30 review for Ties That Bind

1. 

   5 out of 5

   Marguerite Kaye – Sep 30, 2014

   I liked the premise of this book, and I usually enjoy books with alternating POV, so I was looking forward to this. Sadly, I ended up skipping too much of it to rate it. My main issue was with the character of the policewoman put in charge of the case. She was given major childhood issues with abuse by her father, which made her insecure, angry, isolated and unable to enter into any relationship that she didn't try to dominate. This led to problems with her interacting with her colleagues, and m I liked the premise of this book, and I usually enjoy books with alternating POV, so I was looking forward to this. Sadly, I ended up skipping too much of it to rate it. My main issue was with the character of the policewoman put in charge of the case. She was given major childhood issues with abuse by her father, which made her insecure, angry, isolated and unable to enter into any relationship that she didn't try to dominate. This led to problems with her interacting with her colleagues, and made her an incredibly unlikable character - without any empathy, I'm afraid. First of all it was her stupidity that annoyed me, in the way she handled the case. Then it was her arrogance, and the way she, for reasons I still don't understand, decided not to hand it over when she should have, and did stupid things like keep the victim's mobile phone, retain vital information when, for all she knew, that person was dead. Then it was the way that her psychological problems were somehow perceived by the God-like persona of the psychologist, and the unbelievable way she decided to consult him, though she had never talked, never analysed, never accepted she had a problem. But most of all, my issue was with the way she through herself at the victim's husband, and then immediately plotted his revenge when he rejected her - that was a step way beyond the unbelievable for me. In the meantime, the other protagonist was living a new live in Ireland, and working through her side of the issues, her dead child, the effect it had on her marriage and her other child etc, and this was actually okay, if a little heavy-handed. I think I'd like to have seen more of this, and I'd like to have ssen more from her family's point of view - her husband, her teenage son, and most of all from the one likable character in the book, from Lily, her alcoholic mother. As you'll have gathered, this didn't work for me, and I'm sorry about that. I wish I'd liked it more.

2. 

   4 out of 5

   Angela Macrae – Jul 01, 2010

   Is a well written and thought provoking book, that looks at the dynamics within relationships and families. The book is written from two female characters points of view in alternating chapters which allows the reader to experience womens roles in two, on the surface, apparently disparate ways. An interesting debut that will appeal to those who like Joanna Trollope and Maggie O'Farrell. Is a well written and thought provoking book, that looks at the dynamics within relationships and families. The book is written from two female characters points of view in alternating chapters which allows the reader to experience womens roles in two, on the surface, apparently disparate ways. An interesting debut that will appeal to those who like Joanna Trollope and Maggie O'Farrell.

3. 

   5 out of 5

   Sandra – Jun 08, 2014

   Having very much enjoyed Dead Secret I anticipated something similar from this but was disappointed by two unsympathetic and unconvincing characters and a too obvious and in many places unconvincing, plot.

4. 

   5 out of 5

   Ruth Bradley – Feb 15, 2015

   a moving read

5. 

   4 out of 5

   David Crowe – Mar 25, 2014

   Really enjoyed this book: strong real characters and themes of love, friendship and dealing with loss, and what happens if you create a new life

6. 

   4 out of 5

   Teresa D – Sep 28, 2014

   Compelling.

7. 

   5 out of 5

   Anna –

8. 

   4 out of 5

   Morven Cook –

9. 

   4 out of 5

   ann belcher –

10. 

    5 out of 5

    marlin1 –

11. 

    5 out of 5

    Katharina –

12. 

    5 out of 5

    Sue Edwards –

13. 

    5 out of 5

    Ishana Vallabh –

14. 

    4 out of 5

    Gillian Black –

15. 

    4 out of 5

    Crispy –

16. 

    4 out of 5

    Ellie Steele –

17. 

    5 out of 5

    timothy m sharp –

18. 

    4 out of 5

    Helen Cooke –

19. 

    4 out of 5

    Deborah –

20. 

    4 out of 5

    Donald –

21. 

    4 out of 5

    Julia –

22. 

    4 out of 5

    Susan –

23. 

    4 out of 5

    Linda –

24. 

    4 out of 5

    Janice –

25. 

    4 out of 5

    Nicole –

26. 

    4 out of 5

    Karlie –

27. 

    4 out of 5

    Annette Hillcox –

28. 

    5 out of 5

    Nicola –

29. 

    4 out of 5

    Jen –

30. 

    5 out of 5

    Janet Pye –