Blindsighted

Written by Karin Slaughter

Narrated by Denica Fairman

The sleepy town of Heartsdale, Georgia, is jolted into panic when Sara Linton, paediatrician and medical examiner, finds Sibyl Adams dead in the local diner. As well as being viciously raped, Sibyl has been cut: two deep knife wounds form a lethal cross over her stomach. But it's only once Sara starts to perform the post-mortem that the full extent of the killer's brutality becomes clear.

Police chief Jeffrey Tolliver — Sara's ex-husband — is in charge of the investigation, and when a second victim is found, crucified, only a few days later, both Jeffrey and Sara have to face the fact that Sibyl's murder wasn't a one-off attack. What they're dealing with is a seasoned sexual predator. A violent serial killer.

A Random House UK audio production.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House UK Audio
• Release date: Dec 23, 2010
• ISBN: 9781446454510

Karin Slaughter

Karin Slaughter is one of the world’s most popular storytellers. She 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 and Pretty Girls. An international bestseller, Slaughter is published in 120 countries with more than 40 million copies sold across the globe. Pieces of Her is a #1 Netflix original series, Will Trent is a television series starring Ramón Rodríguez on ABC, and further projects are in development for television. Karin 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.

Reviews for Blindsighted

[littlefreak59 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Belladonna ist der erste Teil der Sarah Linton/Jeffrey Tolliver Reihe und ein guter Anfang. Die Geschichte ist einfach und geradlinig geschrieben. An manchen Stellen vielleicht zu einfach, es hat mich leider nicht ganz so gefesselt wie erwartet.

[daftboy1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is the first Karin Slaughter book I have read. To be honest I was disappointed. Potentialy the story could have been alot better. The main character Sara Linton was ok but not really that beliveable. She is the medical examiner of a small town in the US. The Sheriff is ex husband, She tries to save a blind girl who has been horribly raped. Then a student suffers the same fate and then kills herself. Finally she rescues the blind girls twin sister who is a Police woman. The rapist was Sara's new boyfriend. Could have been better written I think.

[elliepotten · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I accidentally read one of the later books in this series, Skin Privilege, back in April, and really enjoyed it, so I decided it was time to start at the beginning and catch up on the characters' back stories... This novel introduces Sara Linton, Grant County paediatrician and coroner, as well as the other two key players in the series: her ex-husband, Chief of Police Jeffrey Tolliver, and his feisty young detective Lena Adams. Where Skin Privilege focussed on drug running and authority corruption, Blindsighted highlights sexual violence, manipulation, and what happens to individuals, couples and families in the aftermath of rape.It opens with Sara finding Sibyl Adams, Lena's blind twin sister, raped, drugged and mutilated, in the bathroom of the local diner. Despite her best efforts, Sibyl dies in her arms. A familiar and well-loved face around town, her death throws the locals into turmoil, raising old demons, causing huge professional and personal conflict for Lena, and pushing Sara and Jeff together as they struggle to find a lead that might help them track down the killer. When the mysterious predator strikes again, drugging and crucifying a young student, the race is on to stop him before he can strike a third time. As a reader, as a woman - as a human being - this is brutal, thought-provoking and disturbing material, but once again I found that once I was wrapped up in Slaughter's claustrophobic small-town web, it was very hard to wrench myself free. Although Slaughter doesn't hold back with the grisly description and clinical details of the crimes in her novels, I think their strength really lies in her characters. They are not secondary to the violence being committed, nor are they shallow vessels for justice. Changing the third-person viewpoint every so often allows the reader an insight into each of the main characters and their motives, and the author explores their personal journeys and complicated relationships with such warmth that we can't help but invest in their wellbeing and success. Her female characters are particularly well-drawn; Sara is a strong woman who has overcome a tragic past to stand tall at Jeffrey's side through everything the novel throws at her, and Lena is certainly a tough cookie, but in a more headstrong and stubborn way. Jeffrey is almost the weakest of the three, in a sense, despite his role at the head of the investigation!Overall, despite the odd couple of slow moments (where Slaughter became a bit too character-centric and seemed to forget about all the urgent and exciting things she'd set into motion that I wanted to get back to!), this was another well-plotted, emotive and gripping read that I ended up liking more than Skin Privilege. Gruesome truths are revealed with expert timing for maximum visceral impact, the autopsy scenes are painstakingly authentic, the relationships between characters are sympathetic and very astutely observed, and I learned some fascinating details about belladonna (the killer's drug of choice) as well. If I can learn something interesting while I'm being entertained then so much the better! Recommended for crime/thriller fans with a strong(ish) stomach and a keen interest in the bizarre and bleak world that is the criminal mind...

[tulikangaroo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the better Grant County books - wish I had started with this one instead of wondering why Lena is so bitter and Sara is so dense in subsequent novels! Oh well... The point: fast-paced, interesting, clever, well-written - I would expect nothing less from Karen.

[gmtapublishing · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Karin Slaughter is the absolute best crime/mystery writer I have come across in this day and age. Her novels will simply astound you with their heart-racing moments and intrigue. Every time I pick one of her novels up I cannot stop reading until I'm done and I still find myself begging for more. She's a writer with no fear! She wields her instruments like a knife ready to dig in deep and take you by surprise at every turn!

[lizparker_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book one in the Grant County series. Sara Linton is the local pediatrician in this small town in Georgia and ex wife of the police chief. While in the diner having lunch she finds the raped and slashed body of professor Sibyl adams in the toilet stalls. More victims are discovered until it becomes apparent that Sara is the next intended victim.

[shob7dw · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Karin Slaughter is a new thriller writer that's been coming up on my radar quite often. This is her debut, and it proves to be a very tight thriller. Fast paced, and told from varying perspectives, it charts the small-town sleuthing pair of Sara Linton (paediatrician/city coroner) and her ex-husband Jeffrey (chief of police) as they track down what seems to be a serial killer/rapist. There are some other characters thrown in to speed things up and the plot does have its twists. However, if ur a true thriller fan, you'd spot the "evil one" halfway thru the book. Slaughter writes without holding back any punches in detail, so be warned that the crimes are very violent in nature and can be quite disturbing. But a good read nonetheless, and the dynamic duo lives on for a few more books.

[lisamaria_c · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This story takes place in one week in a small Georgia town and involves a serial killer who drugs and rapes and ritually abuses his victims--and I should warn it's graphically depicted. Slaughter had a fairly smooth style (even if I got tired of all the ways the word "blindsighted" was worked in.) There are three central characters through whose eyes we see the story: Sara Linton, a pediatrician and town coroner, Jeffrey Tolliver, the Police Chief and her ex-husband, and Lena Adams, one of his detectives as well as the sister of a serial killer's first victim. I liked all three at first, even if Lena (seemingly from what I've read a tradition in depicting women cops) has a huge chip on her shoulder. However, I did become hugely annoyed when I learned Sara had been withholding crucial information for days--despite her reasons, it rather nudged her towards the Too Stupid to Live category I can't abide. Otherwise I can't say I think this story stands out among the standard serial killer thriller, although it certainly kept me turning pages.

[samantha71020 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Blindsighted begins with the grisly death of a blind college professor named Sibyl Adams who was brutalized before her death. The chief of police, Jeffrey Tolliver, begins to investigate the murder with little evidence to go on. His ex-wife, Sara Linton, is the small town's coroner and it is up to her to provide any clues that she can find from the victim's body. But soon after a new victim is found and both Jeffrey and Sara realize that they may have a serial killer on their hands.I ended up with mixed feelings on this book. On one hand, I was easily caught within the story from the very beginning. I had a hard time putting the book down. But...and this is a big but for me....the book was too graphic for me at times. I usually don't mind details and all but the murders and what was done to the bodies was a bit much even for me. And it caused me to step back from the book a couple of times. The characters were good and I liked that they weren't perfect nor were their relationships with each other perfect. I especially liked the interaction between Sara and Jeffrey which was interesting to read about. It made me want to see what is going to happen in future books as this is the beginning of a series. I did kind of have an idea as to who the killer was but there were questions left open at the end of the book that showed me I didn't guess everything. And I'm hoping that as I read the next book that maybe I'll get some more answers. Bottom Line: A good/okay read but one I would recommend with hesitation or at least a warning and I will be continuing with the 2nd book at some point :)

[brooke2424 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was my 1st Karin Slaughter book. I can honestly say I couldn't put this book down. I read each book in this series one right after the other until there were no more to read. She needs to come out with the Grant County series a bit faster!!! I was able to turn a few friends into Slaughter fans as well.

[mazda502001 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First of this authors books that I have read and really enjoyed this book. Couldn't put it down. Recommended.Back Cover Blurb:The sleepy town of Heartsdale, Georgia, is jolted into panic when Sara Linton, paediatrician and medical examiner, finds Sibyl Adams, a young college professor, dead in the local diner. As well as being viciously raped, Sibyl has been cut: two deep knife wounds form a lethal cross over her stomach. But it 's only once Sara starts to perform the post-mortem that the full extent of the killer's brutality becomes clear.Police chief Jeffrey Tolliver - Sara's ex-husband - is in charge of the investigation, and when a second victim is found, crucified, only a few days later, he has to face the fact that Sibyl's murder wasn't a one-off personal attack. What he's dealing with is a seasoned sexual predator. A serial killer.But what neither Sara nor Jeffrey could possibly predict is the depths this killer will sink to, the perversions of his twisted mind, or the extent to which his terrifying bloodlust will change their lives forever.

[riverwillow · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This came highly recommended and I can see why. This is a stunning debut and Sara Linton is an interesting character. Her relationship with her ex, Chief of Police Jeffrey Tolliver, is complicated but doesn't feel contrived.

[cequillo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in Slaughter's Grant County series. I initially introduced myself to this author somewhere around midway in the series and even then the novels were hard to put down, despite some confusion on the character's backgrounds. Blindsighted was no disappointment, despite being a debut, and I felt no lack of interest or intrigue for knowing, in some cases, the future of the characters. If you're a fan of the Grant County series, and you have missed the first couple, I highly recommend going back and picking this one up. You'll not be disappointed.

[debavp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This came highly recommended. The writing was quite excellent and mercifully the graphic violence, although necessary and impactful, was mercifully short. Not predictable until the very last pages. Several twists and turns that kept the story interesting and moving along at a good pace. The set up for a series was excellent and I look forward to the next installment.

[cal8769 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good mystery. Very gripping especially for a debut. I have read other books by this author and she weaves a good story with well thought out characters.

[gary10_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Gross but engaging page turner about a serial rape slayer. Spooky.

[camethyste_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent story. Well-written, well thought out characters. I'd love to read more by this author. This is one book that I couldn't put down til it was finished.

[smithsj01_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

For a debut novel this was fantastic. I can only imagine how good further novels went on to be. It took me a while to get into the style of her writing although the plot was perfect for me. As a reader, I need to be hooked quite quickly - this does the job! I found the hype off the back "don't read this alone, don't read this after dark" a bit too excessive but on the whole the other quotations were accurate. Sara Linton is the paediatrician and medical examiner in a quiet town called Heartsdale in Georgia. The comunity is a close knit community which is rocked to its core when a much-respected local is found dead in the local diner. A diner where people ate at regularly and usually at specific times. The deaths that occur are brutal, it is compelling reading not only because of this but because of Slaughter's fantastic narrative. I'm sure there will be plenty of people able to work out 'whodunnit' fairly quickly but I wasn't one of them. I was left guessing until almost the last moment when it did become obvious who it was. The chapter lengths are good, I personally don't like chapters that go on and on so this was good for me. The characters aren't two-dimensional either, although they all aren't particulalry engaging, this didn't seem to matter too much. I still don't understand children calling their parents 'mummy' and 'daddy' beyond childhood but that's just my niggle. Also I thought Tessa's parents were too relaxed about her sleeping arrangements. But those niggles asidem, this is a gripping read. Enjoy!

[bookwitch24 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good story, though some will have some trouble with the content. It’s not overly graphic, but it is rather disturbing. The author likes to tackle important issues and she handles it well. The characters are very real. They each have their flaws, but they are characters you will be rooting for. A wonderful first novel.

[emhromp2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

very exciting read, keeps you awake at night. liked the ending a lot, just like a film!

[darrol_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I liked this book; another that makes we wish we had a little more than an 10 scale ranking. The kill method was gruesome, but "good" character situations were human and moving. Up toward 3 from 2.5.

[elizajane_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sara Linton, county coroner, finds a woman viciously murdered in the bathroom of the local diner. Only days later, another victim is found similarly slain. Sara and her ex-husband, Jeffrey, the county sheriff, find themselves searching for a sadistic rapist/murderer. Thus begins one of the most horrific, tense thrillers I have read lately. The details of the scenes inside the killer's lair are riveting and not for the faint of heart. I read this book until the wee hours of the morning and upon wakening picked it up again. Not only is the crime itself riveting but the cast of characters are so well-developed. I am eager to meet them again in the next book, Kisscut.

[sexysuzy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

i hadn,t read this author beforebut im hooked areally great story slightly more gritty than p.c

[londonlady_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Read this and Karin Slaugher's other Grant County books recently. A good, gripping thriller, although the characters are a tad predictable!

[heidilove_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

i admit: i love the grisly tone in slughter's works. excellent light bedside fare.