The Blind Spots: The highly inventive near-future detective mystery from the acclaimed author of Darktown

Imagine a world where everyone has gone blind and can only "see" using technology that downloads images to your brain. Combine this with a murderer who is bypassing the technology to avoid being identified and you have a very original kind of thriller.An incredibly exciting and gripping story.There is something completely terrifying about how real this concept is. The idea is so unique yet I could really imagine what it would be like if this happened in today's world. I found myself invested in the characters and addicted to the twisty plot. I think that dystopian ideas can be tricky to introduce to readers because you need a lot of information to understand how the world has changed, but I found that Thomas Mullen has done a great job at explaining the situation gradually.If enjoy a thriller with a twist then this is a definite must-read.I received an advance copy of this book.

3.5 rounded upSeven years ago The Blinding strikes the planet in which everyone in the world loses their vision over the space of a few months. Fortunately, technology comes to the rescue with the creation of a vidder, a small disc implant on the right temple. How safe is this technology? Is it possible that it can be manipulated? In fact, some people believe so and refuse the vidder.Experienced Major Homicide Detective Mark Owens is sent to investigate a nightmarish scenario. A black blur, a figure cloaked in darkness and practically invisible, murders scientist Dr Ray Jensen but leaves witness Dr Madeline Leila unharmed. Owens does not initially believe her story but eventually is forced to confront this deadly reality.This is a creative and very different approach to a mystery police investigation and it certainly offers up plenty of fascinating images. At the start there’s tension and short sharp sentences which highlight the dangers. Then the pace slows and it is somewhat erratic throughout especially in the middle where it crawls along then picks up pace again towards an exciting finale.I really enjoy the mystery part of the book with the added bonus of some of the sci-fi elements being extremely thought provoking. It also makes you think about what it would be like to suddenly lose a sense and have to come to rely so heavily on the others. The plot is audacious, there are some good plot twists and turns.However, as well as the irregular pace the character development is not particularly strong and as a consequence some feel one dimensional. There are several points of view which is confusing at the beginning and at times there is just too much going on that I’m a bit dazzled and bewildered of Yorkshire!Overall, though I really like the concept and the blending of genres. It’s unsettling, strange and maybe a bit weird but definitely well worth reading.

Seven years ago everyone in the world went blind. After an awful several month of miserable and chaotic existence new technology enabled an approximation of sight. Owens has been a cop since before the blinding. A scientist from the eye tech. company is murdered, there is a witness but she says she couldn't see the killer , who just seemed to be a blacked out blob. Owens doesn't believe her until a second murder takes place close to him and he sees the blob but not the killer. Has someone found a way of interfering with other people's vision? The hunt for the ki8ller is a cracking detective story.

I really enjoyed this author's Darktown Trilogy so I was quite excited to get my hands on this book. Having said that, this book is very far removed in genre from Darktown, being more dystopian sci-fi in themes. The quality of writing remains just as high though.So, we early on learn that seven years ago there was an event, The Blinding, that caused everyone to slowly, over a matter of months, go blind. Technology has moved on and, for those who want it, there is a device they can have that sort of replicates the eyes, collecting visual data and downloading it directly into the brain! Obviously there are those who shun such technology, but the majority welcome the techno which, on the whole works very well.Our MC herein is homicide detective Mark Owens who has been a cop before during and after The Blinding. He welcomes the technology not only for the personal freedom it gives him but it also cuts through the issues with "eye witnesses" that blight any investigation. Until however, one day, he comes across a case where the witness to the murder of Dr Ray Jensen insists the killer has been "blacked out" of her view. Which shouldn't happen. Can't happen. Mustn't happen. And as such is unbelievable both to him and his superiors. So not only does he have to work out who killed the Dr he also needs to know why and how in the heck they did it under stealth. And then... The witness then becomes suspect. And then victim...I am umming and erring between 4 and five stars. I settled on 4 as it does lose its way a wee bit in the middle third where it drags a tad. That said, never enough for me to give up. And not all books have to be paced faster than the speed of light. The story was well plotted and executed and, on the whole, the characters did their jobs well. I do have to wonder though if this is a series opener as there was a lot of emphasis on the background and world building which is what I would expect from book one of a series. I do hope so as I did find the world fascinating and it would be a waste of all that creating should it be left here. And I do think the characters have more to say. I for one would be up for that!My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

This was an amazing SciFi story. the authors imagination abounds. Everyone in the World goes blind but Tech wizards find a way to compensate. The greedy and selfish people then find ways to manipulate the results for their own benefit. I thoroghly enjoyed the chaotic conclusion.