Reviews

In the Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan

bobinsbooknook's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

This book was very easy to follow along and enjoy as a crime novel with a twist. The concept of AI vs traditional policing felt very well executed and unique. I really loved the characterisation of 'AIDE' and DCS Kat and the interactions they had with one another which allowed for an element of humor i wasn't expecting. 

Writing wise i enjoyed the use of interview transcripts and the varied POV to a cold case victim which helped break up the pace of the book and set the 'crime' atmosphere. 

I will say the plot itself did have points which felt a bit predictable (
E.g. the cold cases being connected. That the DCS son would eventually be involved.
this didn't greatly impact the my overall enjoyment and is worth a read. 
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nicola_2310's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful mysterious sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kchisholm's review

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Another one where connection to the main character, Kat Frank, is going to really impact the reader's experience of this novel. If, for any reason, the potential for science fiction is intriguing or off putting, at it's heart, IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE, is more on the emotional, case driven, team building, fragile police investigating awful bloody people end of the scale. And there is a second in the series planned.

https://www.austcrimefiction.org/review/blink-eye-jo-callaghan

lotties_booked's review against another edition

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dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jellyhavana's review

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4.0

A thought provoking crime thriller. Not particularly unsettling or gory. Kept pace well and I wanted to read on. Likeable characters. I did like the conversations around AI vs human instinct. Some good points were woven through the text. I also thought the discussion around cancer treatment, death and loss were presented well.

labeet's review

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4.0

Read a rather raving review here by one of my Goodreads friends and decided that it should be added to this summer's crime fiction menu. I listened to it over 24 hours and lost some sleep in the process, I have to admit.

It's quite a good novel as crime fiction goes although the plot (again!!!) is a bit far-fetched. I'll never understand why crime fiction writers can't stick to ONE murder. Anyway, what sets this novel apart is the not-so-silent AI partner that the protagonist is unwillingly saddled with. She has a decent-sized grudge against the use of AI and it does rub her up the wrong way to begin with. But as it learns and as she learns how to utilise it, interesting things happen.

In this rather intelligent novel, you'll find a much-needed balanced but informed view of what AI is and how it can and cannot be used when dealing with real people's very real lives in the real world.

The audio version is well done even though I find the use of "telephone voices" a bit OTT.

nicolelabosco's review

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

lillycathleen's review

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mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

catyaffe52's review

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5.0

It’s hard to know where to start with this book. I was very lucky to receive an advanced copy, and I tore through it. It has everything you would expect from the genre but wait – Jo Callaghan has taken a typical police procedural and blown expectations wide open. Combining a strong female protagonist, DCS Kat Frank with a (maybe not so) futuristic Artificial Intelligent Detecting Entity (AIDE) Lock, Jo has created such an intriguing concept it deserves a genre all of its own. The premise is based around the thousands of people that go missing in UK every year. Kat, Lock, and a small investigative team are tasked with firstly finding people, but more importantly, testing the capacity of AIDE Lock. With fully ‘fleshed’ out characterisation, we follow the story from Kat’s point of view. An emotionally intelligent woman, widowed with a grown-up son, she develops a bond with Lock that she hasn’t had with anyone except her late husband. The internal story this creates is dealt with, with so much empathy and tenderness, I couldn’t help but cry (mascara warning: the living room scene). The pace thunders along in places, slows down to observe the interactions between human and AI, then speeds up again to take it to a breath-taking conclusion.
I knew when I finished reading it that Jo had a best-seller on her hands, and I am thrilled to see this book riding high. It deserves every accolade it achieves, and I’m guessing there will be a few.

chryscurl's review

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4.0

Surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I’m fascinated with AI, so had to read it. I really liked the separation of plot lines, it would have been too easy to make different plot choices, but this way we have a second novel to look forward to.