Well this is possibly the easiest review I've ever has to write. It's Angela Marsons, so five stars, 'nuff said.

Of course I jest. They're always loads of great things to say about any DI Kim Stone novel - they're gripping, intriguing, thrilling, addictive ,fantastic....the list goes on and on. Oh I missed two that apply very much to this particular book - emotional and heart breaking. Did Ms Marsons want us to cry her a river? Well she got an ocean here. I finished this late and woke up him indoors sobbing my heart out.I won't say more ( spoilers and what not) but you have been warned. If you're a Kim Stone fan (pfft if - of course you are) do not finish this in public!

This story revolves around Heathcrest, a boarding school for the progeny of the rich, gifted and famous. Think of it as Eton in the Midlands. When Sadie Winters, a thirteen year old student throws herself from the roof of the school building the school wants things kept as quiet as possible. Unfortunately for them Kim Stone is the nearest officer and is at the scene shortly after the girl dies and she senses something isn't right despite her colleagues misgivings. When another student dies shortly after the team realises she was right and soon all evidence points to a conspiracy of silence that goes back decades. As the assaults a d bodies mount up they are forced to confront that the person they are trying to protect the students of Heathcrest from may well be a child themselves...

Read this book. Just do it. If you haven't read the others then go, buy them all and settle in for one of the very best detective series around. You really won't regret it.

Wow! What a book! Grabs you from the first page and doesn't let go. This series just gets better and better. Easy 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.

Wow, where to start this one? Sadie Winters is described as a 'troubled' girl who has apparently committed suicide. When things don't add up, we know Kim Stone won't let things rest. This book will take you on an emotional roller-coaster ride and the reader will definitely be left reeling. Its going to take me some time to recover from this one. Usually, I can immediately start another book, but not with this one. I just need to sit and digest what happened.. Angie Marsons, you're phenomenally talented! I like the writing style, the suspense and the story is written so well. That last two chapters will just get you, it's just so beautifully written.

This was a great crime thriller with elements of so many other things happening. I love that Alex Thorne had a role to play in this book. Its always fascinating when she interacts with Kim.

This series just keeps getting better and better. I noticed with some series, it tends to fall short after a while, but this is not the case here. I would advise the reader to read the other books in the series first.

I feel like my review is totally inadequate. I don't think I can do justice right now, if ever. I highly recommend this series.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the Publishers for this review copy, given in exchange for an honest review.

When 13 year old Sadie Winter jumps from the roof of her school, everyone thinks its suicide. Everyone except Detective Inspector Kim Stone. When another body of a young boy is found at the same school, DI Stone is convinced that they are not accidents and are somehow related. Investigations at the highly exclusive private school show that the school holds a lot of secrets, and other incidents that have happened in the past may also be connected. Could it be one of the pupils that is behind the other children’s deaths? In search of answers Kim Stone does the unthinkable and visits Dr Alex Thorne in prison to find out if children are capable of killing. Can Kim’s team work out what is going on before any more children are killed?

This is book #8 in the DI Kim Stone series. Whilst it can be read as a standalone novel, it does feature references to other books, and therefore it would make sense for it to be read as part of the series. For information, this book is set in the Black Country, which is part of the West Midlands area of the UK.

So very excited to read this book! I love the Kim Stone series and have read and enjoyed all of them. When I received this book, I put down everything else I was reading so I could get started on this one immediately. This is not a book which can be put onto a ‘To Be Read’ pile! The story begins with the horrific suicide of a young girl at an exclusive private school. Everyone says the girl jumped from the bell tower, but nobody actually saw her. DI Kim Stone and her team are sent to investigate the death assuming it is a tragic suicide, but Kim is suspicious of the circumstances and orders her team to look into it. From there, it’s great to see Kim and her team doing what they do best – finding out the answers which no one else can!

I think that’s as far as I’m going to go with the description of the book as I really wouldn’t want to spoil it by unintentionally revealing something I shouldn’t! What I can say though is that this is the best book of the series yet…..FACT! I was completely and utterly hooked into this one and could not put it down. The writing was absolutely superb and the story was original and very well researched. For me it was so scary to think that things like this may actually be happening in places where are children go. Hopefully it’s all just fiction, but who knows!?

All of the team are back for this book and what I love about this series is how well the team works together, with them all having their own strengths to bring to it. I love the character of Stacey in this book, who has definitely proved herself a worthy asset to the team.

All in all, it is just one huge rollercoaster of a storyline, with twists and turns and lots of ‘I knew it’, ‘No it can’t be’, ‘Oh My God’ and ‘NO!!!’ Just when I thought I had it all worked out, something happened that changed it all around again. The author has managed to write a story which wasn’t only just thrilling and exciting but also absolutely heart-breaking. I’m sure I’m not the only one who will have needed tissues by the end of it.

And, yes I know I always say it when I review a book from this series, but I live in the Black Country and it’s great to read all the names of places that I know and go to regularly! I also loved Stacey’s Black Country accent, which probably just looked like editing mistakes to those not in the know! You just cor beat it!

Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic (or should I say Bostin’ Bostin’ Bostin’)!! Book #9 can’t come quick enough!!

Oh where to start? I echo the thoughts of other reviewers that this is possibly the best Kim Stone book yet. I finished it in two sittings, unable to put it down, and ended up a weeping mess as I reached the last page. Once again the story is fantastic and the characters also. The team of Stone, Bryant, Dawson and Wood bringing their different skills and approach to the case giving it so much depth. I wanted to finish the book, but at the same time I didn't because I didn't want to say goodbye to the team. I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Thank you for providing me with a copy of this book to read. I loved this book!! I have read all of the previous in the Kim Stone series, and this didn't disappoint. Cannot wait for the next one! Shed a little tear at the end too. Great read and highly recommended.

Dying Truth Angela Marsons

What a way to start a book. The prologue see’s DI Kim Stone struggling with a broken leg as she tries to warn people not to enter part of a building where she knows they will be in mortal danger. But who are the people running into the building and what exactly is the danger.

Cut to chapter one, a few days before the prologue. The death of a young girl at a posh, private school.

It’s classical mystery writing technique but, I don’t think I’ve ever read it written in a better way.

As the story builds Kim is supported by all her usual crew, trusty Bryant, laddish Wood, and the quiet Black Country Lass Stacey. Will any of these be charging into danger at the end of the book.

The team are investigating a suspicious death at the private Heathcrest Academy. A private co-ed school, where the elite of midlands society send their children to study alongside sporting, and academic, high achievers.

Not surprisingly amongst the students there are secret societies that have seen generations of the same family pass through them. The societies employ horrific initiation ceremonies and even more horrific discipline methods.

When the body of the first victim is found, after she apparently committed suicide by jumping from one of the highest points in the school, Kim and Bryant are the first Officers on the scene.

Kim is not happy with the circumstances of the death and her suspicions are bourn-out when Keats carries out the autopsy and confirms that the girl was murdered.

The investigation is thwarted at every turn by the family, who are trying to hide their own secrets; by the school, whose principle will only entertain suicide as the cause, as murder would be bad for business; and by the students, who are either in one of the secret societies, or are scared of the pupils that are.

As the story unwinds Kim has to turn to an unlikely ally for advice, which itself holds dangers which I’m sure will hold recriminations.

As the body count begins to rise, and the climax of the book gets ever closer, the tension rises. Right up to the end it’s impossible to find out, or guess, who is running into danger, and how it will play out.

When the end comes it is no anti-climax. I had already read quotes on twitter where people said the they were left “broken” at the end, and that it was an “emotional ending”.

I thought I was ready for it, but no. It is emotional, and I was broken.

This is book 8 in the DI Kim Stone series. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, and it works well as one, but to get full impact read the others.

I was lucky enough to find Angela Marsons when the first Kim Stone novel was released, and have been onboard from the beginning.

I am a prolific reader and I can think of no bigger recommendation than, every time an new book in this series is made available, I put down whatever I’m reading and read what Stone and her team are up to. This one was the best yet.

Roll on Book 9

Pages: 399
Publishers: Bookouture
Publishing Date: 18th May 2018.