Book Review: Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

FATAL PROMISE (D.I. Kim Stone #9) by Angela Marsons once again has an intriguing and thrilling series of crimes that need resolution, but this addition to the series also is heavily character driven as the team deals with the personal impact and upheaval from the previous book. NOTE: This book picks up almost immediately from the conclusion of Dying Truth (D.I. Kim Stone #8) and should definitely be read in order.

Kim has just had the cast removed from her broken leg and wants to get what remains of her team back together and get to work. She refuses to let her therapy and psychological evaluation slow her down when the brutally murdered body of Dr. Gordon Cordell, from her last case is found in a wooded park. She and Bryant have to uncover if this murder is tied to their last case or is this something new? When the bodies start adding up, they know they have a serial killer that needs to be stopped, but Kim is not her usual self and it is causing problems between herself and Bryant.

While Kim and Bryant are in the field, Stacy is also working a case of her own regarding a missing teen while dealing with a new team member in the desk across from her.

Kim, Bryant and Stacy are all working to solve their cases which are always full of twists and intrigue. This book though also has to deal with the tremendous grief from the last book for the characters as well as the readers. Kim returns to Ted, her therapist since childhood and we learn how she deals with her emotions. Bryant feels hurt over Kim’s silence while she is out on sick leave. He understands it, but it still causes friction between these two longtime friends. Stacy bottles up her grief and it affects her home life as well as being combative with the new member of the team. Ms. Marsons does an amazing job of dealing with each character’s individual grief and explaining Kim’s unique psychological make-up. The readers also get a look into the home life of the newest team member and why he is determined to stay and work to fit in with this team.

This book in the series is everything I was hoping for from this author and more!

Thanks very much to Bookouture and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC. This is an amazing series and cast of characters that I want to continue to read long into the future.