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The Blind Detective #1
The Blind Detective
First published as Line of Sight under A. C. Koning.
London, summer 1927. Frederick Rowlands, a First World War veteran who was blinded at Ypres, is working as a switchboard operator in the City when an over-heard telephone conversation draws him into a murder case.
From then on, his safe and conventional life, painstakingly reconstructed after the horrors he experienced in the trenches, is shaken to its very foundation. As Fred is drawn deeper into a web of lies and half-truths, he must rely on his remaining senses, as well as his remarkable memory, to uncover the shocking truth about the murder which threatens to undermine everything he holds dear.
London, summer 1927. Frederick Rowlands, a First World War veteran who was blinded at Ypres, is working as a switchboard operator in the City when an over-heard telephone conversation draws him into a murder case.
From then on, his safe and conventional life, painstakingly reconstructed after the horrors he experienced in the trenches, is shaken to its very foundation. As Fred is drawn deeper into a web of lies and half-truths, he must rely on his remaining senses, as well as his remarkable memory, to uncover the shocking truth about the murder which threatens to undermine everything he holds dear.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 9, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
January 1, 2026
2.5 Stars
February 12, 2024
This was a most excellent book, first in a series. It’s about a WWI veteran who was blinded at Ypres. The first part is a lot about how he learns to manage being blind, about his work as a switchboard operator, his family and all sorts of interesting things. My Grandad lost an eye at the Somme, so it gave me an idea of what he went through. All this is important stuff for the rest of the series, so don’t start out of order, at least read this one first, if possible. Obviously there is a detective story coming up, but it sort of creeps up on you, the tension keeps building up till you can hardly put the book down towards the end. At the same time it’s from an age when life was slower, the most modern thing in those days was the telephone, ordinary people like Fred Rowlands had no access, unless of course you were a switchboard operator, fingerprints weren’t used in criminal work, travel was mostly by rail. Well worth reading because the 1920’s was such an interesting time period. The story itself is just a good detective story, very well written, it’s the details that make it so very good, things we take for granted weren’t available except for the super-rich, and being blind is still very difficult, beyond comprehension really. I hadn’t realized how very many soldiers lost their sight in WWI.
I will certainly be reading more of this series.
I will certainly be reading more of this series.
October 12, 2023
This didn't work for me.
The first half, describing Frederick Rowlands' life in 1927 as a war-wounded blind telephonist, his devoted wife, Edith, from a far wealthier background and various other family and work connections, is engaging and convincing in it's examination of the difficulties associated with the blindness and relative poverty.
However, the second half, after a murder occurs with a few suspects from amongst his family and work colleagues, descends into a bizarre series of life-changing decisions by Rowlands based on the slimmest of motivations. His refusal to cooperate with the police and also to hide clues is just too implausible.
The first half, describing Frederick Rowlands' life in 1927 as a war-wounded blind telephonist, his devoted wife, Edith, from a far wealthier background and various other family and work connections, is engaging and convincing in it's examination of the difficulties associated with the blindness and relative poverty.
However, the second half, after a murder occurs with a few suspects from amongst his family and work colleagues, descends into a bizarre series of life-changing decisions by Rowlands based on the slimmest of motivations. His refusal to cooperate with the police and also to hide clues is just too implausible.
April 6, 2023
The Blind Detective is the telling of a mystery investigation that will have you thinking "you've got it" until the very end... and then you found out, like everyone in the book (well, the people that have to find out, anyway), that you really don't know anything at all.
In between this clever and complicated tale of murder, author Christina (or A.C.) Koning offers up a beautifully rendered look at a man dealing with a terrible disability, to the point of course that he, and consequently the readers, are barely aware of it. This is one of those books that you won't want to put down until the final pages. Luckily, there are more in the series.
In between this clever and complicated tale of murder, author Christina (or A.C.) Koning offers up a beautifully rendered look at a man dealing with a terrible disability, to the point of course that he, and consequently the readers, are barely aware of it. This is one of those books that you won't want to put down until the final pages. Luckily, there are more in the series.
February 14, 2023
This is the interesting start of mystery series and I appreciated the originality and the solid mystery.. Set after WWI it features Frederick Rowlands, a veteran who lost his sight.
He's an unusual detective but a very effective one. There's a empathy and there's a cast of interesting and fleshed out characters.
The historical background is vivid and well researched, the mystery solid and kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
He's an unusual detective but a very effective one. There's a empathy and there's a cast of interesting and fleshed out characters.
The historical background is vivid and well researched, the mystery solid and kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
January 29, 2022
I started reading the sample pages and was hooked. A man's story, but felt as if it had a woman's touch. Still 5 stars, as for a new novel it was well researched and felt as if it was of the time.
Did Not Finish
July 9, 2026Very well written on the page, wonderfully researched, but ...
I think my problem was that I was expecting a Golden Age style mystery, and it wasn't.
You expect a certain brisk style in a Golden Age mystery.
A certain snappiness.
A bit of 'Well this is all very grisly, but let's get on, shall we?'
You can have melodrama, or humour, or character studies, or police procedure, or thrilling chases, or sexual tension, or (if you're DL Sayers) the whole stinking lot of those things in one book, but you've got to keep the thing moving and your tone has to be sharp and perhaps a little impersonal.
For a while I was really impressed by this. The world, the deep research, the rich detail.
But then it occurred to me that we were getting a lot of that sort of thing all at once.
And learning much more about the character and his work and his family and his extended family and his extended family's friends and his extended family's friends' business dealings ... and even though you could tell a mile off that we were working up to a cataclysmic Death that would unravel all the family friends and work because it had all been stitched together so tightly ... it suddenly occurred to me that I didn't care.
I was half way through. Nothing had happened murder-wise yet, and I couldn't be bothered because there'd been too much personal stuff in the build up so we were going to have investigator-angst and some impossible love-rhomboid and ruinings and sunderings and what-about-the-childrenings and whatnot, and I was already exhausted.
So I parked it to catch my breath, and never went back.
But I've thought about it now:
* There's real Golden Age mystery -- early-mid Twentieth Century, mostly British
* There's Golden Age style mystery -- set (mostly) in early-mid Twentieth Century Britain or Europe, written by anyone, anytime, as long as they capture the spirit and the intendment of the GA canon
* Then there's historical mysteries set in the early-mid Twentieth Century, which obey the style and subject demands of the contemporary mystery, not the GA.
This is the latter. Not what I was after.
I think my problem was that I was expecting a Golden Age style mystery, and it wasn't.
You expect a certain brisk style in a Golden Age mystery.
A certain snappiness.
A bit of 'Well this is all very grisly, but let's get on, shall we?'
You can have melodrama, or humour, or character studies, or police procedure, or thrilling chases, or sexual tension, or (if you're DL Sayers) the whole stinking lot of those things in one book, but you've got to keep the thing moving and your tone has to be sharp and perhaps a little impersonal.
For a while I was really impressed by this. The world, the deep research, the rich detail.
But then it occurred to me that we were getting a lot of that sort of thing all at once.
And learning much more about the character and his work and his family and his extended family and his extended family's friends and his extended family's friends' business dealings ... and even though you could tell a mile off that we were working up to a cataclysmic Death that would unravel all the family friends and work because it had all been stitched together so tightly ... it suddenly occurred to me that I didn't care.
I was half way through. Nothing had happened murder-wise yet, and I couldn't be bothered because there'd been too much personal stuff in the build up so we were going to have investigator-angst and some impossible love-rhomboid and ruinings and sunderings and what-about-the-childrenings and whatnot, and I was already exhausted.
So I parked it to catch my breath, and never went back.
But I've thought about it now:
* There's real Golden Age mystery -- early-mid Twentieth Century, mostly British
* There's Golden Age style mystery -- set (mostly) in early-mid Twentieth Century Britain or Europe, written by anyone, anytime, as long as they capture the spirit and the intendment of the GA canon
* Then there's historical mysteries set in the early-mid Twentieth Century, which obey the style and subject demands of the contemporary mystery, not the GA.
This is the latter. Not what I was after.
May 4, 2024
Having read Murder in Cambridge out of order (number 5 in the series) I decided to start the series from the beginning. I didn't love Murder in Cambridge but I did like Frederick Rowlands, The Blind Detective, and felt I would like to know more about him. I chose to read the first book in the series via the audible production being performed by Duncan Galloway. It was a good decision. In this first meeting of Fred Rowlands the reader learns about his experiences in the first world war trenches, his injuries which saw the end of his war and some information on how he learned to adapt to life without being able to see and how he met his wife, Edith. Now, 10 years later in 1927 Fred is working for a solicitors' office as a telephonist working the office switchboard and becomes enamored with the voice of one of the callers for his boss, Gerald Willoughby. The woman he has fallen for is Lady Celia West and when Lady Celia's husband is subsequently murdered Fred becomes involved in case by trying to protect both Lady Celia and Willoughby who Fred believes are in an adulterous relationship. In doing so Frederick puts himself in danger, danger which also extends to his family.
This is an unexpected mystery in that Rowlands investigates the murder of Lionel West but is not a disinterested outsider. As the story progresses the reader becomes aware that the situation of the Wests also has a significant impact of Rowlands own extended family. There are many twists and turns before the end, some of which did not always sit comfortably with me in terms of personal integrity, but when one views this through the context of a man who has faced the realities of life and death in the trenches one can accept that personal values could be different. Despite this, I like Fred Rowlands, there is a distinct realism about him, a real man with good and bad characteristics and I am glad I got to know more about him. I also think that listening to the Audible recording was valuable. Duncan Galloway can sound quite monotone in his reading of the text but his ability to bring the characters themselves to life is in complete contrast and I loved listening to him.
This is an unexpected mystery in that Rowlands investigates the murder of Lionel West but is not a disinterested outsider. As the story progresses the reader becomes aware that the situation of the Wests also has a significant impact of Rowlands own extended family. There are many twists and turns before the end, some of which did not always sit comfortably with me in terms of personal integrity, but when one views this through the context of a man who has faced the realities of life and death in the trenches one can accept that personal values could be different. Despite this, I like Fred Rowlands, there is a distinct realism about him, a real man with good and bad characteristics and I am glad I got to know more about him. I also think that listening to the Audible recording was valuable. Duncan Galloway can sound quite monotone in his reading of the text but his ability to bring the characters themselves to life is in complete contrast and I loved listening to him.
June 22, 2023
This was okay, but with a bit too much 'drama' for my tastes. Fredrick Rowlands is a fool and behaved like a cad to his wife. And his sanctimony towards his sister for her behaviour, as if he was a saint himself! I couldn't bear his priggish, moral-high-ground sense of self-righteousness, as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, when he is lying and cheating his wife left, right and centre.
This is the second of these books I have read, reading one much further on in the series first. While it was interesting to finally get the details of Fred and Dorothy's backstory as hinted at in that later book, Fred came across as a much less likeable character in this earlier one, and had I read this first, I would not have gone on to read any more. Funnily enough, I liked Dorothy much more here than in the other. There she came across as thoroughly selfish in her disregard for anything and anyone else besides what she wanted - exactly what Fred is in this book. How paradoxical.
This is the second of these books I have read, reading one much further on in the series first. While it was interesting to finally get the details of Fred and Dorothy's backstory as hinted at in that later book, Fred came across as a much less likeable character in this earlier one, and had I read this first, I would not have gone on to read any more. Funnily enough, I liked Dorothy much more here than in the other. There she came across as thoroughly selfish in her disregard for anything and anyone else besides what she wanted - exactly what Fred is in this book. How paradoxical.
February 6, 2023
This is the first book of a series about a man who lost his sight fighting during WWI. It takes place between the wars. Frederick Rowlands is working as a switch board operator at a law firm. He was hired by Gerald Willoughby, his Captain during the war. Rowland met his wife Edith, at the Lodge, where he learned how to handle his blindness. She was his second dancing partner. Now at the beginning of the book they have two girls, and Edith is pregnant with their third child. The law firm has taken on a case known as the Fire Conspiracy Case. Several garment factories which have very recently become insured have had fires. Rowlands firm has been involved. Two men own most of the factories, Giovanni Caparelli known as "The count", who is somewhat rough around the edges, and Lionel West, who is a wealthy gentleman who is married to Lady Celia.
In the connecting and shutting down phone lines, Rowlands often hears parts of conversations. When Lady Celia first calls Willoughby , Rowlands is enam0red by her voice which he hears when patching the call. He finds out that Lady Celia and Captain Willoughby were very close before the war. She married West when Willoughby was away at war. Lady Celia begins calling Willoughby fairly often, and Rowlands often hears parts of conversations thereafter. Lionel West is found dead in his home, and Rowlands overhears something that might be connected to West's murder, and he begins to wonder if either Lady Celia or the Captain had been involved. When Caparelli is arrested for the murder, Rowlands attends the trial, and worries about his friends. He finally decides to leave his job to protect Lady Celia and Willoughby. Meanwhile, Rowland's sister and her husband have come to live with Rowlands and his family, and they buy a chicken farm out in the country. As we near the end of the book, Rowlands finally gets an idea about who killed Lionel West!
Rowlands is a great main character. I can't wait to read the next installment!
In the connecting and shutting down phone lines, Rowlands often hears parts of conversations. When Lady Celia first calls Willoughby , Rowlands is enam0red by her voice which he hears when patching the call. He finds out that Lady Celia and Captain Willoughby were very close before the war. She married West when Willoughby was away at war. Lady Celia begins calling Willoughby fairly often, and Rowlands often hears parts of conversations thereafter. Lionel West is found dead in his home, and Rowlands overhears something that might be connected to West's murder, and he begins to wonder if either Lady Celia or the Captain had been involved. When Caparelli is arrested for the murder, Rowlands attends the trial, and worries about his friends. He finally decides to leave his job to protect Lady Celia and Willoughby. Meanwhile, Rowland's sister and her husband have come to live with Rowlands and his family, and they buy a chicken farm out in the country. As we near the end of the book, Rowlands finally gets an idea about who killed Lionel West!
Rowlands is a great main character. I can't wait to read the next installment!
February 24, 2023
Christina Koning is an author with a tremendous talent. Freddie Rowlands, the Blind Detective, is an extraordinary creation. The plot is utterly absorbing and illuminating and immensely complex. I don't think I've ever read such an excellent character-driven crime novel.
The portrait of a young man, blinded as a soldier during WW1, is full of empathy and his moral fibre permeates every single page. All the other characters are drawn with razor-sharp precision and when I reached the end I was desperate to know what will happen to them next.
This is compulsive reading with twist after twist after twist and packed with emotional suspense. A brilliantly executed accomplishment.
The portrait of a young man, blinded as a soldier during WW1, is full of empathy and his moral fibre permeates every single page. All the other characters are drawn with razor-sharp precision and when I reached the end I was desperate to know what will happen to them next.
This is compulsive reading with twist after twist after twist and packed with emotional suspense. A brilliantly executed accomplishment.
March 17, 2025
The first in the blind detective series, now numbering 8. Although, the author did not realise this at the time of writing. It has since been renamed and rebranded. Any faults of this novel could be attributed to it being a first novel. She talks a lot about the horrors of war. Our hero is the eponymous Blind Detective, isn't portrayed in the same sympathetic light as in all the other books. Nevertheless, it is a great read, a murder story with lots of excellent twists. If you've read any of the other books, there's a major spoiler to the identity of the murderer. A great series of books!
September 9, 2025
I gave this book a really good go, I wanted to like it.
But I'm about 70% of the way through now, and the blind detective... isn't.
Isn't a detective, I mean. He's blind, but he's done zero detecting. The story is moving a treacle's pace.
It's a shame, because there were some nice elements to the book. The prose is good and there are some nice character moments.
But all in all, it's not got enough plot to be a good mystery and it's not strong enough to stand on its own as literature.
But I'm about 70% of the way through now, and the blind detective... isn't.
Isn't a detective, I mean. He's blind, but he's done zero detecting. The story is moving a treacle's pace.
It's a shame, because there were some nice elements to the book. The prose is good and there are some nice character moments.
But all in all, it's not got enough plot to be a good mystery and it's not strong enough to stand on its own as literature.
August 21, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
It was an enjoyable book with a fantastic storyline with some great plot twists. However, it was a little slow for my liking as I do enjoy a more action-packed mystery novel. The book has set the scene somewhat for future novels, and I do like the historical spin as well as the lead character being blind. Although, I don't think I'll ever get over the fact that it wasn't until about halfway through the book that we begin to see any decent detective work.
It was an enjoyable book with a fantastic storyline with some great plot twists. However, it was a little slow for my liking as I do enjoy a more action-packed mystery novel. The book has set the scene somewhat for future novels, and I do like the historical spin as well as the lead character being blind. Although, I don't think I'll ever get over the fact that it wasn't until about halfway through the book that we begin to see any decent detective work.
January 19, 2025
This was different. I like different. Usually. I found it hard to like Fred, our blind hero, and his wife. Well, it's an ok read, just a bit long-winded, and I would have preferred if we didn't have to read every thought he had and, the "mystery" isn't touched until around the middle of the book. Naah, no more Fred for me, I just don't like him enough.
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
(Please forgive my poor English, my excuse is I’m Swedish).
June 24, 2025
Well written and interesting—characterisations I found particularly interesting, even if not likeable. Twists were good as well, but the pace of the book was unusual for a murder mystery: slow and winding and not at all what I’m used to. Will have to continue with the series to see if I like it, but mixed feelings.
May 2, 2023
I found this slow, sometimes over-detailed, but I finished it - so it obviously held my attention. The whole telephone switchboard angle was quite fascinating. The main character, a clearly clever, yet flawed human being was also nice to read. Lots of misdirection and dead ends to keep interest up.
November 17, 2025
Rounding up from 3.5 stars. A little long, perhaps, but a mystery with quite an unconventional detective- a WWI veteran who was blinded at Ypres. Descriptions of the warfare are done quite well. Do want to read more of these.
August 16, 2026
Very enjoyable and very different crime thriller with rich and authentic background detail about post WW1 England. Has led me down several interesting rabbit holes and looking forward to reading more of this author.
Read
April 4, 2023DNF
May 31, 2024
3.25 stars. Good story, but started to feel long.
June 15, 2024
Implausibility and coincidence and padding. I won’t bother with the rest of the series
May 1, 2025
Så himla trevligt och brittiskt! Inga snabba ryck, allt får ta den tid det tar. Lagom tvist och inget chockerande slut. Bara lugnt och puttrigt. Ibland är det precis det jag behöver.
September 3, 2025
Long winded, depressing and unlikeable characters. I had my eye on the rest of the series but not anymore.
March 5, 2026
I enjoyed the premise but found it to be a bit disjointed and the story didn’t flow
April 8, 2026
I’m glad I discovered this series with a lot of books to add to my list
May 8, 2026
My new favourite author!
July 21, 2026
Not for me this style of detective novel but not a bad book either. It's a love it or hate it style of writing.
July 7, 2023
An enjoyable, well written novel where an ordinary man is turned amateur detective after overhearing a call at his telephone exchange. Rowlands, lives in a world devoid of sight - having been blinded in Ypres. He has learned to survive, indeed flourish, until he is drawn into mystery that turns into murder.
The twist surprised me sufficiently but it was never about the murder for me - I enjoyed this as a character study. A man learning to rely on the rest of his senses to replace his ruined vision. Dealing with the horrible shadows of war, where his last visions are nightmares.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
The twist surprised me sufficiently but it was never about the murder for me - I enjoyed this as a character study. A man learning to rely on the rest of his senses to replace his ruined vision. Dealing with the horrible shadows of war, where his last visions are nightmares.
I look forward to reading more of this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews