What We Are Reading
In The Blink of an Eye by Jo Callaghan
"This debut mystery won a couple of awards in the UK (The John Creasy New Blood Dagger and the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year) but it was the premise that first brought it to my attention. It features a detective paired with an AI partner working on cold cases. The AI is an experiment created by a scientist who has little reason to trust the police. The police, in turn, would like the experiment to fail so they assign it to work on cold cases with a senior detective returning from leave with very specific instructions. Except it very quickly becomes clear that those cold cases are actually part of one very active case, a case that will directly threaten the detective’s family. And as it turns out, in this case the AI might actually be useful after all. The book is in turns predictable (logic vs instinct) and surprising (the kidnapper’s motivations), but all in all makes for a very entertaining read and promising debut, perfect for any fan of British mystery or police procedurals. Book 2 in the series comes out January."
Looking for readalikes? Check out
Close to Home by Cara Hunter,
She Lies in Wait by Gytha Lodge, and
Lock In by John Scalzi
What's Hot This Month
2025 is a great time for some personal development. Check out these new and upcoming titles.
Featured Title
The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison
A catastrophic blind date in college is the beginning of a 70 year relationship in this story tracing the history of the marriage of Abe and Ruth through the ups and downs of life, including the turmoil of secrets and losses, the challenges of parenthood, and the small everyday moments that create a lifetime of love. But now they are facing their biggest challenge yet, the loss of their independence in the face of a health crisis. Traveling back and forth from the present to the past, this is an endlessly moving and heartwarming story about love, partnership and marriage.
What's New This Month
The start of the new year brings some great new debut fiction like
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan about a bestselling author who decides, after a life on the run, to confess her true identity.
Homeseeking by Karissa Chen is a debut about a reunion between childhood sweethearts 60 years after first meeting in 1930’s Shanghai.
For those who might wish to tackle new goals in the new year, check out
Buy What You Love Without Going Broke by Jennifer Smith and Jillian Sirianni, a personal finance guide to help control spending and stick to a budget. Or if you’re just looking for a great story, check out
Save Our Souls by Matthew Pearl about the real life historical castaway tale that inspired the classic novel,
The Swiss Family Robinson.
For More Reading Suggestions: