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Play Dead: A gripping serial killer thriller (Detective Kim Stone Crime Thriller Series Book 4) Kindle Edition

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 22,616 ratings

The girl stared unseeing up to the blue sky. Her mouth was open, as if she was about to speak, to cry for help… but her voice had been silenced forever.

When Detective Kim Stone and her team are sent to Westerley, a forensic research facility, they discover the body of a young woman, her mouth filled with soil. But she doesn’t belong there. It seems a killer has discovered the perfect cover for their crime.

Kim breaks the devastating news of Jemima’s murder to her parents, who speak of a gentle soul with no enemies. Yet when Jemima’s sister confides in Kim that she was afraid to leave the house, Kim is certain that Jemima knew her killer, and is determined to find this brutal murderer before he strikes again.

Scouring Jemima’s crime scene, Kim finds a hairgrip, decorated with a heart cut in two. Then a second woman is attacked and left for dead, her mouth crammed with dirt, just like Jemima’s. A similar hairgrip is found nearby. But when she wakes in hospital, she can’t remember what happened, only the sing-song rhyme one for you and one for me.

As Kim stares into her tear-filled eyes, she vows to uncover what links the women. And when she learns they went to the same school, she knows the answers lie buried in the past. But then a third woman goes missing, and she knows time is running out. Can she find the truth before a twisted, damaged mind claims another life?

An absolutely heart-pounding mystery thriller from multi-million-copy number one bestseller Angela Marsons that will have you hooked on the Detective Kim Stone series.

Can be read as a standalone.

Read what everyone is saying about Play Dead:

I read this book in one sitting, yes it really was that good … the perfect crime thriller, well plotted, great characters, suspense … and the most deviant and chilling serial killer… Utterly gripping and it's certainly going to be in my top reads 5 stars out of 5 plus a glass of wine (to steady my nerves, after reading such a heart-pounding crime thriller).’ The Book Review Café, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow, wow, wow, I absolutely freaking loved it and without a shadow of doubt this is the best one yet… with this one being more gritty and tense. You crime book fans are seriously going to love it... I cannot recommend this book enough it's flippin fantastic or like they say in the Black Country Supa' smashin' great read!Chelle’s Book Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Hooks you and reels you in…
Life gets put on hold until you've finished the latest offering in her AMAZING Kim Stone seriesutterly fantastic.’ Reading Room with a View, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow. Give me a minute while I catch my breath, because I've just finished the latest Angela Marson's book… Ingest it by any means, just make sure you do. It is a riveting, blood-tingling, pulse pounding read that will take you on the journey that will play on your mind long after you've finished reading.’ Caroline-Writes, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

This may well be the best thriller I have ever read. I could hardly breathe with the suspense and it was definitely a hardship to wrench myself away from the action.Redheaded Bookworm, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I defy anyone to turn away from the page. I was glued to this book.’ Book Addict Shaun, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The best book I've read all year so far… Dark, intense, spine-tingling and absolutely perfect.’ The Bookshelf Blog, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

A thrilling, tense and nail biting read.Best Crime Books & More, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Wow, I didn't think Angela Marsons DI Kim Stone series could get any better, but this one really has blown me away! Fast paced and tension filled, I loved every second of this rollercoaster of a ride.Cal Turner Reviews, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"I read this book in one sitting, yes it really was that good ... the perfect crime thriller, well plotted, great characters, suspense ... and the most deviant and chilling serial killer... Utterly gripping and it's certainly going to be in my top reads of 2016 ... 5 stars out of 5 plus a glass of wine (to steady my nerves, after reading such a heart-pounding crime thriller)."―The Book Review Cafe on Play Dead

"Hooks you and reels you in ... Life gets put on hold until you've finished the latest offering in her AMAZING Kim Stone series ... utterly fantastic."―
Reading Room with a View on Play Dead

"I defy anyone to turn away from the page. I was glued to this book...a truly gripping and, at times, terrifying story."―
Book Addict Shaun on Play Dead

About the Author

Angela Marsons is the USA Today bestselling author of the Detective Kim Stone series, and her books have sold more than four million copies and have been translated into twenty-seven languages. She lives in the Black Country, in the West Midlands of England, with her partner and their two Golden Retrievers. She first discovered her love of writing at junior school when actual lessons came second to watching other people and quietly making up her own stories about them. Her report card invariably read "Angela would do well if she minded her own business as well as she minds other people's." After writing women's fiction, Angela turned to crime -- fictionally speaking, of course -- and developed a character that refused to go away.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01D3TD9VQ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Bookouture (May 20, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 20, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.9 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 401 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 22,616 ratings

About the author

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Angela Marsons
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Angela Marsons is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of the DI Kim Stone series and her books have sold more than 5 million in 7 years.

She lives in Worcestershire with her partner and their 2 cheeky Golden Retrievers.

She first discovered her love of writing at Junior School when actual lessons came second to watching other people and quietly making up her own stories about them. Her report card invariably read "Angela would do well if she minded her own business as well as she minds other people's".

After years of writing relationship based stories (The Forgotten Woman and Dear Mother) Angela turned to Crime, fictionally speaking of course, and developed a character that refused to go away.

She is signed to Bookouture.com for a total of 28 books in the Kim Stone series and her books have been translated into 30 languages.

Many of her books, including Blood Lines, Dead Souls, Broken Bones, Fatal Promise and Dead Memories reached the #1 spot on Amazon on pre-orders alone and the translation of Dead Souls, La Verita Sepolte, recently won the prestigious Primo Bancarella award.

To receive news of upcoming releases follow this link http://angelamarsons-books.com/email/

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
22,616 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book engaging and suspenseful. They appreciate the well-developed characters and realistic relationships between them and the main character. The writing quality is praised as fantastic and fluid. Readers describe the pacing as fast and thrilling, keeping them hooked from the first page. The insights provided by the author are appreciated for their ability to teach valuable lessons and develop compassion.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

460 customers mention "Readability"455 positive5 negative

Customers find the book engaging with its well-written plotlines. They enjoy the series and find it satisfying and well-paced.

"...books to all readers interested in spectacular plotting and exceptional characterization. Well done, Ms. Marsons!" Read more

"Angela Marsons has written another very enjoyable addition to her Kim Stone series, which I think gets better with every book...." Read more

"...This book is extremely well written and potted. It has a lot of action and is fast paced...." Read more

"...Although in all fairness, the first one was amazing, so to say the next three get better is taking them into levels of amazingness I've never..." Read more

287 customers mention "Suspenseful"269 positive18 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging story with its twists and turns. They find the book gripping and well-researched, with a solid plot and interesting dialogue. The book is described as an interesting detective story that keeps getting better.

"...highly highly recommend her books to all readers interested in spectacular plotting and exceptional characterization. Well done, Ms. Marsons!" Read more

"...But we also get a solid plot with an interesting twist, the development of an interesting secondary character, and a fun and unusual setting...." Read more

"...However, the ending made it all worthwhile!!! Ms Marsons has become one of my favorite authors and I am looking forward to her next book...." Read more

"...There are solid clues and lots of interesting secondary characters and developments. However, conversations do seem contrived...." Read more

153 customers mention "Character development"148 positive5 negative

Customers enjoy the well-developed characters. They appreciate the protagonist's realistic relationships with her crew and her dedication to the job.

"...get a solid plot with an interesting twist, the development of an interesting secondary character, and a fun and unusual setting...." Read more

"...Each book is a standalone but the character development is so perfect...." Read more

"...I love the main character, although I feel she didn't portray her as well as she did the first time...." Read more

"...There are solid clues and lots of interesting secondary characters and developments. However, conversations do seem contrived...." Read more

145 customers mention "Writing quality"139 positive6 negative

Customers find the writing quality fantastic and well-researched. They describe the book as a superb read with fluid and fast-paced writing that resonates with passion. The mysteries are nicely crafted, and the story moves along quite quickly. Readers appreciate the gripping novels and find the characters believable and likeable at the same time.

"...usual, the pace of the story is steady as she goes, and the writing is just excellent...." Read more

"...Combine that with solid writing and you end up with a fun and exciting read...." Read more

"...It is truly refreshing to read a write such as this one. I can’t wait to dig into the next in the series." Read more

"...As always, the writing is excellent and fast paced...." Read more

63 customers mention "Pacing"59 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the pacing of the book. They find the stories interesting and moving along at a good pace. The author's style is fast but one they can follow, and the mystery keeps evolving. Readers enjoy reading about Kim and her way of solving cases.

"...As usual, the pace of the story is steady as she goes, and the writing is just excellent...." Read more

"...It has a lot of action and is fast paced. I enjoy the relationships between Kim, Bryant, Stacy and Kev rest of the team...." Read more

"...As always, the writing is excellent and fast paced...." Read more

"...realistic, and her dedication to the job moves the plot forward at a fast pace...." Read more

27 customers mention "Pace"23 positive4 negative

Customers find the book engaging with a steady pace and suspenseful twists. They find the story easy to get into and hooked from the first page. The characters are complex and grow on them over time. The stories are easy to read and have meaningful endings, unlike other mysteries.

"...detective although made out to be an unlikeable person is really very complex and you grow to like her very quickly, but maybe not for the usual..." Read more

"...It's an entertaining police procedural that takes a couple of days to read. Kim is a great character as are the other members of her team...." Read more

"...Marson's writing is fast paced and the story moves along quite quickly. This novel shows Stone;s passion for fair play...." Read more

"...The story comes together in a slow, deliberate way. Lots of detail and interest. You will enjoy it. Start at the beginning at book one, and hang on!" Read more

19 customers mention "Insight"19 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights and lessons. They find the stories relatable and the author's intuition and detecting skills commendable. The writing is crisp and leads the reader on a journey around the characters. However, some readers felt the book did not entertain them overall.

"...She is now, however, showing some humor, more understanding of, and more compassion for others...." Read more

"...It also gives the reader deeper insight into Stone's past. Kim and her team stumble across a dead body in a very unusual place...." Read more

"...The writing is crisp and leads the reader on a journey around the characters to a complex crime and resolution for all the victims." Read more

"...Can't wait to read the next book. Kim Stone is an amazing Inspector, and I like her as a person. The story comes together in a slow, deliberate way...." Read more

22 customers mention "Believable"14 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book's believable characters. Some find the main characters realistic and interesting, while others feel the plot is unconvincing and boring at the beginning.

"...Her characters are very strong and believable and I think this is one aspect that makes these books so good. Highly recommended...." Read more

"...This does not even make sense...." Read more

"...enjoy Marsons efforts at humanizing the main characters, they are very real, three-dimensional persons...." Read more

"Good police procedural serial killer novel. Read fast and had believable and interesting cast of characters. Give this book a try." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2016
    I would like to thank Net Galley, Bookouture, and Ms. Angela Marsons for an advanced copy of Play Dead in exchange for an unbiased review.

    Oh my. Can it possibly be true? Can it, please? YES, it can! Ms. Marsons has again delivered to her loyal readers a masterful thriller with Play Dead, book #4 in the brilliant D.I. Kim Stone series.

    Gosh, I am out of superlatives for this author and her books. Time and time again she comes up with a crackerjack plot that totally baffles me and probably the vast majority of her readers (and I went to high school!). She lays out little clues and just when I think I have the answers, I am led off in a totally different direction. The surprises are rampant in this tale; at one point there are three significant little twists within the space of 4 pages. I felt like I was trying to traverse a minefield!

    As we do in each installment, we learn even more about Kim and what makes her who she is. Not warm and fuzzy, but someone who I can easily admire and respect and even love. I found the arc involving Kim and obnoxious reporter Tracy Frost to be a highlight. We get more of Barney and Daniel Bate (there’s a little spark there); and her wonderful colleagues Bryant, Stacey and Dawson. A small request—could we learn more about Stacey, Ms. Marsons? I would love to see her fleshed out even more.

    As usual, the pace of the story is steady as she goes, and the writing is just excellent.
    I thought the author was particularly creative with her red herrings this time around, so readers should take precautions to avoid feeling too impressed with themselves when they think they have things figured out. The ending was killer good. And I think it says something when my eyes filled with tears after the final chapter, not only because of the final scene, but also because I had hit The End.

    Downsides to this novel: Are you kidding? None.

    Ms. Marsons has easily retained her spot in my very exclusive authors’ shrine. I highly highly highly recommend her books to all readers interested in spectacular plotting and exceptional characterization. Well done, Ms. Marsons!
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2016
    Angela Marsons has written another very enjoyable addition to her Kim Stone series, which I think gets better with every book. That's primarily because of the growth we see in Kim's character as well as the depths that were always there but that just take time (and more than one book) to reveal. But we also get a solid plot with an interesting twist, the development of an interesting secondary character, and a fun and unusual setting. Combine that with solid writing and you end up with a fun and exciting read.

    But it's not perfect, Marsons has a funny writing tic wherein she avoids possessives in favor of more awkward phrasing ("The fly landed on the nose of Bryant" instead of "The fly landed on Bryant's nose) - it's not wrong, but for me it's odd enough to interrupt the flow of the prose. A few continuity errors slipped through the editing process, which is always a bit annoying. With 4 books in the series, I think we could start having more pages devoted to fleshing out Kim's team - I would like to know more about all of them, but especially Stacey. Finally, and this is just a personal peeve, the final big fight between Kim and the criminal ended so unrealistically that I found myself rewriting it in my head (I have been a martial artist for 20 years and I can promise that there is no way she succeeded with some of what she was supposed to have pulled off).

    Still, these are minor annoyances when stacked up against all the good things Marsons has to offer in this series, and I recommend it without hesitation. Kim is one of my favorite fictional characters, and I am already eager to see what she'll be up to next!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2017
    4 and 1 / 2 stars

    DI Kim Stone and her team are ordered to the new body farm to learn more about what they do there. All Kim can think about is the new cases stacked on their desks that are moldering away while they are on this excursion. While there, Kim notices something odd. What they discover is a body that does not belong there.

    Meanwhile, due to a telephone call from a pesky and annoying reporter, Kim takes an interest in “Bob.” He is a cold case of an unidentified murdered man without his fingers. A review of his autopsy shows that his pacemaker was removed.

    A second body in found at the body farm, but this woman is alive. She remains in a coma in the hospital. A boyfriend comes into the hospital and identifies her. Then another body is found. This one was buried, but killed in the same manner as the first woman.

    The clues come fast and furious and the team has a viable case on their hands. When the reporter who originally telephoned Kim goes missing, the team fears the worst. The last of the puzzle pieces fall into place and the chase in on.

    Meanwhile another body is found. This time the man is missing his hands. This case is related to the “Bob” case of three years ago. What is the connection between the men?

    The killer comes as a surprise. It is more than a little ironic. The reason for the murders is deep in the past.

    This book is extremely well written and potted. It has a lot of action and is fast paced. I enjoy the relationships between Kim, Bryant, Stacy and Kev rest of the team. You’ll enjoy this book as I enjoyed all of the Angela Marsons novels. It is truly refreshing to read a write such as this one. I can’t wait to dig into the next in the series.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2024
    Once again the author takes you to places where you never thought of!!
    Each book is a standalone but the character development is so perfect.
    I have read 6 so far, just purchased the next 6 books, and will start the new book tonight!!!
    Thanks Angela Marsons!!♥️♥️♥️♥️

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
  • Cliente Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom!
    Reviewed in Brazil on October 23, 2017
    Quanto mais leio os livros da série, mais apaixonada fico pela personagem Kim Stone e seu universo. Texto bem amarrado, vemos várias partes e informações que não parecem fazer muito sentido, mas no final a autora consegue concatenar as ideias de maneira coerente. Diferentemente do livro anterior, aqui voltamos a encarar um assassino serial e o livro tem a estrutura de "who done it", que é a minha preferida. Ainda que os segredos (alguns nem tão difíceis assim de descobrir) vão aos poucos sendo revelados, a surpresa fica realmente para o final. Livro recomendadissimo para quem ama literatura policial.
  • painter
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unputdownable!
    Reviewed in Italy on November 10, 2018
    I absolutely adore this author. Have bought all the 9 Kim Stone books and thoroughly enjoyed each one.
  • Liz
    5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping crime novel
    Reviewed in Germany on February 7, 2017
    I read all the Kim Stone novels and was fascinated until the end. I love reading her story and how she gets involved in her victims' lives. I can recommend this series for people who like to read gripping crime novels with a complex character at its core and suspenseful story lines.
  • one-from-overseas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good series, and gripping, though I wish that the attribute weren't almost part of the title....
    Reviewed in Canada on October 1, 2016
    I almost didn't buy the first book in the series because it had that "fast paced, gripping..." blurb there by the title. But I did, after reading the free sample, and I just finished the fourth book after barely a week (I worked, too - it's sleep that has been subtracted from the equation). I decided to write my review about this one, as it's the last I read, and it had the fewest reviews. I liked all four of them, despite the fact that I am a bit tired of damaged characters, women in particular, who emerge victorious from horrific traumas and yet manage to be incredibly brave and morally outstanding, as well as deeply loved and respected by all despite being cranky and essentially rude (but with a really good heart) at all times. This stream-of-consciousness description applies to the main character, Kim Stone, a detective inspector in the so-called Black Country in the UK. Her childhood was beyond horrible, and she bears many scars. She now heads a team of three detectives (all extremely loyal, of course), who are interesting and much more human, if less traumatized, than Stone. These appear in all four books, and have distinct personalities and skills that enrich the stories. In this one, the team goes on a trip to a nearby "body farm" to learn about forensic techniques that may help them clear cold cases, only to find a body that doesn't belong on the premises. In short order, more bodies start piling up and the story moves on at a good clip. The author has a crisp, clean prose, well balanced in terms of action, description, and reflection (to my taste, at least), dialogue is believable, and the books are overall well edited (in some of the cheaper Kindle titles there are so many errors that even a good story becomes unbearable to read - here I saw a couple at most). The author seems to have a penchant for damaged and traumatized characters, though not all have turned out as well as the main one, which you can't help but like, though you'd often would like to throttle her. Despite the somewhat formulaic nature of these books, they are eminently readable, and I wish I could write as well as Ms. Marsons and come up with such gripping (yes, they are that...) storylines, all flaws notwithstanding.... Of the series, I perhaps liked books 1 and 3 best (though, given my reading pace, they kind of merge into each other), but they are all good, if this is a genre you like. One of the things I like about British crime novels is that the police are not armed as a rule, which reduces the number of shooting scenes that one might encounter, and this generally benefits character and plot development. On the other hand, these policemen (and women) go without weapons even when it seems completely irrational to do so, which I find a little irritating. Still, you can't have everything.... I have preordered book 5, and will be sad when that, too, is over, as the wait for the next one will likely be longer than I'd like....
  • Craczy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Very good book!
    Reviewed in France on August 23, 2016
    Excellent 4th story with DCI Kim Stone leading the investigation. The plot is well built and all characters are interesting. No loose ends. Difficult to put the book down.
    Nothing too complicate. It's really entertaining and pleasant. I definitely recommend to all readers looking for a good thriller. Looking forward to book 5!

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