Child's Play
4 Stars

DI Kim Stone and her team investigate a series of murders related to former child prodigies. The team must work without the help of DC Austin Penn who is called away to testify in court on a case from his days on the West Mercia force. Unfortunately, the case begins to unravel, and Penn suspects that the accused man may just be innocent.

It has been a while since I read the last book (this often happens after I am caught up and wait for several new installments). Nevertheless, it was easy to get back into the swing of things as Marsons' writing is fast-paced, her plotting is clever and she often manages to catch me off guard.

I enjoy the way in which Marsons incorporates factual events within the narrative, and this particular tale raises interesting questions about parental expectations and the notion of "tiger parenting". It also emphasizes the emotional stress that child prodigies experience themselves but also their effect on parents and other children in the family.

While much of the focus in the book is on the police procedural elements, there is also some character development for Stacey and Penn. However, the most compelling element is the possibility that Kim may finally be coming to terms with the death of her twin.

All in all, another excellent addition to this wonderful series. Looking forward to the next one. ( )

When Kim is called to a crime scene, she finds a dead woman tied to a swing by barbed wire with an X carved into the back of her neck. Before her team can find out much about the case, another body is found, this time on a hopscotch grid and posed as though he was in the middle of playing the game when he died, an X carved into the back of his neck. The clues lead her and Bryant to a group of adults who had once been child prodigies. Meanwhile, Penn is called away to testify in one of his previous cases, but it isn't long before the case starts to fall apart, and Penn wonders if his part in the investigation may have led to a faulty conclusion.

Child's Play involves the world of child prodigies and some of their parents who use them as a way to earn money and success at the price of their children's sanity. At times in this book, the subject is discussed in a way that is both preachy and repetitive, but it does prove to be an interesting basis for a murder mystery. The style of following two cases at once, alternating chapters and information is very distracting and makes it difficult to get thoroughly involved in either mystery until well past half way though the book. However, the plot makes for fascinating reading and overall makes for a story well worth the read. 3 1/2 stars. ( )

1097 ( )

I love how Marsons tackles a different theme for every book, this one being child geniuses. ( )

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Detective Kim Stone is rather disturbed when she happens upon the latest murder scene. This time it is a 60ish woman found tied to a chair with an X carved into the back of her neck. The woman's name was Belinda Evans, and when her sister Veronica arrives, Kim hopes that she can begin to find answers. However, two more bodies are found, in a similar fashion.

As the title hints, it has something to do with children. Oddly enough, it is even more so related to the fact that the victims are all involved in child psychology. Currently, there are tournaments involving gifted children. How could people that work with children end up murder victims?

Meanwhile, one of Kim's team members, Penn, is determined to find the killer of a young man, so this leaves Kim short of help at times. So, with numerous suspects and an unending collection of clues, Kim really has her hands full. With the three murders so far, Kim works as fast as possible to prevent any future victims.

Child's Play is the 11th book in the D. I. Kim Stone series. I started with the 8th title and am more than impressed with Angela Marsons' writing style. The cases are intense and the twists and turns that come along are more than enough to keep any serious mystery reader captivated.

The series is going strong, and I really enjoy Kim. As a matter of fact, I really loved the previous title, Dead Memories, and I found this read to be even more intense. One thing that stood out for me in this book is seeing how Penn is blending in with the team. As the newest member, he was not welcomed at first (I am referring to book 9, Fatal Promise). He is doing better, but has been called back to his previous precinct to further investigate the murder of the aforementioned young man.

Each book in the series does deal with new crimes, so this could do well a a standalone. However, when reading police procedural novels, or crime thrillers, I often love the teamwork that I see. When you have a new team member, like Penn, it makes the family-type environment prove its worth. Because I read so many of these, this is very important to me. I cannot help but think of some television dramas I watch on Network TV, because that is exactly what this book and series reminds me of. I cannot wait to see what else is in store for Kim.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion. ( )