Tangled Wires: Secrets that Bind

by D.M. Foyle

With a fragmented memory and a grim future, Raz only feels confident about two hacking computers - and that people can't be trusted. However, with her best friend missing and the head of the Russian mob hot on her tail, Raz must quickly decide if FBI agent Emet Shultz is the exception rather than the rule, and whether he can find her friend before another falls victim to her treacherous past. As the mystery of her missing memory begins to unravel and becomes inextricably linked to the present, one thing becomes clear- nothing is as it seems. Sometimes lies are easier to stomach than the truth.

Genres: Thriller

552 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 11, 2025

About the author

D.M. Foyle is a cyber-security professional by day- but a writer by life. In both reading- and writing, D.M. has tackled genres from High-Fantasy to Crime Thrillers-- subverting genre conventions since she started querying her first novel at the age of 15.

When she isn't writing- you can often find her in the garden, playing an RPG- or dinking around with some new technology (or throwing it out the window, it's about a 50/50, really).

You can follow her on Bluesky (@foyle-writes) or Twitter (@foylewrites)

Reviews

[Sarnai Briar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really had a lot of fun with this book and I’m pretty sure it was the first crime thriller I’d ever read! There were so many twists and turns, I was constantly kept guessing what was about to happen. This is a story filled with suspense and intrigue. Poor Raz barely even knows the most basic information about herself and readers (as well as the rest of the cast) are left wondering why. As an action lover, the action scenes really caught my attention. They were fast and made all the more tense since Raz spends the book wounded. I was hoping she wouldn’t just collapse at any given second and cause a premature ending to the story.

Onto the characters! Immediately, I adored Emet. By “immediately,” this is not an exaggeration. I think that by the time his name was stated, I had already claimed him as my favorite. He is such a German Shepherd of a man and I love him for that. He’s snarky, protective, intelligent, and can figuratively be a dog with a bone when it comes to asking questions. Once he gets going, he won’t stop. This makes him complement Raz’s more quiet character perfectly. I don’t think anybody else would’ve been able to get anything out of her. The book would have ended and she might have said a single sentence. Not with Emet! He would just keep bugging her until she said something else. Their relationship was so much fun to see and I’m curious how it will develop. Also with the leads, we have Marge—our resident doctor friend. She is a spirited lady who acts like a big sister to Emet. I really liked her as well. The contrast was fun because with Raz, you see Emet in protector mode and with Marge, you see him not always having the answer for what to say or do. Raz was a great main character for this too. Seeing her journey throughout the book made it very easy to sympathize with her. She’s gone through so much and I have a feeling that what is learned here just barely scratches the surface. (The villain is also really fun. I can’t say too much without getting into spoiler territory, but I will say that he was so deliciously evil. I simultaneously wanted someone to sock him and also to give him an award for being such a convincing bad guy.)

There really isn’t anything I’d change about this book. I think it was very effective in delivering its message about the dangers of our world. I will say that for people who aren’t familiar with computer terms at all, this might be an adjustment. There are some areas where a lot of technical information is given and it can go over your head. That said, there are definitions for everything in the book, so you can still find out what the characters are talking about.

Overall, I really liked this. I’m excited to get into book 2 when that releases! I highly recommend it. Yes, there are trigger warnings, but if you are okay with those, I think this is a great read.

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tangled Wires: Secrets That Bind by D.M. Foyle is a technothriller that follows twenty-six-year-old Raz. She’s a professional hacker and is paranoid about everyone. As the story opens, she’s entering a coffee shop a little after five in the morning and ordering four coffees. She’s supposed to be meeting with Russian mob boss Ivan Planchenkov, or one of his cronies. While waiting and scanning the shop for anyone who looks like they might be acknowledging her, she’s hacking accounts and discovers the FBI is hacking her. A mysterious elderly man passes her a note that says to meet at the park. She quickly gets caught up in a chase by the FBI that lands her in cuffs, bruised, and dragged in for interrogation.

Little do they know that Raz is doing as Ivan ordered to save her friends, Tyson and Nadia. Ivan is holding Nadia for collateral, as it seems, and he’s had her for six months. Raz reluctantly agrees to work with the FBI to bring Ivan down, after they reveal that they know she’s hacked their system and gained access to data raids and changed prison information that let two high-profile mobsters out ahead of being executed. As a condition, Raz only wants the information she has to be delivered to Emet’s boss, Daniel Estes. The story continues to pick up momentum as Emet and Raz are pressed for time to execute a rescue mission to save Nadia, protect Tyson, and finally get the drop on Ivan.

Foyle writes with intensity that makes every scene in this story feel real and dangerous. You can feel time ticking away. You can feel Raz’s pain and the near-fainting spells. When she has nightmares about the fire that almost took her life when she was eight, I could feel the smoke in my lungs and the heat from the flames licking at my skin. You cannot help but feel sorry for Raz and her fractured memory. All she knows for sure about her life is that she suffered third-degree burns from this fire. But she can’t be too sure of her citizenship, her age, or anything else. What is interesting is that in her nightmare, she’s speaking Russian or another language from Eastern Europe. Emet, the FBI agent, notices the branded numbers on her body, indicating that she is Ivan’s property, and he’s known for human trafficking, among other illegal activities.

The writing is authentic, especially in digital forensics and computer-science terminology. Foyle takes extra care to include footnotes that clarify technical concepts without interrupting the flow of the narrative. These touches not only educate but also bring readers deeper into Raz’s world. Even terms like PB, or petabyte, become meaningful. The dynamics between Raz and Emet become the emotional backbone of the story. Emet seems sincere, concerned, and nurturing. This is a very sharp contrast to Raz’s deep distrust of the FBI. She views them as no different than the mob. They demand everything and give little to nothing, as she views it. The push and pull between Emet and Raz adds tension that is psychological in the beginning, but further along in the narrative, it becomes romantic. Meanwhile, the very mention of Ivan, who wears disguises in public, so no one knows how he looks except Raz, injects fear into the story. When he tortures Nadia for Raz’s defiance, it just makes the stakes skyrocket. I held my breath at the very description of her blood-curdling scream. It also shows just how tightly Raz is trapped in Ivan’s web.

The pacing never lets up. Each chapter builds on the next, allowing readers to feel like they are experiencing what’s happening over the course of the days and nights right along with the cast. The atmospheric sequences and settings make me think of Stieg Larsson’s The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, yet Foyle’s version feels uniquely intimate. It pulls readers directly into the terror Raz experiences, her slow-building trust for Emet, and her jumpiness when someone reaches out to touch her. She’s had to rewire herself to live in defense mode all her life. When the romantic elements arise between Raz and Emet later in the story, I was surprised because this woman has gone through a series of traumas. Yet, she let her walls down just a little bit, but she still had a certain level of coldness about her. But the romantic element of the story was so well balanced that it did not detract from the central premise or mission: cutting the head off the serpent, as Emet puts it. Instead, it humanized Raz a bit, or at least enough to show what’s at risk if she fails.

D.M. Foyle’s Tangled Wires: Secrets That Bind is sharp and absorbing. It’s one of those thrillers that does a great job blending technology, trauma, and trust seamlessly. Readers who enjoy morally complex characters, tense FBI-Criminal dynamics, and sophisticated technology will find this story equally intriguing. It similarly has the cyber-espionage tension of Mark Russinovich’s Zero Day.

[Arleigh Salerno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is hard to write a review for. No, not for any bad reason at all. I would highly recommend constant action loving people pick this one up even.
It was told well enough where I still had it playing out like a movie in my head, I still felt emotions and pride along with the characters. I became attached to them. and the mole... was not who I thought.
The twists I didn't see coming. the found family had me coming back over and over.

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Review Coming]

[Krys(tal) MacNeil · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚠️ Disclaimer
Look, I don’t do “objective” reviews. If you want a librarian-style thumbs-up, swipe left. This is chaos with footnotes, sarcasm, and dark humor. You might disagree with me. Fine. You might yell at me online. Also fine. But I’m not refunding my opinions—brace yourself.

🏃💨 The Quick and Dirty
Raz hacks stuff. She hates everyone. She drinks four coffees like it’s an Olympic sport. FBI? On her tail. Russian mob? Also on her tail. Missing friend? Yeah, that too. Mysterious old dude hands her a note that could either save her or start a new episode of True Detective. Tension? Maxed. Paranoia? Maxed. Popcorn? Optional, but I’d recommend it if you like your caffeine and suspense served in equal measure.

🕵️‍♀️ The Non-Spoilery Situation Report
Picture this: five a.m., coffee shop, four espressos lined up like a nuclear launch sequence, Raz scanning everyone, hacking everything, thinking, “Who’s gonna ruin my day first—the FBI or a mobster in a bad trench coat?” Then, BAM, FBI on her tail. Enter mysterious old dude with a note because why not add cryptic stranger energy like Loki’s mischief, right? Next thing you know, she’s cuffed and dragged off like a rejected character from Suits: FBI Edition. And the clock’s ticking because there’s a missing friend somewhere out there in this technothriller nightmare. Emet Shultz shows up—basically the only adult in the chaos—but Raz doesn’t trust him. She doesn’t trust anyone, including herself.

🤔💭 The Review
Let’s just get messy: Tangled Wires doesn’t ask if you’re ready—it smacks you awake at 5 a.m., even if you’re reading it at 3 a.m. in your pajamas that have seen better days. Raz is paranoid in a way that makes The Matrix look like a cozy Sunday brunch. She hacks like it’s oxygen, drinks coffee like it’s intravenous, and distrusts everyone like she’s the last human left in The Walking Dead. And somehow, Foyle keeps it gripping without a single “let me explain the plot to you” lecture. The world is dangerous, the clock is ticking, and your heart rate is doing push-ups.

The coffee shop opening scene? Cinematic. You can almost hear the jazz from Twin Peaks playing low in the background as Raz scans faces, taps keyboards, and somehow manages to notice the FBI is tracking her. Then—plot twist—an old man hands her a note because life said, “Sure, let’s add a little Scooby-Doo-level intrigue, but with actual danger.” Next thing, she’s in cuffs and probably muttering expletives that would make Deadpool blush.

Pacing is ruthless. Chapters snap at you like John Wick bullets: rapid, precise, and leaving you slightly singed. Raz’s paranoia? Infectious. Her fragmented memory? A foggy neon swirl that makes everything feel immediate, like you’re in a real-life Mr. Robot episode, where the hacker’s anxiety is your anxiety and the coffee never ends. There’s no downtime. There’s no filler. Just adrenaline, tension, and that “oh shit” feeling when you realize the story might actually eat your soul before breakfast.

Emet Shultz is the grounding force—but don’t expect cuddly FBI vibes. Think Sherlock with a badge, minus the British accent, and slightly more concerned about Raz surviving than doing paperwork. He’s basically the adult supervision Raz didn’t ask for but probably needs. The chase, the hacking, the paranoia—it all feels hyper-real, like someone digitally jacked your nervous system and rewired it to read a thriller at 3 a.m.

Atmosphere? Foyle nails it. The tension. You feel it. You breathe it. You might even jitter in your chair like you’re Raz, scanning every corner for a trap. It’s Stieg Larsson-level tightness without the snowy Sweden; think more neon-lit, caffeine-fueled urban chaos. Every scene is an electric wire. You touch it, and it shocks you awake.

The missing friend subplot adds stakes without being syrupy. Raz doesn’t need therapy montages or existential wallowing. She’s focused, wired, and running on caffeine, paranoia, and sheer survival instinct. It’s thrilling, immediate, and unrelenting. And Foyle doesn’t flinch. The story stays taut, the danger never evaporates, and Raz’s point-of-view keeps you in her jittery, mistrusting brainspace so fully that your own coffee jitters seem tame.

Technothriller doesn’t even begin to cover it. This is high-voltage paranoia with keyboards and coffee. It’s Mr. Robot meets Lethal Weapon, if Lethal Weapon drank espresso and hacked the mob. The tension? Maxed. The chase sequences? Cinematic. The protagonist? Brilliant, paranoid, and exhausting to admire.

[Monmonreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Tangled Wires by DM Foyle. From the very first page, I already knew this was going to be a book I’d enjoy—and it did not disappoint. DM Foyle did such a wonderful job pulling me in right away.

The introduction of Raz and Emet felt so natural and smooth, but after their first encounter, everything spiraled into chaos in the best possible way. The story kept layering mystery after mystery, and the constant twists and turns had me completely hooked. Every time I flipped the page, something unexpected happened—I was literally gasping at certain moments.

There were points where the story got so intense that I couldn’t put the book down. I ended up staying awake just to finish it because I needed to know what would happen next. Raz’s complicated past added so much emotional depth, and the slow-burn elements were executed perfectly. I even teared up at times.

At the same time, the dynamic between Raz and Emet brought lighter moments that made me giggle—honestly, the two of them in one room is just chaos I can’t get enough of.

If you’re a fan of crime thrillers, this book is definitely for you. I would absolutely give it 5 stars. Thank you, DM Foyle, for the opportunity to read this book—you’ve truly reignited my love for crime thrillers.

[Kenyah The Cultivated Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the plot was interesting, and I liked the footnotes about hacking and technology throughout, especially the description "PB stands for petabyte. Shit ton of data basically." LOL Raz's character development is amazing. She is such a compelling FMC who balances just the right amounts of resilience and vulnerability. Emet is also a new standout MMC and love interest for me. He is so patient and kind, and I love how he challenged Raz as the story unfolded. There is humor and depth to this story. I appreciated how thoughtfully the heavier topic of human trafficking was depicted. And the science fiction elements were a cool surprise! I grew attached to this found family, and I found each character unique and intriguing. What brought this down a rating was the many typos in the book, which frequently pulled me out of the narrative. I'm already anticipating the next. I'm hopeful there will be fewer in Book 2. I signed up for the ARC team right after reading the last page of Secrets that Bind. I can't wait to see what shenanigans the team gets up to next! Great for fans of romantic suspense, crime thrillers and stabby, badass FMCs.