Blindsighted (Grant County #1) – Karin Slaughter

Genre: Mystery
Publisher: Arrow
Pages: 393
Release Date: May 1, 2001

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, for the county’s sole 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.

 

Blindsighted is the first book in the Grant County series that follows Sara Linton and Jeffery Tolliver. Sara and Jeffery, now divorced, must work together as coroner and chief of police to solve the gruesome murder of a young college professor.

Blindsighted has one of the goriest opening scenes I’ve read. I know that Slaughter does not shy away from details, but this opening scene had me squirming. These gruesome details continue throughout the novel, so if you’re easily triggered or dislike descriptive passages about autopsies then Blindsighted is not for you.

I was a little apprehensive starting Grant County because I’ve read the first few Will Trent novels and I’ve come to adore Will. I liked Sara when she was introduced in Genesis/Undone, but I wasn’t sure if a novel centering on her would work. I was wrong to even entertain that thought. Sara is an intriguing and complex character as she not only juggles her practice as a pediatrician with her job as county coroner, but also the dynamic between her and her ex-husband, Jeffery. There is a lot of unresolved tension between the two making their scenes a joy to read.

What I love most about Slaughter’s novels is her uncanny ability to make readers care about the mundane lives and relationships between the characters. I do not read a murder mystery novel to become invested in the characters solving the mystery, but with Slaughter’s novels I can’t get enough.

As for the mystery, I didn’t predict the culprit until Slaughter made it painfully obvious. I went back and read a few passages and picked up on the foreshadowing immediately. Blindsighted offers a tight mystery that will keep you guessing until the last second.

Overall, Blindsighted offers more than a disturbing murder mystery. It offers compelling characters that you’ll want to spend more time with, but only if you’re brave enough to keep reading.

 

Have you read Blindsighted? What did you think?