Fatal Promise: A totally gripping and heart-stopping serial killer thriller (Detective Kim Stone Book 9)

Undoubtedly, this was one of the more significant episodes in this series. Considering what had been lost by the end of book eight I wondered how any of them might ever find their way again.Previous events cast a huge shadow over the emotionally diminished team. So whatever followed, it must deliver something even greater than Stone’s distinctive investigative punch and the amusing banter I’ll never grow tired of. And it 100% does by providing a few wicked curve balls and outshining previous books with the manner in which it explores the aftershocks the team are experiencing.More notably is the introduction of a new, but familiar, team member. Now that was a bold but brilliant move. To arrive at such an excruciatingly sensitive time and find others openly objecting to your presence and remain stoically professional and respectful instantly tells something about a person’s character. One of the many highlights of "Fatal Promise" is the backstory of this new fella, which became an effective and welcome diversion.Toward the end a more detailed profile of Stone is building too, as her fitness for work is officially questioned and she finds herself looking beyond the line of her usual self-patrolled comfort zone. She may have mastered the art of avoidance, and can be inventive when ticking the boxes she believes are relevant, but all I can say to that is well played, Ted. Well played."Fatal Promise" (book nine) is as addictive and fresh as the very first book in this series - a series that is realistic, reliable, and unrivalled. I’ll be pre-ordering the next as soon as it’s available.

After finishing the last book in the Kim Stone series, Dying Truth, many readers, myself included, were really concerned for Kim and the rest of her team, after the devastating events in the finale of the last book. If you are new to the Kim Stone series, I think it will really help to read the previous book before you pick up Fatal Promise. Please be aware that this review may contain spoilers if you haven’t read the last book. Although the mystery at the core of the latest book is separate to events that have proceeded, I think you will get a better understanding of the characters and the predicament that they are now in if you read Dying Truth first.This is a novel with a strong emotional core. Angela Marsons really delves into the psychology of her characters in her books. Kim is a character we have grown to understand across the series, but Angela is now starting to explore other characters she is now bringing to the front. Stacey is one character in particular who we have seen develop more recently. But also we are still finding out more about Kim which is what makes her a fascinating character. Understanding the minds of her characters is something that Angela really succeeds at. Every time I finish her latest book, even months later, I am always wondering what they are doing now and how they are getting on in their lives. I think this is what has made this series really successful.In Fatal Promise, Kim and her team are investigating the horrendous death of Dr Cordell, a slippery character from the last book who really got under Kim’s skin. It appears to Kim that events that took place previously might be about to escalate again and this puts the team on edge. The opening chapter of this book really sparks the intrigue, and it got me thinking. With each twist and turn that this book delivered I kept thinking back to that opening and wondering what it meant. Angela always does a great job at keeping up the suspense. And those final chapters had my heart racing.I think what came as most surprising in this book was the slight change in Kim’s personality. She is showing a different side to the person who we have got to know over the series, and for me, it did give this book a darker tone. She has become a lot spikier. Usually, I can rely on Kim and her colleague Bryant to add some light hearted moments, but this wasn’t there very often this time. But I can see why perhaps this is the case in this book, and I am hoping that the team will soon reach a new element of normality.I always say that this is a series that keeps going from strength to strength and for me it is still going strong. I think we still have a lot to learn about Kim and the rest of the team and I can’t wait to see where Angela will take them from here. Fatal Promise like the rest of the books in the series is a stonking good read. Five stars from me.

I raced through all bar one of the first eight books in the Kim Stone saga. The stories were terrific and varied, the pace and the suspense was electric. I remember book five or six made me hesitate from awarding my customary five stars. I felt the cast of characters was getting claustrophobic, there was little room for the police personnel story lines to progress without some new faces being introduced. The main theme of any book occupies the majority of its page time, but it's what goes on in the office and in the characters' social lives that add the ingredients that make a series special.When it was revealed books nine to sixteen were scheduled, something had to give. We learned what that was in 'Dying Truth' and I eagerly waited for the six months to pass before I could read 'Fatal Promise' I hoped the changes would breathe fresh life into the stories.What did I get? Well, it lacked excitement. After a promising Prologue, any momentum was lost as for much of the first half of the book we went over old ground, as if we needed reminding about how all the bits fitted together from the earlier stories. The further I read, the more I noticed the extraneous passages that didn't help to keep the plot moving at its usual relentless pace. Here and there, I was back in the warm glow of those early books in the series, but it wasn't constant. Maybe it was a minor blip, like with that earlier title? I hope so.

Well once again just finished another amazing book by Angela Marson, Kim stone series. I am totally hooked on the Kim stone series. Angela has brought to life a amazing detective who's suffered her own problems over the years. This would become clearer if you where to read the series. Each book gets better and better not that I thought it was possible. From Paige one I am lost in the world of Kim stones life and job. I knew this was going to be a hard start after Dawson. Not just for km but the rest of the team. Full of twist and turns with a roller coaster of a ride that keeps you guessing right to the end. This is a must must read. I can not wait for the next instalment of Kim and her team. A big thank you to Angela Marson for bringing Kim stone into our lives. BRILLIANT AWSOM WOW, READ READ READ