Customer Reviews

Blind Traveler Down a Dark River (Blind Traveler Mysteries)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book was a real page turner! The character development was excellent and the plot was truly innovative.

Mr. Bennett takes the reader into the world of a blind person and vividly brings that world to life.

Most important, Mr. Bennett creates a plausible murder mystery set in a all too real future (given the recent events in Japan). With rich character development and a true eye for detail, Bennett weaves a fascinating tale that takes the reader on a memorable ride!

I typically read history books, so when I take a break and read a novel I want a pager turner. "Blind Traveler" delivers big time. I read this book in about three nights. In fact, I spent my work day thinking about what was going to happen next in the book!

Five thumbs up! For $4 on Kindle you cannot go wrong and you will not be sorry.

I hope this book is made into a movie... it would certainly be better than most of the pablum Hollywood is spitting out nowadays.

I love science fiction and crime novels and to have both in one book was like heaven for me. I requested this book from Robert P. Bennett, who kindly agreed to let me review it, without even reading the synopsis. I was more intrigued by the title, Blind Traveler Down A Dark River. What an awesome title for a book. As I started reading it I found that I was completely engrossed in the story and couldn't tear myself away.

First of all we have the character of John Haggerty, the CEO of Unimat. Unimat have been researching a product called Plasteel. Basically they have taken the best properties of steel and combined it with plastic. How futuristic is that? Secondly we have Douglas Abledan, a blind R & D guy who uses a technology called the Virtual Sight GPS unit to help him get around. Again how futuristic does that sound? So how does this become a crime novel.

Well John Haggerty gets shot in a seemingly random drive-by shooting and Douglas Abledan witnesses it. Nobody believes that Douglas witness the murder, not even the police. How can a blind man witness a crime when he wasn't even in the area where it happened? Well basically his trusty Virtual Sight GPS unit malfunctions and tells him he's somewhere where he knows he isn't. So Douglas sets out to solve the crime himself. That is when this book becomes a crime novel. So how does Douglas go about solving this crime, well you're going to have to read the book to find out. All I will say is I couldn't stop reading.

This is a fantastic book from beginning to end. I liked all the characters but I like the character of Douglas Abledan more. I hope Robert P. Bennett writes more novels like this, as I will definitely be buying them. This is a must read for fans of science fiction and crime novels, although I think anyone would enjoy it.

I totally enjoyed this book by Robert Bennett. This is the kind of story that keeps you wanting more. Mr. Bennett takes his reader to the future with its problems while giving insight into new technology that is fascinating. The author's main character, Douglas, was a man on a mission and, although he was blind, he did not allow this disability to get in the way of his decision to solve a crime. The book's character development was well definded. You were able to feel and understand Douglas Abledan's frustation and courage. I hope Mr. Bennett continues his writings and takes us on some more journeys with Douglas Abledan. Thanks for a great book.

"Blind Traveler Down a Dark River" isn't your average game of Blind
Man1's Bluff. It's a detective thriller/mystery which pits a blind man turned detective into finding out who killed the CEO of Plaststeel Corporation. Although the police doubt that a blind man can witness a car accident, Douglas proves them wrong with hearing (navigational cane that works similar to sonar), deductive reasoning, and creative problem solving. Doulgas knows that his cane pitched to him the wrong sounds coming from a street and block of buildings that only exist in his mind. By using his fine tuned other sense, Douglas hunts down the person and/or organization that plots and calls the shots for questioned witnesses to be snuffed out. Douglas is on that list. Twist by twist, step by step, join Douglas as he struggles to understand the complexities of a murder mystery that only he can solve.

Watch out Ellery Queen! Step aside McMIllan and wife. Douglas is on
his game, and he won't quit until he forces the killer(s) to reveal
themselves and their heinous actions to the world! Four thumbs up.
Lillian Cauldwell

What would it be like to be blinded as an adult?

If it happens in 2021, the technology for blind people will afford them a nearly normal life, at least that's how author Robert Bennett envisions the future. A social worker with a background in criminal justice, he has written a gripping murder mystery starring a blind man, who, with the help of his GPS navigation system, is able to investigate and track down a killer.

I thoroughly enjoyed this page-turner and wouldn't be a bit surprised if the technology described in the book comes to pass.

Francine Silverman
[...]

BLIND TRAVELLER DOWN A DARK RIVER
BY ROBERT P. BENNETT

This superb novel by Mr. Bennett is an interesting and exciting techno-thriller. Throw in mystery, intrigue and murder and the story will keep you pressing forward to the next page. You don't want to miss a single word. The plot will grab your mind from the very first chapter. The scene is the year 2021 in New York City. Douglas Abledan is a most unusual leading character. Although he is blind he more than makes up for the handicap by his expert knowledge of computers and a gift for being a good judge of human nature.
An advanced personal electronic device utilizing Global Positioning System (GPS) technology, assists Douglas in "Navigating" through his world of darkness. By coincidence the reclusive computer specialist becomes involved in the murder of a local corporate CEO. The folks at NYPD Blue presume that it was random drive-by shooting, but Douglas isn't so sure. He had lost his eyesight at the hands of such a shooter two years earlier. He feels a sense of empathy and even a responsibility to make sure that justice is done. Even though it may be putting his own life in danger, he presses into a personal investigation, which leads him through a maze of perilous situations. As he makes his own case (to the chagrin of the local police) he soon encounters a world of Industrial Espionage, Secret Government contracts, Hired Assassins and Environmental Extremists. It seems that a number of people may have had a motive to kill the head of Unimat Corp. As the investigation progresses, will the blind self proclaimed detective get in over his head, and thus become the next target?
The author has not only penned a great mystery, his ability to project it from the viewpoint of a blind person is most fascinating. The reader is literally taken inside the head of Douglas Abledan and your own head and heart will be pounding at the conclusion. It is a great read and not filled with crude vulgarity in the process!

B. Davis Greer,
Author of "The Pegasus Affair"
ISBN: 1-4137-8817-3

I really enjoyed this book. I often find that science fiction novels have characters that aren't very well developed: they fall short of "real" and I'm not moved to really care about them. This book really delivers. The best way I can describe it is that it is a unique blend of a great science fiction story and an old-fashioned detective novel. The added bonus is the characters are not one-dimensional: they are believable, interesting and diverse. I wonder what is next for Douglas Abledan?

This is an incredibly constructed story filled with suspense, intrigue and plausibility. Robert P. Bennett is a master at weaving an intricate plot that gains momentum with each page and delivers a fiery conclusion. His writing style is tight, succint and provocative. I recommend this book to anyone looking for an exciting escape into mystery, technology and the high stakes game of big business. "Blind Traveler Down A Dark River" will make a fantastic movie. Robert P. Bennett is a creative genius!

Set in the not too distant future in New York City, the book Blind Traveler Down a Dark River is an exciting, well constructed, fast moving story of a blind computer expert caught up in a intricate murder story involving high technology and environmental terrorism.
The main character is blind and moves around New York city in general and Brooklyn in particular using advanced electronics that tell him where he is and what is around him. Forced into being a detective by circumstances beyond his control, he finds himself in he middle of a murder case which he must solve.
This is an exciting and believable story of a man who uses the high technology that helps him get around in the world to solve a case that the police cannot! I found it to be on of the most exciting and believable books I have read in a long time! Kudos to the author Robert Bennett! My advice to everyone....Get the book! Read it! It will be one of the best books you will read this year!

This story is an interesing combination of science fiction, intrigue and suspense, concerning the "witnessing" of a murder by a blind man who was not even present at the murder scene. The story is well written, and I think it would make a terrific movie. My only criticism is that I would have preferred the story to be a little longer, allowing for more character developemnt. I hope the author plans a sequel or even a series, as I would definitely like to continue to follow the exploits of the Blind Traveler. Great summer reading and highly recommended!