Thomas Mullen has pulled off a dangerously awesome mesh of genres in which he gels gut-wrenching horror with inquisitive and action-packed storytelling in a science-fiction setting to create one of 2023’s most distinctive reads.
Homicide detective Mark Owens lives in a world like ours, except for an unexplainable world altering event that made every person on Earth go blind almost immediately, an event referred to as The Blinding. Now people go about their lives with technology implanted in their minds that allows them to see once again. If the worst was somehow thought to be over, a new murderer comes to town. The only problem is, those left alive swear they saw only a black blur where they should have clearly seen a person. How is it that the murderer can tap into the vision feeds so easily? It rattles all that Owens has come to depend upon after losing his sight, and leads him on a quest to uncover a conspiracy buried beneath the dark veneer of surveillance and disinformation.
Blind Spots is a powerful thriller that rallies readers with resonating sentiments about all sorts of ideas, from the philosophical connotations of natural sight, all the way to the dangerous age of information-gathering through an uneasy number of means as we experience today. Thomas Mullen demonstrates an exuberant brilliance as he builds and populates a haunting dystopian world that grounds readers with how plausible the events following The Blinding seem, taking into account political, socio-economic, and all sorts of factors that influence human behavior as it is today. I was mesmerized and frightened as Mullen explains what could very well happen in such a devastating event and how we could become even more hopelessly dependent on technology that we may not be able to even trust ourselves.
As Mark Owens brings along the readers for uncovering a dark conspiracy, there’s never a dull moment. From constantly exciting unfolding of twists to gritty action, you can’t find a good place to put the book down because each new chapter brings along a revelation that rejuvenates your desire to keep reading. Whether it’s cool car chases, pulse-pounding shootouts, or the feral nature of not knowing whether you’re rooting for a good guy or not, Blind Spots is a powerhouse of a thriller that has something for every reader to take away an experience that’s one to remember. This book helped me get through a very, very long international flight and even as I did my best to slow down and savor it over the entire flight, I was flipping through the pages fast enough to become a fire hazard. It’s a dangerously addictive read indeed.
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