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Lethal Ties
A haunting vision. A spine-chilling nightmare. A missing boy.
When Joe, Maisie and Sam met in a residential children’s home, they pledged to look out for each other; three friends who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing…
Twenty years later, Maisie suffers flashbacks, unable to understand what lies at the root of her recurring nightmares. Shocked to find Joe, homeless on Bognor seafront, she helps him turn his life around, but it doesn’t seem long before their past comes back to haunt them.
What really went on at Orchard Grange all those years ago?
Where did Sam go?
Only he can provide the answers but they need to find him.
Lethal Ties is a tense psychological thriller, an untangling of secrets with an utterly chilling twist.
When Joe, Maisie and Sam met in a residential children’s home, they pledged to look out for each other; three friends who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing…
Twenty years later, Maisie suffers flashbacks, unable to understand what lies at the root of her recurring nightmares. Shocked to find Joe, homeless on Bognor seafront, she helps him turn his life around, but it doesn’t seem long before their past comes back to haunt them.
What really went on at Orchard Grange all those years ago?
Where did Sam go?
Only he can provide the answers but they need to find him.
Lethal Ties is a tense psychological thriller, an untangling of secrets with an utterly chilling twist.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2021
13 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Helen J. Christmas
9 books28 followersPowerful sagas with great characters are the stories I most love to write and my own series 'Same Face Different Place' promises to be a real page turner. Set around the counties of London and Kent, in England, the story takes place across 4 decades.
The first book, titled Beginnings is a fast paced thriller set in the dark criminal underworld of 1970s London, of 2 young people caught up in a sinister conspiracy. With several scenes of intense action, my debut novel has been described as 'impossible to put down'.
The second book, Visions, set in the 80s, is a dark psychological thriller based around the restoration of an English country house. In Pleasures the story moves into the 1990s, followed by the concluding books in the series Retribution Phase One and Retribution End Game. Rosebrook Chronicles is a book of interwoven character back stories.
In 2021 I published a standalone psychological thriller. Lethal Ties is a story of friendship, in which 2 former children's home residents find each other, desperate to find out what happened to their 3rd friend, a boy who disappeared 20 years ago.
So that’s a bit about the books - now a little about myself. I am in my 50s and love writing. I met my husband Peter in 1996 who I married in 2003 and we escaped the rat race to start our own business in web design. We are lucky to have the beach on our doorstep, where we frequently walk our dog and belong to a walking group based in West Sussex. Simple pleasures which make for a satisfying life. I love books - both writing them and reading them.
The first book, titled Beginnings is a fast paced thriller set in the dark criminal underworld of 1970s London, of 2 young people caught up in a sinister conspiracy. With several scenes of intense action, my debut novel has been described as 'impossible to put down'.
The second book, Visions, set in the 80s, is a dark psychological thriller based around the restoration of an English country house. In Pleasures the story moves into the 1990s, followed by the concluding books in the series Retribution Phase One and Retribution End Game. Rosebrook Chronicles is a book of interwoven character back stories.
In 2021 I published a standalone psychological thriller. Lethal Ties is a story of friendship, in which 2 former children's home residents find each other, desperate to find out what happened to their 3rd friend, a boy who disappeared 20 years ago.
So that’s a bit about the books - now a little about myself. I am in my 50s and love writing. I met my husband Peter in 1996 who I married in 2003 and we escaped the rat race to start our own business in web design. We are lucky to have the beach on our doorstep, where we frequently walk our dog and belong to a walking group based in West Sussex. Simple pleasures which make for a satisfying life. I love books - both writing them and reading them.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 12, 2021
5☆ A Tense, Gripping, Twisty, Dark Thriller!
Lethal Ties is a very dark, gripping, tense and twisty psychological thriller.
It's a story centered around three young children in Foster care, then one goes missing and things start to happen. Things that might well of been forgotten, till twenty years later and those memories start to bubble and resurface and haunt Maisie.
But what if those memories are resurfacing for a reason.
Maisie can't shake these nightmares, even with the help from psychotherapy.
The only one who maybe able to piece things together is Joe, her best friend in Foster care.
But things wasn't easy for Joe, he became a target and had to protect her from harm.
It was quiet quick to see that the private Foster home was a place of pure evil and abuse.
But that's not all someone is following Maisie and they are worried that she might be getting a little to close at discovering the secrets, truth and exactly what happened within the Foster home and the parties.
Lethal Ties definitely deals with very sensitive subjects, and I'm sure by now, you have worked out that it's big theme is child abuse. At times it wasn't an easy read but these types of books never are. But Helen has written it with as much sensitivity as possible whilst Still making a very powerful impact.
I really enjoyed the past and present memories and trying to uncover the truth alongside Maisie and Joe.
I liked the tensed atmosphere and the suspense it made the story all the more Compelling and Gripping.
So if you enjoy Very Dark, Twisty, Compulsive Psychological Thrillers then you will really enjoy Lethal Ties.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for my copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
Lethal Ties is a very dark, gripping, tense and twisty psychological thriller.
It's a story centered around three young children in Foster care, then one goes missing and things start to happen. Things that might well of been forgotten, till twenty years later and those memories start to bubble and resurface and haunt Maisie.
But what if those memories are resurfacing for a reason.
Maisie can't shake these nightmares, even with the help from psychotherapy.
The only one who maybe able to piece things together is Joe, her best friend in Foster care.
But things wasn't easy for Joe, he became a target and had to protect her from harm.
It was quiet quick to see that the private Foster home was a place of pure evil and abuse.
But that's not all someone is following Maisie and they are worried that she might be getting a little to close at discovering the secrets, truth and exactly what happened within the Foster home and the parties.
Lethal Ties definitely deals with very sensitive subjects, and I'm sure by now, you have worked out that it's big theme is child abuse. At times it wasn't an easy read but these types of books never are. But Helen has written it with as much sensitivity as possible whilst Still making a very powerful impact.
I really enjoyed the past and present memories and trying to uncover the truth alongside Maisie and Joe.
I liked the tensed atmosphere and the suspense it made the story all the more Compelling and Gripping.
So if you enjoy Very Dark, Twisty, Compulsive Psychological Thrillers then you will really enjoy Lethal Ties.
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for my copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
November 16, 2023
When Joe, Maisie, and Sam met in a residential children's home, they pledged to look out for each other, three friends who were inseparable until the night Sam went missing.
Twenty years later, Maisie suffers from flashbacks, unable to understand what lies at the root of her nightmares. Shocked to find Joe homeless on Bognor seafront, she helps him turn his life around, but it doesn't seem long before their past comes back to haunt them.
This is the story of three children who met while they were in care. One went to live with foster parents, one ran away, and one disappeared. Maisie is in therapy, Joe is living on the streets, and Sam turns up with a shocking tale to tell,
There are plenty of twists until we get to the truth. This is a gripping read. The pace is steady, and the characters are well-developed. I liked the author's writing style.
#Kindle
Twenty years later, Maisie suffers from flashbacks, unable to understand what lies at the root of her nightmares. Shocked to find Joe homeless on Bognor seafront, she helps him turn his life around, but it doesn't seem long before their past comes back to haunt them.
This is the story of three children who met while they were in care. One went to live with foster parents, one ran away, and one disappeared. Maisie is in therapy, Joe is living on the streets, and Sam turns up with a shocking tale to tell,
There are plenty of twists until we get to the truth. This is a gripping read. The pace is steady, and the characters are well-developed. I liked the author's writing style.
#Kindle
September 1, 2021
★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)
First up, I must warn readers that this book may be triggering for those who've suffered child sexual abuse, particularly institutional, and those with repressed memories. While there is nothing too descriptive, the hint remains throughout though it is expertly handled with sensitivity and empathy. The author stated the inspiration came when all the abuse allegations surrounding celebrities such as Jimmy Savile came to light some years back, particularly those surrounding Westminster which were later proven to be false.
With this in mind, she was inspired to write a psychological thriller surrounding institutional abuse from the victims' perspectives. The result is a chilling yet disturbing tale that is both addictive and utterly compelling.
Three children meet in Orange Grange children's home, thrown together by fate that then separates them with a malevolent force. Maisie, Joe and Sam are relatively the same age but the circumstances that brought them to the home are vastly different. A car accident claimed the life of Maisie's parents and younger sister Charlotte. Joe's father murdered his mother is violent rage. And Sam's mother was a high class prostitute that thought her luck was about to change but instead she was found shot dead in a taxi. Joe had been at the home for the longest and took Maisie and Sam under his wing, as they were younger and far more naive to the cruelties that took place inside the home's walls.
One night Maisie was given a pretty red dress with satin ribbons having been told she'd been specially selected for a party. But knowing what lay in store, Joe locked Maisie in the cellar to shield her from what was to come. However, his interference was discovered and he was cruelly punished whilst Maisie was whisked away in a chauffeured car to a beautiful estate mansion in the country. She recalled Joe's warnings not to drink the punch and try and she might, they watched her closely though she was able to discard the remainder in a pot plant. Having not consumed it all may have been to her detriment as what was to come, while not fully aware, was to haunt her for years to come.
Maisie was then fostered by Mandy and Stewart Reedman, growing up in a loving family home. However she missed her two friends, Joe and Sam. Then one night Sam disappears after returning from a party with Joe and when Maisie's foster mother called the home to invite Joe to visit, she was told that Joe had run away.
Twenty years later, Maisie has drawn on her own experience in the system and now works in the fostering programme at West Sussex County Council. But at 31 years old, her life is far from complete. She suffers haunting flashbacks and terrifying nightmares she doesn't understand. She has an irrational fear of forests and entering one doesn't bear thinking about. Her foster mother Mandy suggest she see a psychotherapist and over the ensuing months has been going over her past memories and regressing into her subconscious in an attempt to understand her flashbacks and the root of her nightmares.
One day whilst offering some sausage rolls she has warmed up for the homeless that bunk down along the seafront, Maisie is shocked to recognise one of them as her old friend Joe. She takes him home, feeds him, clothes him and offers him a place to stay. She finds him some volunteer work at her friend's charity shop and is furnished with a newish mobile phone. It is almost like old times...almost. But the shadow of Sam's disappearance always lingers in the background. Convinced something sinister could have happened to him, Maisie enlists the help of her friend Sarah who works in adoption to help trace him. After all, Joe was told that Sam had been adopted by the home's owner...but by who?
Then Joe begins to receive threatening messages and Maisie notices a black car has been following them and parked outside her flat. Could these threats be related to their past? The content of the messages certainly appear to allude to their time in the home as Maisie and Joe become increasingly fearful of their safety. But when things come to a head and someone attempts to run Joe down on his way to work, they decide they can wait no longer and take their concerns to the police.
But nothing prepares them for the shock they are about to receive. Their old friend who went missing all those years ago, Sam, suddenly turns up with a new life and a shocking tale to tell. And it isn't pretty. But what he has to reveal sets the ball rolling for even bigger shocks to come.
Maisie, Joe and Sam are the ones who hold all the pieces of the puzzle. But what is real and what is imagined? How reliable are their childhood memories? And how safe are they now?
A cleverly woven tale that is addictive and mesmerising, LETHAL TIES binds the lives of these three people together both in the past and in the present. In a gripping narrative we watch as their stories slowly unfold since the day they were torn apart. The sense of foreboding, the air of malevolence, the claustrophobic atmosphere that squeezes every last breath from you as you tear through the pages. It is dark, it is disturbing and a force so evil as to finish what was started twenty years before.
Despite the slow build, the story does gather pace afterwhich you can't turn the pages quick enough. Filled with twist after twist, though I managed to unravel most of them before the end except for one shock that left me speechless, LETHAL TIES is a thoroughly absorbing psychological thriller. For despite the unpalatable topic that shimmers just below the surface, it is an engaging read that is well written and plotted.
Overall, a fantastic read that is truly impressive is perfect for fans of dark psychological thrillers.
I would like to thank #HelenChristmas and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #LethalTies in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
First up, I must warn readers that this book may be triggering for those who've suffered child sexual abuse, particularly institutional, and those with repressed memories. While there is nothing too descriptive, the hint remains throughout though it is expertly handled with sensitivity and empathy. The author stated the inspiration came when all the abuse allegations surrounding celebrities such as Jimmy Savile came to light some years back, particularly those surrounding Westminster which were later proven to be false.
With this in mind, she was inspired to write a psychological thriller surrounding institutional abuse from the victims' perspectives. The result is a chilling yet disturbing tale that is both addictive and utterly compelling.
Three children meet in Orange Grange children's home, thrown together by fate that then separates them with a malevolent force. Maisie, Joe and Sam are relatively the same age but the circumstances that brought them to the home are vastly different. A car accident claimed the life of Maisie's parents and younger sister Charlotte. Joe's father murdered his mother is violent rage. And Sam's mother was a high class prostitute that thought her luck was about to change but instead she was found shot dead in a taxi. Joe had been at the home for the longest and took Maisie and Sam under his wing, as they were younger and far more naive to the cruelties that took place inside the home's walls.
One night Maisie was given a pretty red dress with satin ribbons having been told she'd been specially selected for a party. But knowing what lay in store, Joe locked Maisie in the cellar to shield her from what was to come. However, his interference was discovered and he was cruelly punished whilst Maisie was whisked away in a chauffeured car to a beautiful estate mansion in the country. She recalled Joe's warnings not to drink the punch and try and she might, they watched her closely though she was able to discard the remainder in a pot plant. Having not consumed it all may have been to her detriment as what was to come, while not fully aware, was to haunt her for years to come.
Maisie was then fostered by Mandy and Stewart Reedman, growing up in a loving family home. However she missed her two friends, Joe and Sam. Then one night Sam disappears after returning from a party with Joe and when Maisie's foster mother called the home to invite Joe to visit, she was told that Joe had run away.
Twenty years later, Maisie has drawn on her own experience in the system and now works in the fostering programme at West Sussex County Council. But at 31 years old, her life is far from complete. She suffers haunting flashbacks and terrifying nightmares she doesn't understand. She has an irrational fear of forests and entering one doesn't bear thinking about. Her foster mother Mandy suggest she see a psychotherapist and over the ensuing months has been going over her past memories and regressing into her subconscious in an attempt to understand her flashbacks and the root of her nightmares.
One day whilst offering some sausage rolls she has warmed up for the homeless that bunk down along the seafront, Maisie is shocked to recognise one of them as her old friend Joe. She takes him home, feeds him, clothes him and offers him a place to stay. She finds him some volunteer work at her friend's charity shop and is furnished with a newish mobile phone. It is almost like old times...almost. But the shadow of Sam's disappearance always lingers in the background. Convinced something sinister could have happened to him, Maisie enlists the help of her friend Sarah who works in adoption to help trace him. After all, Joe was told that Sam had been adopted by the home's owner...but by who?
Then Joe begins to receive threatening messages and Maisie notices a black car has been following them and parked outside her flat. Could these threats be related to their past? The content of the messages certainly appear to allude to their time in the home as Maisie and Joe become increasingly fearful of their safety. But when things come to a head and someone attempts to run Joe down on his way to work, they decide they can wait no longer and take their concerns to the police.
But nothing prepares them for the shock they are about to receive. Their old friend who went missing all those years ago, Sam, suddenly turns up with a new life and a shocking tale to tell. And it isn't pretty. But what he has to reveal sets the ball rolling for even bigger shocks to come.
Maisie, Joe and Sam are the ones who hold all the pieces of the puzzle. But what is real and what is imagined? How reliable are their childhood memories? And how safe are they now?
A cleverly woven tale that is addictive and mesmerising, LETHAL TIES binds the lives of these three people together both in the past and in the present. In a gripping narrative we watch as their stories slowly unfold since the day they were torn apart. The sense of foreboding, the air of malevolence, the claustrophobic atmosphere that squeezes every last breath from you as you tear through the pages. It is dark, it is disturbing and a force so evil as to finish what was started twenty years before.
Despite the slow build, the story does gather pace afterwhich you can't turn the pages quick enough. Filled with twist after twist, though I managed to unravel most of them before the end except for one shock that left me speechless, LETHAL TIES is a thoroughly absorbing psychological thriller. For despite the unpalatable topic that shimmers just below the surface, it is an engaging read that is well written and plotted.
Overall, a fantastic read that is truly impressive is perfect for fans of dark psychological thrillers.
I would like to thank #HelenChristmas and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #LethalTies in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
September 2, 2021
This is a book that has had me hooked for the past couple of days. It is the story of three children who met while in care. One went to live with foster parents, one disappeared and one ran away. Years later they find each other.
Maisie is the main character of this story and as the synopsis tells, she finds one of her friends Joe. Together they begin to piece together events from the past, the ones that give Maisie nightmares and that Joe finds very difficult to describe. This is a story that involves child abuse, it is a story that is hard reading but has not been over-described.
The story is mystery, a psychological thriller, it also has a criminal and police procedural aspect to it. The nature of the main theme is gradually brought out as initially Maisie and Joe deal with the past, they make links. It is as their friendship becomes more solid again that then turns this into a psychological thriller.
I am finding this quite difficult to review, I want so much to shout about the various events but can't as I would give too much away.
Suppressed memories, nightmares and an uneasy feeling of being watched does not help Maisie feel safe, she does however have a good support network, though small, it provides her with the opportunity to voice her concerns. Through talking and through therapy she is able to piece things together. She realises that there is far more she has repressed than she had first realised. The author then adds the twists, the manipulation and also the realisation as things start to come together.
It is a story that the author has done so well considering the content. There is an amazing piece at the end of the book that describes how this story came about and also the people she met. I imagine research for this book to have been difficult but I think the author has done an amazing job.
This is an emotional read and also a very powerful one. Enough detail has been given so you are aware but as I mentioned earlier, there isn't a lot of detail. I think the author got the balance for this very right. The psychological thriller aspect really builds, and I found this to add more pace to the story as it went on.
It always feels wrong to say that stories like this are wonderful reads, and Lethal Ties was such a wonderful read. It is one I would definitely recommend.
Maisie is the main character of this story and as the synopsis tells, she finds one of her friends Joe. Together they begin to piece together events from the past, the ones that give Maisie nightmares and that Joe finds very difficult to describe. This is a story that involves child abuse, it is a story that is hard reading but has not been over-described.
The story is mystery, a psychological thriller, it also has a criminal and police procedural aspect to it. The nature of the main theme is gradually brought out as initially Maisie and Joe deal with the past, they make links. It is as their friendship becomes more solid again that then turns this into a psychological thriller.
I am finding this quite difficult to review, I want so much to shout about the various events but can't as I would give too much away.
Suppressed memories, nightmares and an uneasy feeling of being watched does not help Maisie feel safe, she does however have a good support network, though small, it provides her with the opportunity to voice her concerns. Through talking and through therapy she is able to piece things together. She realises that there is far more she has repressed than she had first realised. The author then adds the twists, the manipulation and also the realisation as things start to come together.
It is a story that the author has done so well considering the content. There is an amazing piece at the end of the book that describes how this story came about and also the people she met. I imagine research for this book to have been difficult but I think the author has done an amazing job.
This is an emotional read and also a very powerful one. Enough detail has been given so you are aware but as I mentioned earlier, there isn't a lot of detail. I think the author got the balance for this very right. The psychological thriller aspect really builds, and I found this to add more pace to the story as it went on.
It always feels wrong to say that stories like this are wonderful reads, and Lethal Ties was such a wonderful read. It is one I would definitely recommend.
July 18, 2021
Maisie was brought up in foster care but spent a year in a care home where there were some rather sinister goings on- things she is only now realising now as an adult. Today she works for the council assisting foster care but is plagued by nightmares and flashbacks to things she doesn't quite understand. She also has an irrational fear of woodlands/forests for no known reason that she can think of. She has been seeing a counsellor and working through these but could really do with more information. When she inadvertently meets up with Joe who was her protector in the home she hopes things will become clearer. They begin to notice a car following them and Joe is getting threatening messages- could the men from the home still be on their tail? As mentioned in the book- this has the air of high profile people and others taking children and abusing them- so it's not a comfortable read in a few short places (there are hints of “ parties” but nothing too descriptive) . That said, it's a very engaging read- very well written and thought about. For the most part it's about relationships and overcoming the past whilst wanting justice to be done despite some abusers still being at large. I liked Maisie and Joe- there was a warmth and realism about them- for me, skillful writing. A bewitching, enthralling story that draws you in.
July 20, 2021
I absolutely recommend this book.
A psychological thriller,I could not put this book down.
The storyline, the characters, how it all developed, the different twists and turns.
It's brilliant.
A psychological thriller,I could not put this book down.
The storyline, the characters, how it all developed, the different twists and turns.
It's brilliant.
May 27, 2021
Three kids growing up in a children’s home. Thrown together by fate and separated by evil.
We meet them all in turn, Joe, Maisie and Sam. And we learn, in a riveting narrative their lives since the day when they lost track of each other.
Maisie is in therapy for recurring nightmares
Joe is living rough on the streets until a chance encounter, and,
Sam, the one who went missing all those years ago, turns up with a new life and a shocking tale to tell.
The thing is, all of them know pieces of the true story.
But what is the true story? How reliable are their childhood memories? And what does the past mean for their present?
Helen has woven a mesmerising tale around these three lives, gradually ratcheting up the tension and casting suspicions on just about everything and everyone. An air of foreboding is created and held expertly. You can tell that some malevolent force is at work, its source just out of reach. The story is complemented by a setting and backgrounds that are all incredibly well-researched.
There are twists galore as we get to the truth and twists on the twists, the story grips you and will not let go as we get closer and closer to understanding what really happened and who carries the responsibility for it all.
My recommendation is that you get a copy and give yourself a weekend to absorb it.
We meet them all in turn, Joe, Maisie and Sam. And we learn, in a riveting narrative their lives since the day when they lost track of each other.
Maisie is in therapy for recurring nightmares
Joe is living rough on the streets until a chance encounter, and,
Sam, the one who went missing all those years ago, turns up with a new life and a shocking tale to tell.
The thing is, all of them know pieces of the true story.
But what is the true story? How reliable are their childhood memories? And what does the past mean for their present?
Helen has woven a mesmerising tale around these three lives, gradually ratcheting up the tension and casting suspicions on just about everything and everyone. An air of foreboding is created and held expertly. You can tell that some malevolent force is at work, its source just out of reach. The story is complemented by a setting and backgrounds that are all incredibly well-researched.
There are twists galore as we get to the truth and twists on the twists, the story grips you and will not let go as we get closer and closer to understanding what really happened and who carries the responsibility for it all.
My recommendation is that you get a copy and give yourself a weekend to absorb it.
September 9, 2021
If there’s one thing that I like doing, it’s discovering new authors. Helen Christmas is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis for ‘Lethal Ties’ and it certainly sounded like an interesting read. Having worked in Children’s Social Services myself, I was intrigued to see how the story was going to develop. So I eagerly grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for an afternoon of reading. Oh boy, ‘Lethal Ties’ was one hell of an emotional read and then some. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Lethal Ties’ but more about that in a bit.
As soon as I started to read the first page, I knew that I was in for one hell of a story. By the time I got to the end of the first chapter, I knew that it would be nigh on impossible to put the book to one side for any length of time. I found parts of the story to be quite harrowing in detail and as I felt protective towards the children who were in the care home, I had to keep reading to discover the truth of what happened in the children’s home and if those responsible were brought to justice. The pages turned over increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the story and at one point they were turning that quickly that the page numbers became a blur. I soon got to the end of the story. I found ‘Lethal Ties’ to be a gripping, unputdownable page turner of a read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Lethal Ties’ is extremely well written. Helen has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. As I have previously indicated, some of the topics discussed in this book are a bit harrowing but Helen writes about them in a sensitive and gentle manner. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Lethal Ties’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I felt as though I was part of the story and at the centre of the action, which is thanks to Helen’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I found ‘Lethal Ties’ to be one hell of a story and I really did enjoy reading it. I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Helen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
As soon as I started to read the first page, I knew that I was in for one hell of a story. By the time I got to the end of the first chapter, I knew that it would be nigh on impossible to put the book to one side for any length of time. I found parts of the story to be quite harrowing in detail and as I felt protective towards the children who were in the care home, I had to keep reading to discover the truth of what happened in the children’s home and if those responsible were brought to justice. The pages turned over increasingly quickly as I worked my way through the story and at one point they were turning that quickly that the page numbers became a blur. I soon got to the end of the story. I found ‘Lethal Ties’ to be a gripping, unputdownable page turner of a read, which kept me guessing and which kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.
‘Lethal Ties’ is extremely well written. Helen has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. As I have previously indicated, some of the topics discussed in this book are a bit harrowing but Helen writes about them in a sensitive and gentle manner. For me, the story hit the ground running and maintained a fast pace throughout. Reading ‘Lethal Ties’ felt like being on one hell of a scary and unpredictable rollercoaster ride with several twists and turns along the way. I felt as though I was part of the story and at the centre of the action, which is thanks to Helen’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I found ‘Lethal Ties’ to be one hell of a story and I really did enjoy reading it. I would recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Helen’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
October 7, 2021
Lethal Ties is the authors latest read and very different to her previous books. But very, very good!
Once again I was held captive from start to finish. I love the authors style of writing with strong characters who you really get to know. With a rather uncomfortable plot when we meet Maisie and Joe and follow a story that talks about child abuse when they piece together a puzzle of their past from 20 years ago where they met in a residential children’s home.
Wow what an amazing book this is! It is a totally chilling read with so many twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it all worked out the author would throw in another twist giving me plenty of OMG moments.
Be prepared not to get anything done once you start this, I simply couldn’t put it down…..Absolutely brilliant story telling to say the least. Read it for yourself and you will see what I mean. Leathal Ties is a must read for psychological thriller fans. It is jam packed with tension and will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat. I cannot recommend it enough.
Once again I was held captive from start to finish. I love the authors style of writing with strong characters who you really get to know. With a rather uncomfortable plot when we meet Maisie and Joe and follow a story that talks about child abuse when they piece together a puzzle of their past from 20 years ago where they met in a residential children’s home.
Wow what an amazing book this is! It is a totally chilling read with so many twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it all worked out the author would throw in another twist giving me plenty of OMG moments.
Be prepared not to get anything done once you start this, I simply couldn’t put it down…..Absolutely brilliant story telling to say the least. Read it for yourself and you will see what I mean. Leathal Ties is a must read for psychological thriller fans. It is jam packed with tension and will certainly keep you on the edge of your seat. I cannot recommend it enough.
September 17, 2021
Lethal Ties by Helen Christmas had me hooked from page one. This is a mystery and a psychological thriller with a police procedural vibe as well.
The pacing of this novel was excellent. It was difficult to put it down. It takes the reader on an emotional journey with a lot of twists. I really liked how I wasn’t given all the info up front, so the plot was put together like a puzzle.
I liked all the aspects of this novel and would definitely recommend it!
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources For allowing me to join this blog tour. I recieved a free copy of this book to review honestly. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
The pacing of this novel was excellent. It was difficult to put it down. It takes the reader on an emotional journey with a lot of twists. I really liked how I wasn’t given all the info up front, so the plot was put together like a puzzle.
I liked all the aspects of this novel and would definitely recommend it!
Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources For allowing me to join this blog tour. I recieved a free copy of this book to review honestly. All opinions are my own and unbiased.
September 10, 2021
What a great introduction for me to this author with this superb read. As soon as I finished this I looked to see what previous books this author read as I need more.
Maisie, Joe and Sam met in a children’s home. They were best friends and then Sam disappeared. Twenty years later we hear from Maisie. The past now seems to be catching up on her.
This will be one of my favourite reads this year. Not an easy read for everyone but I was glued from start to finish. The twists and turns were brilliant. A well written read that I highly recommend.
Maisie, Joe and Sam met in a children’s home. They were best friends and then Sam disappeared. Twenty years later we hear from Maisie. The past now seems to be catching up on her.
This will be one of my favourite reads this year. Not an easy read for everyone but I was glued from start to finish. The twists and turns were brilliant. A well written read that I highly recommend.
March 16, 2022
Was it really necessary to include so much 'Mills and Boon' in describing the various romantic encounters? The final paragraph before the epilogue made me cringe. A powerful story with harrowing subject matter shouldn't need that.
April 1, 2022
Helen Christmas is a new author to me and one I will be reading more of from now on. Lethal Ties is a dark, tense psychological thriller. It's excellently written and is a thought provoking read. It certainly had me turning the pages. Highly recommended.
May 29, 2022
Incredible
Living in the area so I'm familiar with the town , maisy was a dear kind would who by chance gave hot sausage rolls, to the homeless and found her how , the book was exciting and I was almost sad to finish it
Living in the area so I'm familiar with the town , maisy was a dear kind would who by chance gave hot sausage rolls, to the homeless and found her how , the book was exciting and I was almost sad to finish it
September 11, 2021
My review of Lethal Ties is on my blog.
https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...
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