Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

If you couldn't tell, I really was not a fan of Dare Me, and knowing myself, I knew that unless my next book was really good, I would end up in a slump for a little bit, and I just can't do that. So I turned to the Silent Book Club for help, and while I ended up adding close to 20 books to my TBR, I ended up going with the very first book that some recommended to me, and then many people subsequently recommended: Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter. It is the first in the Grant County series, and some of the character cross over in other books of hers. While I do not know if I will go on a Slaughter reading binge, I will definitely be reading at least the first few of these.

(Source: Kelsey Darling)

In the small town of Heartsdale, Georgia, life is turned upside down for everyone when a young college professor is found brutally raped and murdered in the local diner, and the killer isn't slowing down. Sara Linton, the towns pediatrician and coroner, her ex-husband Jeffrey Tolliver, the police chief, and Lena Adams, the sole female detective, need to figure out who is torturing the town. Lena is especially invested as the first victim was her sister, but Sara's past holds a key that may unlock the answers, if she can just face her fears.

Trigger Warning: This book and post contain themes of sexual abuse, rape, torture, suicide, and descriptive crime scenes.

The book started a little slow (and when I mean started, just the first few pages) and I had to go over and read them again because I kept zoning out. Mid-zone out, I notice that the first murder has taken place and I have no clue what is going on, so I started again, and this time, I was hooked. Really, it might have just been lingering fear of book slump (yes, that's a real medical term). But from that point on, the book just keeps moving full speed ahead and if I did not have to work, eat, sleep, and socialize, I probably could have finished this in one sitting.

(Source: Giphy)

The characters are rather interesting, and while parts are predictable, the majority of the character development is natural and unknown to the reader. Sara is probably my favorite character. While both her and Lena are bad ass women, Sara has more of a level head, while Lena is more fly by the seat of her pants. But don't let the level head turn you off of her; still waters run deep. Jeffrey seems like a real guy: heart in the right place but lost on what the actual issue is. At least when it comes to his relationship with Sara. When it comes to his place in the police department, he is an excellent chief and extremely smart. Unlike other members of the force, he has worked in the big city and has not let small town life dull his detective skills. Lena is young, fierce, and independent. At times, this works to her advantage; but as any person who is independent knows, sometimes you need people, and Lena learns this.

The crimes are some of the most brutal I have read; the probably tie with the crimes in the Dr. Laszlo series. Sybil, the first victim, is left in the diners bathroom just after the lunch rush. Melissa is left alive but tortured on the hood of Sara's car. The autopsy scenes are very descriptive and not for the faint of heart. The suicide scene, while quick, is still very real and stressful. Despite Grant County and its character being fictional, the characters and what happen feel very real. Karin Slaughter is clearly a talented author when it comes to pulling the reader into the book.

I pegged the bad guy rather early on, but I could not figure out his motives. He basically gives himself away at the scene in the pharmacy when he is talking to Sara, but even before then, I jokingly said it was him.

"'I'm sorry about what happened, too. You know, with the girl.' He shook his head slowly side to side. 'It's just hard to think about things like that happening in your own town.'

'I know,' Sara answered, not really wanting to get into it.

I guess I can forgive you, skipping out on our date to save somebody's life.' He put his hand over the right side of his chest. 'Did you really put your hand on her heart.'

Sara moved his hand to the left side. 'Yes.'

'Good Lord," [omitted] said. 'How did it feel?' (p. 236)

(Source: Giphy)

There is one bit of the book that I do not exactly like, but I am hoping is cleared up in the next novel, or at least somewhere in the series. At one point, Jeffrey is shot in the leg while he is at the house of a resident of Heartsdale who is at risk of being attacked. It is alluded that the person is someone on the force, but it is never said who. Jeffrey and Lena just keep telling Sara it's being handled. Seeing as getting shot is kind of a big deal, I was expecting an answer at the close of the novel.

Blindsighted really is an amazing novel and I expect good things from the series seeing as all books average a four out of five stars on Goodreads. I think it was a good introduction to characters, both major and minor, and I am excited to watch them grow and develop and see what happens next. I have been avoiding reading the synopsis to the second novel, Kisscut, so I wouldn't accidentally give away anything, although more because I didn't want to know what happens between Sara and Jeffrey...or Jeffrey and Lena. But now that I have written the review, I am ready to dive back into Grant County!

Rating: 8/10
Author: Karin Slaughter
Series: Grant County (Book 1 of 6)
Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Crime
Dates Read: January 24-28, 2020