Book Review | LEAVE NO TRACE by Jo Callaghan

LEAVE NO TRACE

BY JO CALLAGHAN | PUBLICATION: JANUARY 7, 2025
RANDOM HOUSE | GENRE: CRIME FICTION
RATING: ★★★★

"An intriguing take on procedural and thought-provoking thriller.."

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From the bestselling author of In the Blink of an Eye comes a gripping thriller that pits algorithms versus experience, logic versus instinct, and one undetectable killer versus two extraordinary detectives.

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:

• Avoid drinking in pubs
• If you must go to a pub, do not leave alone
• And definitely do not leave a pub with a stranger

With the national media and local men in an uproar, Kat and Lock have to combine their instincts and algorithms to catch the killer before they can strike again.

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"Kat and Lock #2"

LEAVE NO TRACE by Jo Callaghan is a thrilling sequel that continues the gripping story of AI Detective Lock and human Detective Kat Frank. From the bestselling author of In the Blink of an Eye, this novel masterfully blends traditional detective work with cutting-edge technology, creating an engaging and thought-provoking narrative.

The story kicks off with the discovery of a man’s crucified body in the British midlands. AI Detective Lock and Detective Kat Frank are handed their first live case, and soon, a second body is found. The police issue an urgent warning to local males, aged 30 to 40, advising them to avoid drinking in pubs alone or leaving with strangers. As the media frenzy escalates, the dynamic duo must navigate a complex investigation, relying on both human instincts and advanced algorithms to catch the elusive killer.

Callaghan’s novel is well-developed, creative, and engaging. The use of an AI police investigator in an active crime investigation is both intriguing and innovative. Despite not having read the first book, this sequel stands strong on its own, although it piqued my interest to read the previous installment.

The narrative continues on a pounding pace, keeping readers gripped as the investigation progresses. While I am not typically a fan of science fiction, Leave No Trace was an interesting read. It combines elements of conventional detective investigation with AI technology, delivering a suspenseful and thought-provoking thriller.

One of the standout aspects of this book is the depth of character development. Kat and Lock’s partnership evolves as they navigate the challenges of their investigation, highlighting themes of trust and collaboration between human and artificial intelligence. Additionally, some chapters are presented from the culprit's point of view, offering a chilling and fascinating glimpse into the mind of a criminal. This narrative choice adds a layer of psychological depth to the story, making it even more captivating.

I am particularly intrigued to see how Callaghan continues to develop the central characters and their relationships. LEAVE NO TRACE is a recommended read for fans of crime thrillers, offering a perfect blend of logic and instinct, algorithms and experience. Readers who appreciate thought-provoking narratives and innovative twists on classic detective tropes will find this book particularly captivating.

Overall, this novel is a testament to Callaghan’s storytelling prowess, combining suspense, technology, and deeply human themes in a way that resonates long after the last page is turned.

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About the Author:

Jo Callaghan works full-time as a senior strategist, carrying out research into the future impact of AI and genomics on the workforce. After losing her husband to cancer in 2019, when she was just forty-nine, she started writing In the Blink of an Eye, her debut crime novel, which explores learning to live with loss and what it means to be human. She lives with her two children in the British Midlands.Author image from Amazon. No infringement intended.

*Penguin Random House provided the Netgalley access
in exchange for this unbiased review.
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Book Review | THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON by Sara Collins

April 4, 2019
HarperCollins

They say I must be put to death for what happened to Madame,
and they want me to confess. 
But how can I confess what I don’t believe I’ve done?

Sara Collins presented a very strong narrative. Her approach to scientific racism is intriguing. And her command for intricate language is captivating. Every other paragraph is amazingly quotable.

It’s 1826, and Frannie Langton stands in a trial for the murder of her master and his wife. The enigma lies in the fact that Frannie cannot remember if she did murder them or not. As her lawyer prepares for her defense, she was asked to write her story. But Frannie’s story did not begin in London; it began in Jamaica, where horror is next to existing.

THE CONFESSIONS OF FRANNIE LANGTON is dark and disconcerting. Frannie wants so much out of life, but she is always tethered against her will. The oddity struck me, though, that for a self-proclaimed learned woman, Frannie was not level-headed. Maybe, that is not actually sine qua non, especially for someone overwhelmed by both love and detriment. It felt like her efforts for recognition was justifiable but goalless. These certainly stirred emotions and opinions.

This book is a unique take and exploration of black slavery and homosexuality. It’s a well-researched book and I like the unraveling details that were spread out. Unfortunately, the narrative dragged itself towards the ending. There are too many layers in the story vying for attention. It was that beautiful language and the mystery behind the crime that mostly kept me reading. I look forward to Ms. Collins's future works.

Book details:
Title: The Confessions of Frannie Langton
Author: Sara Collins
Publication: April 4, 2019, HarperCollins
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: ★★★1/2


*Thank you HarperCollins and Edelweiss for the DRC in exchange for this unbiased review.

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Book Review | SURRENDER, NEW YORK by Caleb Carr

SURRENDER, NEW YORK

BY CALEB CARR | PUBLICATION: AUGUST 23, 2016
RANDOM HOUSE | GENRE: MYSTERY & SUSPENSE
RATING: ★★★★★

"Smart, deliberate, and distinctly memorable."

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Caleb Carr, the author of The Alienist and The Angel of Darkness, returns with a contemporary, edge-of-your-seat thriller featuring the brilliant but unconventional criminal psychologist Dr. Trajan Jones.

In the small town of Surrender in upstate New York, Dr. Jones, a psychological profiler, and Dr. Michael Li, a trace evidence expert, teach online courses in profiling and forensic science from Jones’s family farm. Once famed advisors to the New York City Police Department, Trajan and Li now work in exile, having made enemies of those in power. Protected only by farmhands and Jones’s unusual “pet,” the outcast pair is unexpectedly called in to consult on a disturbing case.

In rural Burgoyne County, a pattern of strange deaths has emerged: adolescent boys and girls are found murdered in gruesome fashion. Senior law enforcement officials are quick to blame a serial killer, yet their efforts to apprehend this criminal are peculiarly ineffective.

Jones and Li soon discover that the victims are all “throwaway children,” a new state classification of young people who are neither orphans, runaways, nor homeless, but who are abandoned by their families and left to fend for themselves. Two of these throwaways, Lucas Kurtz and his older sister, Ambyr, cross paths with Jones and Li, offering information that could blow the case wide open.

As the stakes grow higher, Jones and Li must not only unravel the mystery of how the throwaways died but also defend themselves and the Kurtz siblings against shadowy agents who don’t want the truth to get out. Jones believes the real story leads back to the city where both he and Dr. Kreizler did their greatest work. But will Jones and Li be able to trace the case to New York before they fall victim to the murderous forces that stalk them?

Tautly paced and richly researched, Surrender, New York brings to life the grim underbelly of a prosperous nation—and those most vulnerable to its failings. This brilliant novel marks another milestone in Caleb Carr’s triumphant literary suspense career.

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Ambitious and brave. I expected nothing less from a Caleb Carr novel.

Surrender, New York echoed the spirit of Carr’s Kreizler series, with its 19th-century jargon and meticulous crime investigation techniques. But this novel wasn’t just a nostalgic nod—it was a bold pivot into present-day tragedies, wrapped in Carr’s signature intellectual depth.

Set in the fictional town of Surrender, we meet Trajan Jones, a criminal psychologist, and his partner Michael Li. Exiled from New York City’s academic and law enforcement circles, they now teach criminology online while occasionally consulting for the local sheriff’s office. Their latest case? A disturbing pattern of abandoned children and an unsettling death rate that pits local authorities against larger political forces.

Carr’s signature blend of historical depth and psychological intrigue remains potent. Though the novel’s pacing may challenge readers raised on rapid-fire thrillers, its deliberate unfolding is part of its brilliance. But that slowness is purposeful—it’s where the wisdom lives. The narrative doesn’t lack action or shocking twists, but it earns them through careful buildup and rich context.

What stayed with me most were the characters. Carr doesn’t just write them—he etches them into memory. His characters don’t just populate the story—they haunt it. I still recall how each was introduced, how they reappeared, and how they lingered long after the final page. In crime fiction, connection to the protagonist or antagonist is essential, and Carr’s strategy works damn well.

“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.”

Carr doesn’t cater to reader expectations—he reshapes them. He offers something more meaningful than entertainment: a lens through which to examine justice, perception, and truth.

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About the Author:

Caleb Carr is the critically acclaimed author of The Alienist, The Angel of Darkness, The Lessons of Terror, Killing Time, The Devil Soldier, The Italian Secretary, The Legend of Broken, and Surrender, New York. He has taught military history at Bard College, and worked extensively in film, television, and the theater. His military and political writings have appeared in numerous magazines and periodicals, among them The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He lives in upstate New York. Photo from PRH. No infringement intended.

*Penguin Random House provided the eARC
in exchange for this unbiased review.
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SOUP REVIEWS | 5

Crime Series.

Who Buries the Dead (Sebastian St. Cyr Mystery, #10) by CS Harris

This latest installment in the series is set in London, 1813. A plantation owner in Jamaica and eclectic collector, Stanley Preston, was found decapitated at the Bloody Bridge. The crime itself was gruesome enough, but when a coffin strap was found with the inscription “King Charles, 1648” Devlin was doubly intrigued.

Men after another are dropping as Devlin digs into the root of the crime. He and his wife, Hero, soon found out firsthand the dangers these investigations are rousing. Devlin’s suspects run from the Home Secretary to Devlin’s previous senior officer during the war, and to Jane Austen’s brother (yes, that Jane).

I enjoy reading this series not just because Sebastian St. Cyr is a great protagonist, but because Ms. Harris is a great historian. Her writing always grabs me from the first page. Her detailed description of London comes alive, from the high streets to the down-trodden Fish Street. This is a very enjoyable read despite the macabre subject.

Book details:

Title:  Who Buries the Dead

Author:  CS Harris

Publication:  NAL, March 3, 2015

Rating: «««««

The Geneva Strategy (Covert-One, #11) by Jamie Freveletti

High government officials are being kidnapped around the US capital. All of them are involved in the drone military program. The Covert-One team is mobilized to recover these missing people. Along the way, Jon Smith has to figure out the connection between his recent run with some furtive men trying to abduct him with a drone in tow, and Fort Detrick’s institutionalized researcher Dr. Laura Taylor and her research on a memory drug.  

This is Ms. Freveletti’s 2nd contribution to the series. Her story outline and foundation are very interesting. The momentum flows very well, never hard to follow. I admire Ms. Freveletti’s effort in handling this series, seriously I do. But I didn't enjoy this the way I used to. It feels like she’s stirring the characters in a different direction. This series started with great and rounded characters, built slowly over time. And readers have invested in them for a long time. To give them a sudden shift is like reading a diluted version of them.

I do, of course, realize that Robert Ludlum is one hard act to follow. It’s just that I always look forward to this series and expected a lot.

Book details:

Title:  The Geneva Strategy

Author:  Jaime Freveletti

Creator:  Robert Ludlum

Publication:  Grand Central Publishing, February 3, 2015

Rating:  «««½

Lemon Meringue Murder (Hannah Swensen, #4) by Joanne Fluke

Summer in Lake Eden is always something to look forward to, especially the July 4th parade and fireworks. The Cookie Jar is thriving and they are now selling pies every Friday. People swarm the place with pre-orders every time. Norman Rhodes bought the house near the lake from Rhoda Scharf. He plans to demolish everything down and built their “dream house” on top of it. With Norman’s permission and assistance, Hannah and her mother, Delores, agreed to scout the place for some antiques worthy of resale.

When they arrived, they are welcomed with a box of Hannah’s very own Lemon Meringue pie laid on the kitchen counter with only a slice eaten off. But the real surprise is Delores’ discovery of Rhoda’s dead body down in the basement.

This is one cozy series. I like how this is growing on me and the characters, too. A good, easy read. And the recipes are plus factors, no doubt.

Book details:

Title:  Lemon MeringueMurder

Author:  Joanne Fluke

Publication:  Kensington; First Edition edition, March 1, 2003

Rating:  «««

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