Thanks to Angela and NetGalley for allowing me to read Little Children, the 22nd book in the D.I. Kim Stone series, before the publication date.
To say the least, this is a disturbing storyline.

Steve Ashworth, the Sunrise News correspondent publicly confronts DI Kim Stone with a name from her past, a name that her team do not know. Not satisfied with her reaction, he follows Kim, goading her at every opportunity.
Stone and her team are sent Blackpool to provide support to D.I. Red Butler to investigate the disappearance weeks apart of 2 young boys.
Kim knows that they will not be welcome but the atmosphere which they find themselves in is toxic.

They also have an undercover role to integrate with the Blackpool team to identify which of the team have made an anonymous complaint about the team’s conduct. Each of Kim's team has to adopt behaviour which allows them to get closer to Butler’s team.
Ashworth’s presence serves to increase the pressure.

Will Kim’s team survive the horrific and distressing events which they will encounter?

I’ve been a fan of Angela Marsons for years, and Hidden Children is one of my favorites. This series is my all-time favorite, and I always look forward to the next book. I love the characters, especially Kim Stone and her team—they feel like old friends. The plot was exciting and full of twists. I kept guessing right up to the end and didn’t want the story to finish. Marsons writes in a way that pulls you in and keeps you hooked. If you enjoy crime thrillers, this book is a must-read. I’m already waiting for the next one!

After reading a kim stone book i always think this was my favourite and this was no exception i was gripped from beginning to end there was a big twist i actualy didnt see coming Kim and her team were amazing once again with the help of some others, Lewis made my heart melt and Frost just makes me laugh..
Unsure how i feel about them coming to my hometown of Burnley at one one point especially with what they were coming here for but i have to admit i dod smile when my town was mentioned.

Angela Marsons is back at it again with the 22nd book in the Detective Kim Stone series

Our regular cast - DI Kim Stone, Bryant, Penn and Stacey - are sent halfway across the country to assist in a missing children investigation. They expect to see desperate parents willing to do anything to get their child home - so why will the mother not meet their eyes, why do the family insist the 12 year old ran away? Facing suspicion and hostility from the team they are sent to assist, they have their work cut out for them to not only solve the case, but also to investigate (potential) corruption within the force

Marsons is one of my favourite authors and book 22 did not let me down. I enjoyed seeing the team in a completely different environment - forced to play characters to appeal to the local team whilst fighting to find out exactly what happened to the 2 missing boys. As always there are a series of both ongoing and new side plots to follow - such as the journalist who has been following Kim around looking for a story, and the odd relationship between her and Frost (another journalist, who was badly injured in the previous book). It felt like the book delved less into the personal lives of the cast than previous books, instead focusing on the missing persons case - and the secret purpose they were sent to assist; to investigate the team for potential corruption after anonymous complaints were raised. The new cast of characters we meet are incredibly three dimensional, developed and well written - sometimes in horrific and vile ways.

As always I had a number of guesses throughout reading the book about who was responsible for various plots and crimes and whilst I did not expect the main plot & who was involved, I am very proud to say I guessed where the complaint came from!

I rated Little Children 5 stars and would highly recommend both the book, and the series!
It can definitely be read as a stand-alone but the series is worth starting from the beginning in my opinion!

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and Angela Marsons for this ARC

Angela Marsons delivers another taut, emotionally charged thriller in Little Children, plunging Detective Kim Stone into one of her most haunting cases yet. This time, it’s personal, raw, and laced with urgency from page one.

When twelve-year-old Lewis Stevens vanishes from a seafront arcade, followed by the disappearance of another boy from a nearby pier, the tension ratchets up fast and the dread doesn’t let up. Kim, known for her blunt demeanor and refusal to sugarcoat reality, is pulled into the investigation not as the lead, but as the outsider. And that’s where the story starts.

Kim finds herself against a new backdrop a cold, suspicious police force and a community that seems to be hiding more than it’s sharing. The mother of the missing boy is especially distant and possibly hiding something terrible.

This isn’t just a whodunit. It’s a psychological deep dive into fear, guilt, and the desperate things people do when cornered. The twist another boy found dead in Kim’s own jurisdiction kicks the plot into overdrive.

The pacing of this book is fast you will find it difficult to put down. There’s no wasted scene, no detour. Clues are drip-fed just enough to keep the reader guessing, and the final reveal lands with weight and clarity. Even more chilling is the sense that the killers aren’t just twisted they’re calculated, methodical, and hiding in plain sight.

What sets this novel apart from others in the genre is its unflinching portrayal of systemic failure how people, especially children, fall through the cracks when institutions don’t believe, don’t listen, or just don’t care. It’s a story about missing boys, yes, but also about the adults who failed
them.

I love all her books but this one definitely stood out for me amazing story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookoutre for an ARC of this fantastic book

I just absolutely adore this team and feel like I’m arriving home when I pick up the next book in the series.
This one really pulled at the heart strings and I put it down to having a son as this features heavily around young boys.
Yet again, this newest instalment of the Kim Stone series gives you everything you need from a crime thriller……..suspense, intrigue, tension, twists, surprises and on top of that….some fantastic humour, especially between Stone and Frost!
Thanks again to Angela Marsons for keeping this formidable team going from strength to strength!

Dear Angela Marsons,
As I prepare to kneel and worship at the altar of your literary skills once again, I ask myself the same question, "Can you do anything wrong”?

Twelve year old Lewis goes missing from a seaside amusement arcade. A week later, eleven year old Noah goes missing from the pier, where he was on his way to meet his parents. There appear to be no witnesses, it’s as if the boys vanished into thin air.

Detective Kim Stone and her team are taken away from their home patch and sent up to Blackpool in the North of England, to help investigate the case of the two missing boys. They are also tasked with uncovering any signs of corruption in the local force, after whispers began to emerge that all was not as it should be.

Kim believes the disappearances are linked, unlike the local cops, they show little interest in Lewis’s disappearance - they say he’s gone missing before, and that he’ll turn up when he’s ready. Sadly his family agree with that verdict, and his feckless stepfather in particular, shows no concern whatsoever.
Noah’s disappearance on the other hand is taken more seriously. An only child, he’s never left home before, attends a fee paying private school, and to all intents and purposes he’s very happy.


“Little Children” takes us right into the heart of the places that are pivotal in this story of child abduction, and it goes without saying that some of these places are distressing given the subject matter of missing children. Despite that, Kim is determined to put everything into the investigation in order to discover the whereabouts of these two young boys. She’s also committed to bringing justice and truth to the Blackpool force by weeding out any corrupt police officers (no mean feat this)!

“ Little Children” is a a brilliant addition to this wonderful series. Can’t believe we’ve got to book #22! Angela Marsons is unflinching in her determination to accurately portray the sad, gritty, seedier side of life, with her usual considerable expertise. Book #22 is as fresh and inventive as the first. Unmissable!

Little Children is an immensely well constructed and gripping crime thriller from an author that keeps her audience on the edge of their seats with jaw dropping moments as we follow each case Detective Kim Stone and her wonderful team investigate.
Sent up to Blackpool to assist the short handed detectives on a missing persons case Kim and team find they are not welcome particularly as they find sloppy investigations into the separate cases of missing 10 year and 11 year old boys. Kim’s team also find racism and misogyny are rife in some of these detectives.
When the mother and stepfather of the 11 yr old seem unaffected by his disappearance and even after ten days missing claim he’s just ran away, but the other set of parents are devastated by their son missing, the team start to find links when they investigate much more thoroughly.
As they make more progress they discover the horrific reason these children have been abducted, with hard hitting scenes and heart pounding moments this story had me hooked from the first to last page with its brilliant exciting finale and the final reveal….I’m still picking my jaw up from the floor!
My thanks to netgalley and publisher for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

Wow! Book twenty-two in the splendid Kim Stone series - it goes without saying that anyone new to this series (where have you been?!) should start from book one – you’d really be missing out on a fantastic back-catalogue if you just dive in here. This tale is slightly different from the others in that most of it is set away from the Black Country, with the team being seconded to Blackpool, to help the team there find a missing boy, with a concealed purpose of investigating potential corruption within the force – gripping stuff. I really liked this premise as we got to meet a host of new characters, and as always – each one of them is well developed and excellently written – even if they are vile!

The fate of the kidnapped boys is harrowing and heartbreaking all at once, and it’s easy to understand why Kim takes the case so personally, given her own childhood traumas. As mentioned, this is book twenty-two, but I have to say it feels as fresh and exciting as the first, with its brilliant plotting, ample suspense, dark humour, twists and turns aplenty and a more than satisfying ending. All in all, a brilliant addition to this fabulous series, which is very highly recommended.

Angela does it again - another fabulous instalment!

Less personal stuff with the team this time, which is fine by me, as I find that all too stressful! 😂

Such a detailed, twisty storyline - I wonder how the author does it, consistently coming up with such great plots and ideas?!

All the stars, once again!

This is definitely my favourite series. It's so easy to get back in to and the four main characters are great. This is a hard storyline to read and a but upsetting at times due to the nature of the story but such a great read. Loved the way it all came together and there were a few surprises thrown in to keep you on your toes. Fantastic.

Another outstanding outing for Detective Kim Stone in this gritty, violent series set in the West Midlands. Hugely popular, brilliantly plotted and layered with suspense this was brilliant.

Detective Kim Stone and her team travel to Blackwell to assist a local team on a missing child case that ends up being anything but typical. She expects to find a broken family rallied around by the community, but to her surprise, they’re nothing of the sort. They swear he just ran away and expect him to come back any day. Even the team they’re assisting doesn’t seem to take the case too seriously, simply because the boy has run away before. But to be gone a week and a half with all his belongings still at his house, nothing brought with him? No, Kim doesn’t buy it. But when she tries to convince the local team, they push back and tell her it’s not a big deal!

It's going to be up to her and her team to thoroughly investigate and find out what’s really going on. Since when do they do what they’re told? The more they dig, the more Kim knows her hunch was right. It turns out to be so much more than just a boy who ran away. Now they need to find the child and deliver justice to those responsible. That is, if they can keep under the radar before their secret investigation is discovered. Then they could be in serious danger.

This book highlights just how awesome Kim and her team are. She knows right away that they won’t be welcomed by the local detectives. The way she has her team play different roles to infiltrate the detectives and get them to open up is hilarious. Poor Bryant gets stuck having to buddy up with a complete jerk. His character is so upstanding and good-hearted, and he’s really pushed to his limit. And when Kim finally gets to face off with the criminal mastermind at the end? Pure gold! I would love to see these characters on screen just to see the looks on the faces of those they catch!

Whether you’re new to this series or you’ve read every book like I have, this one is a must!

I love this series and this is one of the best books in it. It just positively oozes intrigue from the very beginning. The subject matter is quite harrowing and the case seems to hit Kim particularly hard., the seemingly uncaring attitude of one set of parents reminding her of her own unhappy childhood. I was hooked on the story from page one, desperate to discover what was happening. Needless to say I read the entire thing in one sitting and loved that there were several twists, one of which left me reeling. I can't wait for the next one.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

Nothing short of exceptional!

Omg this was brilliant!! I’m such a HUGE fan of Angie and her DI Kim Stone series. Each book just gets better and better.

I inhaled this whole book in just under 6 hours and I regret nothing 😂 it was totally worth the pain of knowing I’ve got to wait until the end of the year for another.

If you’ve never read Marsons’ DI Kim Stone series - are you even real? This series is the best I’ve encountered and I’ve read a LOT. You can read them in or out of order and you’ll be guaranteed a fan girl by the end of just one novel.

Thanks to Bookouture and the NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I always know once I start one of the author's books that I'm in for a real treat and this one was no different, there were one or two moments when I had to hold my breath , my only advice to starting the book is to make sure you have lots of time to spare as you won't want to leave it aside. My only negativity is now that I'm finished is having to wait for the next book. I wish there was more than a 5 star rating as it deserves it

Angela Marsons' Kim Stone books are always a good read and Little Children - number 22 in the series I think may be the best yet. It is a complex heart breaking story of the kidnap and abuse of young boys. However Kim and the team leave no stone unturned to identify the culprits and rescue the boys identifying police corruption as they do it. The regular characters pop onto the page as though they'd been waiting for Angela to pick up her pen. Regular readers wouldn't have it any other way! A brilliant, clever story that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'd encourage anyone who likes a good series to try Kim Stone. There's no better!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I have noticed a bit of a consistent issue with the Kim Stone series, especially the last few books. I just can't put them down. I read this one in 2 days and now I'm fuming with myself because I still want to be reading it.

The topics in these series are often quite traumatic but DI Stone always seems to handle these situations with the right amount of care, which can't be said for all the characters we meet in this book.

Bryant had a particularly tough ride in this book, felt for him.

If you were going into battle you'd want Kim Stone in your corner. Love reading such a strong female character who champions her team and tries to right the wrongs of society.

Great read, can't wait for the next one. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review, this is my honest opinion.

This is hands down one of my favorite detective thriller series, and I know I can count on the DI Kim Stone books to consistently deliver an engaging and suspenseful ride. I always do a little happy dance whenever a new sequel appears on my kindle, and I couldn't resist picking it up almost straight away. I can’t believe that Little Children is already book number 22 of a series that truly shows no signs of slowing down, and it is without doubt another brilliant sequel.

Before I continue, I have to repeat myself and insist that this is a series to read in order. You will find major spoilers for past events otherwise, and you won’t be able to fully understand and appreciate the dynamics between the main characters either. That said, the case investigated in Little Children does stand on its own and in theory it can be followed without reading the other books first. But why would you, with the whole series being well worth your time catching up with? Trust me, I had to do so myself in 2021 and I had a blast.

I think that part of the reason that this series is working so well has a lot to do with its cast of characters. I always have such a great time catching up with Kim and the rest of the team, and the banter is absolutely brilliant. I love how the humor balances out the more serious content, and it helps break up the tension in a natural way. The characters feel like old friends by now, and they complement each other perfectly. In this particular sequel we also have a completely new team in the picture, although the main focus is on our group of known characters.

Little Children is a little different than usual as the whole team travels to Blackpool both to help investigate a missing children case and to investigate corruption allegations among the Blackpool detective team. This double task and the fact that Kim Stone isn't exactly known for her ability to play well with others definitely livens up the plot, and the fact that you don't know who you can trust of the Blackpool team only adds more tension. There are quite a few twists and turns along the way, and I never did guess the full truth about it all.

It comes as no surprise that Little Children turned out to be another very satisfying detective thriller sequel, and I literally couldn't stop reading despite the reading slump. If you like your detective thrillers to be fast, engaging, suspenseful and with a healthy dose of banter, I cannot recommend this series enough. Like I said before, it is without a doubt one of my absolute favorite detective series out there!

This is the 22nd book in the Kim Stone series, hard to believe but this is a series I will always continue to read as I never tire of reading about Kim and her team, it is like returning to meeting up with old friends and I am sure many of us feel this way. The author has an innate ability to keep providing quality stories that touch our hearts emotionally and draw you in.

This case focuses on the disappearance of young boys, and it really does touch your heart strings. Kim and her team are sent to another precinct to not only try to assist in solving this case but also to try to fleece out police corruption which is thought to be occurring. Any case involving children is always hard to read about but the author does this in such a sensitive way that your attention is more of the details of the case, and you are hoping that the individuals will be caught and prosecuted.

I thought the way these two-story lines coincided was very clever, it gave something extra to the plot and provided a deeper case for the detectives to solve and significantly more for the reader to become wrapped up in. Once again Kim will stop at nothing to obtain results even though in the beginning the evidence is thin and there are people covering up information or seemingly not caring to provide knowledge which would assist in tracking down these killers. Another fabulous instalment in the series which I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.