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Release date: August 16, 2018

Publisher: Corvus

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Blurb:

She can’t see the killer

But the killer can see her…

Naomi Hannah has been blind since birth. Struggling with living in the small, claustrophobic town of Balkerne Heights, Naomi contemplates ending her life. But before she can, Naomi stumbles across the body of a young woman who has been brutally murdered. She senses someone else there at the scene – watching her. Naomi may not be able to see the killer’s face, but she is still the only person who can identify him.

For Naomi, this frightening truth changes everything: she realises that she wants to live, at the very point at which her life is in greatest peril. As the police begin hunting the person responsible and the bodies pile up, Naomi must lie in wait and answer the question that hangs her fate in the balance: why did the killer let her live?

In a town this small, the murderer must be close, perhaps even before her very eyes…

Review:

Do you ever have a certain, specific expectation about a book and then once you start reading it you kind of have to adjust your mindset? I had that experience here, but instead of being frustrated by having to shift my assumptions I was totally excited that there was much more to this one than just your standard mystery/thriller.

This is told from both Naomi’s POV and also Marcus who is a detective and that’s where this crossed genres a bit. While it most assuredly is a mystery at it’s core it also read like a police procedural due to the addition of Marcus’ perspective and while it surprised me, it also pleased me. Naomi was a highly unique protagonist, her total blindness really added to the tension of the story in such a dark manner. I can’t even imagine being blind much less being terrorized on top of it, but Mr. Jordan did a phenomenal job of showcasing just how terrifying life could be for Naomi. Her fear and anxiety was palpable and made for such a different atmosphere, a fresh POV that just worked so well for me.

If you’ve read any of Jordan’s previous work then you’ll know he doesn’t shy away from graphic descriptions and sometimes gruesome crimes, but he really takes things to a whole new level with Before Her Eyes. This was dangerously dark and gritty, it had my pulse pounding several times and I loved every single minute of this intense ride. While there were plenty of shocking twists along the way the final whammy really made my jaw drop, totally never saw it coming and it was dropped right when I thought things were already wrapped up with a pretty little bow. Well done Mr. Jordan!!

Before Her Eyes in three words: Gripping, Dark and Intense.

Overall rating: 4.5/5

Thanks to the author for my review copy.