Silent Scream

Angela Marsons launched her DI Kim Stone series with Silent Scream, and the first book does most of the work introducing a detective who doesn’t follow procedure or play nicely with anyone. Stone is sharp, abrasive, and carrying her own background of childhood trauma that she doesn’t bother to hide.

The case starts with the murder of a former children’s home worker, and as Stone digs in, the trail goes back decades to a buried secret at the home itself.

Marsons writes British police procedural at a fast clip. The chapters are short. The point of view shifts between Stone, her team, and the killer in a way that keeps tension high without feeling cheap.

If you like Karin Slaughter or Val McDermid, Marsons sits in that neighborhood. The series is now well into double digits, so there’s runway if you get hooked.