Little Children
Angela Marsons
371 pages
Bookouture
published August 12, 2025
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About the book
Two little children are missing from the same seaside town, and only Kim Stone can find out why…
With the investigation into the boys’ disappearance going nowhere, Detective Kim Stone and her team have been sent halfway across the country to help. But they have a second secret mission: to find out if the dark rumours about the local cops are justified, and if that’s why the children are still lost. Far from home, they must get close to their targets by pretending to be incompetent, lazy and at each other’s throats – and the strain is starting to tell.
All Kim wants to do is investigate both cases properly. She knows she’s the only hope these little boys have… but she can’t blow her cover. Then, just when Kim starts to make headway with a woman brave enough to speak out about one of the local detectives, she is found dead. Did Kim’s questions get her killed? How deep does the rot go?
When another body is found, Kim has a lead at last – one that tells her she’s facing some of the worst criminals she’s ever known. The time for playing nice is over… but can she bring these children home, when time is running out and she cannot trust a single soul?
A completely gripping page-turning crime thriller from no.1 multi-million-copy bestseller Angela Marsons. Perfect for fans of Val McDermid, Karin Slaughter and Robert Dugoni.
My Review
Can this already be the 22nd book in the series? It doesn’t seem possible. It’s another great installment. I like how to change things up a little, the team goes to work with another team in Blackpool to search for 2 missing boys. Also, they are looking for a corrupt cop or two in the midst of the Blackpool team. Two objectives that aren’t popular with the other team.
There are many suspects to choose from when Kim and her team realize that corners have been cut in the investigation of the first boy. Is he a runaway like his parents believe or is there a more nefarious action? Are the two related?
I like how this started out at the end and then went back in to fill things in. The group was waiting for a story from a reporter to post and potentially wreak havoc for them over a past case.
In addition to the case, the story highlights how differently the two boys’ families were treated as part of the investigation and how hard it is to weed out corruption in the system.
There is a little less personal focus since the team is out of town, but their personalities and style always factor into their investigation.
Since there are boys involved, there is also a sense of urgency to bring them home before the unthinkable can happen. All while showing the darker side of the police force and how things go awry when everyone isn’t working for the greater good.
Is it too soon for me to already be looking forward to the next installment? This series is always a great read and never lets me down.
Author Bio
Angela Marsons is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of the D.I. Kim Stone series. Her books have sold more than six million copies, and have been translated into over thirty languages.
She lives in Worcestershire with her wife, two cheeky Golden Retrievers, and a Bernedoodle.
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