The Blind

June 12, 2017
Psychologist Samantha “Sam” James, the heroine of Brady’s complex, intricately plotted debut, is the golden girl at Manhattan’s Typhlos Psychiatric Center, respected and admired by her boss and peers. In her personal life, however, she’s miserable, and drinking heavily. When a new patient, Richard McHugh, shows up at the center, he first sits in silence with one of the other therapists, then asks to see Sam. All Sam knows is that Richard once murdered someone and spent more than half his life in prison. In subsequent sessions with Richard, Sam struggles to figure out this enigmatic man—whose reason for coming to the facility remains unclear. One side benefit of trying to treat Richard is that Sam begins to see her own life more clearly. On the other hand, she starts behaving inappropriately with other patients and making mistakes at work, some leading to disastrous results. This psychological thriller grabs the reader and doesn’t let go until the truth about Richard’s past is finally revealed. Agent: Marian Young, Marian Young Agency.

July 15, 2017
A woman in pieces must put herself back together before she loses everything she's worked for and everyone she cares about.Samantha James, 37, is one of the best psychologists on staff at Typhlos Psychiatric Center in Manhattan, and she's determined to keep it that way. She genuinely cares about her patients and revels in the recognition she gets from her boss, Rachel. Her co-worker and best friend, David, provides an emotional oasis for her at work, one that is sorely lacking outside of it. Underneath her can-do demeanor is another Sam entirely, one spiraling in a haze of alcohol, casual sex, and physical abuse at the hands of her awful boyfriend, Lucas. If only she could "fix" him they'd be the perfect couple. When new patient Richard McHugh (who spent 20 years in prison) comes to Typhlos, no one wants to take him on, but after one psychologist's man-to-man approach fails--Richard refuses to answer any questions--he becomes Sam's problem, and she's determined to make it work. Richard is an enigma, not answering her questions, coming to her office carrying a pile of old newspapers. When Sam makes an egregious mistake that only Richard witnesses, he makes her an offer she can't refuse: he'll tell her his secrets if she'll share hers, and he'll seal it with vodka--but if she refuses, he'll expose her drinking problem. And boy does Sam have some secrets to tell. Brady's entertaining debut is told in the wry voice of Sam, who uses black humor to hide an undercurrent of pain. There is a twist, of course, and readers will most likely have it figured out well before the end, but the journey (and the eye-opening, compassionate look at institutional life) is just as important as the destination, and for all her foibles, Sam is an irresistible diversion even if she can't seem to get out of her own way and be herself. A satisfying, darkly funny tale of redemption.

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September 1, 2017
Dark, moody, and fascinatingly flawed describe Brady's debut novel but also its protagonist, Sam James. Sam's work as a psychologist at a New York mental-health institution maintains her own sanity as much as that of her patients. A secret alcoholic in an abusive relationship, she continues functioning, believing that if she can't save herself, maybe she can save someone else. Her house of cards begins to fall with the arrival of Richard, a new patient who refuses to see anyone but Sam yet won't talk or reveal what brought him to the institution. Sam sets out to break through Richard's wall, but she finds that it's her own wall that's crumbling. A practicing psychotherapist, Brady paints an all-too-realistic picture of an unsupported mental-health system that can fail those needing it most. The Blind is less of a psychological thriller and more a suspenseful look at our weaknesses and ability to forgive. While Sam is a somewhat unsympathetic and unlikable character, readers will be anxious to know if she'll be able to get her act together.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)

Starred review from August 1, 2017

Sam James, a psychologist working at a Manhattan psychiatric institution, has been assigned a difficult patient named Richard. Apparently, Richard has spent considerable time in prison, and he suffers from some kind of mental illness, but he doesn't answer questions so no one can figure him out. Unfortunately, Richard is just one of the hurdles in Sam's life that daily excursions to the local bar seem to relieve. Plus she's got a gorgeous boyfriend who wants to move in together. What could be more perfect? But as she continues to hide the truth with careful makeup and a few nips here and there, things begin to unravel at an alarming rate. Desperate to hold on to her relationship and also prove her brilliance at work by cracking the guarded Richard, Sam starts taking risks that could backfire in the worst way. VERDICT Brady's fast-paced, riveting psychological chiller will wow suspense and thriller lovers alike. Brilliant character study and superior writing make this an outstanding debut. [See Prepub Alert, 3/13/17.]--Cynthia Price, Francis Marion Univ. Lib., Florence, SC

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2017

Sam James, a psychologist working at a Manhattan psychiatric institution, has been assigned a difficult patient named Richard. Apparently, Richard has spent considerable time in prison, and he suffers from some kind of mental illness, but he doesn't answer questions so no one can figure him out. Unfortunately, Richard is just one of the hurdles in Sam's life that daily excursions to the local bar seem to relieve. Plus she's got a gorgeous boyfriend who wants to move in together. What could be more perfect? But as she continues to hide the truth with careful makeup and a few nips here and there, things begin to unravel at an alarming rate. Desperate to hold on to her relationship and also prove her brilliance at work by cracking the guarded Richard, Sam starts taking risks that could backfire in the worst way. VERDICT Brady's fast-paced, riveting psychological chiller will wow suspense and thriller lovers alike. Brilliant character study and superior writing make this an outstanding debut. [See Prepub Alert, 3/13/17.]--Cynthia Price, Francis Marion Univ. Lib., Florence, SC

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2017

In a debut that's billed as One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest meets Luckiest Girl Alive, psychologist Sam James is routinely assigned the toughest cases at her Manhattan psychiatric institution. New patient Richard, whom other staff members refuse to treat, seems out of place precisely because he seems so normal, and working with him forces Sam down her own dark path. With a 60,000-copy first printing.

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.