The Blinds
Book - 2017
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SPL_Brittany
Sep 02, 2017
Welcome to the Blinds, the next step in witness protection. Where new residents travel to an isolated compound in the remote and dusty Texas landscape, 100 miles from any living town or being, a place where the population is comprised of dangerous criminals given a second chance, and innocent witnesses who would be in danger out in the world. The catch is that the residents must undergo a procedure that erases specific memories from their past. If you don’t know what makes you dangerous, you can’t reveal it and give yourself away. In the Blinds you begin anew and follow three simple rules: No one other than new residents may come into the town; absolutely no contact with the outside world; and if you decide to leave you may never return, and if you leave, you most certainly will wind up dead.
In the 8 years that Calvin Cooper has been sheriff, he has maintained an uneasy peace with the residents. Now in the past two months, he has been forced to deal with a suicide and now a murder. Cooper assisted by his colleagues, investigate the crime where anyone might have a motive and the skills to carry it out. The arrival of agents to help with the investigation, stir up more unease and suspicion among a population unused to dealing with people from the outside world, adding more chaos to a volatile situation. Could a town full of criminals who’ve forgotten their crimes ever change?
Sternberg writes a compelling fast-paced novel full of unexpected twists and turns. Told through multiple perspectives, readers are sure to enjoy this genre-bending mystery with elements of a western thrown in. Fans who’ve enjoyed Cormac McCarthys’ No Country for Old Men and Craig Johnsons’ The Highway Man are sure to enjoy this novel.
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Add a CommentGreat book. Once I really got into it, it was hard to down.
Great mixture of sci-fi and a western. Really enjoyed it.
A whodunnit with a sci-fi angle. The novel starts slow, but picks up speed at about a third of the way. Lots of action towards the end. It strikes me as a mix between a Twilight Zone episode and the Stephen King's "Rose Madder". The descriptions of the violent parts of the action are a little graphic, but not too distracting.
Such an interesting book! I only put it down when I had to and couldn't wait to get back to it. So unexpected, mysterious, fascinating and really makes you wonder - is this possible? Could it be happening? Very good read!
Interesting characters, fast pace-unique story line, well written. What more can one ask for in a novel? Sternbergh has succeeded in writing an excellent mystery/sci-fi like novel, that displays his talents as an author that I will look forward to reading in the future.
One strange, original story. Sadly I just didn't like it much.
Waiting for ebook
A full review can be found in the summary section. Review first published in the Stratford Gazette September 2017.
The Blinds is a different kind of town. It's a small population in the middle of nowhere Texas comprising of people who don't really know who they are. They arrive with very specific parts of their memories removed. They're criminals, witnesses to terrible things, and the like who are there for their own protection. They can leave whenever they'd like but the understanding is their chances on the outside aren't good.
It's been quiet until there's a shooting - and only the "sheriff" has a gun.
We have a murder mystery and a western wrapped up in one with our small town dealings, and politics, compounded by the government's involvement and the knowledge that most of the people living in town are not innocents; even if they don't remember what they did or saw. It's a good read, very noir like at points too.