Ties That Bind

by Maria Frankland

I married my incredible second wife, Ellen, earlier this year, and on the face of it, we have a perfect life. We enjoy the fruits of my lucrative career, live in a dream home and have the freedom to travel whenever and wherever we want.

I’m still working on bridging the gap between Ellen and my two daughters, who haven’t exactly warmed to her, but hey, that’s stepfamilies, isn’t it?

I’d be confident of my wife and I being together forever, that’s if it wasn’t for the one thing Ellen’s desperate for, the one thing I’m struggling to give her.

A child of her own.

After two failed attempts to reverse the reckless decision I made during my first marriage, Ellen and I are having to accept that parenthood isn’t likely to feature in our future.

At least, not in the conventional way.

One stormy night, Anthony appears at our door, stranded and in need of shelter. We let him in, offer him help, and a drink. Which becomes another drink – before our conversation turns deeper than we ever expected.

Then he puts forward a proposition – one that is both exhilarating and horrifying. He can give us everything we’ve ever wanted. But Anthony’s offer must be repaid.

However, some debts can’t be repaid with money – no matter how much we might have.

A compelling and suspenseful psychological thriller about fertility obsession, a marriage under threat and a charismatic manipulator.

Perfect for fans of Daniel Hurst and Freida McFadden.

Genres: Thriller

274 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2025

About the author

Maria Frankland has a dubious internet search history and a very worried mother-in-law. However, neither of these things can stop her writing gripping psychological thrillers in which you’ll never find a happy-ever-after.

Her novels are mostly set in Yorkshire where you’ll hear the accent through all her characters. These are people you could live next door to, or closer still… don’t say you haven’t been warned.

Maria’s novels are fast-paced, down to earth and realistic. You never know what’s around the corner…

Find out more about Maria at https://www.mariafrankland.co.uk. Whilst you’re there, you can download your free novella – The Brother-in-Law.

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you make a deal with the devil, he comes to collect! What an amazing & wild ride, that drew me in from the prologue! Lovable and dislikable characters at the same time, that made you want to hug them & shake them simultaneously.

The story begins with Sergeant Jon Shepperd and his protege Bella. As they’re ending a shift, they hear a loud explosion that they are sure will have deadly consequences. I wasn’t sure how the prologue related to the rest of the story, but when it came full circle I was simply in awe at the creativity & uniqueness of this story, as was very pleased with the ending. After jumping back 10 months to show how they got to that point, Oliver, Ellen & Anthony’s story was full of lies, deception and will leave you speechless! Highly recommend for fans of well written domestic thrillers, as this was definitely a page turning, “just one more chapter” type of story!

[Pheadra · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when you're a highly successful divorced architect (Oliver)aged 54, with two biological daughters (aged 15 and 23) and a new young wife(Ellen) who is desperate for a child? What happens when you're so smitten with Ellen that you'll agree to anything to give her the child she wants?
Find out in Ties That Bind. A read-in-a-day story that highlights what I perceived to be Oliver's mid-life crisis, the desperate and deceitful ends people will go to, to get what they want and the impact their decisions have on everyone around them. 4 stars.

[Yara’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

★★★★★

Ties That Bind is a gripping, twist-filled psychological thriller that had me hooked from start to finish. Maria Frankland masterfully weaves secrets, lies, and emotional tension into a story that constantly kept me guessing. The characters felt raw and real and just when I thought I had it figured out, another curveball. A fast, compelling read I’d absolutely recommend to fans of domestic thrillers.

[Jo Woodcock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky to have an early copy of this one and it's books like this that Maria Frankland is one of my favourite authors. This book is a complete page turner from page 1 ... and the storyline, characters had you really connected to the book. another fantastic book by Maria ... definitely one to read when it comes out.

[Bob Fendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review.

Ties That Bind

Author Maria Frankland

Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

My word! What an exciting and gripping psychological thriller Ties That Bind is.
From the prologue, I felt the urge to keep reading to find out what happened to Oliver and Ellen in this tense story of blackmail and threat

After his divorce from his first wife Carmen, Oliver's having a quiet drink in a pub becomes infatuated with Ellen and a whirlwind romance begins and soon there are wedding bells.
Life seems so good for them both and Ellen's desperate for a baby, which could be a problem.

One stormy Friday evening a stranded stranger Anthony knocks on the door looking for help and shelter, he's invited in and strikes up a conversation that ends up getting a bit personal, Anthony makes an enticing and what could be a horrifying proposition.

Maria Frankland has once again written an incredibly addictive and suspenseful fast-paced novel.
A must-read book, truly amazing and believable characters in stunning settings.
It had some unexpected twists, I could predict part of what was going on, but it didn't quite go out as I was expecting it to, and it did not take away any of the gripping suspense or the surprising ending.

I very highly recommend you go check this one and all of Maria's books, they are superb thrillers.

[Donna Mallery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book starts out pretty fast paced. The mysterious man at the door spurred my reading on. Then, there is excitement as a murder causes a lot of unrest. From here, the book pace slows down. At around 60%, I was ready to be done. I do love this author and read every book as it is published. While this was not my favorite, I just felt that the topic has been done too many times. And my big pet peeve is how almost every author uses “further” instead of “farther”! 16 times in this book! If it’s distance, it is “farther”!

[Jennifer Bendel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky and received an arc of this book. Oliver and Ellen can’t have kids of their own. Ellen is desperate to have a baby and Oliver is worried he’ll lose his wife if he can’t give her one. That type of desperation can cause chaos.
Right away this book grabs you. You’re thinking, “what!?!? No way. Omg!” I wanted to shake Oliver so many times and ask what in the world he was thinking. I loved the unique storyline and it had the perfect ending.

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Ties That Bind” by Maria Frankland, was a shocking, dark, and twisty read that kept me hooked from start to finish. Maria Frankland masterfully peels back the layers of family secrets and emotional manipulation, delivering a gripping psychological thriller that constantly keeps you guessing. Just when you think you know where it’s going—it takes another unexpected turn. A chilling, well-crafted story that lingers long after the final page.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few other books by this author and most of them have been good. This was a psychological thriller and despite a few things being totally predictable, the book was definitely full of plenty of twists and turns that still left me saying wtf a few times. Most of my thoughts are kind of spoliery so guess I need to cut here...

-with the age difference between newlyweds Oliver and Ellen and the fact that he had a vasectomy after his older children, I get that there were different opinions about wanting kids, but still he went along with the reversal to please her and although it seemed to be taking a while to conceive, there was still possibility, plus there were other ways they could have gone about getting her pregnant like in vitro, or they could have considered using a surrogate or adoption

-totally called the whole stranger 'randomly' showing up claiming to be stranded during the storm situation and thought they were so crazy for even contemplating the suggestion to let Anthony provide them with a baby for a certain amount of money, especially if the whole thing was illegal

-knew Anthony wasn't going away so easily and yes I get why Oliver didn't want to continue paying him and even considered 'getting rid' of him (and at one point I even agreed it was probably the only way they would be free of him)

-was disgusted and disappointed in Ellen for totally using Oliver and glad she got punished for her actions - I wasn't shocked she was part of the scheme but I didn't expect her to be as involved as she was or to be hateful enough that she almost killed Oliver

-thankful that Oliver got custody of the twins, seemed to rekindle things with Carmen his ex wife, and repaired his relationship with his two older daughters (though it was sad that it took him almost dying for this to happen but at least it did)

-liked the 'robins appear when loved ones are near' reference. I've heard that both robins and cardinals are signs of deceased loved ones visiting and always wonder if it's really true but still like it anyhow


Overall was a very fast-paced quick read and although I figured out a few things easily prior to them being revealed, it didn't take away from the story. Definitely makes you think twice about the consequences of certain decisions.

[Julianne Dombrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver and Ellen are newly married. He has a job that he loves a beautiful home and a beautiful wife. If he could only get his mother and his daughters to talk in like his new wife Ellen.
On a very warm evening, he arrives home, a very bad storm is blowing in. By the time he gets back from visiting his mom. He’s soaking wet and Ellen told him to go get dry clothes on while she’s cooking dinner. When he emerges, they are discussing things when the doorbell rings. When he finally gets the key and opens the front door there’s a very good looking younger man standing there soaking wet. He asked Oliver if he could come in and dry off a little bit. But, his car is broken down and he needs help with a ride and a towing service, but his phone is dead. So Oliver plugged his phone in for him and they sat and talked. One beer led to another than another. While drinking the beers, it seems like Anthony is gathering information a little history. From Oliver and Ellen. He comes to a conclusion about something very important that’s going on in their relationship. Oliver got a vasectomy 20 years earlier after his 2nd daughter arrived. Well, Ellen’s young enough to still have a child. Oliver has 2 daughters. Ellen didn’t have children. So Oliver had his vasectomy reversed, but nothing has happened yet. Anthony and Oliver start drinking beer and then another one they got into some conversation. One of their situations Anthony feels he has a solution, but paybacks are going be difficult.
You wonder what is the solution to their situation that Anthony was gonna help them with. When you’re reading you get suspicious right away.
But I can’t spoil it for you. You need to read Maria‘s out of this world psychological thriller to find out!
Maria knocked this book out of the park!
It was so good. Maria pulled me in right away and could not put the book down. I read 10% of the book one day and I read the other part of the book and finished it on the second day at 3 AM in the morning. You are going to be shocked when you read this book Simply amazing!! ♥️📚♥️

[Liv Jenni Blackburn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up.

I absolutely love this author. A local author too discussing local places that I have visited adds a nice touch!

Quick chapter, fascinating plot, twists here and there and a good old domestic thriller.

Ellen and Oliver meet one another and quickly get married. However, Oliver is a lot older than Ellen and despite their desperation to have a child together, luck is not on their side. One night, a stranger turns up at their door saying he has broken down in the storm. They invite him in but he is here for more than just a chat. Anthony offers to sleep with Ellen and impregnate her for money. To give everyone what they want. However, like any blackmail agreement where is the line? Where does it stop? And is Anthony a stranger or has he just entered their life with no plan on leaving.

This was a really quick and good domestic thriller. It was definitely uncomfortable to think about Ellen cheating on Oliver but the author covers this well.

There are topics of a mother’s post natal depression and a woman’s despite to be a mum covered.

Some people, some women, will go to any length to feel that maternal love.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to be chosen for an ARC of “Ties That Bind” by Maria Frankland and I couldn’t wait to get stuck in!

The story centres around newly married couple Oliver & Ellen. Ellen is Oliver’s second wife and life is perfect, except for one heartbreaking gap…she longs for a child he can’t give her. After failed attempts and fading hope, a mysterious stranger arrives at their door one stormy night with an offer too good to be true. But his kindness comes at a chilling price.

As a huge fan of Maria Frankland’s writing, “Ties That Bind” didn’t disappoint. From the very first page, I was completely hooked, her stories always have a way of pulling me in instantly. The plot was packed with suspense and twists that kept me turning the pages. I also love her signature short chapters, which make the pacing feel so sharp and addictive. Another brilliant psychological thriller from Maria, tense, twisty, and thoroughly gripping!

Thank you so much Maria for an early copy of your brilliant book.

[Ellen Squire · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've never read a book by this author, you are missing out! Her characters are so life-like, they could be your mum, your sister, your next door neighbour, your worst enemy or even yourself...

Ties that Bind tells the story of Oliver & his much younger wife Ellen. Ellen is desperate for a baby. However, Oliver has 2 grown up daughters with his ex-wife Carmen and he's also had a vasectomy. A reversal op would give only a 5-10% chance of conceiving. Despite objections from his family who dislike his new wife, Oliver is determined to make Ellen happy whatever the cost.

One Friday night during a terrible storm, there is a knock at the door. Anthony's van has broken down and he asks to use the phone. Drinks flow and truths are shared. Could Anthony's arrival be the answer to their prayers, or the beginning of their nightmare?

This book was very difficult to put down, each chapter leaves you needing to find out what happens next.

A great read, by a fantastic author!

[Darla Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book review:
Ties That Bind by Maria Frankland - Psychological Thriller Author
This explosive thriller will have you on pins and needles thru every page. Ellen and Oliver had a short whirlwind romance, so now that they are married and living in a big house that Oliver had built, no one trusts Ellen. They include Oliver's mom, his ex-wife and both of his daughters but not Oliver because he trusts Ellen of course. When a stranger comes to their door one rainy night, with car trouble, it changes everyone's lives forever. Ellen is younger than Oliver and wants a child very much, but they are having issues. When Anthony offers to help them, they make a decision that could alter their relationship and financial stability for the whole family. How do you think Anthony helps them? Does it really help? What does Anthony want in return? Do they get the happy family that Ellen wants? This is a 5 star must read !!! 😃

[Janine Roussouw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellen is Oliver's second wife and she is desperate to have a baby. Oliver had a vasectomy after his second daughter from his first marriage was born and now he is in the process of reversing the vasectomy to have a baby with Ellen. The question is how far would you go to save your marriage? Ellen is much younger than Oliver and he's afraid that he will lose her if they can't have a baby. When a handsome stranger arrives at their door on a dark, stormy night, could he possibly hold the key to Ellen's desire for a baby or is the price much too high to pay? Desperate people make impulsive decisions, so the tension, stress and the consequences of the decisions makes this psychological thriller, nail-bitingly good! This book will kept me glued to the pages and at the edge of my seat. I had to know what happens next. A gripping read and a shocking end. An excellent psychological thriller! Thanks Maria Frankland for the ARC.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ties That Bind (Kindle Edition) a psychological thriller by Maria Frankland.

This is the first book by Maria which I did not enjoy as much as her previous books as it was quite predictable. It also reminded me of the movie Indecent Proposal in parts.

Oliver Holmes is an affluent businessman who has remarried a much younger woman called Ella whom his two teenage daughters mother and ex-wife dislike.

Ella has everything a woman could wish for apart from her own baby but Oliver had a vasectomy whilst married to his first wife.

Oliver opts for a reversal of his vasectomy to no avail which leads to Ella becoming more frustrated as each month passes and no sign of a pregnancy. Then a stranger knocks on their door on a stormy evening seeking shelter due to the breakdown of his vehicle and the idiom "put the cat among the pigeons, springs to mind."

[C.A. Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Maria!! This book was absolutely amazing!! I could not put it down!

If you've read other books by Maria, you know she doesn’t just write suspense—she weaves it, tangling you in the characters’ dilemmas until you feel as trapped as they do. Every decision, every moment, had me teetering between “oh no” and “what now?” This book isn’t just about the twists, it's also about the emotional weight of those choices—the way they pull at you, make you reconsider everything you thought was right and fair.

This book has completely captivated me—it’s hands down one of my *absolute* favorites lately! I might not be yelling it from the rooftops (yet), but seriously, you NEED to read it. Just a fair warning: once you dive in, there’s no turning back!

[Catherine Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, this book was so good. Oliver was at the top of his game, he was a well-known architect, owning his own architectural company. He built on his own. He even with his own hands, and by himself built his own home with everything imaginable in that house he put together. And on the same property was a little house built for his mom. Oliver was divorced. He had two daughters one was 24. She lived on her own in her own little flat and he had another daughter that was 15 years old and she had lived with her mom. They both came to visit quite frequently with him and his mom he never planned on marrying again. He was 52 years old. He was happy at his home. He got his mom. He had his girls And then he was out one night at a restaurant and he met Ellen. Well he was totally enthralled with her he felt madly in love with her. He married her and moved her right into his big house. His daughters didn’t like her nor did his mom. They wouldn’t even try to get to know her. Things are never as they say. This book was so very good. I really enjoyed it. It was well written and it captured me from page one. So many thrills and chills & every turn . Thank you very much Maria Frankland for such a great read 📚

[Charlotte Baddeley · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a very different plot. Of course, being Maria Frankland, it is another dark, domestic thriller but with a very original story line.

Be careful what you wish for would also have been apt title for this book or there is no such thing as something for nothing. Because this is what Oliver finds out when he meets Anthony one dark, stormy night and all the money in the world cannot put his nearly perfect life back on track.
Of course, we know Anthony has an agenda when he offers to be Ellen and Oliver’s sperm donor. What we don’t know is what that agenda is and that’s when the twists start. Hard to put down I galloped through this book. I couldn’t wait to see how this triangle would end.

[Melissa Suslowicz Bartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved!!!!! Another fabulous read by this fabulous author. Where do I even begin? How about this one really showed the darker side of humans and what lengths they would go to get what they want. The plot was so twisted along with the characters. If you can’t trust the closest people to you then who can you trust. In my opinion you should only trust yourself anyways. Also, if you feel someone or something is not right then trust that feeling. Now let’s talk about that shocking ending. I did not see that one coming at all. I was like WOW!!!!! This author continues to surprise me with each book. I don’t know how she does it time after time. I can’t wait to read her next one. I’m sure it will be just as good or even better than this one.

[Sarah Bloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book.

Maria's books never disappoint and yet again she's written another cracking psychological thriller.

I was quickly immersed after the opening pages and flew through the book. I really enjoyed the taut, brooding plot and the subject matter this story explored and the lengths the characters would go to.

I always love how relatable the characters are in Maria's books and how she has the ability to keep her storylines and ideas fresh so her books to me never feel samey. She also has the uncanny ability to reel you in from the start and keep you guessing until the last pages.

Well done Maria, you've done it again!

[Phyllis Fried · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Maria Frankland for another wonderful story with a character named after me. This story takes the reader on a wild ride. A second marriage to a younger woman, an attempted vasectomy reversal for a wife desperate to have a child and a mother's warning that the wife is not who she says she is. It's an intense and twisted story with many layers. A rainstorm, a stranger at the door and a proposition that is too awful to contemplate. It's a fast read as it builds to a successful conclusion of a tale full of secrets, lies and betrayal.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a rollercoaster - I couldn't put this down! I was absolutely hooked right from the very start. The plot was gripping, tense and kept me guessing right to the shocking conclusion, and the characters were all fantastic. A great ending too - very satisfying. It was quite emotional in a way as so many people would do anything to have a baby, no matter what the consequences are. Yet another brilliant book by Maria Frankland, I loved it!

[Elizabeth Sanguedolce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ties that Bind Double Meaning

This complicated story gripped me by the hair and dragged me around until I finished it. At one point the story moved so fast that I just skimmed the pages as I tore through it. I really could not figure it out. If that doesn't entice you to read it, I question if you are truly a psychological thriller reader! Maria is one of my favorite authors and I just love how creative she is. Bravo Maria for writing another fabulous read!

[Melissa Dressler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader and I am so happy I was chosen. When I read psychological thrillers I want to feel all the feelings, but the really good ones make you want to shout out at the characters. And this book will make you do that. It was written really well and the story line was well put together.

[Maurene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant Maria Frankland book.

Marrying a much younger woman whose psychological clock is ticking faster when you have already had a vasectomy is a situation that can throw up some risky options.
When your mother and your previous grown up daughters view your new wife as not very favourably, this doesn't make for happy families...
I read this 📖 in 24 hours....

[Dina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ties That Bind by Maria Frankland was too long, and honestly, it could’ve been much better if it were tighter and faster-paced. The premise was interesting, and I liked the tension between the characters, and by the end I was wishing for it to stop. When the big reveal happened, I thought it was poorly done and rushed.

[Suzan Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a ride. This is an amazing story of love, loss and tragedy. Also a bunch of secrets and lies. I really liked the way this ended. I loved this story very much and I think you all should read it!

[C Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic from page 1 - another literary masterpiece from our lovely Maria - lucky to have been allowed a preview copy and sad it’s finished xx I have read all of Maria’s books and have never been disappointed- keeeep writing please

[Kasturi Pillay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ties that bind

Been waiting a while for this book to come out and I was not disappoint Maria Frankland books keep me guessing and interested this book had me hooked from the first page I really enjoyed it