The Blindspot

by Hannah King, W.F. Howes Ltd. (publisher)

Abi Campbell’s brother Jack has everything to look forward just 18 and finishing his A-levels, he’s a star student with a prestigious university scholarship awaiting him. The youngest of five, Jack has largely been raised by Abi after their mother died, and she adores him.

The Campbells’ world is turned on its head when, one summer morning, the police arrive to arrest Jack. His childhood friend Katie has accused him of a terrible crime. The worst one.

Rumours about what happened swirl through their small seaside town, turning friends against friends and brothers against brothers. Only Abi stands by Jack while it seems the rest of the world point fingers. She knows he is innocent. He has to be. He’s her golden boy. And blood is thicker than water.

But can you love someone too much?

Audible Audio

Published April 17, 2025

About the author

Hannah King is a novelist from County Down. She studied for both her BA in English and MA in Creative Writing at Queen's University Belfast, graduating in 2017. Her debut novel She and I, a literary thriller about claustrophobic friendship and the danger of assumptions, was published by Bloomsbury Raven in 2022. TV rights have been optioned and Hannah is working on her second Northern Ireland-based novel.

Hannah enjoys reading literary thrillers, contemporary fiction and any books that make you go right back to the start after finishing, wondering how on earth you missed THAT.

She lives in County Down with her husband-to-be, two dogs and three aquariums.

Reviews

[Fiona Murphy McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Bedford Square, No Exit Press, and to the author for an uncorrected proof copy for review. I don't typically read crime fiction, but there are a few exceptions, and Hannah King is one of them
The Blindspot is about what happens to a family when one member is accused of rape. A daughter who has become more of a mother to her brothers must examine who her brother truly is .The ethics and morality, the shifting tidal changes of opinion, and who you believe when a loved one could be a violent criminal. Shades of My Dark Vanessa and Promising Young Woman set in gritty grey seaside Northern Irish town, with characters about as gritty and grey. Returning to Vetobridge - I enjoyed this even more than King's debut She and I. The writing is taunt and tense. Locals to 'Vetobridge' will also get a kick out of deciphering where she's writing about.

[Zelda FeatzReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Blindspot is one of those books that grips you and refuses to let go. From the very first chapter, Hannah King throws us headfirst into a world of uncertainty, suspicion, and the raw emotional chaos that comes when someone you love is accused of the unthinkable.
Abi Campbell is an unforgettable protagonist. She's fierce, loyal, and heartbreakingly human. Her unwavering belief in her younger brother Jack’s innocence is both admirable and devastating. I found myself completely wrapped up in her internal struggle—torn between loyalty, fear, and the tiny, gnawing doubt that creeps in when everything starts to unravel.
The small-town setting adds so much to the atmosphere. You can practically feel the tension in the streets as whispers turn to rumours and neighbours become strangers. King does an excellent job capturing how quickly public opinion can turn—and how isolating that can be for the accused and their family. It’s like a modern-day witch hunt, with Jack and Abi squarely in the middle.
This isn’t a courtroom drama or a detective thriller; it's a deeply personal story. King isn’t afraid to explore uncomfortable territory—the way we blindly trust those closest to us, the emotional toll of trauma, and the dangerous power of community judgment. And the title? It’s perfect. Everyone has a blindspot—Abi, the town, the reader. The book plays with that idea until you're questioning your own instincts, too.
There were moments when I found myself holding my breath, desperate to know what really happened between Jack and Katie. And even when the truth begins to emerge, King doesn't make it easy. She forces you to sit with the discomfort, to reflect, and to feel every ounce of Abi’s heartbreak.
My only small critique would be that the pacing in the middle slows just a touch—but it's a minor gripe in an otherwise tightly crafted novel.
If you're drawn to character-driven suspense, moral dilemmas, and emotionally charged storytelling, The Blindspot is absolutely worth picking up. It’s haunting, thought-provoking, and disturbingly plausible.
https://featzreviews.com/the-blindspo...

[Jo_Scho_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abi Campbell’s mother died when she was just nine years old. Ever since then she’s stepped into her shoes and looked after the rest of the family, having a particular soft spot for her baby brother Jack. Now Jack is about to finish his A levels, a glittering future ahead of him. That is, until the police come knocking at the door one morning, informing Jack that a girl has accused him of rape.

Abi is shocked and stunned. There’s no way her little brother would ever commit such a crime. No way at all. But then little whispers enter her head, reminding her of past instances and she starts to struggle with knowing who or what to believe. Does she really know her brother at all?

I loved this one. I just could not put it down. It has a really strong plot running through the story. But interspersed with that are memories and revelations of Abi’s past and present, which gripped me just as much. The author’s style of writing is hugely appealing, written mostly in the first person from
Abi’s point of view, which really made me warm to her as a character. Her story fascinated me; from the intense matriarchal role she played within her family, to the separate, secret life she had away from them.

The Blindspot is a wonderfully evocative small town mystery centred around a horrific crime, where revelations slowly emerge and opinions keep changing. I honestly didn’t know who to believe so I couldn’t stop turning those pages til I found out. Read in a day - always a good sign.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Blindspot is the first I've read from King and didn't disappoint in the slightest. Whilst not a fast paced read it's certainly a compelling one and I sat and devoured it in one sitting.

Told across dual timelines and interspersed with snippets of police records, Abi recounts the story of younger brother Jack and the events leading to and after the accusation of rape against him.

Characters are extremely real and the plot content extremely thought provoking. How far would YOU go for your own flesh and blood?

Dark, suspenseful and decidedly good.

[Kelly (Little.shropshire.reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abi has always felt like a mother to her younger brother Jack. After their mother died days after giving birth to him, Abi had to take on the responsibility of her brothers, more so to Jack. Their father was barely a parent. When Jack, now 18, gets accused of a terrible crime, it's Abi who is left holding everyone and herself together.

Told solely from Abi's pov and a dual timeline that tells more about her and Jack's childhood. This story is more about the impact that an event like this has on everyone involved. It tells a side that we don't get to see or read about via the media, and that's how it affects the family surrounding the accused, mainly Abi.

It shows you the struggle Abi goes through, how every decision she makes is scrutinised by media, friends, family, and the small town community around her. It shows the isolation that can occur to the accused and the immediate family, how it can cause rifts between them all, and the effect it has on our relationships.

The characters are very well written. They feel like they could be your friends, neighbours, or people you know. I really felt for Abi and her situation, how hard it was to know what to do, be there for her family, but also to try to hold herself together and be strong.

The story is a compelling one. Given the subject matter, I didn't want to put this one down. It's an intense and emotional read that slowly builds up, filled with tension and suspense. I felt like all the themes were written with respect and delicacy.

It is a very emotional, raw, and difficult story in parts. I like how it highlights the use of technology in today's society and the youth who use it. Also, how the presence of social media and keyboard warriors play a part now, the extra impact this has on people.

I loved that the ending wasn't all neatly wrapped up. It made it feel more real.

It is one that I would recommend reading.

Thank you, Bedford Square Publishers, for kindly sending me a copy of this book to read.

My opinions are my own.

[Liam Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The audiobook is fantastic. It’s beautifully read and really puts you into Abi’s world and her borderline obsession with her brother. At times you’re made to feel equal parts horribly uncomfortable and just plain sad at the realism with which this story is told. It’s completely unsurprising and utterly devastating.

[Dee Groocock · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Northern Ireland, Abi Campbell has looked after her youngest brother, Jack, since their mother died, just after he was born. Her other brothers, Decky and Ciarán, have left her to it. Their dad has never recovered from the death of his wife.

The Blindspot follows the family after the youngest, eighteen-year-old Jack, is accused of a heinous crime by his childhood friend, Katie Waltz.

Abi stands by Jack and believes him 100%, she has brought him up, knows him better than anyone.
As people in their community start to take sides, we see the family gradually turn on each other.

What a haunting read this is. I felt for Katie, but I also felt for Jack and his family as a witch hunt started, guilty until proven innocent isn’t understood by some.

The story gradually peels back layers to understand the family dynamics. With Abi in a state of emotional tumult following the accusation, she starts to question everything.

I enjoyed the dual timeline, as it helped to understand why Abi was so protective of Jack.

A dark and gripping tale that had me hooked, and I didn’t expect the ending at all.

My thanks to RandomTTours and No Exit Press for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Mum With A Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abi, her brothers, and dad live in a small town in Ireland.

Her youngest brother Jack, who is 18, is a straight A student and has a lot to look forward to. Abi has raised him since their mum died shortly after she gave birth to him.
However, a girl has accused him of rape and this crime intensifies for Jack. He is questioned, threatened, and begins to isolate himself.
The only person on his side is his sister Abi.
When you love someone so much, the family is split with emotions and questioning if he really had done this?
This kept me in suspense throughout, I knew there was more to what happened, and all the characters had their own part to play with their individual personalities. It was well written reading how a violent crime can affect a community. Highlighting teenagers' use of social media and filming horrific videos can impact lives!
TW: loss, suicide, rape

Thank you to Bedford Square Publishers and No Exit Press for my copy.

[Nadine-Sue Sargent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping read with snippets of police procedure slid in. I like how we're primarily dealing with the family dynamics but there's the very real case still going on as there's a victim who deserves justice.

It's a fascinating read and has you questioning whether Abi is right, whether she's biased and blinkered or whether there's something else completely going on. Her own life choices do make you wonder whether she is a trustworthy source although you get a glimpse into her relationship that suggests that perhaps she's incredibly naive.

The mention of social media and how people use it in this to share information that they shouldn't and the need for people to make judgement reminds me a lot of the cases we see around celebrities. Social media can be as dangerous as it can be helpful and I like how the story adds authenticity by sliding that in.

Nothing is straightforward in this and that's how I like thrillers. I like the suspense that builds in this and the twists it pops up

[Angi Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts
This is one of those books that keeps you guessing the whole way through. There’s small reveals which convince you one way, and then you begin to wonder.
I did like the story shown from the suspects sisters point of view. It made you wonder and consider how far you might go for a person you loved. Abi was a strong character, but because of circumstances she was thrown into an adult world at an early age. It also showed how females are left to police male actions. Although it’s a dysfunctional family, Abi takes on way more than she should.
I felt for her deeply and although the some of the ending pages were shocking, they needed to be. I found this a dark, twisty tale and very realistic of small town and larger place attitudes alike. This is a cracking read and I enjoyed it very much.
With thanks to Anne Cater, the publisher and the author for the advanced reading copy of this book

[Bookshortie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Abi’s brother has just turned 18 and has a bright future ahead of him until he is accused of a serious crime. Abi knows in her heart it can’t be true. Can Abi prove Jack’s innocence? Can she discover the truth about what happened that night?

I would describe this as a slow burn read but I enjoyed the pace because it felt like the story was unfolding in real time to not only the characters but also myself as a reader. The storyline was intriguing but also relevant to topics being discussed in the media on a regular basis. It also makes the reader question how far they would go to protect a sibling or a loved one.

The story is narrated in a dual timeline format by the main character Abi. Abi is the 4th child of the Campbell family. She has 3 older brothers and a younger brother Jack. In the past we learn more about Abi and her family. Abi’s mother died shortly after Jack was born and from that date she became not only Jack’s sister but also a mother figure, not only taking care of him but also protecting him. She took care of the family in place of her mother, always putting their needs first. In the present Abi is coming to terms with Jack’s arrest and we are given a glimpse into what is happening to Jack through his police interviews.

What was really interesting about this story is that it wasn't about the person that had committed the crime or about the victim, it was about someone connected to the case and their perspective. Abi is on the periphery of the investigation and we see through her eyes what is happening and her understanding of what has happened. But the rest of her family take a neutral position which frustrates Abi and makes her angry.

Abi takes her responsibility to Jack very seriously and will do what it takes to clear his name. Having practically raised Jack she knows him better than anyone so when he’s arrested Abi is in complete shock. But something doesn’t quite add up so Abi starts to look into what happened. Things become further complicated when people in the community start to speculate and rumours start to emerge. People start to judge not only Jack but also his family.

A thought provoking read.

[sarahisreadingagain · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚

The Blindspot by @_hankingauthor 📱

The Blindspot introduces us to Abi, the backbone of her close-knit family living in Vetobridge, Northern Ireland. Abi is the only girl in the family, and since losing her mother, she feels it’s her responsibility to care for (and keep in check!) her dad and brothers, all whilst working as a barmaid in the local pub, where everyone knows everyone and word spreads fast…

The word on the street at the moment is that Abi’s younger brother, Jack, star student with an aspiring scholarship waiting for him at a prestigious university, is accused of an unprecedented sexual act towards his childhood friend, Katie. But her darling baby brother would never carry out such a violation, or does she really not know Jack at all?

Told from Abi’s POV, flicking from past to present, we’re embedded into the story pretty much straight away. King has created a novel that is highly impactful and approaches very sensitive subjects with ease – I’d definitely recommend you check the trigger warnings before reading. Incorporating the use of police interviews and text messages really enlivened the story and brought forth a ‘true crime’ feel.

King has a special way of building her characters so they feel familiar, making you envisage a family and close community in unrest due to the accusations and gossip spreading through the streets of their small seaside town. Social media and its impact play a huge role in The Blindspot and really enlightens the reader on how it can affect the younger generation.

The Blindspot isn’t heavy on the ‘thrill’ but instead is a heartbreaking and thought provoking read with a neatly wrapped up ending. King definitely leaves no stone unturned.

[Courtney Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this in less than 24 hours.

This book kept me company on a train to Paris, followed by a relaxing evening inside. Well ho-ho, would have been relaxing if I wasn't so utterly captivated by this book! I could not set it down for any length of time. I needed to KNOW. This is a sharp, precise, and gripping non-linear telling of a rape accusation from the perspective of the accused's older and very loving sister. It is first and foremost a beautiful portrayal of working class families, and how women are often expected to fulfil the role of mother from an alarming age. You feel every thought, every choice of that narrator. She is not perfect, just as we are not. You feel like pull of bias, the discomfort of a horrible train of thought that conflicts with everything she knows. It puts you, the reader, in the grotesque position of reckoning with yourself and your own biases towards those who you care for the most. They surely couldn't do that - could they?

As an aside, this book (though serious in subject matter) did make me laugh aloud more than once. Happy enough to be one of the "posh tw*ts from the Academy" if we get a shout out like that.

Stellar book.

[Jeanette Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy publication day, Hannah!🥳

You can trust your siblings, can’t you?
If they were accused of something horrible, would you believe it, or would you deny it all because you know them?

Abi loves her brother, Jack, above all.
Jack has everything to look forward to, with the grades to go with it. Suddenly, he is accused of doing something unforgivable.

Here is the thing. This book is hard to put down. I just had to know. Everything.😉

I really like the way this story is built up. From the names of the chapters back in time to see how things evolved in the family, to present day, where things are, indeed, evolving, too.
We follow Jack and Abi as they develop into who they are today, with nuances that may or may not make you think, really think, if you really have them all figured out.

As the plot thickens, so does my grip on the book. Did he really? Or is he innocent?

Add a, to me, surprising end, and you have yourself a good time.😊

[Ilúvatar · Rating 5 out of 5]

My opinions are my own.

I cannot say I felt any sympathy for Abi. She worshipped the ground Jack walked on. It’s unhealthy. You have 4 other brothers and Ciaran was a passing thought. But it was all about Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack, Jack. Despite this…it was a very realistic take. There are people out there like this and I simply can’t understand them. To love someone so blindly that they can do no wrong. It’s bullshit. I really hated the emphasis this book placed on Golden Boy Jack and his weird sister.

I hated that the book focused on the accused and his family and their opinions ALONE. I wish there could have been two perspectives.

There was no empathy for the victim or the victim’s families. Norm even had to be UNDERSTANDING for Abi with regards to the bar. I would’ve given her leave.

This very well written but this book pissed me off a lot

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure how I'm meant to feel about this one. A teenage boy is accused of rape, his over-protective parental-figure sister can't believe "her" golden boy could ever do such a thing, and the story unravels from there. Ultimately I didn't like any of the characters much. It seems none of the men in this story understand "no", which I might believe to be the message of this feminist tale, except the sister is not much better. She lies and covers for her brother, blindly repeating he must be innocent while ignoring all sorts of uncomfortable truths. If the point was to make the reader uncomfortable it worked. But I feel no sympathy for anyone but the true victim, and am mostly left feeling angry at everyone else.

[Nimalee Ravi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first read by the author, and she had me hooked from the beginning. The Blindspot is a beautifully written story about how far you would go to protect your loved one.

Abi's younger brother Jack is accused of rape and she feels something not right about this case. She totally trusts Jack, but her family is divided with opinions

The story is told in a dual timeline, and as the story unfolds, you find out more about the characters. The writing style is so captivating, and I really liked how King kept the readers on the edge. This is definitely a thought provocative and addictive read. I highly recommend The Blindspot.

[Emmie Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one and ended up actually reading it in one sitting. I was hooked and needed to know what happened. In this one, we follow Abi, whose brother Jack has been accused of a terrible crime, so please be aware of trigger warnings!

Told in two timelines we get to see Abi and Jack's life, from when he was born and his younger years and present day. Abi took on a motherly role with Jack when her mother died shortly after having him, so the two have a very close bond and can't fathom that her brother could do something like this.

It's definitely a very thought-provoking story, making you wonder how far you would go to protect family while also maybe ignoring the signs that the possibility is there. You always want to think the best of family, especially in Abi's case, where she basically raised Jack from a young age.

King does a fantastic job at writing such a dark, tense, and gritty story while at the same time making sure to be sensitive and gentle with the topic at hand. I will definitely be picking up more of their work in the future!

[Sarah Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

An uncomfortable but gripping read. I did find the lead character Abi frustrating but could understand her motivations completely and this did address the subject of rape in a raw and unflinching manner with the realities of the victim, the accused, their families and the wider community examined. It forces the reader to question uncomfortable truths throughout and the outcome is devastating.

[Karlyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC.

This is my first book by Hannah King and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The book covers a hard hitting topic but written in a careful way. I will be recommending this book to my friends and family when it is released.

[Daniel Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic thriller/crime novel with surprises and twists. I liked that we got a view of what the characters were feeling and thinking, and right up until the end I still had doubts about all of them.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read.