Book Boo Review:

To look through the eyes of a murderer, and for a moment to be washed over by their raw emotion would be a nightmare for most of us.  FBI agent Bernadette Saint Clare isn’t any different, except of course that she has the gift (or curse?) to use this ability to solve crime.

      In Blind Spot by Terri Persons, we are introduced to the mysterious agent St. Clare as she takes on her first assignment with the St. Paul office after being transferred from the Shreveport office.  Could it be that the upper echelon of the FBI isn’t comfortable with some of her more unconventional investigative techniques?  Her new supervisor Tony Garcia is sure willing to give her a chance, even if he does reserve the right to be skeptical. 

     The search for a killer begins when a dismembered hand is retrieved by a family dog running through the woods.  News from a crime scene investigation north of the twin cities reveals interesting similarities to the one that Bernadette and Tony face.  Could they be dealing with a serial killer?  With few physical clues to go on, the investigation could be over before it begins.  When a gold ring is found on the finger of a victim’s hand and some twine is retrieved from a body found tied and beaten in the woods, Bernadette gets an opportunity to make a believer out of Tony and use these items which were touched by the killer to channel into their sight.

      Capital punishment, religion and victims’ rights are the major recurrent themes in the book.  What justice can be served to those who commit heinous crimes?  Should there be a death penalty?  How do our religious values help us sort this out? Through exceptional character development, Persons invites us to mull these questions over for ourselves.  In ways, we are able to sympathize with even the most misguided of the individuals depicted in this story. 

      On the lighter side, we get relief from the dark themes of the investigation as Bernadette gets to know and fall for her new upstairs neighbor.  “Augie”, a single lawyer who lives with his dog, won’t seem to take no for an answer when it comes to getting Bernadette to open up.   

     With its plentiful suspense, smooth storyline and supernatural zest, Blind Spot will leave you on the edge of your seat for agent St. Clare’s next assignment.  Terri Persons has made a unique contribution to the genre of murder mystery/ thriller novels.