What do you think?
Rate this book
Sean Colbeth Investigates #1
Blindsided
How well do you know your friends – really, truly , know them?
That’s the question Police Chief Sean Colbeth finds himself asking when a local university professor living in the seaside village of Windeport is found dead in the bed of his late-model powder blue pickup truck, surrounded by five-gallon jugs of water. While it’s clear he’s been shot, there’s no bullet, no gun and no clear reason why the geriatric head of the Extension Service would be on anyone’s hit list.
Reasoning he knows his town better than anyone, Sean ignores his gut instinct to let the State take over the investigation, but finds himself asking unexpectedly hard questions of the people he thought he knew – friends, and even family members that become strangers upon further examination.
As he struggles to understand the startling motive he uncovers, Sean discovers both lies and deceit just below the whitewashed exteriors of the village he’s lived in his entire life. Digging deeper unearths secrets even the dead professor had hoped to keep buried; as he watches his own personal life unravel with each and every revealed clue, Sean discovers memories are long and fury can be as icy cold as the long Northeastern winters.
That’s the question Police Chief Sean Colbeth finds himself asking when a local university professor living in the seaside village of Windeport is found dead in the bed of his late-model powder blue pickup truck, surrounded by five-gallon jugs of water. While it’s clear he’s been shot, there’s no bullet, no gun and no clear reason why the geriatric head of the Extension Service would be on anyone’s hit list.
Reasoning he knows his town better than anyone, Sean ignores his gut instinct to let the State take over the investigation, but finds himself asking unexpectedly hard questions of the people he thought he knew – friends, and even family members that become strangers upon further examination.
As he struggles to understand the startling motive he uncovers, Sean discovers both lies and deceit just below the whitewashed exteriors of the village he’s lived in his entire life. Digging deeper unearths secrets even the dead professor had hoped to keep buried; as he watches his own personal life unravel with each and every revealed clue, Sean discovers memories are long and fury can be as icy cold as the long Northeastern winters.
212 pages, Hardcover
Published November 14, 2020
95 people are currently reading
3264 people want to read
About the author
Christopher H. Jansmann
19 books30 followersBorn and raised in Maine, Christopher H. Jansmann spent nearly three decades as a professional IT nerd before recalling a childhood ambition to become an author. He quickly set about correcting that oversight and published his first novel, Blindsided, in 2020, launching what would become his signature style of blending memorable characters with vibrant locations. Chris is the author of the Coastal Maine-set Sean Colbeth Investigates series and the interconnected Southern California-based Vasily Korsokovach Investigates novels.
Despite his love for the Northeast, Chris escaped the cold for sunny Arizona where he currently resides with his beautiful wife and a Shar-Pei mix that insists on being walked regularly.
Despite his love for the Northeast, Chris escaped the cold for sunny Arizona where he currently resides with his beautiful wife and a Shar-Pei mix that insists on being walked regularly.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 8, 2022
A new writer to me and I am so glad I read this book. I like mysteries set in small towns and this book set in Maine was really good at exploring how things work in a small town and I really like the main character and was sad that Vasily has to leave but will definitely read the mysteries with him as the main character.
July 21, 2024
The story was 3 stars, but I would add .5 star because it is his first book. Therefore, I would consider it a 3.5 star book. This book helped give a little insight into the book Pariah. I just wished the author had noted in the synopsis of Pariah that Blindsided should be read first. I recommend going to the author's website and checking out the chronological reading order (not the publication order) of his two series. Typically, I read one complete series and then start another series, but for these two series that is not the optimum reading order.
I found Suzanne's situation with her ex-husband dubious at best. Even the worst lawyer would not have her paying alimony when her husband was at fault with adultery and would be capable of earning a six-figure living. Just because he quit his job, it wouldn't entitle him to alimony. This weird scenario is what kept me from giving the book 4 stars. That, plus the silly Chat Noir stuff. This made the detective story sound silly. And having the student stuck in a costume was lame and added nothing to the story. One other minor point, Sean's first cousin's children would not be his nieces. They would be first cousins once removed.
Overall, not bad for a first book. If the silly Chat Noir goes away, then I can see 4 stars ratings for this author. I will continue to read both series by this author because I like Sean and Vasily. The verdict is still out on Suzanne.
I found Suzanne's situation with her ex-husband dubious at best. Even the worst lawyer would not have her paying alimony when her husband was at fault with adultery and would be capable of earning a six-figure living. Just because he quit his job, it wouldn't entitle him to alimony. This weird scenario is what kept me from giving the book 4 stars. That, plus the silly Chat Noir stuff. This made the detective story sound silly. And having the student stuck in a costume was lame and added nothing to the story. One other minor point, Sean's first cousin's children would not be his nieces. They would be first cousins once removed.
Overall, not bad for a first book. If the silly Chat Noir goes away, then I can see 4 stars ratings for this author. I will continue to read both series by this author because I like Sean and Vasily. The verdict is still out on Suzanne.
March 24, 2024
Sean Colbeth, Chief of Police in a super small town in Maine. He is usually laser focused on his job but is blind to the fact that his girlfriend of 10 years has moved her stuff out of his apartment and is gone. It takes his cousin and dectective friend to inform him of what's going on before he realizes it. Not sure if he's self-absorbed or just clueless. Must be clueless since he also didn't know his best friend "was in love with him". A lot of the book is spent on these two issues.
The main storyline is supposed to be the first murder since he's head of the police and it's a head scratcher. At first it looks like suicide but the gun is missing. Then when it's clear it's murder, the suspects are kind of glossed over and not really fleshed out- needs a bit more depth here.
The main storyline is supposed to be the first murder since he's head of the police and it's a head scratcher. At first it looks like suicide but the gun is missing. Then when it's clear it's murder, the suspects are kind of glossed over and not really fleshed out- needs a bit more depth here.
April 18, 2024
I really wanted to like it more
It definitely had potential, and the main detective story was a solid 3.5 stars. But the back stories...ugh.
Back stories spoilers ahead!
How can a super star detective not realize that his girlfriend of 10 years has left him, sold her business in town and moved without telling him? How can the same person have no clue about his co-worker having such a crush on him that he leaves his job (without notice!)? How can he not know what Ring doorbell is when most of the neighborhood has it? Only few very frustrating things about the story line.
It definitely had potential, and the main detective story was a solid 3.5 stars. But the back stories...ugh.
Back stories spoilers ahead!
How can a super star detective not realize that his girlfriend of 10 years has left him, sold her business in town and moved without telling him? How can the same person have no clue about his co-worker having such a crush on him that he leaves his job (without notice!)? How can he not know what Ring doorbell is when most of the neighborhood has it? Only few very frustrating things about the story line.
February 1, 2023
I want t be far and kind
I read a lot of Kindle Books. I’ve grown pickier of late because like this book I have been enticed to read it and halfway into it it starts to unravel or lose my interest or whatever. This book took leaps that never completed or that were completely superfluous. If you want light reading with some highly polarizing social issues thrown in this book will deliver.
I read a lot of Kindle Books. I’ve grown pickier of late because like this book I have been enticed to read it and halfway into it it starts to unravel or lose my interest or whatever. This book took leaps that never completed or that were completely superfluous. If you want light reading with some highly polarizing social issues thrown in this book will deliver.
May 9, 2023
Keeps Your Interest...
From the very beginning, this book piqued my interest and kept it. The way the story was written all the way through make you want to come back and read more each time you have to put it down. Chief Colbeth is a realistic character, and the supporting story is believable. Spending your time trying to figure out the mystery and why, along the way, the unraveling of people's lives is a good read. Pick it up and you won't want to put it down.
From the very beginning, this book piqued my interest and kept it. The way the story was written all the way through make you want to come back and read more each time you have to put it down. Chief Colbeth is a realistic character, and the supporting story is believable. Spending your time trying to figure out the mystery and why, along the way, the unraveling of people's lives is a good read. Pick it up and you won't want to put it down.
July 14, 2022
A good 'new to me' series
I love series were a lot of attention is paid to character development and to interaction between permanent characters. This book seems to fit that mold -- interesting little town, interesting characters, not so simple police investigations, and no gory situations. Looking forward to there next book.
I love series were a lot of attention is paid to character development and to interaction between permanent characters. This book seems to fit that mold -- interesting little town, interesting characters, not so simple police investigations, and no gory situations. Looking forward to there next book.
January 6, 2023
What a great and happy book this has been.
This book really saved me from being lost as to what to read next. I liked everything about it. It was well written and the author has a knack for describing heartfelt characters and emotional rare situations.
This book really saved me from being lost as to what to read next. I liked everything about it. It was well written and the author has a knack for describing heartfelt characters and emotional rare situations.
April 14, 2024
This was a fun whodunit. The characters and the small town setting reminded me of my favorite BBC cozy mysteries. Of course with an American twist. I am glad I won this book from Goodreads. I look forward to seeing the characters and the author develop in the upcoming novels.
May 3, 2024
I think it was hard for me to take this seriously after I read the part about the potato symposium. The whole story revolves around a potato and that just feels odd. It really wasn’t a bad plot, though I think there were some things added in that weren’t necessary.
April 13, 2022
Though the writing is a little bit clunky at times, the characters grew on me and I finished the book, wanting to read the next one in the series.
Read
May 15, 2023Nice easy read. Curious interest but I can sleep after.
April 17, 2024
great read!
Very well written and engaging. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series. You won’t be disappointed.
Very well written and engaging. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series. You won’t be disappointed.
August 21, 2022
I think I have found a new author to fit into my top 10 favorites. The story was interesting, unusual, and very well written. I am now most of the way through his second book starring Detective Seth Colbeth. “Outsider” is just as interesting, unusual and well written as the first one.
March 30, 2023
A mystery set in Maine. The chief of police and his deputy (best friend) solve a murder of the college professor.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews