Blind by Sidney Bristol

Do you like the show Criminal Minds? Do you think eyeballs are creepy? If you answered yes to one (or both) of those questions, then go grab a copy of Blind by Sidney Bristol. If you answered no, then just try it anyways. Serial killers, eyeballs, and sexy cops, oh my! Blind is a fast-paced romantic thriller that will keep you turning pages and (possibly) covering your eyes. Blind captured the creepy and horrific without causing me to sleep with the lights on (though I may have looked over my shoulder for days on end). Full disclosure: I do NOT like horror movies or books, so while this book has a certain creepy factor, it didn’t trigger my inner toddler and incite nightmares.

SBristol-BlindHe recognizes the darkness in her. It’s in him, too.

Detective Jacob Payton knows the clock is ticking down. Someone is about to die, and his best suspect is also his only source of information. He’s known Emma Ration’s story for years—after all, a brutal serial killer left his mark on both their lives when they were still young. Meeting her is another experience altogether. She challenges his control and entices him in ways no other woman has.

But is she the killer? As the bodies pile up and their passion ignite, Jacob runs the risk of losing his control. Falling for Emma was never in his plan, but now that she’s part of his life he’s not about to give her up. Not even to the FBI on the trail of the very same killer.

Jacob must figure out if it’s Emma in danger, or himself. If he can’t uncover the identity of the copycat killer, it could be the end for both him and the woman who has fast become the center of his life.

Two people unable to fully move forward from events that touched their lives, Emma and Jacob are forced to face the ghosts of their pasts. Emma – mechanic, dirt bike racer, and all-around tough girl – is having trouble fighting her attraction to Jacob, the cop. Let’s be fair – she doesn’t really want to fight the attraction, because the sexy cop really revs her engine. She has information that he wants, and they both are up for a little late night investigation…of one another (lame joke, I know!). Add in a quest to stop a copycat serial killer, and, well, things get messy.

I like that Emma is so scrappy. She might not have had the best childhood, but she’s made a life for herself. She doesn’t take shit from anyone (including Jacob). Emma is also very comfortable with her looks and her sexuality. Any story with a female lead that embraces herself – flaws and all – is worth noting. Emma isn’t a shy virgin, but she isn’t ashamed of her sexuality either. Body positivity is becoming increasingly important to me as I try to raise my daughter to love herself as she is. Those messages should also be in the books we read and love.

Jacob is the quintessential protective cop. I like him, and he was a good fit for Emma. BUT, I felt like the secondary characters (namely the BAU folks) took the focus. Very reminiscent of Criminal Minds, the quirky characters were so interesting that they easily eclipsed Jacob. I just want to know more about their stories (ahem – Jade). I know we’ll get more in future books, but that doesn’t stop my imagination from running wild!

There was only one moment where I felt the crime scene might be a little too gruesome for my taste. However, the clinical description from the prospective of the seasoned law enforcement characters didn’t over-sensationalize the tragic scene.

A great start to a new series of romantic thrillers, Blind grabs you at the start and doesn’t let go (not unlike a clingy ex, but this is in a good way). So, if your reading diet is deficient in serial killers or you could use more sexy cops (who says no to sexy cops?), give Blind a try. I’m dying to know which characters get the next book in this series. (See what I did there? Totally another bad joke.)

About Sarah 47 Articles
A 30-something mother of a teenage (going on 30) daughter, I read between 4-8 books a week. Between work, chauffeur responsibilities, and reading, I don’t have much free time . However, I do like to knit and crochet in the winter (quality scarves and hats are highly underrated!). My favorite genres are urban fantasy, contemporary romance, and paranormal romance. I tend to binge read when I find a great new series, so I love to discover new-to-me series that already have several books out.