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Deadly Ties

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They tried to bury an environmental disaster… along with those who got in the way.

With her mom in a coma, Kyara is determined to discover who is behind the brutal attack. Does her grandmother’s recent release from jail have anything to do with it? The police believe that some meth addicted youth are responsible but what Kyara uncovers is shocking. Is anyone telling the truth? Even Ryan who she thought might be able to help her is harnessing his own dark secret. Is he truly trying to help her or does he have his own agenda?

The golf course wasn’t built because the sport was gaining in popularity but to hide a deadly secret. Those responsible are determined to keep it buried and those who know anything are being silenced. Kyara finds herself trying to catch an old woman, stay ahead of those trying to kill her and unveil the truth. But can she do it before a town pays the ultimate price?

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First published May 17, 2016

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About the author

Maggie Thom

25 books477 followers
Want to take an adventure beyond your fingertips?
Mulit-award winning author, Maggie Thom loves the challenge of creating a web of secrets, lies and deceit. She doesn’t want you to figure it out until the end. Author of several suspense/thriller/mysteries. Take the roller coaster ride. It’s worth it. Get your free copy of Blurred Lines (www.maggiethom.com).

Check out her new series - The Twisted Deception Series.

Her motto: Read to escape… Escape to read…

"Maggie Thom… proves her strength as a master of words, plots and finely chiseled characters… she weaves a brilliant cloth of the many colors of deceit.” Dii - TomeTender


"Maggie Thom writes a fast paced thriller laced with romance that keeps the reader interested and on edge!" InDtale Magazine


She can be found at:
Website: www.maggiethom.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormaggiethom
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
Profile Image for Emily.
5,872 reviews548 followers
October 8, 2018
Kyara returns to her mothers home wanting to make sure she is not alone only to find she had been attacked. With her mom in the hospital Kyara has to wonder if it is tied to the recent release of her Grandmother from jail. However the more she delves into her past the more she finds that there has been a lot of secrets hidden from her. Will her Grandmother be the killer she believes she is or is there a different explanation?

The Grandmother reminded me of a character from Wentworth, she is a fascinating woman. I thought this was really good, at times I thought there were so many characters it boggled a bit trying to figure out who was who. Otherwise intriguing story that was highly entertaining.
Profile Image for Dianne.
6,815 reviews631 followers
April 25, 2016
She grew up believing her grandmother was a murderer, that she killed her grandfather. An adult now, Kyara comes home, to a changed world, a place filled with lies, secrets and death. Her mother had been attacked, her grandmother has been released from prison and has disappeared, but deep down, Kyara wants to blame her grandmother for her mother’s pain. What Kyara discovers is that the woman who took her fishing, loved her and swore like a sailor is on a mission to right the evils of the past and expose the lies that have taken so many lives in the name of the almighty dollar and the power it brings.

PCBs have poisoned the water, the ground and the air and for decades, the dirty truth has been covered up, literally, as the ground was filled in to build a golf course to cover the sins of industry. The secrets lie scattered everywhere and as Kyara begins to piece this horror together, she finds herself caught in the crosshairs of death.

Who can she trust? What secrets are being kept from her? Kyara has found an ally in the handsome manager of the course, they go way back, but is he only pretending to be on her side? The lies, the deaths, the murders, a woman’s life caged behind prison bars, accused of a murder she did not commit, yet she got away with the one she did. When the final truths are revealed, who will survive to hear them? Who will kill to keep them buried?

Deadly Ties is the latest mystery thriller from award winning author, Maggie Thom and once again, she proves her strength as a master of words, plots and finely chiseled characters. Ms. Thom has addressed a brutal truth of the past, when carcinogenic chemicals were knowingly used and disposed of improperly, in the cheapest way possible, while being buried under bribery and threats, outside of the scrutiny of the government that was supposed to protect its citizens. This tale is a slice of that reality in a fictionalized version that will keep you riveted to every word, every page as Maggie Thom weaves a brilliant cloth of the many colors of deceit.

I received an ARC edition from Maggie Thom in exchange for my honest review.

Publisher: Quadessence Solutions (May 17, 2016)
Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Genre: Thriller | Mystery | Suspense
Print Length: 313 pages
Available from: AmazonBarnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com



12.7k reviews189 followers
November 10, 2020
What an amazing book full of action, suspense and more. I loved everything about the story. The main character Kyara is something else. Enjoyable to the end. Don’t miss out once it’s released.
Profile Image for Aleen.
454 reviews43 followers
August 18, 2016
Originally posted on lampshadereader.com



Read an excerpt from the story and follow the blog tour here.

review
The opening of the story grabbed my attention right away.

I mean with a line like this:
“It hadn’t really concerned her that she’d gone to prison because she had in fact killed a man just not the one they sentenced her for.”
I couldn’t help but want to find out the reason why she did that.

Even though Elizabeth or Getty as she’s called in the book, was not the main character in the story, she played a pivotal role in how the story plays out. I have to say that she was my favorite. A badass Grandmother, ready to kick anyone’s ass, especially if they come after her family. It certainly was interesting when her POVs came up. I was looking forward to those.

Kyara might lack the passion, but her more down to earth persona makes her vulnerable to attacks and threats. Her curious nature tended to get her in trouble and the majority of the story is following her in quest to unravel secrets about her family and a certain golf course where underhanded dealings where secrets are kept. She does have some guilt as well. Her feeling of not being the perfect daughter, makes her come to terms with how she interprets her own past.

There are a lot of feelings and emotions wrought in this story and the family drama becomes more deadly as it unfolds. I loved the suspense and the action. The only thing I found fault with was the lack of romance. It was a little unbelievable that Kyara and Ryan suddenly had attraction for each other towards the end. It didn’t seem like there was anything like that when they first met. It just seemed rushed to me. But other than that, it was an enjoyable story with interesting characters and drama.

*I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Profile Image for VernonandMissy Tanner.
39 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2016
Deadly Ties by Maggie Thom

Deadly Ties is a book about a twisted town, how two families are intertwined. From murders and corruption to a mystery, Deadly Ties is a story brings a man and a woman together. This romantic suspenseful story will have you rereading it so that you are sure to catch every detail.

Kyara left town as soon as she could after graduating. She put herself through college and had been living a pretty good life as a business owner. She stayed in contact with her shut-in mother, however, it was something that she did out of loyalty. Her mother was a good person, but suffered from extreme depression.

Elizabeth, Kyara’s grandmother was released from jail after serving twenty years for a murder she didn’t commit. That’s not to say that she didn’t really kill anyone, she was serving for the wrong murder. Kyara, after twenty years, still carried a grudge because her grandmother abandoned her and left her alone with her mother. Elizabeth was the person in Kyara’s life who loved her, showed her things, taught her lessons in her life. At least that is what she remembered.

When checking on her mother one day, Kyara discovered that her mother’s house was trashed, dirty and broken into. Her mother lay on the floor, unconscious. Knowing that it was more than a random break in, Kyara begin looking into all the suspicious activity that she began to notice while she is in the hospital recuperating.

Ryan comes back to town to run a golf course owned by his friend, Jasper’s family. Jasper was hoping that Ryan managing the golf course, he would earn brownie points with his family for making a successful business out of the failing course.

As the story progresses, Ryan and Kyara get thrown together trying to solve the mystery of Kyara’s mother’s assault, the disappearances, and all the suspicious goings on around town. Oh, and how Jasper’s family and Kyara’s grandmother are all intertwined in this story of suspicion, murder, illegal activity and love found.

This is the first book that I have read by Maggie Thom and honestly, I didn’t get hooked right away. But, soon, I was so hooked I couldn’t put the book down. I loved this story and wish for more from Maggie Thom.
Profile Image for Kim Reads (Read Your Writes Book Reviews).
1,475 reviews142 followers
May 18, 2016
Reviewed by Gemini

Deadly Ties was a mystery/suspense for the ages, literally. It involves three generations of women in one family and how they have been affected by secrets and lies that all come to a head after the eldest woman gets out of prison. Those secrets involve murder, rape, and a golf course that’s at the center of it all. At first, none of it makes a lot of sense because it’s impossible to figure out where the story is going but that’s the point. Misdirection is the key to a good mystery. The fact that there is a large cast of characters makes it even more of a challenge to keep up with everything. That’s not to say that I didn’t enjoy it, I just had no clue who did what until it was all spelled out.

Maggie Thom does an excellent job of creating some truly shady characters. The Jesperson family that runs this small town of Camden is despicable. They are driven by greed and power. They don’t hesitate to kill and do it without remorse to hold onto to their status. Once someone threatens to reveal their most guarded secret, all hell breaks loose. The worse thing is that they are under siege by a grandmother of all people. The thought of an elderly woman seeking revenge is laughable until you actually watch it all play out. How could you not root for Grandma? There are so many details that I would love to share but it would ruin the mystery. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

**Received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.**
Profile Image for Liz Gavin.
Author 105 books756 followers
August 4, 2016
5**** Edge-of-the-seat kind of thriller

***I received a copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review***

Deadly Ties is not the first book I read by Maggie Thom so I knew she’s an award winner for good reasons and she does not disappoint with this one.
Although I can’t say much about the story to avoid spoiling it, I can safely say that you’re in for a great ride. Deadly Ties has all the best elements of a thriller: suspicion, betrayal, false accusations, vengeance, secrets, and murder. Not to mention shady characters to spare. You will never know who might surprise you next. It is that good.
One more positive, in my opinion, is the puzzle-like quality of the plot. Maggie builds up the story through the interactions of its many characters. At the same time, the author doesn’t make it as if the characters are lecturing to the reader but rather like the reader is eavesdropping on their conversations. All the information you need is provided; only the writer scatters if throughout the book and concentrates the resolutions towards the end, as a good mystery requires.
Also, the use of third person POV is crucial to the way this story is written; however, there’s no head-hopping as we get to know a little bit more of each character’s psyche when we get inside their heads. Good job, Maggie!!
I highly recommend this book but start reading it when you have some time to spare because it’ll be impossible to put it down.
338 reviews5 followers
May 20, 2016
“A Deep Mystery With Hidden Treachery And Suspense.”

After nearly two decades in prison for a murder she didn’t commit, Getty is now out and wants revenge. She doesn’t pretend her confinement wasn’t deserved. She was just convicted for the wrong murder. And those who framed her were going to pay. With her daughter assaulted and in the hospital, she can only count on her granddaughter, Kyara. And Kyara isn’t sure whom she can trust, as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the golf course in Jaspertown. There are hidden secrets, and covered up crimes that someone wants buried for good, even if it means more deaths.

I’ve been a fan of this author from her debut suspense novel, and have eagerly followed her writing as each new book was released. She is a masterful storyteller, who weaves an intricate plot with many twists, and even the reader is never sure what is truly going on, and who did it until the story comes to a climatic end. I don’t know if I imagined it, or if the language was more mature in this new novel. But don’t get me wrong the profanity isn’t thick, but rather sprinkled lightly. The suspense does overflow on every page, however, and that makes for good reading. In fact, Maggie Thom is one of the best suspense writers in today’s fiction. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Nicki Conroy.
631 reviews11 followers
September 19, 2016
Maggie Thom captured the environmentalist in me along with the closet romantic as she wove the story in Deadly Ties. Having grown up in New York State, ground contamination is always in my mind. PCB issues closed the State Office Building in Binghamton for years. The environment will also be a mystery but the man-made items we bring into it need to be more closely watched.

Kyara has so much going on in this book. Her character is unbelievable complicated. As her mother is in a coma in the hospital, she realizes her childhood was not really what she thought it was. She has to work through this childhood thoughts as she is also busy trying to find out what really happened to her mother and if her just recently released from prison grandmother had anything to do with it.

Writing this review is difficult as I want you to be sitting on your seat as I was while reading it. I don't want to accidentally give away any of the great twists and turns. I could not put the book down as I wanted to know what was coming next. I am sure you will feel the same once you pick up a copy of Deadly Ties.

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
Profile Image for Shelly.
Author 2 books37 followers
September 5, 2016
There is nothing more that I love than a good book that intrigues me, offers twists and turns and a bit of vengeful, underhanded mess to relax with - this was a nice choice to do just that for a long weekend. I love how this story takes place with three generations and that each has their own role in how everything plays out. The mystery behind all of the crimes connected to the golf course is an extremely believable story line for any small town. The families involved, the greed, deceit...it's all in our own towns if we're willing to open our eyes and ears enough. At the center of it all is the oldest of the three women - Getty. She tries to protect her daughter and relies on the aid of her granddaughter but Kyara isn't sure she can trust anyone. With a little romance sprinkled in, Maggie Thom does a wonderful job pulling everything into perspective. I couldn't stop turning pages until I learned all of the crazy secrets!

I received this book to review through Beck Valley Books Book Tours, all the opinions above are 100% my own.
Profile Image for Michele.
1,852 reviews63 followers
September 5, 2016
This book starts fast and gets even faster as you go along! Who attacked Kyara's Mom and put her in a coma---and why? This mystery is set up with a very important environmental question----one we should all be aware of--what happened to all those PCB's that were dumped before strict regulations were in place. PCB's do not degrade and they do cause cancer. If those PCB's leech into the water-------. What would unscrupulous companies do to hide this?

Kyara enlists the help of Ryan who is also looking to figure out something for himself. Kyara is still hoping to find out who her biological father is and Kyara's grandmother, who she once loved and adored has just been released from prison-----

How this all ends--well I didn't guess the ending!! So much going on--you just have to read this one.
Deadly Ties
114 reviews2 followers
September 6, 2016
Kyara's grandmother has recently been released from prison and Kyara goes home to visit her mom to make sure she is okay. Upon her arrival she finds that her mother has been attacked in her home, by what police categorize to be a random attack related to drugs.

Family ties run deep in this small town, which is built on secrets and the truth is buried out there and there are many people trying to uncover it, while one family is killing to keep it hidden.

Kayara is sent on the path to find the truth and why suspicious events that seem unrelated have all begun upon her grandmother's release. With every bit of information that she learns, the puzzle seems more difficult to solve. Will Kayara and some old friends that she has met along the way solve the whole drama before

This novel is a true suspenseful adventure that had me at the edge of my sit. I didn't want the story to end, but I had to know what the whole story to this town's secrets. Two thumbs up for Maggie Thom.
Profile Image for Fee (Ebook Addicts).
1,471 reviews45 followers
September 7, 2016
“She'd gone to jail for the right reason but the wrong murder and now it was time for someone to pay.”

Deadly ties is my first encounter with Maggie Thom and after reading the synopsis for this book, I knew I was going to get sucked into a good suspense thriller.
And I wasn’t wrong.

Getty has spent the last 20 years behind bars and now she is out she wants nothing more than to seek revenge, and when her granddaughter Kyara discovers her mother has been attacked in her home she can't help but wonder if Getty is somehow involved now she is out.

This is a fast paced book that filled with secrets and lies spanning 30-odd years centering around a gold course, it features a multitude of characters - which sometimes made it a little confusing when chapter changes.

It was a great read, and will definitely be checking out Thom’s other works.
Profile Image for Melissa Mitravich.
30 reviews1 follower
August 7, 2016
This is the first book I’ve read of Maggie Thom’s and the first mystery/thriller I’ve read in a very very long time, and I’m glad I did. It’s written in third POV and takes you on an insane spin- up down and all around. I know this may be an odd comparison, but in a way the story reminds me of a loose version of “Clue”- as in trying to guess what’s going on and who did what or how they may be involved. The only downfall for me was some confusion over a couple parts, but overall the writing flowed pretty well and the author paid attention to detail that didn’t come across as overwhelming or unnecessary. I received a copy of this book from Romance Authors that Rock, in exchange for an honest review and I can easily rate this story with 5 stars.
Profile Image for Julie Baswell.
724 reviews29 followers
August 26, 2016
Eighteen years ago, Getty left her granddaughter Kyara behind when she went to prison for murder. She did murder someone, just not the one she was accused of. Now that Getty is out, she is determined to extract justice by uncovering decade’s old secrets. Kyara is still hurt and angry at Getty, but has known all along that things didn’t add up. After her mother is attacked, she begins following different clues only to find everything leads back to Getty and the secrets she has knowledge of.

This was a fun read of mystery with a little romance mixed in. I liked the way the reader is in the dark of who is doing what. You had your suspicions but couldn’t be fully sure out of the pool of suspect characters. I love books that keep me guessing, and this one did just that.
Profile Image for Leila.
581 reviews9 followers
September 9, 2016
I struggled with this book. I’m not going to lie. I found it confusing and hard to get into initially but was told to push through because it got better and well, they were right.

I kept reading and I’m glad I did because this book is full of mysteries and secrets (not to mention two faced, backstabbing, conniving weasels!)

If you think your own family is bad, read this book. Everyone has a secret, a past, or some other hidden something going on.

It is definitely a story that once you get into it and get more ‘secrets’ you really can’t stop reading it because you want to solve the problem as much as Kyara does – and there is no shortage of mystery.
Profile Image for Silvie Armas.
100 reviews12 followers
September 19, 2016
This was the first book by author Maggie Thom that I have read, and I am so glad I did!
This story has a great plot and the author’s way of writing keeps the suspense coming page after page. This was a book that I finished in 2 days because I simply couldn’t put it down. I don’t want to spoil the book by telling you about it, since this is a book that I totally think you should read. If you like suspense, thrillers, mysteries or just a great read then this is the book for you! Trust me when I say you won’t be disappointed!
Profile Image for Peggy.
2,469 reviews51 followers
July 28, 2016
**SPOILER FREE**


Fantastic book! Not exactly what I was expecting! This book holds so much more! The plot of the story will floor you to the ground! Unbelievable! And the characters..... they are left to be talked about! This is a page turner of a read right here! This author is going to take you on a mysterious ride when reading this book! And don't think you have it all figured out... Because you won't!


*Received for an honest review*
39 reviews3 followers
September 14, 2016
I love mysteries and this one fit the bill. I didn’t want to put it down. The characters were interesting, the plot had a few twist and the ending was perfect. I enjoyed that there was an environmental twist and coverup. The main character, Kyara, really doesn’t want to be back in her home town, but returns because someone attacked her mom. She realizes that there is something fishy in the town and she works to uncover the dark secret. This books is well worth the read!
Profile Image for Jessica.
345 reviews6 followers
September 7, 2016
This is the first book by this author that I have read before and I am absolutely hooked. I love how the suspense flows from page to page, chapter to chapter in this book. This author did a spectacular job of creating some super shady characters in this book! Greed and power drive them, and that makes them all the better, with this plot story!
Profile Image for Doris Humber.
44 reviews2 followers
September 14, 2016
The Author did a fantastic job of keeping the suspense prominent throughout the whole book. As Kyara attempts to determine who was responsible for her Mom's attack....the plot, the secrets, and the characters throughout will leave much to the imagination. You'll want to keep reading. It's not a predictable thriller. The story will keep you guessing.
Loved this book!
218 reviews3 followers
September 3, 2023
New story, new characters, and maybe, the first in a new series. We are introduced to Kyara who is reluctantly visiting her mother for a few days and then returning to her current home and business an another town. This is not something she particularly enjoys, it is just an obligation she feels she must do as her daughter. Upon arrival at her mother’s home, she finds it completely trashed; her mother brutally attacked and dying on the floor. And, this is just the very beginning of this story. It twists and turns from there and it’s very difficult to guess where it is going next. As Kyara becomes more heavily involved in the mystery, she finds that she is now obligated to help her mother and unable to leave. I really enjoyed the flow of the story incorporating deadly criminal activities, dysfunctional families, illegal business enterprises, extreme privilege linked to wealth, hit men, murder, long lost friends, and the extremely clever combination of clues that allow Kyara to track down the murderers and solve the mystery, If this is a series, I am really looking forward to a second novel. If not, this is a fantastic one only story. Great work by this very talented author.
7 reviews1 follower
July 23, 2018
Was this written by a fifth grader or someone who doesn't speak English?
There for their, passed time for pastime, dawned for donned, to for too, peaked for peeked, peaking for peeking, Marilyn Munroe(!) for Marilyn Monroe, passed for past, and many many many more. Many sentences are missing words and make no sense. Commas are everywhere randomly. The grammar is equally atrocious. I wasted money for two of her cringe-worthy books! It's impossible to get through five pages without finding glaring errors. No other book I have read has ever come anywhere close to the disastrous number of errors and garbled sentences in this ridiculous excuse for a book. The fact that this book got 4.6 starts shows that the rating system is corrupted by book giveaways.
Profile Image for Claudia.
2,986 reviews38 followers
April 28, 2018
I got this book as a present, and obviously, they know me well because I love this book... as each one wrote by Maggie Thom, TBH.

This is one of those stories in which understand the main character is part of the joy of reading. Getty is a complex character fuelled by guilt and a need for revenge. Contradictory? Maybe, but also absolutely true for this character.

The story will lead you through suspense, betrayal, and family secrets, with a plot which, like a puzzle, might seem nonsensical until that moment when everything clicks right on place and you finally see the whole picture in your head.

An unmissable read for lovers of suspense and/or a book superb written.
Profile Image for Teresa Collins.
1,118 reviews19 followers
December 8, 2020
I received a review copy from the author at my request and this is my honest opinion. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. The characters are not overblown or unrealistic, the action is not overdone, and the suspense is just right! There are plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing about what is really going on, which I enjoyed. The only problem I had, and it was most likely a personal problem, was some confusion about the relationship between Rose and Jasper. By the end that confusion was cleared up and I did understand why the author handled it the way she did but it did bug me a little. I will definitely be reading more books by Ms. Thom.
Profile Image for Roger.
5,644 reviews28 followers
December 4, 2020
Deadly Ties, my first read from author Maggie Thom, an author I’d wanted to read for some time, in fact I have 3 of her books on my TBR list since 2017 and haven't got around to yet, that will soon change! 313 pages, but reads longer due to the detail written in. I was given the Kindle copy of this book & am voluntarily reviewing. I look forward to more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
1,820 reviews13 followers
December 2, 2020
Elizabeth is released from prison for a murder she did not commit. She did murder someone, just not the person she was in prison for. She is seeking revenge for her imprisonment. Kyara goes to visit her mother and finds her unconscious on her floor. There are hidden secrets in the local golf course. This will keep you guessing until the end. A very suspenseful thriller.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,272 reviews98 followers
December 1, 2020
This is another gripping story by Maggie Thom. It is complex, but not too complex. The reader will enjoy the characters, but perhaps not at first. Some tend to grow on you. I have enjoyed a few of Maggie's books and this one is another awesome story. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
Profile Image for Paulette.
979 reviews23 followers
December 3, 2020
Received an ARC from the author for my honest review. Maggie Thom does not disappoint with Deadly Ties. Family and friends intertwined and not in a good way. This is a book that will keep you guessing.
Profile Image for Heather W.
4,066 reviews35 followers
November 12, 2023
Deadly Ties is a riveting thriller with secrets from the past coming back to haunt the present. This book has interesting characters, lies, deception, suspense, and twists to enjoy. Well worth the read!

I read and reviewed this book with no obligation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews

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