In The Blink of An Eye
Winner of the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year and the CWA New Blood Dagger
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4.1 • 13 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
THE SUNDAY TIMES bestseller, as seen on BBC 2's BETWEEN THE COVERS
A WATERSTONES THRILLER BOOK OF THE MONTH
*WINNER* OF THE THEAKSTON OLD PECULIER CRIME NOVEL OF THE YEAR 2024
*WINNER* OF THE CRIME WRITERS' ASSOCIATION ILP JOHN CREASEY (NEW BLOOD) DAGGER 2024
AND NOMINATED FOR TWO OTHER MAJOR AWARDS
Capital Crime Book of the Year 2023
Crimefest Specsavers Best Debut Crime Novel
‘I devoured this in one sitting’ Rob Rinder, as featured on BBC 2’s Between the Covers
‘Terrifyingly timely and provocative' Val McDermid
'The most original crime novel you'll read this year' Clare Mackintosh
In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds.
Just gone. Vanished. In the blink of an eye.
DCS Kat Frank knows all about loss. A widowed single mother, Kat is a cop who trusts her instincts. Picked to lead a pilot programme that has her paired with AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) Lock, Kat's instincts come up against Lock's logic. But when the two missing person's cold cases they are reviewing suddenly become active, Lock is the only one who can help Kat when the case gets personal.
AI versus human experience.
Logic versus instinct.
With lives on the line can the pair work together before someone else becomes another statistic?
In the Blink of an Eye is a dazzling debut from an exciting new voice and asks us what we think it means to be human.
'Just brilliant!' Lisa Jewell
'Has to be a strong contender for crime debut of the year - sharp, perceptive writing and a brilliant new take on the detective duo' T. M. Logan
'Everything you could hope for in a thriller: heartbreaking, intelligent, deftly plotted and so original' Fiona Cummins
'Jo Callaghan makes her entry into the crowded police procedural genre with a fresh take on the buddy-buddy cop trope . . . Provocative and compelling' Vaseem Khan
'The kind of fresh and fearless debut I just adore. Wildly original, heartfelt, funny, and properly thrilling. Take a bow, Jo Callaghan' Chris Whitaker
Customer Reviews
Emotional, Original & Compelling
Five stars is insufficient for Jo Callaghan's "In The Blink of An Eye." Every 90 seconds, someone in the UK is reported missing. DCS Kat Frank is returning to the force after losing her husband. Her first task is to lead a team associated with a pilot programme using Lock, an AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity). What if AIDE is the solution to changing this statistic? Moreover, what if this entity can overturn the stagnation faced by cold cases? The central premise of two cold cases is AI versus human experience and instincts.
The Yaays: This book is original. The pacing is immaculate, and easy to get attached to Kat, Lock and the team. Additionally, this book is gut-wrenchingly human and thought-provoking. The parallels between the cold cases and the current situation are infused well. I devoured this book in one sitting as the twists and turns will keep you hooked, especially when the case gets highly personal. This book is also character-driven which makes it even more satisfying. The author's note at the end got me and connected the dots as to why this book screams authenticity.
The Nays: None. Okay, if I had to choose one, it is the lingering effect this book will leave you with and a probable book hangover lasting 3-5 days.
Verdict: This is easily one of my favourite reads of 2023. If you're a fan of suspense, thrillers, or police procedurals with a twist, please grab this book.
Thank you, NetGalley & Simon & Schuster (Australia), for giving me an ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.