BOOK: LITTLE CHILDREN
AUTHOR: ANGELA MARSONS
PUB DATE: 12th AUGUST 2025
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REVIEW- 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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A very, very good book. Made me wonder and regret why I haven't read any of the books in the series before it got to number 22. It was packed with tension and suspense from the very first page. I liked the storyline, the pace, the amazing and dedicated detectives. Again, it was very good
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This book focused on missing young boys and an internal affairs investigation, both of them being tangled up in each other. I loved how the detective literally did everything and turned all the stones, watching hundreds of footage just to get the necessary evidence. Very, very good. Apart from this, the team is made up of amazing people like Kim, the leader then Bryant, Stacey, and Penn.
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I was totally gobsmacked by the reason behind the kidnapping, the horrors the poor kids had to go through. It was difficult, but very good. I like how the internal affairs case was tied and the corrupt cops punished. Then, there's also the reporter following Detective Kim around.
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All in all, this was a very good book, and I would definitely be on the lookout for another book in the series. The only thing I didn't like was that the coincidences were too much, but not annoying.
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As with all the books in this series the reader is pulled immediately into the story and feels paste of the action. Once again DI Kim Stone and her team are needed to help out, this time with another force where two boys have gone missing and there is a suspicion of police corruption.

The characters are what make this series, together with the exceptional writing and the storylines, which continue to build on the interactions between the people involved. This is book 22 and the plot lines just keep getting better, more gritty and the development of the characters and as the reader gets to know them brings the books to life. As usual I raced through this and was hugely disappointed when I got to the end. The wait for book 23 begins…

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Kim and her team are asked by Woody to help out an out friend from Police training in Blackpool. Two young boys have gone missing over the space of 10 days. Kim and her team are told to revisit the first one, a boy called Lewis. However his family are insisting he ran away and aren't giving the team anything useful. The other task they have is to find out who sent in an anonymous tip that someone on the team is bent.
Over a couple of days there are a lot of candidates. Then Kim is called to a murder back in Halesowen, She leaves half the team in Blackpool and returns. What follows is a complex web of lies and deceit.
A very readable book which will keep you turning the pages through to the end.

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC, I was happy to be back with Stone and her team. The subject of this book was a challenging one but was handled with amazing care as always. I had some edge of my seat moments and some that hit my emotions. As always an amazing addition to the series and I can’t want to join Stone and the team on the next case.

Little Children by Angela Marsons

Detective Kim Stone Series, Book 22 is a complex, chilling and riveting addition to the series. The fate of the boys is heartbreaking, and the revelation of how deep corruption has spread inside the force is quite distributing. As always, cleverly written with just a touch of humor to offset the dark subject matter of the investigation. One of the best, if not the best, in the series that keeps getting better and better.

Thank you to Angela Marsons, Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

I’ve read every book in the Detective Kim Stone series, and Little Children is another unforgettable instalment - tense, emotionally raw, and utterly gripping from start to finish.

When twelve-year-old Lewis Stevens vanishes from a bustling seaside arcade, it launches an investigation that pulls Kim far from familiar ground and into a case as chilling as it is complex. From the moment she arrives, nothing is as it seems. A mother who won’t meet her gaze and a local team unwilling to connect the dots. But Kim Stone has never been one to back down.

As always, Marsons masterfully balances a heart-pounding plot with rich, deeply human storytelling. Kim’s relentless drive, coupled with the horrifying truths that slowly unravel, makes this one of the most emotionally intense books in the series.

While Little Children can certainly be read as a standalone, I strongly recommend starting from the beginning to fully appreciate the evolution of Kim and her brilliant team, Stacey’s tech skills, Penn’s quiet tenacity, and Bryant’s steadfast partnership add so much heart and depth to every investigation. Their dynamic is one of the reasons I keep coming back. The characters are layered, the cases always compelling, and the writing is sharp and fast-paced.

Angela Marsons continues to raise the bar. If you’re a fan of smart, dark, and emotionally charged crime thrillers, this is a must-read. One of the best in the series - possibly the best (I say this every time as this series just keeps getting better and better!).

Already counting down to the next one!

Wow, another masterpiece from Angela Marsons. The DI Kim Stone series just gets better and better. This latest book might just be the best one yet in my opinion. Extremely well paced, the tension built and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I highly recommend this series of books and I have yet to find a better one. I can’t wait for the next one.

Angela Marsons has done it again. Little Children, the 22nd instalment in the Kim Stone series, is every bit as compelling, emotionally charged, and immaculately plotted as its predecessors. I’ve rated every book in this series five stars, and this one was no exception with this author who continues to deliver with a consistency that’s nothing short of remarkable.

This time, Kim Stone is sent to Blackpool to investigate the disappearance of two young boys, but the case quickly deepens into something far more sinister. Alongside the search, Kim is tasked with uncovering corruption within the local police force, forcing her and her team to play roles that strain their usual dynamic. The tension is palpable, not just in the case itself, but in the emotional toll it takes on the team as they navigate unfamiliar territory.

What continues to astonish me is how the author manages to keep each plot so fresh and varied. Twenty-two books in, and there’s no sense of repetition or fatigue, just razor-sharp storytelling, deeply human characters, and a moral complexity that elevates the genre. Kim Stone remains one of the most compelling protagonists in crime fiction: fierce, flawed, and utterly unforgettable.

If you’re already a fan of the series, this book will reaffirm everything you love about it. And if you’re new to Kim Stone, you’re in for a masterclass in crime writing. Little Children is another triumph from Angela Marsons, and I’m already counting down to the next.

Kim and her team are relocated to Blackpool in this 22nd book of the series.
They are tasked with assisting the local force looking into the disappearance of two young boys who have gone missing without trace.
One, Lewis Stephens, 12 years old, disappeared after leaving the seafront arcade.
His parents seem unconcerned , his stepfather says he is a trouble maker and often runs away always returning a few days later. Consequentially the Blackpool Police are not searching for Lewis.
A week later a second boy, Noah Reid, 11 years old, vanished without a trace whilst meeting up with his parents. Noah`s parents are distraught as they always knew where he was except for the few moments it took them to cross the road.
Blackpool Police do not believe the two cases are linked and have no clues or witnesses to Noah`s disappearance.
Kim and her team not only have to find the boys. There is also a suspicion of police corruption within the Blackpool squad.
In order to unearth exactly what is going on the team set about befriending their opposite numbers on the inquiry.
Not an easy task.
Eventually Kim`s team find the proof that both boys were abducted, they look at a local paedophile but he is soon ruled out when another boy is found dead. His body shows all the signs of long term torture and beatings. Slowly they come to the conclusion that this could in fact be a money making scheme where young boys are snatched and used by an illegal fighting ring.
A totally gripping plot as they race to find Lewis and Noah before they too are killed and more boys are abducted.
I couldn't put this down its a real emotional roller coaster that you don't want to miss!!!
A great read ,I`m already waiting for the next book in this series!

22 books with Kim Stone and the team 😊 This is one of my favourite police series and it just keeps getting better and better. I have read every single one and eagerly await new ones to come out. I am running out of words to describe how good these books are. If you are not in the Kim Stone fan club then you really are missing out g out.

I loved that the team travelled to Blackpool for this case, something a little bit different. As always, a dark and complex case for them, only this time they have to work with another team who are not as capable as their team. It was interesting to see them all playing a different role this time.

I seriously cannot recommend this series more. Yes there are a lot of books out but it is so worthwhile. I binged this in a day once again.

Thanks so much to Bookouture for allowing me to read this early. All the stars.

Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Bookoutune and the fantastic author Angela Marsons for an early copy of her book to read.

Another brilliant read and series. This is book 22..This book starts with missing boys in Blackpool. DI Kim stone and her team are sent to Blackpool to help with the case and corruption they dont receive a warm welcome..they other team treat it as runaways Lewis Stephens disappear without a trace the team determined to find out what happened to the missing boys..at home a boy is found dead is there a connection between the cases..a thrilling exciting read...brilliant writer.,i am looking forward to reading the next instalment ...one of my favourite authors a five star review...

Amazing! I sit and wait for the next Kim Stone instalment the minute I finish the last one! This one didn’t disappoint. Completely different story as always, a very dark story with all the usual characters that we have grown to love. Again I can’t wait for the next one!

This series is just gold! Everytime a new instalment comes out i expect it to have lost its charm, but they actually keep getting better! This time the team are seconded to Blackpool so a change of scenery for the team. A gritty and dark storyline that will hold your heart til the end.

I really enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to more by this author.

Kim Stone won my trust immediately, maybe due to the loyalty of her team or the confidence she has. This book does an amazing job of taking you on the journey of multiple different mysteries.

Absolutely bloody love this series of books. 22 books in and the stories are as strong as ever. Every chapter ended with a cliff hangar so it was impossible to put down as I needed to keep reading to find out more. Just brilliant.

DI Kim Stone and her team have a sensitive case to deal with when they are asked to relocate to Blackpool to assist in finding the whereabouts of two boys who have seemingly vanished into thin air. Twelve-year-old Lewis Stephens has not been seen since leaving a seafront arcade and now eleven-year-old Noah Reid has disappeared from a nearby location. This is no ordinary case for Kim, however, as she has another task to complete. Convinced that there is corruption among the officers investigating the disappearances, her superiors have asked her to determine if this is the case. With the boys still missing and Kim not being happy with how the investigation is being run, this promises to be one of her toughest cases yet.

Every time I read a Kim Stone book, I wonder how it can possibly top the ones that have come before and yet again, Angela Marsons has managed to do just that. Little Children is one of the hardest-hitting in the series to date due to the subject nature, dealing with child abduction and the incredibly dark reason behind it. Having part of the story told from the perspective of one of the abducted boys really brought home the horror of what was happening, even if we have to wait until near the end until the true motives are revealed.

The relationship between Kim and the rest of her team has always been one of the best part of this series and this is really brought to the fore when we see the difference between them and the officers they are working alongside in Blackpool. In an era where, due to several high-profile cases, there is a lot of mistrust of the police force, it was good to see how Bryant, in particular, was horrified with what he was witnessing. Little Children really helps to highlight how good this team is.

With such a dark subject matter, some humour is essential and we certainly get this with the scenes involving Kim and reporter Tracy Frost. This was inspired and definitely helped to lighten the mood!

Another fantastic book by Angela Marsons – may they keep coming!

Kim Stone and her team are on their way to Blackpool, but not for a holiday. They have been asked to help the Lancashire force with the investigation into two missing boys.
But that's not their only task, there is a suspicion that there is at least one corrupt officer in Blackpool and Kim is determined to root them out.
What they find when they get there is a hostile local team that have barely looked into one of the boys. Lewis is assumed to have run away and no one seems to care that 10 days later he is still missing. Noah, however, is being investigated properly so Kim and her team go back over Lewis' disappearance.
As they dig deeper into the case a picture begins to emerge that is more horrific than any of them could have imagined. And when a young boy’s body is found on their home patch, starved, and beaten, it's clear that not only is the investigation going to be much bigger than the missing boys in Blackpool, but they are also running out of time to find them.
This is a hard hitting, fast paced, thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat. There are some humorous moments to lighten it up but the darkness is never far away. I went through so many emotions, I was biting my nails, holding my breath, and then smiling at a lighter moment. It can be read as a standalone book but I would really recommend all of the books in the Kim Stone series. They are just incredible.

This was a fast read for me because I just couldn't put it down.
The plot was great and the writing superb as always
DI Kim Stone is a believable and endearing creation of this author and it is always a pleasure to catch up with her and here team. The team is full of characters also well drawn and believable.
Several times I felt quite tearful as the plot covers a rather difficult subject and deals with the plight of children. However I thoroughly enjoyed this one and thank Netgalley for an advanced copy

Once again Angela Marsons keeps the reader entertained with the first page in her latest Kim Stone novel “Little Children”.
Kim and her officers are sent to assist another force with the investigation into the disappearance of 2 boys. They are also tasked with looking into the possibility of corruption within the other force.
Greeted with hostility Kim has each of her officers appear to dislike her and work to divide and conquer the other team. Where are the boys and are there disappearances connected? Is there a “bad” egg or two on the other team? Will they be in time to rescue the boys? And what is going on with Kim’s new best friend Tracy Frost? Keeps you guessing until the end.

4.5 Stars. I am a huge fan of the talented author, Angela Marsons. This is the 22nd book in the DI Kim Stone series, and the author has kept each storyline varied and fresh with unique plots. The characters are well-drawn and always intriguing. The short, ominous chapters, high in tension and suspense, make this a pulse-pounding race to the conclusion. I was pleased to receive the 'Little Children' ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Her entertaining and compelling thrillers always top my reading list. Publication is scheduled for August 12/2025.

Kim Stone endured an abusive, horrendous childhood. She has become a blunt and aggressive leader of a team of diligent detectives: Bryant, Stacey, and Penn. Outside of her work, Kim prefers to be alone, but she cares for her team and its crime victims, and her team admires her perceptive and efficient leadership. Their conversations reflect their growth through the series. A touch of humour is added. A reporter, Tracy Frost, has always been despised by Kim. Due to Tracy's involvement in a previous case, she was attacked with resulting brain injury and confused memory. She constantly sends Kim text messages, indicating she believes they were best friends. The messages contain humorous videos with emojis, and requests that they join up for drinks and lunch as they previously did during their close friendship. Kim's embarrassment, dismay and annoyance lead to some funny passages.

Kim and her team are assigned to the Blackpool police, where two children have gone missing. Ten days earlier, Lewis Stephens (age 12) disappeared after exiting an arcade. His parents seem unconcerned. His stepfather insists he is a trouble-maker who runs away but always returns home. His mother quietly agrees. The Blackpool police are not searching for Lewis, due to the parent's reaction. A week later, Noah Reid (age 11) vanishes without a trace while meeting up with either of his parents. He came from a happy home, and his parents were always aware of his whereabouts. The local police don't believe the two cases are related and have no clues or witnesses regarding Noah's disappearance.

Kim and the team have been assigned not only to help find the boys but to discover corruption within the Blackpool police. She has suggested that her team alter their personalities to best befriend members of the assigned police force and obtain information. Her team finds proof that both the missing children were abducted. A local paedophile was first suspected, but was soon ruled out. Another boy has been found dead with signs of long-term torture. They suspect an unusual money-making scheme with widespread branches is the reason that young boys are being snatched. There is a heart-pounding race to find Lewis and Noah before they are killed, and before more boys are abducted.

The DI Kim Stone books are highly recommended. 'Little Children' works as an exciting standalone, while earlier books help observe the growth of Kim and her team. Anyone who enjoys police procedures and mysteries will likely appreciate Angela Marson's books.