Tangled Ties: A Gilded Age family mystery

by Robert Bordas

Old sins cast long shadows.

Overcoming years of hardship, Hungarian immigrant George Bodnár established a comfortable life for his family in
America’s Gilded Age. When a unique opportunity opens for Lizzy, his remarkably talented daughter, George hopes it will
lift her—and the entire family—further up the social ladder.

Lizzy becomes a student at the best boarding school for girls in New York. She carries the world before her, gaining
access to the opulent ballrooms and sumptuous parlors of the wealthy. Caught up in her studies and social life, Lizzy has no idea that they are leading her into the middle of a dangerous, tangled web of lies.

Secrets, deceits and sorrows of the past are lurking around the corner to catch up with George in unexpected ways, shaking his beliefs, crushing his ambitions and threatening to destroy his family.

He knows only one he must protect his daughter at all costs.

Tangled Ties is Book Two in the trilogy of "Will Blood Tell?", a sweeping family saga in the Gilded Age of America. Book Three is planned to be published in 2027.

Genres: Historical Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 28, 2025

About the author

Robert Bordas writes historical fiction inspired by the rich tapestry of his family’s history. His debut novel, The Hand We Are Dealt, was published in 2022 and based on his mother’s memoirs. His latest release, Fighting the Tide (2026), serves as the highly anticipated sequel to that debut.

Robert is also the author of the Will Blood Tell? trilogy, an immigration epic following the adventurous fates of Eastern European immigrants in the US during the Gilded Age. The series includes Gilded Lies (2024) and Tangled Ties (2025), with the final installment scheduled for publication in 2027.

Driven by a lifelong fascination with history, languages, self-identity, and genealogy, Robert spends his time away from the keyboard reading on his Kindle, learning new languages, traveling, and enjoying the outdoors with his family.

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun]

“Why is it that children should suffer for the sins of their fathers?”

I couldn’t wait to read book two in Robert Bordas’ Will Blood Tell series! Andy’s story grabbed me in book one and it permeated most of my thoughts as I read book two; I needed to know what happened to him. I’d gaze at the chapter title and think, no, he’ll not be in this chapter. Then, ahh, yes, I’ll bet I’ll find out more in this chapter. I couldn’t put the book down. You’ll love the creative story Bordas has built at the beginning of this novel. Again, I could never have predicted the trajectory of this plot line, nor the way the setting pulled me into the story. Bordas is a phenomenal writer!

This story focuses on the powerful impact of the past and this theme unites the different plotlines. Set against the backdrop of what it means to be an immigrant, Bordas shows the ripple effects of decisions made in haste and the danger of counting on others to make the right choice. I think the part that affected me the most (after the opening) was reading about how children were now paying for their parents’ mistakes. Bordas knows how to pull on those heartstrings and keep his readers interested in the story. He’ll remind you that sooner or later we’ll have to face what we’ve buried and tried to forget…and that it’ll resurface when we least expect it.

As the title suggests, the ties between characters and settings become tangled. Bordas’s ability to slowly untangle them before the reader is powerful. In conveying how his characters are driven (there’s so much show not tell), Bordas pulls readers into his story. He explores all the angles of the character arcs, digging deep into what motivates them, showing readers the obstacles that are blocking progress in their journey and the sacrifices made to succeed. I felt like I knew these characters!

Motivation also plays a big part in how Bordas has crafted his characters. Unhealthy goals embraced by his villains, who rely on secured inheritances, contrast sharply with the life-affirming progressive goals his other characters championed. The tangling of these motivations had me wishing the characters could see what I see and I was frustrated with the choices they made, adding to what was already a great narrative. Bordas knows that parents always want more for their children, and he crafts a compelling story about sacrifices made in the name of love.

I can’t wait to see what Bordas has in store for these immigrants. I’m hooked!

I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Christine]

I really enjoyed this second book in the series! I loved reading about the life of this family striving for a better future for themselves as well as for their children. This proves not to be an easy task as the parents' past does influence the education of their children... Fear, mistrust and new alternatives (particularly for women) are still very fresh in the immigrants' new life. I found this very interesting. This novel is entertaining while full of hope, failures, success, disappointments and surprises. Well, that's what life is about...
A great read! I do hope for a third book though!!
I have received a digital copy of this novel from BookSirens and I have voluntarily written an honest review.

[Chandaly]

Tangled ties is the second book of the 'Will Blood tell trilogy'. It picks up right after the end of the first volume. We are still following the story of the Bodnar family and just as in book 1, the focus is much more on the American branch. Since it's about following the Bodnars and seeing how they made their lives in America until now, there are time jumps that allow us to follow the story of George's children this time.

I really loved this volume. I loved it just as much as the first one. I liked how threads were woven and continued between the various characters that had already been introduced in the first volume. As far as historical fictions go, I believe that this series is a very good one. I had read and adored the first book written by this author and I had no doubt that this series would be great. He did not disappoint. Once I picked up this series, I couldn't put it down so I strongly recommend this to any lovers of the genre and to people who would be interested in reading fictions following migrant families in the US. The Gilded Age is definitely one of the richest periods of American history to me.

I can't wait to read volume three.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jacqueline]

I am an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. I enjoyed this book so much. It's the second on this subject, after Guilded Lies, that begins the story of a modern man starting genealogical research and, when being contacted by close DNA matches, becomes confused by the connections that don't seem possible. Like me, many a researcher into family history will be familiar with such a situation. The historical story of the family, forced to split up, one brother finding his way from Austria- Hungary to America in the late 1880s is fascinating. Some awful misfortunes occur, including a disastrous romance. This author skilfully describes the areas where the family lived, the time period, plus the "elegant" but very self absorbed high society of New York at the turn of the century. Surviving heartbreak, poverty and guilt, the characters are all sympathetically and expertly drawn. But - I'm sure there must be third book - no author could surely leave his story and his readers with so many unanswered questions! I Will be looking out for it!

[Michèle Callard]

“I received this book as an ARC and was soon hooked by the unpredictable plot and characters.
George Bodnar is a good man. He left Hungary to escape his past and raise a family but as hard as he tries, he finds himself unable to shake its shackles. George’s daughter, Lizzy, strikes up a friendship with Sarah, daughter of a rich family. Together, the two girls dream of enrolling in a New York school for young ladies. Florence Stoddard, the wife of a banker, is desperate to produce an heir to ensure an inheritance that will allow her to enjoy the trappings of the Gilded Age. A fourth shadowy thread brings in a lost boy I very much hope to meet in the next book. The stories interweave and unfurl at a leisurely pace, taking you right into the parlours of New York, a school for young ladies, George’s busy boarding house and into the darkness of his conscience. Immersive and original, this is definitely a book I will recommend!”

[Debra]

An engaging follow-up to the first novel with a Romeo & Juliet type feel of forbidden love. Another grand journey through the family history started in the previous novel. There are some things with characters still unresolved so hoping there will be more novels in this fascinating series. The family stories discovered through genealogy are the best part of it all.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Castle]

excellent historical rendition

Could not put down , wanting to know what would happen around each corner of the next page. Highly recommend.

[Kathryn Read]

I really enjoyed this book.

Stories told from several perspectives often feel artificial and poorly done, but this works very well, despite the increasing complexity of the various threads.

This is a tale that evokes emotions (both positive and negative) with it's turns, and the way that the lives of an immigrant family evolve over time, and tangle with their new American environment.

I'm looking forward to reading more in this series

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amy]

I was not 100% sure what to expect when I selected this book. I love true crime and had never heard the story of Robert Sears. The story is so outlandish and insane I had to Google a few times to make sure I was ready a true story! Jerry Jamison did an amazing job of telling this story. It seems to wild to be true. Because some of it took place in the Dallas area, it was even more personal to me to read. I know Gaston Street and I remember the Dallas Times Herald. I highly recommend this book to anyone who love True Crime. Even if true crime isn't your thing, if you like suspense, mystery, or thriller, you are likely to enjoy this book. I read it in less than 24 hours. (book not purchased)

[Grove]

I had read Robert Bordas's first book in the series 'Gilded Lies' and was delighted to see this sequel appear. I would suggest reading 'Gilded Lies' first; otherwise, the characters and some aspects of the plot may be difficult to follow. We are a fly on the wall of George Bodnár's family again, but now the main character is his daughter, Lizzy, who embarks on a career of her own.
This book, albeit fiction, is a great insight into the complexities of immigrant life in North America at the end of the 19th century.
For anyone looking into their own family story in this period, they are sure to find it both interesting and thought-provoking.

[David Kral]

I liked it. After having read the first book of the series I was curious how the open story will go on. Now I'd like to know whether the series will grow further...

[Elissa Greyson]

Tangled Ties: A Gilded Age Family Mystery by Robert Bordas is a stunning continuation of the Will Blood Tell? saga, and I found myself completely absorbed from start to finish. Bordas has a remarkable gift for bringing the Gilded Age to life, the era’s glittering social scene, the immense wealth juxtaposed with hard-won immigrant struggles, and the underlying tensions of old secrets all feel vivid and immediate.

George Bodnár is a character that stays with you long after the book ends. His journey from hardship to stability is compelling, but it’s his fierce devotion to his daughter Lizzy that forms the emotional core of the story. Lizzy herself is a brilliantly crafted character, intelligent, ambitious, and naïve in just the right measure to make her entanglement in society’s web of lies feel authentic and suspenseful. Watching her navigate the opulent ballrooms and elite boarding school while the shadows of the past close in kept me turning pages.

What impressed me most was how Bordas weaves family secrets, betrayals, and moral dilemmas into a plot that is both intricate and emotionally resonant. The tension never feels forced; instead, it builds naturally as George struggles to protect his family, and you can’t help but empathize with the weight of his choices. The narrative balances drama, suspense, and historical detail beautifully, making it easy to picture the Gilded Age in all its splendor and grit.

As someone who loves family sagas with depth, I appreciated that this is more than just a period drama, it’s a story about legacy, ambition, and the consequences of past actions. Bordas’ writing is immersive without being overwhelming, and his characters feel real, flawed, and fully human.

I also found myself eagerly anticipating the next installment. While Tangled Ties wraps up certain storylines, it leaves enough intrigue and unanswered questions that the promise of Book Three is impossible to resist. If you enjoy historical mysteries with rich characters, intricate family dynamics, and a touch of suspense, this book is an absolute must-read.

[James McMILLAN]

This Nineteenth century immigrant adventure challenged me when I considered my own family ancestors who travelled to the new world down under as immigrants in 1865. I wonder how we would have fared in the nineteenth century. This is the second novel where the author incorporates DNA, thereby enhancing and developing the story. As in the first “Gilded Lies”,it is very well written and enhances the story already developed. A Reader would understand and appreciate the novel better, having read the first in the series. Without a doubt, these two historical novels are up there with “the best” immigration stories I have been privileged to read. Once again, Highly Recommended.

[Rita]

I enjoyed "The Hand we are Dealt" by Robert Bordas, so when I was given the opportunity to read an advanced review copy of his new book "Tangled Ties" via BookSirens, I was happy to read and review. This book did not disappoint. It was very interesting and had a few surprises to keep you wondering. The first part of the book introduced a lot of characters, and I was curious how they would all fit together. It was an interesting and satisfying journey. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am happy to give this review voluntarily.

[Jaron Kratzer]

What first drew me into this book was the setting. As a History major in college, it was exciting to see a book set in America's 'gilded age,' an era that often gets overlooked. I read this book hoping to be immersed in that time, and I was not disappointed. A lot of stuff that happens seems crazy by modern standards, but it just makes so much sense for that era!
The characters are believable and relatable, the story is engaging and intense, and the themes shine like stars in a night sky. The pacing is a bit slow early on, and I had a few favorite characters who didn’t get as much screen time as I wanted, but overall the book was very enjoyable. I finished reading it in about half the time I thought it would take (partly thanks to schedule constraints, but mostly) because I couldn’t put it down. This book isn’t in a genre that normally draws me in, but I’m so glad I sat down to read this one.
I especially liked seeing one of my least-liked characters turn out to be a fan of eugenics and a bunch of other messed up stuff that people were saying back then. I like to imagine that character would end up being a big fan of the Nazi when they show up 20-ish years after the events of this book (they’re enough of a butt-hole to fit right in with that crowd). Don’t get me wrong: I’m not supporting them or their behavior, merely pointing out that this book has some characters you’ll love to hate.
Apologies for the long winded review (I get rambly sometimes). I would recommend this book to almost anyone. Definitely worth your time.

Disclaimer: I read a pre-release version of this book. I was not paid for this review and these opinions are my own. Also, I didn't read the previous book in the series... yeah, if you haven't read that one, then take it from me: you might want to go check out “Gilded Ties” first. A few things in this book confused me more than they should have, lol.

[Gail Buckingham]

What a great read, I absolutely love this series and I hope that there is more to come. I am very involved with family history and DNA research, so this series was definitely as must read for me.
It is well written, believable, showing the trials and tribulations of immigrants trying to make a life for themselves. Thank you Robert Bordas.

[Jill Rathburn]

Not as engaging as the first one in the series. Devolved into a romance novel; but, about 2/3 of the way through developed an interesting plot twist that helped. I will probably read the third one when it comes out just to see what happens.

[Gebra]

csalódás az első kötethez képest.
nehéz spoiler mentesen irni róla, alapvetően egy eléggé klisés konfliktushelyzet feloldásáról ir, amiről lassan ezer éve irnak már szerzők százai.