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Blind Spot
It’s Every Parent’s Worst Nightmare.
Marshall and Lori Quinn’s quiet, peaceful life is shattered when their three-year-old son Jeff is abducted. When the police investigation stalls, and Lori plunges into catatonic despair, Marshall takes on the hunt for Jeff himself, a relentless, increasingly deadly quest that pits him against violent forces that he can’t defeat alone…
Marshall and Lori Quinn’s quiet, peaceful life is shattered when their three-year-old son Jeff is abducted. When the police investigation stalls, and Lori plunges into catatonic despair, Marshall takes on the hunt for Jeff himself, a relentless, increasingly deadly quest that pits him against violent forces that he can’t defeat alone…
330 pages, Paperback
First published August 4, 2015
21 people are currently reading
46 people want to read
About the author
Tom Kakonis
18 books5 followersTom Kakonis has been hailed by critics nationwide as the heir-apparent to Elmore Leonard… and for good reason. His stunning thrillers Treasure Coast, Michigan Roll, and Criss Cross, among others, blend dark humor with gritty storytelling for compelling, and innovative crime noir capers packed with unique, sharply drawn characters and shocking twists
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 4, 2015
I confess that I approached this book with more than a little regret because it’s the last book written by Tom Kakonis that I hadn’t had a chance to read yet and I hated the thought that I might not ever have another of his books to come to fresh for the first time.
I first discovered Kakonis in the late 1980s when I read an excellent review of his first book, Michigan Roll, featuring a professional gambler named Timothy Waverly, who described himself as an “Applied Probabilities Analyst.” I immediately went looking for the book and absolutely loved it. Two more Waverly novels followed along with a stand-alone titled Criss Cross. They were all very good books, somewhat reminiscent of Elmore Leonard with very quirky characters and great dialogue. And then, as quickly as Kakonis had crossed my radar, he vanished, and after finishing the third Waverly novel, I was never able to find another book by him.
Which made absolutely no sense at all. All of the books were great reads; the Waverly novels in particular received a great deal of critical acclaim. But as anyone with any experience in these matters can tell you, publishing can be a very strange business. Only years later did I discover that, critical acclaim or not, Mr. Kakonis’s publisher was apparently not happy with the sales numbers for the first four books he had written. Accordingly, the publisher insisted that if Kakonis wanted to continue his career, he would have to change his name.
Kakonis agreed and wrote two additional suspense novels, Flawless and Blind Spot, under the name Adam Barrow. But, having convinced the author to make this sacrifice, the publisher failed to promote the books with any energy whatsoever and no one, myself included, ever made the connection between “Adam Barrow” and one of my favorite authors.
Fast forward to the present day when a new imprint, Brash Books, stepped up to the plate and published great new editions of all three of the Timothy Waverly novels as well as Criss Cross, along with a brand new Kakonis novel called Treasure Coast that the author had written years earlier but which had never been published. Brash Books has also now republished the two Adam Barrow novels, deleting “Barrow’s” author credit and restoring the books to the name of Tom Kakonis. Flawless was released last February and Blind Spot is officially available starting today.
The book’s protagonist is a Chicago-area college professor named Marshall Quinn. On a hot and humid summer day, Quinn and his wife, Lori, take their young son, Jeff, on a family outing to the Adler Planetarium. To cap the day’s activities, while Lori wanders through some other exhibits, Marshall takes their son to see a film about the galaxy that is geared to small children. Finally off his feet and out of the heat, Quinn settles into the nice comfortable theater chair and falls asleep in the middle of the film. When he wakens at the end of the film, his son is gone.
Like any frantic parent, Quinn runs through the theater and the surrounding area, calling Jeff’s name but getting no response. He alerts the Planetarium staff who assure him that this sort of thing happens all the time—the boy doubtless just wandered off and they’ll find him in a jiffy.
Well, of course, they don’t. The police step in but are unable to find any trace of Jeff. There are no ransom demands and no leads whatsoever; it’s as if the boy has simply fallen off the face of the earth. The police insist that they are doing everything they can, but under the circumstances there isn’t much that they can do and the Quinns rapidly become frustrated with the police effort.
In the wake of the loss of their child, Lori Quinn is virtually unable to function. Her husband, who has lost all confidence in the police, takes matters into his own hands. He prints up brochures appealing for help and maps out a plan for blanketing the city with them. He tapes a poster-sized photo of Jeff to the window of the family Volvo with a tag asking if anyone has seen the boy.
And then one day, while the Quinns are stuck in a traffic jam at an expressway toll booth, a female passenger in a car in the next lane sees the photo and turns her head in shock. Marshall sees her mouth the words, “I know that kid.”
At that moment, the traffic in the adjoining lane clears and the woman’s car is gone. The Quinns are still stuck and by the time they get through the toll booth and break free of the congestion, the other car and the woman have disappeared. Marshall Quinn is left with only two letters from the license plate and an already-fading mental image of a bumper sticker on the back of the car. The police insist that there’s nothing they can do with so little information and so Marshall Quinn is left to mount his own hunt for the car—and the woman—without even knowing whether the woman might simply have been taunting him.
It’s a thoroughly gripping story. Kakonis takes what must surely be every parent’s worst nightmare and turns it into a taut suspense novel, sending his protagonist out on a seemingly impossible quest. There are some very bad people lurking around the edges of this drama and a somewhat timid college professor with very little “real world” experience would not appear to be the most logical person to send up against them. But Kakonis does it nonetheless. Very early on he drags the readers to the edge of their seats and pins them there until the final page, although no reader is going to be complaining about that. Fans of Kakonis’s earlier work will be very happy to finally have the chance to read this book; we’ve waited long enough.
Four stars for Blind Spot; five stars for the career of an excellent writer who should have had the chance to tell a lot more stories.
I first discovered Kakonis in the late 1980s when I read an excellent review of his first book, Michigan Roll, featuring a professional gambler named Timothy Waverly, who described himself as an “Applied Probabilities Analyst.” I immediately went looking for the book and absolutely loved it. Two more Waverly novels followed along with a stand-alone titled Criss Cross. They were all very good books, somewhat reminiscent of Elmore Leonard with very quirky characters and great dialogue. And then, as quickly as Kakonis had crossed my radar, he vanished, and after finishing the third Waverly novel, I was never able to find another book by him.
Which made absolutely no sense at all. All of the books were great reads; the Waverly novels in particular received a great deal of critical acclaim. But as anyone with any experience in these matters can tell you, publishing can be a very strange business. Only years later did I discover that, critical acclaim or not, Mr. Kakonis’s publisher was apparently not happy with the sales numbers for the first four books he had written. Accordingly, the publisher insisted that if Kakonis wanted to continue his career, he would have to change his name.
Kakonis agreed and wrote two additional suspense novels, Flawless and Blind Spot, under the name Adam Barrow. But, having convinced the author to make this sacrifice, the publisher failed to promote the books with any energy whatsoever and no one, myself included, ever made the connection between “Adam Barrow” and one of my favorite authors.
Fast forward to the present day when a new imprint, Brash Books, stepped up to the plate and published great new editions of all three of the Timothy Waverly novels as well as Criss Cross, along with a brand new Kakonis novel called Treasure Coast that the author had written years earlier but which had never been published. Brash Books has also now republished the two Adam Barrow novels, deleting “Barrow’s” author credit and restoring the books to the name of Tom Kakonis. Flawless was released last February and Blind Spot is officially available starting today.
The book’s protagonist is a Chicago-area college professor named Marshall Quinn. On a hot and humid summer day, Quinn and his wife, Lori, take their young son, Jeff, on a family outing to the Adler Planetarium. To cap the day’s activities, while Lori wanders through some other exhibits, Marshall takes their son to see a film about the galaxy that is geared to small children. Finally off his feet and out of the heat, Quinn settles into the nice comfortable theater chair and falls asleep in the middle of the film. When he wakens at the end of the film, his son is gone.
Like any frantic parent, Quinn runs through the theater and the surrounding area, calling Jeff’s name but getting no response. He alerts the Planetarium staff who assure him that this sort of thing happens all the time—the boy doubtless just wandered off and they’ll find him in a jiffy.
Well, of course, they don’t. The police step in but are unable to find any trace of Jeff. There are no ransom demands and no leads whatsoever; it’s as if the boy has simply fallen off the face of the earth. The police insist that they are doing everything they can, but under the circumstances there isn’t much that they can do and the Quinns rapidly become frustrated with the police effort.
In the wake of the loss of their child, Lori Quinn is virtually unable to function. Her husband, who has lost all confidence in the police, takes matters into his own hands. He prints up brochures appealing for help and maps out a plan for blanketing the city with them. He tapes a poster-sized photo of Jeff to the window of the family Volvo with a tag asking if anyone has seen the boy.
And then one day, while the Quinns are stuck in a traffic jam at an expressway toll booth, a female passenger in a car in the next lane sees the photo and turns her head in shock. Marshall sees her mouth the words, “I know that kid.”
At that moment, the traffic in the adjoining lane clears and the woman’s car is gone. The Quinns are still stuck and by the time they get through the toll booth and break free of the congestion, the other car and the woman have disappeared. Marshall Quinn is left with only two letters from the license plate and an already-fading mental image of a bumper sticker on the back of the car. The police insist that there’s nothing they can do with so little information and so Marshall Quinn is left to mount his own hunt for the car—and the woman—without even knowing whether the woman might simply have been taunting him.
It’s a thoroughly gripping story. Kakonis takes what must surely be every parent’s worst nightmare and turns it into a taut suspense novel, sending his protagonist out on a seemingly impossible quest. There are some very bad people lurking around the edges of this drama and a somewhat timid college professor with very little “real world” experience would not appear to be the most logical person to send up against them. But Kakonis does it nonetheless. Very early on he drags the readers to the edge of their seats and pins them there until the final page, although no reader is going to be complaining about that. Fans of Kakonis’s earlier work will be very happy to finally have the chance to read this book; we’ve waited long enough.
Four stars for Blind Spot; five stars for the career of an excellent writer who should have had the chance to tell a lot more stories.
August 17, 2015
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Tom Kakonis, and Brash Books for providing me with a copy of this book, which allows me to provide you with this review.
New to the Kakonis world of writing, I sought to expand my horizons and determine if he might be an author worth exploring further. After this novel, I am not yet completely sold. A trip to the planetarium goes horribly wrong for Marshall and Lori Quinn when their son, Jeff, goes missing. As they turn to the authorities for help, the Quinns soon realise that they are on their own. No leads, no clues, and few ideas keep the Chicago Police disinterested, or at least without the needed momentum to forge ahead. Marshall decides to take things into his own hands, as he refuses to give up searching. Small leads go nowhere, but he will not stop until Jeff is back home. Meanwhile, Jeff has become a victim of illicit adoption, purchased through channels that trace back to a group of men, each aware of only a small piece of the puzzle. In an attempt to fill a familial void, Jeff (now Davie) plays a role and is led to believe that his birth parents are gone forever, replaced by a new and loving pair. While Marshall Quinn scours his mind and trips on clues, he is frantic to do what no one else seems interested in doing, finding Jeff and returning him to his rightful family? Kanonis keeps the reader curious and wondering from beginning to end in this multi-part novel, which flows effectively through its seven time periods.
While the premise is solid and the delivery keeps the reader engaged, the novel has some issues that I felt were consistent and, at times, highly distracting. Kakonis has a wonderful way with prose, from the early pages of the novel as he analytically describes how his characters tackle eating a hot dog to the pace Marshall takes as he searching suburban Chicago for his son. Juxtaposed with this is a choppy and contraction-filled dialogue, which encapsulates the speech patters likely found in blue-collar factories. The issue here is that the reader is left with such a literary dichotomy that one cannot synthesise the story effectively. Is this high- or low-brow? The story is neither Chicago or class-focussed, leaving me to wonder why Kakokis chose these two styles and layered them together. He does both so well, but they distract from one another. His characters are strong, his pace is decent, and even the flow of the plot keeps the reader wanting to push ahead. It is the delivery that hampers the stellar quality of this novel, which I cannot divorce from its foundational presentation.
Kudos, Mister Kakonis for this entertaining piece. Had some of these issues been found in a larger group or at the editorial level, I could surely have lauded you with more praise for a quick-paced novel that pulls on the heartstrings of all parents.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
New to the Kakonis world of writing, I sought to expand my horizons and determine if he might be an author worth exploring further. After this novel, I am not yet completely sold. A trip to the planetarium goes horribly wrong for Marshall and Lori Quinn when their son, Jeff, goes missing. As they turn to the authorities for help, the Quinns soon realise that they are on their own. No leads, no clues, and few ideas keep the Chicago Police disinterested, or at least without the needed momentum to forge ahead. Marshall decides to take things into his own hands, as he refuses to give up searching. Small leads go nowhere, but he will not stop until Jeff is back home. Meanwhile, Jeff has become a victim of illicit adoption, purchased through channels that trace back to a group of men, each aware of only a small piece of the puzzle. In an attempt to fill a familial void, Jeff (now Davie) plays a role and is led to believe that his birth parents are gone forever, replaced by a new and loving pair. While Marshall Quinn scours his mind and trips on clues, he is frantic to do what no one else seems interested in doing, finding Jeff and returning him to his rightful family? Kanonis keeps the reader curious and wondering from beginning to end in this multi-part novel, which flows effectively through its seven time periods.
While the premise is solid and the delivery keeps the reader engaged, the novel has some issues that I felt were consistent and, at times, highly distracting. Kakonis has a wonderful way with prose, from the early pages of the novel as he analytically describes how his characters tackle eating a hot dog to the pace Marshall takes as he searching suburban Chicago for his son. Juxtaposed with this is a choppy and contraction-filled dialogue, which encapsulates the speech patters likely found in blue-collar factories. The issue here is that the reader is left with such a literary dichotomy that one cannot synthesise the story effectively. Is this high- or low-brow? The story is neither Chicago or class-focussed, leaving me to wonder why Kakokis chose these two styles and layered them together. He does both so well, but they distract from one another. His characters are strong, his pace is decent, and even the flow of the plot keeps the reader wanting to push ahead. It is the delivery that hampers the stellar quality of this novel, which I cannot divorce from its foundational presentation.
Kudos, Mister Kakonis for this entertaining piece. Had some of these issues been found in a larger group or at the editorial level, I could surely have lauded you with more praise for a quick-paced novel that pulls on the heartstrings of all parents.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
February 12, 2020
Tom Kakonis is another interesting author I have discovered, thanks to my goodreads friend & author James Thane. Blind Spot is the gritty tale of a father set on finding his kidnapped son against all odds, not the least his own ignorance of the ways of the big bad world out there. The novel holds the reader in its clutches from start to end. Populated by several well-etched, eccentric, disturbing characters, the narrative jumps between perspectives frequently. The author's descriptions of people and places, and the slang-filled dialogues paint a vivid picture of a tough, blue-collar life in Chicago of the Nineties. This book is a treasure trove - as far as my reading experience goes - of colourful curse words, the meanings for many of which I had to look up. I liked it, except for the unneeded descriptions and the meandering narrative at some places of the story that somewhat dampened the momentum.
October 19, 2015
Don't Look Away From Blind Spot
Odell DeCruz (aka Dingo), fancies himself a criminal mastermind with great ambitions, a modern day Moriarty. Marshall Quinn, a college professor, lives comfortably in his insulated world with wife and child. One day the lives of these two men intersect, and nothing will ever be the same again. And not just for these two polar opposites. Odell is not the only criminal and Marshall not the only victim in this tense drama.
Tom Kakonis has written a suspense thriller packed with desperate hopes and stolen dreams. The reader sees, hears and smells the blue collar bars that pepper industrial Chicago, its bucolic suburbs and sad, gray police stations where detectives pursue dead end leads in a hopeless search for a little boy. Kakonis uses his brush with expertise to paint a startling canvas that reveals the hidden world of child trafficking.
When Marshall Quinn takes his toddler to an amusement park he doesn't expect his day of relaxation to turn into a nightmare. But that's what happens when little Jeffie disappears. It's every parent's worst fear. Driven by guilt, Marshall canvases the city with posters and pictures of his stolen son. After weeks turn into months it seems hopeless. Then a chance encounter at a freeway toll booth give Marshall and his wife hope. A woman in a Mercury next to his glances at the poster in Marshall's window and with widening eyes mouths the words, "I know that kid."
The car vanishes, but Marshall is now convinced that someone has seen Jeffie. Using a partial license plate, a bumper sticker and a description of the vehicle (not enough, according to the detective working his son's case), Marshall combs the industrial parks and factories on the tough side of town as his wife Lori begins to emerge from the paralysis of her grief. Marshall's out of his element, but a brutal beating by one of Dingo's henchmen isn't enough to dissuade him.
What he doesn't bargain for is the fact that the Norma and Buck, the couple that adopted Jeffie on the black market, may not want to be found, even as their suspicions are awaken. They've already lost one child. They're not going to lose another, regardless of who gets hurt.
As for Dingo, this may be just a business deal, but in his line of work, there are no refunds or returns. He'll do whatever it takes to remove this "little problem" that could land him behind bars for a very long time.
As these three forces threaten to collide in a final confrontation, you'll be holding your breath until the very end. Just don't take your eyes off the page. Blind Spot packs a punch that strikes you right in the gut.
Odell DeCruz (aka Dingo), fancies himself a criminal mastermind with great ambitions, a modern day Moriarty. Marshall Quinn, a college professor, lives comfortably in his insulated world with wife and child. One day the lives of these two men intersect, and nothing will ever be the same again. And not just for these two polar opposites. Odell is not the only criminal and Marshall not the only victim in this tense drama.
Tom Kakonis has written a suspense thriller packed with desperate hopes and stolen dreams. The reader sees, hears and smells the blue collar bars that pepper industrial Chicago, its bucolic suburbs and sad, gray police stations where detectives pursue dead end leads in a hopeless search for a little boy. Kakonis uses his brush with expertise to paint a startling canvas that reveals the hidden world of child trafficking.
When Marshall Quinn takes his toddler to an amusement park he doesn't expect his day of relaxation to turn into a nightmare. But that's what happens when little Jeffie disappears. It's every parent's worst fear. Driven by guilt, Marshall canvases the city with posters and pictures of his stolen son. After weeks turn into months it seems hopeless. Then a chance encounter at a freeway toll booth give Marshall and his wife hope. A woman in a Mercury next to his glances at the poster in Marshall's window and with widening eyes mouths the words, "I know that kid."
The car vanishes, but Marshall is now convinced that someone has seen Jeffie. Using a partial license plate, a bumper sticker and a description of the vehicle (not enough, according to the detective working his son's case), Marshall combs the industrial parks and factories on the tough side of town as his wife Lori begins to emerge from the paralysis of her grief. Marshall's out of his element, but a brutal beating by one of Dingo's henchmen isn't enough to dissuade him.
What he doesn't bargain for is the fact that the Norma and Buck, the couple that adopted Jeffie on the black market, may not want to be found, even as their suspicions are awaken. They've already lost one child. They're not going to lose another, regardless of who gets hurt.
As for Dingo, this may be just a business deal, but in his line of work, there are no refunds or returns. He'll do whatever it takes to remove this "little problem" that could land him behind bars for a very long time.
As these three forces threaten to collide in a final confrontation, you'll be holding your breath until the very end. Just don't take your eyes off the page. Blind Spot packs a punch that strikes you right in the gut.
September 20, 2015
Action packed story!!
What would you do if your child was kidnapped right out from
under your nose? That is what happens to Jeff Quinn.
His dad, Marshall Quinn has taken his son to the planetarium
show. While there, Marshall falls asleep, Awaking to discover
that Jeff is gone!! Marshall and his wife, Lori search high and
low but are not able to find Jeff. How could he disappear into
thin air? Where could he have gone? Why aren’t the police
doing more?
The story takes the reader through the feelings that the parents
are experiencing. You feel what the parents feel.
The main characters and supporting characters are very realistic
in their settings. Marshall sets out from his world of being a
college professor determined to find his child. He is transported
into an unknown world of drug dealers, hustlers, illicit adoption
plus blue collar workers with their own dialogue and way of
living.
After getting physically beaten up plus the emotional beating
of losing his son, will Marshall be able to continue on his own
quest for Jeff? Is his son still alive? Where will he turn next?
Fast paced, surprising twists and turns. The tension was thick
and well-sustained.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brash Books for this eBook. My
opinion is my own.
What would you do if your child was kidnapped right out from
under your nose? That is what happens to Jeff Quinn.
His dad, Marshall Quinn has taken his son to the planetarium
show. While there, Marshall falls asleep, Awaking to discover
that Jeff is gone!! Marshall and his wife, Lori search high and
low but are not able to find Jeff. How could he disappear into
thin air? Where could he have gone? Why aren’t the police
doing more?
The story takes the reader through the feelings that the parents
are experiencing. You feel what the parents feel.
The main characters and supporting characters are very realistic
in their settings. Marshall sets out from his world of being a
college professor determined to find his child. He is transported
into an unknown world of drug dealers, hustlers, illicit adoption
plus blue collar workers with their own dialogue and way of
living.
After getting physically beaten up plus the emotional beating
of losing his son, will Marshall be able to continue on his own
quest for Jeff? Is his son still alive? Where will he turn next?
Fast paced, surprising twists and turns. The tension was thick
and well-sustained.
Thank you to NetGalley and Brash Books for this eBook. My
opinion is my own.
August 4, 2015
I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection. - Sigmund Freud
Marshall and Lori Quinn have taken their young son, Jeff, to the museum. Lori wants to see the Egyptian artifacts again and maybe do some shopping and Marshall and Jeff are going to the planetarium. Marshall falls asleep during the show at the planetarium and when he wakes up Jeff is gone...kidnapped.
Not getting help from the local police (it's never mentioned why the FBI don't get involved), the Quinns, especially Marshall since Lori is incapacitated with grief, try to find out where their son might be.
The story takes place in Chicago and the voices of all the different characters ring true to that location.
Dangerous people, dangerous locations, and dangerous happenings make this thriller one that will have you rushing through the pages to find out what happens next.
This is a fast-paced journey through a parent's worst nightmare and it made me wonder what I would do in similar circumstances.
NOTE: I received this book from Brash Books through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
Marshall and Lori Quinn have taken their young son, Jeff, to the museum. Lori wants to see the Egyptian artifacts again and maybe do some shopping and Marshall and Jeff are going to the planetarium. Marshall falls asleep during the show at the planetarium and when he wakes up Jeff is gone...kidnapped.
Not getting help from the local police (it's never mentioned why the FBI don't get involved), the Quinns, especially Marshall since Lori is incapacitated with grief, try to find out where their son might be.
The story takes place in Chicago and the voices of all the different characters ring true to that location.
Dangerous people, dangerous locations, and dangerous happenings make this thriller one that will have you rushing through the pages to find out what happens next.
This is a fast-paced journey through a parent's worst nightmare and it made me wonder what I would do in similar circumstances.
NOTE: I received this book from Brash Books through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
October 5, 2015
Blind Spot by Tom Kakonis 3 Stars
A harrowing read following the traumatic abduction of a young boy
This story is set in Chicago and is centred around the distraught Quinn family. Marshall falls asleep whilst looking after his young son, Jeff, on a family trip to the Planetarium. When he awakes his son is nowhere to be seen. What follows is a fast paced read involving lots of twists and a dramatic conclusion.
I found it had tension and suspense throughout, but was let down by a great deal of unnecessary dialogue.
Overall, an intriguing read.
Elphaba
Best Selling Crime Thrillers received a copy of this book to review.
A harrowing read following the traumatic abduction of a young boy
This story is set in Chicago and is centred around the distraught Quinn family. Marshall falls asleep whilst looking after his young son, Jeff, on a family trip to the Planetarium. When he awakes his son is nowhere to be seen. What follows is a fast paced read involving lots of twists and a dramatic conclusion.
I found it had tension and suspense throughout, but was let down by a great deal of unnecessary dialogue.
Overall, an intriguing read.
Elphaba
Best Selling Crime Thrillers received a copy of this book to review.
February 11, 2016
This was a good book with a good storyline that drew me in. I didn't find it very fast paced and it didn't have enough to keep me wanting more. There was too much talking in it, which I tended to drift off at
May 17, 2018
Scary
Disliked most of this book but held my interest. Very complex plot, confusing at times. Many distressed characters. Would not recommend.
Disliked most of this book but held my interest. Very complex plot, confusing at times. Many distressed characters. Would not recommend.
August 30, 2015
It’s a very hot day in Chicago when Marshall Quinn takes his three-year old son, Jeff, to a planetarium for a movie about the stars. Nestled into the air-conditioned comfort of his seat, Marshall falls asleep. He wakes up to find his son gone. Hours later, a lowlife named Dingo gets a call from a supplier with the news that another item has arrived. Dingo calls his broker and arranges a trade—Little Jeff for $20,000. So begins Tom Kakonis’s (1995), in one of the more chilling beginnings that a parent could ever read.
Three months later, after the media and the police have drifted on to other matters, Marshall and Lori Quinn are still looking for Jeff. Well, Marshall is looking; Lori is in a near-catatonic state. They are reduced to handing out leaflets and driving around with a poster on the car window with Jeff’s photo and the caption, “Have you seen me?” Then a chance encounter at a tollbooth changes the picture-—“Waz” Wazinski’s wife in the car in the next lane sees the poster, turns to her husband and says, “I know that kid!” Waz works as a grunt at Norse Aluminum in Cicero, and the Wazinskis are on their way to visit their friends the Buckley’s; “Buck” Buckley is Waz’s co-worker at Norse. Sadly, the Buckley’s daughter had died a few years earlier and they couldn’t have more children. The now-happy Buckleys have just adopted a three-year old boy named Davie, who had been named Jeff in an earlier incarnation! It’s a small world.
Marshall sees the woman mouth, “I know that kid,” but he can’t catch up to them after Waz jackrabbits away from the tollbooth. Still, Marshall gets a partial license number, a rough ID on the make of car, and sees a distinctive bumper sticker. It’s the first break in three months and he’s far more excited about it than the detectives on the case. And we are too. Marshall realizes that the police will be useless and takes it on himself to find his son. This ultimately leads him to the Norseman Lounge, the seedy watering hole for Norse Aluminum workers; it’s a portal into a world far different than he—or we—have ever known. After showing the poster around, Marshall receives the energetic ministrations of Jimmie Jack but remains undeterred.
The three legs of the stool are now out in the open—-the family of the lost boy, the family of the newly found boy, and the less than healthy pond scum at Norse Aluminum. At Norse the lowest of the low is Odell DeCruz (“Dingo”), drug dealer and general boss of bad things; Dingo is assisted by James John (“Jimmie Jack”) who provides the muscle. Much higher in the pantheon is Lester, who is not quite as bright as a burned out light bulb, and pretty high on the moral plane are Waz and Buck, who actually think the adoption was legitimate even though Dingo arranged it.
Kakonis gives his characters very credible voices—-rarely does dialogue sound so real: the indifferent detectives are indifferent detectives; the lowlifes who steal and trade children are lowlifes who would steal and trade children; the guys who work at Norse Aluminum Company (“the plant”) and drink with Waz and Buckley at the Norseman Bar are guys who would work and drink together at a dive; the panicked and traumatized parents are panicked and traumatized parents. As Edward R. Murrow frequently noted, “You Are There.”
Kakonis is also adept at literary realism. In this book, nobody escapes serious damage. There is no happy ending. It is a powerful and sad morality tale about the bad consequences of bad actions.
Five stars.
Three months later, after the media and the police have drifted on to other matters, Marshall and Lori Quinn are still looking for Jeff. Well, Marshall is looking; Lori is in a near-catatonic state. They are reduced to handing out leaflets and driving around with a poster on the car window with Jeff’s photo and the caption, “Have you seen me?” Then a chance encounter at a tollbooth changes the picture-—“Waz” Wazinski’s wife in the car in the next lane sees the poster, turns to her husband and says, “I know that kid!” Waz works as a grunt at Norse Aluminum in Cicero, and the Wazinskis are on their way to visit their friends the Buckley’s; “Buck” Buckley is Waz’s co-worker at Norse. Sadly, the Buckley’s daughter had died a few years earlier and they couldn’t have more children. The now-happy Buckleys have just adopted a three-year old boy named Davie, who had been named Jeff in an earlier incarnation! It’s a small world.
Marshall sees the woman mouth, “I know that kid,” but he can’t catch up to them after Waz jackrabbits away from the tollbooth. Still, Marshall gets a partial license number, a rough ID on the make of car, and sees a distinctive bumper sticker. It’s the first break in three months and he’s far more excited about it than the detectives on the case. And we are too. Marshall realizes that the police will be useless and takes it on himself to find his son. This ultimately leads him to the Norseman Lounge, the seedy watering hole for Norse Aluminum workers; it’s a portal into a world far different than he—or we—have ever known. After showing the poster around, Marshall receives the energetic ministrations of Jimmie Jack but remains undeterred.
The three legs of the stool are now out in the open—-the family of the lost boy, the family of the newly found boy, and the less than healthy pond scum at Norse Aluminum. At Norse the lowest of the low is Odell DeCruz (“Dingo”), drug dealer and general boss of bad things; Dingo is assisted by James John (“Jimmie Jack”) who provides the muscle. Much higher in the pantheon is Lester, who is not quite as bright as a burned out light bulb, and pretty high on the moral plane are Waz and Buck, who actually think the adoption was legitimate even though Dingo arranged it.
Kakonis gives his characters very credible voices—-rarely does dialogue sound so real: the indifferent detectives are indifferent detectives; the lowlifes who steal and trade children are lowlifes who would steal and trade children; the guys who work at Norse Aluminum Company (“the plant”) and drink with Waz and Buckley at the Norseman Bar are guys who would work and drink together at a dive; the panicked and traumatized parents are panicked and traumatized parents. As Edward R. Murrow frequently noted, “You Are There.”
Kakonis is also adept at literary realism. In this book, nobody escapes serious damage. There is no happy ending. It is a powerful and sad morality tale about the bad consequences of bad actions.
Five stars.
January 3, 2016
This one is 3.5 stars, rounded up. Thanks go to my friends at Brash Books for permitting me access to a DRC. The book is available for sale now.
Kakonis is a kick in the pants, and he builds suspense like nobody’s business. What could be scarier than having one’s youngster snatched by a stranger? The stakes build high, higher, and higher still. Into the bargain we are concerned for the hopeful yet still-grieving mother who believes she has lawfully adopted young Davie (formerly Jeff). Her own child, Sara, died tragically, and her husband has done everything, including the unthinkable, to bring home another child to make the family feel whole again.
Meanwhile, the Quinns search everywhere for their son. After the first 48 hours, the cops have clearly quit looking, so they print flyers to tack on every available public surface, and for good measure, they post an extra large one on their own car window. The “blind spot” occurs when a friend of the new parents passes the Quinns’ car in traffic. The friend’s husband is at the wheel, leaving her free to crane her neck and gawk at the poster, and Marshall Quinn’s pulse quickens as he sees the woman’s mouth form the words, “I know that kid.” Now the search is even more heated as Marshall searches for Della, the woman who knows who has their little boy.
Kakonis’s strength is in his spicy dialogue and strange dialects. In some ways his work is hyper-literate, delving into vocabulary most folks may not see often, but both the dialogue between characters and the internal dialogue as well are so riddled with offensive terms that it’s hard to enjoy. It’s true that Kakonis uses these terms to make plain who is a bad guy and who is not—not that it’s ever unclear, but it’s not the first time I’ve seen an author use the device to make us hate a character even more than we already do. But in such a case, less is more, and the whole first half of the story is studded with really ugly racist expressions, as well as slurs on women, the aged, and the gay. I can see where there would be a readership that would have casually flicked through these terms and excused them either because they were untroubled by them at all, or because it is the villain that generally says them. Today, it feels like a lot of work to sift through the epithets to find the mystery under all that sludge.
I considered rating this tale, one with strong pacing and characterization but so many challenges, as 3 stars, but I enjoyed another of this author’s stories quite a lot, and some of the good will has carried over into this review. I’m not ready to give up on this writer’s work yet.
For those that like a fast-paced thriller or mystery and that can overlook the issues I have mentioned, this book is recommended.
Kakonis is a kick in the pants, and he builds suspense like nobody’s business. What could be scarier than having one’s youngster snatched by a stranger? The stakes build high, higher, and higher still. Into the bargain we are concerned for the hopeful yet still-grieving mother who believes she has lawfully adopted young Davie (formerly Jeff). Her own child, Sara, died tragically, and her husband has done everything, including the unthinkable, to bring home another child to make the family feel whole again.
Meanwhile, the Quinns search everywhere for their son. After the first 48 hours, the cops have clearly quit looking, so they print flyers to tack on every available public surface, and for good measure, they post an extra large one on their own car window. The “blind spot” occurs when a friend of the new parents passes the Quinns’ car in traffic. The friend’s husband is at the wheel, leaving her free to crane her neck and gawk at the poster, and Marshall Quinn’s pulse quickens as he sees the woman’s mouth form the words, “I know that kid.” Now the search is even more heated as Marshall searches for Della, the woman who knows who has their little boy.
Kakonis’s strength is in his spicy dialogue and strange dialects. In some ways his work is hyper-literate, delving into vocabulary most folks may not see often, but both the dialogue between characters and the internal dialogue as well are so riddled with offensive terms that it’s hard to enjoy. It’s true that Kakonis uses these terms to make plain who is a bad guy and who is not—not that it’s ever unclear, but it’s not the first time I’ve seen an author use the device to make us hate a character even more than we already do. But in such a case, less is more, and the whole first half of the story is studded with really ugly racist expressions, as well as slurs on women, the aged, and the gay. I can see where there would be a readership that would have casually flicked through these terms and excused them either because they were untroubled by them at all, or because it is the villain that generally says them. Today, it feels like a lot of work to sift through the epithets to find the mystery under all that sludge.
I considered rating this tale, one with strong pacing and characterization but so many challenges, as 3 stars, but I enjoyed another of this author’s stories quite a lot, and some of the good will has carried over into this review. I’m not ready to give up on this writer’s work yet.
For those that like a fast-paced thriller or mystery and that can overlook the issues I have mentioned, this book is recommended.
August 25, 2015
What the heck do you do when you fall asleep watching a show in the planetarium only to wake up and find your son Jeff has vanished. Of course, you seek help from the police, but if that fails you have no choice but to search for your son yourself. This is the basis of this story, but it is a fast action based story which will keep you gripped all the way through.
Marshall Quinn has taken his son watch the show in the planetarium while his wife Lori does some shopping, the aftermath of the kidnapping leaves Lori Quinn a total wreck like most mothers would be, virtually unable to function which leaves it down to Marshall to find the boy as he gets little or no help from the authorities. This becomes a really taught thriller, I was almost falling off the edge of my seat willing Marshall to find the boy, which as very well educated professor he is more than capable of doing, and as being far from rich he cannot afford to hire people to search for his son, leaving him the main person doing all the detective work he can in order to find where his son is being held.
Marshall is not really equipped for detective work, but his son is missing and he has to pull out every ounce of energy he has and concentrate on finding him, he has to pit his wits against the unknown whilst still dealing with the shock of his son Jeff being gone. It is every parent's worst nightmare, but this father is doing all he can to put his family back together and return his son to him and his wife.
I absolutely have to say this is an amazing read, I was in awe of the Author's ability to bring this story right into my heart, I felt what they felt, I really felt like I was there urging Marshall on, it tore at my heart too. I think this is a fabulous well written, realistic story.
I have to thank Brash Books and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this in return for an honest review, I am under no obligation to give anything other than my honest opinion and that is what I have done, this great story
Marshall Quinn has taken his son watch the show in the planetarium while his wife Lori does some shopping, the aftermath of the kidnapping leaves Lori Quinn a total wreck like most mothers would be, virtually unable to function which leaves it down to Marshall to find the boy as he gets little or no help from the authorities. This becomes a really taught thriller, I was almost falling off the edge of my seat willing Marshall to find the boy, which as very well educated professor he is more than capable of doing, and as being far from rich he cannot afford to hire people to search for his son, leaving him the main person doing all the detective work he can in order to find where his son is being held.
Marshall is not really equipped for detective work, but his son is missing and he has to pull out every ounce of energy he has and concentrate on finding him, he has to pit his wits against the unknown whilst still dealing with the shock of his son Jeff being gone. It is every parent's worst nightmare, but this father is doing all he can to put his family back together and return his son to him and his wife.
I absolutely have to say this is an amazing read, I was in awe of the Author's ability to bring this story right into my heart, I felt what they felt, I really felt like I was there urging Marshall on, it tore at my heart too. I think this is a fabulous well written, realistic story.
I have to thank Brash Books and NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this in return for an honest review, I am under no obligation to give anything other than my honest opinion and that is what I have done, this great story
July 31, 2015
I was somewhat surprised by this novel. First of all, the galley I received was not great. It had many typos and frequently words were only half there. For about the first third of the book I was challenged by attempting to pick and choose the right word to fit in the partial area. Also, chapters and even paragraphs were not really delineated and it was sometimes challenging to see where the book was taking you. Those, however, were my only real negatives, and should be cleared up by editing before publication.
The story is mainly told in the third person and is done very well. A college professor and his wife take their three year old son out for a day and during the course of the day, the child is kidnapped. The protagonist does what all good citizens do, reports the matter to the Police and continually questions them regarding the case and its solution to little or no avail. One day more than three months later, on the interstate, he passes a car in which the passenger appears to recognize their child from a poster he has in his window. He then begins to attempt to locate these people and find his child himself.
The novel follows the protagonists, the kidnappers, middlemen, those who are housing the child and one of the Police officers involved in the search. The author obviously has a love of the English language and selects words for each person or set of persons that are appropriate for someone of their background and interests. I actually used a dictionary for some of the professor's. I won't go into any more particulars because they would lead to spoilers but I do recommend this novel.
Thanks to Net Galley and Brash Books for an ARC for an honest review. I am glad I got the opportunity to read this novel.
The story is mainly told in the third person and is done very well. A college professor and his wife take their three year old son out for a day and during the course of the day, the child is kidnapped. The protagonist does what all good citizens do, reports the matter to the Police and continually questions them regarding the case and its solution to little or no avail. One day more than three months later, on the interstate, he passes a car in which the passenger appears to recognize their child from a poster he has in his window. He then begins to attempt to locate these people and find his child himself.
The novel follows the protagonists, the kidnappers, middlemen, those who are housing the child and one of the Police officers involved in the search. The author obviously has a love of the English language and selects words for each person or set of persons that are appropriate for someone of their background and interests. I actually used a dictionary for some of the professor's. I won't go into any more particulars because they would lead to spoilers but I do recommend this novel.
Thanks to Net Galley and Brash Books for an ARC for an honest review. I am glad I got the opportunity to read this novel.
August 22, 2015
On a Sunday outing Jeff Quinn disappears while watching a planetarium show. His dad had fallen asleep during the show and wakes up to find his son missing. He looks and asks people if they saw Jeff leave. After contacting the police, Jeff's mother. Lori becomes depressed and her husband Marshall decides to investigate on his own. He is an academic professor so he doesn't have the money for a private investigator. How will he be able to find his son? A small-time hustler deals drugs and stolen good to the blue collar workers at a factory does his deals through a middleman and children to couples who will not ask questions. Marshall gets stiff jolts of reality when asking factory workers about his missing child. Will Marshall persist and find his child alive?
The hero of this story is about an ordinary man who has to pit himself against the inhuman forces, he is not equipped to deal with. The author's writing is good. The mystery is suspenseful and fast paced.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
The hero of this story is about an ordinary man who has to pit himself against the inhuman forces, he is not equipped to deal with. The author's writing is good. The mystery is suspenseful and fast paced.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
July 17, 2015
I would like to thank Brash Books and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic copy to review. What promised to be a fun afternoon at the planetarium for the Quinn family turned out to be anything but. Marshall and Lori's son Jeff is kidnapped during a show and disappears without a trace. After almost three months, the police efforts are effectively nothing. Marshall takes it upon himself to search for Jeff, since he has lost confidence that the police will find his son. Blind Spot chronicles one man's journey to save his son and the exciting conclusion alone makes it worth reading. Although I found the story of the abduction compelling, the excessive dialogue between the criminals and excited utterances to themselves dragged the book down. With a little tightening up, what is now a good book would be a great one. On a quest to find his son, Marshall took himself from an upstanding citizen to one that skirts the law while searching the underbelly of society. This realistic view on what a desperate parent might do to save a child is a worthwhile read and one that I recommend to readers of mystery/ thrillers.
August 31, 2015
Incomparable horror and unimaginable dread for anyone who is a parent. A child kidnapped, a seemingly hopeless situation and law enforcement cannot offer immediate solutions. It happens more often than most realize and usually only the ones solved are sensationalized in the media. This story has twists and turns as the frantic father pursues leads provided by circumstance. Encountering some tough characters, shady criminals lacking in the smarts department and mill workers who live and work within a world of their own. Mill workers from the metals industry are a tough lot and pretty much the same the world over. They congregate at the same drinking establishments and look out for each other. Even those co-workers normally only tolerated become like kin in in situations involving one of their own. This is the crowd the father has to penetrate for answers. A masterful job of providing the backdrop and a spot on description of the camaraderie's of the workers in this mystery thriller. A fine read, action packed and fast paced. A five star book.
May 8, 2016
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Marshall and Lori Quinn’s quiet, peaceful life is shattered when their three-year-old son Jeff is abducted. When the police investigation stalls, and Lori plunges into catatonic despair, Marshall takes on the hunt for Jeff himself, a relentless, increasingly deadly quest that pits him against violent forces that he can’t defeat alone…
This was a pretty solid storyline that I enjoyed without having any real "WOW" factor. The plot was easy to follow and the suspense level was pretty good throughout. I wouldn't say the pages were flashing past but I did get through it pretty quickly.
The only downside to it, as a lot of reviewers have pointed out, was a lot of unnecessary dialogue. At times, I wondered if we were ever going to get back to the plot and that was a distraction I could have done without.
I think that with some minimal tweaking, this story could certainly have reached far greater heights.
Paul
ARH
Marshall and Lori Quinn’s quiet, peaceful life is shattered when their three-year-old son Jeff is abducted. When the police investigation stalls, and Lori plunges into catatonic despair, Marshall takes on the hunt for Jeff himself, a relentless, increasingly deadly quest that pits him against violent forces that he can’t defeat alone…
This was a pretty solid storyline that I enjoyed without having any real "WOW" factor. The plot was easy to follow and the suspense level was pretty good throughout. I wouldn't say the pages were flashing past but I did get through it pretty quickly.
The only downside to it, as a lot of reviewers have pointed out, was a lot of unnecessary dialogue. At times, I wondered if we were ever going to get back to the plot and that was a distraction I could have done without.
I think that with some minimal tweaking, this story could certainly have reached far greater heights.
Paul
ARH
May 25, 2015
Thank you to NetGalley and Brash Books for the ARC, Blind Spot written by Tom Kakonis, a can’t put it down mystery thriller. I was immediately captivated and sickened with the abduction of three year old Jeff Quinn in a planetarium while his father slept. As Marshall and Lori Quinn’s life spirals out of control, the police presence in their son’s missing person case is negligible. Marshall, tries to be patient with law enforcement— but he is haunted by his own guilt. With no background in being a detective, he prints up flyers; Marshall and catatonic Lori (dependent on drugs to assuage her sorrow) hand them out as well as travel by car (with a life-size photo of Jeff) each weekend. Kakonis is skilled in unraveling this mystery; the reader is kept in constant suspense; will Marshall and Lori ever get their son back? I was sick with worry as I read this book but I rooted for Marshall through all of his sincere yet amateur attempts to find his son; highly recommended.
June 1, 2015
Given To Me For An Honest Review
Blind Spot by Tom Kakonis is a fast paced suspense mystery thriller. Jeff Quinn is kidnapped. His parents are spiraling out of control with worry. Marshall feels he isn't getting any help from the authorities, so he decides to search himself. He makes and puts up posters and flyers everywhere. This story is takes place in Chicago .... where there is high crime, dangerous criminals and horrible activities going on. Will Jeff ever be found? Why was he taken? Read this book and then you'll know. I gave this book 5 stars but it deserves many more. I highly recommend this book to everyone especially to those who enjoy reading suspense, mystery and thrillers. I look for more from Tom Kakonis.
Blind Spot by Tom Kakonis is a fast paced suspense mystery thriller. Jeff Quinn is kidnapped. His parents are spiraling out of control with worry. Marshall feels he isn't getting any help from the authorities, so he decides to search himself. He makes and puts up posters and flyers everywhere. This story is takes place in Chicago .... where there is high crime, dangerous criminals and horrible activities going on. Will Jeff ever be found? Why was he taken? Read this book and then you'll know. I gave this book 5 stars but it deserves many more. I highly recommend this book to everyone especially to those who enjoy reading suspense, mystery and thrillers. I look for more from Tom Kakonis.
November 7, 2015
From the outset the child abduction theme of this book is a compelling topic. Without any doubt, this must be the most traumatic experience for any parent, and one time when they would expect full support from any police force. For me the author chose to focus on the lack of support and the people behind the crime with some very detailed and at times, unnecessary descriptions of trivial events before establishing full rapport with the anguished parents. Instead he relied on my anticipated support owing to the nature of the crime.
When the story eventually started to unfold, it lacked pace and some imagination.
This was disappointing as Tom Kakonis demonstrated his ability to write and had chosen an interesting topic.
When the story eventually started to unfold, it lacked pace and some imagination.
This was disappointing as Tom Kakonis demonstrated his ability to write and had chosen an interesting topic.
August 26, 2015
The worst nightmare for a parent is to have something happen to your child. This story follows Marshall as he investigates to try to find his kidnapped son. It is heart-breaking all the trials and dead ends that Marshall faces with the police and other people. The character development is very good as you feel like you are right there with Marshall investigating, The author also does a very good job at showing the other side of the story from the perspective of the "new parents".
I definitely recommend this book.
Note that I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I definitely recommend this book.
Note that I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 21, 2015
The worst nightmare for any parent is to have a child go missing. This book grabs you with that fear and the possibilities of what happened to that child and is seasoned with the fact that the police are not helping. This book is a great thriller that keeps you in the edge since is the father that is the main character (so you could feel the desperation) instead of the point of view of a detective as is done in so many books.
Note: I received this book free from Netgalley and Brash Books for an un-biased opinion.
Note: I received this book free from Netgalley and Brash Books for an un-biased opinion.
February 14, 2016
A father takes his young son to the planetarium and while he falls asleep, the young boy is kidnapped. The story tells of the way the father looks for his son as he does not feel that the police are doing much in the case. The story line is good, but there is a lot of gang language which is sometimes difficult to understand. There are two sides to the kidnapping - the anguish of the parents and the apprehension of the kidnappers. Overall a good read.
July 27, 2015
An interesting book with a variety of different writing styles for the dialogue between various characters. The plot was somewhat predictable. The Chicago settings were well-described. The story of the kidnapping of a small child and its effect on all concerned makes for emotional reading, and at times, discomfort. Not one I'd read again..
August 4, 2015
Blind Spot is by Tom Kakonis and starts out strong but then just coasts along at an even pace. Not really any ups or downs. The last 20 % or so suddenly becomes a page turner. I was given an early copy to review.
July 30, 2016
The story of an ordinary man doing extraordinary things. Nice writing style and a suspenseful, but fast-moving mystery. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
June 22, 2015
I received this arc from Netgalley.
Pretty intense read. I enjoyed it.
Pretty intense read. I enjoyed it.
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