As if this series needed a hook to get you into a book. Yet Angela Marsons has started this one with the most original, and toe curling, murder of the series.

The book starts with a murder in a kids playground. It’s a bit of a mystery where this murder fits in as its set years before the main body of the book, but fit in it does, and it’s part of a brilliant mystery.

Moving forward to the present day Kim and her team are called to a murder in a local park (and when I say local its where I take my dog for a walk most days). The murder victim is posed and the murderer has left a signature, but what does it all mean.

Kim lets her team work to their strengths. Stacy is set to work trawling the internet, whilst Kim and Bryant hit the streets.

The newest member of the team, Penn, is called back to his old team, and the story that unfolds for him is every Police Officers worst nightmare. Has he put the wrong man in jail. This story alone would have made a great book.

Kim is also fighting the Brass in the Police force. Owing to recent reviews showing that officers are burning out, along with the constrictions of austerity, she is forced to make her team work the case on a 9-5 basis, she and they hate it.

To make up for the lack of Penn, and the lack of available work hours, Kim is given a new officer, a 24 year old PC called Tiffany, who is a bubble of energy and enthusiasm. At first Kim, and Stacy, try to reject the help but soon realise they are stuck with their new yappy (and for us from the Black Country Yampy) puppy of an officer.

As the bodies mount Kim’s team are stretched to the limit. Will burn out claim any of them?

Book 11 in the DI Kim Stone series and again Angela Marsons has given us a brilliantly crafted book.

It’s no secret this is my favourite series in the crime fiction genre. I do wonder sometimes if it’s because the books are set where I live, but then I read the blogs from other reviewers around the world, and realise that if they were set in Mongolia I’d still love the stories.

Angela Marsons has created a fictional team in a real world. The crimes she writes about are all too realistic. The worries and concerns of the Police Officers, the Victims, the Witnesses, and the Criminals are written in a way that lets the reader engage. Empathy and sympathy for some characters, and anger at others are emotions which each of the books evokes aplenty.

In my very first blog, about my life and how reading has been my companion, hobby, and at times escape, I recall how I read all of the Sven Hassle war books on my first ship. I wrote how when I’d finished the series I felt like I’d lost some friends. I don’t know when this series is going to end, I hope not for a while yet, but I have the feeling I’m going to miss Kim and her Team just as much, and probably a lot more.

Pages: 397
Publishing Date: 11th July
Publishers: Bookouture

As DS Penn headed to court for a case that was his before he joined Detective Kim Stone’s team, he little realized what would happen in his life in the next few days. Meanwhile Kim, Bryant and Stacey were up against a murder of a horrific nature. Barbed wire, a ritualistic marking of the flesh and a playground. As Kim and Bryant discovered the identity of the woman, they also saw her sister, Veronica. The vibes that rippled across to Kim felt uneasy; wrong…

With two more bodies murdered in the same fashion, Kim knew the race was on. But they needed to find the motive. Perhaps that would give them more answers. And as the clues led them to a conference for gifted children, Kim and her team knew they couldn’t stop until they had the killer. They had to put an end to it - now. But could they?

Child’s Play is the 11th in the Kim Stone series by Angela Marsons and once again I thoroughly enjoyed it. Fast paced with lots of action, the two cases (Kim’s and Penn’s) running simultaneously worked well. A highly entertaining thriller from an author who’s a definite favourite! Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 11th novel featuring Detective Kim Stone and just as fantastic as the previous. When Professor Belinda Evans is round murdered and tied to a swing Kim is called to investigate. Other murders follow and seem tied to a tournament for gifted children.
I have to say the description of the first murders was gruesome but I loved the story as it unfolded. I like that it gave a balanced view of the parents of gifted children as well.
Highly recommended and if you’ve not read Detective Kim Stone you have the previous ten books to catch up on.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley #Childsplay

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

have to say when i first started this book and with it being the 11th in the series...i found it hard to catch up with the characters with their development and generally didnt like the team but as i kept reading and i found one or two members really interesting and them wham i was hooked by this book

several gruesome murders have taken place they all have several things in common...child geniuses and pushy parents

but what links them all to the murderer...

a very clever whodunnit and another author to add to my ever growing list of authors to keep an eye out for

A new Detective Kim Stone book is always exciting for me. I know that no matter what it is going to be good. Child's Play is book 11 in this series and it is absolutely as strong as the very first book. I don't know how Angela Marsons manages to keep it so fresh and addictive but she has done it again with this instalment. Here's to a very very long life to this series. As always I struggled to put this book down. It opens with a cracker of a murder scene and doesn't let up until the very end. If you have never picked up a Kim Stone novel and you like police procedural books then you seriously need to start from the beginning and get into this series. I highly recommend all of them!

This time we see and Kim and the team called to a crime scene in a children's playground. A woman in her 60's have been killed and left tied to a swing with barbed wired. We learn that the woman is Belinda Evans, a retired college professor of child physcholgy. There are soon 2 more horrific murders and all the victims have ties to gifted children. Meanwhile, the newest member of the team Penn is called back to his old team as a case he was in charge of goes to court and falls apart. The 2 stories go well together and we watch with anticipation to see how they will both end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

This is the 11th book in the DI Kim Stone series by author Angela Marsons. This really is an outstanding series and I can honestly say that all eleven books are of a very high standard. This one continues in the same vein, exciting plot, gritty characters and the so well written.

Detective Kim Stone arrives at Haden Hill Park to the scene of a horrific crime, a woman in her sixties tied to a swing with barbed wire and an X carved into the back of her neck. The victim is Belinda Evans, a retired college Professor of Child Psychology. As Kim and her team search her home, they find an overnight bag packed and begin to unravel a complex relationship between Belinda and her sister Veronica.
When two more bodies are found bearing the same distinctive markings, Kim knows she is on the hunt for a ritualistic serial killer. Kim discovers that the victims were involved in annual tournaments for gifted children and were on their way to the next event. The team are faced with hundreds of potential leads and a race against time to prevent another murder.

Great read, highly recommended.

I would like to thank both Net Galley and Bookouture for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

We know all about child movie and tv stars who turn to drugs and alcohol when their stardom finishes once they’re adults and nobody is interested in them any more. McCaully Caulkin is a classic example of this. What we don’t know is that this also happens to child prodigies and child geniuses. They too have the same issues when they get older plus a whole lot of mental issues because the rest of the world has caught up to them and they are nothing really special anymore. What happens when all these issues come to a head and murder is the only answer.? Well, in comes Detective Stone to try to find out!

This book rates a solid 5 stars …and I will admit, I don’t give those out too readily! This isn’t my first rodeo with Angela Marsons…. I discovered her a while ago and decided to go back to the beginning and read through and get to know Kim Stone and her band of dedicated detectives. What I like about Marsons writing is that after reading 11 books …her stories are still a joy to read. I have huge respect for an author who is able to entertain us with her imagination …to put her creativity into such story telling …I am quite envious! It seems in each novel there are two story plots and this time round, one story line involves Penn and a case that was going to trial only to unravel at the 11th hour! I do wish Ms. Marsons would give Kim Stone some self-defence lessons: she does seem to get bashed around a lot! This novel has a lot of twist and turns, so when you think you know who the villain is, you are handed a blind side with a new possibility! Well played!

I would like to thank Ms. Marsons, the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an unbiased opinion of her book

The eleventh in the D.I. Kim Stone series, and it continues in the same way….just brilliant!
I read at every opportunity, the short chapters were perfect to sneak in when I could and gave a good pace to the book. The quality is always there, truly blows me away with each book.
Opening in true gruesome style, chapter one nearly had me revisiting my lunch. The visualisation of the roundabout scene was both amazing and horrific.
It’s a fascinating storyline, dealing with child prodigies, how it affects the children themselves, their siblings and the parents and how their future pans out. It’s not something I’ve given much thought to but I found it taught me something, as do all books by this author.
There is side story to the main one. An old case Penn has worked on goes to court. He spends time with his former colleagues from a neighbouring force. It doesn’t go to plan and old evidence has to be raked over. It’s a really interesting part of the story for me.
Love Bryant and Stacey, and of course Kim.
How the author keeps coming up with these fab books just astonishes me, the content is amazing. It wouldn’t be an Angie Marsons without some brutality and shocking scenes.
I recommend this book 100%, and all the others in the series. Please read them all!
Angie Marsons is definitely one of my favourite authors, I think the books are just fantastic and I can't wait for the next one.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy in which I give my honest review.

And Angela Marsons strikes again! What a belter of a book!

Somewhere near the top of the "some things Eva gets really excited about" list, you'll find this series. Whenever a new Kim Stone book arrives, I get immensely giddy because I know I'm in for a treat and I know that Angela Marsons will just knock it out of the park once again. Isn't it a wondrous feeling to know you're safe in an author's hands?

Kim and Bryant are called out to a murder scene in one of the most innocent places you can think of : a children's playground in a park. The identity of the victim is quickly discovered but that's also where things become immensely intriguing. The victim's appearance seems at odds with her lifestyle and the team struggle to find the truth amidst all this mystery. The victim's sister is of little help, cold and distant, and refusing to talk.

Meanwhile Penn is forced to spend time with his former West Mercia colleagues when a case he worked on gets its day in court. But things do not exactly go to plan. Did Penn make a mistake? The only way to find out is to go through the entire investigation again with a fine tooth comb.

It's absolutely remarkable when you realise this is the eleventh book in a series. But what is even more remarkable is how Angela Marsons is able to keep this eleventh book seem as fresh as the very first one. This plot is as compelling as ever but there are also other things that keep me, as a reader, utterly hooked. One of those things is splitting up the team. Having Kim, Bryant and Stacey work on one investigation and Penn on something else feels realistic and when both of those investigations grab your attention, well, you just can't flip the pages fast enough. There's also the introduction of new characters, for instance. Now I won't say anything about the character the team is forced to work with but their arrival and the reaction of the team genuinely made me laugh.

Above all else though, are the topics Angela Marsons tackle. In Child's Play, we find ourselves in the world of child prodigies. This quickly turned into quite the thought-provoking issue for me as Angela Marsons somehow made it easy to see the points of view from various sides. The parents, often ruthless and competitive, do they have their child's best interests at heart or not? The child prodigy, often isolated, forced to study for hours on end, what sort of impact does this have on them? And what about siblings who aren't as smart? And all the while, you're left to wonder how the utterly brutal prologue fits into it all. I had no idea. Both investigations left me guessing until the very end.

This is what Angela Marsons does best. She always manages to come up with a hard-hitting topic that makes me think, that makes me feel rather emotional sometimes, that isn't always easy to read. And throughout, there is Kim and her team, guiding the reader safely through an intense and intriguing investigation. Of course, there are light-hearted moments too. Thank goodness! The relationship between Kim and Bryant is one of my favourite things ever and there's a lot of muttering going on that made me chuckle. And let's not forget the absolutely delightfully snarky Keats!

Child's Play is another utterly brilliant addition to this series. It's gripping, compelling, super tense and extremely addictive. The kind of book you pick up and don't put down again until you've finished it, no matter what time of night it is. I so can't wait for the next one!

Well, well, well,… I think I'm running out of things to say about this series without repeating myself, but when a series is this good it just needs shouting about, so I don't care if I repeat myself. I said, I don't care if I repeat myself.
Book 11 and this series just gets better and better. It's difficult to keep a series fresh and enjoyable but Angie Marsons certainly manages it. A feeling of being back with friends is what you get when opening a book from this series and as always real life needs to go on hold while you start the book. It's not far in and you know you are going to just love the book.
Kim Stone has taken some time to get to know, and I feel she is a character that needs no explanation for fans of the series.
This book certainly grips you with it's opening. What a way to start! This book like others has a whole host of characters, some you'll love, some you won't. What I did like in this book what the introduction to a new team member, which I think was received into the team a lot better than the last new member.
Penn is off back to his old team, but don't worry it's only while there is a court case he is involved with. I think this also helped split the story and give us more of an insight into Penn the person.
Kim and the rest of her team are investigating a very brutal murder, just where the author get's her idea's from, I don't know, I'm just glad she has them. A woman is found in rather grim circumstances and it's down to Kim and her to team to try and get to bottom of what has happened. It all happens in true 'Stone fashion which is what makes these books so damn enjoyable.
Another great addition to the series, book 11 will like the previous 10 have you gripped from the opening pages and spit you out breathless at the very end.
​Bravo Angie Marsons you've done it again.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 ok stars

I’m a huge fan of Angela Marson’s books and have given the all 4 or 5 stars, so for me this was a tad disappointing.

There were a few things off with this one - after so much character development in previous books, Kim had reverted back to cold, unlikeable, rude. There seemed to be a lack of chemistry between her and Bryant. Also I have no idea what the thinking was to separate Penn and bring in a new character Tiff.

There are two storylines running but there is no cohesion with them and it’s feels disjointed.

Overall an ok read but no a patch on her previous books.

always get excited when another Angela Marson’s DI Kim Stone series comes out. I have read them and loved them all from the start and this one is no exception. But this one is a bit different from her others. Her stories usually tell of their characters backgrounds and relationships. But in this one we only hear about Penn’s family life and the relationship between himself and his brother.
Kim and Bryant are called to investigate 61-year-old Belinda Evans. Who is a Child Psychology professor, who is found murdered on a children’s playground, her wrists tied with barbed wire, stabbed in the chest and a X carved in the back of her neck. More deaths follow and they all link to child prodigies, they were one or related to one.
The story also includes Penn, going back to his old team in West Mercia because a case that he was involved in failed. So, Penn has gone over old ground to find the killer of Dev Kapoor.
This is another excellent instalment in the DI Kim Stone series. It’s great faced paced plot and gripping story line. Ms Marson’s doesn’t disappoint. Only thing I missed in this issue was the banter within the team especially between Kim and Bryant.
Thanks again Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

There is something about picking up a Kim Stone book that is like returning home to family. Not my family, obviously, as I probably see more of Kim Stone than I do of most of them, but a family nonetheless. You know what you are getting with each and every instalment - great story, great characters, cunning plotting and all round entertainment. Child's Play is no different, another absolute belter.

I did chuckle on the day that the book was announced as it was the exact same day that Mark Hamill introduced the world to Chucky 2.0 from the Child's Play movie franchise. Absolutely fitting in many respects as the story is far more Chucky than it is hopscotch ... although if you read the book that might be an unfortunate comparison. Now I'm not saying this book is about a demon doll. the malevolent being in this story is something, or someone, far more mundane but just as deadly. From the very twisted and macabre opening, you are given a real taste of where this book is heading, and I can quite honestly say that it had me well and truly hooked. Damn that little thing call work for getting in the way again as I didn't want to walk away from the book at all.

One of the key successes in this series is the author's ability to create a variety of complex, sometimes flawed, but always colourful characters and she has excelled at this once again. From the first time we meet Veronica, you get a real sense that there is something very complicated about her relationship with her sister, Belinda, but as to whether any of this was the cause of Belinda's murder remains to be seen. Certainly there is no love lost between them, or seemingly not, and in some ways I could identify with Veronica quite well, although I am the baby in my sibling quartet. I must admit there were quite a few surprises uncovered, and it just goes to show that you should never judge a book by it's cover, or spinster by the state of her piles ... Belinda was a hoarder of the most extreme kind.

Alongside Kim's case, relative newby, DS Penn, has a challenging case of his own to resolve. Called back to his old force under Kim's one time nemesis, DI Travis, he is about to give testimony in what should be the open and shut case of an armed robbery which resulted in the death of a young man. Sadly it appears nothing is to go to plan and doubt is soon cast over the guilt of their prime suspect. When a key witness disappears and another retracts their statement, Penn has to work long and hard to get to the truth and see the killer brought to justice. I've loved getting to know Penn over the past couple of books, details of his life and character being drip fed to readers. But with him taking centre stage in his own investigation, I think it really helped to strengthen the growing bond that you feel when seeing him as part of the team.

The eleventh Detective Kim Stone novel is a very intricate and well-developed mystery. A woman has been murdered and tied to a child’s swing. When Detective Kim Stone and her team investigate the victim, they find that she was a retired professor, in her sixties, and had arranged to meet her killer at the park. This will seem to be the first murder involving children’s games, but the hunt is on for the killer before they kill again. When further evidence points to a long running tournament for gifted children, the investigation becomes even more complex. While this case is proceeding, Detective Penn is investigating the murder of a young man…the clues do not add up and the witness can’t be relied upon to be telling the truth. Ms. Marsons flawlessly alternates between the two main stories keeping the reader up to date as another attempted murder will lead to Kim’s violent encounter with the killer. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

A body found on a child's roundabout, a body found on a swing, someone is killing in the most childish way possible and Kim Stone has to find the reason as to why, Could it be linked to a competition weekend for gifted children or is there someone more sinister at work

Loving this series and hard to believe that its book 11 already

This is the 11th book in the Detective Kim Stone series and it is another enjoyable thriller.
I have read all the earlier books so was excited to receive this arc to review via NetGalley.
Kim and the team are investigating a murderer who poses his victims with children’s toys and games, hence the title.
There are some interesting characters in the novel including sisters Veronica and Belinda one of whom was a “child genius”” Kim discovers a strange dynamic between them but is one capable of murder?
Meanwhile Penn, who is a relatively recent addition to Kim’s team, is seconded back to his old Police Station when he testifies at a trial and the case starts to fall apart. He is tasked with reinvestigating to find out if the defendant is truly guilty.
As usual the author progresses both stories well, leading to two exciting climaxes and although I was less interested in Penn’s story at the beginning, it gradually grew on me.
I like the way Angela Marson’s alternated the chapters between the two plot strands as this really helped to ratchet up the tension.
If you have read the earlier books you will certainly enjoy this and if you haven’t you have a real treat in store although, in my opinion, Child’s Play would also work well as a stand-alone thriller.

There's a prologue and we know that we're dealing with someone who is very disturbed. The descriptions are horrifying, but worst of all is the coldness of the killer.

Late on a summer's evening DI Kim Stone is called to Haden Hill Park - the scene of a dreadful crime. A woman in her sixties has been tied to a swing with barbed wire, stabbed and an X carved into the back of her neck. Careful readers will note that bad as this scene is, it's not the one we read about in the prologue. Belinda Evans was a retired Professor of Child Psychology. Stone and her team search the victim's home and find an overnight bag packed as though for a trip - but they also encounter Veronica Evans, Belinda's sister. Apparently the sisters could not stand one another - but if that's the case why are they in contact with each other as much as a dozen times a day?

DI Stone has most of her team with her. Keates is still the pathologist with whom she has a love/hate relationship, with the balance being rather more to the hate. She's got DS Bryant by her side and Stacey back at base and doing all the data mining. DS Penn is back with West Mercia police, originally just to give evidence in a case for which her was Senior Investigation Officer. He's got an uneasy feeling that something's not right - and his case gradually unravels in front of him.

Kim Stone is not faring much better as the body count mounts. The killer is ruthless and it seems that the victims are linked by their association with a tournament for gifted children. Angela Marsons takes a cool look at the lives of child prodigies and their families, sees how they cope in the adult world and how they were exploited, even abused in their childhoods.

The characters are great. I've always been admiring of the way that Marsons can take a character who's not particularly likeable, but make you want the situation to work out for them. Stone herself is not entirely pleasant and would not thank anyone who made the attempt to like her but in Child's Play she meets a few people who could give her a run for her money.

But it's the plot you want to know about, isn't it? It's good, with a finale which I really didn't see coming despite the fact that all the clues were there. The background scenario - the child prodigies and the tournament - is woven neatly through the plot as are DS Penn's problems in West Mercia. It was a deeply satisfying read and I'm keen to read the next instalment.

At the moment Child's Play is only available as an ebook, costing £2.99. That's really very little to pay for a police procedural of this quality and I'd like to thank the publishers for making the book available to the Bookbag.

Do yourself a favour and read the series from the beginning. You won't regret it.

This was my first book by this author and in this series. Usually I don't jump into a series at book 11, but the description caught my attention, and I decided to give it a try. I'm so glad I did! This was a great police thriller, fast moving and exciting. I did have trouble putting the book aside to deal with daily life, and wondered what would happen next.
Coming into this book at number 11, I didn't have the back ground for the characters and the development of the characters and the setting, but overall it wasn't an issue. There were a few times where I wondered this or that about the character, but I could read the story and keep up with what was going on.
The premise of the story was interesting as well. Hearing the background of gifted children and how they grew up, how their gift affected their family and siblings, was something new for me. I can't think of another thriller I've read that used that as a subject matter.
And I was kept guessing! I didn't solve the mystery until it was revealed, which is very unusual for me. I can usually figure out 'who dun it' in the first few chapters!
Jumping back and forth between 2 cases and 2 detectives was a bit confusing. Overall, I don't care for jumps like that, but it did keep the story moving along. And I think I"ll go search out book 1 now. Find out how it all began!

Many thanks to the publisher and author and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book!

I always enjoy a visit with DI Kim Stone and her team. And this is no exception. Kim is investigating the death of a middle aged woman, knifed and left entwined with barbed wire on a swing set. The victim, Belinda Evans, is one weird bird and her relationship with her sister, Veronica, is really odd. Meanwhile, Penn is involved with a court case from his last case with his old team. And it’s going to Hell in a handbasket.

I’ve got to give Marsons credit. Her stories are always well drafted, moving at a fast pace and keeping your interest throughout. I love learning more about the team as she continues to develop each character. Things always feel real in her stories, especially dealing with the bureaucracy. “Sir, you have to take the shackles off...my team is losing the will to live. Stacy is looking for a part time job, and Bryant is on the brink of divorce. And if that wasn’t bad enough, I’m actually cleaning my house.”

The plot involves child prodigies and a tournament that tested their skills. Marsons does a great job of exploring the whole phenomenon of gifted children, including their social challenges and need for attention, the parenting choices made in raising them, and the effect on their siblings.

This can be read as a stand-alone but given the strength of these books, I really recommend starting at the beginning and savoring them all.

My thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of this book.