First Blood
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First Blood Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Angela Marsons (Author), Jan Cramer (Narrator), Hachette UK - Bookouture (Publisher)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 9,590 ratings
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In the darkness of a cold December morning, Detective Kim Stone steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station. She’s about to meet her team for the first time. The victim of her next case is about to meet his killer....

When the body of a young man is found beheaded and staked to the ground in a secluded area of the Clent Hills, Kim and her new squad rush to the crime scene.

Searching the victim’s home, Kim discovers a little girl’s bedroom and a hidden laptop. Why is his sister relieved to hear he’s dead - and where is the rest of his family?

As Kim begins to unearth the dark secrets at the heart of the case, DC Stacey Woodward becomes convinced that this murder is somehow linked to a women’s shelter. As a child of the care system herself, Kim knows all too well what it means to be vulnerable.

With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Inexperienced Stacey is showing signs of brilliance but struggling to hold her nerve and, while D.S. Bryant is reliable and calm, D.S. Dawson is a liability. With his home life in pieces, his volatile behaviour is already fracturing her fragile new team.

Can Kim bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken? This time, one of her own could be in terrible danger....

Discover where it all began for Kim and her team. An absolutely heart-stopping mystery thriller. Perfect for Kim Stone fans and new listeners to the million-copy best-selling series.

This audio edition includes exclusive bonus content. In conversation with narrator Jan Cramer, Angela Marsons talks about her writing process, her journey to being published, and never-before-told insights into the series and Kim Stone’s character. Not available in other formats.

A detective hiding dark secrets, Kim Stone will stop at nothing to protect the innocent.

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  1. Listening Length
    8 hours and 57 minutes
  2. Author
    Angela Marsons
  3. Narrator
    Jan Cramer
  4. Audible release date
    November 14, 2019
  5. Language
    English
  6. Publisher
    Hachette UK - Bookouture
  7. ASIN
    B0812BQ9VW
  8. Version
    Unabridged
  9. Program Type
    Audiobook
  10. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 57 minutes
Author Angela Marsons
Narrator Jan Cramer
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date November 14, 2019
Publisher Hachette UK - Bookouture
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B0812BQ9VW
Best Sellers Rank #39,668 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#1,059 in Police Procedural Mysteries
#1,785 in Crime Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)
#4,110 in Police Procedurals (Books)

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
9,590 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Gripping
Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
This book was immensely satisfying to read. The murder mystery was a very good, action packed approach to a very interesting subject line. Great characters.
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Joann R. Greene
4.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER GREAT READ
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2019
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This was an unexpected book for me. Though written this year, it takes place when Kim is just tasked with her band-new team. It give you the low-down on all the people she works with. Not only does she have to deal with all new personalities but they also have to deal with a young man who is found beheaded and staked to the ground. While searching the man's home they find a little girl's bedroom and a hidden laptop. From here it gets even more gruesome as more mutilated bodies appear and Kim believes that some older unsolved crimes fit the bill for this killing also. This book will help you to discover where it all began for Kim Stone. Her books are always entertaining and hold your interest. One of my favorites in a series. The quality of the writing never gets bogged down.
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badDog4
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Main Character, Engrossing Story
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024
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I can see how people are die hard Kim Stone fans. The audiobook is fantastic and I guessed totally wrong but I will be reading more books in the series. I’m hooked.
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The LitChic
5.0 out of 5 stars PREQUEL: DI Kim Stone's newly assigned team of 'misfits' gets their 1st case - DON'T MISS IT!
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2019
Verified Purchase
I read this book in one sitting like I did every book written by Angela Marsons. She is by far, my favorite author, and the DI Kim Stone series is my favorite series of all time! This book was a surprise and a bonus all wrapped up in one because I didn't even know there was a prequel in the works. (I'm going to consider this an early Christmas present! Thanks Ms.Marsons!!! 🎄🎁 )

I won't rehash the plot, but in summary, we learn how Kim's team was originally formed and the circumstances that brought them together. Their first crime was of course, unique, and each team member wanted to work the case differently. How do they sort themselves out? Read the book!

Every character the author creates is as human as you and I. Fully formed and realistic. Each has their own pasts, trials, triumphs, flaws, fears, dreams, and even their own sense of humor. I find Kim the most intriguing, in part because of her personal history, but also due to her sense of humor and somewhat prickly attitude. I admire her for the way she manages her team and earns the respect of her subordinates, coworkers, and superiors alike.

Every case (and therefore each book) in the series is unique, fast paced, and left me on the edge of my seat, breathless to the last page. I can't imagine ever tiring of this series!

There aren't many series of this length that manage to keep me entertained and still leave me wanting more, but that's exactly what happened here. Don't worry, there are no cliff hangers.

What amazes me the most is the flawless continuity. The entire series is spot on which is essential. When I'm reading, the world around me disappears completely and I get tunnel vision. The downside to such intense focus means it's impossible not to notice continuity errors, no matter how small. Once identified, I'm unable to continue reading until I find the source to confirm my suspicion. Only then can I move on. It's come as no surprise to me that I haven't found a single mistake or continuity error anywhere in this series.

And now, I have a confession. Despite my keen eye for detail, I've never correctly guessed who committed the crimes or why in any of her books (before the reveal), despite my many guesses....Ms.Marsons is that good!

I truly hope Ms. Marsons sees this review because the day this series ends will be a sad day indeed!!!
Please keep writing about DI Kim Stone and her team. I can't get enough!

If you have yet to dive into anything written by Angela Marsons, I highly recommend not waiting another minute and starting with this series!
.
.
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GO! What are you waiting for????
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SusanN NYC
5.0 out of 5 stars Kim Stone fans needed this book and did Angela Marsons ever deliver! .
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2019
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In this incredible prequel to the Kim Stone series Angela Marsons has indeed given us the story we have waited for. This is the making of Kim Stone, the Kim we have loved and followed for all the series. This Kim is the one we saw in the first books- hating to deal with people, moving from station to station because she is too impatient to get along with others, at ease only when working on her motorcycle, driven to the point where she forgets to eat (how I hate that, I've never forgotten a meal in my life),working non-stop until she solves a case.

Here she's been transferred (again) to another station and given a new set of officers with whom she has to work-newbie Stacey,who finds her forte in computer investigation, Bryant, stalwart and a steady support (and slowest driver in town), and Dawson ,who is dealing with a personal crisis which so distracts him from work he might get thrown off the team. And Woody, their boss at the station, who we learn has requested her and who Kim doesn't recognize when she arrives.

As wonderful as prequels are, and as satisfying it is to see the formation of the team we have come to love, we who have relished the entire series know things that will happen, which makes this book bittersweet, and for me there was a sadness over much of the story.

The case the team is assigned is a series of horrific torture murders, and the investigation takes the reader in many directions. I thought I had figured out the killer and the motive, but was wrong on at least one count.
You always learn something in an Angela Marsons book: I now know the meaning behind many prison and gang tattoos (something that should stand me in good stead next time I meet a man with a tattoo-I won't have to Google him to find out if he's been in the Big House or was a member of the Bloods or Crips). There are other interesting facts we learn as we go along, things that resolve the case but I won't spoil it for the reader.
Suffice it to say, I am beginning to suspect there are hidden depths to Angela Marsons!

There is another mystery that runs through the book, leading to an absolutely stunning twist at the end-another hallmark of a Kim Stone book.

This book makes you love Kim Stone more than ever. We get more of her back story and it can break your heart. Poignant because we know what fate awaits the team, happy because we will see glimmers of how far Kim comes in future books, transforming from a woman alone , hating Christmas, not even wanting to shake hands with a colleague, to a compassionate, brilliant, loyal friend and true leader- and who is able to give her heart to a rescue dog who rescues her in turn.

This is a stand alone book, but if you haven't, read the books in order-you will be all the poorer if you don't.
Thank you Angela Marsons for this unexpected gift of First Blood and we await the next installment of this fabulous series.
9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Strachan
5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a murder story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 1, 2024
Verified Purchase
DI Kim Stone is in charge of the team tasked to find a brutal murderer. This is her first case, her team are thrown together, don't seem to fit together, and all are misfits in their own way. This is a fabulously written story, which goes into the team members back stories as well as the murderers. The writer has a way of making you care about every character in the book, giving reasons and background on all of their behaviours. The plot has many twists and turns as well as a few red herrings that will keep you guessing till the end. This is the first book I have read by this author, but based on this I will definitely be reading more in the series.
2 people found this helpful
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Margarete Krammer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good start for the series.
Reviewed in Germany on April 1, 2024
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Reading the prequel to the series gives you a much better inside and understanding of the various individuals in the books of the serie. You even get to know Kim Stone herself a little better.
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Michael Radhey
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant story of a new CID taam
Reviewed in Canada on December 2, 2020
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Each character in this new unit of four officers is a imperfect character but each one of whom radiates as a real person. The most intriguing crime situation . Reading the book is like watching a made for Netflix series. Think that's crazy. Give it a try. Somehow the whole story is visible before your very eyes.This is written by a brilliant author.
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Cliente Amazon
4.0 out of 5 stars O início
Reviewed in Brazil on January 25, 2020
Verified Purchase
Depois de 11 (ou 12?) livros, descobrimos como tudo começou e seguimos Kim Stone no seu primeiro dia de trabalho como Inspetora. Adorei saber de alguns detalhes desconhecidos até então e ver a formação da equipe.
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Helene Fabre
5.0 out of 5 stars FIRST BLOOD
Reviewed in France on January 8, 2020
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I could not put the book down ... quite well written ... it is obvious, I think, that the author knows very well its subject. The suspens is incredible and it really is a "page turner" .... this book is responsible for going to sleep in the wee hours of the morning !!! Can't wait to read many other book of this author.
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