A review by emma6544
Leave No Trace by Jo Callaghan

dark mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I loved the first book In The Blink of an Eye. I gave it 5 stars and I loved the freshness that book provided with the use of AI as an investigative tool. 

So, I am sad that this book did not meet my expectations as a sequel. I enjoyed the start of this book as a body is discovered crucified to a cross. I enjoyed the early investigation and the commentary of misogyny
due to the fact that the two victims are men, men in the community are advised to take precautions when going out a night, directly feeding into the advice women are given when going out at night.


I also felt as though Kat and Lock were lacking from the first book. While we do get some process in their relationship, I felt as though their characters are the same as the first book. Unlike Debbie, Ryian and Professor Okonedo, whose characters were more fleshed out and developed by the end of the book. 

While the resolution of the mystery of interesting as well as the motivations behind the killer, I felt that the reveal of the killer was too predictable
Ellie Baxter was the first person to show up at the first murder scene which was suspicious in itself and she appear as a character too frequently. This is where the investigation itself let this down as she was never brought to the police station for a formal interview. Plus her connection to the victims was discovered only in the last few chapters despite Lock finding the connection within minutes of analysing the photo.


I find that the authors inspiration for Leave No Trace interesting after reading the acknowledgments but I don’t know if I will be reading the third book as a large portion of that will concentrate on the past
alongside a new case, the book will question if Kat catch the wrong killer in The Aston Strangler case. This case was brought up several times in Leave No Trace and the last chapter reveals the son of The Aston Strangler is out for revenge.


I am not liking the sound of the plot of the third book, Human Remains. And, after reading Leaving No Trace, I am unsure if it is worth continuing with the series. 

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