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The Blind
Sam James has spent years carefully crafting her reputation as the best psychologist at Typhlos, Manhattan's most challenging psychiatric institution. She boasts the highest success rates with the most disturbed patients, believing if she can't save herself, she'll save someone else. It's this savior complex that serves her well in helping patients battle their inner demons, though it leads Sam down some dark paths and opens her eyes to her own mental turmoil.When Richard, a mysterious patient no other therapist wants to treat, is admitted to Typhlos, Sam is determined to unlock his secrets and his psyche. What she can't figure out is why does Richard appear to be so completely normal in a hospital filled with madness? And what, really, is he doing at the institution? As Sam gets pulled into Richard's twisted past, she can't help but analyze her own life, and what she discovers terrifies her. And so the mind games begin. But who is the savior and who is the saved?
384 pages, Paperback
First published September 18, 2017
173 people are currently reading
3237 people want to read
About the author
A.F. Brady
3 books194 followersA.F. Brady is a New York State Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Psychotherapist. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Brown University and two Masters degrees in Psychological Counseling from Columbia University. She is a life-long New Yorker, and resides in Manhattan with her husband and their family. The Blind is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
October 23, 2017
The Blind by A.F. Brady is a 2017 Park Row Books publication.
A real mind bender!
I have started and stopped this review at least three times this past week trying to figure out a way to explain this book and my experience with it, so I hope it makes sense.
Sam James is a top psychologist at ‘Typhlos’ a psychiatric hospital, which houses some of the most difficult and hard to treat patients.
Sam appears confident and healthy with everything going for her. But, she is hiding her own dark demons, barely functioning, dealing with toxic relationships in her personal life, which are beginning to bleed over into her professional life.
However, Sam will face a challenge like she’s never previously encountered, when she begins treating Richard, a man recently released from prison. His file is practically empty and he refuses to cooperate with the hospital’s traditional treatment therapies. But, the longer she ‘treats’ Richard the more introspective she becomes about her personal failures, analyzing her own life.
Could the servant become the master?
This novel took me by surprise. It’s brilliant in some ways, very unusual in others, and extraordinarily unique. But, I did struggle through the first half of the book, which was confounding in many aspects. I had almost begun to think Sam had a dual personality disorder or something. Her professional life was a stark contrast from her personal life and I marveled at how she managed to get through a day of work in her condition.
In my struggle to figure out just what the bleep was going on in this novel, I dreamed up all kinds of scenarios, but I was way off base. The way the story seems to shift from total chaos to a weird sort of quid pro quo was mesmerizing, but it did take a little too long to get to that point.
In the meantime, there are some brutal passages to endure and the characters are all pretty messed up, and I’m not just referring to the patients.
There is a major twist, one only a psychological thriller about psychologists could dream up and the result is fascinating and completely unexpected.
This book was very hard for me to get into, but I did appreciate the author’s insider knowledge, which did add much authenticity and compassion to the story. But, the slow buildup is a killjoy, really hurting the momentum, which was very frustrating for a while. It’s peculiarity and originality scores points, as the does Sam’s humor, the mind -bending aspects, and the irony behind the book's title. The twist played out a bit too early, but I can’t complain about the way things wrapped up.
This is certainly a weird yarn, and I do warn you, it’s not for everyone. But, I’m always on the lookout for something a little off the beaten path, so overall the positives outweigh any weak spots. So, although I wrestled with my feelings about this novel, I’m going to grade on a curve this time. 4 stars
A real mind bender!
I have started and stopped this review at least three times this past week trying to figure out a way to explain this book and my experience with it, so I hope it makes sense.
Sam James is a top psychologist at ‘Typhlos’ a psychiatric hospital, which houses some of the most difficult and hard to treat patients.
Sam appears confident and healthy with everything going for her. But, she is hiding her own dark demons, barely functioning, dealing with toxic relationships in her personal life, which are beginning to bleed over into her professional life.
However, Sam will face a challenge like she’s never previously encountered, when she begins treating Richard, a man recently released from prison. His file is practically empty and he refuses to cooperate with the hospital’s traditional treatment therapies. But, the longer she ‘treats’ Richard the more introspective she becomes about her personal failures, analyzing her own life.
Could the servant become the master?
This novel took me by surprise. It’s brilliant in some ways, very unusual in others, and extraordinarily unique. But, I did struggle through the first half of the book, which was confounding in many aspects. I had almost begun to think Sam had a dual personality disorder or something. Her professional life was a stark contrast from her personal life and I marveled at how she managed to get through a day of work in her condition.
In my struggle to figure out just what the bleep was going on in this novel, I dreamed up all kinds of scenarios, but I was way off base. The way the story seems to shift from total chaos to a weird sort of quid pro quo was mesmerizing, but it did take a little too long to get to that point.
In the meantime, there are some brutal passages to endure and the characters are all pretty messed up, and I’m not just referring to the patients.
There is a major twist, one only a psychological thriller about psychologists could dream up and the result is fascinating and completely unexpected.
This book was very hard for me to get into, but I did appreciate the author’s insider knowledge, which did add much authenticity and compassion to the story. But, the slow buildup is a killjoy, really hurting the momentum, which was very frustrating for a while. It’s peculiarity and originality scores points, as the does Sam’s humor, the mind -bending aspects, and the irony behind the book's title. The twist played out a bit too early, but I can’t complain about the way things wrapped up.
This is certainly a weird yarn, and I do warn you, it’s not for everyone. But, I’m always on the lookout for something a little off the beaten path, so overall the positives outweigh any weak spots. So, although I wrestled with my feelings about this novel, I’m going to grade on a curve this time. 4 stars
June 21, 2017
Dr Sam James is a psychologist at the Typhlos Psychiatric Centre in Manhattan. For six years she has battled financial setbacks, difficult patients and her own, personal demons. For though Sam present an image to her colleagues and patients as being the competent, hard-working, calm and together professional, her personal life is in chaos. Her mantra is if you can’t save yourself, save someone else, and she obviously really cares for the patients under here care. However, she is a barely functioning alcoholic, in an obviously unhealthy relationship.
As Sam battles to keep her demons under control, she is given a new patient – Richard McHugh. Richard has been recently released from prison and there are rumours about his violence and odd behaviour. In sessions, he refuses to answer questions; sitting in ominous silence, or flicking through newspapers. Yet, other than being non-cooperative, his behaviour seems perfectly normal and Sam, who likes to present herself as the ‘Golden Girl’ at work, is happy to take him off the hands of his present therapist, who feels he is getting nowhere with him. When outsiders are brought into Typhlos to give the staff evaluations, Sam feels that her façade is crumbling and then Richard emerges from his silence and life for Sam becomes even more complicated…
This is a novel which is actually hard for me to review. I absolutely loved the majority of this novel. It is well written, I found the setting, and characters, intriguing and I was utterly involved in the storyline. However, I have to say that the ‘revelation’ which all authors feel they have to throw into the plot, is clumsily done. So, although I was with the author, almost up to the very last page, the ending was something of a disappointment. This is much less of a thriller, which the blurb suggests, and far more literary fiction, in my mind. Saying that, I loved the majority of the novel and I really did like Sam as a character. This would be a fabulous novel for reading groups, with lots to discuss and this is an impressive debut novel.
As Sam battles to keep her demons under control, she is given a new patient – Richard McHugh. Richard has been recently released from prison and there are rumours about his violence and odd behaviour. In sessions, he refuses to answer questions; sitting in ominous silence, or flicking through newspapers. Yet, other than being non-cooperative, his behaviour seems perfectly normal and Sam, who likes to present herself as the ‘Golden Girl’ at work, is happy to take him off the hands of his present therapist, who feels he is getting nowhere with him. When outsiders are brought into Typhlos to give the staff evaluations, Sam feels that her façade is crumbling and then Richard emerges from his silence and life for Sam becomes even more complicated…
This is a novel which is actually hard for me to review. I absolutely loved the majority of this novel. It is well written, I found the setting, and characters, intriguing and I was utterly involved in the storyline. However, I have to say that the ‘revelation’ which all authors feel they have to throw into the plot, is clumsily done. So, although I was with the author, almost up to the very last page, the ending was something of a disappointment. This is much less of a thriller, which the blurb suggests, and far more literary fiction, in my mind. Saying that, I loved the majority of the novel and I really did like Sam as a character. This would be a fabulous novel for reading groups, with lots to discuss and this is an impressive debut novel.
May 24, 2019
Dark and demented, but also brilliant! I agree with others that the ending is a little abrupt, but I definitely did not expect or need any sugar coating.
June 4, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
The Blind by A.F. Brady is an amazing look at one woman's psyche as her 'perfect' world starts falling apart.
What it's about: Sam James is the go-to psychologist for difficult patients at Typhlos, a psychiatric institution in Manhattan for the most challenging subjects. She has spent years building her reputation there and becoming her boss Rachel's favorite. But when Sam takes on a new patient named Richard that no one can get a word out of, she is going to be put to the test as she never has been before. Getting to know Richard and pulling out his past, will bring out some things in her own life that Sam didn't want to face. As everything she has built starts to fall out from under her, will she be able to make the changes she needs to in order to properly live her life, or will she lose everything she has worked so hard to build . . .
I've only read the 2 books by Brady, but I can already categorize her as one of my favorite authors. Her books really make you think, and they will surprise you in more ways than one. There are quite a few triggers in The Blind, one of which is abuse. At times this book was incredibly hard for me to read so I think it is important to note this trigger. I don't normally need to know about them, but I kinda wish I would have known what I was getting myself into ahead of time with this one.
As much as she likes to appear perfect to her friends and coworkers, Sam has some serious issues and I was struggling with her through much of the book, even though I know she couldn't necessarily help what she was doing. But I really liked how her story progressed as the book went on, and by the time I got to the end I liked her a lot more than when I started. I definitely think everyone can see a little bit of them in the people in this book, including Sam.
Much of The Blind is very psychological due to Sam's job and the way it is written, and it is so obvious that Brady has a lot of experience she called on to write this novel. I always understood what was going on, and much of it was pretty heartbreaking. I would definitely categorize this as a bit of a tear-jerker as well, especially towards the end of the novel. It does have it's funny parts too which was a nice respite from the heavier themes of the novel.
Final Thought: I really don't think that anything I say will do this book justice, so I will wrap this up. I had a bit of an unusual upbringing so I was able to relate with a little of what was going on at certain points in The Blind. It was fascinating to think about some of this stuff more deeply than I have, and how our upbringings (including parent's mental health) shape who we are as adults. If you are looking for a heavier read that is still pretty quick, and don't mind triggers such as abuse, you need to read this! The ending made my head tingle... so read it. :)
The Blind by A.F. Brady is an amazing look at one woman's psyche as her 'perfect' world starts falling apart.
What it's about: Sam James is the go-to psychologist for difficult patients at Typhlos, a psychiatric institution in Manhattan for the most challenging subjects. She has spent years building her reputation there and becoming her boss Rachel's favorite. But when Sam takes on a new patient named Richard that no one can get a word out of, she is going to be put to the test as she never has been before. Getting to know Richard and pulling out his past, will bring out some things in her own life that Sam didn't want to face. As everything she has built starts to fall out from under her, will she be able to make the changes she needs to in order to properly live her life, or will she lose everything she has worked so hard to build . . .
I've only read the 2 books by Brady, but I can already categorize her as one of my favorite authors. Her books really make you think, and they will surprise you in more ways than one. There are quite a few triggers in The Blind, one of which is abuse. At times this book was incredibly hard for me to read so I think it is important to note this trigger. I don't normally need to know about them, but I kinda wish I would have known what I was getting myself into ahead of time with this one.
As much as she likes to appear perfect to her friends and coworkers, Sam has some serious issues and I was struggling with her through much of the book, even though I know she couldn't necessarily help what she was doing. But I really liked how her story progressed as the book went on, and by the time I got to the end I liked her a lot more than when I started. I definitely think everyone can see a little bit of them in the people in this book, including Sam.
Much of The Blind is very psychological due to Sam's job and the way it is written, and it is so obvious that Brady has a lot of experience she called on to write this novel. I always understood what was going on, and much of it was pretty heartbreaking. I would definitely categorize this as a bit of a tear-jerker as well, especially towards the end of the novel. It does have it's funny parts too which was a nice respite from the heavier themes of the novel.
Final Thought: I really don't think that anything I say will do this book justice, so I will wrap this up. I had a bit of an unusual upbringing so I was able to relate with a little of what was going on at certain points in The Blind. It was fascinating to think about some of this stuff more deeply than I have, and how our upbringings (including parent's mental health) shape who we are as adults. If you are looking for a heavier read that is still pretty quick, and don't mind triggers such as abuse, you need to read this! The ending made my head tingle... so read it. :)
February 27, 2019
Follow Book Nation By Jen for all reviews and Recommendations. After seeing A.F. Brady on a panel discussing writing I was compelled to pick this up and I was not disappointed! Loved the setting of the story - nyc- psychiatric institution- predicted the big twist and enjoyed the slow reveal!
The blind leading the blind at a NYC psychiatric institution makes for unmatched psychological suspense in The Blind by A.F. Brady.
Therapists are supposed to have it together but in The Blind, Dr. Samantha James is not on solid ground. Her love hate relationship with alcohol, abusive boyfriend and struggle with anxiety, are self destructive and cloud her judgement, while and at the same time she has fooled her colleagues and is the shining star therapist at the Manhattan psychiatric institution where she takes on all the most difficult patients.
When her boss is overloaded and reaches out for help, Sam goes the extra mile to help out with paperwork. Things come to a head when she reads her own psych evaluation and she is faced with her personal demons that could impact her career. At the same time, she is finally having a break through with Richard, her most difficult and mysterious patient who up until now has refused to talk. Lines become blurred when this doctor – patient relationship method of communicating strays from tradition, secrets are unleashed, and the question becomes, “who is helping whom”?
The Blind is “on the edge of your seat” reading, the linear timeline is fast moving and easy to follow with character and background information slowly revealed amidst many shocking snippets of Sam’s crazy days and nights during a five month time span. Upsetting episodes of domestic violence, disturbing alcohol related binges and purges, tension filled sexual encounters and tender moments of friendship are peppered with Sam’s emotional instability and her continual struggles to hide reality, all under the illusion of a perfect life…wonderfully addictive!
I loved this book and can’t wait to read Alex Brady’s new novel, Once A Liar.
The main character, Dr. Samantha James has Borderline Personality Disorder and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 4 million people are diagnosed with BPD with around 75% of them, women.
Mental illnesses are not talked about as much as they could be, so enjoy this SHORT VIDEO with information about BPD.
One more thing….
IMG_5838.jpeg
I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Alex (A.F.) Brady speak on a panel with Lynne Constantine, one of the sisters who wrote The Last Mrs. Parrish and the upcoming novel, The Last Time I Saw You, and Wendy Walker, author of Emma in the Night and her upcoming novel, The Night Before, moderated by comedian and life coach, Lisa Lampanelli. According to the smart and witty Alex Brady, author and psychotherapist, it is POSSIBLE the characters she writes about MAY deal with similar issues and illnesses as her real life patients. She enjoys the writing process, gets little sleep when working on a plot twist and has a wonderfully helpful husband who picks up the slack with their two little ones when she needs to put in the time to concentrate on her novels. Alex appreciates a good, rugged cocktail, but be forewarned…you will be taking your chances if you offer her a Malibu Bay Breeze!
The blind leading the blind at a NYC psychiatric institution makes for unmatched psychological suspense in The Blind by A.F. Brady.
Therapists are supposed to have it together but in The Blind, Dr. Samantha James is not on solid ground. Her love hate relationship with alcohol, abusive boyfriend and struggle with anxiety, are self destructive and cloud her judgement, while and at the same time she has fooled her colleagues and is the shining star therapist at the Manhattan psychiatric institution where she takes on all the most difficult patients.
When her boss is overloaded and reaches out for help, Sam goes the extra mile to help out with paperwork. Things come to a head when she reads her own psych evaluation and she is faced with her personal demons that could impact her career. At the same time, she is finally having a break through with Richard, her most difficult and mysterious patient who up until now has refused to talk. Lines become blurred when this doctor – patient relationship method of communicating strays from tradition, secrets are unleashed, and the question becomes, “who is helping whom”?
The Blind is “on the edge of your seat” reading, the linear timeline is fast moving and easy to follow with character and background information slowly revealed amidst many shocking snippets of Sam’s crazy days and nights during a five month time span. Upsetting episodes of domestic violence, disturbing alcohol related binges and purges, tension filled sexual encounters and tender moments of friendship are peppered with Sam’s emotional instability and her continual struggles to hide reality, all under the illusion of a perfect life…wonderfully addictive!
I loved this book and can’t wait to read Alex Brady’s new novel, Once A Liar.
The main character, Dr. Samantha James has Borderline Personality Disorder and according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, more than 4 million people are diagnosed with BPD with around 75% of them, women.
Mental illnesses are not talked about as much as they could be, so enjoy this SHORT VIDEO with information about BPD.
One more thing….
IMG_5838.jpeg
I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Alex (A.F.) Brady speak on a panel with Lynne Constantine, one of the sisters who wrote The Last Mrs. Parrish and the upcoming novel, The Last Time I Saw You, and Wendy Walker, author of Emma in the Night and her upcoming novel, The Night Before, moderated by comedian and life coach, Lisa Lampanelli. According to the smart and witty Alex Brady, author and psychotherapist, it is POSSIBLE the characters she writes about MAY deal with similar issues and illnesses as her real life patients. She enjoys the writing process, gets little sleep when working on a plot twist and has a wonderfully helpful husband who picks up the slack with their two little ones when she needs to put in the time to concentrate on her novels. Alex appreciates a good, rugged cocktail, but be forewarned…you will be taking your chances if you offer her a Malibu Bay Breeze!
November 8, 2017
Probably 2.8 stars if I’m being honest. This was just not for me. How this qualified as a psychological thriller I will never know. There was never anything thrilling about this book..to me anyway. I hate to be harsh with any book review because I know it takes a lot of time and effort to put together a story and to get a book published, but this just had so much more potential, alas I was disappointed in so many different ways that it’s not worth getting into. I would not recommend this to anyone looking for a good thriller. Anyway, Onto the next!
November 14, 2017
DNF - too depressing for me at this time.
September 21, 2017
Trigger warnings include alcoholism, drug addiction, mental health issues, partner abuse and suicide.
The Blind is the first novel of a Mental Health Counsellor/Psychotherapist so you know going in that there's going to be plenty of introspection by the main character and there was.
Sam has worked hard to maintain her reputation for being the most reliable and competent psychologist at Typhlos Psychiatric Centre. She's praised by her manager, Rachel, and is given all of the tough cases that no one else can handle.
Richard comes to Typhlos with practically no background information and won't talk. After becoming involved in his case, Sam finds herself in a situation she's unfamiliar with. Richard is not giving anything away and all of Sam's usual techniques don't work on him. As they spend more time together, the mind games begin.
Usually I'm so engrossed with characters and what's happening that the big reveal comes and I'm just as surprised as the character. When I figure it out early it indicates to me that I'm not emotionally involved in the book and/or the big reveal is super obvious. I found myself in both categories during this book. I didn't emotionally connect to any of the characters and worked out the big reveal plus the psychological diagnosis of a character by 20%.
Had I not already committed to reviewing this book I would have stopped reading at 20%. I was so irritated by one of the characters and their behaviour that I was over it. I knew as I was reading that the author was setting the scene for later in the book but by 20% I no longer cared. I'm a firm believer in there being so many books on offer out there that you shouldn't have to fight to get into one.
If you're feeling like I was, hold on. It does get better from just before the end of Part 1 but it never really took off for me. It does give the reader insight into what it's like to live with mental illness and to work in the field. I feel like this is a 2.5 star book but am rounding up in recognition of this being a debut novel.
I received an ARC from NetGalley (thank you very much to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
The Blind is the first novel of a Mental Health Counsellor/Psychotherapist so you know going in that there's going to be plenty of introspection by the main character and there was.
Sam has worked hard to maintain her reputation for being the most reliable and competent psychologist at Typhlos Psychiatric Centre. She's praised by her manager, Rachel, and is given all of the tough cases that no one else can handle.
Richard comes to Typhlos with practically no background information and won't talk. After becoming involved in his case, Sam finds herself in a situation she's unfamiliar with. Richard is not giving anything away and all of Sam's usual techniques don't work on him. As they spend more time together, the mind games begin.
Usually I'm so engrossed with characters and what's happening that the big reveal comes and I'm just as surprised as the character. When I figure it out early it indicates to me that I'm not emotionally involved in the book and/or the big reveal is super obvious. I found myself in both categories during this book. I didn't emotionally connect to any of the characters and worked out the big reveal plus the psychological diagnosis of a character by 20%.
Had I not already committed to reviewing this book I would have stopped reading at 20%. I was so irritated by one of the characters and their behaviour that I was over it. I knew as I was reading that the author was setting the scene for later in the book but by 20% I no longer cared. I'm a firm believer in there being so many books on offer out there that you shouldn't have to fight to get into one.
If you're feeling like I was, hold on. It does get better from just before the end of Part 1 but it never really took off for me. It does give the reader insight into what it's like to live with mental illness and to work in the field. I feel like this is a 2.5 star book but am rounding up in recognition of this being a debut novel.
I received an ARC from NetGalley (thank you very much to NetGalley and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
August 27, 2017
Psychological thriller in which a psychologist investigates her own inner demons at the same time she is trying to treat her patients. This was a good book I just felt like it was slow moving at times.
October 4, 2017
I’ve had The Blind in my eyeline for quite some time now (no pun intended), but if it hadn’t been for the fact that I was sprung on a blog tour with only a few days notice, I probably wouldn’t have gotten around to this one so quickly. Although I’ve been looking forward to it, I kept seeing bad or average reviews from Goodreads friends and that obviously made me worried to read a book I had so been looking forward to. It turns out I had nothing to worry about!
This book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting it to be, and yes, I’ve said this for every goddamn book I’ve been reviewing lately, but that’s just the way my book choices are going lately. If this book was marketed with the words “alcoholic,” “sex”, “demons” etc, on the back, I definitely wouldn’t have picked it up, but the book is sly enough to avoid using those descriptions and so I did. I expected this one to be much more of a fast-paced psychological thriller, but in fact it was reasonably slow and not really anything like a thriller.
This book is a very deep and brutal look into Sam’s confused and exhausting life. It tackles lots of delicate topics, so at times can be quite disturbing and difficult to read. I know lots of readers read to get away from reality but I’m not one of those sorts of readers and can happily enjoy a book that tackles the harsh reality of some peoples upsetting lives. Which this one does. It’s not a light read by any stretch of the imagination. It’s definitely should come with a trigger warning.
Personally, I thought the writing was done well, even though I know other reviewers have had issues with it’s simplicity in places. Knowing what I know about this book now, the way it’s written works so well for the plot. One minute it’s simple, it’s says what it is with no dilly-dallying, but next thing you know you’re in the most vivid and trippy of descriptions. So much is going on, it can be hard t wrap your head around it.
Characters in this novel are fantastically done. Sam is a character I would never normally read about, but I thought she, and the way she was written about, was fantastic. Considering the characters in books I normally read are deceiving husbands, hysterical women or angsty policeman, this arrogant, head-strong, selfish woman was a breath of fresh air.
This is a story of growth and healing, in my eyes. It’s about learning how to cope and coming the terms with the truth. It’s far from the thriller I imagined it was going to be but it was a terrific and different read. I would definitely recommend this to any readers who are into dark literary fiction.
Thank you HQ for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting it to be, and yes, I’ve said this for every goddamn book I’ve been reviewing lately, but that’s just the way my book choices are going lately. If this book was marketed with the words “alcoholic,” “sex”, “demons” etc, on the back, I definitely wouldn’t have picked it up, but the book is sly enough to avoid using those descriptions and so I did. I expected this one to be much more of a fast-paced psychological thriller, but in fact it was reasonably slow and not really anything like a thriller.
This book is a very deep and brutal look into Sam’s confused and exhausting life. It tackles lots of delicate topics, so at times can be quite disturbing and difficult to read. I know lots of readers read to get away from reality but I’m not one of those sorts of readers and can happily enjoy a book that tackles the harsh reality of some peoples upsetting lives. Which this one does. It’s not a light read by any stretch of the imagination. It’s definitely should come with a trigger warning.
Personally, I thought the writing was done well, even though I know other reviewers have had issues with it’s simplicity in places. Knowing what I know about this book now, the way it’s written works so well for the plot. One minute it’s simple, it’s says what it is with no dilly-dallying, but next thing you know you’re in the most vivid and trippy of descriptions. So much is going on, it can be hard t wrap your head around it.
Characters in this novel are fantastically done. Sam is a character I would never normally read about, but I thought she, and the way she was written about, was fantastic. Considering the characters in books I normally read are deceiving husbands, hysterical women or angsty policeman, this arrogant, head-strong, selfish woman was a breath of fresh air.
This is a story of growth and healing, in my eyes. It’s about learning how to cope and coming the terms with the truth. It’s far from the thriller I imagined it was going to be but it was a terrific and different read. I would definitely recommend this to any readers who are into dark literary fiction.
Thank you HQ for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
dnf
July 12, 2017DNF at 25%.
i... just couldn't get into this one at all. the writing was incredibly simplistic, which wasn't a good sign, and the characters were flat and quite ridiculous. for example, Richard tells Sam that his mother's least favourite day is Friday because he was born on a Friday, and like 2 paragraphs later Sam asks him about his family history and gets confused when he closes up again??? she is literally like "what did i say?" UM he just told you that his mother hates him and you're wondering why he doesn't want to talk about his family background?? TF??
there was also this really confusing part in which sam was with her boyfriend one minute, and literally in the next line she was at a party. what the hell?? it literally seemed like a bunch of paragraphs had just been removed, and maybe it was an editing quirk and the paragraphs really had disappeared idk, but with the quality of the writing i wouldn't be surprised if that was just how it was written.
one quarter in and i was beginning to skim and i had no interest in anything at all, which is never a good sign, so i DNF'd. just wasn't not for me at all.
not rated because i only rate things if i've read at least a third.
i... just couldn't get into this one at all. the writing was incredibly simplistic, which wasn't a good sign, and the characters were flat and quite ridiculous. for example, Richard tells Sam that his mother's least favourite day is Friday because he was born on a Friday, and like 2 paragraphs later Sam asks him about his family history and gets confused when he closes up again??? she is literally like "what did i say?" UM he just told you that his mother hates him and you're wondering why he doesn't want to talk about his family background?? TF??
there was also this really confusing part in which sam was with her boyfriend one minute, and literally in the next line she was at a party. what the hell?? it literally seemed like a bunch of paragraphs had just been removed, and maybe it was an editing quirk and the paragraphs really had disappeared idk, but with the quality of the writing i wouldn't be surprised if that was just how it was written.
one quarter in and i was beginning to skim and i had no interest in anything at all, which is never a good sign, so i DNF'd. just wasn't not for me at all.
not rated because i only rate things if i've read at least a third.
April 22, 2022
What a crazy ride this was! First of all, I was a bit put off by how the psychologist acted. I worried people might think all psychologist have big issues. But, I discovered that the author is a clinical psychologist, and this is fiction after all. Now, over to what I liked; Samantha was a brilliant characters. Her mood swings, anger and snide comments made the book interesting and fresh. I also loved the conversations between her and the patients, and her messy love life! Overall, I was satisfied with the book and the ending.
September 21, 2017
Liking - or at least spending time with - an unlikable main character was an ongoing problem for me with this book. Sam is one of those people I'd feel sympathy for from a distance but would avoid interacting with at all costs. She's flat-out mean and a total psychological mess. So 400+ pages of her first person narration grated on my nerves. I persevered because the author does an excellent job of showing us specific mental illnesses, and I wanted to believe Sam would evolve with some redeeming characteristics to alter my opinion of her. She didn't, though I suppose that's often the reality of life.
The pace of this story is quite slow as we watch Sam spiral out of control. She drinks so much at night that she's still drunk when she goes to work in the morning. Most of the first two-thirds of the book is her descent into an alcoholic stupor.
As for Richard, the mystery patient, nothing much happens with him until the last third of the book. He's silent, mostly, though he drops clear hints and certain things are glaringly obvious, at least to readers. Sam, the top psychologist at the hospital, is too drunk to notice and is oddly content to let him sit around in this hospital with essentially no treatment and no diagnosis.
I had trouble buying into Richard's placement at the hospital. It seemed beyond strange to me that none of the doctors or administrative staff would know anything about his past or why he was committed to a psychiatric hospital. Even so, his character intrigued me enough to keep me reading.
The last quarter of so of the story picks up and things finally start happening. Though I saw the twist coming, I was carried along, feeling the turmoil of emotions and the edge of suspense. Then, just when we get to what should have been an intense climax, the story abruptly ends. We not only don't see any aftermath, we don't even see how things play out in the moment. A short, one-page final chapter, which reads more like an epilogue, reveals the twist, in case we didn't figure out where the build-up had left us dangling in the previous chapter.
I was exasperated by the non-ending. The lack of depth and insight into the heart of the entire story made me feel like I'd wasted my time with an unlikable character.
*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine, in exchange for my honest review.*
The pace of this story is quite slow as we watch Sam spiral out of control. She drinks so much at night that she's still drunk when she goes to work in the morning. Most of the first two-thirds of the book is her descent into an alcoholic stupor.
As for Richard, the mystery patient, nothing much happens with him until the last third of the book. He's silent, mostly, though he drops clear hints and certain things are glaringly obvious, at least to readers. Sam, the top psychologist at the hospital, is too drunk to notice and is oddly content to let him sit around in this hospital with essentially no treatment and no diagnosis.
I had trouble buying into Richard's placement at the hospital. It seemed beyond strange to me that none of the doctors or administrative staff would know anything about his past or why he was committed to a psychiatric hospital. Even so, his character intrigued me enough to keep me reading.
The last quarter of so of the story picks up and things finally start happening. Though I saw the twist coming, I was carried along, feeling the turmoil of emotions and the edge of suspense. Then, just when we get to what should have been an intense climax, the story abruptly ends. We not only don't see any aftermath, we don't even see how things play out in the moment. A short, one-page final chapter, which reads more like an epilogue, reveals the twist, in case we didn't figure out where the build-up had left us dangling in the previous chapter.
I was exasperated by the non-ending. The lack of depth and insight into the heart of the entire story made me feel like I'd wasted my time with an unlikable character.
*I received an advance copy from the publisher, via Amazon Vine, in exchange for my honest review.*
August 22, 2017
I think my expectations of what this book would be definitely affected my reading experience. This was labelled as a psychological thriller, and the blurb about a psychologist losing her mind while a new, mysterious male patient shows up, made me think of Harley Quinn, of Batman and Joker fame (side note, I'd still really like a good Harley Quinn story!). What I got instead was a rather slow character study of a woman suffering through and then coming to terms with her mental illness.
Character studies are normally my bread and butter, but here the first-person narrative was a bit clunky, almost as if Samantha James was a young adolescent instead of a seasoned, almost forty year-old psychologist. There was a twist in this novel, and once I realized what it was, too early in the book, the tension quickly unraveled.
I liked the mysterious patient, Richard, and felt he was well rendered. Many of the other supporting characters seemed one-dimensional, however, especially Lucas and most of Samantha's co-workers. Samantha was a sympathetic character, yet her spirit was so deadened that it often felt uncomfortable to read through this book through the lens of a first-person narrative.
*Thanks to Harlequin, Park Row Books, and Netgalley for an ARC*
Character studies are normally my bread and butter, but here the first-person narrative was a bit clunky, almost as if Samantha James was a young adolescent instead of a seasoned, almost forty year-old psychologist. There was a twist in this novel, and once I realized what it was, too early in the book, the tension quickly unraveled.
I liked the mysterious patient, Richard, and felt he was well rendered. Many of the other supporting characters seemed one-dimensional, however, especially Lucas and most of Samantha's co-workers. Samantha was a sympathetic character, yet her spirit was so deadened that it often felt uncomfortable to read through this book through the lens of a first-person narrative.
*Thanks to Harlequin, Park Row Books, and Netgalley for an ARC*
August 7, 2017
Fake it till you make it.
Although that's not Samantha James' motto, it very well could be. A psychologist embroiled in a battle with alcoholism, abuse, and later on, a diagnosis of her own, she's the shining star at the mental hospital where she works in Manhattan. Dependable Sam, who's always the go-to Dr. when it comes to the tougher patients. Such is the case when it comes to the new patient Richard. With little to no patient history, everything about Richard is unknown. Except for the fact that he was in prison and hasn't spoken for years about anything to anyone. Sam's got her hands full with this new patient, and as his story finally unfolds, it certainly becomes the very definition of a rabbit hole, and a very deep one in which Sam may not hit bottom.
Fast-paced and incredibly compelling, The Blind was certainly not what I was expecting. The majority of the story takes place inside the mental institution where Sam works, but it's when she's on the outside that she experiences the most horrors. Domestic abuse, drugs, and alcoholism are the demons she's fighting every single day of her life, and what a bleak life it is. The only bright spot is Sam knows she needs help, but as a high-functioning alcoholic, her need to drink often overshadows her common sense and as her addiction spirals out of control, her carefully-built persona follows suit.
The Blind had an air of predictability fairly early on, but that certainly didn't dampen my enjoyment at all. The story surrounding Sam and her vices was so painstakingly presented, so easy to be drawn inside Sam's head and life, that any sort of predictability was greatly overshadowed.
The Blind is a psychological thriller that's certainly not for the faint of heart. The themes presented are often hard to swallow, particularly domestic abuse, so take that as a warning if anything of the sort is something that may affect your enjoyment of this story. I definitely enjoyed this, and I'll be looking out for anything else debut author A.F. Brady has to offer in the future.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads giveaways in exchange for my honest opinion.
Although that's not Samantha James' motto, it very well could be. A psychologist embroiled in a battle with alcoholism, abuse, and later on, a diagnosis of her own, she's the shining star at the mental hospital where she works in Manhattan. Dependable Sam, who's always the go-to Dr. when it comes to the tougher patients. Such is the case when it comes to the new patient Richard. With little to no patient history, everything about Richard is unknown. Except for the fact that he was in prison and hasn't spoken for years about anything to anyone. Sam's got her hands full with this new patient, and as his story finally unfolds, it certainly becomes the very definition of a rabbit hole, and a very deep one in which Sam may not hit bottom.
Fast-paced and incredibly compelling, The Blind was certainly not what I was expecting. The majority of the story takes place inside the mental institution where Sam works, but it's when she's on the outside that she experiences the most horrors. Domestic abuse, drugs, and alcoholism are the demons she's fighting every single day of her life, and what a bleak life it is. The only bright spot is Sam knows she needs help, but as a high-functioning alcoholic, her need to drink often overshadows her common sense and as her addiction spirals out of control, her carefully-built persona follows suit.
The Blind had an air of predictability fairly early on, but that certainly didn't dampen my enjoyment at all. The story surrounding Sam and her vices was so painstakingly presented, so easy to be drawn inside Sam's head and life, that any sort of predictability was greatly overshadowed.
The Blind is a psychological thriller that's certainly not for the faint of heart. The themes presented are often hard to swallow, particularly domestic abuse, so take that as a warning if anything of the sort is something that may affect your enjoyment of this story. I definitely enjoyed this, and I'll be looking out for anything else debut author A.F. Brady has to offer in the future.
*I received a free copy of this book through Goodreads giveaways in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 18, 2019
Rating: 2 STARS
2017; Park Row/HarperCollins Canada
I realized 25% into the novel...I have no clue what this book is, genre-wise. I requested it because I thought it was psychological suspense thriller. In fact, the subtitle is "a chilling psychological suspense". Sam, the main character, is a psychologist and she works in psychiatric institution in New York. She is an alcoholic and seems to have other issues that make her more like her patients. One day they get a new patient that no one can break and he requests the best. Sam steps in but it becomes a mind game situation. When I was 30% in I put my eReader down and asked "wtf? why am I reading this?" But before I can turn to another book, I ask myself, "what if this gets better? what if there is a wtf twist and I miss it?" Gah, Brady has me to the end. I feel better now sticking with it, as now I know, nothing changes in this book. This feels like the deleted scenes put together. There was no moment I felt real suspense or even "oh!". Though, one thing I did find well done was Sam's character, her alcoholism and abuse was realistic and made her come more to life. She's not likable but you feel for her and a bit invested in what becomes her. At the end I felt tricked. I felt like I got invested but then had absolutely nothing happen. I am not even sure how to rate this book or who to recommend it to (or dissuade). I finally came to 2 stars - one, because it kept me reading and two because of the well written character and situations. I will leave it to you readers, visit other reviews maybe, on deciding whether to attempt this one.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
2017; Park Row/HarperCollins Canada
I realized 25% into the novel...I have no clue what this book is, genre-wise. I requested it because I thought it was psychological suspense thriller. In fact, the subtitle is "a chilling psychological suspense". Sam, the main character, is a psychologist and she works in psychiatric institution in New York. She is an alcoholic and seems to have other issues that make her more like her patients. One day they get a new patient that no one can break and he requests the best. Sam steps in but it becomes a mind game situation. When I was 30% in I put my eReader down and asked "wtf? why am I reading this?" But before I can turn to another book, I ask myself, "what if this gets better? what if there is a wtf twist and I miss it?" Gah, Brady has me to the end. I feel better now sticking with it, as now I know, nothing changes in this book. This feels like the deleted scenes put together. There was no moment I felt real suspense or even "oh!". Though, one thing I did find well done was Sam's character, her alcoholism and abuse was realistic and made her come more to life. She's not likable but you feel for her and a bit invested in what becomes her. At the end I felt tricked. I felt like I got invested but then had absolutely nothing happen. I am not even sure how to rate this book or who to recommend it to (or dissuade). I finally came to 2 stars - one, because it kept me reading and two because of the well written character and situations. I will leave it to you readers, visit other reviews maybe, on deciding whether to attempt this one.
***I received an eARC from EDELWEISS***
My Novelesque Blog
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October 23, 2018DNF, 32%
Rzadko mi sie to zdarza. Zazwyczaj wierzę w książkę do końca, ale w tym przypadku... The Blind nie ma do zaproponowania nic ciekawego. Warsztat autorki jest dramatycznie nieciekawy i niesatysfakcjonujący. Książka prosta, nieangażująca i schematyczna. Napięcia brak.
Rzadko mi sie to zdarza. Zazwyczaj wierzę w książkę do końca, ale w tym przypadku... The Blind nie ma do zaproponowania nic ciekawego. Warsztat autorki jest dramatycznie nieciekawy i niesatysfakcjonujący. Książka prosta, nieangażująca i schematyczna. Napięcia brak.
October 13, 2020
Holy crap!!! This book is savage, and I might as well throw in that it should come with trigger warnings related to DV, PTSD, Anxiety and Substance Abuse.
That being said, its heavy... like, real heavy... with a really surprising ending! If I had to sum up the main characters (Sam) life in one word it would be messy. If I had to elaborate further I'd say- train wreak.
I do understand how a lot of people can't tolerate the energy and the mood set throughout this book, the author has done exceptionally well in capturing negative emotions and sending the reader on a shit storm of a roller-coaster ride both mentally and emotionally. That's my reasoning for the 4stars.
~ Anarchy.
That being said, its heavy... like, real heavy... with a really surprising ending! If I had to sum up the main characters (Sam) life in one word it would be messy. If I had to elaborate further I'd say- train wreak.
I do understand how a lot of people can't tolerate the energy and the mood set throughout this book, the author has done exceptionally well in capturing negative emotions and sending the reader on a shit storm of a roller-coaster ride both mentally and emotionally. That's my reasoning for the 4stars.
~ Anarchy.
September 26, 2017
Ok, this review will be... Short. And. Blunt.
I did not like the book very much. It was not for me. I did not finish it so maaaaaybe it gets better towards the end but it wasn't worth reading it to find out...
The main character (Sam) was always drunk and always doing ...boring things that I did not feel like reading about anymore. I mean sure there were some interesting things about psychology in the book but... not enough. It just always felt like a chore to pull the book out.
If anyone finished it and feels like telling me how it ends feel free (if it is worth finishing)
I don't recommend.
I did not like the book very much. It was not for me. I did not finish it so maaaaaybe it gets better towards the end but it wasn't worth reading it to find out...
The main character (Sam) was always drunk and always doing ...boring things that I did not feel like reading about anymore. I mean sure there were some interesting things about psychology in the book but... not enough. It just always felt like a chore to pull the book out.
If anyone finished it and feels like telling me how it ends feel free (if it is worth finishing)
I don't recommend.
February 17, 2018
This started strong and definitely had a lot of good stuff, but it was just so anti-climatic and also a bit long. 2.9 stars, almost 3.
October 12, 2017
TW: Mental health difficulties, mentions of suicide, domestic abuse.
I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.
Sam James is a psychology in a psychiatric unit, and she’s a gone one at that. But even though Sam helps people all day, she can’t seem to help herself and is struggling with alcoholism and an abusive relationship. When nee patient Richard shows up, seemingly perfectly normal and in no need of psychiatric help, he starts to burrow his way into Sam’s mind and her life begins falling apart.
This book is a quiet, slow burn of a thriller and its mood definitely suits October/November and Halloween time. Straight away, the reader is sucked into Sam’s world of the walls of her psychiatric unit, and the stool of her favourite bar. I felt like a lot of scenes in Sam’s workplace felt very real, and authentic and I say this is due to author AF Brady actually having a degree in psychology and counselling herself and she knew how to really write those scenes as if they actually happened.
Even though this is strictly a thriller, I enjoyed some talk around mental health. Sam is funny because she knows very well what her issues are, she just can’t seem to really confront them herself and/or she almost doesn’t want help. The discussions in the group sessions around mental health stigma and domestic abuse were powerful though, and may even help some people who knows.
I would have liked more at the end of this book. I felt like i was asking some more questions, and not everything was tied up for me. I also would have liked more flashbacks about Sam’s mom. We do know about her briefly, and get an idea of what happened there but I think some flashback scenes would have worked well. I also would have liked Richard’s truth talks to have happened quicker in the book too. The first half, almost three quarters of the book is juts Sam’s crazy spiral out of control.
This book is a pretty fast, intersting read and it did keep me hooked throughout. It’s the type you can fly through in a couple of days!
I received a free copy of this book from Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.
Sam James is a psychology in a psychiatric unit, and she’s a gone one at that. But even though Sam helps people all day, she can’t seem to help herself and is struggling with alcoholism and an abusive relationship. When nee patient Richard shows up, seemingly perfectly normal and in no need of psychiatric help, he starts to burrow his way into Sam’s mind and her life begins falling apart.
This book is a quiet, slow burn of a thriller and its mood definitely suits October/November and Halloween time. Straight away, the reader is sucked into Sam’s world of the walls of her psychiatric unit, and the stool of her favourite bar. I felt like a lot of scenes in Sam’s workplace felt very real, and authentic and I say this is due to author AF Brady actually having a degree in psychology and counselling herself and she knew how to really write those scenes as if they actually happened.
Even though this is strictly a thriller, I enjoyed some talk around mental health. Sam is funny because she knows very well what her issues are, she just can’t seem to really confront them herself and/or she almost doesn’t want help. The discussions in the group sessions around mental health stigma and domestic abuse were powerful though, and may even help some people who knows.
I would have liked more at the end of this book. I felt like i was asking some more questions, and not everything was tied up for me. I also would have liked more flashbacks about Sam’s mom. We do know about her briefly, and get an idea of what happened there but I think some flashback scenes would have worked well. I also would have liked Richard’s truth talks to have happened quicker in the book too. The first half, almost three quarters of the book is juts Sam’s crazy spiral out of control.
This book is a pretty fast, intersting read and it did keep me hooked throughout. It’s the type you can fly through in a couple of days!
July 7, 2017
When a novel entitled The Blind opens on a tragically underfunded municipal institution for behavioral patients, many readers will be sure they have the story pegged, and might hold a slight trepidation that they will find a story that is predictable or trite. Thankfully, Brady uses a crisp, declarative delivery in rapid-fire diary pages to weave a story that is close to believable. There are hints of horror here, but the larger (maybe evident) themes of forgiveness and redemption crowd out any sense of the macabre early on.
Maybe the sense of gloom that pervades parts of the book stems from Brady's almost-whispered suggestion to look at the chaos enveloping Sam James as a person and Typhlos as an institution, and realize that every institution we encounter is held together with paper clips and duct tape, every person holding authority within an institution is damaged in some way. It's a viable theme around which to center a book, but it must be handled with care.
Brady wants to be sure we get the message loud and clear about just how self-destructive Dr. James is, even though she is responsible for many others' well being. Because of this, the scenes of domestic violence and binge drinking sometimes seem a little overblown. An occasional black eye, a night of endless shots at a bar every so often might have made the point in a more subtle way. As it is , the reader probably wonders by the book's midpoint how Sam James keeps from utterly falling apart, day by day and even minute by minute.
Her chosen challenging patient, Richard McHugh, is the foil to this overstatement by being stoic and zen-like, rarely the violent character others hint that he may be. All such stories are based on rumor, because all the institutional officials know in the course of the book is how little they know of Richard McHugh. One part of us would say that in 2017, BoP prison records and the medical records required of HIPAA would make McHugh's invisibility next to impossible. But another part of us, when observing the chaos of the hospital and criminal justice system, admits that this fits into the realm of possibility.
There are a few times when Sam's tragedies take on a soap opera quality, but the writing is good enough so that the reader doesn't throw down the book in disgust. An astute reader might catch on to the social dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship in the last 50 pages, but Brady is a clever enough writer to not disclose the book's true theme and secret until the last sentence, and it is a sentence many may not have guessed.
Any blind-leading-blind tale will have a bit of melodrama attached, but that was not a detraction strong enough to kick the ranking down to three stars. Brady has given us a fast-paced story about how to identify the damaged among us, and when we should count ourselves among the damaged. For that alone, The Blind is worth the time.
Maybe the sense of gloom that pervades parts of the book stems from Brady's almost-whispered suggestion to look at the chaos enveloping Sam James as a person and Typhlos as an institution, and realize that every institution we encounter is held together with paper clips and duct tape, every person holding authority within an institution is damaged in some way. It's a viable theme around which to center a book, but it must be handled with care.
Brady wants to be sure we get the message loud and clear about just how self-destructive Dr. James is, even though she is responsible for many others' well being. Because of this, the scenes of domestic violence and binge drinking sometimes seem a little overblown. An occasional black eye, a night of endless shots at a bar every so often might have made the point in a more subtle way. As it is , the reader probably wonders by the book's midpoint how Sam James keeps from utterly falling apart, day by day and even minute by minute.
Her chosen challenging patient, Richard McHugh, is the foil to this overstatement by being stoic and zen-like, rarely the violent character others hint that he may be. All such stories are based on rumor, because all the institutional officials know in the course of the book is how little they know of Richard McHugh. One part of us would say that in 2017, BoP prison records and the medical records required of HIPAA would make McHugh's invisibility next to impossible. But another part of us, when observing the chaos of the hospital and criminal justice system, admits that this fits into the realm of possibility.
There are a few times when Sam's tragedies take on a soap opera quality, but the writing is good enough so that the reader doesn't throw down the book in disgust. An astute reader might catch on to the social dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship in the last 50 pages, but Brady is a clever enough writer to not disclose the book's true theme and secret until the last sentence, and it is a sentence many may not have guessed.
Any blind-leading-blind tale will have a bit of melodrama attached, but that was not a detraction strong enough to kick the ranking down to three stars. Brady has given us a fast-paced story about how to identify the damaged among us, and when we should count ourselves among the damaged. For that alone, The Blind is worth the time.
September 26, 2017
Thank you to Netgalley and Park Row Books for a copy of the eARC in exchange for a fair review.
Sam is a psychologist at inpatient psychiatric hospital. They are receiving a new patient that everyone is more than a little nervous about working with. He doesn't speak, and he was in prison for a number of years.
Richard is challenging one Sam is determined to unlock, and then as she learns more about him, she begins to look deeper at her own life. Because what most people don't know is that Sam is a mess, she is drunk more often than not, and her boyfriend is more than a little abusive.
As her life begins to spiral out of control she wonders if Richard is really in need of help, or if everything will fall apart before she can save herself.
For a long time I wondered what the point of this story was, and to be honest it isn't what I normally like for a thriller. However, for what it is I loved it when I finally got the story. It is a story of redemption, of facing one's life and picking yourself up and moving on.
Sam isn't always very likable, but as you get to know her and understand her, you begin to cheer her on and hope that there is a happy ending. I am not going to say much as to why I don't think this a thriller because I don't do spoilers. I can say that you will probably get to understand what the book is really about if you don't go in expecting some on the edge of your seat whodunit.
Sam is a psychologist at inpatient psychiatric hospital. They are receiving a new patient that everyone is more than a little nervous about working with. He doesn't speak, and he was in prison for a number of years.
Richard is challenging one Sam is determined to unlock, and then as she learns more about him, she begins to look deeper at her own life. Because what most people don't know is that Sam is a mess, she is drunk more often than not, and her boyfriend is more than a little abusive.
As her life begins to spiral out of control she wonders if Richard is really in need of help, or if everything will fall apart before she can save herself.
For a long time I wondered what the point of this story was, and to be honest it isn't what I normally like for a thriller. However, for what it is I loved it when I finally got the story. It is a story of redemption, of facing one's life and picking yourself up and moving on.
Sam isn't always very likable, but as you get to know her and understand her, you begin to cheer her on and hope that there is a happy ending. I am not going to say much as to why I don't think this a thriller because I don't do spoilers. I can say that you will probably get to understand what the book is really about if you don't go in expecting some on the edge of your seat whodunit.
September 20, 2017
I really enjoyed this book!! I love when psychological thrillers actually have an element of psychology to them, which The Blind definitely had. Sam James works at Typhlos, a mental institution, where she is revered by her patients and loved by her boss. She’s known across the board for having her life together, but under the surface, Sam is losing control of everything around her. I loved the insight into her psyche and the minds of those around her. The ~reveal~ wasn’t anything super shocking, but I wasn’t in this for a big twist so that didn’t bother me. Definitely recommend this book if you’re a fan of thrillers with a psych element — The Blind hits shelves 9/26.
August 7, 2020
I'm surprised I liked this book as much as I did because it was dark and depressing; Sam, the main character, was as messed up as someone could possibly be; the pace was bit slow; and I guessed the outcome pretty quickly. But I thought it was really different and interesting.
A note on the audiobook: The narrator was excellent. She did the various characters in distinct voices and accents that enhanced the listening experience.
A note on the audiobook: The narrator was excellent. She did the various characters in distinct voices and accents that enhanced the listening experience.
July 21, 2017
Madness is at the heart of of AF Brady’s gritty, gripping The Blind, in which a psychologist navigates her own inner demons while attempting to care for her patients…with devastating results. The reader gets a front-row seat for her unraveling, which unfolds like a slow-motion train wreck—one where you can’t look away. Sly, dark, and completely enthralling, The Blind is a knockout debut.
October 21, 2017
https://anaslair.wordpress.com/2017/1...
I grabbed this one because it had two of my favourite themes - mental illnesses and a mystery. However, it's been a while since I was this disappointed in a book.
For the biggest part, The Blind irked me so much. I just found the main character so annoying. Every situation, including the mysterious patient, seemed to be there as an excuse for her to whine more and descend even further to a rotten place. I couldn't take much more of her wanting to stab people in the eye or feeling jealous that no one was petting her hair and then going back to her abusive boyfriend. At times I was so close to quitting. I had to pick up another book, which is really uncommon for me.
I appreciated the whole looking perfect to everyone else but suffering so much inside but there really wasn't much to hold on to, just little clues every once in a while that Samantha never bother to even comment on, let alone try to investigate. I mean, if I found a note with my address and directions for how to get there, I would be seriously worried. All Sam does is comment that the handwriting is not her own.
Towards the end, the chapters got really intriguing, and the pace definitely picked up. I wanted to know more. But ultimately the ending was predictable and it did not make up for the disappointment of the rest of the book.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I grabbed this one because it had two of my favourite themes - mental illnesses and a mystery. However, it's been a while since I was this disappointed in a book.
For the biggest part, The Blind irked me so much. I just found the main character so annoying. Every situation, including the mysterious patient, seemed to be there as an excuse for her to whine more and descend even further to a rotten place. I couldn't take much more of her wanting to stab people in the eye or feeling jealous that no one was petting her hair and then going back to her abusive boyfriend. At times I was so close to quitting. I had to pick up another book, which is really uncommon for me.
I appreciated the whole looking perfect to everyone else but suffering so much inside but there really wasn't much to hold on to, just little clues every once in a while that Samantha never bother to even comment on, let alone try to investigate. I mean, if I found a note with my address and directions for how to get there, I would be seriously worried. All Sam does is comment that the handwriting is not her own.
Towards the end, the chapters got really intriguing, and the pace definitely picked up. I wanted to know more. But ultimately the ending was predictable and it did not make up for the disappointment of the rest of the book.
Disclaimer: I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 25, 2018
Having just finished The Blind, I don’t know what to say.
Highly qualified Doctor Sam James is a psychiatrist in a mental institution. As we all do, she has her routines. But she’s an addict, we all are at the end of the day; but we all aren’t psychiatrists responsible for the mental health or medication of others. Sam gets drunk every night either in private or in a bar where she is the life and soul of the party. But as we peel back the layers of Sam’s life, we see even more of what is going on in her life and her head.
I was intrigued by Sam. She becomes more unreliable as her relationship with her boyfriend deteriorates. She’s messed up, vulnerable but in a position of power which is dangerous. Is she on the road to self-destruction?
The character of Richard is so fascinating, I wanted so much to know his secrets. What was he hiding? As he starts to open up to Sam in his one-to-one sessions, he gives tit-bits to his life but we don’t find out everything until the very last pages; talk about keeping you hanging!!
This is a slow burner of a book but packed with tension. I wanted to know whether Sam could save herself from self destruction, I wanted to know Richard’s story. As the story went on, I became an addict to the story. This is an impressive debut from A.F. Brady. Will definitely be looking out for her follow up!
Highly qualified Doctor Sam James is a psychiatrist in a mental institution. As we all do, she has her routines. But she’s an addict, we all are at the end of the day; but we all aren’t psychiatrists responsible for the mental health or medication of others. Sam gets drunk every night either in private or in a bar where she is the life and soul of the party. But as we peel back the layers of Sam’s life, we see even more of what is going on in her life and her head.
I was intrigued by Sam. She becomes more unreliable as her relationship with her boyfriend deteriorates. She’s messed up, vulnerable but in a position of power which is dangerous. Is she on the road to self-destruction?
The character of Richard is so fascinating, I wanted so much to know his secrets. What was he hiding? As he starts to open up to Sam in his one-to-one sessions, he gives tit-bits to his life but we don’t find out everything until the very last pages; talk about keeping you hanging!!
This is a slow burner of a book but packed with tension. I wanted to know whether Sam could save herself from self destruction, I wanted to know Richard’s story. As the story went on, I became an addict to the story. This is an impressive debut from A.F. Brady. Will definitely be looking out for her follow up!
November 14, 2018
Nie wiem co myśleć o tej książce, skończyłam ją czytać wczoraj i do tej pory biję się z myślami, zastanawiając się, jak ją ocenić. Bo tak: mimo, że nad powieścią spędziłam aż 7 dni, to nie czułam zniechęcenia powracając do niej w wolnej chwili. Lekki styl autorki sprawia, że treść nie jest nużąca, czytelnik czuje zaciekawienie dalszymi losami Samanthy - pani psycholog zatrudnionej w nowojorskiej klinice dla umysłowo chorych. Ach właśnie, Sam... Cóż to jest za postać! Obleśna, porąbana, z destrukcyjną osobowością, mająca w głowie szuflę pełną syfu, co jednak - w jej mniemaniu - nie przeszkadza w wykonywaniu zawodu. Gdzieś jednak zapodziała w tym wszystkim rozum i godność człowieka. Nie da się ukryć - czułam do niej odrazę i pierdyliard razy kręciłam głową i przewracałam oczami w związku z jej idiotycznym zachowaniem. Bohaterka wzbudza więc emocje! Lubię to!
Co mnie zawiodło? Ano to, że - moim zdaniem - mało tu thrillera w thrillerze. Książka jest raczej typowym dramatem psychologicznym, a elementy thrillera da się zauważyć dopiero w kilku ostatnich rozdziałach. Na sam koniec mamy dość mocne tąpnięcie, ale to by było na tyle, jeśli chodzi o jakiekolwiek zaskoczenia, zaserwowane nam przez autorkę.
Jeśli nie będziecie się nastawiać na mrożący krew w żyłach thriller, to istnieje bardzo duże prawdopodobieństwo, że powieść Wam się spodoba. Dla mnie czegoś tu jednak zabrakło (napięcia?), bym mogła ocenić ją wyżej.
Co mnie zawiodło? Ano to, że - moim zdaniem - mało tu thrillera w thrillerze. Książka jest raczej typowym dramatem psychologicznym, a elementy thrillera da się zauważyć dopiero w kilku ostatnich rozdziałach. Na sam koniec mamy dość mocne tąpnięcie, ale to by było na tyle, jeśli chodzi o jakiekolwiek zaskoczenia, zaserwowane nam przez autorkę.
Jeśli nie będziecie się nastawiać na mrożący krew w żyłach thriller, to istnieje bardzo duże prawdopodobieństwo, że powieść Wam się spodoba. Dla mnie czegoś tu jednak zabrakło (napięcia?), bym mogła ocenić ją wyżej.
November 12, 2017
OH MY GOSH, THAT ENDING, THOUGH. This book was not what I expected and I am so glad because it was even better. It's so hard to believe that this is Brady's first novel. I can't wait to see what else she writes because I absolutely loved this!
**EDIT** The only thing I would like to add is that if you were expecting a heart-pounding thriller, then you might be disappointed. It is DEFINITELY psychological, and it comes with a fair amount of twists, but it's not extremely dramatic or action-packed. That being said, I didn't mind one bit.
**EDIT** The only thing I would like to add is that if you were expecting a heart-pounding thriller, then you might be disappointed. It is DEFINITELY psychological, and it comes with a fair amount of twists, but it's not extremely dramatic or action-packed. That being said, I didn't mind one bit.
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