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Blood Ties
Country handyman Cedric O’Toole finds his life turned upside down when a stranger named Steve shows up at his farm, claiming to be his brother. Steve believes they have the same father, and he is on a quest to find him, as Cedric’s unwed mother took the secret of their father’s identity to her grave. Together Steve and Cedric embark on a hunt for answers. At every turn, people seem to have the police officer who investigated a suspicious death years ago and who is now the chief near retirement, Cedric’s aunt Penny, who knows all the gossip in the town but claims to know nothing about the death and, most alarming of all, Cedric’s own grandparents and uncle, who insist no good will come of his questions. What are they all hiding? And does Cedric really want to know the answers?
154 pages, Paperback
Published August 27, 2019
22 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Fradkin
29 books163 followersBarbara Fradkin (nee Currie), an award-winning Canadian mystery writer and retired psychologist whose work with children and families provides ample inspiration for murder. She is fascinated by the dark side and by the desperate choices people make.
Her novels are gritty, realistic, and psychological, with a blend of mystery and suspense. She is the author of three series, including ten novels featuring the exasperating, quixotic Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Green, and three short novels about country handyman Cedric O'Toole which provide an entertaining but quick and easy read. FIRE IN THE STARS is the first book in her new mystery thriller series which stars passionate, adventurous, but traumatized aid worker Amanda Doucette.
Fradkin's work has been nominated for numerous awards, and two of the Inspector Green books have won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel from Crime Writers of Canada. Fradkin was born in Montreal but lives in Ottawa.
Series:
* Inspector Green Mystery
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2005): Fifth Son
◊ Best Novel (2007): Honour Among Men
Her novels are gritty, realistic, and psychological, with a blend of mystery and suspense. She is the author of three series, including ten novels featuring the exasperating, quixotic Ottawa Police Inspector Michael Green, and three short novels about country handyman Cedric O'Toole which provide an entertaining but quick and easy read. FIRE IN THE STARS is the first book in her new mystery thriller series which stars passionate, adventurous, but traumatized aid worker Amanda Doucette.
Fradkin's work has been nominated for numerous awards, and two of the Inspector Green books have won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel from Crime Writers of Canada. Fradkin was born in Montreal but lives in Ottawa.
Series:
* Inspector Green Mystery
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2005): Fifth Son
◊ Best Novel (2007): Honour Among Men
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 6, 2025
This is a "Rapid Reads" novella, which means it is aimed at reluctant readers, or those who are learning English. The plot moves at a quick pace, which is true to the genre — reluctant readers want plot more than characters (apparently).
It's hard for me to rate, because I feel I should rate it based on how much it will appeal to a reluctant reader, rather than how much it appeals to me. (I read it for research into the structure and content of a "Rapid Reads" book).
It was fast-paced and engaging, and dealt with family secrets.
It's hard for me to rate, because I feel I should rate it based on how much it will appeal to a reluctant reader, rather than how much it appeals to me. (I read it for research into the structure and content of a "Rapid Reads" book).
It was fast-paced and engaging, and dealt with family secrets.
July 27, 2019
Great short mystery. A quick afternoon read that keeps you guessing at who is the villain and why.
June 9, 2020
Ottawa novelist Barbara Fradkin is an established presence in Canadian crime fiction. With three series comprising nearly twenty books penned over the past two decades, she had positioned herself as one of the leading crime writers in Canada today. Her efforts have earned her no less than seven nominations for Canada’s Arthur Ellis Awards for excellence in crime fiction, and she received Arthur Ellis Awards for Best Novel for Fifth Son in 2004 and for Honour Among Men in 2006, both part of her Inspector Green Series. Fradkin has also published three novels in her Amanda Doucette series, with a fourth slated for 2021. But today my attention is focused on Blood Ties, the most recent tale in her Cedric O’Toole mystery series, and every bit as good as anything she has written.
Lake Madrid, Eastern Ontario: hard-scrabble farmer and local handyman Cedric (“Rick”) O’Toole lives on what had been his mother’s farm outside the small town of Lake Madrid. He is relaxing on his porch one day when he spots a pickup truck in the distance coming down his lane. Cedric is a loner, and doesn’t get many visitors. But the man driving that truck is about to change his life.
When the truck pulls up near the farmhouse the license plate indicates the visitor is a stranger, far from his Alberta home. But as he steps from his pickup, almost the first words out of his mouth are “I think you must be my brother.” Cedric never knew who his father was; his mother took that secret to her grave. And he’s wary of this stranger, who seems so sure of his information. He introduces himself as Steve Lilley, and as Cedric gets to know the man the desire to bring some clarity to the mystery of his own life begins to take hold of Cedric, and he allows Lilley to stay at his house while they explore their respective childhoods, and the truth about the woman who may have been their mother.
Cedric isn’t the only one whose parentage is unclear. Shortly before his mother died she told Lilley that her husband wasn’t his biological father. A soldier recently from Afghanistan, Lilley is carrying his own past with him, and experiencing PTSD; but he offers to help Cedric clean up and sell the junk in his barn, while Lilley explores stories of Cedric’s early family life.
Fradkin cannily draws upon her personal knowledge of the Shabot Lake area of Eastern Ontario to set her tale, and it pays off in the rich atmospheric detail that convincingly portrays life in a small rural community. Similarly, the character of Cedric O’Toole comes through in Fradkin’s effective use of the first-person voice, the laconic cadence of Cedric’s speech, and his dry humor:
“I saw the guy coming half a mile away, the dust from his pickup blowing across my cornfield…. By the time the truck was halfway up my lane, the dog was off the front stoop and running toward it. Tail wagging, tongue lolling. Chevy never has been much of a guard dog.”
A skilled storyteller, Fradkin shares with her readers the compelling odyssey of two grown men who have never met, pulled together by a common urge to make sense of their separate, yet somehow linked, pasts, and perhaps a shared future. It is a fine read.
There are four books in the Cedric O’Toole series, with a third, The Night Thief, released in the spring of 2015. Both The Night Thief and Evil Behind that Door were shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Best Novella award. The fourth, entitled Blood Ties, was released in the Fall of 2019. Never one to rest on her laurels, Fradkin is currently hard at work on the eleventh in the Inspector Green series.
______
Jim Napier is a professional crime-fiction reviewer based in Canada. Since 2005 his book reviews and author interviews have been featured in several Canadian newspapers and on multiple websites. His crime novel Legacy was published in April of 2017, and the second in the series, Ridley’s War, is scheduled for release in the late summer of 2020.
Lake Madrid, Eastern Ontario: hard-scrabble farmer and local handyman Cedric (“Rick”) O’Toole lives on what had been his mother’s farm outside the small town of Lake Madrid. He is relaxing on his porch one day when he spots a pickup truck in the distance coming down his lane. Cedric is a loner, and doesn’t get many visitors. But the man driving that truck is about to change his life.
When the truck pulls up near the farmhouse the license plate indicates the visitor is a stranger, far from his Alberta home. But as he steps from his pickup, almost the first words out of his mouth are “I think you must be my brother.” Cedric never knew who his father was; his mother took that secret to her grave. And he’s wary of this stranger, who seems so sure of his information. He introduces himself as Steve Lilley, and as Cedric gets to know the man the desire to bring some clarity to the mystery of his own life begins to take hold of Cedric, and he allows Lilley to stay at his house while they explore their respective childhoods, and the truth about the woman who may have been their mother.
Cedric isn’t the only one whose parentage is unclear. Shortly before his mother died she told Lilley that her husband wasn’t his biological father. A soldier recently from Afghanistan, Lilley is carrying his own past with him, and experiencing PTSD; but he offers to help Cedric clean up and sell the junk in his barn, while Lilley explores stories of Cedric’s early family life.
Fradkin cannily draws upon her personal knowledge of the Shabot Lake area of Eastern Ontario to set her tale, and it pays off in the rich atmospheric detail that convincingly portrays life in a small rural community. Similarly, the character of Cedric O’Toole comes through in Fradkin’s effective use of the first-person voice, the laconic cadence of Cedric’s speech, and his dry humor:
“I saw the guy coming half a mile away, the dust from his pickup blowing across my cornfield…. By the time the truck was halfway up my lane, the dog was off the front stoop and running toward it. Tail wagging, tongue lolling. Chevy never has been much of a guard dog.”
A skilled storyteller, Fradkin shares with her readers the compelling odyssey of two grown men who have never met, pulled together by a common urge to make sense of their separate, yet somehow linked, pasts, and perhaps a shared future. It is a fine read.
There are four books in the Cedric O’Toole series, with a third, The Night Thief, released in the spring of 2015. Both The Night Thief and Evil Behind that Door were shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Best Novella award. The fourth, entitled Blood Ties, was released in the Fall of 2019. Never one to rest on her laurels, Fradkin is currently hard at work on the eleventh in the Inspector Green series.
______
Jim Napier is a professional crime-fiction reviewer based in Canada. Since 2005 his book reviews and author interviews have been featured in several Canadian newspapers and on multiple websites. His crime novel Legacy was published in April of 2017, and the second in the series, Ridley’s War, is scheduled for release in the late summer of 2020.
May 12, 2022
https://openbooksociety.com/article/b...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
From Ms. Fradkin’s website: The Cedric O’Toole short novels are part of Orca Book Publishers’ Rapid Reads series designed for the reluctant or emerging reader. Fast paced and easy to read, they have adult content and adult themes, so they are also perfect for someone looking for a quick and entertaining read for the airplane, doctor’s office or just a lazy afternoon.
Blood Ties is the fourth book in the Cedric O’Toole series by Barbara Fradkin. I am jumping into this series at book four, with no difficulty whatsoever. There was sufficient background information that it was easy to jump into Cedric O’Toole’s life at this point in time. And I must say – I love the writing of Canadian author Barbara Fradkin.
Cedric Elvis O’Toole (known as Rick) is living peacefully on his farm in eastern Ontario (Lake Madrid to be exact) when out of the blue a stranger arrives (Steve Lilley) and declares himself as Rick’s brother…well… stepbrother that is. Steve wants answers – do they share the same father? As Steve and Rick begin to uncover the truth regarding their kinship, Rick must come to terms with what is discovered and delve into areas of his life that he has essentially ignored for a very long time. He must also react at times to save Steve as Steve tends to act without always thinking things through (not necessarily a good trait).
While I am not usually a fan of short stories (160 pages), I did find that the story was fulsome enough that I was not left wanting, other than to read the previous books in the series so that I have the complete story of Cedric. If you have a few hours to spare and are looking for an entertaining, and easy to read story, then might I suggest picking up Blood Ties by Barbara Fradkin. You will enjoy the read!
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
From Ms. Fradkin’s website: The Cedric O’Toole short novels are part of Orca Book Publishers’ Rapid Reads series designed for the reluctant or emerging reader. Fast paced and easy to read, they have adult content and adult themes, so they are also perfect for someone looking for a quick and entertaining read for the airplane, doctor’s office or just a lazy afternoon.
Blood Ties is the fourth book in the Cedric O’Toole series by Barbara Fradkin. I am jumping into this series at book four, with no difficulty whatsoever. There was sufficient background information that it was easy to jump into Cedric O’Toole’s life at this point in time. And I must say – I love the writing of Canadian author Barbara Fradkin.
Cedric Elvis O’Toole (known as Rick) is living peacefully on his farm in eastern Ontario (Lake Madrid to be exact) when out of the blue a stranger arrives (Steve Lilley) and declares himself as Rick’s brother…well… stepbrother that is. Steve wants answers – do they share the same father? As Steve and Rick begin to uncover the truth regarding their kinship, Rick must come to terms with what is discovered and delve into areas of his life that he has essentially ignored for a very long time. He must also react at times to save Steve as Steve tends to act without always thinking things through (not necessarily a good trait).
While I am not usually a fan of short stories (160 pages), I did find that the story was fulsome enough that I was not left wanting, other than to read the previous books in the series so that I have the complete story of Cedric. If you have a few hours to spare and are looking for an entertaining, and easy to read story, then might I suggest picking up Blood Ties by Barbara Fradkin. You will enjoy the read!
June 23, 2019
34-year-old Cedric O’Toole has had a hard-scrabble life: his mother was basically disowned by her family when she turned up pregnant at 16, and Cedric was often in the care of foster families because of his mother’s mental illness. Then she died in a car crash when he was only 17, and he’s been on his own ever since, still living on the old farmstead where his mother had raised him. One day, a stranger arrives at the farm who believes that he and Cedric are half-brothers and that the secret of the identity of their shared father lies in Cedric’s hometown…. I received an ARC of this novelette from LibraryThing’s Early Reviewer program, having requested it because I’ve read Ms. Fradkin’s series featuring Ottawa police inspector Michael Green and enjoyed them. “Blood Ties” is the fourth in a new (to me, anyway) series featuring Cedric O’Toole, and I found it quite enjoyable, too. It is published through Rapid Reads, a program of short novels intended especially to get younger people reading; I breezed through it in less than an hour. Even though it is quite short, the characters are well-drawn and the mystery is quite compelling. I will be looking for the three previous books in the series, and I hope that Ms. Fradkin will have more to come, as I especially want to know how the relationships between Cedric, his brother and the extended family will develop! To be published, I believe, in August 2019; recommended.
June 28, 2019
This is the fourth book in the Cedric O'Toole series but my first. Cedric (he prefers "Rick") has lived alone since his mother died when he was 17. One day a man shows up tells him his name is Steve and he believes that they are half brothers. So begins their search to find out who their father is.
It's a short story but Cedric and Steve are well written. I kind of like Steve better mainly because Rick is kind of a downer. If it is going to take time to do something he would just as soon not do it. My favorite line was said by Steve to Rick "Jesus H., Rick! Grow a pair!" But all in all a very enjoyable read. Even though it is a short story I don't feel like it was rushed. I would recommend this book. I look forward to the next one to see how the relationship between Rick and Steve is going and also to see if maybe there can be a relationship between Rick and his estranged grandfather.
I received this from LibraryThing Early Reviewer for an honest review.
It's a short story but Cedric and Steve are well written. I kind of like Steve better mainly because Rick is kind of a downer. If it is going to take time to do something he would just as soon not do it. My favorite line was said by Steve to Rick "Jesus H., Rick! Grow a pair!" But all in all a very enjoyable read. Even though it is a short story I don't feel like it was rushed. I would recommend this book. I look forward to the next one to see how the relationship between Rick and Steve is going and also to see if maybe there can be a relationship between Rick and his estranged grandfather.
I received this from LibraryThing Early Reviewer for an honest review.
May 28, 2019
The newest Cedric O’Toole mystery is perfect for fans of James Patterson’s Bookshots! The reticent hero of Alberta, Canada is pulled into discovering more about his family’s past when a half brother he never knew about rolls into town. With the help of his new friend and alleged half brother Steve, Cedric begins to uncover what really happened during a cold winter 35 years ago. Was the deceased man Steve and Cedric’s father or just a transient person looking for work? Through the many uncomfortable run-ins with his extended family, that cast him out before he was born, Cedric begins to uncover the truth. Fradkin’s quick read keeps readers engaged with just enough tantalizing details to provide intrigue and suspense. Each chapter is action packed as Cedric races against time past and present-day prejudices to discover the truth.
July 14, 2019
This is the second Cedric O'Toole mystery I've read. In 2015 I read The Night Thief and I remember noting that, while I liked the book, I thought it could have been improved by further development, in the addition of another 100 pages. This book has changed my mind. The author, Barbara Fradkin, has made a career of working with those who struggle to learn to read and these shorter novels with interesting plots are perfect for adult beginning readers or for those of us with little time, but want to spend that time with a good book. I really liked Blood Ties, all 148 pages of it. Cedric is an endearing character and I was totally caught up in this story.
June 26, 2019
Blood Ties by Barbara Fradkin
Cedric "Rick" O'Toole never knew his Father, his Mother died taking that secret with her. One day Steve shows up claiming to be his brother, stating they have the same Father. Together Rick and Steve are determined to find the truth, but being in a small town makes it hard. Everyone seems to have a secret, including his (Rick's) own family. Will they get the answers they are looking for, and are they really Brothers? Will Cedric find out who his Father is and learn the mystery surrounding him?
The story moves at a steady pace, with originality, intrigue, mystery and a slash of suspense. The characters are well developed and likable. Overall I really enjoyed Blood Ties and feel those who like mystery will as well. Definitely a good read!
Cedric "Rick" O'Toole never knew his Father, his Mother died taking that secret with her. One day Steve shows up claiming to be his brother, stating they have the same Father. Together Rick and Steve are determined to find the truth, but being in a small town makes it hard. Everyone seems to have a secret, including his (Rick's) own family. Will they get the answers they are looking for, and are they really Brothers? Will Cedric find out who his Father is and learn the mystery surrounding him?
The story moves at a steady pace, with originality, intrigue, mystery and a slash of suspense. The characters are well developed and likable. Overall I really enjoyed Blood Ties and feel those who like mystery will as well. Definitely a good read!
July 11, 2019
Review: Blood Ties by Barbara Fradkin.
This is an Earlier Reviewers book that I enjoyed reading. It was a short read and could be read in one day, which I did. Barbara Fradkin is a child psychologist and has written other books. I found this one well written and good developed characters and kept me captivated to the end. This is one of her Cedric O’Toole Mysteries that has me wanting to read more of her mysteries.
This story is about Cedric O’Toole who never knew his father and his mother passed away taking the secret with her. He actually had no family because his mother was only sixteen when she got pregnant with him and his mother’s family disowned her and Cedric. He was only seventeen when his mother died in a car accident and he was alone at their farmhouse where he grew up.
Sometime later a stranger visits Cedric and claims to be his half-brother Steve. However, the town Cedric lives in holds all the secrets of who his father was. Getting some help from Steve they begin to uncover what really happened thirty-five years ago when his mother was disowned by family members and other people in town.
For a short novel it still was intriguing and kept the suspense one step ahead of the reader. Chapter after chapter the action overflowed as Cedric and Steve pushes against time past and present day prejudices to uncover the truth concerning their father, if they did have the same father….
This is an Earlier Reviewers book that I enjoyed reading. It was a short read and could be read in one day, which I did. Barbara Fradkin is a child psychologist and has written other books. I found this one well written and good developed characters and kept me captivated to the end. This is one of her Cedric O’Toole Mysteries that has me wanting to read more of her mysteries.
This story is about Cedric O’Toole who never knew his father and his mother passed away taking the secret with her. He actually had no family because his mother was only sixteen when she got pregnant with him and his mother’s family disowned her and Cedric. He was only seventeen when his mother died in a car accident and he was alone at their farmhouse where he grew up.
Sometime later a stranger visits Cedric and claims to be his half-brother Steve. However, the town Cedric lives in holds all the secrets of who his father was. Getting some help from Steve they begin to uncover what really happened thirty-five years ago when his mother was disowned by family members and other people in town.
For a short novel it still was intriguing and kept the suspense one step ahead of the reader. Chapter after chapter the action overflowed as Cedric and Steve pushes against time past and present day prejudices to uncover the truth concerning their father, if they did have the same father….
July 2, 2019
Cedric O’Toole is a loner and when a young man who claims to be his half-brother shows up at his home, he brings many questions and soon to be many problems. Cedric never knew his father and his half-brother Steve, says his dad left when he was young. So where did this many go and what mystery does is the town hiding.
This was my first Cedric O’Toole mystery and my first Rapid Reads book. I like that it was short and easy to read. A perfect read when traveling. That said, I enjoyed the story and the pace of the narrative. The conclusion left me wanting something more. Overall, an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
This was my first Cedric O’Toole mystery and my first Rapid Reads book. I like that it was short and easy to read. A perfect read when traveling. That said, I enjoyed the story and the pace of the narrative. The conclusion left me wanting something more. Overall, an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.
June 29, 2019
This is the second Cedric O’Toole Rapid Read mystery that I have read.
It is a good story that deals with the appearance of a young man who claims to be Cedric’s half brother. When Cedric investigates he moves into areas of his life that he has avoided for years.
This is most definitely an adult book meant for reluctant readers or adults mastering literacy. The books are high interest. I hope the Cedric series continues and explores more of of Cedric’s life.
Read as an ARC from LibraryThing.
It is a good story that deals with the appearance of a young man who claims to be Cedric’s half brother. When Cedric investigates he moves into areas of his life that he has avoided for years.
This is most definitely an adult book meant for reluctant readers or adults mastering literacy. The books are high interest. I hope the Cedric series continues and explores more of of Cedric’s life.
Read as an ARC from LibraryThing.
July 7, 2019
This is a short story and it was perfect for my ride home from the lake, It took about 1 1/2 hours to read.
This is the first book from Barbara Fradkin I have read.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have not read many short stories but this was very entertaining and kept me interested through the whole story.
This was somewhat of a mystery and the characters were enjoyable.
I will be reading more of her Cedric O'Toole Mysteries.
4 stars
This is the first book from Barbara Fradkin I have read.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have not read many short stories but this was very entertaining and kept me interested through the whole story.
This was somewhat of a mystery and the characters were enjoyable.
I will be reading more of her Cedric O'Toole Mysteries.
4 stars
August 23, 2019
A very good story, well written and engrossing.
It kept me hooked and guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in Exchange of a honest review.
It kept me hooked and guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
I received this ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in Exchange of a honest review.
February 21, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author. The storyline was interesting and easy to follow. Loved the characters.
Thanks Netgalley for this arc.
Thanks Netgalley for this arc.
September 8, 2019
For a short little book 'Blood Ties' truly ticks all the boxes. Decent character development, an intriguing mystery and a satisfying ending. Cedric has never known who his father was. His mother became pregnant with him at age sixteen and would never speak of him. When she died she took Cedric's fathers identity with her. Cedric lives a very isolated life and when one day a man named Steve shows up claiming to be his half brother he is alarmed but also intrigued. Together they must solve the mystery of who their father might have been. Highly recommended. Really like these Rapid Reads:)
January 9, 2024
Family, secrets and friendship
October 9, 2022
https://openbooksociety.com/article/b...
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
From Ms. Fradkin’s website: The Cedric O’Toole short novels are part of Orca Book Publishers’ Rapid Reads series designed for the reluctant or emerging reader. Fast paced and easy to read, they have adult content and adult themes, so they are also perfect for someone looking for a quick and entertaining read for the airplane, doctor’s office or just a lazy afternoon.
Blood Ties is the fourth book in the Cedric O’Toole series by Barbara Fradkin. I am jumping into this series at book four, with no difficulty whatsoever. There was sufficient background information that it was easy to jump into Cedric O’Toole’s life at this point in time. And I must say – I love the writing of Canadian author Barbara Fradkin.
Cedric Elvis O’Toole (known as Rick) is living peacefully on his farm in eastern Ontario (Lake Madrid to be exact) when out of the blue a stranger arrives (Steve Lilley) and declares himself as Rick’s brother…well… stepbrother that is. Steve wants answers – do they share the same father? As Steve and Rick begin to uncover the truth regarding their kinship, Rick must come to terms with what is discovered and delve into areas of his life that he has essentially ignored for a very long time. He must also react at times to save Steve as Steve tends to act without always thinking things through (not necessarily a good trait).
While I am not usually a fan of short stories (160 pages), I did find that the story was fulsome enough that I was not left wanting, other than to read the previous books in the series so that I have the complete story of Cedric. If you have a few hours to spare and are looking for an entertaining, and easy to read story, then might I suggest picking up Blood Ties by Barbara Fradkin. You will enjoy the read!
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Andra
From Ms. Fradkin’s website: The Cedric O’Toole short novels are part of Orca Book Publishers’ Rapid Reads series designed for the reluctant or emerging reader. Fast paced and easy to read, they have adult content and adult themes, so they are also perfect for someone looking for a quick and entertaining read for the airplane, doctor’s office or just a lazy afternoon.
Blood Ties is the fourth book in the Cedric O’Toole series by Barbara Fradkin. I am jumping into this series at book four, with no difficulty whatsoever. There was sufficient background information that it was easy to jump into Cedric O’Toole’s life at this point in time. And I must say – I love the writing of Canadian author Barbara Fradkin.
Cedric Elvis O’Toole (known as Rick) is living peacefully on his farm in eastern Ontario (Lake Madrid to be exact) when out of the blue a stranger arrives (Steve Lilley) and declares himself as Rick’s brother…well… stepbrother that is. Steve wants answers – do they share the same father? As Steve and Rick begin to uncover the truth regarding their kinship, Rick must come to terms with what is discovered and delve into areas of his life that he has essentially ignored for a very long time. He must also react at times to save Steve as Steve tends to act without always thinking things through (not necessarily a good trait).
While I am not usually a fan of short stories (160 pages), I did find that the story was fulsome enough that I was not left wanting, other than to read the previous books in the series so that I have the complete story of Cedric. If you have a few hours to spare and are looking for an entertaining, and easy to read story, then might I suggest picking up Blood Ties by Barbara Fradkin. You will enjoy the read!
November 18, 2022
"I saw the guy coming half a mile away, the dust from his pickup blowing across my cornfield."
Thank you to Orca Books and LibraryThing for sending my review copy from a giveaway I won!
This is my first time being introduced to Barbara Fradkin. And at first I thought this was a standalone book, but it turns out, this is book number 4 from the Cedric O'Toole series. So I will definitely be checking out the other 3 soon!
This book got straight to the point from the first page. And I honestly couldn't put it down. I read this whole book in one sitting.
Cedric O'Toole was pretty much your average guy who kept the spotlight off of him. Especially in a little town where everyone knows everyone.
His "brother" shows up unexpected and Cedric was left to adjust to this new life with having a brother after all the years it's just been him and his mother.
Finding out his family's secrets and revealing the truth about what his dad is not what he was expecting. Especially after his mother kept all this hidden from him.
I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end.
Thank you again Orca Books, LibraryThing & Barbara Fradkin for sending me this copy!
Thank you to Orca Books and LibraryThing for sending my review copy from a giveaway I won!
This is my first time being introduced to Barbara Fradkin. And at first I thought this was a standalone book, but it turns out, this is book number 4 from the Cedric O'Toole series. So I will definitely be checking out the other 3 soon!
This book got straight to the point from the first page. And I honestly couldn't put it down. I read this whole book in one sitting.
Cedric O'Toole was pretty much your average guy who kept the spotlight off of him. Especially in a little town where everyone knows everyone.
His "brother" shows up unexpected and Cedric was left to adjust to this new life with having a brother after all the years it's just been him and his mother.
Finding out his family's secrets and revealing the truth about what his dad is not what he was expecting. Especially after his mother kept all this hidden from him.
I really enjoyed this story from beginning to end.
Thank you again Orca Books, LibraryThing & Barbara Fradkin for sending me this copy!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews