Upon completing her debut novel, Business As Usual, E.L. Lindley was left with the nagging feeling that she wasn't done with the characters quite yet. Consequently The Ties That Bind came hot on its heels and the characters basically led the way. E.L. hopes that her readers will feel the same affection for Georgie Connelly and her collection of friends as she does.
Synopsis
After a harrowing couple of months, Georgie and James Finn prepare to take their relationship to the next level, only to find their plans scuppered by the arrival of Georgie’s estranged mother, Marilyn, who is accused of murdering her husband. Suddenly Georgie has to deal with issues that resonate back to her troubled childhood.
In an attempt to help Georgie, James and his partner Julie Sellars take on Marilyn’s case determined to prove her innocence. The more they dig, however, the more complex the case becomes, threatening to undermine everything as James begins to
doubt his life in LA.
Georgie meanwhile throws herself into her work, a documentary about the public schools system which increasingly leads her into a world of gang culture and crime which she soon realises is linked to her mother’s case. As Georgie tries to find answers her life is put in danger as it becomes obvious that someone has a lot lose and will go to any lengths to stop the truth from being exposed.
If you enjoyed Business As Usual why not rejoin Georgie, James and their family and friends in this exciting, humorous adventure.
Read the first chapter below for a taste of what to expect.
CHAPTER ONE
Defence Attorney, Leonard Spalding, observed the woman sitting across from him keenly. She was in her mid to late
fifties, with platinum blonde hair, which under better circumstances was no doubt sleek and stylish. She had an air of that French actress, who his wife loved, Catherine Deneuve. He figured it was a European thing, as the woman was British. She had clearly been a stunner in her time but at the moment she was dressed in pale blue scrubs, her hair was unwashed and her nail polish chipped beyond repair. Her eyes were red rimmed and tired, her face looked haggard and haunted.
Marilyn Beck was currently residing in Los Angeles County Jail, accused of first degree murder. She was going to be
a high profile case as her victim was her husband and ex-Congressman, Charles Beck. His only daughter had a direct line to some very important people, and was currently screaming blue murder. The DA knew that this case was going to have
political mileage and was all over it. In response his own boss, at the Public Defender’s Office, had insisted that Leonard, a veteran of over 30 years, take this case. His boss didn’t want any high profile screw ups to be played out in the full glare of the media. The only reason that the media weren’t all over this already was that Marilyn had only recently been charged. They were now going over her arraignment, where bail would or would not be set.
Marilyn was trying to maintain her haughty front, but given her situation, it wasn’t working.
“I simply can not stay here any longer, Mr Spalding. You must tell the judge.”
“That’s not how it works Marilyn – may I call you Marilyn?”
“I don’t care what you call me. Just get me out of here!”
“Look, Marilyn, you are accused of a very serious felony.”
“But I am innocent!”
“That may or may not be so but this court appearance is so that you can enter your plea and make an application for
bail. The judge will be much more likely to grant bail if we can show that you have connections in LA and are not a flight risk. Plus I must warn you that the amount in a case like this will be very substantial.”
“But I don’t have any money. All of my assets have been frozen.”
Marilyn’s words hung in the air, as the full realisation of the trouble she was in, struck home.
“Do you have anyone here in LA, Marilyn, who could vouch for you?”
“My daughter,” Marilyn whispered.
“Right, now we are getting somewhere. That’s great. I will need her name.”
“Marilyn struggled to find her voice and her eyes filled with tears before she murmured, “Georgina Connelly.”
Synopsis
After a harrowing couple of months, Georgie and James Finn prepare to take their relationship to the next level, only to find their plans scuppered by the arrival of Georgie’s estranged mother, Marilyn, who is accused of murdering her husband. Suddenly Georgie has to deal with issues that resonate back to her troubled childhood.
In an attempt to help Georgie, James and his partner Julie Sellars take on Marilyn’s case determined to prove her innocence. The more they dig, however, the more complex the case becomes, threatening to undermine everything as James begins to
doubt his life in LA.
Georgie meanwhile throws herself into her work, a documentary about the public schools system which increasingly leads her into a world of gang culture and crime which she soon realises is linked to her mother’s case. As Georgie tries to find answers her life is put in danger as it becomes obvious that someone has a lot lose and will go to any lengths to stop the truth from being exposed.
If you enjoyed Business As Usual why not rejoin Georgie, James and their family and friends in this exciting, humorous adventure.
Read the first chapter below for a taste of what to expect.
CHAPTER ONE
Defence Attorney, Leonard Spalding, observed the woman sitting across from him keenly. She was in her mid to late
fifties, with platinum blonde hair, which under better circumstances was no doubt sleek and stylish. She had an air of that French actress, who his wife loved, Catherine Deneuve. He figured it was a European thing, as the woman was British. She had clearly been a stunner in her time but at the moment she was dressed in pale blue scrubs, her hair was unwashed and her nail polish chipped beyond repair. Her eyes were red rimmed and tired, her face looked haggard and haunted.
Marilyn Beck was currently residing in Los Angeles County Jail, accused of first degree murder. She was going to be
a high profile case as her victim was her husband and ex-Congressman, Charles Beck. His only daughter had a direct line to some very important people, and was currently screaming blue murder. The DA knew that this case was going to have
political mileage and was all over it. In response his own boss, at the Public Defender’s Office, had insisted that Leonard, a veteran of over 30 years, take this case. His boss didn’t want any high profile screw ups to be played out in the full glare of the media. The only reason that the media weren’t all over this already was that Marilyn had only recently been charged. They were now going over her arraignment, where bail would or would not be set.
Marilyn was trying to maintain her haughty front, but given her situation, it wasn’t working.
“I simply can not stay here any longer, Mr Spalding. You must tell the judge.”
“That’s not how it works Marilyn – may I call you Marilyn?”
“I don’t care what you call me. Just get me out of here!”
“Look, Marilyn, you are accused of a very serious felony.”
“But I am innocent!”
“That may or may not be so but this court appearance is so that you can enter your plea and make an application for
bail. The judge will be much more likely to grant bail if we can show that you have connections in LA and are not a flight risk. Plus I must warn you that the amount in a case like this will be very substantial.”
“But I don’t have any money. All of my assets have been frozen.”
Marilyn’s words hung in the air, as the full realisation of the trouble she was in, struck home.
“Do you have anyone here in LA, Marilyn, who could vouch for you?”
“My daughter,” Marilyn whispered.
“Right, now we are getting somewhere. That’s great. I will need her name.”
“Marilyn struggled to find her voice and her eyes filled with tears before she murmured, “Georgina Connelly.”