Blind Spot

When TV journalist Ariel Gold's friend, Laya, is blinded after using a bottle of eye drops, LAPD thinks it's a case of random product tampering. Ariel, however, is not convinced, especially after hearing Laya's story of surreptitiously witnessing a brutal beating from which the victim died. Ariel is almost afraid to tell Laya that the one witness who cooperated with the police has herself been murdered while Laya was hospitalized. As Ariel delves deeper into the facts of Laya's case, she can't help but wonder whether there isn't some link to a letter Ariel has received from a woman hinting at yet another murder. Trouble is, Ariel, who is an amnesiac, can't remember the letter writer. By the time she figures out the lady's identity, that lady, too, is dead. This story is delightfully well developed, including information on the breeding and training of guide dogs for the blind. The plot is pleasingly plump and the characters well defined, blending together to make a taut and satisfying mystery.

Judy Mercer writes a very realistic thriller starringa scarred protagonist whose affliction will not magically disappear in the foreseeable future. Ariel's problem makes her a simultaneously stronger yet vulnerable person who still hopes to one day have her memory restored. The story line is filled with action, powerful characterizations, and a complex plot. BLIND SPOT is a fascinating, pulse-pounding thriller that appeals to a mainstream audience even though New Age readers will appreciate the paranormal elements.

PLEASE NOTE: The following is an ammended review. In the previous version, the word GENTEEL was mis-spelled as GENTILE. Please make the appropriate change. Thank you.I've just completed reading BLIND SPOT by Judy Mercer. I'm not a critic...I'm just an ordinary person who loves to read. Perhaps I'll never review a book for Kirkus Reviews or Booklist but I do know a solid plot when I see one. I know if I like a character or I don't. Whether their throughline (sorry, that's a professional term relating to a character's motivation) is logical and appropriate. Did I mention the masterful ability Mercer has of engaging me? Her genteel way of leading me through the twists and turns of Ariel Gold's life, without pedantic plot devices or manipulative machinations. Mercer and her characters are like family to me. I accept them. I want to stay with them until the end. I love them. What more can a bibliophile ask? As I said, I may never write a review for anyone other than my fellow readers. And, so I have.To you my fellow readers or shall I say, book buyers: Thumbs up, Judy Mercer. Thumbs up, Blind Spot. Kirkus and Booklist...THUMBS DOWN!

I've just completed reading BLIND SPOT by Judy Mercer. I'm not a critic...I'm just an ordinary person who loves to read. Perhaps I'll never review a book for Kirkus Reviews or Booklist but I do know a solid plot when I see one. I know if I like a character or I don't. Whether their throughline (sorry, that's a professional term relating to a character's motivation) is logical and appropriate. Did I mention the masterful ability Mercer has of engaging me? Her gentile way of leading me through the twists and turns of Ariel Gold's life, without pedantic plot devices or manipulative machinations. Mercer and her characters are like family to me. I accept them. I want to stay with them until the end. I love them. What more can a bibliophile ask? As I said, I may never write a review for anyone other than my fellow readers. And, so I have.To you my fellow readers or shall I say, book buyers: Thumbs up, Judy Mercer. Thumbs up, Blind Spot. Kirkus and Booklist...THUMBS DOWN!