Play Dead
4 Stars

A routine visit to the UK's new body farm takes a sinister turn when D.I. Kim Stone and her team stumble upon a fresh corpse that should not be there.

A solid addition to the series although some of the twists are glaringly obvious and the convenient coincidences require a healthy suspension of disbelief.

The character development is strong, especially the insights into Tracy Frost, the journalist we love to hate, as well as the additional details regarding Kim's years with her loving foster parents.

The romance element is the weakest part of the story as Kim has yet to come to terms with the traumas of her past. Consequently, the inclusion of a potential love interest at this point is a waste.

Despite these issues, Marsons is a gifted writer and her style ratchets up both the tension and suspense toward the gripping climax and resolution.

Overall, a compelling and entertaining read and I look forward to the next book.
( )

Molto bello, avvincente ed emozionante, un’altra avventura della detective Kim Stone e della sua quadra che si distingue e lascia il segno. ( )

Another good read in the series, improving with each one, to me. We learn more about Kim and her background, along with the PITA reporter she's beginning to warm to as she learns more about her - as much as Kim can warm to any human, anyway. ( )

Goede en spannende thriller met in de hoofdrol de eigenzinnige inspecteur Kim Stone. Met haar team moet ze de dood van een aantal jonge vrouwen onderzoeken, die zijn gevonden op het terrein net buiten een onderzoekscentrum waar men probeert uit te vinden hoe menselijke dode lichamen reageren op verschillende vormen aan blootstelling aan elementen. De Engelse versie van de Amerikaanse bodyfarm. Als ze tijdens het onderzoek ook nog een lichaam vinden, dat daar al enige jaren begraven ligt, moeten ze de vrouwen onderling kunnen verbinden om de dader te ontmaskeren.
Goed geschreven en een prima boek om te ontspannen. ( )

When I got the chance last week to listen to an audiobook from Bookouture was this the one I picked. I have read all the previous books and I do have an ARC of it, but I've been trying to listen to audiobooks at work since I will be working all summer long. So, I thought this would be perfect, getting to the latest book in the Kim Stone series and also get a book read/listen to from my NetGalley pile. It's a win-win situation!

This book actually took me by surprise. I have, to be honest, had a bit of a problem with Kim Stone, her attitude has rubbed me the wrong way many times during the previous three books, but I never had a problem with her listening to this book. I can't figure out of it was the narrator that made me like her more or the story. In this book, well I started to warm up to her. It could be that Jan Cramer, the narrator of the book somehow conveyed Kim in a way that made me feel less annoyed and more understanding. But, I also think that Kim is starting to, if not breaking down her walls, letting people a bit closer? Or perhaps one could say that Barney, her dog, is the one that has made her more "human". In any way, I came to like her very much and I liked her passion for justice for those that had died in this book.

Anyway, I will not spoil the story in the book, but I want to say that the book hooked from the first second and then kept my interest all the way through a couple of working days. To be honest, I looked forward to working so that I could listen to more of the book and I was even tempted to skip breakfast with my colleagues to listen more today. The case was tragic and intense to listen to and I can't say that I figure it all out, some things I suspected and I was right, but I was also surprised at the ending of the book.

It was such a thrilling book that I could do nothing but award it with the highest rating. I was never disappointed with the story, oh well one thing and that concern Daniel Bate and Kim. I enjoyed their banter throughout the book so much that I had to try hard to not smile like a fool at work and scare the workers there and I hope that Daniel will be back in future books. I simply adore Daniel and his gorgeous Scottish accent (thank you, Jan Cramer, you did a marvelous job with Daniel) and to have them end it this way, well I would be really disappointed!

Listening to this book was marvelous and I'm right now sad that there are no more Kim Stone books to read/listen to for me and I hope book 5 soon will be released!

I want to thank Bookouture for providing me with a free copy to listen to! ( )