Customer Reviews

Blood Ties (Julie Collins Series #1)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Julie has been haunted by death. First her mother dies in a car accident, and than her half brother is murdered. The crime goes unsolved and Julie thinks it's due to the fact that her brother was half Lakota. Still reeling from her lose, Julie takes a job in the Bear Butte County Sheriff's department hoping that maybe, just maybe she will get a little peace. She couldn't be more wrong when a new murder turns up and it turns out the young victim is a sixteen year old white girl. Now everyone is interested in solving the murder. At the same time she finds out that her best friend and local PI Kevin has been on the case investigating the last two weeks of Samantha's life. He asks for Julie's help and she reluctantly gives it since this case hits just a little too close to home. Still before she knows it she and Kevin are getting closer and closer to a killer, and the killer is starting to get nervous. People connected to Samantha are starting to turn up dead. Is Kevin or Julie the next to fall victim to a murder that will stop at nothing to protect his secret?

I was blown away by this mystery. I started and finished this book in one sitting. The murder mystery kept me guessing until the very end and the characters were wonderfully developed. I loved Julie and Kevin not only was their relationship fun, but it was different. I loved their dynamics. I would love to see Ms. Armstrong expand on their relationship in another story. They are a great investigating duo! Ms. Armstrong took great care and effort in creating her world so the reader will feel truly drawn into what's happening. Julie is a very complex character and she made me laugh, and cry. Or should I say I laughed and cried with her. I highly, highly recommend Ms. Armstrong's debut read. She provides plenty of edge of your seat reading.

This book has a fantastic cover, which is what drew me to it initially. I like to read horror predominantly, and so I grabbed it. It turns out that this book is a mystery and that the author lives in my home town. The story itself is set in the Black Hills area as well. This is Armstrong's first novel, and is exceptional in that context. She stays true to area geography, landmarks and history. For instance, the series of mysterious deaths among homeless Native Americans used as back story really happened, and the biker organization known as the Bandidos really do ride here. Armstrong's characters are realistic, everyday people you can easily visualize. The heroine is one you can sympathize with and root for, with one or two exceptions where she gets a little "boy crazy" (she's attracted to at least three different men in the course of the book.) There are also moments of extreme violence which help keep the book interesting (for a horror fan like me). Lots of plot twists and revelations to keep you turning pages, although the chapters don't necessarily end with cliffhangers, so there are moments you may be tempted to put the book down for a while. Overall, I am glad I purshased this book.

BLOOD TIES is Lori Armstrong's debut mystery and I liked it overall. This novel was recently nominated for a Shamus award (for best PI book), so I thought it was worth a read. This is the first novel in a series, with the second book coming out later this year.

The 34-year old heroine of BLOOD TIES, Julie Collins, works for Bear Butte County Sheriff's Office. She works there in the hopes of finding the person who killed her half-brother Ben Stalking Elk (all of this is explained as background). Over the last five years five Native Americans like Ben have been murdered, but another body of a 16-year old girl has been discovered. Julie teams up with her friend, private detective Kevin Wells, to find out the girl's killer. Along the way, she uncovers a lot more than she bargains for.

The main plot of this book is just okay. This is a standard serial killer mystery, where the identity of the killer isn't revealed until the end. There are a lot of characters in this novel, and it was hard for me to keep track of all the different names and relationships. Next time, I hope Armstrong does a better job of streamlining the plot.

The real attraction of BLOOD TIES is the characterization. The main character, Julie Collins, is a very likable person, and I found myself rooting for her. Julie is no angel -- she likes to swear, drink, smoke, and get laid. But she is a very compassionate person at heart, and it's hard not to fall in love with her crusading spirit.

Armstrong is a good writer. There is a subplot in this novel involving a neglected child that was just heartbreaking to read. She also does a good job of describing the day-to-day life in Sioux City, South Dakota, a small city that I would probably never get to know if it wasn't for this novel. Be warned though -- this book has a fair amount of graphic violence, sex, and profanity. Not the type of book to give to your grandmother (at least mine, anyway).

Overall, this book was a fun read and I look forward to the next in the series. Armstrong certainly has talent, and I hope she makes the jump to a larger publisher in the near future.

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.

Julie Collins works for the sherriff's department, as a secretary. It doesn't pay all that well, but she took the job so she could have the jump on any new info about her murdered brother's case. In some ways, she's still hoping, but by now, it's just another job. Luckily, her best friend Kevin is a private investigator that allows her to help out on the side. But this time, the case is a lot bigger and deeper than either of them could have imagined. The girl Kevin is searching for has turned up dead, and each new clue the pair find digs them that much deeper into a pit of secrets and lies dating as far back as highschool. Investigating isn't all fun and games, but Julie isn't about to let this case go.
Julie is the type of woman I would want on my side, though I'm not sure I could handle all of her vices all of the time. She smokes, she drinks, she curses, she runs her mouth.. frankly, it's no wonder that she only has a few friends left, both of them male. But for all of her faults, she's tough and won't back down, not when threatened, not even when coerced with physical pain. She's not perfect, she definitely gets scared or hurts, but that just makes this character human. That and the smoking and drinking, among other things. Julie is rough and tough, and definitely the kind of heroine needed to really get to the bottom of a good, scary mystery.

The plot itself was fascinating. Kevin and Julie are coming up against people they went to high school with, investigating plots and lies that started that far back. And the story kept me guessing right until the end. I'm not a huge mystery reader, but I know enough to dislike mysteries where the culprit is glaringly obvious, you just have to figure out how. But with all the new information Kevin and Julie uncover, each layer of the mystery is slowly revealed. And the two investigators never get any more information than the reader, which is another plus.

"Blood Ties" is not a book for the faint of heart. This plot deals with murder, rape, drug lords, abuse, neglect, and more. But remember the old adage, "No pain, no gain," and this book is definitely good enough to be considered a gain. I would definitely recommend "Blood Ties" by Lori G. Armstrong to any hardcore mystery fan, as well as anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful story.

Final rating: FOUR out of FIVE (4/5).

glowsnoveladdiction.blogspot.com

I've waited a long time for a female that could kick ass but still stay sensitive!
That is NOT as perfect as many heroines are presented nowadays with the road ahead them painted towards a picket fence and 2.5 kids after suffering a few auchs and fainting while falling into men' arms.
One who struggles with her demons but does not give up. Ever.
One who escapes from life into booze and smokes like a chimney.
One whose problems from the past are not magically solved.
Who fights and keep on fighting even tough the fight is not easy and she knows she might not win.
And still at times she stays fragile.
Not everyone can compartmentalize as easy as it often is presented by writers. Some people can be tough but not be so strong at times.
Julie is all of the above and more.
I was hooked by her first story I was reeled in by her second and then I was completely sold and hurried toward the end of the series.
Thank you Lori Armstrong!
The first book in the series sets the pace that speeds up with every subsequent story part. Ms. Armstrong makes us meet and make acquaintance with Julie and then after we get to know her better we become friends. Expect unexpected. After reading the first book in the series you will not know Julie sufficiently to predict what will happen in the next parts and even though you may hope for some thing to be resolved in the obvious way for the good of Julie they will be solved absolutely different and you'll know why. If you keep on reading ;-)

I almost didn't buy this book because of the cover. I don't like horror stories. I do like mysteries though so the description appealed to me.

This was a good book that held my interest. I agree with the one reviewer who said Julie was like the energizer bunny with all the beatings she took. I found it hard to believe that that one guy was so attracted to her considering she had at the very least a busted lip and probably a messed up face. At that point, she probably looked awful not irresistible. The descriptions of the beatings left me feeling that they had to be grossly exaggerated by Julie (written in first person) or she would have required hospitalization and extensive facial reconstruction, but she just kept bouncing back looking sexy and attractive which was a little hard to believe, but all in all it was a good book.

I am in the midst of reading this, my first of this author's body of work. I am hooked, it is refreshing to read a real story for real grown-ups. The main female character is kick ass, fresh, and real. She talks like a real person with out all the politically correct edits in female lead characters in fiction. She takes us through believability with her thoughts and reactions. I for one find it very refreshing to read a book for real grown-ups. I read hundreds of books and it is indeed a pure pleasure to run across this author. I hope she keeps them coming. The more I read the more I appreciate the feel of the read. Many books I read, I find myself saying "come on get real." As issues come up in our own lives we normally don't talk in language or act as that of the fiction of most writers. In that I don't see a lot of believability in the characters. If you want to read a really fun and good read I recommend this book! If you would like to see a far more believable character in a female lead, something fresh and on the edge of daring to defy that perfect do gooder type we see so often in female characters in fiction. I call it a real grown- up read for real grown-ups because it has made the leap to graduating fiction and women portrayed in fiction giving us something real and more meaty to relate to. To the author...Thank you for that!

This was a fun read! I was interested from start to finish. I could not read it as fast as I would have because of responsibilites (being an adult sucks). It is the first mystery I have read and I found myself guessing who what when where and why. There is also a little bit of romance included which adds to the plot. I did guess who the killer was when the character was introduced to the book, but it was cool how it all came to light. I will admit that some events in the book are a bit unreal. I forgive these events because the book is a fiction and it fits the personality of the character so well. I thought the book was well written and that the characters have substance. The book opened with an explenation of Julie's brother being murdered and the case being unsolved. She then starts investigating the death of a young girl that is similar to her brother's death. The brother's death is not solved in this book, which makes me eager to read the next book in this series.

I wish I were as tough and beautiful as Julie Collins. I love the way Ms. Armstrong writes her characters and that's including the enviroment. I can't wait to read more of the series.