Blood Ties

A Novel (Clara, Book 2)

By: Ruth Lillegraven, Diane Oatley - translator

Narrated by: Michael Crouch, Andrew Eiden, Stina Nielsen, Mikael Naramore, Stephen Graybill, Soneela Nankani, Chris Ciulla

Betrayal, secrets, revenge, and murder: they’re in the blood in a provocative novel of psychological suspense by the award-winning, internationally bestselling author of Everything Is Mine.

As Norway’s newly appointed minister of justice, child-rights advocate Clara Lofthus has a chance to accomplish something meaningful on behalf of the most vulnerable members of society. It couldn’t be more personal. After her husband’s death, she is the sole caretaker of her twin sons, Andreas and Nikolai. She’s also still haunted by her own traumatic childhood—and the lengths to which she was willing to go to pursue her own brand of vigilante justice. How far? No one ever needs to know. And this is just one of Clara’s secrets.

Then one day, Clara comes home from work to make a terrifying discovery: her sons have been kidnapped. Clara’s search leads to her hometown in Western Norway, where she learns that her mother has been released from the mental hospital she has been living at for the past thirty years. Hot on Clara’s heels is a local reporter, who is every bit as relentless as she is. He’s determined to disrupt Clara’s life even further and will not rest until he exposes the truth about her past.

As the fate of her sons hangs in the balance, the demons of Clara’s past are flushed out of hiding, threatening to come home to roost.

©2021 Ruth Lillegraven (P)2022 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2022 by Diane Oatley

Critic reviews

“Each chapter, representing a different character, is delivered by one of these outstanding narrators.… Listeners hear Michael Crouch, conveying juvenile fear and courage, masterfully voice young Andreas throughout the horrific experience.… Having a clear and well-matched voice for each character adds considerably to the drama of the listening experience.” (AudioFile Magazine)

“At the start of this gripping suspense novel from Ford (Cottonmouths), Jane Mooney, who’s been living in Boston, returns home to Maud Bottoms, Ark.…The truth slowly unfolds as the plot builds toward a surprising conclusion foreshadowed by a trail of skillfully disguised clues. Ford delivers the goods." (Publishers Weekly)

"A confessed killer’s return home brings long-buried secrets to life with a series of seismic jolts." (Kirkus Reviews)

Did not see how the story would end.

It kept me guessing till the end. Lots of suspense. Great to listen to while doing chores. Makes the time fly by.