Blind Spot

Colony #3

by Nancy Bush

“An exciting, compelling thriller with a winding plot that keeps you captivated until the end” from the New York Times bestselling author of Unseen (Fresh Fiction).What you don't see . . .The crime scene at an Oregon rest stop is brutal beyond belief—a young man's lifeless body cut to ribbons, and his pregnant girlfriend left alive but comatose . . .What you don't know . . .Psychologist Claire Norris is assigned to treat the survivor at a private mental hospital. But there are no clues to the identity of the catatonic “Jane Doe.” A difficult job only becomes more complicated with the arrival of ex-homicide detective Langdon Stone, who questions Claire's every move.Can kill youReluctantly working together, Claire and Lang begin to unravel the chilling truth about a twisted case—one with ties to a killer who is right in their midst, eager to see a mission of evil through to its terrifying end . . .“Engrossing . . . twists you won't see coming!” —Karen Rose, New York Times bestselling authorPraise for Nancy Bush's Unseen“Full of twists and surprises . . . I couldn't put it down!” —Lisa Jackson, #1 New York Times bestselling author“An eerie suspense novel woven with a compelling romance . . . the terrifying denouement will have readers riveted.” —Publishers Weekly“A creative and mysterious tale with a number of twists, including a surprise ending.” —Romantic Times

Genres: Mystery, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

433 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2010

About the author

Nancy Bush is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the River Glen Series, Nowhere Series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Wicked Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Lisa Jackson, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Lisa Jackson and Rosalind Noonan.

Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.

After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!

Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.

Reviews

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both Bush and sister Lisa Jackson are terrific writers, each in her own way (which is why their co-writes do not work well). I love Jackson and while I've tried NOT to compare the two authors I feel compelled to defend Bush (whom I discovered first and whose work I feel is actually tighter and stronger, over all) against the digs from the hyper-ardent Jackson fans. I get it. Jackson is extremely prolific, a star of several genres, and writes quite well. However, I actually prefer Bush's style (especially her wonderful characterizations) and feel the need to make it clear that I am somewhat biased in Bush's favor. Nancy Bush can tell a great story featuring unforgettable characters and BLIND SPOT is proof. BLIND SPOT is an engrossing murder mystery with a moving, slow-burning adult romance between two people who begin as adversaries (based on misunderstanding) and who, in the process of being repeatedly thrown together, overcome their discomfort and gradually come to understand things about themselves and each other. It's really quite lovely. I don't want to say more for fear of ruining the experience for the uninitiated but BLIND SPOT is my favorite Bush book from among her romantic suspense stories after NOWHERE TO RUN (which I'm crazy for) and I strongly recommend it.

A couple of warnings: If you can do it, Bush's books are best read chronologically (characters and locations repeat) and I recommend getting into the habit of taking character notes so you're not going "Hey... that name sounds familiar" three books in.

[Sue · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hated it. Finished it, but hated it.

[Sam · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is not the type of book I normally read, but it is the one I won so I read it. I was surprised, it was better then I thought it would be. There were many suspenseful twists, and semi-believable characters. The romance between the hero and heroine, not so believable, but it was good for what it was. The characters became obsessively fixated with the crime that had occurred and joined forces to stay away from another crime happening. Some hate each other, some love each other, some do both...I don't want to give away any "spoilers". "Sexy" things were not crass, so kudos to the author, Nancy Bush. This is one of the only genres of books I tend to shy away from, but I think this book was pretty well written and not "overdone".

[Kay-em · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually brilliant! The 2nd book I've read from this author. I initially read "I'll find You"
and found it okay-ish but not particularly spectacular. Decided to try another of the author's books and I'm so glad I did! Although the romance is not so prominent, it builds up nice and slow and is very well blended with a highly thrilling suspense story. Not too difficult to guess the villain but even so the plot twists are amazing.

[Conni Harness · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much better read than the Unseen book. Well-written, kept me interested, but story resolution not the strongest. I am really hoping that this author and her sister rejoin and write at least one more Colony book and tie up all the Loose Ends throughout Siren Song and all the other story lines. At this point, the main story here in this book doesn't really make sense in the history of the Colony from my viewpoint. But she is a good author and I probably will pick up a couple more of her books.

[Mario · Rating 2 out of 5]

The beginning was kind of awful, but it eventually settled down into a steady mediocre. The main character is haunted by an incident from her past that she'll never stop reminding you of, one character has three names that must always be said in their entirety, and everyone flips from being suspiciously intuitive to ridiculously dense depending on the needs of the moment. On the whole, the book was frustrating and not particularly fun to read.

[Elizabeth Graf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A man is found murdered at a rest stop and his pregnant companion in a catatonic state.

Dr. Claire Norris is assigned the case of the pregnant female. As the story unfolds there are lots of twist and turns as to who was behind the killing. Also was the mystery surrounding the pregnant female and who was she and why hasn’t anyone reported her missing.

I did like this book and the last half of it really picked up revealing a lot of secrets.

[Lyn Soulia-Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the twist and turns. I go in one direction and then they throw in another. Gee i was surprised with all the iffy things that were said about the newspaper and the editor. I have seen some crappy things in real life and as I am reading parts of the book that showed how nasty they can be... I was right there with the character. Good book!!

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was torn between 2 and 3 stars for this one. While the suspense part of the book was good, I didn't believe the romance between the h/h. The romance didn't happen until well after the middle of the story and I just couldn't believe their connection. That's why I rated it as 2 stars.

[Edie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Claire Norris is a psychologist at a private mental hospital. Langdon Stone is a temporarily unemployed police detective having a great deal of difficulty accepting his sister's death at the hands of a patient seeing Dr. Norris. Sex, romance, suspense.

[Leigha · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a good read and kept you interested in the story, but it was a very predictable ending.

[Karen Hufman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Claire is a psychologist at a psychiatric hospital where she treats the nonviolent patients. She is trying to recover from a recent tragedy with a patient that lift 2 dead. The brother of one of the ones who lost their life blames her for the incident. They end up meeting once again as he starts looking into a case where a pregnant woman is attacked and arrives at the hospital in a catatonic state. The story just felt kind of silly, the romance (if you can call it that) was rushed, Claire wouldn't fill me with a lot of confidence as a psychologist and Lang got over his anger way too quickly. Also part of the story is an enclave called Siren's Song that appears to house a cult of woman. It just wasn't great.

[Brooke Sergent · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tried reading. Had to stop as the book never struck my attention.

[Andrew Carter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story...and a fine ending. Bush and Jackson are two of my favorite authors.

[Margaret Chamberlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome plot twist

Well written, characters believable. Great mix of mystery, romance and characters realizing their first opinions aren't always right. Great author.

[Kathi · Rating 2 out of 5]

What?

What did I just read? And that ending? Seriously? No need to waste your time. 4 more words required (dumb rule)

[Gabriela · Rating 3 out of 5]

A suspenseful and fast read.

[Angela]

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[ARK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wicked/Colony series is a good read!

[Christine Genematas]

I hope they continue the Colony saga, each book has had me glued to my seat.

[FourBoysMom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a Nancy Bush fan so I did like this book, as I do almost all of her books. She adds twists and turns that keep you guessing. Although, for this book, I had pretty much figured out the "whodunit" earlier than usual. Enjoyable read, very difficult to put down.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was entertaining. It kept me hooked, although I was a little disappointed in the ending. Easy Read

[Sandra Jackson - Alawine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why this book isn't included in the Wicked Series is beyond me. I think it should probably be #2 in the series. It is also much better written than the other books in the series maybe because Bush wrote it alone. The ones written by her and her sister Lisa Jackson seem choppy to me. It also answers a lot of the questions people have about the series.

A pregnant Natasha (aka Tasha) runs away from Siren Song with Rafe. She is found at a truck stop in a catatonic state after being stabbed in the shoulder and with cuts around her abdomen. Rafe dies from stab wounds shortly after they are found by a trucker.

After Jane Doe (Tasha) recovers from her injuries she is taken to Halo Valley Mental Hospital (where Justice is at) where Claire Norris becomes her doctor. Langdon Stone is investigating the homicide and must put aside his anger over his sister's death at Halo Valley by a wealthy mental patient there. Lang and Claire team up to find out Tasha's identity. At first Catherine denies that Tasha is a member of The Colony but she finally reveals that Tasha is but that Tasha is dangerous. Later it is revealed that Tasha poisoned Nathanial (who is mentioned in the Wicked Series Books several times).

Rafe's former girlfriend Rita wants a baby and she thinks that Tasha's baby belongs to her. She seduces one of the Doctor's at Halo Valley and gets a job there. She kidnaps Tasha, but Tasha gets away and goes to Rafe's cousin Cade. Cade plans to shoot Rita when she comes after Tasha, but he winds up dead and Tasha is found with another stab wound and in labor. She manages to identify Rita as the assailant before she gives birth and slips back into another catatonic state. Rita kidnaps the baby from the hospital but Lang finds her and the baby goes to social services.

Tasha is taken back to Halo Valley where she poisons one of the patients to create a diversion and takes Claire hostage. Lang with the help of the patient that killed his sister (who is now on his medication) take Tasha down. We learn that Rita followed Rafe and Tasha to the truck stop and attacked Tasha but that Rafe fought her off and that Tasha stabbed him for letting Rita go. Tasha flat lines at the end of the book and Claire and Lang make plans to marry and adopt Tasha's baby.

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blind Spot was truly a very nice surprise. I usually only read urban fantasy/ paranormal romance but I was desperate for something new to read. Well, I definitely was not dissapointed.

Dr. Claire Norris is a psychiatrist at a private mental hospital. One of her patient, a rich paronoid schizophrenia has been off his meds and after insisting his girlfriend accompany him to a session, he kills her and attempts to kill Claire. Claire had warned hospital officials he needed to be committed but because of the pressure from his rich family (patrons of the hospital) the administration refused. The hospital used Claire has the fall guy and she had been hounded.

On the other hand, Detective Langdon Stone (Lang) has been on hiatus from his job at the Portland Oregon P.D. after his sister, Melody (also a schizophrenic) was brutally murdered by her boyfriend in Dr. Claire Norris' office. He despises everyone involved.

However, when Lang's buddies suggest he helps out a small, understaffed police department on an usual case, he decides to give it a try. The case involves a young pregnant girl that was traumatized when someone killed her boyfriend and tried to cut her baby from her stomach. Jane Doe is taken to Claire's facility and she tries to help her heal from the ordeal. However, this puts Claire directly into the path of Lang and as much as they do not like each other they must work together in order to solve the mystery. As they work together, they begin to understand each other better and cannot deny the attraction they feel for each other.

Nancy Bush masterfully weaves in various twists and turns that leaves you guessing. You may think you know what will happen next, but you will be wrong. i inhaled the pages of this book within a few hours. I was very impressed with the classy way Bush handled the budding romance between the characters. So many authors are so crude with the way they handle sex that it is hard to fathom anything but lust exists between the characters. That is not the case with Bush. Definitely pick up this book. I am quite sure I will be reading other books by Bush.

[Allyson Abu-Hajar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read! There are quite a few plots intertwined. There's a house with all women referred to by the Colony, who are related that don't allow any outsiders in, except on occasion when work is necessary. On such an occasion, Rafe, who had a girlfriend named Rita, is allowed in to do some work, but falls for Tasha, one of the women in the Colony. Later, Rafe and Tasha, who is pregnant, are on the run from the Colony to start a new life, and stop at a rest area. A trucker comes along, and discovers Rafe with multiple stab wounds, and Tasha badly injured. Tasha is unresponsive, and ends up in Halo Valley Security Hospital, a facility for people with mental problems. Dr. Claire Norris, who is a psychiatrist at the hospital, oversees Tasha's care. Years prior, Dr. Norris, was a victim of one of her patients, who killed Melody Stone, the sister of Detective Langdon Stone. Lang is brought into the investigation, despite his deep fury at the hospital where he blames the staff, especially Dr. Norris for his sisters death. Couple that with Rita, who is obsessed with having a baby of her own, decides that Tasha's unborn child, is hers. Rita is a nurse, and gets a job at Halo Valley, by enlisting the help of one of the lead doctors on staff. While Claire and Langdon are trying to figure out who Tasha is, dubbed Cat by another resident, Rita plots to get Tasha out of the hospital and steal the baby.

A lot of twists and turns, that keep you guessing until the end.

[Chella · Rating 2 out of 5]

Claire Norris is a psychologist who, months prior, witnessed a horrendous crime committed by one of her patients that resulted in a death and an attempt to end her life as well. Still reeling from the gruesome encounter, she's gained a new patient. A young pregnant woman, named Jane Doe, who has survived a violent attack. An attack that has left her catatonic and her boyfriend dead. Believing Claire played a part in his sisters death months ago, detective Langdon Stone begins to investigate the Jane Doe case. As his research between the two cases begins to heat up, the detective finds maybe he was wrong about the good doctor. Soon, the two become an unconventional team as one does the fieldwork in search of the unknown killer, while the other attempts a breakthrough. Spending time together creates a "love match" that wasn't believable at all and a predictable ending.

[Patsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The crime scene at an Oregon rest stop is brutal beyond belief--a young man's lifeless body cut to ribbons, and his pregnant girlfriend left alive but comatose...

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW. . .

Psychologist Claire Norris is assigned to treat the survivor at a private mental hospital. But there are no clues to the identity of the catatonic "Jane Doe." A difficult job only becomes more complicated with the arrival of ex-homicide detective Langdon Stone, who questions Claire's every move.

CAN KILL YOU

Reluctantly working together, Claire and Lang begin to unravel the chilling truth about a twisted case--one with ties to a killer who is right in their midst, eager to see a mission of evil through to its terrifying end. . .

[Cyber Dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nancy Bush creates a complex tale with a great deal of suspenseful twists and believable characters. Claire Norris, a devoted psychologist, and Langdon Stone, an ex-homicide detective, struck by the same horrendous tragedy and disregarding their mutual hostility join forces to avoid another gruesome crime. Langdon’s obsessive fixation with Claire borders the stalker’s realm, an early indication of the sizzling passion that will eventually consume them. Following a dangerous path leads them to the staggering final confrontation, which will bring closure to their hardship.

[Deb · Rating 2 out of 5]

Take a psych ward pregnant Jane Doe, add a determined doctor, a couple of murders, and a predictable cliche romance (I hate you! Oh, but I love you!!), and you've got...this story. It was a short, light-weight read for me, and it wasn't unpleasant.

While there were a few things (like a cult, a jealous psychotic, an accidental murderer, and a psychic neighbor) to stand out and make it a bit different, it wasn't enough to make this book exceptional or great. While I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to anyone, I also wouldn't hold it against someone if they liked it.