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Jane Candiotti #2
Blindsided
San Francisco homicide detective Jane Candiotti never shies away from the risks of the job. Now she’s finally ready to gamble on her personal life, inviting her partner and boyfriend Kenny Marks to move in. But just when domestic bliss settles in, Skip Lacey, an ex-cop turned junkie, is found brutally murdered, his eyes gouged out with a spoon. He is the first―but he won’t be the last. Because after fifteen years on the inside maximum security, a bloodthirsty ex-con is finally free to exact his revenge on the city’s peacekeepers who’d kept him behind bars. One by one the mutilated bodies pile up, while the SFPD scrambles to unmask the killer who is decimating their ranks. For Jane and Kenny, the only thing worse than watching their friends and colleagues fall is the knowledge that, unless they can stop this unrelenting madman in time, any day could be their last.
Audio CD
First published March 1, 2000
210 people are currently reading
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About the author
Clyde Phillips
13 books34 followersClyde Phillips is a prominent writer for television and film, he created Get Real and Parker Lewis Can't Lose for Fox and Suddenly Susan for NBC. He lives with his wife and daughter in California, and Martha's Vineyard, M.A.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
October 5, 2016
Starting Words:His first fix of the day bloomed like a slow explosion in his chest.
Ending Words: Candiotti, 'Find me this shooter'.
This was my first book by Clyde Phillips and I didn't regret buying it.
This book could be said to be all about the lives of police officers(cops) and crime in San Francisco in particular and society in general on one hand and an ex con with a grudge against the police force (cops)on the other hand.
A man was jailed eighteen months for a minor crime while still in jail he lost his wife and unborn child and this triggered something in him and later end up spending eight and half years in jail.While still in jail he planned and nursed his revenge and how he was going to serve that revenge on those people that sent him to jail and killed his wife.
The author reflected on the "Police officers mind"when Ozzie was murdered, he gave a vivid picture of the "delema" of an officer during crime investigations- "A man is murdered and we discovered evidence that he was having an affair,Suspect number one Kenny said as he got his coat has to be the wife"
Not even minding that the wife is on wheelchair and still mourning the death of her husband.
In addition, Hank Pagano story could be regarded as a mini subplot and it was also well written. I love Jane Candiotti,
I love Kenny Mark,men will always be men.
Am not done with Clyde Phillips
yet and I give this book 4 stars
Ending Words: Candiotti, 'Find me this shooter'.
This was my first book by Clyde Phillips and I didn't regret buying it.
This book could be said to be all about the lives of police officers(cops) and crime in San Francisco in particular and society in general on one hand and an ex con with a grudge against the police force (cops)on the other hand.
A man was jailed eighteen months for a minor crime while still in jail he lost his wife and unborn child and this triggered something in him and later end up spending eight and half years in jail.While still in jail he planned and nursed his revenge and how he was going to serve that revenge on those people that sent him to jail and killed his wife.
The author reflected on the "Police officers mind"when Ozzie was murdered, he gave a vivid picture of the "delema" of an officer during crime investigations- "A man is murdered and we discovered evidence that he was having an affair,Suspect number one Kenny said as he got his coat has to be the wife"
Not even minding that the wife is on wheelchair and still mourning the death of her husband.
In addition, Hank Pagano story could be regarded as a mini subplot and it was also well written. I love Jane Candiotti,
I love Kenny Mark,men will always be men.
Am not done with Clyde Phillips
yet and I give this book 4 stars
April 9, 2017
This is a case where the second book in the series is much better than the first. In Blindsided Jane Candiotti is suffering through a San Francisco heat wave. On the day her long time work partner and shorter time life Partner Kenny Marks moves in they are sent to a murder scene at the rail yard. Their vic is a drug user who has been enucleated, and then had his skull crushed with a rock. As in the first book you know who the killer is but you don't know his true motivation.
It is the police of the 19th precinct that are the targets and the killer seems to disappear. Even after the killer is identified he isn't easy to catch. And when the main plot ends there is another twist in the tale.
It is the police of the 19th precinct that are the targets and the killer seems to disappear. Even after the killer is identified he isn't easy to catch. And when the main plot ends there is another twist in the tale.
March 4, 2015
With thrilling lines such as “That computer’s old, but she sure is slow”, “It’s too fuckin’ hot out here and I’m feeling really unstable, man!” and the ever popular “You gonna deny me my God-given Y-chromosome right to—[rush in and be a fucking idiot]" this book is sure to leave you wishing you had read anything else.
This was pretty much the most boring murder "mystery" I've ever read. Everything about the case was handed to the readers from the perspective of the killer. We are told the who, the how and the why all before the halfway mark. Meanwhile, we're forced to read through chapters of filler because the police - the heroes and focus of the story - have no leads and no ideas. All of the "drama" and "tension" are forced story points to fill up space. This book should have stayed focused on the cops and never left Jane's perspective, it would have fixed most of the timeline/plot issues.
There are so many ideas and characters in this book that are used to stall the narrative. Almost ALL of the side plots go nowhere and do nothing to develop the characters. It's all pointless! The biggest frustration is all of this time and energy is spent on the setup for a character who is a plot device that gets wrapped up into this plotline that is resolved after the main story is over, and it's just so unbelievable it's insane. The last part of that book is just such a trainwreck that I really wonder what happened with the editing.
The editing and research was below average through the rest of the book too though. I don't really understand how there was a researcher working on that book, there was so much that was flat out wrong in the book. Things that could have been fixed with a 5 minute google search. A lot of the writing could have been cleaned up with some simple edits too. There were messy perspective switches, so many awkward phrases that had to be read 5-6 times before I could even understand what was being said, and there were so many lines that should have been cut.
The dialogue was awkward and clunky. The author tried to subvert gender roles and stereotypes and just ended playing right into them. There are so many times where the lead female detective is stopped from doing her job or implies that women who aren't in relationships are these lonely empty shells. The lead male "jokes" about his y chromosome rights and when he is shut down he throws a hissy fit and tells his fiancée that she just doesn't know how to be in a relationship - all because he feels like he's being emasculated. It's gross. I don't even want to get into the emotionally abusive shit that Jane's aunt says to her at a funeral. Seriously I almost had to but the book down it was so fucking gross.
The professional women in this book have a serious issue with being over emotional. All of them had an issue with it. Jane is surprised she is snippy after threatening to shoot a parole officer. In one of the opening scenes a social worker gets shut down by Jane and she storms out and slams doors. The two side female officers share a weird moment after returning belongings to someone who had just lost their loved one. Which happens like 3 times in the book and it's weird and awkward each time.
The love story in the book ends up being dull and frustrating. Everything is fixed by an aunt demanding a baby and the lead male throwing a temper tantrum. I don't feel like they love each other and I don't feel like they ever really resolved their issues. The book finishes with them being in the exact same place that they were in the beginning.
The author tried really hard to insert diversity into his books but forgot to read through his story being ultra critical of himself. There is a ton of casual racism and misogyny in the book it's crazy.
I can't even begin to talk about the ending because it's just awful. It's over dramatic and just flat out boring. Yeah sure everyone dies but you are never left feeling like the leads are in any real danger, everything is solved for them. There are stupid leaps in logic that end up solving the case for the officers and so many coincidences set up so the author can do what he wants. The way the story is told leaves the investigators looking stupid, honestly. The book should have ended about 5 chapters before it did, I don't think any of that "surprise robbery" at the end was needed. It was written so poorly that I don't know why it was included it all.
Hank as a character should have just been cut in my opinion. There are so many things that are set up and instantly resolved for him that it's just a waste of time. All of the IAB bullshit was pointless, it never added to the drama because it was solved as soon as it was introduced. The fact that he was recognized so often is such bullshit too, no way that many civilians recognized him and worshiped him. It's just not how it works.
(Punky boy's perspective should have been completely cut from the book too, what a waste of time that whole plotline was. Also who thinks "punky boy" is a cool nickname??)
The characters, language, and research end up ruining what could have been a really great story. Instead we are left with hollow stereotypes, a plot that wanders around with no real mystery, cops who are unrealistic, drama that is solved with proper research and a crime that is solved 100 pages in. I really do not understand the love for this book.
This was pretty much the most boring murder "mystery" I've ever read. Everything about the case was handed to the readers from the perspective of the killer. We are told the who, the how and the why all before the halfway mark. Meanwhile, we're forced to read through chapters of filler because the police - the heroes and focus of the story - have no leads and no ideas. All of the "drama" and "tension" are forced story points to fill up space. This book should have stayed focused on the cops and never left Jane's perspective, it would have fixed most of the timeline/plot issues.
There are so many ideas and characters in this book that are used to stall the narrative. Almost ALL of the side plots go nowhere and do nothing to develop the characters. It's all pointless! The biggest frustration is all of this time and energy is spent on the setup for a character who is a plot device that gets wrapped up into this plotline that is resolved after the main story is over, and it's just so unbelievable it's insane. The last part of that book is just such a trainwreck that I really wonder what happened with the editing.
The editing and research was below average through the rest of the book too though. I don't really understand how there was a researcher working on that book, there was so much that was flat out wrong in the book. Things that could have been fixed with a 5 minute google search. A lot of the writing could have been cleaned up with some simple edits too. There were messy perspective switches, so many awkward phrases that had to be read 5-6 times before I could even understand what was being said, and there were so many lines that should have been cut.
The dialogue was awkward and clunky. The author tried to subvert gender roles and stereotypes and just ended playing right into them. There are so many times where the lead female detective is stopped from doing her job or implies that women who aren't in relationships are these lonely empty shells. The lead male "jokes" about his y chromosome rights and when he is shut down he throws a hissy fit and tells his fiancée that she just doesn't know how to be in a relationship - all because he feels like he's being emasculated. It's gross. I don't even want to get into the emotionally abusive shit that Jane's aunt says to her at a funeral. Seriously I almost had to but the book down it was so fucking gross.
The professional women in this book have a serious issue with being over emotional. All of them had an issue with it. Jane is surprised she is snippy after threatening to shoot a parole officer. In one of the opening scenes a social worker gets shut down by Jane and she storms out and slams doors. The two side female officers share a weird moment after returning belongings to someone who had just lost their loved one. Which happens like 3 times in the book and it's weird and awkward each time.
The love story in the book ends up being dull and frustrating. Everything is fixed by an aunt demanding a baby and the lead male throwing a temper tantrum. I don't feel like they love each other and I don't feel like they ever really resolved their issues. The book finishes with them being in the exact same place that they were in the beginning.
The author tried really hard to insert diversity into his books but forgot to read through his story being ultra critical of himself. There is a ton of casual racism and misogyny in the book it's crazy.
I can't even begin to talk about the ending because it's just awful. It's over dramatic and just flat out boring. Yeah sure everyone dies but you are never left feeling like the leads are in any real danger, everything is solved for them. There are stupid leaps in logic that end up solving the case for the officers and so many coincidences set up so the author can do what he wants. The way the story is told leaves the investigators looking stupid, honestly. The book should have ended about 5 chapters before it did, I don't think any of that "surprise robbery" at the end was needed. It was written so poorly that I don't know why it was included it all.
Hank as a character should have just been cut in my opinion. There are so many things that are set up and instantly resolved for him that it's just a waste of time. All of the IAB bullshit was pointless, it never added to the drama because it was solved as soon as it was introduced. The fact that he was recognized so often is such bullshit too, no way that many civilians recognized him and worshiped him. It's just not how it works.
(Punky boy's perspective should have been completely cut from the book too, what a waste of time that whole plotline was. Also who thinks "punky boy" is a cool nickname??)
The characters, language, and research end up ruining what could have been a really great story. Instead we are left with hollow stereotypes, a plot that wanders around with no real mystery, cops who are unrealistic, drama that is solved with proper research and a crime that is solved 100 pages in. I really do not understand the love for this book.
October 2, 2020
This is a “men can’t write woman characters” book. I did like that you thought it was over and then it spun back up for a second exciting scene, but it was just such an over the top action movie of a book, with too many characters and too little plot and nothing I really cared about. It did go quickly and fill some hammock reading time.
April 13, 2014
Good story. Narration of audio book is distracting.
April 6, 2015
Almost Worst Ever
I have read a lot of very good murder/mystery/detective stories and this was not one of them. Save your money.
I have read a lot of very good murder/mystery/detective stories and this was not one of them. Save your money.
July 12, 2018
Very Good Police Procedural
“Blindsided” is an entertaining police procedural and serial-killer mystery set in San Francisco. It features a complex main plot and several sub-plots that focus on how a serial cop-killer affects the 29th Precinct’s police officers, their job performances, emotional states, camaraderie, and their families.
The story is well-paced and picks up speed as more police officers are killed. The murders are particularly brutal, the determined murderer careful and elusive, and no one knows the killer’s identity and what motivates him to kill so viciously.
I particularly enjoyed following investigation with the police characters, especially the likable protagonists—Inspectors Jane Candiotti and Kenny Marks—who are co-workers in a personal relationship.
I read a lot of police procedurals, so I noted several simple errors about guns. I found it odd that cops were not teamed up after the murders began, and are rookies allowed to be alone on patrol? There were other procedural items that stopped the flow, but those stuck in my mind.
“Blindsided” is an entertaining police procedural and serial-killer mystery set in San Francisco. It features a complex main plot and several sub-plots that focus on how a serial cop-killer affects the 29th Precinct’s police officers, their job performances, emotional states, camaraderie, and their families.
The story is well-paced and picks up speed as more police officers are killed. The murders are particularly brutal, the determined murderer careful and elusive, and no one knows the killer’s identity and what motivates him to kill so viciously.
I particularly enjoyed following investigation with the police characters, especially the likable protagonists—Inspectors Jane Candiotti and Kenny Marks—who are co-workers in a personal relationship.
I read a lot of police procedurals, so I noted several simple errors about guns. I found it odd that cops were not teamed up after the murders began, and are rookies allowed to be alone on patrol? There were other procedural items that stopped the flow, but those stuck in my mind.
June 1, 2024
Never had a read a book with a more inept task force… these officers were sitting there reminiscing when they should have put out a bill asap! Benji’s death could have been prevented 100%!! The constant complaining about the hot Bay Area weather riled my nerves. I live in the Central Valley in CA, now WE get scorching heat. Bay Area weather even in the summer is heaven.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2017
By and by
This read was entertaining. It moved fast, but somewhat predictable. Easy read for relaxing at end of long day. Worthy of time.
This read was entertaining. It moved fast, but somewhat predictable. Easy read for relaxing at end of long day. Worthy of time.
February 4, 2020
One of the Best!
It kept me on the edge of my seat. I never wanted to put it down. So many twists and turns!
It kept me on the edge of my seat. I never wanted to put it down. So many twists and turns!
June 15, 2020
This is the excellent second installment in the Jane Candiotti series. Highly recommended!!!
Read
March 17, 2021Couldn't get into this one -- dropped it after ~ 100 pages.
May 10, 2021
So I LOVED the first book in this series and thought this one was even better. This guy knows how to write villains. I don’t want to give anything away but just read it. You won’t be disappointed.
October 22, 2022
A serial killer of cops is lose -- but all is not as it seems. Tragic, emotional and deeply personal.
September 12, 2016
Ho-hum. Another serial killer novel. The only difference between this one and every other serial killer novel is that the victims are cops.
But much of what I said about the first book in this series applies here.
On the plus side, there’s plenty of tension and nerve-tingling action. Phillips gave Jane some side issues (the death of her father, Kenny moving in with her) to deal with that added to both. This book didn’t have the scattered feel the first book had. And there was a late-in-the-book twist that I didn’t see coming, but when it came, it wasn’t an ‘out of the blue’ surprise.
On the minus side, Phillips again had Jane agonize over her side issues a bit too much. He also used an omniscient POV and head-hopped from character to character in some scenes, which required refocusing on the primary character’s POV every time he did it. He also made the same two mistakes in this book that he made in the first one, using ‘cordite’ for the smell of burnt gunpowder, and ‘clip’ for an automatic’s magazine. He added two new ones as well, putting a safety on Jane’s revolver (they don’t have them), and having a character put a silencer on his revolver (they don’t work because the gap between the cylinder and barrel allows sound to escape).
I’ll read the last two books in this series if they come my way, but I won’t hunt them down.
But much of what I said about the first book in this series applies here.
On the plus side, there’s plenty of tension and nerve-tingling action. Phillips gave Jane some side issues (the death of her father, Kenny moving in with her) to deal with that added to both. This book didn’t have the scattered feel the first book had. And there was a late-in-the-book twist that I didn’t see coming, but when it came, it wasn’t an ‘out of the blue’ surprise.
On the minus side, Phillips again had Jane agonize over her side issues a bit too much. He also used an omniscient POV and head-hopped from character to character in some scenes, which required refocusing on the primary character’s POV every time he did it. He also made the same two mistakes in this book that he made in the first one, using ‘cordite’ for the smell of burnt gunpowder, and ‘clip’ for an automatic’s magazine. He added two new ones as well, putting a safety on Jane’s revolver (they don’t have them), and having a character put a silencer on his revolver (they don’t work because the gap between the cylinder and barrel allows sound to escape).
I’ll read the last two books in this series if they come my way, but I won’t hunt them down.
November 12, 2014
Back in March I read "Fall From Grace" by Clyde Phillips with great pleasure. First and foremost it is a scrupulously structured police procedural and it came as no surprise to learn that the writer's background includes stints as executive producer of acclaaimed television series. But his stories featuring Jane Candiotti and Kenny Marks stand out, too, for the way that a very credible romance sub-plot is developed without any dilution of the conventions of the fast-paced thriller genre. The Candiotti family angle is managed with a result which cn only be called heart-warming and wonderfully sentimental.
All of the foregoing holds good for Jane and Kenny's second outing in "Blindsided".
It is a joy to find myself simply enjoying the reading experience after struggling of late with ebooks which were something of a struggle... on a variety of levels.
All of the foregoing holds good for Jane and Kenny's second outing in "Blindsided".
It is a joy to find myself simply enjoying the reading experience after struggling of late with ebooks which were something of a struggle... on a variety of levels.
August 14, 2014
Since I could get past the unprofessionalism that was more prevalent in book one in this series, I liked this one much more. Again, the unexpected happens in this book as well as an element of surprise happening in the first. This one really knocks your socks off with surprise.
I'm beginning to care about the main characters. I'm beginning to sense Kenny's frustration in a relationship he's in.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, there is a lot of death in this one. I like it that the good don't always win. Makes for more realistic reading. Makes it less predictable.
I'm beginning to care about the main characters. I'm beginning to sense Kenny's frustration in a relationship he's in.
Fortunately or unfortunately depending on how you look at it, there is a lot of death in this one. I like it that the good don't always win. Makes for more realistic reading. Makes it less predictable.
May 19, 2016
Blindsided (Detective Jane Candiotti #2)
Recovering from injuries in her battle on top of the south tower of the Golden Gate bridge, Jane has recently renewed her life with Kenny, her partner and returns to work after another murder involving an ex-cop, now drug addict, whose skull is missing both eyes and has been stabbed to death. Quickly, they are dealing with a serial killer and cops continue to be killed, both eyes shot out. The action is swift, the suspense high, and the danger level very deadly, all the way to they end. Thanks for another great read.
Recovering from injuries in her battle on top of the south tower of the Golden Gate bridge, Jane has recently renewed her life with Kenny, her partner and returns to work after another murder involving an ex-cop, now drug addict, whose skull is missing both eyes and has been stabbed to death. Quickly, they are dealing with a serial killer and cops continue to be killed, both eyes shot out. The action is swift, the suspense high, and the danger level very deadly, all the way to they end. Thanks for another great read.
October 16, 2013
A good police procedural with a female officer as the main lead. Complicating matters is the fact that her signficant other is her patrol partner. Does that happen in real life? A gory series of murders is found to have a connection and that may cost many cops their lives. Pretty well written, fast read.
April 11, 2016
Just OK
Really not much here to talk about. Just a bunch of Detective Investigators and not much investigation on their part. The killer just came to them as far as i’m concerned. The connection between the killer and the first three victims that came in the end should’ve been seen in the beginning only because it was that obvious. But this was an easy read and just okay.
Really not much here to talk about. Just a bunch of Detective Investigators and not much investigation on their part. The killer just came to them as far as i’m concerned. The connection between the killer and the first three victims that came in the end should’ve been seen in the beginning only because it was that obvious. But this was an easy read and just okay.
April 5, 2015
Pretty darn good!!
Exciting, with twists and surprises, strong characters,both good and bad that inspire you to root and boo and hiss. A little mid life romance, some family dramas, lots of shooting and unexpected heroism...... Looking forward to the next Jane Candiotti book.
Exciting, with twists and surprises, strong characters,both good and bad that inspire you to root and boo and hiss. A little mid life romance, some family dramas, lots of shooting and unexpected heroism...... Looking forward to the next Jane Candiotti book.
March 17, 2016
Although the genre of this novel would be considered crime/mystery, it delves into the characters 19 personal lives and families and shows the nature of the characters when things come down to the wire. It was somewhat slow at first, but heats up toward the end.
September 9, 2013
It took me a while to get into it but once I did, I couldn't put it down.
March 8, 2014
enjoyed it a lot fast paced and a little gruesome in spots so I read all 4 of his books now wish there were more.
October 27, 2013
Really fast paced, can't put down type of book. Likable characters, thrilling story, makes you glad there are more books in the series.
January 18, 2014
Wow! Loved this book! The ending was certainly a huge surprise and I am thankful the good guys won! I love the building romance too.
February 19, 2014
Great book
Great book
it was.just a good
story line, it keeps your interest from start to finish. I recommend it to anyone that likes a good mystery.
Great book
it was.just a good
story line, it keeps your interest from start to finish. I recommend it to anyone that likes a good mystery.
April 24, 2014
Good
Good
if you like crime scene stuff or you are a cop wannabe then this series is for you to read
Good
if you like crime scene stuff or you are a cop wannabe then this series is for you to read
Read
May 10, 2014I enjoy his style of writing and the unpredictable plots. Sorry I have completed the entire series.
July 6, 2014
Great read
I never got the mystery of what was up next and I usually do with most of my previous read books.
I never got the mystery of what was up next and I usually do with most of my previous read books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews