The Ties That Bind

THE TIES THAT BIND is the fourth novel from Erin Kelly, the author of THE POISON TREE and HE SAID/SHE SAID. Gripping, twisty and compelling, it confirms her as a mistress of psychological suspense.

Could a soul, once sold, truly be redeemed?

'Full of well-drawn characters and heart-stopping moments, Kelly's book is deeply satisfying.' - Sunday Express

Luke is a true crime writer in search of a story. When he flees to Brighton after an explosive break-up, the perfect subject lands in his lap: reformed gangster Joss Grand. Now in his eighties, Grand once ruled the Brighton underworld with his sadistic sidekick Jacky Nye - until Jacky washed up by the West Pier in 1968, strangled and thrown into the sea. Though Grand's alibi seems cast-iron, Luke is sure there's more to the story than meets the eye, and he convinces the criminal-turned-philanthropist to be interviewed for a book about his life.

Luke is drawn deeper into the mystery of Jacky Nye's murder. Was Grand there that night? Is he really as reformed a character as he claims? And who was the girl in the red coat seen fleeing the murder scene? Soon Luke realises that in stirring up secrets from the past, he may have placed himself in terrible danger.

“An elegantly plotted, convincing and beautifully written thriller. - MirrorFull of well-drawn characters and heart-stopping moments, Kelly's book is deeply satisfying. - Sunday Express Prepare to be gripped by The Poison Tree author's new novel. - Sun on SundayTension-filled mystery with compelling characters and plot twists. - BellaA gripping story of revenge, brought to life by obsessive, intriguing, true-to-life characters. - Irish TatlerAn author in total command of the tensions within dysfunctional families . . . Gripping all the way. - The Times on THE BURNING AIRKelly excels at thrillers set in middle-England idylls, that sidestep the cliched and the cosy to go for the jugular. [THE BURNING AIR] sees her reach another level. - Independent on Sunday Her narrative choreographs a succession of hints, twists and revelations with elegance and precision. The novel is beautifully written and the characters have a dreadful plausibility about them that engulfs you in their untidy lives. Like all the best psychological thrillers, this one leaves the reader feeling mildly traumatised - and hungry for the author's next book. - Spectator on THE BURNING AIR”

An elegantly plotted, convincing and beautifully written thriller. - Mirror

Full of well-drawn characters and heart-stopping moments, Kelly's book is deeply satisfying. - Sunday Express

Prepare to be gripped by The Poison Tree author's new novel. - Sun on Sunday

Tension-filled mystery with compelling characters and plot twists. - Bella

A gripping story of revenge, brought to life by obsessive, intriguing, true-to-life characters. - Irish Tatler

An author in total command of the tensions within dysfunctional families . . . Gripping all the way. - The Times on THE BURNING AIR

Kelly excels at thrillers set in middle-England idylls, that sidestep the cliched and the cosy to go for the jugular. [THE BURNING AIR] sees her reach another level. - Independent on Sunday

Her narrative choreographs a succession of hints, twists and revelations with elegance and precision. The novel is beautifully written and the characters have a dreadful plausibility about them that engulfs you in their untidy lives. Like all the best psychological thrillers, this one leaves the reader feeling mildly traumatised - and hungry for the author's next book. - Spectator on THE BURNING AIR

Erin Kelly is the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Poison Tree, The Sick Rose, The Burning Air, The Ties That Bind, He Said/She Said, Stone Mothers/We Know You Know, Watch Her Fall, The Skeleton Key and The House of Mirrors, as well as Broadchurch: The Novel, inspired by the mega-hit TV series. In 2013, The Poison Tree became a major ITV drama and was a Richard & Judy Summer Read in 2011. He Said/She Said spent six weeks in the top ten in both hardback and paperback, was longlisted for the Theakston's Old Peculier crime novel of the year award, and selected for both the Simon Mayo Radio 2 and Richard & Judy Book Clubs. The Skeleton Key was selected as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month in 2023, was a Sunday Times top ten bestseller and reached number one in the Times chart. Born in London in 1976, Erin lives in north London with her husband and daughters. erinkelly.co.uk twitter.com/mserinkelly

THE TIES THAT BIND is the fourth novel from Erin Kelly, the author of THE POISON TREE and HE SAID/SHE SAID. Gripping, twisty and compelling, it confirms her as a mistress of psychological suspense. Could a soul, once sold, truly be redeemed? 'Full of well-drawn characters and heart-stopping moments, Kelly's book is deeply satisfying.' - Sunday Express Luke is a true crime writer in search of a story. When he flees to Brighton after an explosive break-up, the perfect subject lands in his lap: reformed gangster Joss Grand. Now in his eighties, Grand once ruled the Brighton underworld with his sadistic sidekick Jacky Nye - until Jacky washed up by the West Pier in 1968, strangled and thrown into the sea. Though Grand's alibi seems cast-iron, Luke is sure there's more to the story than meets the eye, and he convinces the criminal-turned-philanthropist to be interviewed for a book about his life. Luke is drawn deeper into the mystery of Jacky Nye's murder. Was Grand there that night? Is he really as reformed a character as he claims? And who was the girl in the red coat seen fleeing the murder scene? Soon Luke realises that in stirring up secrets from the past, he may have placed himself in terrible danger.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.