Book Review: Killing Mind by Angela Marsons

Available here

Always love reading a Kim Stone novel and Killing Mind is excellent - perhaps my favourite so far. But then again, I say that every time and Marson's writing just gets better and better. I always find the idea of a cult so creepy and I think Killing Mind encompasses that creepiness so well. 

Here's the Blurb

It had seemed so simple. Get in, get the information, get out. But now they were getting inside her mind and she didn’t know how to stop them…
When Detective Kim Stone is called to the home of Samantha Brown, she finds the young woman lying in bed with her throat cut and a knife in her hand. With no sign of forced entry or struggle, Kim rules her death a tragic suicide.
But a visit to Samantha’s parents rings alarm bells for Kim – there’s something they’re not telling her. And, when she spots a clue in a photograph, Kim realises she’s made a huge mistake. Samantha didn’t take her own life, she was murdered.
Then a young man’s body is found in a local lake with his throat cut and Kim makes a link between the victim and Samantha. They both spent time at Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life.
Beneath the retreat’s cosy façade, Kim and her team uncover a sinister community preying on the emotionally vulnerable.
Sending one of her own undercover into Unity Farm is high risk but it’s Kim’s only hope if she is to catch a killer – someone Kim is convinced the victims knew and trusted.
With Bryant distracted by the emergence of a harrowing case close to his heart, and an undercover officer in way over her head, Kim’s neck is on the line like never before. Can she protect those closest to her before another life is taken?

My Thoughts
From page one I was glued to this book. The research done by Marsons is very clear as she really captures the psychological dependence of the cult members and the slow yet insidious programming that occurs to make them so dependent. 
This was a real exploration into vulnerability and the mechanics of the human mind. The variety of characters made this compelling reading. I was so wrapped up in each storyline that I barely took a breath. 
I have to say, I didn't see the ending coming ... I also didn't expect many of the twists and turns along the way either and this was because the story was so tightly plotted. It led you to one conclusion, only to whip it away from you leaving you reeling. 
Marsons very subtly keeps you on edge not quite sure of which characters to trust and which not to trust. 
I think the thing I love most about these novels though is Kim Stone. She is a work in progress (aren't we all) and I love the way her relationship with her team shows how she is developing as a boss and a friend. Her support of Bryant, in particular , in this one was beautiful to read and being privy to Kim's thought processes makes it all the more delicious. 
Five Big Ones from me!


Author Bio
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 4 million in 5 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 16 books in the Kim Stone series and her books have been translated into more than 27 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.