the two murders. The case leads them to Unity Farm which turns out to be a cult led by a manipulative leader. The author certainly did her research for this book. We see how easily it is to fall under the spell of a persuasive man. I thought it was fascinating and frightening. I enjoyed following the mystery to see if I had accurately identified the killer. Killing Mind is a compelling story full that will have you riveted until the very end.
Another thrilling adventure for Detective Kim Stone and her team. A woman is found dead in her bed and the detectives determine the case as a suicide, but is it? After further investigation, the case is reclassified as a murder. Just as Kim feels that the family is hiding information, another body is found murdered in nearly the same manner. When Kim and her detectives find out that both of the dead were acquainted, it leads her to the Unity Farm. The farm is billed as a retreat, but Kim fears that it is a cult that once you join there is only one way out. After sending in an undercover operative, Kim worries that her decision was the right one. Kim Stone is a strong and determined detective that doesn’t give up until the guilty are found. An absorbing and intricate mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
This is the 12th book in the Kim Stone series and still going strong. I enjoyed this book kept me reading to see who actually was the perp. It was about an alternate life retreat that is messing with the vulnerable peoples mind sets . when bodies start showing up with slit throats looking like suicide Kim Stone sends someone in undercover to find out what is really going on but things get a bit hairy as the story goes on. Kept me on my toes reading it. Looking forward to more from this series.