I love a good futuristic dystopian hellscape that isn't the one we currently live in. I enjoyed the plot and technology but missed out on feeling connected to the various characters and struggled to follow some of the POVs and timeline jumps. Somewhat predictable but that's not always a bad thing. Overall this was a decent read.

"Blind Spots" is a riveting sci-fi thriller that skillfully keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The gripping narrative and suspenseful twists create an immersive experience, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. The author's ability to blend science fiction elements with thrilling storytelling has resulted in a captivating and enthralling journey through the unknown. Highly recommended for those seeking an adrenaline-pumping exploration of futuristic suspense.

4.5 ⭐️

When I first read the blurb for this book, I just knew it was going to be right up my alley. This sci-fi/dystopian thriller didn't disappoint—it quickly became one of my favorites.

The story was easy to follow and I really connected with the sci-fi concepts it presented. The pacing was amazing; it grabbed me from the beginning and didn't let go. The characters felt so real, and there was a mysterious vibe about them that really added to the thriller aspect.

The biggest reason this book isn’t 5 stars is because the ending felt a bit rushed. I lost track of the characters' true motivations. I mean, I got the surface stuff, but I wanted more depth. It felt like the ending focused more on the shock factor.

I also really liked how the author touched on the idea of everyone having blind spots when it comes to certain people in our lives.

Overall, it's a great, enjoyable book, and I'd recommend it to anyone who's into the dystopian genre.

Definitely check it out if you're into:
• Dystopian novels
• Easy-to-get-into sci-fi
• Stories with dual timelines
• Books you can't put down

This was such a fascinating speculative thriller. In these current times, it can be so hard to write pandemic post apocalyptic fiction because this subgenre has become exhausted. Yet this one was particularly engaging.

I found the premise of an entirely blind society so fascinating along with the technology developed to compensate. Despite the science fiction elements, I would predominantly recommend this novel to fans of thrillers. The science didn't feel grounded in reality but it made for a compelling setup.

The worldbuilding aspects were easily my favourite aspects of the story. The novel attempts to address a lot of themes surrounding disabilities and police control. Some of this commentary worked better than others.

I would recommend this thriller to readers who enjoy a mystery story with a speculative twist.

I was given the opportunity to read this book as well as listen to the audiobook. Both are great ways of enjoying this book since they narrators did an amazing job.

An interesting read and one that makes you think.... Blindness taking over the world for several years isn't something I want to think about but I went along for the ride with this book and .... yeah.... I'm still not sure how I feel about it.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC copy.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Lots of things going on in this book from to end of the world dooms day, futurist tech, to a mystery. It was a little hard to get into at first, everyone is blind and some use technology to "see" but then the mystery picks up and it becomes more of a page turner at that point.

This is the date of the review, not the date read.

Everyone is blind but certain people can wear devices to see. Of course, in the darker alleys and doorways, people are checked for those devices. Can't risk anyone seeing what happens inside.

After reading previous books by this author, this was not at all what I expected. I loved it.

A virus has spread around the world causing everyone to lose their sight. During the beginning, terrible things happened. A company invents a device allowing images to be sent to the brain simulating sight. The president creates a commission to explore what happened and to atone for the horrible things that happened. Not everyone wants this to happen. What happens when someone learns to hack the device that allows what people "see" to be different than what actually is.

Detective Mark Owens has regrets about the things he and other police did when the Blinding first occurs. He's had people tell him that what they saw wasn't possible and he didn't believe them until it happens to him. He the begins his quest for the truth.

Unputdownable! A riveting murder mystery staged in the fascinating future of global blindness and sci-fi sight. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author.

A futuristic look at a world where the people have been blinded. Are there dirty cops? What is their mission? This was well written and captivating.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I requested this for background reading for a review we had scheduled. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and so did our reviewer.

Now You See It…

Thomas Mullen astonished me with his moving Darktown trilogy of books. Set starting in the 1940’s, these brought to light what life was like for the first black police officers in Jim Crow Atlanta. Read “Darktown,” it is an important and fascinating historical fiction.

Mullen’s new novel, “Blind Spots,” covers a whole different arena, now in the science fiction realm. An epidemic had caused the world’s population to go blind. After a chaotic initial period, “The Blinding,” technology responded with an apparatus, a “vidder,” attached to the temples, enabling the brain to “see” images.

There is major concern over how this new vision is controlled. The very poor cannot afford this device while some groups of people reject the mechanism altogether. As mistrustful as people are about simple vaccinations, paranoia runs rampant over the government controlling people’s perceptions of reality.

“We haven’t voted on whether or not we should combine the human with the machine, but they’re doing it anyway!”

In this setting, we have Mark Owens, a cop still devasted by his wife’s suicide in the aftermath of The Blinding. Back on active duty, he is investigating a murder that seems crazy. A scientist was killed, and the witness claimed she only saw a dark form, “...like he’d been blotted out…” To the police this sounded like a weak alibi. “The vidder must have malfunctioned” was an excuse resorted to often.

Things change, though, when the witness is murdered, and this time Mark is the one who sees a cloaked image of the suspect getting away. Was this a malfunction? Why did his experience match the one his witness testified to? Is this a technical issue or are there dark forces controlling from behind the curtain?
“Blind Spots” branches out into a number of social issues, conspiracies, and plot twists– all the time keeping the action brisk and intriguing. I did not expect a sci-fi novel from the author, but it was very well done.

Thank you to St Martin's Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen. I got pulled into the world and devoured this plot-driven futuristic thriller. The story is gripping and has just enough twists and turns. The ending took care of itself too quickly and I wish it was more complex l, but other than that I really enjoyed it.

I definitely would recommend picking this up

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

In Blind Spots, Thomas Mullen has created a post-pandemic world that many of his readers will find hits awfully close to home.

Everyone in Mullins’ world has been stricken blind—although the exact cause of the catastrophe remains unclear. Understandably this sudden plunge into darkness caused fear and chaos. Then, a tech company savior arrived with a solution to get the world functioning again. By attaching a device called a Vitter to their temples, people could once again see the world—albeit through an altered lens. Information could also be conveniently displayed to the wearer. Some people did not trust this technology and chose to live with their blindness.

Mark Owens is a police detective who was traumatized by events that occurred seven years earlier, as the world, including himself, was going blind. In addition, he is still healing from the pain of losing his beloved wife to an apparent suicide. While he works to do his job and put his life back together, he finds himself a target of an internal affairs investigation.

As he and his partner, Jimmy, are investigating a suspicious death, Mark comes to understand that there are forces at work within the police and the Government that make him realize that, even with the Vitter, he has still been blind. With the help of his girlfriend, Amira, who is also a police officer, he races to find the truth while navigating a web of disinformation and avoiding the powerful surveillance state.

Blind Spots is a fast-paced, fascinating book. Leave yourself plenty of time to read because this is a hard book to put down.

This is a story about seeing the truth.

I’m torn on this one. On one hand, the sci fi thriller elements reminded me of minority report & I loved the writing & world building. On the other, the messaging woven in about good cops just trying to help out a friend/having to live in fear of being held responsible for “mistakes” didn’t super work for me & felt a bit contrived. I think this is a solid bet for sci fi thriller fans who also enjoy police procedurals!

Thank you so much @macmillan.audio & @minotaur_books for the copies! I really enjoyed the audio

If a mystery, police procedural and a sci book all had a baby then this would be the end result. A little confusing at some points. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for review

This is an interesting take on dystopian, but as usual, one group wants one thing, one group wants another, and most people are caught in the middle. I think Mullen does a great job of integrating his idea into modern society. Also interesting his use of artists' perception of the new reality, modified sight no longer being a pure representation of the art they want to create.

Blind Spots is an engaging and unique read . The story is fast paced and makes you think. It explores topics such as manipulation and many times I had no idea what was coming next. The characters are well-developed and nuanced. I was very invested in this story and enjoyed it!

Everyone has blind spots but what happens when you can no longer trust your own sight or memories?

In this sci-fi crime novel, we met someone who asks this very question. I’m not much of a sci-fi fan but I do love crime novels. This story pleasantly surprised me and I quite enjoyed it.