Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
First Blood  By  cover art

First Blood

By: Angela Marsons
Narrated by: Jan Cramer
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $19.95

Buy for $19.95

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

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.

©2019 Angela Marsons (P)2019 Bookouture

What listeners say about First Blood

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    278
  • 4 Stars
    103
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    11
  • 1 Stars
    4
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    262
  • 4 Stars
    66
  • 3 Stars
    21
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    4
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    241
  • 4 Stars
    77
  • 3 Stars
    29
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Detective Kim Stone Book 12

Author Angela Marsons continues her outstanding Detective Kim Stone series with FIRST BLOOD. Kim gets a fresh start with a new team in this modern detective thriller. Narrator Jan Cramer can always be counted on to deliver superb narration.

One of many things I like about Audible is their classification of series novels. Audible failed to classify this novel First Blood as part of the Kim Stone series. Yesterday I finished Mark Dawson's The Assassin which is part of his Isabella Rose series but was not noted as such by Audible.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Almost Perfect

If you’re like me, you look forward to a new Kim Stone novel. First Blood will not disappoint. I don’t know how Marsons does it, churning out two books per year without losing her literary mojo!

I’ve mentioned my one gripe in previous reviews and I’ve attributed it in the past to Jan Cramer, but I’ve come to realize it’s not entirely her fault. Every time she reads from the killer’s perspective, she reads it like she’s the “Wicked Witch of the West”. I expect each section to end with “I’ll get you and your little dog too!” I’ve come to realize the fault lies with Marsons. These vignettes are the one flaw in her novels. They serve no purpose, are entirely superfluous.

On a side note, there’s a twist toward the end that will warm the heart of any reader of the Kim Stone series. No spoiler, just be prepared to feel a gentle tug on your emotions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a great surprise

So this is how this team got started. Very interesting.

This series is a favorite of mine so this surprise prequel was another must-read for me.

Kim, which is easy to understand, has had problems at previous assignments and gets sent to “Woody”’s team. There she meets her new crew - Stacey, Dawson, and Bryant. It was fun to get to know the beginnings of this team.

Even though Kim was given a day to learn the team, they are immediately thrown into a gruesome murder investigation which soon escalates. As typical of Angela Marsons, we are led down many paths during the investigation. The story is disturbing but hard to put down. And it’s worth it for the little revelation at the end.

The narration by Jan Cramer does, as usual, enhance the story. Very well done!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Enlightening and Intriguing

I was a little hesitant when I realized this was going back to the beginning of the team after I had already read every single installment in the series and was waiting for the next one. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend all fans of this series to read/listen to how this amazing team came together. And yes I was sad at one of the characters because I know what happens down the line but still enjoyed knowing how this character started out in the team (no spoilers from me!) And I absolutely loved the interview at the end between the amazing narrator Jan Kramer and the very talented author Angela. So interesting to hear both of them discuss their individual rituals while reading or writing their current novel.
And last but certainly not least, the mystery and murder investigation was fascinating as always, and once again I did not foresee the conclusion ahead of time. I never want this series to end!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Not bad

It’s unfortunate that I have recently read a lot of Robert Bryndza’s work, which is similar to this but better executed. That made this novel a little flat for me. The characters are a little over the top, and feel forced instead of natural. I also feel that the author is trying to guide my emotions and opinions too much. The story itself was decent, but nothing remarkable. It’s not a bad read, and I understand how people enjoy it, but I’m not over the moon about it:

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Best beginning ever!

Angela never disappoints. She amazing! The series is wonderfully written that Kim and her team are part of my family. Can't wait for the next book. Thanks Angela for a superb series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

An excellent addition to the series

Angela Marsons has written an excellent addition to the series. I love the idea of going back to the beginning to discover how Kim’s team came together. I highly recommend this book to fans of the series. And to new fans this is a good way to get your feet wet.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What a fantastic read

I love that we got to see how Kim and her group all got together. Fabulous!! This was a lighthearted read compared to her other gory novels.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • DB
  • 05-28-21

love the interview at the end

I am an American listener / audience and I love your series. I looked for a long time to find a female author writing crime series with a female lead. I absolutely love the characters of your book and how diverse they are. I enjoy the humor that ranges from Kim and Bryant to the new character Tiffany. The interview at the end of this book was such a treat. I really loved the exchange and would love to see it happen more. thank you for the letter from the author. I really love hearing your thoughts and voice. Don't stop writing please. I'm so glad a publisher finally realized the hidden jewel that was you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome

I loved this book as I did the rest of the series. Jan makes the story more real and the characters come to life.

Highly recommended series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful