Based on the cover and the content, without too much research, I assumed this was a reprint of an older series. In one way, it is true, but I was thinking more hundred years than a decade.
The primary protagonist is Fredrick Rowlands, a man who was blinded during the war and is now working as a telephone operator. When I read the blurb, I assumed it would be a mystery of the kind that I am used to, with a case of a man investigating (in whatever capacity). I was partially right since Mr Rowlands does investigate in an amateur capacity, but his personal stake in the endeavour is quite large. He is not a bad man, but the direction of his thoughts was quite unsettling in the long run. I quite admired his wife by the end of this and the next book, even if her character was more stereotypical of her time.
Rowlands overhears a few conversations between his immediate boss and a lady who is his friend. He is drawn to her voice and becomes enamoured by her. So much so that when she becomes embroiled in a murder, he starts to investigate in his free time. There are several clues that the author drops that made me see quite clearly what actually happened early on, but the bulk of the narrative is to better understand Rowlands and see how he got there in the first place.
I liked the setup and the depth of the immersion into the world of those who returned from the war in England and how things were handled. I may not have personally liked the mystery, but it is a solid narrative that will please most people who like reading these more serious plots.
I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

The arc is really poor quality, so my review is not an accurate reflection of the author's writing. She is talented and I'm very excited to see what she writes next. There were a lot of things that held promise, but because I was so distracted, I couldn't properly enjoy this story.

Christina Koning is an author with a tremendous talent. Freddie Rowlands, the Blind Detective, is an extraordinary creation. The plot is utterly absorbing and illuminating and immensely complex. I don't think I've ever read such an excellent character-driven crime novel.
The portrait of a young man, blinded as a soldier during WW1, is full of empathy and his moral fibre permeates every single page. All the other characters are drawn with razor-sharp precision and when I reached the end I was desperate to know what will happen to them next.
This is compulsive reading with twist after twist after twist and packed with emotional suspense. A brilliantly executed accomplishment.

A very different detective mystery, the protagonist is exactly what it says on the cover...A Blind Detective! Frederick Rowlands is a World War 1 veteran who has lost his sight, He now works as a switchboard operator for a firm of solicitors. It is very atmospheric and well researched and brings that period of history to life. When a man is murdered Fred must confess to the police that he has been listening in to calls made between his boss Gerald Willoughby (his Captain during the war) and Lady Celia who seem to be very close and fears that maybe one of them or both may be implicated in the murder! If this is the first in a series I can't wait to read the rest.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish reading this marvellous novel due to the dreadful quality of its ARC. I will need to purchase a new copy on Amazon in order to post a more appropriate review.

Many thanks to Allison & Busby and Netgalley for the ARC

This is the interesting start of mystery series and I appreciated the originality and the solid mystery.. Set after WWI it features Frederick Rowlands, a veteran who lost his sight.
He's an unusual detective but a very effective one. There's a empathy and there's a cast of interesting and fleshed out characters.
The historical background is vivid and well researched, the mystery solid and kept me guessing.
Can't wait to read the next story.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This is the first book of a series about a man who lost his sight fighting during WWI. It take place between the wars. Frederick Rowlands is working as a switch board operator at a law firm. He was hired by Gerald Willoughby, his Captain during the war. Rowland met his wife Edith, at the Lodge, where he learned how to handle his blindness. She was his second dancing partner. Now at the beginning of the book they have two girls, and Edith is pregnant with their third child. The law firm has taken on a case known as the Fire Conspiracy Case. Several garment factories which have very recently become insured have had fires. Rowlands firm has been involved. Two men own most of the factories, Giovanni Caparelli known as "The count", who is somewhat rough around the edges, and Lionel West, who is a wealthy gentleman who is married to Lady Celia.

In the connecting and shutting down phone lines, Rowlands often hears parts of conversations. When Lady Celia first calls Willoughby , Rowlands is enam0red by her voice which he hears when patching the call. He finds out that Lady Celia and Captain Willoughby were very close before the war. She married West when Willoughby was away at war. Lady Celia begins calling Willoughby fairly often, and Rowlands often hears parts of conversations thereafter. Lionel West is found dead in his home, and Rowlands overhears something that might be connected to West's murder, and he begins to wonder if either Lady Celia or the Captain had been involved. When Caparelli is arrested for the murder, Rowlands attends the trial, and worries about his friends. He finally decides to leave his job to protect Lady Celia and Willoughby. Meanwhile, Rowland's sister and her husband have come to live with Rowlands and his family, and they buy a chicken farm out in the country. As we near the end of the book, Rowlands finally gets an idea about who killed Lionel West!

Rowlands is a great main character. I can't wait to read the next installment!