Blood Ties

PI Julie Collins #1

by Lori G. Armstrong

Given the trainwreck my life has become, I’ve earned my cynical attitude. I’m trapped in a dead-end job at the Bear Butte County Sheriff’s Office—a position I took out of desperation after the brutal murder of my Lakota half-brother. Three years have passed, his case is cold, and my coping mechanisms—tequila, cigarettes and dubious men—no longer serve as excuses for my grief; they define who I am.

Welcome to my world—Julie Collins, harbinger of doom and a sucker for lost causes.

So when the body of a sixteen-year-old white girl surfaces and the death details are alarmingly similar to my brother’s murder, Kevin Wells—my best pal and local PI—admits he’d been hired to find the missing kid before she turned up dead.
I’m roped into helping Kevin tie up loose ends regarding the girl’s disappearance…and that’s when things begin to unravel. Lies are revealed. Bullets start flying. Yet nothing—not even death threats—will stop me from digging for the truth and finding the justice for this girl that my brother was denied.

But the killer is willing to kill again to make sure these secrets stay buried. And this time, I’m in the crosshairs.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Ebooks, Contemporary

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2005

About the author

Lori Armstrong is the two-time winner of the Shamus Award given by the Private Eye Writers of America and a New York Times bestselling author of contemporary western erotic romance, written as Lorelei James. Her books have won the Willa Cather Literary Award and have been nominated for the High Plains Book Award and the Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives in western South Dakota - See more at: http://authors.simonandschuster.com/L...

Series
* PI Julie Collins
* Mercy Gunderson Mystery

Reviews

[Timitra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blood Ties is the first book in the Julie Collins. Julie Collins is an asshole but she's not an asshole just for the sake of being an asshole, no her assholish nature is forged out of her experiences. While I know a lot of readers might be turned off by that fact I actually loved that about her. I loved her bold and brash nature too. She also lacks self preservation skills which makes her reckless but again I enjoyed that aspect of her personality.

This first book gives a bit of history and insight into Julie, why she is the way she is and what driven she is driven by. It also contains a mystery that Julie is hell bent on solving. While I figured who was responsible for the case Julie was on pretty early on I still quite enjoyed connecting the dots with Julie and Kevin. I thought the author did a great job in crafting this mystery that was highly entertaining. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

If you are looking for a mystery full of twists and turns then I highly suggest giving this book a try.


ARC provided by author in exchange for a honest review

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The story was compelling, the style polished in spots, and the characters held promise.

Author Lori Armstrong just tried too hard. When I think of a tough, competent woman there is V.I.Warshawski. For capable, savvy trailer trash there's Stephanie Plum. For rode-hard-and-put-away-wet there's Sharon McCone. Julie Collins, as written, is not even close. It's okay that she drinks, smokes, has sex at the drop of a hat, gets hot and bothered before the hat hits the ground, and is haunted by her past. It's okay that in two weeks she gets beaten up so often I lost count and bounces right back, complains that she need to get laid the day after she gets laid, makes one stupid decision after another, and isn't original when it comes to foul language.

It isn't okay that the ending is rushed and makes no sense. It isn't okay that the author makes Collins so stupid and goes just over the believable line. It isn't okay that her editor didn't help her overcome these shortcomings.

Hopefully by the next Julie Collins book, Armstrong and her editors will have matured. Because there is enough promise to try again.

[Keri · Rating 5 out of 5]

LA is a NTM author and this for sure will not be my last PI Julie Collins book. Our book starts though before Julie starts her official career as a PI. Right now she is secretary for the Sheriff’s Department with a pretty face, a real smart mouth and a huge chip on her shoulder. She lost her Lakota half-brother 3 years ago due to murder. She had some half-baked idea that she would join the department have access to all sorts of records, solve his murder and set herself free of her crushing sadness over losing the one person in this world she loved above all others. That is part of the attraction of Julie, she is just like a normal person, where she has big hopes and dreams that never quite pan out in reality. She also watches too many detective shows and cop dramas. Oh did I also mention she has a fondness for hard liquor and bad, bad men, sometimes both at once. ;-)

I loved Julie, but at times she would drive me insane because she would let her mouth run on and get herself in trouble more than once, when silence would have served her better. Kevin, a friend that she has been in love with for years has come to her for some help on her off times to help him solve the disappearance of a 17 year old girl. But before Kevin and Julie can get the investigation off the ground, a young girl is found dead. As it turns out it is their missing person. They should have left it at that, but Julie can’t as the girl’s younger sister is now depending on Kevin and Julie to find the killer. When a crimes comes to light that happened 17 years ago, other people start coming up dead. Is it all related to that incident?

If Julie can stop getting beat up at Fat Bob’s because of her mouth, off the Hombre’s(a very bad motorcycle gang…errr…club) radar or stop being shot at, maybe she can solve the crime before the murderer takes a bead on her and Kevin. There is the beginning of a love triangle between her, Kevin and the sexy Hombres man, Martinez. Normally I hate that kind of thing, but I already know the outcome and who gets the girl, so I am going to roll with it. I read this thing in 4.5 hours of nonstop reading, because I just couldn’t put it down until Julie got her man. Can’t wait to read the next one and if you are a mystery fan that likes a strong woman with a big heart who is always on the underdog's side and who can really hold her booze then PI Julie Collins might be for you.

[Coco.V]

FREE on Amazon today (10/30/2017)!

[Beanbag Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lori G. Armstrong AKA Lorelei James writes a very decent mystery. I couldn’t tell who the culprit was for most of the book. It had me engaged and I wanted to get back to it whenever I had to put it down in order to focus on real life.

The lead character, Julie Collins, is one screwed up woman. With good reason, of course. She had an abusive upbringing and has a string of dead end relationships. She’s got a male best friend, Kevin, with whom she’s at least slightly in love. She’s also got a turnip-brained, lug of a boyfriend and at least one other dangerous man interested in her.

Julie is a beautiful blond (but she won’t be for long with as much smoking as she does – she’ll be gray-skinned and pinch-mouthed by the time she’s pushing 40 – if she lives that long) who attracts good-looking men, but her behavior is less than inviting. She can be a real bitch, but what really bothers me about her is how incredibly, appallingly, freakishly, STUPID she is. Total TSTL when she loses her temper, which is far too often.

And there are other stupid things. Why in the world would someone who’s investigating a situation that included murder leave their gun or their phone in the car? Not only does Julie do that, but her crack PI bestie does it too. Stupid, stupid, stupid. She even says in her inner monologue at one point how much she hates the girls in horror movies who go off to investigate the weird, scary thing in the woods with no backup or weapon. She acknowledges she’s doing the same thing herself at that moment. As if that’s supposed to make it okay that she did it! No, acknowledgement that you’re doing something stupid for no discernable reason doesn’t make you less stupid if you go ahead and do it. That actually makes you even more of an idiot. Ugh.

I don’t love temper tantrum-induced moronic behavior as a plot device, either. It’s annoying as hell. Yes, Julie, taunt violent men on their turf. Just don’t be surprised when you get your ass kicked. Literally. What was the point? What did you learn? Not nearly enough to make it worth it. SMH

But I still give it 4 stars because the mystery is good and, despite my complaints above, I enjoyed the heck out of it. Julie seems like a work in progress so I’m hoping that, after a few books, she’ll evolve into someone a little more stable and prudent. Just enough not to be TSTL, though. She wouldn't be quite the same without vinegar running through her veins.

Lorelei James writes erotica. Lori G. Armstrong may be the same person, but this series is not romance so don’t come looking for some of those great McKay-style hookups. The writing, though, is competent (aside from the contrived catalysts) and engaging. I bought the bundle of four books and I’ve read the first two. If you like mystery and blue collar, working people hashing things out, you’ll like it.

There’s also a hot, dangerous MC president. So it’s got that going for it as well. ;D

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a mystery fan, unless it is in a romance. Blood Ties is a mystery not a romance and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this first installment of the Julie Collins, PI series. The story kept me guess who the culprit was until the very end.

AND the SEXY men....ohhh...Kevin, Jimmer, and ooohhh la, la...TONY =)

[DAISY READS HORROR · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! Julie's character kicked butt! I only wish there would have been more on Ben's death in the story. His death seems to be very mysterious. Maybe it will be revealed in other books. I was not expecting the ending to be what it was! it was simply brilliant! The Killer's motive was one I did not see coming at all!! I recommend this book, I will be reading the rest in the series!

[SheLove2Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read. Can't wait to read the next one!

[Jeanne Stone]

I loved everything about this book.

Julie Collins is a mess. She drinks too much, smokes too much and swears like a sailor. She's quick to get in a fight and on the surface seems unlovable. She's damaged by an abusive father and the too early death of her mother and her brother. She's not quick to give her love but when she does she gives her entire heart. Her brother Ben being one of those. She didn't know of his existence for the first decade or so of her life but she takes to him immediately and is devastated by his unsolved murder. Her friend Kevin is another she loves with all her heart. He's been her lifeline through all the crappy things she's had to deal with. Watching her with the neighbor child even further proves Julie isn't cold and uncaring like her crusty exterior would imply.

The dogged way she pursues the murder of a young girl is no doubt influenced by everything I cited above. Julie proves to be a very adept investigator even though her pursuits often leave her with new damage.

The mysterious Tony Martinez may have a small role in this book but wooza. He's sexy and the ultimate bad boy.

Armstrong write great mystery with plenty of rich characters. The plot is fast moving and intriguing with lots to keep the reader guessing and on the edge of their seat.

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very much in the hard-drinking, hard-living PI vein, who gets beaten up on a regular basis for persisting - with the exception that the main character is female. The trouble is, for me that just didn't work - maybe because I didn't really take to Julie, plus she pretty much reached my "too stupid to live" threshold towards the end ("Oh, I'm going to go out into the wilderness on my own, without telling anyone where I'm going, to hunt down this guy I think has killed at least two people, armed with nothing but a bow and target arrows"). Some of the supporting characters were okay.

[Kim · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a free Friday Nook book, and I downloaded it because of the high ratings from other readers on Goodreads. While I am usually well-guided by readers on this site, in this case, I cannot see what the rave reviews are all about. The story draws relentlessly on negative small town stereotypes (people in small towns drink and fight because they have nothing else to do, fat people are ignorant and vindictive, any one with any kind of authority is either ignorant or slimy, there is a possibility that you are dating your half-sibling) without providing much new or intriguing to balance these characters out. The friendship and attraction between the main character Julie Collins and her friend, private investigator Kevin Wells, has potential to be interesting either as they become a crime fighting duo or as a romantic development, yet neither of them seem to have matured beyond high school. In several places in the plot line, the emotional responses and ties of the characters seemed to be part of an after-school special (who gets to be part of the social circle, who is left outside looking in, who gets to come to the beer bash), as though no one in this community grew emotionally after the final bars of "Pomp and Circumstance" faded in the high school gym. The men seemed to be drawn to depressed and beaten up women while being kept under the controlling thumb of fat wives or co-workers.
At one point in the story, Julie acknowledges to herself that she is no Eve Dallas (J. D. Robb's homicide detective from the popular In Death series). This insight was funny at that point in the story, and unfortunately true for the rest of the book.

[Hmr28 · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT BOOK! I LOVED this main character. She is so strong, yet flawed that I just could not stop reading this series. I got the first one for free for the nook (it is still free now...grab it!) I read it in one day and was lying in bed unable to sleep because the book was so darn good. Sooo I got up and got the second one for my nook and started reading and read till it was done too. 2 Books in one night is not a record for me but 2 such good ones is! I bought the next 2 books in the series the next day and they were just as good. I can't believe there won't be more but the series does end in a good place. I have decided that Lori Armstrong is going to be an auto buy for me. Her other series is just as good (the Mercy books). She writes with a gritty, character heavy hand. Her books almost make me think of how the writers for Closer write about Brenda and her relationships..little miniature character studies that slowly open up the characters, pinpointing their flaws and good points all at once. She isn't afraid of breaking "writer" rules. Most of the series is first person but for parts of the third we get a third person viewpoint mixed in. I really like the writing style. Love this series!

[Annette · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really disappointed in this book. The main character is annoying. I'm honestly surprised at the number of people who like her so much in the reviews. She not only has annoying habits (chain smoking, obsessing over drinking, and obsessing over sex), but she has annoying traits. She makes dumb decisions, acts tougher than she is, allows herself to be beaten by men (and doesn't report it to cops), allows child neglect to go unreported, and walks into dangerous situations too often. I was annoyed and mad the entire book.

[Melyssa Winchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story actually surprised me.

When you stalk amazon for a certain genre of book and come across free titles and grab them, you're never quite sure you're gonna grab one up that meets your fancy. This one did.

I enjoy quirky lead characters. Heroines. Heroes. Doesn't matter. I enjoy them when they're not completely out of this world. I also enjoy suspense and thriller type stories that are lead by one of said people.

Stephanie Plum is the best example I can give of the kind of person you're getting here, but Julie is edgier than her. Funny for sure, but definitely a little rougher around the edges.

Her relationships with the people she works with, her best friend, her "boyfriend" at the beginning of this story and the way it all comes together as she tries to solve the murder of a young girl, well it all played out wonderfully. It all felt very organic and the humor mixed with the seriousness had me flipping those pages to see how it would turn out at a speed I haven't had in awhile.

I was engaged, my interest growing with each new little tidbit or person unearthed and by the end, the author had made a new fan in me.

Even though this story is listed as part of a series, it does not have a cliffhanger style end as each case she takes on does stray from the one before, but I'm looking forward to grabbing up and diving into the second (and third...) in this series because honestly, not only do I enjoy the lead character, but as this goes on, I'd love to see her get resolution in terms of an event that happened to her before this book even takes off. That's my pay off.

Plus, I gotta see where this back and forth goes with her and a certain biker that made his presence known in a big way here plays out. Consider me hooked.

Great read!

[Debra Barstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book full of twists and turn and surprises. I would recommend this book for the thrill seekers.

[Ann Schneider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the characters. I also liked learning about this part of the country. Sometimes got a little bored with the plot but that’s ok. It’s a nice beach read.

[gwen graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright

The story was good, the characters were somewhat boring and predictable. I lived 40 some yrs in Rapid City and the description of the are were good.

[Simon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding out at about just 373 pages, I found myself deeply engaged in the book and surprisingly, it's not due to the mystery plot line! The character of Julie Collins is very interesting and one that I can find myself reading every now and then when I'm bored with other types of books.

The actual mystery in Blood Ties in my honest opinion was not all that interesting. You have a dead little girl and the main characters are trying their hardest to figure out who done it. The saving grace of Blood Ties is the introduction of Julie Collins as the "apprentice" private investigator to Kevin Wells. You see, Julie is not one of those typical goody good girls who say the right things at the right time and mind their manner. Julie is a 34 year old blonde who likes to drink a lot of beers, smoke a lot of cigarettes, and likes to have sex a whole lot. She is witty, has a loud mouth, thinks herself as "hardcore" and doesn't mind getting into trouble to get the information she wants. However, she also has a soft side and it's hilarious reading about her battling the emotions inside her head. Some readers might find her to be too obscene and whatnot but I enjoy it so much and I hope she doesn't change at all! I find myself laughing time and time again whenever Julie thinks of witty comments in her head. She's one of those girls whose guaranteed to be someone you know of personally. She portrays the tough, loud mouth chick on the outside and as if nothing can scare her but in reality, she's just as scared and afraid of the dread called loneliness as everyone else.

Throughout the book, you're trying to guess who killed little Samantha. Her dad? The sneezy lawyer? A reverend? It's your typical cliche type of mystery book and although you can take a stab at the killer, you'll probably be wrong in the end. The one thing I don't like about these mystery endings is that yes, although no one could have seen or guessed the killer, the author left us no choice because she herself doesn't get into the details of it throughout the book and just throws it in our face in the end. I consider that somewhat cheap because although the explanation makes sense, the author doesn't give enough clues or hints as to having that possible outcome in the book. Me personally, I can't consider that your classic mystery "shocker" at all.

In the end, Blood Ties is a fantastic time killer of a mystery book. Not too long and not too short. The mystery part itself is lacking but the character of Julie Collins should keep you entertained. Unless of course, you don't dig her sort of character and if you don't, then I recommend you to stop reading immediately because Julie will be in your face throughout the book. The good thing is you won't be missing anything special here story wise so do skip the book without any guilt. I'm hoping the second book in the Julie Collin series incorporates a much more interesting mystery plot line and ending because the author definitely got the character locked down. All she needs from my viewpoint is a better mystery plot.

[Jeanne Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book through BN's Free Book Friday and was a boon that was! I loved everything about this book.

Julie Collins is a mess. She drinks too much, smokes too much and swears like a sailor. She's quick to get in a fight and on the surface seems unlovable. She's damaged by an abusive father and the too early death of her mother and her brother. She's not quick to give her love but when she does she gives her entire heart. Her brother Ben being one of those. She didn't know of his existence for the first decade or so of her life but she takes to him immediately and is devastated by his unsolved murder. Her friend Kevin is another she loves with all her heart. He's been her lifeline through all the crappy things she's had to deal with. Watching her with the neighbor child even further proves Julie isn't cold and uncaring like her crusty exterior would imply.

The dogged way she pursues the murder of a young girl is no doubt influenced by everything I cited above. Julie proves to be a very adept investigator even though her pursuits often leave her with new damage.

The mysterious Tony Martinez may have a small role in this book but wooza. He's sexy and the ultimate bad boy.

Armstrong write great mystery with plenty of rich characters. The plot is fast moving and intriguing with lots to keep the reader guessing and on the edge of their seat.

The first thing I did upon finishing this novel is to buy the rest of the series. I've owned it forever and can't tell you how many times I've reread it. Armstrong is on my "must read" list from her on out.

[Kamas Kirian · Rating 2 out of 5]

On a positive note, she made me feel something about the main character. Unfortunately, it was often annoyance. There were also a fair number of typos in the eBook edition. The most glaring one was someone carrying a "40mm" handgun. I don't know if it was supposed to be a 10mm or .40 cal, as that particular gun comes chambered in both. I'm not sure why she set her novel in Rapid City, unless it was just someplace familiar to her. With such a rich natural landscape to tap into, she did nothing with it. Other than two scenes set in some anonymous forest, she didn't even really mention the area. So much potential in the great Black Hills locales gone to waste. The character development was lacking. Other than being annoyed with the actions of Julie Collins, I didn't feel anything for any of the characters. It didn't really need all the references to sex either, as it didn't move the story forward at all (with the notable exception of the one character's rape-which isn't really about sex but assault). The responsible "bad guy" was also quite predictable. It seamed fairly obvious who it was right after the character was "introduced". I was pretty surprised at how the "bad guy" was wrapped up in the end though. As a Free Friday selection, it was worth it. To pay money for it, not really. Unless the others in the series end up free, I won't be continuing.

[Ria Lize · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5

A love triangle would normally have me running in the opposite direction but in Blood Ties, I had no such intention (yes, I've spoilered myself so I know who Julie will end up with to save me from going nuts).

Once that pesky love triangle sorts itself out I will love this series forever. Lol. It didn't frustrate me so much because the romance was slight, the mystery helped balance it all and it was interesting.

I should probably also mention that the opening lines of this book is probably one of the most memorable I've read and I'm not quite sure why.

"Death has nipped at my heels like a disobedient dog since I was fourteen.

A drunk driver killed my mother the autumn of that year. She was hit head on. The extend of her injuries including massive trauma, excluded the option of an open casket.

I felt cheated. I believed then, if I'd touchedd her hand or stroked her cheek one last time, acceptance of her death might have offered me comfort or closure."


Julie had some TSTL moments but oh well, she met Martinez that way. She also struck me as selfish at times, but I think it made it easy for me to like her, because she was so flawed.

Lots of potential here, so here's to hoping the next one won't suck. :D

[Betsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
The more I think about this book, the more I wonder why I gave it a good rating. Ultimately, I think it is because Lori Armstrong has good writing skills. I just really didn't like the setting, the characters, the mood, the ambiance, the dialogue and I really didn't like the violence. Oh, and I knew the killers within the first 1/3 of the book. There were not surprises here and I am not a mystery book buff. But I am a bit paranoid and I have watched my share of Murder, She Wrote. In this case the bad guy would have been portrayed by Shawn Cassidy or some other star that would have stood out like a sore thumb. I just feel I must mention that Julie, our heroine got beat up an EXCESSIVE number of times. The violence and bleakness of this character's life is depressing, numbing and there seems to be no way out. I am leaning toward no more in this series because life can be depressing enough. If my female characters get abused I like there to be promise of an uprising, some black leather, a katana and some snark.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first started reading this one I wasn't too sure about it. Julie is a mess, just going through the motions of her life, lots of booze, lots of cigarettes, and lots of men. None of them can take her mind off the knowledge that her brother was murdered and the killer has still not been caught. Julie's life is a crappy job in the Sheriff's office, her crappy house, and working part time for her friend, where there seems to be more to their relationship.

Kevin bullies Julie into helping him. While they look into things events hit close to home for Julie. With her raw feelings so close to the top Julie manages to find out things, sometimes Kevin is with her, sometimes not, but all the times Julie's big mouth seems to get her in trouble. Every time you turn the page she seems to make an enemy. Some of them turn out not to be what you think at first.

With the events of the past few pages I can't wait to check out the next book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very rarely do I venture outside the romance genre but since I love everything written under Ms. Armstrong's pen name of Lorelei James, I thought I'd give her Julie Collins series a try. Even though I was warned this was a bit dark and not some cozy romance, it really wasn't as dark as I feared even though there is murder, talk of rape and even some child neglect (which broke my heart).

Julie Collins is definitely rough around the edges. Loud mouth, brash and a bit over the top at times however the author did a superb job of outlining exactly what happened in her past that shaped who she is today. Very engaging story. Once I started, I had a hard time putting it down and finished it very quickly. I probably watch way too many crime shows and can usually figure out who did it very quickly but Ms. Armstrong kept me guessing and then second guessing until almost the end.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

another Free Friday nook book I read that this is a debut novel. If the author is planning to continue this series, she will have to tone things down some. Julie could end up getting offed rather quickly in a subsequent book. Personally, I don't care for the fact that she smokes like a fiend, and drinks a lot. She is impulsive, and doesn't have a lot of good choices in men. Maybe she figures that the fact that her brother downed five years before gives her an excuse for some of her behavior. Parts of this are good, but there are crude and cruel episodes.

[☺Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

Smoking, drinking, and sleeping around - way to honor your dead half-brother's memory, Julie. What astounds me is that, as hugely flawed as the character of Julie is, she has the audacity to be so judgmental of others! I really dislike this type of character and find them extremely annoying. Just not interested in reading any further. The story was well-written, fast-paced, and I finished it in one evening. Armstrong's Mercy Gunderson series sounds even darker than the Julie Collins series . . . depressing.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been hoarding this series for a time when I needed a kickass read; good series do not come along every day, and from reading her other work as Lorelei James, I knew how good this would be. Blood Ties did not disappoint. Terrific mystery, amazing characterization. Moving on to Hallowed Ground next.

[Benjamin Sobieck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every character in "Blood Ties" is well drawn with a lot of depth. The mystery was engaging, the action believable and the pacing tight. Yet there was something holding me back from really digging into this piece. It didn't hook me into it. I'd still recommend this read, though. It just didn't fit me.

[Erth · Rating 4 out of 5]

now i am hooked. This was such a great, easy and creative book. i was hooked after the first page.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and follow, along with the story. the author made the mental visions so easy and vivid of the surroundings and the characters actions felt so real.

i would highly recommend this author and this book.

[ette · Rating 1 out of 5]

This protagonist was written like a teenager, but she was supposed to be an adult. This is not my type of book at all.