Reviews - Leave No Trace | The StoryGraph

209 reviews for:

Leave No Trace

Jo Callaghan

4.3 AVERAGE

mrsruthiewebb's review against another edition

4.5

dark mysterious

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Loveable characters: Complicated

gemsliterarygems's review against another edition

4.5

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is the second book in the series featuring DCS Kat Frank and her AI assistant, AIDE Lock. This time, the body of a man has been found naked and crucified at the top of the local landmark, Mount Judd. But it quickly becomes obvious that this wasn’t a one off, as another man is found crucified within days. Can Kat and her team find the murderer when the press are following their every move since hearing about Lock?

This is another great story from Jo Callaghan! We see a return of her team, AIDE Lock becoming a little less black and white in his thinking and a live murder investigation instead of a cold case. She writes what it’s like when your kids are becoming adults so well (this is what I’m living through now!), and I love how she doesn’t shy away from her personal grief, but allows it to give Kat a believable backstory.

I enjoyed the POV occasionally being from the killer’s view, although the sudden echoes in the background of the audiobook threw me at first until I realised how it separated the 2 characters. I guessed who the murderer probably was about half way through, but there were plenty of twists to keep me guessing whether I was right! Although you could read this as a standalone, I recommend reading Blink of an Eye first as you get the whole team’s backstory then. And the little twist at the end makes me glad I haven’t that long to wait until book 3!

Content Warnings

debisbooks's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

is_this_mutton_'s review against another edition

4.0

You know how sometimes you read a book that's so satisfying you sit with a smile for a few minutes? This was one of those rare books. It's Jo Callaghan's second novel: the first, also featuring DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock, was hugely acclaimed.

Leave No Trace passes my 3 criteria for a good police procedural:

1. Believable and likable police characters. Yes! Kate is recently widowed, with her son at uni, and she's spending more time at the police station and putting off going into the attic to get the Christmas decorations. She is very determined to solve this challenging crime even if it means "going rogue" and defying her superior.

I loved the interaction between Kate and AIDE Lock too. It takes everything very literally, which creates some amusing dialogue. Lock also shows a worryingly human side at times too. I like the fact that the female pathologist, in her 50s, was keen to utilise the skills of Lock in her "virtuotopsies", rather than being presented as a technophobe, as is usually the case with older women. The pregnant police sergeant was also a good character, worried that she was being given "soft" jobs because of her condition.

2. The plot: I don't want to give any spoilers but it's a fabulous plot. Left me guessing until quite near the end.

3. The aftermath: many books end on a celebration as the plot is solved. Leave No Trace has two endings, effectively. There's a heart warming exchange between Kat and Lock, which I couldn't help thinking was also a little sinister; and a cliffhanger, setting up a possible book 3.

Thanks to Random Things Tours for the advance copy for the upcoming blog tour.

she_loves_to_read's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock are back in action with arguably their most challenging and grisly case yet. But this time, they aren't looking for a suspect in a cold case. They are trapped in a race against time with a serial killer who is targeting their victims and leaving them tied to across without much, if any, evidence left behind for the team to work with. Couple that with mixed messages about the motive. A ruthless journalist and a slew of social media posts and sleuths making things much harder. Kat and Lock are pushed to their limits.

Jo is a natural storyteller with a really unique voice within the crime/thriller genre. Bringing the potential use of AI into policing and thoroughly exploring the pros, cons, and effects that both AI and the human race have on policing in general. Her research is thorough. Writing clever and character development top notch. With relatable and relevant back stories that really resonate with her readers. I particularly love the growing relationship between Kat and Lock and the way in which Jo sensitively and realistically explores the subject of grief and the impact it has on our daily lives from many angles. Striking a real balance between personal and professional.

Leave No Trace is raw, gritty, perfectly paced, action-packed, engaging, fascinating, and most definitely thought-provoking. With a cliffhanger ending that leaves you desperate to read the next instalment. Something which i have the pleasure of reading in the near future.

Kat is now one of my auto-buy authors and one i will highly recommend going forward. Just brilliant!!