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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Blind Spots by Thomas Mullen
Narrated by Gary Tiedemann
Blind Spot takes place in the near future, in our world, where everyone has gone blind. Seven years ago everyone was blinded by a mysterious virus. Chaos ensued, starvation was rampant, a tenth of the world's population died, and something had to be done to save humanity. The tech world came to the rescue by creating Vidders, a device that approximates vision, downloading visual data directly to people’s brains. Vidders brought it's own problems, there are people who want to control who can use them, how they can use them, or even if they get to use them. They are ripe for manipulation with the correct tech skills. Whoever can control the Vidders can control the world.
Sadly, money, power, and control drive evil humans who want those things and don't want others to have them. In just a few short years, this blindness and Vidders tech make so much money for companies that there are those who would not return normal sight to humans even if they could. Blindness and the tech that works around it pay off for the companies and people that mete out any hope of artificial sight.
Homicide detective Mark Owens feels guilt from the early days of the blindness. People died due to officers not being able to see but still trying to calm the chaos. People also died and suffered once those who got Vidders first took advantage of those who couldn't afford or weren't allowed to have Vidders yet. Now Mark is investigating a murder where a scientist is killed and the witness, another scientist, says that a black indistinct form killed the scientist. Since "my Vidder malfunctioned" is a common excuse from those who don't want to tell the truth, Mark didn't believe her. Then he sees the same phenomenon, a black, fuzzy, humanish shape running away from a murder. Now, Mark isn't believed and he knows he has to find out what is going on for both his own safety and the safety of humanity. So much is at stake but when he can't believe his own "Vidder" eyes, what can he do?
I can't say this was an "enjoyable" read. With all that we've been through over the last few years, this story felt a little too close for comfort. I didn't even have to imagine what it would be like for all humans to lose their sight. This story gives us a good picture and it is not pretty at all. There is no doubt that something like a Vidder would be manipulated by those who cherish money, power, and control over the welfare of others. We do get answers to some of my questions by the end of the story but there is so much that is left unanswered. The mystery is resolved but I can't help wondering if humans can survive this new world. The narrator, Gary Tiedemann does a very good job of portraying the emotions of Mark and others as they navigate this new disaster within in this Vidder world.
Pub Apr 4 2023
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
Narrated by Gary Tiedemann
Blind Spot takes place in the near future, in our world, where everyone has gone blind. Seven years ago everyone was blinded by a mysterious virus. Chaos ensued, starvation was rampant, a tenth of the world's population died, and something had to be done to save humanity. The tech world came to the rescue by creating Vidders, a device that approximates vision, downloading visual data directly to people’s brains. Vidders brought it's own problems, there are people who want to control who can use them, how they can use them, or even if they get to use them. They are ripe for manipulation with the correct tech skills. Whoever can control the Vidders can control the world.
Sadly, money, power, and control drive evil humans who want those things and don't want others to have them. In just a few short years, this blindness and Vidders tech make so much money for companies that there are those who would not return normal sight to humans even if they could. Blindness and the tech that works around it pay off for the companies and people that mete out any hope of artificial sight.
Homicide detective Mark Owens feels guilt from the early days of the blindness. People died due to officers not being able to see but still trying to calm the chaos. People also died and suffered once those who got Vidders first took advantage of those who couldn't afford or weren't allowed to have Vidders yet. Now Mark is investigating a murder where a scientist is killed and the witness, another scientist, says that a black indistinct form killed the scientist. Since "my Vidder malfunctioned" is a common excuse from those who don't want to tell the truth, Mark didn't believe her. Then he sees the same phenomenon, a black, fuzzy, humanish shape running away from a murder. Now, Mark isn't believed and he knows he has to find out what is going on for both his own safety and the safety of humanity. So much is at stake but when he can't believe his own "Vidder" eyes, what can he do?
I can't say this was an "enjoyable" read. With all that we've been through over the last few years, this story felt a little too close for comfort. I didn't even have to imagine what it would be like for all humans to lose their sight. This story gives us a good picture and it is not pretty at all. There is no doubt that something like a Vidder would be manipulated by those who cherish money, power, and control over the welfare of others. We do get answers to some of my questions by the end of the story but there is so much that is left unanswered. The mystery is resolved but I can't help wondering if humans can survive this new world. The narrator, Gary Tiedemann does a very good job of portraying the emotions of Mark and others as they navigate this new disaster within in this Vidder world.
Pub Apr 4 2023
Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
This is a DNF for me at 43%. When I first started this audiobook I went in blind so I didn't know what was going on. I only knew it was a mystery/thriller so I didn't expect the dystopian/post pandemic/sci-fi element to it. For me it felt very choppy going back and forth between the past during the blinding and after. Unfortunately this book wasn't for me.
thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
thank you netgalley and the publisher for an arc 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.
I definitely would recommend picking this up
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars, may round it up later. Interesting premise and good character development up to a point (Amira was under-utilized). Perhaps a bit overwritten and the unexpected help they got at the end was a bit surprising. Perhaps we could have spent less time in one of the character's POV or past and prepare the finale a bit more.
A noir-like whodunit set in the near future where sight has been lost by humanity, and technology has filled in. But what happens if the technology.... and your very sight... get hacked?
A strong setting, a decent cast of characters and great pacing made this techno-mystery stand out! Great for fans of Crichton, Crouch and Scalzi!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A strong setting, a decent cast of characters and great pacing made this techno-mystery stand out! Great for fans of Crichton, Crouch and Scalzi!
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
A little heavy handed with the social commentary, but gripping nonetheless
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I really liked that it was a dystopian mystery! I liked the multiple character perspectives as well!
A different type of pandemic strikes the world causing people to lose their sight. Eventually vitors, implants that can help you see, are developed. As with any new technology there are bugs and there are people trying to make the technology work for their interests. The anniversary of The Blinding is coming up and anniversary’s of terrible events can have big impacts.
After everything was closed in 2020, this book seems very real. It makes you think what would you do if you lost sight. It’s a very interesting book with some strong language in the beginning. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.
After everything was closed in 2020, this book seems very real. It makes you think what would you do if you lost sight. It’s a very interesting book with some strong language in the beginning. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narrator.
Interesting premise, and a good story.
My only real beef is not fully understanding how the "hack" works. Does it mess with the technology or directly with a persons brain? Also, how is it implemented? More plausible when a single person is affected, but less so when multiples are involved.
Still, a quick fun read. Will check out his other works.
My only real beef is not fully understanding how the "hack" works. Does it mess with the technology or directly with a persons brain? Also, how is it implemented? More plausible when a single person is affected, but less so when multiples are involved.
Still, a quick fun read. Will check out his other works.