This is book #12 in the Kim Stone series. Whilst it can be read as a standalone book, I would recommend reading the books in series order to fully understand the previous story references. Kim Stone is a fantastic character who has got better and better as each book is written. If you’ve read my reviews for the other books in the series, you’ll know that I love the geographical references. The books are based in and around the Black Country, and I love seeing and reading about places that I know and live around! The Black Country has a great history, and I love how the author not just mentions local landmarks but delves into the history of them as well!

This latest book is based around the discovery of a young woman’s body at her home. Seemingly a suicide, Kim trusts her gut feeling and looks into the death a little more closely. Realising that this is a case of murder, Kim and her team work hard to find out who would have killed her and why. When more bodies are discovered, the team connect them all to Unity Farm, a retreat for people who want to live an alternative way of life. Kim’s usual team are back but it seems that they are all carrying personal problems of their own, which they need to work through. It was a great change of events from previous books as usually it’s Kim’s personal problems which are prevalent and yet this time Kim is the one giving out advice! I love Bryant’s character and always have throughout the series. His relationship with Kim is great and the humour between them both makes me smile every time. We are again also introduced to the newer member of the team, Tiffany. Without giving too much away, her storyline was gripping and left me with my heart in my mouth on more than one occasion!

I find it amazing how we are now so many books into the series, yet it never loses its appeal! The storylines are all so different from each other and unique from book to book. The introduction of a ‘cult’ group in this book had me hooked, even though the whole premise of cults makes me very nervous! The author portrayed perfectly how easy it is for people to be drawn into these groups, bringing a dark and sinister tone to the storyline. A great deal of research has obviously also gone into writing these stories, and this shows with the realistic plots and factual information which is given. I also loved Bryant’s side story, which ran alongside the main theme. His interest in one of his previous cases from many years before is particularly emotional, and his conscience is pushed to its limits with the events that happen.

I knew this would be another five-star rating before I even started the book! The author is so clever with her writing and has the ability to hook you in on the first page and not let you go until the very end. It is full of twists and turns, dead ends and false clues, constantly making you think you’ve worked it out, for it to then all change on the turn of a page! There’s plenty of dead bodies and forensically factual terminology for the more gruesome amongst us, lots of suspects for those who like to try and work it out and even some light hearted humour for those who need a break from the first two!! This has to be the best crime series I have read, and long may Kim Stone continue! Fab-u-lous!!

Incredible! I read this within 24 hours, with a newborn to look after this wasn't as easy as it sounds. The storyline leads you one way and a chapter later it leads you a different way. I love every one of Angela Marsons books but this one is definitely in my top five.

I have been an avid reader of detective novels for years and in my opinion nobody does it better than Angela Marsons. I was delighted to get the chance to read the newest novel in the series and I was not disappointed! Detective Kim Stone and her team faced one of their most challenging cases to detective that focuses on cults. I love everything about this series of books, the plot lines are always strong and I can never see the conclusion coming. The greatest strength however is the characters themselves, I am extremely fond of the all main characters and each time I read a new book in the series it is like catching up with old friends!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture and Angela Marsons for allowing me to read this Arc.
I have read all of Angela's books. And Killing Mind is another one that I won't forget in a hurry. It is book twelve in the Kim Stone series. It's absolutely fantastic but that's no surprise from Angela.
Definitely a five stars!!

When a young woman is found with her throat slit, alone in her flat with no forced entry, it is deemed to be a tragic suicide. But after a visit to the girl's parents and clues to suggest that it wasn't suicide, Detective Kim Stone starts to consider that it may just have been murder. A young man is then found in a lake with his throat cut which links the victims. Further investigations find that both of the victims spent time at Unity Farm, a retreat that looks suspiciously like a cult. The team investigate and send one of their own undercover, but could this be a mistake?

Another fantastic entry to the Detective Kim Stone series. I am a huge fan of the series and always love to hear about Kim and her team. In this book we not only hear of the case at hand, but also Bryant's own distractions when an old case from the past enters his life again. As usual the plot is great and thrilling, and the characters are as interesting as ever. A great crime story that is hard to stop reading until you reach the end!

Thanks so much to the publisher, author and NetGalley for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

Woohoo Angela Marsons is back with yet another cracking read!  It’s a rare author who makes the twelfth book as exciting and compelling as the first book in a series. I’m not certain how Angela Marsons manages it but Killing Mind the latest book in the Kim Stone set, is just as impressive, riveting, and exciting as every other book in this much-loved series.  Another thing that’s worth a mention is the fact the author never fails to deliver a gripping storyline for each and every one of her books, they're always original and well researched . 

Kim Stone is called to what appears to be a routine suicide, but something  doesn’t entirely add up. It soon becomes evident to Kim and her team that the suicide was staged to cover up a murder, and that at every turn leads back to Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life. As Kim digs deeper into the Farm, she realises she is looking into a Cult, a subject she knows very little about. Cults are something that have always fascinated me, especially the psychology behind what attracts people to cults. Angela Marsons gives the reader a realistic, spine chilling insight into the world of Cults, the members who prey on peoples’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities and how they manipulate, compliment and flatter victims to reel them in. The author has the extraordinary ability to turn a crime thriller into something more, she’s able to give her victims and their families a voice, she highlights the effects a cult can have on Family members, loved ones and friends, when they lose someone to a cult. 


It’s great that the author has brought Tiffany (AKA Tink) back, I love her character, she has a certain innocence about her, that makes her very likeable, as more of her backstory is revealed, I really felt for her. Team member Bryant has a side story of his own in Killing Mind, which adds another yet another layer of intrigue to the story. Kim is as difficult as always, but underneath that cold, brittle exterior is the Kim fans of this series have come to love. The beauty of the authors writing is her attention to her characters, has a unique identity. They have their own problems,  strengths and weaknesses, but as a team they are the perfect fit. 


The cult gives the plot a dark and sinister tone that continues to thread its way through the plot, and when one of Kim’s team whose working under cover is placed in danger, a palatable sense of dread fills the pages. There are moments in this book I found gut wrenching, not something you would expect in a crime thriller, but that’s the beauty of the authors writing she never fails to surprise the reader. Once again Angela Marsons has written a taut, fast-paced crime thriller, it’s a cliche but I really ‘couldn’t turn the pages fast enough’ as the body count rises and the investigation intensifies. If you consider yourself a crime thriller lover then this book, hell the whole series is unmissable. 

This review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

It is difficult to think of anything new to say about this splendid series--great characters, wonderful sense of place and intriguing plots. Killing Mind is no exception, and DI Kim Stone is on crackling form. A series of corpses leads her to a cult and the joy of this book is the way in which Angela Marsons describes the effect such a cult can have on people's lives. A superb read!

Kim Stone is called to a young girl's suicide. A straightforward matter - until Kim visits the parents. With a sense of unease, a photo gives a clue - she was murdered.

And when another body turns up, Kim makes the connection with Unity Farm and the cult which lives there....

This is the 12th book in the DI Kim Stone series by author Angela Marsons.
I have followed this series from the very start and the series just keeps getting stronger and stronger. Excellent, believable characters that have been developed in the course of the books. The chapters are short, which increases the tempo of the novel and pulls the reader into reading just one more chapter and then another as you feel you can't stop just yet.
Samantha Brown is found lying in bed with her throat cut and a knife in her hand. There are no signs of forced entry and everything points to a tragic suicide. DI Kim Stone goes round to inform the parents but feels troubled by the feeling that they are holding something back. Kim discovers a clue in a photograph and changes the suicide call to murder.
Shortly after a man's body is found in a local lake with his throat cut and Kim is instantly aware of a link between the two murders. Both victims spent time at Unity Farm, a retreat for people seeking an alternative way of life and it is down to Kim and her team to uncover the truth.

I really enjoy this series and love the fact that I have visited many of the locations mentioned in the books due to their locality. The books are exciting reads with short punchy chapters that keep the story travelling at a breakneck speed. Excellent characters, Kim Stone, DS Penn, DS Bryant and also the new character Tiff. I really hope this series runs and runs.

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

Angela Marsons never disappoints. This is the twelfth book in the series and she has never once dropped the ball.
This time around,deaths, missing persons, cults, Bryant distracted by an old case, Stacey hampered by her wedding diet and a mystery man in a Range Rover are all in the mix. I welcomed the return of Tiffany aka Tink to help the team, not realising she could be in danger, and Penn seems to be settling in nicely.
What can I say? How long til the next one?

Another amazing book in the Kim Stone series. I don’t know how Angela manages to write brilliant books one after the other but I’m so glad she does. They just keep getting better in my opinion, this one I couldn’t put down and read it in a day. I’m sad though as have to wait now for the next instalment. Please don’t keep us waiting too long. I 1000% recommend this author and series

I’ve enjoyed every single book Angela Marsons has written so knew when I was granted an advanced copy of her 12th novel in the DI Kim Stone series I was in for a treat. I LOVED this book. There’s bodies, a ‘retreat’, team members facing their own demons - all brought together by Angela’s fantastic writing.

This is a police procedural that will draw you in from page one. It’s gritty, compelling, intriguing and one of the best books I’ve read this year.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

I absolutely loved getting to spend more time with DI Kim Stone and her team!
Killing Mind is book 12 in this series and although all of the books can easily be read as standalone, I would recommend reading them in order of publication. Silent Scream is the first in this series. If you enjoy that one, you’ll be set for awhile because every single book is phenomenal!
That said, I loved the twists and turns in Killing Mind and as usual, Angela Marsons continues to be one of the very few authors who surprise me no matter how many of her books I read.
The psychology of being brainwashed in a cult is fascinating and I really enjoyed the way she describes the grooming and indoctrination by a cult leader.
I loved getting to see more of Tiffany (aka Tink) and learning more about her backstory. She’s a fascinating character.
I really liked seeing a side case that Bryant was working on as well.
I still feel the pain of a teammate lost several books ago, which is always a good sign that I’m vested in a series.
I’m definitely giving Killing Mind a full 5 stars!

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.


DI Kim is called into a crime scene of young women Samantha throat turn out with the weapon in her hand she decide it’s a suicide but when she investigate future she realize it’s a murder.

When she learn that the young woman was spending time a Unity Farm that deals with different lifestyles. She realize something more sinister is going on. I won’t go into details because I intend to spoil the plot just know this was a good mystery I like reading about the team getting to know more about them especially PC Tiffany. Another great addition to this series looking forward to more it’s a shame because these series would be great on screen if Hallmark Movie Mystery channel wasn’t so fluffy even though I admit I enjoy them I say this series and other series I read would be great on this channel.

Read this in two sittings. I love the Kim Stone series, you are always pulled into the story by the first few chapters and then don't want to put the book down.

We join our usual cast - Bryant has always been my favourite and in the Killing Mind you see a more serious side to him with a side plot that links into the end of the book.

Kim Stone is called to what looks like a routine suicide, but there is something pulling at her mind which tells her there was more to it than meets the eye.

When she uncovers that it was murder not suicide she is led down a path that she has no experience of, the world of cults.

Written in such a convincing way, it's easy to see how people get drawn in to these things which is almost the case for the undercover pc who has been sent into the cult to help Kim and her team find the answers.

Kim has never had a love interest but I could see her and Kane being an interesting union - would be good to see him as a recurring character.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book - this is my honest opinion.

Full review to follow.

Another brilliant offering from Ms Marsons, this time centred around cults and murder. Really makes you stop and think about the powerful ways in which these kind of communities prey on the vulnerable, even those who don’t believe they are. The author has struck a brilliant balance between being informative and entertaining, whilst also letting Bryant off the leash a little with a side story of his own.

Great to see the team in action again. Penn is continuing go to grown on me, filling that certain void, and seeing Tiff back in the thick of things was great too as we get to learn more about her on a personal level.

Another brilliant book in the series of Kim Stone. These books just get better and better everytime. Wasnt sure of the author when I first started reading but boy I'm hooked

Thank you for letting me review this title.

I absolutely love Angela Marsons and have read all the Kim Stone books. I feel like I’m part of the team, working alongside them all to catch the killer. All other books are abandoned when AM has a new release.

This title did not disappoint, it grabs you by the scruff of the neck and runs with you.

You’ve heard about cults right? You’d never be that stupid to fall for their tricks and mind games would you? Well, let’s see what you think after you’ve finished this fantastic book.

There is just something extremely special about the D.I Kim Stone series that just gets me hooked as soon as I’ve read the first page. I know I’ve said it before on other reviews from this series, but each of the characters on Kim Stone’s team just stands out in their own right, and all have their own stories to tell as we go along, and all with different senses of humour and personality traits shining through. There are some great one liners and quick witted comebacks in this book which really made me laugh. This for me, is a massive strong point to this series as you connect with each and everyone of them, and as the series goes on, they all come more and more to the forefront.

This book felt slightly different to me which I think was down to the vulnerability of some of the characters involved within the theme of the book (trying hard not to give spoilers) and there was quite a few scenes that made me feel quite emotional. There is a particular scene near the end with Stacey and another character and oh my days, I had to put the book down as it was just so touching and beautifully written, as is the very last scene with Kim and one of her team... just so lovely.

My reviews will never do this series justice as for me, it is just beyond words as to how brilliant this series is and how it just goes from strength to strength with each instalment.

Angela Marsons never fails to rack up the suspense and in this book she gives us two stories to whet our appetites.
We have Unity farm which claims to merely be like minded people living and working together but is it actually a front for something much more sinister? At the same time DS Bryant is preoccupied with a potential parolee whose crimes stretch back more than 25 years. I loved the addition of PC Tiffany (Tinks), another young officer for Kim to take under her wing. She becomes more maternal towards her team as the stories move on. All in all a great read, exactly what I have come to expect from Angela Marsons, roll on the next one.