2019 Book 256: BLIND SPOT by Brenda Novak

Blind Spot, The Evelyn Talbot Chronicles #4, by Brenda Novak
ISBN: 9781250076595 (paperback)
ISBN: 9781466888036 (ebook)
ISBN: 9781250243515 (audiobook)
ASIN: B07NCW9T13 (Kindle edition)
Publication date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks

New York Times bestseller Brenda Novak’s Evelyn Talbot series returns, with a heavily pregnant Evelyn being held hostage.

With Jasper Moore, the privileged boy who attacked her when she was only sixteen, finally caught and in prison, Dr. Evelyn Talbot, founder and head psychiatrist at Hanover House (a prison/research facility for psychopaths in remote Alaska), believes she can finally quit looking over her shoulder. She’s safe, happier than she’s ever been and expecting her first child. She’s also planning to marry Amarok, her Alaska State Trooper love interest and the town’s only police presence. But before the wedding can take place, a psychopath from the much more recent past comes out of nowhere and kidnaps her in broad daylight. Instead of planning her wedding, Evelyn finds herself doing everything she can to survive, save her baby and devise some way to escape while Amarok races the clock to find her – before it’s too late.

Dr. Evelyn Talbot has worked long and hard to establish Hanover House, a one-of-a-kind prison and mental health research facility. Initially, the inhabitants of Hilltop, Alaska were opposed to bringing a bunch of psychopaths to their town and it didn’t matter that they would be locked up in a secure facility. But the facility was built despite the N-I-M-B-Y attitude, and despite a rocky start and several area murders, the facility and the workers became accepted, especially Evelyn Talbot after she began a relationship with Alaskan Trooper Benjamin “Amarok” Murphy. Amarok is well-loved and respected in Hilltop and that love and respect gradually transferred over to Evelyn. Now that they’re engaged and expecting their first child, the residents of Hilltop are just as anxious about the nuptials and expectant delivery as the waiting couple/parents-to-be. Then Evelyn disappears. Amarok finds that she’s been abducted from their doorstep. His first suspicion is that Evelyn’s old nemesis, Jasper Moore, must have escaped from Hanover House but he’s still safely behind bars. He then checks on the one other person he presumes might have a motive to kidnap Evelyn, but this person suffered a massive brain trauma and other physical injuries is still hospitalized in the lower 48. Evelyn’s pregnancy is high risk given her age and the injuries she sustained from her teenage dealings with Jasper. Amarok has no clues on who took Evelyn or where she might be? How can he find her in time? Will he be able to find her in time?

I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing Hanover House a few years ago, so of course I had to reread it along with Her Darkest Nightmare, Hello Again, and Face Off before I read Blind Spot to refamiliarize myself with Evelyn, Amarok, and Hanover House. I found Blind Spot to be a fast-paced and engaging read but also slightly different from the previous books in this series. Although there is murder, intrigue, and even mayhem, this book didn’t seem as dark as the others. Both Amarok and Evelyn remain hopeful and optimistic throughout this ordeal, primarily because of Evelyn’s pregnancy but also because of their love, faith, and trust in one another. Having said that, we are also exposed to a side of Amarok we’ve never seen before. This is an emotionally distraught Amarok and one living on the edge, giving up sleep, and willing to do whatever he can to find his loved ones. Blind Spot is an interesting romantic-suspense read because the romance is one-step removed. Throughout most of the story, Evelyn and Amarok don’t see one another and can’t talk to one another, but their love sustains each other. When others have given up hope about finding Evelyn, Amarok keeps going, and Evelyn knows throughout all of her trials and indignities that Amarok will find her no matter what. If you’ve read the previous books in the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles, then I strongly encourage you to grab a copy of Blind Spot to read. For those of you that enjoy suspense thrillers with a touch of romance, then I encourage you to start with Hanover House and read through to Blind Spot. I sincerely hope this isn’t the end of the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles because I want to know what happens next (trust me, that will make sense after you read Blind Spot). For now, I guess I’ll just set these books aside and simply reread them in a few months.

Disclaimer: I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss+. I was not paid, required, or otherwise obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Author: thebookdivasreads

I'm a reader, an avid reader, or perhaps a rabid reader (at least according to my family). I enjoy reading from a variety of different genres but particularly enjoy fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, ChickLit, romance and classics. I also enjoy reading about numerous non-fiction subjects including aromatherapy, comparative religions, herbalism, naturopathic medicine, and tea. View all posts by thebookdivasreads