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A Tie That Binds: Anita Zac, Book 1
As the Rue killer is finally apprehended, Detective Anita breathes a sigh of relief, bidding farewell to her long-time nemesis, Brie.
Just as she contemplates a future without the haunting specter of the serial killer, fate takes an unexpected turn.
A call about a dead runaway teen jolts Anita back into action. The lifeless girl clutches a mysterious note in her backpack, bearing the enigmatic words, "A tie that binds."
Book one of the Anita Zac novella series.
Just as she contemplates a future without the haunting specter of the serial killer, fate takes an unexpected turn.
A call about a dead runaway teen jolts Anita back into action. The lifeless girl clutches a mysterious note in her backpack, bearing the enigmatic words, "A tie that binds."
Book one of the Anita Zac novella series.
Audible Audio
First published December 16, 2023
3 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Zee David
14 books9 followersZee David discovered her talent of writing at an early age. Her satisfaction is knowing that her work is read and loved. She loves writing, watching Korean dramas, and most of all, she loves her family.
Zee David's language background reflects in her work, which consists of both American and British English. She speaks four languages fluently. She is an animal lover, especially cats, and dogs
Reads a lot, though mostly listens to audiobooks. She leans toward the mystery genre.
https://books2read.com/author/zee-dav...
https://www.amazon.com/author/zeedavid
Zee David's language background reflects in her work, which consists of both American and British English. She speaks four languages fluently. She is an animal lover, especially cats, and dogs
Reads a lot, though mostly listens to audiobooks. She leans toward the mystery genre.
https://books2read.com/author/zee-dav...
https://www.amazon.com/author/zeedavid
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 1, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – Gritty, gripping, and totally addictive
You ever think a character finally caught a break—finally got to exhale—and then BAM, the universe says, “not so fast”? That’s exactly what Zee David does to poor Detective Anita Zac in A Tie That Binds, and let me tell you: I devoured this novella like it was evidence in a case I couldn’t stop obsessing over.
After the Rue Killer is taken down (hallelujah, right?), Anita thinks maybe, just maybe, she can breathe without looking over her shoulder. And I wanted that for her! But of course, Zee doesn’t let her—or us—off the hook for long. That call about the dead runaway girl? Chilling. The note in her backpack? Even more so. “A tie that binds” — excuse me, Zee?? Why do I already feel like this is going to spiral into something ten times darker than we’re ready for?
Anita is exactly the kind of lead I love—smart, flawed, worn-out but still sharp. She's not chasing justice for the glory, she’s chasing it because it won’t stop haunting her. You feel the emotional exhaustion clinging to her like smoke from old fires. But what I love most? She keeps going. She chooses to get pulled back in. And that makes her all the more real to me.
Zee David writes like she’s planting clues in your own psyche—quiet lines that linger, dread that simmers just beneath the surface. And for a novella? The punch this one packs is impressive. Fast-paced, dark, and emotionally gritty, this is the kind of story that makes you question whether justice ever really brings peace… or just opens the door to a deeper nightmare.
If you love your mysteries with a heavy dose of emotional weight, a no-nonsense heroine who won’t quit, and just enough eerie foreshadowing to make your spine tingle—A Tie That Binds needs to be your next read. I’m already itching for Book 2.
You ever think a character finally caught a break—finally got to exhale—and then BAM, the universe says, “not so fast”? That’s exactly what Zee David does to poor Detective Anita Zac in A Tie That Binds, and let me tell you: I devoured this novella like it was evidence in a case I couldn’t stop obsessing over.
After the Rue Killer is taken down (hallelujah, right?), Anita thinks maybe, just maybe, she can breathe without looking over her shoulder. And I wanted that for her! But of course, Zee doesn’t let her—or us—off the hook for long. That call about the dead runaway girl? Chilling. The note in her backpack? Even more so. “A tie that binds” — excuse me, Zee?? Why do I already feel like this is going to spiral into something ten times darker than we’re ready for?
Anita is exactly the kind of lead I love—smart, flawed, worn-out but still sharp. She's not chasing justice for the glory, she’s chasing it because it won’t stop haunting her. You feel the emotional exhaustion clinging to her like smoke from old fires. But what I love most? She keeps going. She chooses to get pulled back in. And that makes her all the more real to me.
Zee David writes like she’s planting clues in your own psyche—quiet lines that linger, dread that simmers just beneath the surface. And for a novella? The punch this one packs is impressive. Fast-paced, dark, and emotionally gritty, this is the kind of story that makes you question whether justice ever really brings peace… or just opens the door to a deeper nightmare.
If you love your mysteries with a heavy dose of emotional weight, a no-nonsense heroine who won’t quit, and just enough eerie foreshadowing to make your spine tingle—A Tie That Binds needs to be your next read. I’m already itching for Book 2.
January 9, 2024
This is my first novel by Zee David. It was easy to follow and there weren't any slow parts to it. The ending wasn't what I had expected. It had a similar feel to other detective stories I've read but the case itself was unique. I liked the dynamic between Anita and Darwin and I hope that can be revisited in future books. Overall there was enough that I liked to keep me reading (or listening to) more.
January 8, 2024
I’m not convinced that this book should have ended where it did. I feel that no questions were answered and there’s lots of loose ends still. Great performance,
December 30, 2023
This was a total surprise! An awesome surprise. I swear, Zee David does it to me every time. This book was, I guess, kind of a spin-off of her Brie Owens series (an excellent series, by the way). But it can totally be read as a standalone too, and you wouldn't feel as if you are missing anything. However, Anita was the detective working the case that Brie Owens was involved in. Brie wasn't in this one (not really). It was a completely new book with a brand new case. I loved it. It kind of had cult vibes to it with the homeless kids, and I love the psychology behind cults. I'd love to say more, but you know, spoilers and all. Oh, and Darwin, I love him! He's so perfect for her! I also really enjoyed how you can see how these cases really weigh on the detectives who work them. It can't be easy to see this creepy stuff daily. If someone had told me that this was a true story, I would have believed them. It was so well written, no loose ends. And it's a quickie. I have no idea how the author can tell so much story in so few pages (I am most definitely not a concise writer lol). But Zee does it brilliantly. Perfect for those who love a good Mystery with a lot of nail-biting suspense. I'm pretty sure there were at least 5 times that I actually screamed out loud! Yes, I am a screamer from time to time lol, and there was a lot to scream about in this book. And I will just mention the ending quickly because I definitely screamed there! So when Brie called, the last thing I expected from Anita was to say that someone was messing with her as her first reaction. In the previous books, that's what got Anita in trouble the first and second time around. But after her first reaction, she was on it! And do you guys know what that means? ANOTHER FANTASTIC BRIE BOOK IS COMING!!! Y'all, get into this series. It's totally worth it! <3
July 23, 2025
A Tie that Binds ended up being a novella that just fell short for me. The first few chapters were riveting; it starts with detective Anita Zac taking her first real breather after concluding a stressful case. Unfortunately, this calm moment is shattered when she gets a call of a dead teenager being found in an abandoned structure.
Suspense builds as Anita starts to discover who this teenager was and why she was killed in such a brutal way. Unfortunately, the enjoyment of this suspense was shattered as the story progressed. The transition between chapters felt stuttered and disjointed. It felt like conclusions were drawn suddenly, as if steps were taken off-page, which left confusion. Additionally, development of the characters seemed to stop, making me wonder why I should even care about Anita Zac and her partner.
Maybe in future books, the story of detective Anita Zac will be better. But due to my dislikes of how the story progressed, I have no plans of continuing with these series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Suspense builds as Anita starts to discover who this teenager was and why she was killed in such a brutal way. Unfortunately, the enjoyment of this suspense was shattered as the story progressed. The transition between chapters felt stuttered and disjointed. It felt like conclusions were drawn suddenly, as if steps were taken off-page, which left confusion. Additionally, development of the characters seemed to stop, making me wonder why I should even care about Anita Zac and her partner.
Maybe in future books, the story of detective Anita Zac will be better. But due to my dislikes of how the story progressed, I have no plans of continuing with these series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
December 31, 2023
"A Tie That Binds" masterfully entwines readers in the enigmatic Crime Scene Investigation of a young girl named Remi, and the ending leads to the Rue serial killer case, delivering a gripping narrative that explores the intertwining lives of characters facing the harsh realities of crime, their investigation, and an uncertain future. Set against the backdrop of shelters for homeless kids and the drug trade, this novel presents a compelling story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.
The Characters of Dedicated Detective Anita committed to investigation is amazing which even costs her personal relationship for dispensing the justice for victims.
"A Tie That Binds" is a must-read for mystery enthusiasts seeking a captivating narrative with well-developed characters and a poignant exploration of societal issues. The novel successfully combines suspense, emotion, and social commentary, leaving readers eager for more from this talented author.
The Characters of Dedicated Detective Anita committed to investigation is amazing which even costs her personal relationship for dispensing the justice for victims.
"A Tie That Binds" is a must-read for mystery enthusiasts seeking a captivating narrative with well-developed characters and a poignant exploration of societal issues. The novel successfully combines suspense, emotion, and social commentary, leaving readers eager for more from this talented author.
January 12, 2024
I enjoyed the narration of Sallybeth
This may a fast listen, but it holds a punch. We have homeless kids, drug trade. Homicide detective, Anita is investigating the murder of teenager called Remi. She must uncover the mystery of what has been going on at the shelter and why did this girl have to die? It soon leads a politician, and things get tricky.
This may a fast listen, but it holds a punch. We have homeless kids, drug trade. Homicide detective, Anita is investigating the murder of teenager called Remi. She must uncover the mystery of what has been going on at the shelter and why did this girl have to die? It soon leads a politician, and things get tricky.
May 8, 2024
This novel was uneventful and cut short. The characters had no depth to them and relationships were a non entity. I expected much better and I am not inspired to read any other books in this series.
May 31, 2025
"A Tie That Binds" is must-read with well-developed characters. The author, Zee David, does a great job of building the suspense to really pull the reader in to the story. Eager for more.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews