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Jack Bailey #2
Blind Eye
Maxy Awards Runner-Up, Best Mystery/Detective
"...gives readers the excitement of the chase while taking them deep into the psyches of its diverse characters." –Kirkus Reviews
The ultimate betrayal. What would you do?
Hard-nosed Detective Jack Bailey is back in Chicago with a serial killer on his hands. At first, Jack figures the murder of Sister Anne is a robbery gone bad. But when a Bible verse turns up with the body, he and his partner realize this is no random murder. The Bridgeport community is shocked; the popular nun taught generations of students. Within two weeks a young man’s body is found with a similar Bible verse. What is the connection between the two victims? And who is the so-called Bible Thumper perp?
Jack’s investigation is complicated by a demanding sergeant whose attractiveness is overshadowed by her abrasiveness. Moving back to Chicago after escaping to Texas for six years has forced Jack to face the family trauma that plagued him for twelve years, as well as his PTSD that compromised his job. Jack finds his large Irish family both a pleasure and a pain; when he discovers a buried family secret, his future could be affected.
After a third victim is discovered, Jack must make tough decisions while facing issues of abuse, betrayal from high places, flawed parents, unlucky love, and the tragic fallout from turning more than one blind eye.
"...gives readers the excitement of the chase while taking them deep into the psyches of its diverse characters." –Kirkus Reviews
The ultimate betrayal. What would you do?
Hard-nosed Detective Jack Bailey is back in Chicago with a serial killer on his hands. At first, Jack figures the murder of Sister Anne is a robbery gone bad. But when a Bible verse turns up with the body, he and his partner realize this is no random murder. The Bridgeport community is shocked; the popular nun taught generations of students. Within two weeks a young man’s body is found with a similar Bible verse. What is the connection between the two victims? And who is the so-called Bible Thumper perp?
Jack’s investigation is complicated by a demanding sergeant whose attractiveness is overshadowed by her abrasiveness. Moving back to Chicago after escaping to Texas for six years has forced Jack to face the family trauma that plagued him for twelve years, as well as his PTSD that compromised his job. Jack finds his large Irish family both a pleasure and a pain; when he discovers a buried family secret, his future could be affected.
After a third victim is discovered, Jack must make tough decisions while facing issues of abuse, betrayal from high places, flawed parents, unlucky love, and the tragic fallout from turning more than one blind eye.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2018
125 people are currently reading
178 people want to read
About the author
Meg Lelvis
8 books70 followersMeg Lelvis grew up in northern Minnesota and taught English and psychology in Houston and Dallas. Her fiction and poetry have won awards from Houston Writers Guild and Houston Writers House. Her first novel, Bailey's Law, won the 2017 Maxy Award for best mystery. Her short story featuring Bailey's Law character, Jack Bailey, was published in Houston Writers Guild mystery anthology, Waves of Suspense. Meg's second Bailey novel, Blind Eye, was released in April, 2018. It won Maxy Award's runner-up for best mystery in 2018.
Her third novel, A Letter from Munich, was released in April, 2020. Thisl also features previous protagonist, Jack Bailey. Book four, Back of the Yard, is due for release in June, 2021.
Her third novel, A Letter from Munich, was released in April, 2020. Thisl also features previous protagonist, Jack Bailey. Book four, Back of the Yard, is due for release in June, 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
October 19, 2018
Turning a blind eye is an idiom describing the ignoring of undesirable information.
Detective Jack Bailey and his partner Detective Karl Scherkenbach (Sherk) are called to investigate the murder of an elderly retired nun. They are thinking that this may have been a robbery gone wrong ... until they find a slip of paper with a Bible verse written on it.
Two weeks later another body is found. This time it's a young man, and a written Bible verse tucked under his arm. Again .. they can find no motive, no clues.
And then there is a third victim, a man who had once been accused of abusing young boys.
When Bailey and Sherk start seeing the connections, the only question left is who.
This is so much more than just a crime fiction and a race to catch a killer. The reader is drawn into their personal lives, their flaws, their issues. I really enjoyed how he and his partner interacted .. with humor and caring. Jack has a real problem with his supervisor .. and the amount of perfume she wears. They are constantly at odds and his anger and annoyance with her reach explosive levels.
The ending came as a surprise ... although it seemed to be a bit abrupt. It's a well-written story with well-drawn characters.
Many thanks to the author / Black Rose Writing / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
May 1, 2018
Received in exchange for a honest review.
I have to be honest when I began the book I wasn’t sure what to think. I went in with a open mind and hoping that I would enjoy. Verdict: would love to see more of Jack and hopefully Jack with Sherk.
The story was engrossing. You get the killer’s thoughts as well in this book. But you also get thrown for a loop with the third murder. And that ending was just wow. A wrinkle in the story that so adds a extra element of intrigue in the book.
Jack was a gruff guy. He was still trying to cope with the death of his wife and daughter 12 years earlier and it was alluded to some elements of what happened but never really talked about. This leaves you curious and wanting more from the little morsels here and there. You can tell Jack is dealing with alot of emotions and trying to process and yet not processing as well. Many secrets are hidden there and you want to uncover them. He is a complex but good character. He is old school detective. I love his dynamic with Sherk.
Sherk is Jack’s partner and the thinker of the two. He is more open minded and less pragmatic. He is the good cop in the good cop bad cop concept. I love how he philosophizes things. he helps keep Jack calm while Jack helps Sherk be less serious and forget things when it is needed. Watching these two work to solve the murders was really intriguing for their dynamic fit.
I can say that Lepere drove me just as nuts as she did Jack and Sherk. That woman did not deserve the position she had and watching Jack interact with her you could see the tension and dislike immediately.
The story was alluring and intriguing. The murders and how Meg Lelvis wrote the story brings you into the scene and picturing what the detectives are seeing. You are transported into the crime scenes and a detective just like Jack and Sherk looking for evidence and trying to solve the crimes. I loved watching the way Sherk and jack went about the investigation. It wasn’t an instant deal but one that showed the way investigations go. I love Jack’s instincts in this book.
A really intriguing and alluring murder mystery that has you like the two main characters but also we get other stories happening that show that the detectives are real and trying to deal with life like we do. Jack was an approachable character that you are entertained by but also drawn to for he had a mystery about him as well. Sherk was smart and kind but also dealing with life as best he could. The mystery was intriguing and written to lure you in and have you feel like you are a part of the investigation. The investigation was engaging and really brings you into the investigation. The ending was great and I can’t wait for another book in this series to see what is next.
I have to be honest when I began the book I wasn’t sure what to think. I went in with a open mind and hoping that I would enjoy. Verdict: would love to see more of Jack and hopefully Jack with Sherk.
The story was engrossing. You get the killer’s thoughts as well in this book. But you also get thrown for a loop with the third murder. And that ending was just wow. A wrinkle in the story that so adds a extra element of intrigue in the book.
Jack was a gruff guy. He was still trying to cope with the death of his wife and daughter 12 years earlier and it was alluded to some elements of what happened but never really talked about. This leaves you curious and wanting more from the little morsels here and there. You can tell Jack is dealing with alot of emotions and trying to process and yet not processing as well. Many secrets are hidden there and you want to uncover them. He is a complex but good character. He is old school detective. I love his dynamic with Sherk.
Sherk is Jack’s partner and the thinker of the two. He is more open minded and less pragmatic. He is the good cop in the good cop bad cop concept. I love how he philosophizes things. he helps keep Jack calm while Jack helps Sherk be less serious and forget things when it is needed. Watching these two work to solve the murders was really intriguing for their dynamic fit.
I can say that Lepere drove me just as nuts as she did Jack and Sherk. That woman did not deserve the position she had and watching Jack interact with her you could see the tension and dislike immediately.
The story was alluring and intriguing. The murders and how Meg Lelvis wrote the story brings you into the scene and picturing what the detectives are seeing. You are transported into the crime scenes and a detective just like Jack and Sherk looking for evidence and trying to solve the crimes. I loved watching the way Sherk and jack went about the investigation. It wasn’t an instant deal but one that showed the way investigations go. I love Jack’s instincts in this book.
A really intriguing and alluring murder mystery that has you like the two main characters but also we get other stories happening that show that the detectives are real and trying to deal with life like we do. Jack was an approachable character that you are entertained by but also drawn to for he had a mystery about him as well. Sherk was smart and kind but also dealing with life as best he could. The mystery was intriguing and written to lure you in and have you feel like you are a part of the investigation. The investigation was engaging and really brings you into the investigation. The ending was great and I can’t wait for another book in this series to see what is next.
Read
April 18, 2018Jack is back. In Chicago now, his old stomping ground. He left his small Texas town to join the Chicago PD. And the case on his desk is a humdinger. Sister Anne has been murdered. Who on earth...?A Bible verse was found on the scene. Jack, along with Sherk, his garrulous sidekick, pound the pavement , interview recalcitrant witnesses and scoff copious amounts of bad coffee and death-defying pastry. Meanwhile, his obnoxious supervisor is driving them nuts. In his after-life hours Jack tests the romantic waters and wonders if he can ever love again.
The strength of the narrative is the author's deft handling of the church's child-abuse scandal. The subject could easily lead a less accomplished writer to dabble in opinionated journalism. But Lelvis is far too skillful to allow the narrative to become a moralistic tract. We're kept in the no-nonsense world of police work. The writer does, however, show us Jack's compassion for the perp--who in the broader sense is also a victim. As the story comes to a close, readers give a resounding cheer when in a brilliant coup Jack escapes the lame-brained supervisor and prepares for new adventures. A dazzling can't-put-it down read with thoughtful inside into the criminal mind. Bon voyage Jack, we're sticking with you.
The strength of the narrative is the author's deft handling of the church's child-abuse scandal. The subject could easily lead a less accomplished writer to dabble in opinionated journalism. But Lelvis is far too skillful to allow the narrative to become a moralistic tract. We're kept in the no-nonsense world of police work. The writer does, however, show us Jack's compassion for the perp--who in the broader sense is also a victim. As the story comes to a close, readers give a resounding cheer when in a brilliant coup Jack escapes the lame-brained supervisor and prepares for new adventures. A dazzling can't-put-it down read with thoughtful inside into the criminal mind. Bon voyage Jack, we're sticking with you.
October 7, 2018
4 stars
From the opening words of this novel, the identity of the killer is known to the reader.
Detective Jack Bailey and his partner Sherk investigate the murder of Sister Anne. A Bible verse was left at the scene of the murder. Dismissing the thought of a robbery, Jack and Sherk turn their attention to murder. But who would want to murder an elderly nun?
Then another body turns up, also with a similar Bible verse. Jack and Sherk suspect that they have a serial killer on their hands. They investigate any possible connection to the Catholic Church.
Meanwhile, Jack is having problems with his sergeant. She is very attractive, but her style of supervision is grinding and off-putting.
The author does a very good job with this book. She manages to handle the whole scandal with the Catholic Church sensitively and fairly. I like the way she portrays Jack’s large Irish family as both loving and infuriating. This book is well written and plotted, although relatively short. It reads quickly and almost seamlessly.
I want to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
From the opening words of this novel, the identity of the killer is known to the reader.
Detective Jack Bailey and his partner Sherk investigate the murder of Sister Anne. A Bible verse was left at the scene of the murder. Dismissing the thought of a robbery, Jack and Sherk turn their attention to murder. But who would want to murder an elderly nun?
Then another body turns up, also with a similar Bible verse. Jack and Sherk suspect that they have a serial killer on their hands. They investigate any possible connection to the Catholic Church.
Meanwhile, Jack is having problems with his sergeant. She is very attractive, but her style of supervision is grinding and off-putting.
The author does a very good job with this book. She manages to handle the whole scandal with the Catholic Church sensitively and fairly. I like the way she portrays Jack’s large Irish family as both loving and infuriating. This book is well written and plotted, although relatively short. It reads quickly and almost seamlessly.
I want to thank NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for forwarding to me a copy of this good book for me to read, enjoy and review.
December 5, 2018
Blind Eye delivers a high-octane murder mystery that draws you immediately into Jack's world. Sister Ann is found murdered in her bed. Who on earth would kill a nun? A significant clue--if Jack could only discern its meaning--is a handwritten bible verse found on the scene. I was hooked on the first page … a compelling thriller that kept me awake late into the night wanting to know more—a real nail-biter. An investigative piece that pulls no punches. Meg Lelvis is a great storyteller. Blind Eye develops very well, the plot keeps the reader guessing and the other characters in the story keep the pace going throughout. If you enjoy mystery or crime thrillers, give Blind Eye a read. This reader thinks you’ll enjoy rollercoaster ride.
April 19, 2018
Detective Jack Bailey is solving murders again—back in Chicago now, happy to be away from Houston area weather and a romance gone sour. Still gruff and impatient, with a caustic humor, and on the lookout for female companionship. Jack can’t stand his boss, Daisy, and barely tolerates his partner, Sherk, who quotes Shakespeare and the Bible. His closest friend is the aging dog, Boone. Jack and Sherk track a serial killer also fond of biblical verses. Child abuse, PTSD, family secrets, priests and nuns, physical and mental health issues keep this clever story lively and interesting.
April 19, 2018
In this tightly written, fast paced thriller, Jack is back hunting a possible serial killer, who leaves chilling Bible verses at the scene of the crime. Along the way, Jack manages to raise the tension between him and his boss, but he is able to have empathy for his partner's wife who is dealing with ovarian cancer. Close to solving the crime, life throws Jack an interesting curve ball. Lelvis has done it again: captured our attention and our imagination.
April 19, 2018
Jack Bailey is on another case, this time investigating murders in Chicago where the weather, the case, and the clues are all much colder. Fortunately for Jack, a potential romance and some family surprises heat things up, giving readers an equally strong installment into the Jack Bailey mystery series to satisfy new and returning fans.
Roger Leslie, PhD
Roger Leslie, PhD
April 19, 2018
A very well written murder mystery that has an excellent storyline. Contains very interesting characters, a fast paced plot, plenty of suspense, and an unexpected ending. A very enjoyable read that was hard to put down. I would definitely recommend this book to family and friends.
April 15, 2018
In her second novel of the Jack Bailey series, Meg Levis has done it again. Blind Eye is a gripping detective drama featuring Jack Bailey, a grizzled Chicago (formerly Houston) detective with more than a few personal demons. Levis's prose is wonderful, and her ability to capture Bailey's male voice and point-of-view once again impresses. The story itself will keep you on the edge of your seat ( at least until the ending, which may knock you to the floor). I enjoyed Blind Eye from start to finish. I highly recommend it.
April 10, 2018
Meg Lelvis did it again with Blind Eye—another Jack Bailey, detective, page turner. His character was true salty cop, and the story and characters believable. The topic was timely and intriguing, AND I didn’t know whodunit till the last page. This murder mystery tunneled my thoughts down several rabbit holes.
April 5, 2018
Blind Eye is a great read and I definitely recommend it! The focus is a murder case where the killer leaves Bible verses with the victims' bodies. I especially enjoyed the banter between the cops and the quotations one of them has for every situation and the sarcasm of the other. It gave me a few laughs while reading a very well written book. The end was quite a surprise! Kudos to Meg Lelvis.
I received an ARC of Blind Eye.
I received an ARC of Blind Eye.
May 19, 2018
Good Title For This Book
Short, well-written police procedural with an interesting murder plot with ties to the Catholic Church and verses from the Bible. The detective protagonists, Jack Bailey and Karl “Sheri” Scherkenbach, are well-written, as are most of the secondary characters. This book has nice twists, and although I had suspicions about one of the culprits, I didn’t expect the end as it was written. I thought the almost-romance and mom-arranging-dates-for-her-detective-son storylines were contrived and overdone. I also thought the pace was too leisurely, which encouraged me to skim in places where the pace seemed leaden. I noted that other readers didn’t have problems with the pacing.
Short, well-written police procedural with an interesting murder plot with ties to the Catholic Church and verses from the Bible. The detective protagonists, Jack Bailey and Karl “Sheri” Scherkenbach, are well-written, as are most of the secondary characters. This book has nice twists, and although I had suspicions about one of the culprits, I didn’t expect the end as it was written. I thought the almost-romance and mom-arranging-dates-for-her-detective-son storylines were contrived and overdone. I also thought the pace was too leisurely, which encouraged me to skim in places where the pace seemed leaden. I noted that other readers didn’t have problems with the pacing.
April 24, 2018
Reminiscent of the novels and tv crime shows of the 50s and 60s, offering "Just the facts, Ma'am,"
this grizzled cop and his mature, yet younger, partner must dig into the distressing world of child abuse and religious cover ups.
Dealing with PTSD and the loss of his family, the brash Detective Jack Bailey repeatedly wonders why he returned from Texas. Between a literary quoting partner, Jack's own bad puns and the saying of the day on a computer geek's T-shirts, this is a linguaphile's dream story.
Making sure to note that a serial killer requires a minimum of three victims, the cops must figure out the connections between victims while dealing with family and a bullying boss.
I read this book as a stand alone but am very interested in what will come next for Jack after his decisive moves during this book.
this grizzled cop and his mature, yet younger, partner must dig into the distressing world of child abuse and religious cover ups.
Dealing with PTSD and the loss of his family, the brash Detective Jack Bailey repeatedly wonders why he returned from Texas. Between a literary quoting partner, Jack's own bad puns and the saying of the day on a computer geek's T-shirts, this is a linguaphile's dream story.
Making sure to note that a serial killer requires a minimum of three victims, the cops must figure out the connections between victims while dealing with family and a bullying boss.
I read this book as a stand alone but am very interested in what will come next for Jack after his decisive moves during this book.
March 12, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this read. There was non-stop action and twists and turns aplenty. At times I felt like I needed a scorecard to keep up with everything that was going on, but I managed. Jack's grumpy outlook on life can be wearing at times, but with his history, it is definitely understandable. The ending caught me by surprise because I was all ready to be angry about a cliffhanger and at the last moment Ms. Lelvis pulls it out of the hat. I know many readers will find the ending highly unsatisfying, but I liked it. I definitely recommend this book. I hope this is not the end of the series (I really haven't looked yet to see) because there is so much more I would like to know about these characters.
May 21, 2019
If you like realistic police detective stories with engaging characters, this series is for you. Set in contemporary times, Blind Eye explores Chicago locales with surprising twists involving the murder of a nun. The hard-boiled Jack Bailey is seeking answers and fighting personal and work issues, all while recovering from a lost love in Houston. The novel provides dead ends, twists and wrong turns to satisfy any detective-mystery reader. An excellent sequel to Lelvis' first Jack Bailey novel.
September 5, 2018
There were so many subtle clues that kept the reader pointed this way and that as you follow Jack and Sherk on the case. I thought the ending was a great payoff and a good surprise; I had not quite guessed. This is the first time I've met Jack and I want to read more about him: complex and real without being cliche. Hard to do in this genre. Lelvis outdoes herself in this fact-paced, gripping, page-turner of a novel. You need to check this one out!
November 19, 2018
I really enjoy Meg Lelvis's writing. She has a real talent for taking a story and telling it well. This well-paced novel tells more about Jack Bailey. I already love him from Bailey's Law, but with this one he has gone home to Chicogo to face the demons of his past sad memories and perhaps his mother. But while he is there something happens very close to his home and his mother's heart and he must find the answers to stop whoever is making trouble from continuing. I recommend this novel.
July 2, 2018
Blind Eye is a fantastic read that draws you into Jack's world and provides an urgency to find out what will happen next. I hope Meg plans to write another installment, perhaps it could take place in Germany. I very much enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to anyone who loves murder mysteries and thrillers.
October 8, 2018
Although the plot was interesting and end satisfying I couldn’t stand Jack. I continued reading because of the plot and his partner.
Ps. Nobody in Chicago would say White Sox Park (it’s Cominsky forever). A police sargeant would never be called Ms and police districts are referred to as 16th district, 20th district etc not district 16....
Ps. Nobody in Chicago would say White Sox Park (it’s Cominsky forever). A police sargeant would never be called Ms and police districts are referred to as 16th district, 20th district etc not district 16....
April 5, 2018
A fast-paced thrilling suspense with intriguing characters. Has the drama and suspense builds, so does the list of characters making you question who done it? I look forward to reading more from this author. A story that is sure to stay with you!
April 19, 2018
This has to be one of the best books yet. I can never get enough of what is going to happen next and what Jack is thinking. This was such a good book I could not put it down, had to finish it once I started it. Thank you Meg for yet another enjoyable novel. I must go get the hard copy.
April 24, 2018
Gripping until the very end! Meg Lelvis does an incredible job drawing you in before hitting you with a surprise ending! A must read for all fans of detective novels and good books in general. I'm recommending it to my friend's bookclub!
May 28, 2018
I loved it! Meg nailed it again with Blind Eye. Jack is a perfectly imperfect cop, tormented with PTSD. I loved her in’s and out’s and can honestly say I did did not know ”who done it” until the end. Kept my attention and my interest.
November 1, 2018
Great who-dun-it!
Great detective story! I love serial killer books, but haven't read one lately! This one was just the one to remedy that. Only thing, the identity of the killer was saved for the last page!
Great detective story! I love serial killer books, but haven't read one lately! This one was just the one to remedy that. Only thing, the identity of the killer was saved for the last page!
November 11, 2018
Jack Bailey is a burned out detective with a new female boss. A pedophile killer is on the loose and he's being pressured to close the case when 3 more murders occur. This is a fast read, good story telling. I rate this a 4.5.
November 16, 2018
Great characters
Thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth banter between Detective Bailey and his partner. Made me laugh out loud more than once. Didn't see the 2nd villain until it was revealed on the last page. Now am curious about what happens next for Jack Bailey.
Thoroughly enjoyed the back and forth banter between Detective Bailey and his partner. Made me laugh out loud more than once. Didn't see the 2nd villain until it was revealed on the last page. Now am curious about what happens next for Jack Bailey.
April 19, 2018
Great book so far. Good mix of mystery and procedural and getting to know the characters.
October 30, 2018
Who did it
I never guessed it but I should have. That's how good this mystery is, I've been reading mystery and thrillers for over 40 years.
I never guessed it but I should have. That's how good this mystery is, I've been reading mystery and thrillers for over 40 years.
December 5, 2018
Top notch
Ranks up there with many popular mainstream authors. Kept my interest and looked forward as the story developed. Quite a twist at the end.
Ranks up there with many popular mainstream authors. Kept my interest and looked forward as the story developed. Quite a twist at the end.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews