Blind Spots

Blind Spots reimagines 1950s America in an alternate timeline where androids serve as police officers. The book follows Lisa Smithson, an engineer working for the Metro Police Department, as she investigates potential malfunctions in the robotic law enforcement units. Against the backdrop of racial tensions and civil rights activism, Lisa must determine if the android officers' systematic profiling of certain neighborhoods stems from programming errors or human bias built into their code. Her technical investigation evolves into questions about justice, institutional power, and what it means to truly protect and serve. The narrative examines human-machine interaction, systemic prejudice, and accountability through a retro-futuristic lens. By setting current social issues in a speculative 1950s context, the story creates a space to explore how technology both reflects and amplifies society's deepest flaws.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Thomas Mullen's overall work: Readers highlight Mullen's detailed historical research and ability to weave social issues into compelling narratives. His police procedural Darktown earned praise for its examination of race relations in 1948 Atlanta, with readers noting its relevance to current events. One reader called it "unflinching in showing the realities of the Jim Crow South." Many readers appreciate his character development and atmospheric writing style, particularly in Lightning Men and Darktown. Some readers cite pacing issues in The Last Town on Earth and slow plot development in The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers. Average ratings across platforms: Darktown: 4.0/5 (Goodreads), 4.3/5 (Amazon) Lightning Men: 4.1/5 (Goodreads), 4.4/5 (Amazon) The Last Town on Earth: 3.8/5 (Goodreads), 4.0/5 (Amazon) The Many Deaths of the Firefly Brothers: 3.6/5 (Goodreads), 3.8/5 (Amazon) Most critical reviews mention length and pacing, with several readers noting his books could be "tightened up by 50-100 pages."

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson A Black FBI agent working during the Cold War navigates racial tensions and gender politics while undertaking an undercover mission in West Africa.

The Power of the Dog by Don Winslow A DEA agent's personal vendetta against a Mexican drug lord spans decades and borders while exploring corruption within law enforcement institutions.

Razorblade Tears by S.A. Cosby Two ex-cons—one Black, one white—unite to investigate their gay sons' murders while confronting their own prejudices and the criminal underworld.

IQ by Joe Ide A high school dropout uses his deductive skills to solve crimes in his Los Angeles community while dealing with racial profiling and systemic inequities.

Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden A Native American enforcer on the Rosebud Indian Reservation investigates drug trafficking while confronting tribal politics and federal law enforcement failures.

📚 Author Thomas Mullen spent three years researching police procedures and civil rights history to create the authentic backdrop for this novel. 🏛️ The book's storyline draws parallels to real events from the 1948 integration of the Atlanta Police Department, when eight African American officers were hired but faced severe restrictions on their duties. 🚔 The term "blind spots" in policing historically referred to areas where white officers wouldn't patrol, leaving Black neighborhoods largely unprotected. 🎯 The novel was partly inspired by Mullen's earlier work "Darktown," which takes place in the same universe and deals with similar themes of racial tension in law enforcement. 📝 During the time period depicted in the book, Black police officers in many Southern cities weren't allowed to arrest white citizens and had to call white officers to make such arrests.