Jo Callaghan’s debut novel, “In The Blink of an Eye,” plunges readers into a gripping narrative that skilfully navigates the intersection of human intuition and artificial logic, raising profound questions about what it truly means to be human.
DCS Kat Frank, a seasoned detective grieving the loss of her husband, is chosen to lead a groundbreaking pilot program, partnering her with an AIDE (Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity) named Lock. Their mission: to delve into cold cases involving missing persons: cases that will expose the contrast between Kat’s well-honed instincts and Lock’s unyielding logic.
When, this book ask, is it appropriate to follow your gut, and when does a hunch risk bias and clouded judgment?
Kat Frank is sharp and unapologetically resistant to her AI companion, at least to begin with. Her initial disdain for Lock sets the stage for a fascinating evolution of their relationship which steals the spotlight from the cases themselves as the story unfolds.
As a refreshingly original debut, it’s no surprise that “In The Blink of an Eye” earned a place on Val McDermid’s ‘New Blood’ panel at Harrogate. The novel offers a glimpse into a future where we have to navigate the sometimes uneasy alliance of human and artificial intelligence, to find the best of both worlds.
Victoria Brown 