In a literary landscape often defined by familiar tropes and predictable plots, Jo Callaghan has broken new ground with her boundary-pushing take on the police procedural genre. Her debut novel, “In the Blink of an Eye”, which features a human detective partnered with an AI sleuth, has not only captivated readers but has also clinched the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award.
The announcement came as a surprise to many at the annual crime writing festival in Harrogate, where Callaghan, a 54-year-old strategist turned author, expressed genuine shock at receiving the honor. “I was just writing what I was feeling and thinking, and … I realized I was writing better because I was writing from the heart,” she revealed in an interview given after her big win.
“In the Blink of an Eye” introduces readers to Kat Frank, a police detective grappling with personal loss, paired with an AI counterpart named AIDE Lock. This AI, which stands for “Artificially Intelligent Detective Entity,” embodies the cold logic of machines complementing human intuition, as the duo delves into a compelling missing persons case. Callaghan drew from her professional insights into future workforce trends, including the impact of AI, to craft a narrative that is both timely and thought-provoking.
The genesis of Callaghan’s novel traces back to personal tragedy and professional foresight. Following her husband’s passing from lung cancer in 2019, she found solace in writing, initially documenting her experiences in a blog. It was during this period that the idea for an AI-driven detective story began to take shape, eventually evolving into a full-fledged novel that blends elements of crime fiction with speculative science.
Despite her background in predicting long-term AI trends, Callaghan never anticipated the rapid rise of AI into the mainstream, paralleling the growing relevance of her novel since its publication in January 2023. The timing proved fortuitous, coinciding with the emergence of AI tools like ChatGPT, which have further underscored the novel’s prescient themes.
Reflecting on her unexpected success, Callaghan remains humble, acknowledging the fortuitous “gusts of wind” that propelled her novel to prominence. “In the Blink of an Eye “has not only resonated with readers but has also been featured on notable platforms like the BBC books show Between the Covers and the New Blood panel at the Theakston Old Peculier crime writing festival.
Following the novel’s acclaim, Callaghan has continued Kat Frank’s journey in her latest release, “Leave No Trace”, with plans for a four-book series exploring the evolving partnership between Kat and AIDE Lock. As she continues to refine her narrative in upcoming works, Callaghan’s unique blend of human emotion and AI ingenuity promises to carve a lasting niche in the genre of crime fiction.
Jo Callaghan’s win at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award not only celebrates her individual achievement but also heralds a new era in crime fiction where innovation and storytelling converge. As the boundaries between human and artificial intelligence blur, authors like Callaghan are at the forefront, challenging conventions and captivating readers with narratives that are as cutting-edge as they are compelling.
