Detective Kim's boss has a wicked sense of humor. After closing their last case he decides to send them to a body farm as a reward. While their on tour and learning about the various stages of body decomp and bug infestation on them, Kim follows a trial of a huge fly mass and finds a recent dead body. After some research we learn it is a body and this woman died violently.


After removing this body and searching the area they discover another body. As they search for connections to the two bodies another victim is found. The connection between these victims traces back years to a bullying incident. Kim and her team work this case diligently and writing reflects a very detailed police procedural.

Another case is in the background but still being worked by her team. It is hampered because the killer has taken the fingers of the dead and the body has been decomposing for quite a while.

This book starts out a little stiff as the author gets all the details and people in place. Once that happens it is not able to be put down book. As the reader realizes the connections between the victims and who is the killer, you are in for a non stop thrill ride to the last page.

I like how the author for a moment thought about giving Kim a romantic interest but shut it down quickly. Kim has a lot of baggage and is probably better living a quiet life but not lonely. She has a rescue dog.

I have a problem with this book. I started off really enjoying this, enjoying the main character and how the book was written and then the end happened. It took the book from a 4-star rating to a 1 star. I simply can't get past the transphobia triggers and slurs against disabled people that made me cringe and want to put the book down immediately. Very disappointed.

This is another fantastic addition to the Kim Stone series of books. I love the way that Angela Marsons writes and this plot is just as strong as you would expect. There is a great mix of suspense and drama and I really like the interactions between the whole team - all the characters are believable. I did partially guess the ending to this one but it did not detract at all from the strength of the story.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of Play Dead in exchange for an honest review.

When you hear on the blogger grapevine that the new Angela Marsons book is up for grabs on NetGalley, you drop everything. EVERYTHING! There is something so appealing, so special about this series. It’s addictive and we all need our next DI Kim Stone fix!

DCI Woodward offers Kim and her team an extra special treat. A visit to the local body farm, a place were they study the effects of weather and insect activity on long-dead corpses. Not everyones idea of a treat! Whilst on the guided tour Kim discovers a more recent addition to the body farms residents, the freshly deceased body of a woman. Can Kim find the killer before anyone else meets the same grisly fate…?

This is a fabulous book. I have grown to love Kim Stone and her team in a way I haven’t with other characters in other series. I feel a fondness for Stone, Bryant, Stacey…even Dawson! Don’t get me wrong, this is not a warm fuzzy story. It’s a dark and scary read. Some parts I found quite harrowing and some parts my heart ached for one particular character. I loved it.

I found the story very gripping and hard to put down. I was drawn in from start to finish. I loved the body farm setting, it really appealed to me and isn’t the kind of location you read about every day (ignoring Patricia Cornwell!). It is clear that Angela Marsons has done a lot of research for this book. Parts of the body farm content are truly fascinating and I learnt a few things that I didn’t know before.

Would I recommend this book? Oh yes, but start with Silent Scream (DI Kim Stone, Book 1) and work your way up. Only because all of Angela’s DI Stone books are fabulous and I wouldn’t want you to miss out!

Five out of five stars.

Many thanks to Bookouture, Angela Marsons and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of Play Dead in exchange for an honest review.

fanstastic, the best in the series. Flows smoothly, keeps you guessing, and I do love Kim Stone with all her faults. Well done Angie.

3.5 stars
I feel like the revolving characters are a bit two dimensional. I like the recurring characters though!

Loved it. Excellent book

Play Dead begins with a reluctant Kim Stone reluctant to accept an award for solving the kidnapping case of Charlie and Amy in Book Three. Instead, she is working hard to stop a serial killer that is claiming innocent lives. One thing a lot of police have a problem with is reporters. Facts could be revealed that could ruin solving a case. For Kim, that person is Tracy Frost. She apparently has gotten in the killer's crosshairs. Oh the twists in this book! No matter how carefully I read, I was not been able to suss out the killer! Good job Ms. Marsons!

"The dead don’t tell secrets… unless you listen."

When I first opened this book,I was so freaking excited to read this.I was waiting for a long time to read this one since it released back in May.So,when I got to read this,I was thinking....FINALLY!!


After finishing this,I can summarize this in one line: PLAY DEAD was a captivating and wonderful read.


The series follows Detective Inspector Kim Stone and her team as we watch them solve another case.

A dead girl is found at a Westerly facility,which is a body farm,with her face smashed in and her mouth full of dirt.Then a second body is found and Kim and her team are determined to find the serial killer at work.

I love Angela Marsons writing.Her description of Kim and the narration of the story will keep you guessing and wanting more.Especially the strong prologue and POV of the killer.You kind of get into their mind and see their thoughts clearly.

Kim has always been my favorite in this series.Her aloof and cool detachment and her passion towards her work.And the way her mind works.And I could go on and on and on..............




The one thing I did notice was how Kim was with kids.It's like she was a whole different person.After reading Lost Girls,book 3,I was waiting to see if we would get to see that side again.
This one again had that small glimpse which I loved.


The story moves forward as the team stumble across secrets at Westerly.The setting of the farm and the addition detailing of forensics and it's importance was interesting.I kind of learned many things from this book.The team starts digging into the pasts of our victims to uncover the truth.

The characters of the series are pretty much perfect.
Bryant is as sarcastic as ever and a perfect yang to Kim's yin.At times,I was looking forward to their snappy retorts.

'Guv… where are you?’
‘Take a look out back,’ she responded into the microphone.
‘Umm… guv, you’re sitting on the shed.’
Bryant’s powers of observation never ceased to amaze her.

'Oh, thanks for joining us, Bryant,’ Kim said as her colleague returned. ‘I told you to warn them off, not take them for a meal.’
He stopped short of the stream and spoke to the professor. ‘Lack of coffee makes her snarky.’

Another character was Keats,the pathologist.Kim and Keats were again a whole different story.Their dynamic was as good as Kim and Bryant.

'Okay, Keats, is there anything else I should know?’
‘How to speak to people would be a start.’
‘About our victim,’ she growled.

Stace was as amazing as ever,helping the team with her computer skills.

Dawson was well...Dawson.I would love to see more from his character after understanding a bit about him in the previous book.He could very well be another Kim.

Another character that surprised the hell out of me was Tracy Frost.The cold hearted reporter Kim hates has a history related to the victims and the killer.Getting to know her and seeing her struggle was probably my favorite part of this book.

Last but not the least,we see Daniel Bate again.(sort of?)I was so excited to see Kim and Daniel together.They both had that same twisted sense of humor I was dying to read.My only regret is that I wish we would know more about his character and get a tiny chapter from his POV as to what he thinks of Kim.(Hoping my wish comes true,fingers crossed!)


He placed his arms on top of the cab and then rested his chin and stared at her.
‘What are you doing?’ she asked. His blatant stare was as annoying as his delay in giving her an answer.
‘Oh, I’m wringing every second of enjoyment I can from your discomfort.’


And did anyone love Barney,Kim's one true companion, as much as I did? I sure as hell did.Watching them both together was another joy.

I guessed the killer around 70% of the book,though the reason WHY? avoided me.They were twists that I didn't see coming and I thoroughly enjoyed this installment.

Now I have to wait for book 5!!!

4.5/5⭐️

I just love this series more and more as I go along.

This is number 4, and Kim finds herself and her team investigating a serial killer who’s leaving victims on a “body farm” viciously beaten and stabbed.

This one has some surprises and a reappearance of a possible love interest for Kim.

Love these characters, stories and humor in these books. Recommended.