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Grant County #1
Blindsighted
From New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter, the first novel in her acclaimed Grant County series.
A small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally mutilated in the local diner. But it’s only when town pediatrician and coroner Sara Linton does the autopsy that the full extent of the killer’s twisted work becomes clear.
Sara’s ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, leads the investigation—a trail of terror that grows increasingly macabre when another local woman is found crucified a few days later. But he’s got more than a sadistic serial killer on his hands, because the county’s only female detective, Lena Adams—the first victim’s sister—wants to serve her own justice.
But it is Sara who holds the key to finding the killer. A secret from her past could unmask the brilliantly malevolent psychopath… or mean her death.
A small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally mutilated in the local diner. But it’s only when town pediatrician and coroner Sara Linton does the autopsy that the full extent of the killer’s twisted work becomes clear.
Sara’s ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, leads the investigation—a trail of terror that grows increasingly macabre when another local woman is found crucified a few days later. But he’s got more than a sadistic serial killer on his hands, because the county’s only female detective, Lena Adams—the first victim’s sister—wants to serve her own justice.
But it is Sara who holds the key to finding the killer. A secret from her past could unmask the brilliantly malevolent psychopath… or mean her death.
418 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2001
About the author
Karin Slaughter
127 books73.8k followersKarin Slaughter is the author of more than twenty instant NEW YORK TIMES bestselling novels, including the Edgar–nominated COP TOWN and standalone novels THE GOOD DAUGHTER, PRETTY GIRLS, and GIRL, FORGOTTEN. She is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. PIECES OF HER is a #1 Netflix original series starring Toni Collette. The Will Trent Series is on ABC (and streaming on Hulu in the U.S and Disney+ internationally). THE GOOD DAUGHTER and FALSE WITNESS are in development for film/tv. Slaughter is the founder of the Save the Libraries project—a nonprofit organization established to support libraries and library programming. A native of Georgia, she lives in Atlanta.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 5,597 reviews
June 10, 2019
I don’t find myself in this situation often enough, attempting to put my thoughts on display for a book—and series—that I’ve not only adored for years, but read countless times. Let’s be honest rereads have been an infrequent occurrence in my world. My best guess at the number of trips I’ve made to Grant County over the years though, six? Yeah, I’m going with six, at least.
While I was the furthest thing from blindsided, I remembered about 98.99% of the plot going in, I still relished every single moment. Maybe even appreciated the setting a tad more, considering I now call the peach state home.
There are countless reasons why Karin Slaughter’s name has resided at the top of my list of favorite authors over the years. Without getting ahead of myself too much here, I respect the direction she takes this series, despite the sopping mess I always seem to revert to in the end.
The main reason why I’ve gravitated towards Slaughter’s work, time and again, continues to be her uncanny ability to deliver an exceptional literary journey and to do so on multiple fronts—clever plotting, unrelenting suspense, detailed but interesting criminal cases, and the characters I love and love to hate. And of course, I can’t downplay the guts and gore. With a name like Slaughter, would you expect anything less than blood-soaked pages and a depraved killer? I think not.
The brutal murder (get ready for the heinous happenings) of a college professor rocks the small Georgia town of Heartsdale. Landing Jeffrey, Grant County’s chief of police, and his ex-wife Sara, the County’s pediatrician, and part-time coroner, side-by-side as they work to track down the brazen killer. Tensions rise as the body count increases, and the couple's history comes to a head. The intensity of Jeffrey (love him!) and Sara’s (and her!) connection begs the question—will they, or won’t they?
All you love story avoiders, don't let what I'm about to delve into scare you off, this is far from a romance novel. When I first stepped foot in Grant County, I was nowhere near the seasoned romance reader I consider myself to be now. And yet, it was the thoughts and feelings Jeffrey and Sara's connection inspired that ultimately turned this first-time Slaughter reader into a total fangirl. To this day, second-chance storylines hold a special place in my heart, with all the credit going to Jeffrey and Sara. Their relationship arc is extremely well-done. Maybe even monumental, as far as second-chances go. I'm talking favorite literary couple territory here.
The small town setting, interesting characters (some are easy to adore, while others will naturally piss you off) and the depravity put on full display, makes this one heck of a series opener. Even almost 18 years after release (Wow!; first published in September 2001) and several revisits, I still remain impressed.
While I was the furthest thing from blindsided, I remembered about 98.99% of the plot going in, I still relished every single moment. Maybe even appreciated the setting a tad more, considering I now call the peach state home.
There are countless reasons why Karin Slaughter’s name has resided at the top of my list of favorite authors over the years. Without getting ahead of myself too much here, I respect the direction she takes this series, despite the sopping mess I always seem to revert to in the end.
The main reason why I’ve gravitated towards Slaughter’s work, time and again, continues to be her uncanny ability to deliver an exceptional literary journey and to do so on multiple fronts—clever plotting, unrelenting suspense, detailed but interesting criminal cases, and the characters I love and love to hate. And of course, I can’t downplay the guts and gore. With a name like Slaughter, would you expect anything less than blood-soaked pages and a depraved killer? I think not.
The brutal murder (get ready for the heinous happenings) of a college professor rocks the small Georgia town of Heartsdale. Landing Jeffrey, Grant County’s chief of police, and his ex-wife Sara, the County’s pediatrician, and part-time coroner, side-by-side as they work to track down the brazen killer. Tensions rise as the body count increases, and the couple's history comes to a head. The intensity of Jeffrey (love him!) and Sara’s (and her!) connection begs the question—will they, or won’t they?
All you love story avoiders, don't let what I'm about to delve into scare you off, this is far from a romance novel. When I first stepped foot in Grant County, I was nowhere near the seasoned romance reader I consider myself to be now. And yet, it was the thoughts and feelings Jeffrey and Sara's connection inspired that ultimately turned this first-time Slaughter reader into a total fangirl. To this day, second-chance storylines hold a special place in my heart, with all the credit going to Jeffrey and Sara. Their relationship arc is extremely well-done. Maybe even monumental, as far as second-chances go. I'm talking favorite literary couple territory here.
“Sometimes,” he began, “when I wake up in the morning, I forget that you’re not there. I forget that I lost you.”
The small town setting, interesting characters (some are easy to adore, while others will naturally piss you off) and the depravity put on full display, makes this one heck of a series opener. Even almost 18 years after release (Wow!; first published in September 2001) and several revisits, I still remain impressed.
August 28, 2023
If you love gritty suspense thrillers, you really must give Karin Slaughter a try. The forensics, the police work, etc are all exceptionally well done, and her characters are fantastic. I'm copying the rest below from my review of Fallen, the eleventh book in the series.
For anyone who is interested in checking out this series, please note that it's important to read them in order since the author wrote two separate series that eventually merge. If you're reading just for the mysteries, the stories technically can be read as standalones, but you'll miss all the outstanding work Slaughter does on her characters, and the gut punch of emotion that she delivers so well. She really knows how to play the long game, better than literally any other author I've read.
Here's the order in which the books should be read:
Grant County Series: (Sara Linton)
Blindsighted
Kisscut
A Faint, Cold Fear
Indelible
Faithless
Beyond Reach
Will Trent Series
These two books can be read (in order) concurrently with the above, but read them before you read the third batch.
Triptych
Fractured
Georgia Series (merging of the two sets of characters)
Undone
Broken
Fallen
Criminal
Unseen
The Kept Woman
The Last Widow
The Silent Wife
After That Night
Fair warning that they are fairly violent and occasionally gruesome...so they are definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you enjoy this sort of thing, you're in for a really fun time. :D
Updated 8/23 with additional books and info 12 years later. I'm sticking to this recommendation because I HATE the way these books have been retconned for the TV show and marketing purposes by shafting Sara Linton--she has ALWAYS been central to these books, first in her own series and then a major, equal part of what's now known collectively as the "Will Trent" ones. I love Will, but I also love Sara and she deserves way more recognition than she's getting.
For anyone who is interested in checking out this series, please note that it's important to read them in order since the author wrote two separate series that eventually merge. If you're reading just for the mysteries, the stories technically can be read as standalones, but you'll miss all the outstanding work Slaughter does on her characters, and the gut punch of emotion that she delivers so well. She really knows how to play the long game, better than literally any other author I've read.
Here's the order in which the books should be read:
Grant County Series: (Sara Linton)
Blindsighted
Kisscut
A Faint, Cold Fear
Indelible
Faithless
Beyond Reach
Will Trent Series
These two books can be read (in order) concurrently with the above, but read them before you read the third batch.
Triptych
Fractured
Georgia Series (merging of the two sets of characters)
Undone
Broken
Fallen
Criminal
Unseen
The Kept Woman
The Last Widow
The Silent Wife
After That Night
Fair warning that they are fairly violent and occasionally gruesome...so they are definitely not for the faint of heart. But if you enjoy this sort of thing, you're in for a really fun time. :D
Updated 8/23 with additional books and info 12 years later. I'm sticking to this recommendation because I HATE the way these books have been retconned for the TV show and marketing purposes by shafting Sara Linton--she has ALWAYS been central to these books, first in her own series and then a major, equal part of what's now known collectively as the "Will Trent" ones. I love Will, but I also love Sara and she deserves way more recognition than she's getting.
September 30, 2019
4.5 Stars
Thank you Karin Slaughter for restoring my faith in thrillers!
The thrillers I have been reading lately have been sub-par. I was considering taking a break from the genre, but then I read Blindsighted and it reminded me why I love thrillers. This book is what a thriller should be: Dark, multilayered, suspenseful and so much more. It is gruesome and brutal and there is a level of depravity that made me squirm. I loved both Sara and Jeffrey’s characters. Their voices are strong and their characters are multi-dimensional.
Thank you to my GR friends who kept telling me to read this. My only regret is that I didn’t read it sooner. I will now be spending my thriller reading time in Grant County!
Thank you Karin Slaughter for restoring my faith in thrillers!
The thrillers I have been reading lately have been sub-par. I was considering taking a break from the genre, but then I read Blindsighted and it reminded me why I love thrillers. This book is what a thriller should be: Dark, multilayered, suspenseful and so much more. It is gruesome and brutal and there is a level of depravity that made me squirm. I loved both Sara and Jeffrey’s characters. Their voices are strong and their characters are multi-dimensional.
Thank you to my GR friends who kept telling me to read this. My only regret is that I didn’t read it sooner. I will now be spending my thriller reading time in Grant County!
July 7, 2018
I am torn on this one and I am erring on the side of giving the author the benefit of the doubt as it was her first book. It definitely felt like a first effort. (Not that I could do better if I was to try). So, 3 stars for Blindsighted.
The plot was riveting and held my interest. At times, it was very extreme (if fictional violence against women bothers you STAY AWAY), but if you can handle the extreme, the details make it all the more suspenseful.
I felt a bit like some of the plot elements and twists were forced. Even though it is supposed to be a mystery until the end, and while I didn't know why it all happened until the end, I felt like the way it was written the "who" was pretty obvious early on.
Looks like this was released in 2001 and some of the elements are definitely specific to the time period. Music choices, mention of having something on tape, etc. Just kind of an interesting side note.
I am looking forward to trying another as I am sure she hones her craft as she goes on. But, again, this is not too bad of a first effort.
The plot was riveting and held my interest. At times, it was very extreme (if fictional violence against women bothers you STAY AWAY), but if you can handle the extreme, the details make it all the more suspenseful.
I felt a bit like some of the plot elements and twists were forced. Even though it is supposed to be a mystery until the end, and while I didn't know why it all happened until the end, I felt like the way it was written the "who" was pretty obvious early on.
Looks like this was released in 2001 and some of the elements are definitely specific to the time period. Music choices, mention of having something on tape, etc. Just kind of an interesting side note.
I am looking forward to trying another as I am sure she hones her craft as she goes on. But, again, this is not too bad of a first effort.
February 6, 2019
There's something to be said for rereading a book you loved immensely. While I obviously knew "who did it" this go around, it was really a special experience that allowed me to soak up the wonderful characters and marinate in all the feels from these fine southern folks that I haven't spent time with in many moons. Clearly the first go around I was more focused on picking up clues and solving the crime, but this time felt different; it was laid back and easygoing. Gone was the urgent, rushed sense of devouring the book (not that there's anything wrong with urgently devouring books), and I was able to experience things from a completely new perspective. Maybe as I grow older I appreciate the fine details, the exquisite style of writing, and the author's talented way of drawing me completely into the story, but I found myself just as gripped by the plot without any of the tension or pressure to fly through and "move on to the next one".
Obviously the central case was graphic, both violently and sexually, so it won't be for everyone, but I was so pleased that it remained a concrete 5 stars for me without all the flashy twists blowing my mind from the first go around. If you are looking for top notch characterization in your crime thrillers, you really can't do any better than Karin Slaughter. It's like the woman lives in a different world than we do and sees things I overlook on a daily basis; the tiny details are what really set these stories apart from others in the genre. I know so many people are die hard fans of the Will Trent series, but if you skipped ahead without reading Grant County first I urgently insist that you backtrack and take the time to experience where it all started. There's a tight knit feel in these first 6 books that I have yet to find anywhere else, which is one of many reasons why this series will be one of my all time favorites. Sara + Jeffrey = my favorite couple ever. ❤️❤️❤️
**************************
A reread for me, but with all these arcs piling up around me I felt I needed to pick up a book that is sentimental and just for me, one with no expectations that I already know I love. I'm really pumped to start this series from the beginning again, as it's one of my all time favorites, and I'm hoping to write a proper review this go around. ❤️
Obviously the central case was graphic, both violently and sexually, so it won't be for everyone, but I was so pleased that it remained a concrete 5 stars for me without all the flashy twists blowing my mind from the first go around. If you are looking for top notch characterization in your crime thrillers, you really can't do any better than Karin Slaughter. It's like the woman lives in a different world than we do and sees things I overlook on a daily basis; the tiny details are what really set these stories apart from others in the genre. I know so many people are die hard fans of the Will Trent series, but if you skipped ahead without reading Grant County first I urgently insist that you backtrack and take the time to experience where it all started. There's a tight knit feel in these first 6 books that I have yet to find anywhere else, which is one of many reasons why this series will be one of my all time favorites. Sara + Jeffrey = my favorite couple ever. ❤️❤️❤️
**************************
A reread for me, but with all these arcs piling up around me I felt I needed to pick up a book that is sentimental and just for me, one with no expectations that I already know I love. I'm really pumped to start this series from the beginning again, as it's one of my all time favorites, and I'm hoping to write a proper review this go around. ❤️
July 21, 2018
Well after reading BLINDSIGHTED I now consider myself to be a full-blown KARIN SLAUGHTER fan! This is only the second book I have read by her and the first book in her Grant County Series which I thoroughly enjoyed. So this definitely will not be my last and I think that I will probably find myself binge reading the rest of the books in this series.
BLINDSIGHTED by KARIN SLAUGHTER is a gritty, edgy, engrossing, and suspenseful mystery / thriller that had me interested enough to turn those pages as fast as I could.
Trigger warning as this author does go into some graphic detail that might be disturbing for some.
The novel kept me interested and guessing with the right amount of clues as the mystery gradually unfolded to the very exciting ending. Although, there was nothing real surprising with the reveal it is the storyline and the way that the author delivers this story is what grabbed my attention and made this book such a good read for me.
To sum it all up it was an entertaining, disturbing, exciting, tense, fast-paced, and a quick read with a very satisfying ending. Highly recommend!!
Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
BLINDSIGHTED by KARIN SLAUGHTER is a gritty, edgy, engrossing, and suspenseful mystery / thriller that had me interested enough to turn those pages as fast as I could.
Trigger warning as this author does go into some graphic detail that might be disturbing for some.
The novel kept me interested and guessing with the right amount of clues as the mystery gradually unfolded to the very exciting ending. Although, there was nothing real surprising with the reveal it is the storyline and the way that the author delivers this story is what grabbed my attention and made this book such a good read for me.
To sum it all up it was an entertaining, disturbing, exciting, tense, fast-paced, and a quick read with a very satisfying ending. Highly recommend!!
Review written and posted on our themed book blog Two Sisters Lost In A Coulee Reading.
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Coulee: a term applied rather loosely to different landforms, all of which refer to a kind of valley.
June 28, 2017
Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter is a 2015 Harper publication.
This is the first book in the Grant County series, which was originally published way back in 2002. I have read this book before, a long time ago, before Goodreads had even launched.
However, I decided to start the Grant County series over, despite having read a few of them already. It’s a long story, but basically, I got some of the Grant County books mixed up with the Will Trent series, which caused a great deal of confusion, for me, which is something I did a lot until GR came along to help me organize my books and before I recieved valuable hints and suggestions from other readers.
So, although I know how things work out for some of the characters in future installments, I want to understand the full story, and refresh my memory about a few things before I continue with the Trent series.
Sara is a pediatrician and works part time as a coroner. The part time work puts her directly in contact with her ex-husband, Jeffrey, a man she has a complicated history with and with whom she still carries a torch.
But, when Jeffrey’s deputy, Lena, loses her sister in a very violent way, it stirs up bad memories for Sara and forces her to work up close and personal with her Jeffrey while they try to put a killer behind bars.
This is a very gritty crime thriller with some pretty gruesome and lurid descriptions, which is certainly not for the faint of heart.
There’s also some fantastic personal interactions, some of which nearly choked me up. Wow. I had forgotten how good this book was!
It has perfect pacing, well-timed twists, and in -depth characterizations that are very rare for a ‘first in a series’ novel, and of course, let’s not forget that stunning shocker at the end!! Although this book was written fifteen years ago, it stands up well to the test of time and blew me away, even knowing all I know now.
So, if you have started the Will Trent series without reading this series first, I still recommend picking these up. If you haven’t read Will Trent yet, I STRONGLY urge you to read the Grant County books first because it will really help you understand the backstories that crossover into the Trent series later.
4.5 stars
This is the first book in the Grant County series, which was originally published way back in 2002. I have read this book before, a long time ago, before Goodreads had even launched.
However, I decided to start the Grant County series over, despite having read a few of them already. It’s a long story, but basically, I got some of the Grant County books mixed up with the Will Trent series, which caused a great deal of confusion, for me, which is something I did a lot until GR came along to help me organize my books and before I recieved valuable hints and suggestions from other readers.
So, although I know how things work out for some of the characters in future installments, I want to understand the full story, and refresh my memory about a few things before I continue with the Trent series.
Sara is a pediatrician and works part time as a coroner. The part time work puts her directly in contact with her ex-husband, Jeffrey, a man she has a complicated history with and with whom she still carries a torch.
But, when Jeffrey’s deputy, Lena, loses her sister in a very violent way, it stirs up bad memories for Sara and forces her to work up close and personal with her Jeffrey while they try to put a killer behind bars.
This is a very gritty crime thriller with some pretty gruesome and lurid descriptions, which is certainly not for the faint of heart.
There’s also some fantastic personal interactions, some of which nearly choked me up. Wow. I had forgotten how good this book was!
It has perfect pacing, well-timed twists, and in -depth characterizations that are very rare for a ‘first in a series’ novel, and of course, let’s not forget that stunning shocker at the end!! Although this book was written fifteen years ago, it stands up well to the test of time and blew me away, even knowing all I know now.
So, if you have started the Will Trent series without reading this series first, I still recommend picking these up. If you haven’t read Will Trent yet, I STRONGLY urge you to read the Grant County books first because it will really help you understand the backstories that crossover into the Trent series later.
4.5 stars
October 11, 2018
This was good!! There are some graphic parts but you can skim it.
Happy Reading! 🎃
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
Happy Reading! 🎃
Mel 🖤🐺🐾
November 8, 2017
This was not my first book by Slaughter. I read this book after reading Cop town and Pretty Girls and now I am hooked. Slaughter has quickly become one of my favorite mystery writers. She is a gritty and intelligent writer. I love the research she puts into her books. Having a background in Forensics, I really appreciate her books and the research she puts into this.
In Blindsighted, a professor is found murdered in a restaurant. Her Murder hits very close to home to Sara, who is the town's Pediatrician and Coroner. It is also Sara who discovers the body. The professor turns out to the twin sister of a police officer who works for Sara's ex-husband, Jeffrey.
Will Sara's past hold the key to solving this case? What will happen between her and her ex-husband Jeffrey?
As stated above, I love Slaughter's attention to detail. I love the police work involved, the investigations, the forensics, even the autopsies are well done in this book. But mostly, I love the relationships between the characters. I love the love story between Sara and Jeffrey. Just enough is told to make me like them both. To get me involved in their history and continued story.
Plus, well there is a killer on the loose. Who is it. Will there be more victims? Will the police save the day?
I'll never tell. Pick up this book and read it already!
see more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
In Blindsighted, a professor is found murdered in a restaurant. Her Murder hits very close to home to Sara, who is the town's Pediatrician and Coroner. It is also Sara who discovers the body. The professor turns out to the twin sister of a police officer who works for Sara's ex-husband, Jeffrey.
Will Sara's past hold the key to solving this case? What will happen between her and her ex-husband Jeffrey?
As stated above, I love Slaughter's attention to detail. I love the police work involved, the investigations, the forensics, even the autopsies are well done in this book. But mostly, I love the relationships between the characters. I love the love story between Sara and Jeffrey. Just enough is told to make me like them both. To get me involved in their history and continued story.
Plus, well there is a killer on the loose. Who is it. Will there be more victims? Will the police save the day?
I'll never tell. Pick up this book and read it already!
see more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
February 20, 2013
Blindsighted: Karin Slaughter's first Sara Linton novel
And the publishers announce:
First there was Patricia Cornwell!
THEN there was Kathy Reichs!
NOW GET READY FOR KARIN SLAUGHTER!
Karin Slaughter
Welcome to Grant County, Georgia. Don't look for it on a Georgia map. It isn't there. And in this fictional County, there's a fictional town. It's a small town called Heartsdale, somewhere around Madison, but before you hit Augusta.
Eddie Linton and Daughters is a plumbing company in town. But it should be Linton and Daughter. Tessa works with her father. Sara grew up and went to medical school and became a pediatrician.
After medical school Sara returns home and takes over the town medical clinic. The nearest hospital is in Augusta. She married Jeff Tolliver, the County Sheriff, but divorced him after he cheated on her with the town sign painter.
Life's complicated when your Ex is the Sheriff and you're not only the town's pediatrician, but also the County Coroner. You bump into your Ex a lot more than you might like. Actually, Jeff wouldn't mind patching things up. After all, he only had that affair because he wanted Sara to need him as much as he needed her. Uh-huh. What? Could this be a new genre? "Crimance?"
Sara definitely doesn't want Jeff back in her life. She's dated the town pharmacist, Jeb, off and on. It hasn't been anything serious. Sara really doesn't have the time.
Things turn nasty when Sara has lunch with her sister Tessa down at Pete's Diner. She steps into the bathroom to wash her hands and finds herself in the middle of a crime scene. Sybil Adams is sitting on the john. Someone has carved a cross into her. Sybil dies in convulsions in Sara's arms as she bleeds out on the bathroom floor.
From whence does the title come? Why, from Belladonna from the Italian meaning "beautiful woman." Traditionally the plant was used to cause dilation of the pupils to make a woman appear more seductive. Use too much of the stuff, you become so sensitive to light you can see nothing, and it's a powerful hallucinogenic, causing paralysis, loss of memory, and convulsions.
Belladona
Sybil was blind. Hmmm...in Roman mythology Sybil was a "Seeress." Well, maybe it was just a coincidental choice and not an attempt at irony. She was a professor at the small college. She was also a lesbian. Was it a hate crime? More conflict rises because her sister Lena is one of Sheriff Tolliver's Detectives. She's out to find her own justice for her sister's death.
Sara's autopsy reveals that Sybil was also raped and sodomized. A second victim is found draped across Sarah's car. She had been crucified in x form, and repeatedly raped and sodomized. She was also stabbed. Sara prevents her death by cracking her chest and massaging her heart. When this young woman begins to tell of her experience, Jeff realizes he's got an escalating serial rapist/killer on his hands.
Slaughter relentlessly turns up the pace when Jeff's detective Lena, Sibyl's sister is the next woman to disappear. Slaughter has the ability to keep you flipping the pages to see what happens next.
Could Sara be the next victim, Jeff worries. Can he find his missing detective?
Blindsighted is a decent series debut. Karin Slaughter has sold a gazillion books. The book blurbs glow.
BUT: I wish I could have liked this book more. The herrings herein are very, very, red. There's the homophobic doper. And a ridiculous stab at an incident of token racism, when some townsmen assume that an aged black man musta dun it. OH, PLEASE! C'MON!
I anticipated the identity of the perp long before the end. While on the surface of things, Sara appears proficient in her forensic skills, she is a pediatrician, not a pathologist. If Sara ever makes it to court, it wouldn't be pretty. Oh. Dang. Spoiler alert: If the perp never survives, you don't have to worry about witness qualification.
And, by the way, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has a death investigation division with either four to five regional laboratories staffed with pathologists. Georgia uses a Medical Examiner System. The Coroner calls for an autopsy, but bodies are transported to the labs for the autopsies. Now, I do understand that six Georgia counties are not covered by GBI, so considering Grant County is fictional anyway, well, heck this is a work of fiction. Interestingly, Slaughter also refers to Sara as a medical examiner in one paragraph in which she also calls her a coroner.
I'm jaded. Twenty-eight years in a District Attorney's Office will do that to you. If you think I'm too hard in my assessment of Karin Slaughter, don't get me started on John Grisham. D.A. does NOT stand for dumb ass, Mr. Grisham.
One thing I must acknowledge. Karin Slaughter has the dynamics of rape and men who rape down with great accuracy. For the dialogue, pacing, and that knowledge, I give this 3.5 our of five stars.
Having said all that, of course I already have the second book in the series. I admit I like it when the good guys win.
And the publishers announce:
First there was Patricia Cornwell!
THEN there was Kathy Reichs!
NOW GET READY FOR KARIN SLAUGHTER!
Karin Slaughter
Welcome to Grant County, Georgia. Don't look for it on a Georgia map. It isn't there. And in this fictional County, there's a fictional town. It's a small town called Heartsdale, somewhere around Madison, but before you hit Augusta.
Eddie Linton and Daughters is a plumbing company in town. But it should be Linton and Daughter. Tessa works with her father. Sara grew up and went to medical school and became a pediatrician.
After medical school Sara returns home and takes over the town medical clinic. The nearest hospital is in Augusta. She married Jeff Tolliver, the County Sheriff, but divorced him after he cheated on her with the town sign painter.
Life's complicated when your Ex is the Sheriff and you're not only the town's pediatrician, but also the County Coroner. You bump into your Ex a lot more than you might like. Actually, Jeff wouldn't mind patching things up. After all, he only had that affair because he wanted Sara to need him as much as he needed her. Uh-huh. What? Could this be a new genre? "Crimance?"
Sara definitely doesn't want Jeff back in her life. She's dated the town pharmacist, Jeb, off and on. It hasn't been anything serious. Sara really doesn't have the time.
Things turn nasty when Sara has lunch with her sister Tessa down at Pete's Diner. She steps into the bathroom to wash her hands and finds herself in the middle of a crime scene. Sybil Adams is sitting on the john. Someone has carved a cross into her. Sybil dies in convulsions in Sara's arms as she bleeds out on the bathroom floor.
From whence does the title come? Why, from Belladonna from the Italian meaning "beautiful woman." Traditionally the plant was used to cause dilation of the pupils to make a woman appear more seductive. Use too much of the stuff, you become so sensitive to light you can see nothing, and it's a powerful hallucinogenic, causing paralysis, loss of memory, and convulsions.
Belladona
Sybil was blind. Hmmm...in Roman mythology Sybil was a "Seeress." Well, maybe it was just a coincidental choice and not an attempt at irony. She was a professor at the small college. She was also a lesbian. Was it a hate crime? More conflict rises because her sister Lena is one of Sheriff Tolliver's Detectives. She's out to find her own justice for her sister's death.
Sara's autopsy reveals that Sybil was also raped and sodomized. A second victim is found draped across Sarah's car. She had been crucified in x form, and repeatedly raped and sodomized. She was also stabbed. Sara prevents her death by cracking her chest and massaging her heart. When this young woman begins to tell of her experience, Jeff realizes he's got an escalating serial rapist/killer on his hands.
Slaughter relentlessly turns up the pace when Jeff's detective Lena, Sibyl's sister is the next woman to disappear. Slaughter has the ability to keep you flipping the pages to see what happens next.
Could Sara be the next victim, Jeff worries. Can he find his missing detective?
Blindsighted is a decent series debut. Karin Slaughter has sold a gazillion books. The book blurbs glow.
BUT: I wish I could have liked this book more. The herrings herein are very, very, red. There's the homophobic doper. And a ridiculous stab at an incident of token racism, when some townsmen assume that an aged black man musta dun it. OH, PLEASE! C'MON!
I anticipated the identity of the perp long before the end. While on the surface of things, Sara appears proficient in her forensic skills, she is a pediatrician, not a pathologist. If Sara ever makes it to court, it wouldn't be pretty. Oh. Dang. Spoiler alert: If the perp never survives, you don't have to worry about witness qualification.
And, by the way, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation has a death investigation division with either four to five regional laboratories staffed with pathologists. Georgia uses a Medical Examiner System. The Coroner calls for an autopsy, but bodies are transported to the labs for the autopsies. Now, I do understand that six Georgia counties are not covered by GBI, so considering Grant County is fictional anyway, well, heck this is a work of fiction. Interestingly, Slaughter also refers to Sara as a medical examiner in one paragraph in which she also calls her a coroner.
I'm jaded. Twenty-eight years in a District Attorney's Office will do that to you. If you think I'm too hard in my assessment of Karin Slaughter, don't get me started on John Grisham. D.A. does NOT stand for dumb ass, Mr. Grisham.
One thing I must acknowledge. Karin Slaughter has the dynamics of rape and men who rape down with great accuracy. For the dialogue, pacing, and that knowledge, I give this 3.5 our of five stars.
Having said all that, of course I already have the second book in the series. I admit I like it when the good guys win.
January 27, 2020
I decided to read the Grant County series by Karin Slaughter, having read Blindsighted a while ago, I thought I should give it a reread. I remembered it, of course, the graphic violence stayed with me. At the time I only gave it 3 stars, because those horrific images (things I have never heard of in any horror movie or book before, I'll admit I don't read that much of the genre), so that's why I gave it those measly amount of stars, but having devoured this in a few hours, I know I was gobsmacked and couldn't see beyond the cruelty to the craft of the writer. Brilliant stuff!
July 23, 2014
"Blindsighted" by Karin Slaughter, is the first book in the Grant County Series. If you love reading gritty suspense thrillers, you really must give Karin Slaughter a try. Karin Slaughter books are not for the faint of heart. Being a avid reader of mystery/suspense thrillers, this is the most graphic book I have read in this category.
The Forensics, the police work, etc are all exceptionally well done, and her characters are involving.
A small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally mutilated in the local diner. But it's only when town pediatrician and coroner Sara Linton does the autopsy that the full extent of the killer's twisted work becomes clear.
Sara's ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, leads the investigation - and then the suspense builds when another local woman is found crucified a few days later. But he's got more than a sadistic serial killer on his hands. The county's sole female detective, Lena Adams - the first victim's sister, wants her own justice.
But it is Sara who holds the key to finding the killer. A secret from her past could reveal the psychopath.
The suspense part of the book was very well written and had the pages flying by. There is an unresolved love angle in here for the Doc and her ex-husband, who just happens to be the chief of police. Looking forward to continuing to read the next book in the series,"Kisscut".
The Forensics, the police work, etc are all exceptionally well done, and her characters are involving.
A small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally mutilated in the local diner. But it's only when town pediatrician and coroner Sara Linton does the autopsy that the full extent of the killer's twisted work becomes clear.
Sara's ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver, leads the investigation - and then the suspense builds when another local woman is found crucified a few days later. But he's got more than a sadistic serial killer on his hands. The county's sole female detective, Lena Adams - the first victim's sister, wants her own justice.
But it is Sara who holds the key to finding the killer. A secret from her past could reveal the psychopath.
The suspense part of the book was very well written and had the pages flying by. There is an unresolved love angle in here for the Doc and her ex-husband, who just happens to be the chief of police. Looking forward to continuing to read the next book in the series,"Kisscut".
June 16, 2021
4 stars!
May 9, 2024
So this book was really, really good. It gave off Criminal Minds or Silence of the Lamb type of vibes. Super messed up and I was hooked pretty much instantly.
Besides that, the only real issue I had with the book was there was some inconsistency in it. Like characters would add random information seemingly out of nowhere like it was common information that I should’ve already known.
I also wasn’t the biggest fan of how the killer died, for all the horrible things he did I was pretty disappointed with how that situation ended.
Other than that, this books was pretty good!
Besides that, the only real issue I had with the book was there was some inconsistency in it. Like characters would add random information seemingly out of nowhere like it was common information that I should’ve already known.
I also wasn’t the biggest fan of how the killer died, for all the horrible things he did I was pretty disappointed with how that situation ended.
Other than that, this books was pretty good!
February 16, 2021
I had this persistent, nagging sense of déjà vu the WHOLE time I was reading this book. And just before the murderer was revealed, it hit me like a sledgehammer: I have, indeed, read Blindsighted before. 😂
I'm usually so diligent about recording books I've read on my Goodreads, but this one somehow slipped through the cracks—urgh!
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
I'm not really one to reread mystery/thrillers, but if there ever were ones I'd reread, they'd without a doubt be Karin Slaughter's. Fleshed-out characters, consistent pacing, and compulsively readable storylines featuring bad, bad men—
Like, how does she come UP with this stuff? It's so morbid and dark and gruesome, and her murderers' twisted psyches are in a league of their own. I'd be simultaneously thrilled and terrified to have a chance to poke around in her head.
Bottom line: You don't think anyone will go there? She will go there. You never thought that anatomically possible? Oh, it's possible. KARIN SLAUGHTER LEAVES NO STONE UNTURNED, Y'ALL.
I'm usually so diligent about recording books I've read on my Goodreads, but this one somehow slipped through the cracks—urgh!
◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️◻️
I'm not really one to reread mystery/thrillers, but if there ever were ones I'd reread, they'd without a doubt be Karin Slaughter's. Fleshed-out characters, consistent pacing, and compulsively readable storylines featuring bad, bad men—
Like, how does she come UP with this stuff? It's so morbid and dark and gruesome, and her murderers' twisted psyches are in a league of their own. I'd be simultaneously thrilled and terrified to have a chance to poke around in her head.
Bottom line: You don't think anyone will go there? She will go there. You never thought that anatomically possible? Oh, it's possible. KARIN SLAUGHTER LEAVES NO STONE UNTURNED, Y'ALL.
September 4, 2015
This is Ms Slaughter's debut novel so maybe I should cut her some slack. I don't know what it was about it that just did not grab me. Thought the main characters were quite uninspiring and boring. There was no romance as such in the book. Some of the scenes were quite gruesome. A bit OTT and I thought she was trying to "shock" readers too much.
My main reason for starting this series is that one of the characters, Sara Linton, appears in the Will Trent series, which I was enjoying very much.
Might give the next one a shot and see how we get on ...
My main reason for starting this series is that one of the characters, Sara Linton, appears in the Will Trent series, which I was enjoying very much.
Might give the next one a shot and see how we get on ...
January 11, 2023
Sara Linton, paediatrician and Grant County medical examiner, was meeting her sister, Tessa at the local diner for lunch, and she was twenty minutes late. When she went to the bathroom to freshen up, she received the shock of her life when confronted by the body of Sibyl Adams in one of the stalls, dead. So began an investigation into what turned into a serial killer who was brutalising young women; Sara's ex-husband, Chief of Police Jeffrey Tolliver, was on the case along with his team, determined to catch the killer before anyone else was murdered.
Blindsighted is the first in the Grant County series, as well as Karin Slaughter's debut novel (first published in 2001) for which she received awards. A fast-paced plot with brutal, cruel and sadistic murders, along with well-crafted characters in Sara, Jeffrey and others. I first read this novel back in mid 2011, consequently had no memory of the plot (so no spoilers in my head!) I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to #2 next month (February) Highly recommended to fans of gritty thrillers.
Blindsighted is the first in the Grant County series, as well as Karin Slaughter's debut novel (first published in 2001) for which she received awards. A fast-paced plot with brutal, cruel and sadistic murders, along with well-crafted characters in Sara, Jeffrey and others. I first read this novel back in mid 2011, consequently had no memory of the plot (so no spoilers in my head!) I enjoyed this one and am looking forward to #2 next month (February) Highly recommended to fans of gritty thrillers.
April 8, 2022
I am finding so many new series lately! I nearly started another last night but thought better of it as there may be too much going on if I do.
I decided to tackle Grant County after enjoying Will Trent number one, and I was recommended by a few trusted Goodreads friends to start this series, as a backdrop to Will Trent.
So here we are. I will be reading this series predominantly via the audio format, as I have access to so many libraries, and work at one, so I find them all over the country. I did accidentally start the abridged version, and halfway through quickly amended this. Just in case others don’t realise this, so much content is left out. An added bonus to using the audio format is that I can breeze through the audiobooks quickly, so binge reading may be my new normal!
I love the lead characters here, Sara – our smart, feisty, and stubborn paediatrician come medical examiner (what a busy lady!) and Jeffery – our committed and capable Police Chief. Add in the fact that these two were previously married makes for a good mix of chemistry, too. Sara's emotional baggage will feature heavily here, I hope she will be able to recover and blossom as she holds the main seat of this series.
It seems this series is very brutal, the content is very heavy and not all may be able to stomach this, but the story line is very original and edge of your seat stuff.
The Police staff are interesting with backstories provided; the only female detective Lena is a strong woman with a huge chip on her shoulder who will be another great character to build on as the series travels along.
Set in small-town Georgia, a killer is on the loose, leaving heinous messages via mutilation of women. Lena’s twin is a victim, and Sara’s tragic past weaves into this current disaster in the small town.
Excellent narration on the audio format, I am so glad I stumbled across this author as a couple of Karin Slaughter’s books have been on my physical shelves for a very long time. I recommend this series, and I am very excited. Though given the gore and physicality thus far, it may not be for everyone.
I decided to tackle Grant County after enjoying Will Trent number one, and I was recommended by a few trusted Goodreads friends to start this series, as a backdrop to Will Trent.
So here we are. I will be reading this series predominantly via the audio format, as I have access to so many libraries, and work at one, so I find them all over the country. I did accidentally start the abridged version, and halfway through quickly amended this. Just in case others don’t realise this, so much content is left out. An added bonus to using the audio format is that I can breeze through the audiobooks quickly, so binge reading may be my new normal!
I love the lead characters here, Sara – our smart, feisty, and stubborn paediatrician come medical examiner (what a busy lady!) and Jeffery – our committed and capable Police Chief. Add in the fact that these two were previously married makes for a good mix of chemistry, too. Sara's emotional baggage will feature heavily here, I hope she will be able to recover and blossom as she holds the main seat of this series.
It seems this series is very brutal, the content is very heavy and not all may be able to stomach this, but the story line is very original and edge of your seat stuff.
The Police staff are interesting with backstories provided; the only female detective Lena is a strong woman with a huge chip on her shoulder who will be another great character to build on as the series travels along.
Set in small-town Georgia, a killer is on the loose, leaving heinous messages via mutilation of women. Lena’s twin is a victim, and Sara’s tragic past weaves into this current disaster in the small town.
Excellent narration on the audio format, I am so glad I stumbled across this author as a couple of Karin Slaughter’s books have been on my physical shelves for a very long time. I recommend this series, and I am very excited. Though given the gore and physicality thus far, it may not be for everyone.
February 12, 2022
A brilliant introduction to well-deserved fame as a thriller author
It must be a seriously daunting proposition for a first-time author to dip a toe into an arena as crowded as the suspense thriller genre. But Karin Slaughter’s fame today is clear evidence that her debut effort, BLINDSIGHTED, was obviously a success and her writing chops as an outstanding and exciting author were established right out of the gate.
In many ways, BLINDSIGHTED is just one more graphic and outrageously violent thriller built around tropes that are a dime a dozen – serial rape; gruesome wet work; a villain who is clearly a psychopathic mental case on day release from the Hannibal Lecter Funny Farm Inc.; macabre details such as abdominal knife slashes in the shape of a cross and the victim’s actual crucifixion to a wooden floor; endemic police misogyny and inter-jurisdictional squabbling; details of forensic evidence; and, of course, dysfunctional romances.
But the devil is clearly in the details and, for my money, BLINDSIGHTED was a clear winner. The plot, the surprise revelation of the villain’s identity, the paralyzing uncertainty of Sara Linton’s continuing and constantly conflicted feelings about her ex-husband, police chief, Jeffrey Tolliver, and the accompanying dialogue were all absolutely convincing. But the hands down winner in the “what really put this novel over the top” category was character development. Sara Linton, the town pediatrician and coroner, Jeffrey Tolliver, the police chief, and Lena Adams, an up-and-coming positively driven female police officer, were jaw-dropping in their depth and credibility.
If you enjoy suspense thrillers and want to share the discovery of what kick-started Karin Slaughter’s rise to fame, find a copy of BLINDSIGHTED. You won’t be sorry.
Paul Weiss
It must be a seriously daunting proposition for a first-time author to dip a toe into an arena as crowded as the suspense thriller genre. But Karin Slaughter’s fame today is clear evidence that her debut effort, BLINDSIGHTED, was obviously a success and her writing chops as an outstanding and exciting author were established right out of the gate.
In many ways, BLINDSIGHTED is just one more graphic and outrageously violent thriller built around tropes that are a dime a dozen – serial rape; gruesome wet work; a villain who is clearly a psychopathic mental case on day release from the Hannibal Lecter Funny Farm Inc.; macabre details such as abdominal knife slashes in the shape of a cross and the victim’s actual crucifixion to a wooden floor; endemic police misogyny and inter-jurisdictional squabbling; details of forensic evidence; and, of course, dysfunctional romances.
But the devil is clearly in the details and, for my money, BLINDSIGHTED was a clear winner. The plot, the surprise revelation of the villain’s identity, the paralyzing uncertainty of Sara Linton’s continuing and constantly conflicted feelings about her ex-husband, police chief, Jeffrey Tolliver, and the accompanying dialogue were all absolutely convincing. But the hands down winner in the “what really put this novel over the top” category was character development. Sara Linton, the town pediatrician and coroner, Jeffrey Tolliver, the police chief, and Lena Adams, an up-and-coming positively driven female police officer, were jaw-dropping in their depth and credibility.
If you enjoy suspense thrillers and want to share the discovery of what kick-started Karin Slaughter’s rise to fame, find a copy of BLINDSIGHTED. You won’t be sorry.
Paul Weiss
December 24, 2019
Oh Karin Slaughter! What a name to your legacy. Perfect name for the panic and horrid imagery you provoke in the reader.
For sensitive people there is rape, sodomy, brutality, racism, religious text in the killings.... She is not for everyone.
I have started working my way backward in this series. It is all starting to make sense, although her books are good enough to be standalones. I like and dislike Lena at the same time. I want Jeffery and Sarah to be together again!! It's complicated people.
The story starts with Lena's blind sister, Sybil, being brutally murdered and raped in a diner during the lunch time rush. As it goes on from there more women start disappearing.
It is a nail biter and suspense driven novel. It is enough to start questioning people you know and lock your doors after entering a room... Goosebumps!!
For sensitive people there is rape, sodomy, brutality, racism, religious text in the killings.... She is not for everyone.
I have started working my way backward in this series. It is all starting to make sense, although her books are good enough to be standalones. I like and dislike Lena at the same time. I want Jeffery and Sarah to be together again!! It's complicated people.
The story starts with Lena's blind sister, Sybil, being brutally murdered and raped in a diner during the lunch time rush. As it goes on from there more women start disappearing.
It is a nail biter and suspense driven novel. It is enough to start questioning people you know and lock your doors after entering a room... Goosebumps!!
June 8, 2020
Gritty and compelling in the way Karin Slaughter does best!
A small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally murdered. Sara Linton, the towns paediatrician and part time coroner holds the key to finding the one responsible. ✨
This is the first book in the Grant County series and what a start it was 😍 I liked that it is a well rounded book and you don’t necessarily have to pick the next one to find out what happens.
I did struggle with keeping up with the whole cast of characters to start with but you so quickly pick up who is worth remembering and keeping tabs on!
This is definitely one for crime lovers!
A small Georgia town erupts in panic when a young college professor is found brutally murdered. Sara Linton, the towns paediatrician and part time coroner holds the key to finding the one responsible. ✨
This is the first book in the Grant County series and what a start it was 😍 I liked that it is a well rounded book and you don’t necessarily have to pick the next one to find out what happens.
I did struggle with keeping up with the whole cast of characters to start with but you so quickly pick up who is worth remembering and keeping tabs on!
This is definitely one for crime lovers!
June 4, 2017
Simply amazing, that this was Karin Slaughters' debut 16 years ago!!! If it weren't for my friend Christine recommending this to me I may have overlooked it altogether. Thank you, Christine! Now I understand why this author has the following she does (including myself). In case you're wondering, I will be binge reading the rest of the 'Grant County" series then on to 'Will Trent'.
October 19, 2021
Vorweg möchte ich sagen, dass mir eine Trigger-Warnung hier wirklich gut gefallen hätte... Denn das Thema auf was das Buch hinaus läuft ist echt heftig, auch wenn es ein wenig Spoilern würde.
Ich musste das Buch deshalb stellenweise erst einmal pausieren, da ich sowas nicht so gut lesen kann.
Davon abgesehen, war das für mich ein wirklich gelungener Thriller mit gutem Spannungsaufbau und einer schlüssigen Aufklärung. Unsere Protagonisten mochte ich auch alle sehr. Vor allem da man immer aus verschiedenen Sichtweisen gelesen hat konnte man sich gut hineinversetzen und dem Spannungsbogen tat das auch gut.
Äußerst elegant gelöst fand ich wie nachher alles zusammenhing und einen Sinn ergab. Die Auflösung fand ich auch stimmig, da habe ich nichts zu bemängeln. Ich denke, dass mir die weiteren Bände der Reihe auch gut gefallen werden.
Ich musste das Buch deshalb stellenweise erst einmal pausieren, da ich sowas nicht so gut lesen kann.
Davon abgesehen, war das für mich ein wirklich gelungener Thriller mit gutem Spannungsaufbau und einer schlüssigen Aufklärung. Unsere Protagonisten mochte ich auch alle sehr. Vor allem da man immer aus verschiedenen Sichtweisen gelesen hat konnte man sich gut hineinversetzen und dem Spannungsbogen tat das auch gut.
Äußerst elegant gelöst fand ich wie nachher alles zusammenhing und einen Sinn ergab. Die Auflösung fand ich auch stimmig, da habe ich nichts zu bemängeln. Ich denke, dass mir die weiteren Bände der Reihe auch gut gefallen werden.
August 24, 2020
Caution: This novel has explicit rape and torture.
This was an amazingly well done first novel for Karen Slaughter and believe it or not it is slightly tame compared to her later stuff. I find it difficult to read some of her passages (due to the explicit and gruesome details). It is a brutal but well written murder mystery. 5 stars
This was an amazingly well done first novel for Karen Slaughter and believe it or not it is slightly tame compared to her later stuff. I find it difficult to read some of her passages (due to the explicit and gruesome details). It is a brutal but well written murder mystery. 5 stars
August 17, 2022
3.5 stars until i fully decide if i want to give it 4 stars or not.
while i really enjoyed the book what i did not enjoy was lena. she was annoying as hell!! sarah was a badass though and i did like the romance bits that was in the book! one thing that made me uncomfortable was the use of the N word in the book like wow stephen king’s influence!! (sarcasm)
while i really enjoyed the book what i did not enjoy was lena. she was annoying as hell!! sarah was a badass though and i did like the romance bits that was in the book! one thing that made me uncomfortable was the use of the N word in the book like wow stephen king’s influence!! (sarcasm)
August 25, 2015
Well, this didn't work for me at all - I haven't even wanted to pick it up for two days. Our main character was more scared than I could believe considering she's the coroner and dead bodies aren't foreign to her. I believed the shock she felt when she first saw the body, because you're not expecting something like that ever, but after that all her nerves were just annoying to me. Or how she was cradling the victim when the cop came, as if she were really close to this person, but she wasn't, so why the forehead stroking and all that?
The guy has been a cop for TWENTY years, and the first half had been spent in a place where murders weren't uncommon (he says not a week went by without investigating one), yet when he learns of this new murder he freaks out. He says how it literally takes his breath away when he sees the scene, and at one point gets lightheaded when the CORONER has to point out the murder is probably not a simple murder, but in the next fricken sentence he's thinking how he's seen that kind of thing before. And this gem: ""What?" He asked, his voice echoing slightly on the cellular." What the fuck is that?! Where's the finesse and superb writing that made Pretty Girls so unputdownable?! UGH.
Another cop, but at least this one had an actual personal connection to the murder victim, is searching for anything that could help shed light on who did it, and she's looking for the diary, but it's in braille since the victim was blind, and as the victim's lover picks it up to translate it the cop thinks: "For some reason, Lena got the impression she was touching the pages because [the victim] had, as if she could absorb some sense of [the victim] rather than just words." For. Some. Reason. Ok.
This book does not read like Slaughter's Pretty Girls at all. I had zero complaints for Pretty Girls, but I can't even bring myself to finish this one. The only thing I like about it is that it's about adults and not teens and a ritualistic-ish murder plot would have been great to read about.
In the end, the reviews are great so people clearly aren't bothered by the same shit I was, but I can't bring myself to recommend this one.
July 6, 2021
Not only is Blindsighted the first book in the Grant County series, it was also Karin Slaughter's debut novel. When Sara Linton was introduced in book 3 of the Will Trent series, I felt a tug to go back to the beginning and when my GR friend Michael suggested the same, I knew it was the right decision.
There are lots of trigger warnings in this book and it is definitely not for anyone who is squeamish. The murder is extremely violent and the details throughout the book are quite graphic. If you're alright with that, the characters are well developed and even though I surprisingly figured it out fairly early on (which is rare for me), the plot was engaging and well-paced. I like Sara a lot and I find her relationship with her ex-husband Jeffrey intriguing, so I am curious to see how that pans out in the following books. Having read some of her later books prior to this one, I can see how her writing has evolved over the years. 3 1/2 stars rounding up to 4 because I thought it was quite good for a debut.
There are lots of trigger warnings in this book and it is definitely not for anyone who is squeamish. The murder is extremely violent and the details throughout the book are quite graphic. If you're alright with that, the characters are well developed and even though I surprisingly figured it out fairly early on (which is rare for me), the plot was engaging and well-paced. I like Sara a lot and I find her relationship with her ex-husband Jeffrey intriguing, so I am curious to see how that pans out in the following books. Having read some of her later books prior to this one, I can see how her writing has evolved over the years. 3 1/2 stars rounding up to 4 because I thought it was quite good for a debut.
March 2, 2024
I can’t believe this is my first time reading this author!
If you love suspense thrillers with excellent police work and forensics, you will enjoy this one, especially as the first in the series.
From what I understand from other readers, this is one that should be read in order, so this is what I intend to do. But, back to this one.
The plot is riveting and some of the scenes a bit gritty (I did get squirmy), but the flow and pace of the story line keeps you interested and involved.
As a reader, you also become invested in the characters. I won’t go into details of the story…I leave that to you to discover.
I’m ready to order Book #2.
If you love suspense thrillers with excellent police work and forensics, you will enjoy this one, especially as the first in the series.
From what I understand from other readers, this is one that should be read in order, so this is what I intend to do. But, back to this one.
The plot is riveting and some of the scenes a bit gritty (I did get squirmy), but the flow and pace of the story line keeps you interested and involved.
As a reader, you also become invested in the characters. I won’t go into details of the story…I leave that to you to discover.
I’m ready to order Book #2.
August 16, 2014
Posted to The Literary Lawyer.ca
Beautiful Body that is Missing a Soul - 3.5 Stars
This was my first foray into the world of Karin Slaughter. Her world is filled with interesting characters, personal drama and a fair share of deranged individuals. I did enjoy the book. The writing was very good, the characters were interesting and the plot was good. That said, it seemed to be missing something. Something I am having a hard time putting my finger on. For all the positives, the story still lacks.
Plot summary
The story shifts through three major points of view. Sara, the town's coroner and a pediatrician. Jeffery, the ex-husband of Sara and the town's chief of police and Lena, a deputy on the force and sister of the first victim. The story opens with the murder of Lena's sister. Sara finds her body in restaurant washroom where she has been killed and brutalized. Unfortunately, this is not last body as others go missing and crimes contain similar ritualistic elements. As the story progresses as the crimes become personal for all parties involved and secrets from the past may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the murders.
The Good
Well Crafted
This was one well crafted novel. This was nominated the Barry Award for Best First Novel and it was certainly good enough to have won it. Karin Slaughter wrote a book that was taunt, thrilling and as polished as those with much more experience. There was an interesting storyline with red herrings, misdirection and slight of hand. While the beginning of the novel lagged, the pace picked up significantly in the middle of the book
There was significant drama amongst the characters. While I despise excessive romance in my novels and roll my eyes when the story becomes overly emotional, the author deftly walked the line on this point. There are complex relationships each with their own histories and developments.
The Bad
But Its Missing Something...
Despite all of the positive elements, the novel did not feel complete. Despite a good storyline, good character development and thrills and chills, the story may have been a victim of its own slick execution. While I enjoyed the story and was interested in the outcome, I did not connect with the characters. By the end, I was interested to see if my theories were correct but I did not care about the characters. While the body of the novel was solid and looked good, the lacked some soul
Final Thoughts
A slow first half and a lack of soul and emotion hurt my rating on this one. That said, it is an excellent and well crafted first novel. Karin Slaughter has had a long and successful career and I am confident that her skill improved as she gained experience. Overall, a worthwhile read but not one that I will list amongst my favorites.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 3.5
Much of the sexual content is related to a series of sex crimes. There is one moderately graphic scene of a sexual assault. There are several more far more disturbing elements are revealed in the investigation of sexual assaults. There is some disturbing sodomy involved and other elements that are violent.
Language - 3
There is moderate use of mild obscenities and low usage of the f-word. There is also some low use of sexual derived adult language.
Violence - 4
There are some disturbing elements of violence in the novel (see sexual content). There are some moderately high graphic description of the violence. There are some ritualistic elements in the violence amongst multiple murders. Readers who are moderately sensitive to sexual violence should avoid this book.
Beautiful Body that is Missing a Soul - 3.5 Stars
This was my first foray into the world of Karin Slaughter. Her world is filled with interesting characters, personal drama and a fair share of deranged individuals. I did enjoy the book. The writing was very good, the characters were interesting and the plot was good. That said, it seemed to be missing something. Something I am having a hard time putting my finger on. For all the positives, the story still lacks.
Plot summary
The story shifts through three major points of view. Sara, the town's coroner and a pediatrician. Jeffery, the ex-husband of Sara and the town's chief of police and Lena, a deputy on the force and sister of the first victim. The story opens with the murder of Lena's sister. Sara finds her body in restaurant washroom where she has been killed and brutalized. Unfortunately, this is not last body as others go missing and crimes contain similar ritualistic elements. As the story progresses as the crimes become personal for all parties involved and secrets from the past may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of the murders.
The Good
Well Crafted
This was one well crafted novel. This was nominated the Barry Award for Best First Novel and it was certainly good enough to have won it. Karin Slaughter wrote a book that was taunt, thrilling and as polished as those with much more experience. There was an interesting storyline with red herrings, misdirection and slight of hand. While the beginning of the novel lagged, the pace picked up significantly in the middle of the book
There was significant drama amongst the characters. While I despise excessive romance in my novels and roll my eyes when the story becomes overly emotional, the author deftly walked the line on this point. There are complex relationships each with their own histories and developments.
The Bad
But Its Missing Something...
Despite all of the positive elements, the novel did not feel complete. Despite a good storyline, good character development and thrills and chills, the story may have been a victim of its own slick execution. While I enjoyed the story and was interested in the outcome, I did not connect with the characters. By the end, I was interested to see if my theories were correct but I did not care about the characters. While the body of the novel was solid and looked good, the lacked some soul
Final Thoughts
A slow first half and a lack of soul and emotion hurt my rating on this one. That said, it is an excellent and well crafted first novel. Karin Slaughter has had a long and successful career and I am confident that her skill improved as she gained experience. Overall, a worthwhile read but not one that I will list amongst my favorites.
Content Advisories
It is difficult to find commentary on the sex/violence/language content of book if you are interested. I make an effort to give you the information so you can make an informed decision before reading. *Disclaimer* I do not take note or count the occurrences of adult language as I read. I am simply giving approximations.
Scale 1 - Lowest 5 - Highest
Sex - 3.5
Much of the sexual content is related to a series of sex crimes. There is one moderately graphic scene of a sexual assault. There are several more far more disturbing elements are revealed in the investigation of sexual assaults. There is some disturbing sodomy involved and other elements that are violent.
Language - 3
There is moderate use of mild obscenities and low usage of the f-word. There is also some low use of sexual derived adult language.
Violence - 4
There are some disturbing elements of violence in the novel (see sexual content). There are some moderately high graphic description of the violence. There are some ritualistic elements in the violence amongst multiple murders. Readers who are moderately sensitive to sexual violence should avoid this book.
June 14, 2014
This book was voted as our June Book Read by our group " A Good Thriller"
Happy this book was voted as have enjoyed quite a few of Karin Slaughter books, although good to read this book as her debut book and the introduction of her character Sara Linton.
Karin Slaughter--a wonderful name for a crime/mystery writer--sets her novel in a small town in Georgia. Nothing much happens in Heartsdale, and the local pediatrician, Sara Linton, also works as the coroner. Sara meets her younger sister for lunch at the local diner one afternoon and stumbles upon a grisly scene. The twin sister of a local detective has been viciously attacked, mutilated, and raped. It's not long before another victim surfaces, and Sara works along with her ex-husband who also happens to be the Chief of Police to try to track down this sick killer. All the while, Sara has her own tortured past as well as her strained relationship with her ex-husband to deal with. In this small town where everyone knows everyone else, who could possibly be the twisted rapist murderer?
Slaughter seems to have done her research for this novel. The medical information alone is quite interesting, and the dialogue and characters are believable, a tough subject dealing with serial killers in this day and age. It's well written, keeps you guessing and keeps to a fast pace with a chilling build up to the end in this powerful story.
Now reading my BOOK PAL book for June , The Bone House by Brian Freeman, my first book by this author, who is joining us for a Q & A in August.
Happy this book was voted as have enjoyed quite a few of Karin Slaughter books, although good to read this book as her debut book and the introduction of her character Sara Linton.
Karin Slaughter--a wonderful name for a crime/mystery writer--sets her novel in a small town in Georgia. Nothing much happens in Heartsdale, and the local pediatrician, Sara Linton, also works as the coroner. Sara meets her younger sister for lunch at the local diner one afternoon and stumbles upon a grisly scene. The twin sister of a local detective has been viciously attacked, mutilated, and raped. It's not long before another victim surfaces, and Sara works along with her ex-husband who also happens to be the Chief of Police to try to track down this sick killer. All the while, Sara has her own tortured past as well as her strained relationship with her ex-husband to deal with. In this small town where everyone knows everyone else, who could possibly be the twisted rapist murderer?
Slaughter seems to have done her research for this novel. The medical information alone is quite interesting, and the dialogue and characters are believable, a tough subject dealing with serial killers in this day and age. It's well written, keeps you guessing and keeps to a fast pace with a chilling build up to the end in this powerful story.
Now reading my BOOK PAL book for June , The Bone House by Brian Freeman, my first book by this author, who is joining us for a Q & A in August.
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