Blood Ties

Jack Le Claire Mystery #2

by Kelly Clayton

Obsession, secrets, desire . . . And murder.

Ana Zielinska has relocated to the island of Jersey in search of her late mother’s family, but not everyone is welcoming. She’s stuck living in low-level accommodation and her best friend has left without a backward glance.

DCI Jack Le Claire is juggling several cases and trying to get his personal life back on track while attempting to keep his past at bay. Le Claire’s investigations take him from high-society parties to the seedier, and decidedly steamier, side of island life.

A tragic event further isolates Ana from her relatives and introduces her to a man from a very different world. It soon becomes apparent that someone is out to harm Ana. Will they succeed?

Circumstances take Le Claire to his old hunting ground in London where past and present collide to threaten his marriage, his reputation and Ana’s life.

Can he save all three?

Genres: Crime

304 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2016

About the author

I was born in Scotland but have lived most of my life in the beautiful Channel Island of Jersey. I live in a house by the sea with my husband and three cats. (I know!)

I have been writing for the last decade and Blood In The Sand is my first published novel. My second book, Blood Ties, was published at the end of November 2016.

I love walking on the beach and reading, reading, and reading.

Reviews

[Kath Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second of the Jack Le Claire novels and I read it almost straight after the first. In this book, a wealthy man is found dead in a swimming pool after a party. He’s found by his cousin who works for Jack’s family. Blood ties are explored here with estranged families, family businesses, and a bit of their recent personal history all thrown into the mix. Add to that drugs, prostitution and blackmail and you have a potent brew.

Once again, Kelly Clayton has combined several plot strands with a selection of truly believable characters. They are no two dimensional cut-outs, each having enough background detail, light and shade, to make you feel you know them. The author writes cleanly and elegantly and I look forward to more. I long to find out more about Le Claire’s enigmatic side-kick, Emily Dewar. I hope there’s more about her personal journey in Book Three, which I eagerly await!

[Jackie Szymanska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read the first Jack Le Claire I was thrilled to get this book Once again this book didn’t disappoint. Jack Le Claire has another intriguing case and his home life is involved too. I read this one in a couple of days too as it is a define page turner.

[Woody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great mystery set on the British isle of Jersey, which I knew absolutely nothing about. All the best stuff for a master Brit thriller: drugs, high-class perversions, low-class depravities & dead bodies. The red herrings were quite plausible to keep you guessing almost to the end. The sub-plots, which carry over from the previous novel, are easy enough to get the gist even if you haven't read book 1 (like me). They also are interesting enough to make you want to find out what happens in Book 3.

[David Gilchrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author does not disappoint. Very well written and fast and furious from the start, mainly set on the island of Jersey and some parts in the clubs of London. I suspect the fans of Bergerac will love this series. I will be reading more from this author.

[Laura Giangrande]

I thought the book was very good. It was well written and had likable characters. The book kept you on the edge of your set.