ARC Review ~ Evil Games by Angela Marsons

Review: 5/5 Stars
Author: Angela Marsons
Available Formats: ebook, Paperback, Audio
Publisher: Bookouture 
Publication Date: 05-29-15              Pages: 384
Purchase ~ Amazon                            Add to Goodreads

The greater the Evil, the more deadly the game… 

When a rapist is found mutilated in a brutal attack, Detective Kim Stone and her team are called in to bring a swift resolution. But, as more vengeful killings come to light, it soon becomes clear that there is someone far more sinister at work. 

With the investigation quickly gathering momentum, Kim finds herself exposed to great danger and in the sights of a lethal individual undertaking their own twisted experiment. 

Up against a sociopath who seems to know her every weakness, for Detective Stone, each move she makes could be deadly. As the body count starts to mount, Kim will have to dig deeper than ever before to stop the killing. And this time - it’s personal.

My So-Called Review:

I recently read Silent Scream; my review can be found here, and I absolutely loved it, best crime thriller I’d read in a very long time. As soon as I turned the last page I immediately dove into Evil Games, the second book in the D.I. Kim Stone series. I didn’t have much sense for what this second book was about other than what I got from the synopsis and I didn’t bother reading any reviews on Goodreads or Amazon. This is unusual for me but I felt it unnecessary since I was already in love with author, Angela Marsons’ writing style and her character Kim Stone. Plus I think I was too excited knowing I had book 2 on hand and couldn’t wait to find out where Marsons was taking Kim Stone and team next! Knowing my expectations were extremely high did worry me a bit, sometimes when I set my standards super high for a book it ends up disappointing me in some way. This was definitely NOT the case with Evil Games, if anything I think I loved it even more than Silent Scream, something I wouldn’t have believed possible prior to reading. I believe the difference for me, and what pushed Evil Games over the top of book one is that it more of a Psychological Thriller feel to it. I love twisted mind games between characters and Evil Games has one of the best I’ve ever read!

What I loved most about Evil Games is that it encompassed the true nature of what it means to be a sociopath. I find these characters fascinating (I think this freaks my hubby out a bit lol) but rarely do we get to see such a raw and overpowering insiders peak into their mind. Kim’s nemesis in this book, Dr. Alexandra Thorne is a deliciously twisted character and I’m kinda ashamed (not really!) to say that I loved reading every single chapter from her POV; I couldn’t help but get drawn into her shocking and manipulative behavior. Don’t get me wrong, she’s pure evil and I couldn’t wait for Kim to take her down but there was also something equally fascinating about her and I knew she’d be the one person who could break through Kim’s walled up past. I just really wanted to see these two women who were incredibly strong, frightfully intelligent and complete polar opposites come head to head and oh boy, Marsons sure didn’t disappoint us here!

I don’t want to give too much away about this book’s storyline as I think it’s best enjoyed having very little info on what could possible happen. I will say that I enjoyed the multiple mysteries aspect of this book and love that D.I. Stone is never willing to take the easy answer to close a case and never leaves a stone unturned. There is so much going on in Evil Games but I mean that in the best possible way. Right from page one it’s a constant race with twists and turns at every corner yet it all flows seamlessly, Marsons never loses sight of her readers or the big picture in her storyline. Evil Games is one hell of a psychological thrill ride and I will absolutely be shoving this book into the hands of everyone I know!

I haven’t been this excited about a new author since I read my first book by Lisa Unger, Fragile years ago. Angela Marsons is seriously becoming one of my new favorite authors and I have it on good authority that we could possibly see book 3 this October. What I’m looking forward to most in book 3 is the after effects of Kim’s encounters with Dr. Alex Thorne. Will she continue to keep those walls up or has she begun to slowly let a few of them down. I’m honestly not sure which I’d prefer, I think it’s those walls that make Kim who she is and such a fascinating character yet at the same time, it would be interesting to see her confide more in someone like Bryant and for her to start healing. Either way I’m positive that Angela’s planned one heck of a ride for us! I’m also keeping my fingers crossed that Barney’s still keeping Kim’s couch warm :) Here’s to NOT having to wait a year for our next Kim Stone book!!!!

Thank you to the publishers, Bookouture and to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary, advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!