I hadn’t realised this was: 1. the second in a series; or 2. a re-release when I requested it. Neither mattered, though I’d be keen to read number one, not to mention numbers three and four which I believe are already available. 

Evil Games (D.I. Kim Stone, #2)
by Angela Marsons
Series: DI Kim Stone #2
Published by Bonnier Zaffre
on January 26th 2017
Source: Allen & Unwin
Genres: Crime Fiction, Police Procedural, Psychological Thriller
ISBN: 1785762141, 9781785762147
Pages: 448

Goodreads

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, each move she makes could be deadly.

As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deep to stop the killing. And this time—it's personal.

I really love MJ Arlidge’s series featuring DI Helen Grace. She’s bristly and quirky yet very appealing; and DI Kim Stone reminded me of her. We quickly learn that Stone’s got a murky past and I wondered how much of that featured in the first book in the series. We learn a bit about her childhood and family history in this book, so my lack of familiarity with her character wasn’t problematic.

I talk sometimes about the fact I get frustrated when we know ‘whodunnit’ from the beginning. And this is one of those books. We very quickly learn who (and kinda why – ie. cos they’re bloody psychopathic) is responsible for the murder and mayhem quite early on in this book.

The unfolding narrative is more about Stone’s suspicions of the person responsible and it’s a twisty psychological thriller in that respect. Which I very much enjoyed. When we know the UNSUB / perp (look at me gettin’ down with the lingo! 😉 ) it’s usually more focussed around how many they take down with them before they’re caught, which is the case here. And here, it’s more of a psychological game of cat and mouse… if that makes sense.

Running in the background of the manipulative murderer there’s a sad case of child sexual abuse and exploitation which tests Stone and her team. Indeed, the book basically opens with the team arresting a father of two young girls, but questions remain about how much their mother knew and if others were involved.

So, with great pacing and fabulous lead character, I enjoyed my first outing with Marsons and DI Kim Stone and am most definitely looking forward to more!

Evil Games by Angela Marsons will be published by Allen & Unwin in Australia and available from 22 February 2017.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes.