Color Blind

Kate McKinnon #2

by Jonathan Santlofer

Kate McKinnon is back -- and this time it's personal. When two hideously eviscerated bodies are discovered and the only link between them is a bizarre painting left at each crime scene, the NYPD turns to former cop Kate McKinnon, the woman who brought the serial killer the Death Artist to justice. Having settled back into her satisfying life as art historian, published author, host of a weekly PBS television series, and wife of one of New York's top lawyers, Kate wants no part of it. But Kate's sense of tranquillity is shattered when this new sequence of murders strikes too close to home. With grief and fury to fuel her, she rejoins her former partner, detective Floyd Brown, and his elite homicide squad on the hunt for a vicious psychopath known as the Color-Blind Killer. In her rage and desperation, Kate allows herself to be drawn into a deadly game of cat and mouse. She abandons her glamorous life for the gritty streets of Manhattan, immersing herself in a world where brutality and madness appear to be the norm, where those closest to her may have betrayed her -- and where, in the end, nothing is what it seems.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Art

464 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Jonathan Santlofer is the author of five novels and a highly respected artist whose work has been written about and reviewed in the New York Times, Art in America, Artforum, and Arts, and appears in many public, private, and corporate collections. He serves on the board of Yaddo, one of the oldest artist communities in the country. Santlofer lives and works in New York City.

Reviews

[MaguiWorld · Rating 4 out of 5]

No suelo leer libros así, y en realidad cuando lo compré no sabía que era de ese genero de literatura. Comencé a leerlo de noche y tuve que dejarlo porque los relatos que se podían leer eran demasiado para mi. (Cabe destacar que no me gusta el genero, lo esquivo bastante porque soy muy impresionable y no me gusta las cosas de terror.)
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"Daltónico" trata sobre Kate McKinnon, historiadora del arte y ex-policia, que se ve envuelta en un caso policial que ella intentaba alejarse pero que no logra hacerlo ya que el asesino reclama su atención. Este asesino, es un psicópata que tiene la extraña y macabra manera de asesinar a sus victimas, destripandolas y utilizando su sangre para pintar en un lienzo que deja en el lugar del crimen, como su firma personal. Tensión y suspenso son dos cosas que no faltan en ningún momento.
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Bueno, como dije antes este libro es muy impresionante para mi, en cuanto a que leía y me horrorizaba en cada momento que el autor describe cómo eran las escenas del crimen. Terminé leyéndolo de día porque se me había imposible leerlo de noche antes de irme a dormir. Y eso habla mas que bien Jonathan porque que un autor tenga ese poder de impresionar a ese nivel a alguien, merece mis respetos.
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La historia es increíble. Mas alla de los detalles macabros que a mi me hicieron modificar mi rutina de lectura, la trama, los personajes, el por qué es realmente magnifico. Por eso no deje de leerlo. Era como "No puedo leer mas de esto" pero a la vez "Necesito saber qué va a pasar". Así sucesivamente. Cuando uno termina de leer el libro queda totalmente pasmado porque no se esperaba venir las cosas que sucedieron.

Lo que podría llegar a decir que no me gustó mucho es como se resuelve el caso, como finaliza. Tal vez esperaba algo mas... "wooow" pero es muy real. Lo que tampoco esta mal, porque el libro no es de fantasía ni de acción como para que el final sea una gran escena. Por eso no es algo que puedo criticar mucho. A lo mejor uno ve el hecho de los asesinatos como algo fuera de lo normal porque no esta habituado a eso, y el final como que te deja con un sabor un poco amargo. Pero no es para nada desalentador.
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¿Recomiendo este libro? Si, para aquellos que puedan leer escenas macabras (y tambien para aquellos que le gusta el genero policial). Esta es mi lectura recomendada de Halloween.

[Linda Branham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Kate McKinnin murder mystery.
In this story the serial killer leaves an unusual painting at each crime scene, weird paintings with the items colored incorrectly .The homicidal artist who happens to be colorblind and is only able to see the world in shades of grey. The NYPD is baffled by the "clues", and they call in Kate as a consultant

Kate at first refuses to get involved because she likes her work in art, loves her successful wealthy lawyer husband Richard Rothstein, and she has never fully recovered from the Death Artist investigation - although the unusually colored paintings do interest her. However, when Richard is found murdered with a painting beside him, the investigation turns personal.

This serial killer novel has a lot of insight into the art world from painting techniques to attending a show, etc. Throughout the novel, Santlofer often gives his readers quick lessons in art history - not too overly done. He gives us just enough to be able to comprehend the world we're in and the people we're facing. I even learned about the Nazi's Deranged Artists exhibits back in 1937. Santlofer also then brings us right into the killer's shoes ( a look into the mind of a madman), a technique I really appreciated. It gave the story that extra little something that made the whole read greatly entertaining.

[Lizbeth Morgade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Esta historia contiene un buen argumento, lenta por momentos que desafortunadamente se vuelve predecible ya que se escribe al mero estilo Hollywoodense.

[Pianobikes · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Con mano temblorosa traza una pincelada escarlata en el lienzo en blanco. Luego otra y otra. Qué hermoso. Qué hermoso” ~ Daltónico de Jonathan Santlofer.

Comencé la semana presentándoos una novela negra que forma parte de la saga dedicada a Kate McKinnon, una experta en arte que ayuda a la policía a resolver casos. Tras El artista de la muerte, hoy, os traigo la segunda entrega, Daltónico, que también he leído, mejor dicho devorado, con m compañera de lectura.

En esta ocasión nos encontramos con un mata-mata de esos con psicópata que arranca tripas, literalmente, y que tiene una personalidad, o varias, incontrolables. Un libro que hasta el final te mantiene en vilo y que no nos hemos comido las uñas porque no podíamos dejar de leer, ni soltar el libro. Además es que al autor no le tiembla el pulso a la hora de cargarse al personal, con lo cual tampoco puedes dar garantizados los supervivientes de la historia, y su forma de narrar es muy cinematográfica. En fin, muy recomendable para las amantes de este género mata-mata. Nosotras ya estamos en el tercero.

¡Ah, que no os he dicho de qué va! Un psicópata está dejando Nueva York sembrado de cadáveres y de unos cuadros muy extraños que él mismo colorea con la sangre de las víctimas. El departamento de policía vuelve a reclamar los servicios de Kate, historiadora del arte, que, además, por causas personales se va a ver implicada en la investigación. Corresponderá a la investigadora averiguar, a través de los cuadros, las características del asesino que no dejan de ser pocas.

[Carlos Emilio Medina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll start off saying I was enthralled by this book up to a certain point where I felt the author slowed down and left holes in the personalities of his characters just so later on he could give them certain quirks that woulf fit his desire for an ending; now don't get me wrong I'm not saying this book is full of Deus Ex Machinas nor am I saying the characters lack depth , its simply that there seems to be this small hole in the whole book up until the ending and its only purpose seems to be to fit the pieces in place.
That said, the book is not bad, if not excellent, it is an enjoyable read with enough depth to keep you hooked and not so profound that you will have to put it down to reflect on the last page you read.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this. I read The Death Artist back in 2008, and I loved it. I rated it 5 stars, and I remember staying up late into the night to finish it. Perhaps my tastes have changed since then, but I just couldn't get into the sequel. I found Kate self-absorbed and unlikeable, and the writing irritating. I was well aware that it was a man writing a woman's POV, because so many of Kate's thoughts didn't sound right. She talked about going out with her "women friends", for example, which made me grit my teeth. It sounds exactly like something a man would say. Anyway, there were a bunch of instances like those, and eventually I just had to admit I didn't care enough about what happened to keep reading.

[Raven D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book didn't really have that strong suspense ending, I do have to say I enjoyed this book because of it's level of interest. It was the first book that I read that was really creepy and slightly disturbing. I guess you could say it prepared me for the books I'd be reading in the future. Since that book I've read about maybe 5 or 6 books almost equally as creepy and I didn't find them so bad. Overall, don't dis this book. Give it a chance and enjoy little adventure.

[Cyn Cooley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this murder mystery though not nearly as much as the first one in the series, "The Death Artist". That said if you're in the mood for a good, creepy mystery that is set in the art world, you will probably enjoy it.

[Meghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay book. A little far fetched and I wasn't thrilled with the ending, but it was a good, quick read. I didn't relate to the characters or care much about them. Not sure I'll be reading any more if this series.

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read Killing Art by the same author, who seems to write mysteries about art. An interesting premise, where the serial killer is color blind.

[Hope R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Want to read more of this author

[Holly Hilbrands · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite good, dual mysteries that appear to be related but are not - good characters, plot keeps you guessing until the end

[Masha Lagonell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just gory... Nothing too special.

[Jennifer Monsalve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Creo que me leí este en 2013 cuando comencé realmente a disfrutar de la lectura, fue un excelente regalo de un amigo del colegio! Nunca había leído historias policiacas, excelente trama.

[Pinheadsito Vega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen libro pero hubo partes en las que se caía la trama, pero en general un muy buen libro de suspenso y policíaco

[Fla Gigena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escalofriante, pero atrapante

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

After greatly enjoying the first book in this series, 'The Death Artist', I was excited to find the sequel and jump into it.

Kate McKinnon is a great protagonist. A former NYPD cop, not a big shot in the NYC art scene. Her experience brings a unique perspective to the cases she gets involved in, as they all revolve around art.

In this second book, there are people all around New York City being brutally murdered. At each crime scene, the killer leaves a bizarre painting in which the color schemes make no sense.

As if a deranged killer on the loose wasn't a big enough problem for Kate to get involved in . . . a murder with seemingly the same M.O. targets her own family. Suddenly, it all becomes personal and she has to try to push her emotions to the side so she can analyze these paintings hoping to find clues.

The story is intriguing. Kate remains a great protagonist. The book pulls you in and makes you keep turning the page. Even the killer was interesting and I wanted to know what the full story was.

In other words, it was a great read that keeps your attention until the end.

5/5 Stars

Memorable Quotes: "Well, you could try one of the merchants who deal in this stuff." He plucked the glasses off his beak and peered at the ceiling. There's that little shop that's recently relocated to Chelsea, the Gallery of Outsider Art, though, if you ask me, it's not nearly outside enough - perhaps New Jersey would be best- and naturally I have never, nor will I ever, step foot inside it.”

"Kate stared past the traffic and passerby, lost in thought. She believed that every artist was searching for something, often trying to understand the world more clearly through their artwork."

[Alexandra Sánchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lo que inicia como una investigación policiaca un poco cliché, se torna interesante cuando el "asesino daltónico" toma el protagonismo y nos muestra su oscuro pasado y una vida llena de maltratos, los cuales han determinado sus actos en el presente.

La trama esta cargada de misterio, drama, suspenso y un toque de romance, por lo que a mi parecer, es bastante completa y te invita a seguir leyendo en cada momento. Aunque hay partes que me resultaron un poco predecibles, el autor se las arregla para sorprendernos y mostrarnos detalles que a simple vista no se notan.

Lo que me gusta de este libro, es que el asesino tiene un perfil psicológico muy bien elaborado, por lo que es inevitable que llegues a empatizar con él. Si bien no es una historia muy original, incluye muchas referencias que los amantes del arte sabrán apreciar y que le da un poco más de atractivo a la novela.

Este es un libro que recomiendo a quienes quieren una lectura ligera, entretenida y cargada de emociones. Sin embargo, les advierto que hay escenas un poco fuertes que quizá no sean aptas para sensibles.

[Leigh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A murder. A painting. A trail of terror. In this book Kate McKinnon investigates the murder of her husband, as part of a string of serial murders. The killer leaves behind a vivid painting at the scene. As an art critic and collector herself, she knows there is something behind the art that is left.

This book had some high points, but it had a lot of lower points that just dragged on for me. A used to work in an art museum (on the membership side, not the artistic side) and that gave me some insight into the art world. But I did wonder if some of the discussion about art would interest the everyday reader. But, maybe the everyday reader wouldn't pick up the book because of its focus on the art.

Overall, the book was okay. Nothing special. Nothing memorable. Just a read.

[Jules · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a perfectly adequate page-turner. I’ve been reading some heavier stuff and needed to take a break and read something that wouldn’t really challenge me or engage me too much - I’d found this in a Little Free Library, and it fit the bill for what I needed.
The premise of our color-blind villain is weird and I don’t think it’s based in reality, at all. The portrayal of his mental illness is shitty. Just shitty.
Oh, there’s a big red herring, and once it’s figured out, that whole secondary plot is just tossed aside. I didn’t think much of it at the time (the point of me reading this was to not think much) but it’s weird. Not good-weird, not intentional-weird, more like “who the hell edited this book” weird.
Anyway, I was entertained enough.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with The Death Artist (Kate McKinnon #1), but even more so with Colorblind. One of the first pages stood out to me so significantly because it displayed a quote: "There is nothing there.What you see is not what you see. What you see is nothing...what you see is what's in your mind." by Ad Reinhardt. This stood out to me so significantly because I see it as all about perception. "Don't judge a book by it's cover" so to speak. I was bullied as a child for having physical deformities and being sickly, and fortunately it made me stronger and a better judge of character. Perception matters to me in a very sentimental way.
Ad Reinhardt is most famous for one of his galleries the "so-called black paintings"...at first glance it is a room a black squares, but if you take the time to not judge on first glance, look closer, you can perceive so many shades of blacks and grays, and a significant amount of artistic technique and detail making these paintings a metaphor of major significance. Side note, I admire this so much the quote is tattooed on my forearm.
Getting to the actual story without spoiling too much, the title has significance about the killer, and I am floored, in the best way, at their description of what they see as they murder and pose the victims.

[Jesús Cardeña Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

El tema del asesino me ha gustdo mucho más en este libro que en el anterior. Me ha sorprendido que haya terminado siendo alguien del pasado de la protagonista, y que además saliera en el primer libro. No lo he relacionado durante toda la historia para nada. Era lo último que podía pensar.
Lo único malo del libro es que a veces me ha parecido muy repetitivo y con muchas similitudes al anterior, pero en este el autor ha mejorado, para mi opinión.
Por cierto, he terminado odiando la palabra "geniaaaaaaal"... ¬¬

[Jairo Alvarado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me encantó esta novela, puesto que combina de una manera tan clara dos de mis grandes gustos en esta vida, que es el arte en su vertiente de la pintura, así como las novelas policíacas, puesto que la trama se desenvuelve tan interesante en la investigación y el seguimiento del rastro de un asesino serial, que va dejando como pistas pinturas que no termina, hasta que logran dar con su paradero.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A criminal eviscerating bodies is a little hard to read about but once into the story I cared so much about Kate McKinnon and other characters. This was an interesting perspective on color blindness also.

[Paul Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was worried when reading the first 2 or 3 chapters - the book had a feel of the ‘oh-so-common’ trash thrillers currently churned out by US writers. But once the story got going, and the characters were fleshed out, this was a very gripping and accomplished page-turner, I could not put this down!!

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Op zich een thriller waar er veel van zijn, voorspelbaar en een beetje een voortkabbelend verhaal. Het einde vond ik wel bijzonder.

[s · Rating 4 out of 5]

AAAAAH que tensión lo último. amo tanto a kate que me gustaría poder abrazarla💔 ansiosa por leer el siguiente

[sole · Rating 4 out of 5]

AAAAAH que tensión lo último. amo tanto a kate que me gustaría poder abrazarla

[nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

tenía este libro pendiente como desde hace 18 años (!!!) me alegra haberlo leído me gustó mucho, el final no me encantó pero me mantuvo entretenida todo el tiempo y algunas escenas estaban bien feas

[Caterina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente policial. No defrauda y no deja cabos sueltos