In the Blink of An Eye - Jo Callaghan

There have been so many series and books have about how technology is raiding our lives either through surveillance (BBC series - Capture), medical advancements  or even our social interactions on digital platforms.  

Jo Callagan's In the blink of An Eye takes on the challenge of exploring the concept of technology - in the form of an AI Hologram - taking on the role of an assistant police detective to solve a cold case.

Blurb:

When DCS Kate is asked to head a pilot exploring the use of AI in policing, she responds with extreme resistance. How can technology compare with years of experience and gut instinct? However, unable to resist a challenge she takes it on. But things take an sinister turn when the cold cases they have been working on suddenly become active and danger seems to be much closer than ever.

Between human instinct versus calculation, logic versus experience, who will get there first?

My review:

• In this debut, Callaghan introduces DCS Kate, an officer with years of experience who finds herself saddled with a hologram to solve a cold case. The persona of DCS Kat is well etched,  her battles - on professional and personal fronts - hits a chord with the reader.

• I enjoyed the office humour, the work tensions and how the adhoc team finds a way to settle into their roles. Callaghan captures the difficulties of handling a team, the tensions between colleagues with humour and sharp observation.        

• I enjoyed the tussle between Lock and Kat and how they played to their strengths. Callaghan does a great job of balancing out both viewpoints while keep the plot moving - brilliantly juggled.

• Once I took to DCS Kate and her team and settled into the narrative, I was really enjoying the ride, so much that I was beginning to feel smug thinking that I could see what the story was moving towards. But then the finale, oh gosh the blink of an eye, that really got me. That was my wow moment!

An intelligent thriller that handles a very topical theme within the trappings of a good old thriller - the kind that keep us turning pages. Highly recommended.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster for an advance copy.

In the blink of an eye is published by Simon and Schuster and is out now.

 

   

The Curfew - T M Logan

 

T.M.Logan's latest is a great read. Especially since I was looking for a racy, engaging thriller and knew I was in good hands when I picked it up. What I love about his books is the compelling narrative with a set of characters to care about. And I was totally taken in by Andy, the father of a boy who broke his curfew which is where the story begins. Gosh what a hook of a premise to delve into!

Gist:

Andy and Laura love their kids. Their son Connor has just completed his exams and is out with friends. The parents have been assured that he will be back by midnight. 

Except when he doesn't, it sets off a series of events that shake the families up completely.

Because five teenagers went into the woods and only four came back.

Telling the truth may not be a good thing at this point after all.

My review:

• I picked it up at a time when I wanted a comfort read. This read which paints a parent's worst nightmare brought me out of a reading slump.

• I love the characters and the relatable situations. I loved how Andy the calm and composed GP functions as a rattled father. His quest to get his son out of trouble, the Boyd family with their quirks and traits, the way old insecurities surface in the face of this difficult situation has been beautifully portrayed.

• The storytelling is amazing, very plot driven and even as the reader is trying to guess what or who had done what, the twists keep coming and surprising the reader.

• I had an inkling of what could have happened and yet was taken aback by the twists in the story. Wow, loved the way the story turns.

I finished this in two sittings, such is the compelling nature of the narrative.

Highly recommended if you are looking for a good contemporary thriller story that keeps you racing through the pages.