Book Review—Ties That Blind

Title: Ties that Blind
Author: Chautona Havig
Release date: August, 2018
Genre: Suspense

My Thoughts:
I have enjoyed the Sight Unseen series since I read the first book a couple of years ago. The premise of the story was quite intriguing—what would it be like to wake up one morning and not remember anything? Then, as the story continued through the second book, with another person experiencing the same thing, the mystery deepened. What was causing these losses of memory? Was it a freak accident, or was something more sinister going on? For nearly a year, I had to wait for the third book to be written!

Ties That Blind tells Simon’s story. He, like Ella in None So Blind and Vickie in Will Not See, also woke up with no memories—but he was also accused of murder! Did he kill his wife? He can’t remember. If he did, why? And if he didn’t, who did, and why? And what is really going on behind the scenes? Simon teams up with Ella and Vickie to try to figure out what happened to them and if they can prevent it happening to anyone else as they continue to rebuild their lives.

Once again, Chautona Havig has put together a wonderful story. There is suspense and danger, along with people growing in their faith, and a bit of romance as Vickie both learns more about Jesus and His love for her, and deepens her relationship with a man who knew her before her “episode.” There are funny bits here and there, as well. I loved this book, even though (or maybe especially since) it was torturous reading it little by little as it was written!

I have one warning, though: Do not read these books out of order. They build on each other and you will not understand or enjoy Ties That Blind as well if you have not read the first two books.

I was given a copy of this book by the author, and chose to write a review. All opinions are my own.

The Author’s Synopsis:
He may not be the only person in the Rockland area to wake up without a memory, but he might be the only killer…

Simon Prescott, the latest victim of spontaneous amnesia in Rockland, is under suspicion of murder. The evidence, though weak and circumstantial, points only to him. He’s confident he didn’t do it, but there’s no way to prove it. Grieving for a wife he doesn’t remember, Simon refuses to allow his family in, refuses to cooperate with police, and is heading straight for the pokey if he doesn’t figure out something and fast.

Enter: Ella Weeks and Vikki Jeffries. The previous two victims are determined to help him, and with jail time looming, Simon capitulates. But what Vikki and Ella find as they work through Simon’s life reveals astounding and rather chilling evidence of a bigger scheme than any of them could have imagined.

They’re on the verge of total discovery, but the closer they get, the less confident they are that they want to know.

About the Author:
The author of dozens of books in a variety of genres, Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave Desert where she uses story to nudge her readers to the feet of the Master Storyteller.

Guest post from Chautona:

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN, ANYWAY?

“So why is this series called ‘Sight Unseen’ if it’s about people who lose their memories? Why the vision references?”

I can’t pretend I wanted to answer her question. She isn’t the first to ask, and I doubt she’ll be the last. I tried to explain.

Look, it’s a valid question. Originally, the first book was called From the Cinders, and if it had remained a stand-alone book, it still would be. But when I finished with another person waking up to no memories and a hint that something sinister might be behind it all, I had to change it to fit two books—no, three!

Recall. Rewind. Refresh. I liked those titles. But that still didn’t give me the name of a series. I kept studying. Tried again.

I read what would become None So Blind three times in a row, if I recall correctly. And as I read it, a theme emerged. Ella Weeks hadn’t been blind to her faults even before her memory loss. Even her husband hadn’t been, despite his obvious love for her. But those around her had been blind to her awareness of those faults—to her silent cries for help in overcoming them.

WILL NOT SEE EMERGED WITH A SIMILAR THEME.

Vikki had a past that she hid from and refused to acknowledge. And even as those around her drew closer to provide support, she still managed to block out all that she found frightening—even physically shutting down and shutting out life.

So, when it came time to plan the final book in the series, the one that would now tie together everything that had happened, I knew I wanted something that also fit with the other titles. And one night it came to me. Ties That Blind. So often our ties to people blind us to their faults—to the destructive influences they have in our lives. And Simon Prescott will learn that lesson in a rather lonely, horrible way.

THE SIGHT UNSEEN SERIES REMINDS US OF WHAT PAUL SAID IN CORINTHIANS.

Now we see through dark glasses… we can’t really make it all out. But with the Lord, when we’re truly with Him in eternity, we’ll see things as clearly as we do when we are face to face.

And that’s what faith is all about, right? It’s the “substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” When we “buy in” to the Lord Jesus, we’re taking it all in faith. We’re trusting in Him, “Sight Unseen,” just as the characters in this series do with every element of their lives.

I hope their journeys bless you as they have me as I wrote them.

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