Leo Tolstoy opened his seminal novel 'Anna Karenina' with "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." In what way are the Burketts an unhappy family? Combine a sociopathic schemer mother who will stop at nothing to get what she wants, a conceited former football hero father whose talents are now limited to making enemies, two brothers pitted against each other, and a radical hippy uncle. One will be murdered. Who did it and why? Find out by reading this page-turning psycho-thriller. Set in 1957 and 1969, Severed Ties is a vivid journey to the past. Dark humor will provide some relief to the spine-tingling suspense.