Blindsighted by Karin Slaughter

When doctor Sara Linton goes to lunch that day, she never expected her life to change so dramatically.  When she goes into the restroom, she finds a victim; a local chemist who is blind has been raped and slashed and left for dead.  She is still alive but dies in Sara's arms as she tries to help. 

Chief of police Jeffrey Tolliver is faced with a sadistic killer.  He is also Sara's ex-husband and there is plenty of tension left between them.  Another conflict is that the victim is the twin sister of his top detective, Lena Adams.  Lena already has issues being the only female in the small Georgia town police force and she is determined to be on the case although everyone knows it shouldn't be allowed.

Clues are scarce and before Jeffrey makes much progress, the killer strikes again.  This time he kidnaps a student from the local college and when she is found, two things become apparent.  The killer is working through a religious framework and his main target is Sara.  Sara has a background that already has a criminal in it.  She was attacked in Atlanta years ago during her residency.  Is this the same man or is someone new?

This is the first novel in the Grant County series and an early book in the successful career of Karin Slaughter.  The violence is graphic and the reader needs to be prepared for it.  Along with the horrific crimes, there is tension between Sara and Jeffrey as they work on what their relationship should be post divorce.  There are plenty of twists and turns and the reader will finish with a real appreciation for why Karin Slaughter is such a powerful force in the mystery genre.  This book is recommended for mystery readers.