Close Your Eyes

Rated 3.5 stars.
The mystery was good. The main character is Kendra, who was blind from birth, but a few years ago she had an experimental procedure that restored her sight. (Wish that could really happen.)But since she lived nearly her whole life without seeing, her other senses are more developed than the average person. So she figures out things that others can't. She kind of reminds me of Sherlock Holmes, like he would say "this man is a left-handed carpenter who is an avid bird-watcher" and everyone around will look at him in wonder at how he could figure that out. And he has a half dozen clues that he noticed that led him to know it. So Kendra is similar but uses mostly smell and sound. She previously worked the the FBI but hated show more it and now is a therapist for kids with special needs. She's approached by an agent with the DoJ who needs her help in solving a series of murders and also in locating her FBI agent ex-boyfriend who had been investigating these crimes.
I liked the mystery, but there were some things I didn't like. Kendra came off as a little obnoxious. In the book, it's made known that she is abrasive and can't get along well with others. But there's a difference between someone who is lacking in social skills and someone who says things on purpose to bother or insult another person. I think she's able to control what she says, but she chooses not to. And she's about 27 yrs old but is making a romantic connection with her DoJ partner who is 40 . That's a huge age difference, he's like an old man compared to her.
But there was a huge reveal at the end, regarding one of the major characters. I was surprised, but did catch on before Kendra did. The series looks promising, so I will read the next one. show less

Close Your Eyes
3 Stars

Blind from birth, Dr. Kendra Michaels learned to rely on her other senses. Following surgery to restore her sight, Kendra put her incredible powers of observation to good use by aiding the FBI until a life altering case put her on a different path. Now a series of multiple murders has sent former FBI agent and current Justice Department fixer, Adam Lynch, to Kendra's door. Despite her reluctance, she feels compelled to assist him, but this decision might very well have devastating consequences for those she loves.

An enjoyable read overall, but the lack of romance is disappointing, especially as the book is marketed as romantic suspense when it is, in fact, more of a police procedural/thriller.

Although Kendra is a show more somewhat prickly heroine who may rub some readers the wrong way, her Sherlockian abilities are very intriguing and are portrayed realistically. Lynch has his own anti-social issues to deal with, but he is likeable nonetheless. Unfortunately, Kendra and Lynch had absolutely no chemistry and the romance is virtually non-existent.

The case is very intriguing with some truly diabolical villains whose POVs ratchet up the tension. That said, the first half of the book with the bodies piling up and the forensics investigation is better than the second half, which seems to lose momentum as Lynch and Kendra close in on the perpetrators. Also, the FBI mole is glaringly obvious from relatively early on.

In sum, the mystery is better than the romance and it is unlikely that I will continue with the series as I am not invested in the characters. show less

I was really excited for this novel because I was very intrigued by Kendra's character. I wanted to know how the authors would portray her. At first, I really enjoyed her blunt attitude and her amazing talent; it almost reminded me of a mix between Bones and The Mentalist. But pretty soon I got bored of Kendra. She just ... didn't have much of a personality. She was cold and hard to connect to, and there were times when she was unnecessarily harsh to those around her. Her sudden outbursts of emotion were startling because it seemed so out of place based on the way she had been acting previously. She also kept harping on the same point over and over again, and that became tiresome really quickly.

Adam Lynch was also a character that I show more was intrigued by, but he too disappointed me in the end. He had no personality. I don't even know how to describe him because he was so bland. He just smiled all the time and drove Kendra around. While I liked seeing Kendra as the star of the show, her cold personality combined with his bland one did nothing for the story. They had absolutely no chemistry and so there was really no romance at all to see.

I liked the initial plot, which was fast-paced and interesting. However, I began to feel bored at about the midway point and had to push myself through the story. There were so many things happening and the connections weren't made tight enough for my liking, and that made me less focused. The twist at the end wasn't anything too special, and in the end I felt like this novel was just like any other midlevel detective story.

I had really high expectations for this series as well as these authors but unfortunately, I was disappointed. If you are looking for a fast-paced, easy detective novel, then give this one a go. But if you like something more deep, then don't bother with this series.

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Listened for Review
Overall Rating: 4.25
Story Rating: 4.50
Character Rating 4.00

Audio Rating: 4.00 (Not part of the overall rating)

First Thought When Finished: I will admit I thought this was part of a series but appears to be a stand alone (maybe beginning of a series).

What I Thought of the Characters: I am just going to say it: Kendra Michael is a very unique leading character. In Close Your Eyes, Kendra is asked to help the FBI track down her missing ex-boyfriend (also FBI) but she struggles with getting back into that world. I thought Kendra's struggle with "doing what is right" for her vs them was very well done. Her very unique skill set makes her really valuable but it has a HUGE emotional/physical toll on her. It took awhile for show more me to warm up to the characters but they were still really well done! Adam Lynch was intriguing and at the end I still wasn't sure what I thought about him. He is one of those characters that rub you both wrong and right. Those are always very interesting to read.

What I Thought of the Case: Close Your Eyes is a thriller that has all the aspects I love: twists, emotion, and an unpredictable ending. I was totally watching through Kendra as she dealt with each thing that was thrown at her: best friend getting hurt, ex-boyfriend missing, her job put in jeopardy, her relationship with her mom, and dealing with FBI personnel. I don't want to give anything away but the last 1/4 of Close Your Eyes was just brilliant. The whole thing comes together in an emotional ending that will leave you going "OMG".

What I Thought of the Audio: Narrated by Elisabeth Rodgers and at a running time of 10 hrs and 41 mins, this is a series that I will continue to listen to on Audio. Elisabeth did an excellent job with the pacing and emotion. It took about an hour to warm up to her "male" voices but otherwise this was spot-on.

Final Thought: I really enjoyed Close Your Eyes and hope that it turns into a series. show less

When Kendra is approached by a dubious source about a serial murder investigation, her instincts tell her to steer clear. This time, however, the case is personal: The next name to turn up on the killer’s hit list is Kendra’s own ex-lover, an FBI agent who disappeared without a trace. Now it’s up to Kendra to pick up the trail—or close her eyes again…forever. I like the books that she writes with her son, Roy. Recommend to anyone that wants a good mystery.

Great book! I couldn't put it down. Blind from birth the heroine regains her sight through stem cell therapy but retains her amazing powers of observation. Those powers may lead to her death as she helps the FBI search for one of their own. Wonderfully engaging!

I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13678476

It has been a while since I read this. I do remember that it follows the usual female-led thriller formula. Young woman, usually 30s or early 40s, attractive, has special abilities. In this case Kendra had been blind for 20 years and had developed her other senses so that she is far superior in their use to most other people. She uses her skills to work with people who have developmental or sensory difficulties, using music. But of course she gets pulled into a different kind of use.

An unconventional FBI agent draws her into his case, the case of finding another agent, one with whom Kendra had been in love. He had gone missing. She resists getting show more involved, of course, but he pushes her until she consents. And from here it is the usual romantic suspense, done well for the genre. Just not my favorite. show less