Silent Scream by Angela Marsons

Silent Scream
By Angela Marsons
Published by Bookouture (20th February 2015)
ISBN: 978-1909490918

Publisher's description

Even the darkest secrets can't stay buried forever…
Five figures gather round a shallow grave. They had all taken turns to dig. An adult-sized hole would have taken longer. An innocent life had been taken but the pact had been made. Their secrets would be buried, bound in blood…
Years later, a headmistress is found brutally strangled, the first in a spate of gruesome murders which shock the Black Country.
But when human remains are discovered at a former children's home, disturbing secrets are also unearthed. D.I. Kim Stone fast realises she's on the hunt for a twisted individual whose killing spree spans decades.
As the body count rises, Kim needs to stop the murderer before they strike again. But to catch the killer can Kim confront the demons of her own past before it's too late.
Fans of Rachel Abbott, Val McDermid and Mark Billingham will be gripped by this exceptional new voice in British crime fiction.

My verdict
It's highly unusual for me to find a book that leads me to put my life on hold. But Angela Marson's Silent Scream has led me to virtually abandon work for the last day, even with deadlines looming, leaving my house a mess and the ironing pile untouched.

Silent Scream kept me guessing from the start, with its intelligent well-planned plot line, believable yet suitably flawed characters and a constantly flowing pace to keep me intrigued. It is highly readable and I love the references to forensic/forensic archaeology as this is a particular interest of mine. I also enjoyed the dynamics between the central characters (e.g. Stone and Bryant), providing some light humour in this dark tale.

DI Kim Stone is a strong character. She follows her convictions, rather than orders from her seniors, but with enough integrity to keep her on the job. She is courageous, but also loyal and vulnerable. Her tragic past is revealed gradually throughout Silent Scream, helping the reader to understand the background to her vulnerability.

Crime fiction and psychological thrillers are my favourite genres. Silent Scream ticks all the boxes for a 5* rating from me: a well written flowing story; strong but vulnerable protagonist; fast pace; intrigue; twists and turns until several final OMG moments; plenty of action; and the revealing of a brutal murderer.

There are still many questions to be answered about DI Stone, which I expect would be covered in a sequel. I hope that Angela Marsons has another visit to DI Kim Stone planned in the near future.

I received this as an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.