Double Blind

by Brandilyn Collins

Twenty-nine-year-old Lisa Newberry can barely make it through the day. Suddenly widowed and a survivor of a near-fatal attack, she is wracked with grief and despair. Then she hears of a medical trial for a tiny brain chip that emits electrical pulses to heal severe depression. At rope’s end, Lisa offers herself as a candidate.

When she receives her letter of acceptance for the trial, Lisa is at first hopeful. But—brain surgery. Can she really go through with that? What if she receives only the placebo?

What if something far worse goes wrong?

Written in the relentless style for which Brandilyn Collins is known, Double Blind is a psychological thriller with mind-bending twists. Lisa faces choices that drive her to the brink, and one wrong move could cost the lives of many.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Audiobook, Christian

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2012

About the author

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith.

Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is a sought-after teacher and speaker at writers' conferences.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Brandilyn Collins, and looked forward to this book. I must say it was not quite what I expected. The first half of the book was not engaging to me, and I almost DNF but kept going as I do like this author's books.

Lisa Newberry's life was not going well....at 29 she was recently widowed, almost attacked in a parking lot, and is suffering from severe depression.

All of that is about to change when she hears of a new medical technique to treat depression - a small chip is placed in the brain. She is chosen to be one of the first to have this chip surgically implanted.

Then her real troubles begin. Post-surgery she begins to have visions that are violent and cause her much fear. She "sees" a woman being murdered.
Was the chip causing the visions?

This didn't work for me. The story/writing did not pull me in, and was just okay.
2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3.

[Sarita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finishing this in three days should be evident on how "edge of your seat" suspense this was. The plot was interesting and kept me guessing on what was going to happen or just when I think something will happen, the author threw in a twist that had me rethinking my whole thought process.

Yes, there was some unrealistic events, like moving around and driving after major brain surgery, but the way the author has written this story, especially the visions Lisa saw, had me so completely interested in how this will end, this small details I was okay to overlook.

I liked how the author used Lisa's mom as her rock in this crisis and how this crisis brought them together, made the talk about past hurts and reconciled their relationship.

This was a good suspense by an author I still have lots of books to catch up on.

[Angie Arndt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading Brandilyn Collins' novels for ages. In fact, the first one I read was Eyes of Elisha, way back in 2001. And I've come to expect certain things from her Seatbelt Suspense®:

I need to begin reading the book early in the day, because I will have to finish it before I go to bed.
I will be on edge the entire time.
I will surprised, shocked and surprised, again. And finally,
I will love it.

Double Blind is chock-full of nail-biting intrigue. Lisa Newberry is desperate for help after her husband dies suddenly. Her desperation drives her to sign up for a medical study. But instead of getting relief, finds herself clinging to small bits of sanity when visions of murder assail her memory. She has limited resources, in the form of her friend, her mom and her faith. Is that enough for her to get to the truth without losing her mind?

Double Blind cost me much of one night's sleep because I started reading it later than usual. Since I'm dealing with one of the "invisible diseases," (Brandilyn has in the past also), I was curious to see how she was going to turn her character's struggle with depression into a suspense thriller. I didn't need to worry. She did a marvelous job of making Lisa's struggle with her health believable without slowing down the action. I loved it!

Thanks to The DeMoss Group for providing a copy for me to review.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Double Blind is definitely not a "Cozy mystery." If you like Richard Mabry and Robin Cook medical thrillers, Double Blind is written in much the same vein. It was a "keep me on the edge of my seat, page turner" that I did not want to put down. The ending will leave you very surprised. Ms. Collins continues to write books that leave you wanting to read another one.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa Newberry sufferers from debilitating depression. After suffering several miscarriages, losing her husband, and being attacked, she can barely make it through a day. When a company promises to take away her depression with a brain chip, she jumps at the chance. To her delight, the chip works, but now instead of depression haunting her, she can't get the images of a murder out of her head, a murder she is determined to solve.

This book will keep readers turning the pages to find out what will happen next. There are twists and turns on every page. I figured Lisa would solve the murder and that would be the suspenseful part of the book, so I was surprised by the twist about half-way through and continued to be surprised until the last chapter.

I enjoyed Lisa's relationship with her mom. Often Christian suspense books will have a female heroine, but the handsome man will help her solve the case and they fall in love. While I like those, I enjoyed the mom-daughter relationship that was a major part of this book.

Fans of Collins' books will enjoy this book as it has all the things Collins does best: suspense, twists and turns, and a little bit of faith.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts are my own.

[Cara Putman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandilyn Collins is an author who writes so many twists into her suspense that I never know exactly where a book is going until the end. Usually I can foresee at least the general direction of a suspense -- but Double Blind kept me guessing and reading until the last page. The combination of an innovative medical device that can bring relief to some but terrorizes the heroine was fresh. Has what she is seeing already happened? Is there any way to be rid of these horrible images? While there is no romance -- the book doesn't need it. Instead, there is rich relational conflict with Lisa's mother and best friend. I loved this page-turner that shines a light on the reality that God doesn't leave us in our deepest valleys.

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Lisa Newberry has is her memories, even as painful as they are. It validates who she is, who she was and who she can be. First she miscarried three times, then she lost the love of her life, Ryan in a car accident, and later she was brutally attacked outside in a parking lot. Now her life is reduced to nothing more than simply waking up and trying to see it to the end. To say she was depressed was mild compared to how she was really feeling. Blackness, fear and anxiety now consume her.

Her only hope remains in the envelope and it's contents she holds within her hands. It's from a company called Cognoscenti and even though she believes it is what she so desperately needs, she will soon learn it will hold another quite different fate for her. She has filled out all the necessary paperwork required for this life-changing medical trial for victims of PTSD or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or suffering from severe depression that almost incapacitates its victims. Most of the subjects have been from brutally attacks or returning from the war and the trial promises to suppress the emotions of the events without altering the memories.

It's the one thing Lisa doesn't want to eliminate are the memories of those times but it's the debilitating emotions she can't seem to work past. Now if she is approved, she can undergo surgery to have an Empowerment Chip installed on her brain that has shown amazing results for those that receive the real thing. She won't know if she'll get the placebo or the real thing, but all she knows is for right now, something has to change. When she opens the envelope, she is surprised when she learns she's been accepted. But what will really happen when she decides to go through with this? Will she forget everything? Will she survive the surgery? What is nothing happens?

In the latest suspense thriller from Brandilyn Collins, Double Blind takes the readers into an interesting science fiction story line where a new medical trial promises the most amazing results to help it's subjects who receive the real thing. There have been no reported side effects and Lisa knows how life changing this could be for her, but what she doesn't realize is just how life changing it will really be. It may just be the worst decision she's ever made!

I received Double Blind compliments of B & H Publishers and Net Galley for my honest review and have to say, I was completely captivated by this one. I was spending so much time trying to figure out what was going on and who was behind it all, before I realized it, I had finished the book. Once again Brandilyn creates such a believable story that will hold the reader in the palm of her hands until the final page is turned. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. I found myself constantly stopping and telling my family how amazing this story really is! Due out in book retailers in October of 2012!

[C.J. Darlington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kudos to Brandilyn for another highly imaginative (yet plausible) what if scenario.

[Madeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh golly!!!!! This book was crazy! It was like diving into a Terri Blackstock book!! The plot literally threw me off guard at the end!!! WOAHHH didn’t see that one coming!
To sum it up here’s how I felt:🤯😳🤭😮😱😬

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/review/R1KUTM5U...
Review on my blog: http://christianbookshelfreviews.blog...

I've read most of Brandilyn Collins books (I think all but her Bradleyville series) and I've yet to be disappointed. She is definitely one of my favorite authors. I was somewhat curious going in to Double Blind, as it's a psychological thriller and I had little to no idea what to expect... well, it was a fantastic read!

From the first page (literally) I felt for Lisa and all she had gone through. Not only did she suffer three miscarriages, then lose her husband in a car accident, but she was also attacked and almost killed by her attacker. I can completely understand why she deals with depression after going through all that, and it's no wonder she's thinking about participating in a medical trial to heal the depression.

I have to say, the story was really... bizarre. I loved how it was so weird and I couldn't guess the ending. Seriously, there were so many times I "thought" I knew what was going on but I was so very wrong. There were just so many twists.

There were a couple times I was a little confused and I wish the ending would have had a bit more closure. I also didn't like how a character would hear/feel a reply from God (it's one of my pet-peeves).

Still, Double Blind was a very good read and I did not see the ending coming AT ALL! Such a shocker. :) If you enjoy psychological thrillers or suspense novels with some weird elements, I definitely recommend Double Blind.

*I received a complimentary eBook copy via Netgalley for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. I also received a print copy from a blogging friend (thanks!). All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*

[Iola · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the last three years, Lisa Newberry has suffered three miscarriages, lost her husband and been the victim of a mugging. She is suffering depression from all the losses, but her acceptance into a medical trial might be the answer. Cognoscenti's new Empowerment Chip is implanted directly into the brain, and claims to remove the trauma associated with emotional issues such as depression.

When she wakes from the surgery, Lisa is convinced she has received the real chip, not a placebo, because for the first time in months she can think of her husband without crying. But when she falls asleep after the operation, she has a horrible nightmare. She then starts seeing dark visions of death and murder even while she is awake and in the middle of a conversation… Is the chip malfunctioning, is Lisa crazy, or is there something more sinister behind the visions?

Brandilyn Collins knows how to get straight into the action, and Double Blind was a thriller from start to finish. The story is told in the first person by Lisa, and she is a strong narrator who immediately grabbed my attention. She is assisted by her mother, with whom she has always had a difficult relationship, and by her best friend, Sherry. The characters are all strong women, intelligent and likeable.

Behind the race to find out what the visions are and how she might be rid of them is a deeper theme of forgiveness, trusting God and understanding that he is there for us even in the midst of grief and depression. I thought the author brought this out very well, and the Christian aspects of the novel were well integrated into the overall story. Recommended.

Thanks to B&H books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Marian Baay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Newberry lost her husband to a car accident about 9 months ago. She was attacked and almost strangled to death. All this brought her to despair and she was suffering from a severe depression which she couldn’t handle. When she hears of a brain chip that emits electrical pulses to her brain that will cure her depression, she offers to participate in the medical trial—hoping and praying that she will get the real chip and not a placebo.

After surgery she is feeling fine and is convinced she’s cured from her depression, but while still recovering in the hospital she is having a bad dream of someone being murdered. First she’s thinking it must be the meds that’s giving her hallucinations, but when the medications are out of her system she’s still seeing these visions. They scare her to death. She is sure the chip is causing these visions, but the medical company who planted the chip in her brain claims it is a placebo so it shouldn’t do anything.

Lisa and her mom are trying to unravel the mystery. Who is the woman being murdered in Lisa’s visions? And why is the medical company telling her that she received a placebo while she’s sure it is a real chip?

I was hooked from page one! I had no idea where this story would take me. It has an original and clever plot. Brandilyn Collins has penned another page-turner which will keep the reader up till late in the night!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one, but wasn't "wowed" by it. I liked the suspense, but felt like there was very little real action in the story. I like how the story centered around a mother-daughter relationship versus the typical romantic relationship that seems to be the norm in this style of book.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME!! LOVED IT!!

[Emese K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I opted for this book as I had “medical thriller” listed in the 2020 Reading Challenge.

I cannot say I liked this book but it was not bad either. There were a couple of annoying details which finally resulted me not really enjoying the book.

I listened to the audiobook and unfortunately the narrator’s choice of voice for the main character was pretty annoying, like she was drugged or sleepy all the time. But this my personal opinion and if you read it, it will not be an issue at all.

The initial problem is already an overkill: Lisa not only losing her husband, but having had three miscarriages and also being a victim of assault (and robbery?). Simply from one she could have been depressed, this combination feels like justifying her being severely depressed which I find particularly annoying as people suffering from depression are stigmatized enough.

The book was full of pointless conversations leading nowhere. I assume it was meant to give background to the characters, but it did not succeed, it just derailed the main story and added extra volume to the book but no real value.

Then there are several idiotic reactions from the characters forcing you to say “hey, wait, what?”. For example after Lisa’s flat was broken into and police is investigating and ask them for fingerprints, the answer is: now we are dusted for fingerprints like criminals. It is an investigation, that you wanted, get a grip! Or when Lisa says that nobody believes her. She says it at the end of the book. Woman! The whole story was about you and all your friends and family was nothing but supportive and understanding.

Then the out of character actions also alianiate us from the protagonist and the storyline like Lisa attacking Patty.

The endgame is ridiculous. Lisa did break in and did carry a knife, granted she was also a victim in the situation but how would snybody react if a woman with a knife would come asking questions jn you living room.

This book is average at best, cannot recommend.

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anyone who has read a Brandilyn Collins book expects a crazy good suspense every single time. For some reason, this one did not hit that mark for me.

On the one hand, I love a good suspense with a medical undertone, and in Double Blind, just the thought that Lisa might be able to "cure" her depression with a chip implanted in her brain was mind blowing. As part of a medical trial, she found that chance - only the chip that she received was loaded with images from a murder. Those images started showing in her mind within 24 hours of the chip's implantation, and completely turned her life upside down.

On the other hand, the story dragged for me. It took so long to get to the climax of the story, the mystery surrounding this chip, and why Lisa was seeing these images. And while I normally allow myself to let a suspense play out on its own without trying to figure it out, I was frustrated when the bad guy was revealed and the way that scene came about. It just didn't work for me.

By no means will I stop reading this author because this book didn't meet my expectations. She has loads of other books that I've read over the years and loved! For readers looking for her style of writing combined with a medical suspense, I would recommend her book Over the Edge instead.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

ack. Ack. ACK!
I think that's the word that was running around my brain for a good majority of this novel. It sucked me right in, and got even more twisted and suspenseful as it went on. Just when I thought Lisa had figured out what was going on, a new detail would be revealed and . . . ACK!
I actually really liked this book. Lisa was a relatable heroine, and I loved that she was able to figure out that God had been with her all along, even if she couldn't feel Him there.
This is my first read by this author, but definitely not my last.

[Kathleen Meacham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real page-turner!

[Margaret]

A solid three star read with some exciting moments. I think that I would have liked more character building and story depth. Not bad but nothing spectacular.

[Cecelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Newberry is battling a deep, dark depression. Her husband was recently killed in a car accident, a short time later she was mugged, and before her husband died, she suffered from multiple miscarriages. Lisa feels she has no hope, so, when a company, Cognoscenti, offers help, she decides to be a part of their new trial study. The study requires Lisa to have a chip implanted into her brain. This new brain chip supposedly offers a “cure” for her depression.

Desperate, she agrees to the terms, which require her to have brain surgery. There’s no guarantee that the chip will help her depression – it’s possible that Lisa will be implanted with a placebo. After the surgery, Lisa feels much better, realizing the chip has “cured” her depression. However, while still in the hospital, recuperating from surgery, Lisa begins having strange dreams and visions – she sees images of a woman being murdered. Are these images just nightmares, or, is she really seeing visions of a real person being murdered?

Lisa continues to be plagued with these visions and, her mother arrives, offering to help Lisa. Lisa’s relationship with her mother is strained, and she’s not sure if she wants her mother to help her right now. Her best friend, Sherri, also offers assistance to Lisa.

I could easily tell that this was a Brandilyn Collins book. The woman seeing the visions of the murder kind of reminded me of Collins’ book, Eyes Of Elisha. This book kept you guessing until the very end, and it was deeply suspenseful and chilling. It was a quick, page-turning, enjoyable read. There were so many unexpected things happening in this book – you’ll be surprised when you read it.

Amidst all this turmoil, Lisa realizes she needs to stop and think and evaluate her relationship with God, where does she stand with Him?

[Julie Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Newberry has spiraled into a depression that she cannot get out of. She has suffered multiple miscarriages and now her husband has passed away. She despairs of ever being normal again. When given the opportunity to participate in a new Empowerment Chip trial Lisa sees this as a way out of her depression. Cognoscenti is testing their new chip that promises to relieve patients of depression.

The study is a blind study in that the patient and the doctors do not know whether the chip that is being placed in the brain is a placebo or an actual Empowerment Chip. When Lisa wakes up from surgery she is sure that she received the actual Empowerment Chip as she feels better than she has in months. She feels lighter and it seems the depression is gone. Before Lisa even leaves the hospital she starts having visions of a murder taking place. Convinced she is going crazy Lisa goes to Cognoscenti to insist that they remove the chip from her brain.

Cognoscenti denies that the chip in Lisa’s brain is defective and insist that she needs psychological counseling. Lisa continues to have more detailed visions of the murder and sets out to find the woman murdered and to find the killer. But the murderer does not want to be found and takes steps to warn Lisa to stop her search.

I’m a huge fan of suspense and psychological thrillers! I enjoyed Double Blind very much. The story never seemed to lag and each page kept me turning until the very end. The outcome was a surprise to me and didn’t seem predictable. I’m truly a fan of Brandilyn Collins!

[Kay Defreese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lisa Newberry is experiencing extreme depression. She suffered several miscarriages, the tragic accidental death of her husband and then she suffered an attack. She was not mentally able to handle all these things that happened in her life so she agreed to become a test subject for an experimental chip to be implanted in her brain. The chip would eliminate all depression. She didn't know whether she would get the placebo or the real chip. At first life was grand for her. Depression all gone. Life couldn't get any better. She felt she had a new lease on life and could breathe again and then the nightmares began. Glimpses of a horrific murder would invade her thoughts. It was as if she were seeing the murder happening through her own eyes.

Brandilyn Collins is known for her seatbelt suspense novels and this one was no exception. This one kept me one edge the whole time. This novel had an Alfred Hitchcock flair to it. It kept me in suspense wanting to know what was going to happen next. I don't want to give too much of the plot away to spoil it for the reader but just to say you will not be disappointed. I did not see the ending happening the way it did.

Thanks to Netgalley and B&H Publishing group for providing me this book to review. No payment was received for this review.
This book is due to be release October 15, 2012.

[Linda B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope you are ready for another dose of “Seatbelt Suspense®”! Lisa is 29, suffered several miscarriages, lost her husband and suffered a violent attack. Although she is a person of faith, her depression has become overwhelming. She has tried to rely on God, but she feels her only hope is to be the subject of a new medical experiment which will implant a chip in her brain. What starts out as a quick fix turns out to be her worst nightmare.

This was an interesting plot as the character works through matters of faith while longing for a way to rid her of that crushing depression. With today’s technology I thought the story was believable, and I could understand the character’s desire to enter into the trial. The author does not disappoint as she brings her trademark nail-biting suspense to this story. There are some twists in the story that were interesting and surprising.

I confess that I was a little annoyed by the character’s complaints about her mother which I thought were rather superficial criticisms. But in spite of that, I enjoyed the mother/daughter relationship and how they worked through their problems. It was a very important part of the story.

I have read several of Brandilyn Collins books and although I wouldn’t say this was my favorite, it certainly is an interesting read that I would definitely recommend .

[Kalena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Double Blind is the first book I have read by Brandilyn Collins. I found the idea of a brain chip interesting (and really scary). As you follow Lisa Newberry through her involvement with an enterprising and experimental program, she hints at her relationships with God, her mom and her best friend, Sherry. Although I enjoyed watching her mend things with her Mom, I really felt that the relationship with God was quite weak which didn't seem to really bother or affect anyone anyway--so why add it? There could have been some really nice reflections and sharing for Lisa's and maybe her loved one's faith in this. Pacing and plot was good, character development moderate. It was just okay for me.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Initially the storyline reminded me of an earlier Collins book, but it quickly moved in a different direction that provided intense excitement in this exciting page turner. Another great book by Brandilyn Collins coming out in October!

[Kelly Lubash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Convoluted

I found the main character to be a mass of contradictions and didn't care for the mystery behind a futuristic chip implanted in the brain. I'm ordinarily a big fan of the author. Not with this book.

[TheReadingKnitter/ Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't my favorite Collins book but it was still good. I couldn't imagine going through what she went through and the ending was okay. Would have liked it to end with knowing the outcome of the person who committed the crime.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic suspense novel. Medical drama with twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing.

[Tabitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a complicated book for me. Early on in the story I wanted to DNF it yet there was something about it that made me want to know what happened. So I stuck it out…I’m still not to sure how I feel about it.

Lisa has gone through a lot of tragedy’s in her life including loosing her husband and being robbed. This lead to a deep depression. She decides to participate in a brain chip trial. She could either get a chip that “cures” her depression or has no effects at all and that was the risk. She goes for it. She believes her chip has healed her depression upon awakening. However, now she receiving images of a murder that has taken place.

Her mother comes to her to help her discover who was murdered, and who the murder was. This way Lisa is free of these flashbacks. As they collect the information they have to decided if these flash backs are of the past or pictures of the future. They have to decided how either of these are possible sense the company says she has a chip that did nothing for her.

I very much enjoyed that Lisa and her mother was able to spend time together and heal their relationship. I think more mother/daughter relationship are like theirs so it was beautiful to see them address that.

However, the faith was very little and it just felt like the over all theme was putting trust in the chip and not Jesus. There’s is a moment in the book that is touched on but by then it felt a little late.

However, this book was different and there where twist and turns. I’m definitely interested in giving this authors other books a try!