First Blood: A completely gripping mystery thriller

Detective Kim Stone is a detective hiding dark secrets who will stop at nothing to protect the innocent. In the darkness of a cold December morning, she steps through the doors of Halesowen Police Station to meet her team for the first time. The victim of her next case is about to meet his killer, and a disturbing resemblance is spotted with the recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall with multiple stab wounds. With the killer about to strike again, Kim is in deep water with a rookie squad. Can she bring Dawson in line and pull her crew together in time to catch the killer before another life is taken?

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 29 October 2020
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Immediately evident is the exceptional quality of Rachel Abbott's literary creations, distinguished by their captivating and compelling narratives, exquisite character development, and an undeniable allure that captivates readers from beginning to end.

Within the depths of a frigid December morning, Detective Kim Stone enters the premises of Halesowen Police Station, prepared to assemble her team for the first time. The victim of her upcoming case awaits her arrival, destined to encounter their killer.

As Kim and her new squad hastily arrive at the crime scene in the secluded woodland area of the Clent Hills, they discover the lifeless body of a young man, beheaded and staked to the ground. Their immediate focus turns to unraveling the mysteries surrounding this tragic event.

During their search of the victim's home, Kim stumbles upon a little girl's bedroom, accompanied by a concealed laptop. However, the whereabouts of the child remain a mystery, prompting curiosity about the reason behind the man's sister's apparent relief upon his demise.

As Kim delves deeper into uncovering the shocking truth about the victim, a chilling resemblance emerges between the recent murder of a man found beneath the staircase of Redland Hall, bearing numerous stab wounds. Both these men harbored dark secrets, and Kim discovers a connection to a women's shelter. Having experienced the complexities of the care system firsthand, Kim possesses a profound understanding of the vulnerabilities associated with such circumstances. Could the shelter hold the key to solving this intricate case?

As the killer prepares to strike again, Kim finds herself immersed in a challenging situation, leading a novice squad consisting of Stacey, displaying signs of brilliance but struggling to maintain her composure, D.S. Bryant, known for his reliability and calm demeanor, and D.S. Dawson, whose volatile behavior threatens to fracture the delicate unity of their team. With his personal life in disarray, Dawson's unpredictable actions further exacerbate the situation.

Determined to bring Dawson under control and unite her crew, Kim must act swiftly before another life is lost. The stakes have never been higher, and one of her own could be in grave danger.

In this thrilling and suspenseful novel, readers are invited to embark on a journey of discovery as Kim Stone and her team navigate through a web of lies, secrets, and dangerous encounters. With each turn of the page, the plot thickens, and the tension mounts, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they race against time to catch the killer before it strikes again.

Weight: 272g
Dimension: 126 x 197 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780751579833