"I couldn't have solved the case without my team. Or Lock, sir."

I know that some reviewers have written they liked this book less than the first. Not I. I liked Leave No Trace every bit as much as I liked In the Blink of An Eye. Are these books 100% logical or realistic? No! I'm not sure why, but I love that that about them!!

Here is one of my favorite parts:
"So you're my wild card, Lock. I want you to unsettle her by looking clever and all-knowing."
Lock turned towards her, its expression unfathomable in the fading light. "In other words, you want me to be myself?"
Kat laughed. "Was that a JOKE?"

HUGE thanks to both #RandomHousePublishing and #NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an early copy of Leave No Trace. This book is #2 in the Kat and Lock series, and has an expected publication date of January 7, 2025.

#JoCallaghan #ScienceFiction #Mystery #Suspense

When the body of a man is found crucified at the top of a hill in the British midlands, AIDE Lock, the world’s first AI Detective and Detective Kat Frank are thrust into the spotlight as they are given their first live case. When a second body is found the police issue an extraordinary warning to local males aged between 30 and 40 years old! Fantastic read!! I have to say I did not think I would like anything to do with AI stuff! That’s just not my thing at all! But this book and series is totally different! I absolutely love the characters including the AI!! This book had great suspense, intriguing, murder, mystery, and I loved when the AI couldn’t help it kind of broke my heart!! lol I highly recommend reading this book and series! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first in the series: the plot itself was pretty good, but all the characters annoyed me. Debbie spent the whole time musing on how being 8 months pregnant impacted her life (of course it's going to); Hasan spent the novel in love with the Professor and wary of the press before choosing to have a drink with Ellie, a local journalist, and reveal lots of confidential details to her; AIDE Lock suddenly decides he wants to be Kat's friend (really?) and asks not to be turned off at night.

I will probably keep going with these, but the AI element felt less realistic/possible to me this time around. I see from the afternote that the author is an expert in this area, so I suppose she knows what she is talking about, but the ending where Lock had to try to negotiate with the murderer by means of a drone amplifying his algorithms (or whatever!!) seemed extremely science fiction-y to me.

A unique take on a police procedural that works with satisfying results.
This is DCS Kat Frank’s first live case working for the Future Policing Unit with her AI partner, AIDE Lock assisting alongside the rest of her team.
Lock has proven himself to be a valuable asset to the team but how will the AI detective act in an ongoing, live murder investigation?
With the tables turned, and it is men who are at risk and being asked to be vigilant and stay at home, and two almost identical murders occurring within days of each other, the Future Policing Unit are under heavy scrutiny, not only from their superiors, but by the public and the press to catch the killer before they strike again and close the case.
This is the second book featuring Kat and Lock but this is the first book I have read by Jo Callaghan and I do regret not reading the previous book ‘In The Blink of an Eye’ first. There are several referrals back to the first book and I think it would have helped me understand Lock a lot better.
However there is enough of a back story for me to have followed this book perfectly well, as well as getting to know more about the worlds first ever AI detective, so if like me you haven’t read the first book in this unique detective series and want to jump straight into this book you will still really enjoy it.
A high concept murder mystery that was an enjoyable read and I can’t wait to see the return of Kat and Lock soon.