NOVEMBER BOOK GROUP REVIEW - In the blink of an Eye

This month we discussed ‘In a Blink of an Eye’ by Jo Callaghan - which is about an experiment in using AI policing to solve two missing person crimes. Because of that theme, our reviewer thought they'd employ ChatGPT to write this Book Group review. For those of us who have been avoiding all mention of AI, "ChatGPT is a generative artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI and released in November 2022. It currently uses GPT-5.1, a generative pre-trained transformer, to generate text, speech, and images in response to user prompts." [Thank-you, Wikipedia].

To generate the AI review, our reviewer fed ChatGPT their notes from the Book Group. A few seconds later, the message "Here’s a polished, review-style piece based entirely on your book-club notes" arrived - and here it is.

AI-GENERATED REVIEW:

Jo Callaghan’s In the Blink of an Eye—the first in a planned trilogy—captivated our entire book club, earning an enthusiastic thumbs-up from all twelve members. Even those who don’t typically gravitate toward crime fiction found themselves unexpectedly hooked, some nearly finishing the novel in one sitting (or in one long plane ride).

At its heart, the novel pairs traditional policing with cutting-edge artificial intelligence through the partnership of DCS Kat Frank and her AI sidekick, AIDE Locke. Many of us found ourselves warming to AIDE as the story unfolded. His lack of emotional understanding, combined with Kat’s attempts to teach him nuance and empathy, raises rich ethical questions about whether we truly want machines to feel—or whether emotional detachment is precisely their strength. Their dynamic had shades of the iconic Captain Kirk/Mr. Spock relationship, with Locke’s logic rubbing against Kat’s humanity in compelling and often touching ways.

The first half of the novel takes its time, easing us into the world and characters with a gentleness that made the emotional beats land more deeply. Some readers wondered whether Kat was beginning to grow genuinely fond of Locke—a testament to how believable and well-drawn the characters are. Then, without warning, the second half kicks into high gear, becoming a fast-paced page-turner that several members described as “delicious” and “completely immersive.” Many agreed it would adapt brilliantly for television.

There were a few quibbles. Some were irritated that the two main cases in the book were ultimately linked, feeling it stretched believability, and others felt that Callaghan didn’t always succeed in hiding her clues. But these were minor frustrations in a novel that kept us reading eagerly to the end.

One detail that moved many in our group was learning that Callaghan wrote the novel just two months after losing her husband. That personal grief seems to have infused the book with an authenticity of emotion—especially around themes of loss—that resonated throughout the story.

Overall, In the Blink of an Eye is both gripping and thought-provoking: a blend of procedural crime, speculative technology, and human vulnerability. Even those determined not to like it found themselves drawn in. We’re already looking forward to the next installment. [The End]

BACK TO HUMAN:

Yes, we gave the book 12 thumbs up out of 12, and those of us who have already whizzed ahead are more than happy to recommend the next two novels in the series, 'Leave No Trace' and 'Human Remains'. In addition to being superb crime dramas, they raise some extremely thought-provoking questions about AI in policing and our wider society.

So, did you think our ChatGPT AI review came up with the goods, or did you miss the humour, wit, sarcasm, intelligence and sheer quirkiness of our usual human reviewer? We must point out that ChatGPT can generate total garbage if it's fed garbage - our reviewer gave it a sophisticated steer with their comprehensive notes.