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Kat and Lock #4
Body of Lies
The brand-new thriller featuring DCS Kat Frank and AIDE Lock from the award-winning and Sunday Times bestselling author of In the Blink of an Eye .
PRAISE FOR JO
'Terrifyingly timely and provocative' VAL McDERMID
'The most original crime novel you'll read this year' CLARE MACKINTOSH
'Just brilliant!' LISA JEWELL
'Sharp, perceptive writing and a brilliant new take on the detective duo' T. M. LOGAN
'Everything you could hope for in a heartbreaking, intelligent, deftly plotted and so original' FIONA CUMMINS
'A fresh take on the buddy-buddy cop trope . . . Provocative and compelling' VASEEM KHAN
'Wildly original, heartfelt, funny, and properly thrilling. Take a bow, Jo Callaghan' CHRIS WHITAKER
PRAISE FOR JO
'Terrifyingly timely and provocative' VAL McDERMID
'The most original crime novel you'll read this year' CLARE MACKINTOSH
'Just brilliant!' LISA JEWELL
'Sharp, perceptive writing and a brilliant new take on the detective duo' T. M. LOGAN
'Everything you could hope for in a heartbreaking, intelligent, deftly plotted and so original' FIONA CUMMINS
'A fresh take on the buddy-buddy cop trope . . . Provocative and compelling' VASEEM KHAN
'Wildly original, heartfelt, funny, and properly thrilling. Take a bow, Jo Callaghan' CHRIS WHITAKER
Hardcover
First published May 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
May 26, 2026
This is one of the best books I’ve read this year, maybe in several years. It made me feel everything, from chills, to deep sadness and sorrow. In addition to all I felt, it also made me think deeply about AI and some of the ethical issues raised, while feeling my pulse throbbing from the intensity of the plot. It was simply so much packed into a unique novel, and I’m crushed that the book is read and that it might be years before I read something like this again.
June 2, 2026
~4.25~
I didn't realize this would be the last book in the Kat & Lock series, and now I want to cry, not just because it's over but because of that ending. Stab me in the gut, why don't you, Jo Callaghan?
I didn't even trust Lock, but why, oh, why? Was there a shred of hope at the end? I think that's up to each reader to decide. But I think we can all agree that
This is a politically charged novel, and why wouldn't it be? AI is politically charged. Is AI taking our jobs? Stealing our creativity? Becoming too powerful? Hell if I know, but I think we can all agree this is just the tip of the iceberg. We're on the brink of a revolution.
This series is set in England, but the tension between the old-school diehards and "tech bros" is the same everywhere. Substitute "U.S. senator" for "UK MP," and you have yourself the same story but in America.
The first half took me a few days to get through. It wasn't boring by any means, but the tension just wasn't there. Until it was ... I binged the second half in a couple hours, pulling a late-nighter and sleeping through my alarm. Worth it!
A final thought: I don't know that I've read a book where the death of a spouse and the overwhelming grief that follows was handled as tenderly and realistically as it was in this series. The protagonist, Kat, lost her husband to cancer, as did the author, as did I. Such a visceral, earth-shattering loss translates into your every though, every moment, every breath.
Thank you, Ms. Callaghan, for not painting over this devastation with pretty colors.
I can't wait to see what this author does next. I hope she has another series in the works, because this one was damn good.
I didn't realize this would be the last book in the Kat & Lock series, and now I want to cry, not just because it's over but because of that ending. Stab me in the gut, why don't you, Jo Callaghan?
I didn't even trust Lock, but why, oh, why? Was there a shred of hope at the end? I think that's up to each reader to decide. But I think we can all agree that
This is a politically charged novel, and why wouldn't it be? AI is politically charged. Is AI taking our jobs? Stealing our creativity? Becoming too powerful? Hell if I know, but I think we can all agree this is just the tip of the iceberg. We're on the brink of a revolution.
This series is set in England, but the tension between the old-school diehards and "tech bros" is the same everywhere. Substitute "U.S. senator" for "UK MP," and you have yourself the same story but in America.
The first half took me a few days to get through. It wasn't boring by any means, but the tension just wasn't there. Until it was ... I binged the second half in a couple hours, pulling a late-nighter and sleeping through my alarm. Worth it!
A final thought: I don't know that I've read a book where the death of a spouse and the overwhelming grief that follows was handled as tenderly and realistically as it was in this series. The protagonist, Kat, lost her husband to cancer, as did the author, as did I. Such a visceral, earth-shattering loss translates into your every though, every moment, every breath.
Thank you, Ms. Callaghan, for not painting over this devastation with pretty colors.
I can't wait to see what this author does next. I hope she has another series in the works, because this one was damn good.
January 15, 2026
What a way to end the series!
May 31, 2026
Loved the book, loved the series, and gutted it's all over
May 22, 2026
I’ve been a huge fan of this series, have loved every book and although I know every series does have a natural end, I’m so sad that this is the final outing for DCS Kat Frank and her hologram partner AIDE Lock.
Body of Lies begins a few months after the ending of Human Remains. Kat has returned home and to work but it is clear that she is still haunted by traumatic events and questions her own judgement at every turn. She is still heading the Future Policing Unit but the team are struggling. Her AI partner, AIDE Lock is again by her side, via the wrist bracelet Kat wears, but its quest for a human form makes Kat uneasy and as much as she relies on Lock, there are trust issues.
The murder of an outspoken MP, vocal against the development of AI, thrusts the team not only into an investigation to find a killer but when a cyberattack threatens the entire country Kat and Lock are against the clock to discover who is behind it before more lives are lost.
The author superbly navigates the emotional struggles of Kat and other members of her team, not only in dealing with trauma and loss but also showing a thought provoking view of both the benefits and dangers of the AI revolution which adds a level of relevance and authenticity.
The final part of the story was gripping and dramatic. With the suspense racking up, there was shock at the revelations and ultimately the sad realisation that this was indeed the end. Jo Callaghan has created a fantastic crime series that has both heart and intelligence, all with a touch of dark humour. I really took these characters to my heart and I shall miss them, especially Lock. It (I still want to say he) could be infuriating but there was an endearing quality too and I did enjoy the bond that formed between Lock and Kat. I look forward to seeing what comes next by this very talented author.
Body of Lies begins a few months after the ending of Human Remains. Kat has returned home and to work but it is clear that she is still haunted by traumatic events and questions her own judgement at every turn. She is still heading the Future Policing Unit but the team are struggling. Her AI partner, AIDE Lock is again by her side, via the wrist bracelet Kat wears, but its quest for a human form makes Kat uneasy and as much as she relies on Lock, there are trust issues.
The murder of an outspoken MP, vocal against the development of AI, thrusts the team not only into an investigation to find a killer but when a cyberattack threatens the entire country Kat and Lock are against the clock to discover who is behind it before more lives are lost.
The author superbly navigates the emotional struggles of Kat and other members of her team, not only in dealing with trauma and loss but also showing a thought provoking view of both the benefits and dangers of the AI revolution which adds a level of relevance and authenticity.
The final part of the story was gripping and dramatic. With the suspense racking up, there was shock at the revelations and ultimately the sad realisation that this was indeed the end. Jo Callaghan has created a fantastic crime series that has both heart and intelligence, all with a touch of dark humour. I really took these characters to my heart and I shall miss them, especially Lock. It (I still want to say he) could be infuriating but there was an endearing quality too and I did enjoy the bond that formed between Lock and Kat. I look forward to seeing what comes next by this very talented author.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
There are no spoilers here. I always make sure not to include any but as this is the final book in the series I wanted to make that explicit.
Body of Lies picks up from the events of that explosive ending to Human Remains. This is a unique police procedural series that is absolutely worth your time. I personally was foolish and ignored my friends’ praises of Callaghan’s debut In the Blink of an Eye. They told me I would love it, but being aware one of the detectives was AI, I assumed I would not get on with it. I see this criticism a lot, so if you are in the same boat then please know I wholeheartedly recommend this series and hold my hands up that I was very, very wrong.
Yes, there is an AI element to the series, but it’s done incredibly well and it’s about so much more than that. Kat is such a well-written character, so believably human and incredibly relatable. Heck, I even love (love to hate or hate to love?) Lock.
Body of Lies features DCS Kat Frank and her holographic assistant AIDE Lock as they investigate the murder of a local MP. At the scene, they uncover a hidden message that seems to be targeting them. The series feels timely and resonant, in real life earlier this year CrimeOwl AI launched to help investigators process thousands of files in minutes, making it easier to connect evidence, uncover hidden patterns and generate new leads. It’s no surprise that Callaghan pre-empted this in her novels, as she has a background as a senior strategist researching the future impact of AI on the workforce.
Throughout the series there has been ambiguity surrounding Lock. Is it possible for the AI to have its own alternative motives and do a Skynet? There’s a knife-edge uncertainty throughout and I loved the resulting tension.
As mentioned I won’t go into too much more of the plot to avoid spoilers. I will say that there was a part that gave me Fight Club vibes and that the ending was superb. What a ride this masterpiece series has been.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the proof copy.
Body of Lies picks up from the events of that explosive ending to Human Remains. This is a unique police procedural series that is absolutely worth your time. I personally was foolish and ignored my friends’ praises of Callaghan’s debut In the Blink of an Eye. They told me I would love it, but being aware one of the detectives was AI, I assumed I would not get on with it. I see this criticism a lot, so if you are in the same boat then please know I wholeheartedly recommend this series and hold my hands up that I was very, very wrong.
Yes, there is an AI element to the series, but it’s done incredibly well and it’s about so much more than that. Kat is such a well-written character, so believably human and incredibly relatable. Heck, I even love (love to hate or hate to love?) Lock.
Body of Lies features DCS Kat Frank and her holographic assistant AIDE Lock as they investigate the murder of a local MP. At the scene, they uncover a hidden message that seems to be targeting them. The series feels timely and resonant, in real life earlier this year CrimeOwl AI launched to help investigators process thousands of files in minutes, making it easier to connect evidence, uncover hidden patterns and generate new leads. It’s no surprise that Callaghan pre-empted this in her novels, as she has a background as a senior strategist researching the future impact of AI on the workforce.
Throughout the series there has been ambiguity surrounding Lock. Is it possible for the AI to have its own alternative motives and do a Skynet? There’s a knife-edge uncertainty throughout and I loved the resulting tension.
As mentioned I won’t go into too much more of the plot to avoid spoilers. I will say that there was a part that gave me Fight Club vibes and that the ending was superb. What a ride this masterpiece series has been.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the proof copy.
May 24, 2026
A rollercoaster of emotions to finish the last in the Kat and Lock series. What do I do with myself now that I read this one at such speed to want to know how it ends.
This is one of the best series ever written from start to finish. The portrayal of grief through to Lock being AI. I wondered from the off how much I'd enjoy it with AI being involved. It makes you see both sides and it's all about how you use something.
To give a slight but not spoiler Kat and Lock are both deserving of the hero title. By the end I'm hoping Kat is saying goodnight to all her past demons. She's such a human character to her AI partner such opposites and it just worked.
Kat even more human in this one struggling from the aftermath of the book before. Kat will forever have a place in my heart from these books one incredible woman. Read for yourself you will not be disappointed. 500 stars if I could give.
This is one of the best series ever written from start to finish. The portrayal of grief through to Lock being AI. I wondered from the off how much I'd enjoy it with AI being involved. It makes you see both sides and it's all about how you use something.
To give a slight but not spoiler Kat and Lock are both deserving of the hero title. By the end I'm hoping Kat is saying goodnight to all her past demons. She's such a human character to her AI partner such opposites and it just worked.
Kat even more human in this one struggling from the aftermath of the book before. Kat will forever have a place in my heart from these books one incredible woman. Read for yourself you will not be disappointed. 500 stars if I could give.
May 13, 2026
Guys, I’m bereft and mind-blown all in equal measure. I have just finished Jo Callaghan’s Kat & Lock series with the final instalment ‘Body Of Lies’ and I am NOT OK. What I have just experienced is nothing short of masterful. I have experienced every range of human emotion throughout this series, but especially with this book, which serves as the finale to close out this fantastic series.
It’s hard to believe that I only joined the ranks of the CallaFANS fairly recently, but I have devoured four books now in less than a month and I have become so emotionally invested with Kat & Lock that it’s almost unhealthy at this point. This series is so exquisitely crafted and everything has been leading up to this point. I can’t say too much about this book without spoiling anything, so I’m trying to do my very best to review ‘Body Of Lies’ without revealing anything and it’s HARD! What I will say, however, is that it’s hard to build up a series and close it so that everybody is satisfied, but I think I can say with some confidence that people are going to be sad. Yes, but I think people are going to be really satisfied and mind-blown by this explosive finale to a much-loved series.
I am going to miss Kat & Lock so much. They have brought me so much joy. I had tears steaming down my face reading the last chapters and I just know that this is going to be a series that stays with me for a long time to come. What Jo has created with this series and these characters in particular is phenomenal, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. ‘Body Of Lies’ is out next week and I want to say a huge thank you to Jo for kindly sending me an early copy for review.
PS: This was the hardest spoiler-free review I think I’ve ever had to write 🤣🤭
It’s hard to believe that I only joined the ranks of the CallaFANS fairly recently, but I have devoured four books now in less than a month and I have become so emotionally invested with Kat & Lock that it’s almost unhealthy at this point. This series is so exquisitely crafted and everything has been leading up to this point. I can’t say too much about this book without spoiling anything, so I’m trying to do my very best to review ‘Body Of Lies’ without revealing anything and it’s HARD! What I will say, however, is that it’s hard to build up a series and close it so that everybody is satisfied, but I think I can say with some confidence that people are going to be sad. Yes, but I think people are going to be really satisfied and mind-blown by this explosive finale to a much-loved series.
I am going to miss Kat & Lock so much. They have brought me so much joy. I had tears steaming down my face reading the last chapters and I just know that this is going to be a series that stays with me for a long time to come. What Jo has created with this series and these characters in particular is phenomenal, and I cannot wait to see what she writes next. ‘Body Of Lies’ is out next week and I want to say a huge thank you to Jo for kindly sending me an early copy for review.
PS: This was the hardest spoiler-free review I think I’ve ever had to write 🤣🤭
June 2, 2026
Wow! What a final book! I’ve absolutely loved the series and the last book did not disappoint!
Absolutely fantastic writing as well as being ‘on topic’ and interesting too.
AI is definitely here, whether we embrace it or not…
Absolutely fantastic writing as well as being ‘on topic’ and interesting too.
AI is definitely here, whether we embrace it or not…
May 30, 2026
Just bloody brilliant! So sad this is the last in this series of 4 books. I have really loved each book.
Review of advance copy
Book Review 📚
Body of Lies - Jo Callaghan
Rating 5 Stars ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all thank you to bestie Michaela for very kindly providing me with a copy of this proof because it made my whole year 🙏🤣
However this book, where do I even begin ?! It was never going to be less than five stars so let's get that bit out of the way, absolutely amazing 👏
We follow Kat, Lock and the rest of the team whilst they are trying to solve the murder of a local MP which occurs on the night of Halloween, also during a power cut. I'm not going to say anymore about the plot as I obviously don't want to spoil anything !
I am sad that the series has come to an end as I love every single one of the characters so much and that just shows how amazing Jo writes ! However I will say believe it's been concluded fabulously and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
I don't know what to do now it's all over, I guess when the audiobook is released later this year I'll just have to do a re-read of the whole series ?! 💁♀️
Body of Lies - Jo Callaghan
Rating 5 Stars ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
First of all thank you to bestie Michaela for very kindly providing me with a copy of this proof because it made my whole year 🙏🤣
However this book, where do I even begin ?! It was never going to be less than five stars so let's get that bit out of the way, absolutely amazing 👏
We follow Kat, Lock and the rest of the team whilst they are trying to solve the murder of a local MP which occurs on the night of Halloween, also during a power cut. I'm not going to say anymore about the plot as I obviously don't want to spoil anything !
I am sad that the series has come to an end as I love every single one of the characters so much and that just shows how amazing Jo writes ! However I will say believe it's been concluded fabulously and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.
I don't know what to do now it's all over, I guess when the audiobook is released later this year I'll just have to do a re-read of the whole series ?! 💁♀️
May 21, 2026
Wow. Just wow!
This is such a brilliant series and this final instalment from Jo Callaghan meets and exceeds all expectations.
It’s a bitter sweet moment to read the final
chapter and I’ve loved being back in the world with Kat and Lock.
Tense and captivating, Jo Callaghan has again written a wonderful story- full of suspense and drama- we’re taken on a thrill ride adventure as Kat needs to decide on gut instinct or logic again.
This is one series I recommend again and again. Jo’s writing is detailed and gives a fascinating insight to the possibilities of the future.
This is such a brilliant series and this final instalment from Jo Callaghan meets and exceeds all expectations.
It’s a bitter sweet moment to read the final
chapter and I’ve loved being back in the world with Kat and Lock.
Tense and captivating, Jo Callaghan has again written a wonderful story- full of suspense and drama- we’re taken on a thrill ride adventure as Kat needs to decide on gut instinct or logic again.
This is one series I recommend again and again. Jo’s writing is detailed and gives a fascinating insight to the possibilities of the future.
May 28, 2026
What a finale!!!
May 31, 2026
What a rollercoaster of a series this has been, I've loved every book and the characters in them - they live rent free in my head - and to have this ending, wow I'm still trying to process. The range of emotions I've been through has quite frankly been epic and I’m going to need to lie down now!!
The characters are so strong and well written, their relationships and dynamics are human and flawed and the perfect juxtaposition to the logic of Lock. The story was fast paced and had my heart pounding, as Kat climbed those stairs my heart was in my mouth and the reveal, oh my that reveal was perfect. I cried at this book and I can't believe that it's over, although I will grab the audio to listen to just as I have with the previous ones as the narrator is amazing and it gives me a chance to immerse myself in the stories once more.
I can't recommend this series strongly enough - read, listen or immersive read but just pick this series up, you will not regret it!!!
*Police procedural
*Human Detective and AI partner
*Cutting edge technology
*Ethics
*Fast paced
The characters are so strong and well written, their relationships and dynamics are human and flawed and the perfect juxtaposition to the logic of Lock. The story was fast paced and had my heart pounding, as Kat climbed those stairs my heart was in my mouth and the reveal, oh my that reveal was perfect. I cried at this book and I can't believe that it's over, although I will grab the audio to listen to just as I have with the previous ones as the narrator is amazing and it gives me a chance to immerse myself in the stories once more.
I can't recommend this series strongly enough - read, listen or immersive read but just pick this series up, you will not regret it!!!
*Police procedural
*Human Detective and AI partner
*Cutting edge technology
*Ethics
*Fast paced
May 22, 2026
I've just finished this book and feel like I need to just sit and stare at the wall for a while. I used to think people were being dramatic saying stuff like that until I read this.
The whole series has been amazing. No blurb from me this time cos I think you genuinely need to read the whole series to appreciate what a masterpiece this book, book 4 in the series is.
With AI being a hot topic right now, splitting peoples views, this book is ahead of its game and I have loved how the plot has metaphorically grew legs over the series. I thought Jo couldn't get any better after Human Remains but this just blew it out of the water for me.
It's a fantastic read, it's gripping, tense and emotional and I can't really say anymore without giving anything away.
All the stars for this one 😍
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The whole series has been amazing. No blurb from me this time cos I think you genuinely need to read the whole series to appreciate what a masterpiece this book, book 4 in the series is.
With AI being a hot topic right now, splitting peoples views, this book is ahead of its game and I have loved how the plot has metaphorically grew legs over the series. I thought Jo couldn't get any better after Human Remains but this just blew it out of the water for me.
It's a fantastic read, it's gripping, tense and emotional and I can't really say anymore without giving anything away.
All the stars for this one 😍
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 28, 2026
I really enjoyed this series overall, but this was definitely my least favourite of the four. The ending felt quite underwhelming to me, and I didn’t really enjoy the “twist” it just didn’t feel aligned with everything built up in the previous books. It felt like the author was aiming for shock factor, but unfortunately it fell a bit flat for me and I wasn’t overly fussed with the overall arching storyline for this book.
That said, I still really enjoyed the book as a whole and loved the series overall. Sadly, like a lot of series, it just lost a bit of momentum towards the end for me.
I’d rate this book 3.5 stars ⭐️
The overall series’s 4.5 ⭐️
That said, I still really enjoyed the book as a whole and loved the series overall. Sadly, like a lot of series, it just lost a bit of momentum towards the end for me.
I’d rate this book 3.5 stars ⭐️
The overall series’s 4.5 ⭐️
June 2, 2026
I am so sad this is the end of this series because its amazing!! All four have been 5⭐️ for me!
This one broke me, I cried 😢 probably a little too much, but I loved Lock and Kat and their relationship was a pleasure to read!
Locks character development despite being AI was awesome!
The ending was so sad, though that little glimmer in the last chapter ❤️❤️ I am sticking with that! So pleased it was included!
This one broke me, I cried 😢 probably a little too much, but I loved Lock and Kat and their relationship was a pleasure to read!
Locks character development despite being AI was awesome!
The ending was so sad, though that little glimmer in the last chapter ❤️❤️ I am sticking with that! So pleased it was included!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2026
A brilliant series and what a way to end it.
Having worked in Westminster and in this type of environment this was close to the bone but researched perfectly. The civil service speak in particular made me chuckle because it was so accurate.
The twists were good and I liked the way it was all wrapped up.
This is hands down one of my favourite thriller series’ and so scarily relevant and timely.
Having worked in Westminster and in this type of environment this was close to the bone but researched perfectly. The civil service speak in particular made me chuckle because it was so accurate.
The twists were good and I liked the way it was all wrapped up.
This is hands down one of my favourite thriller series’ and so scarily relevant and timely.
May 20, 2026
Wow! What a book, what a series, what an ending….. I’m so sad this series is finished, but it has been brilliant.
May 20, 2026
This is a 6⭐️ book!!!
To say I have been walking around the house saying “OMG, OMG, OMG” and “FUCK” for the last 20 minutes about sums this one up. I can’t begin to get my thoughts out quick enough. This book was just incredible, it’s been a long time since a book has really moved me and let me tell you this book broke me but I’m ok with that 🥹 I didn’t think I was ready for this series to be over but I absolutely loved the ending of this book and I really think Jo did it so brilliantly. This book will stay with me forever. Oh and yeah this is my best book of 2026!!
To say I have been walking around the house saying “OMG, OMG, OMG” and “FUCK” for the last 20 minutes about sums this one up. I can’t begin to get my thoughts out quick enough. This book was just incredible, it’s been a long time since a book has really moved me and let me tell you this book broke me but I’m ok with that 🥹 I didn’t think I was ready for this series to be over but I absolutely loved the ending of this book and I really think Jo did it so brilliantly. This book will stay with me forever. Oh and yeah this is my best book of 2026!!
May 21, 2026
Omg what a way to end the series I have laughed cried and been totally blown away ! This book has left me sad and happy at the same time ! The end was just perfect the tears I have shed in this book !!! Bye bye Kat and Lock ! Please Jo write more !!! 👋❤️❤️❤️ amazing series !
April 14, 2026
DCS Kat Frank returns to work at the Future Policing Unit after a tragic loss, only to find herself thrust into a new high-profile case. On the night of Halloween a local MP is found murdered, with a taunting message written in binary code that seems to target Kat specifically: Catch me if you can. The victim’s anti-AI sentiments suggest a political motive & as Kat investigates with her partner AIDE Lock – the world’s first AI detective – she finds herself once again battling her own prejudices about the technological future he represents. But when a cyberattack takes out the National Grid, Kat & Lock have to race against the clock to track down the hacker before thousands die. Tangled in a web of suspicion & deception, Kat must choose who and what to believe when the truth seems to defy both instinct and logic.
So firstly, let me admit that I’ve been lucky enough to have a proof of this title since The end of last year, I have picked it up many times to read but because I didn’t want it to all be over I’ve ended up delaying reading until now!
I knew this fourth, and final, book in the series would be everything I wanted it to be & more, & I wasn’t wrong. After the dramatic events at the end of the last book (no spoilers!) I was desperate to know what direction this book took, and wow, what a journey.
From the outset we catch up with Kat who is thrown into a new case that is evident will cause questions to be raised. Jo’s powerful, engaging & captivating writing style continues to evoke every emotion possible from the reader - honestly this whole series has just been an emotional rollercoaster!
I don’t want to give anything away in regards to how the series ends but I think that Jo has achieved this perfectly. I for one am devastated that the series has come to an end, however it is a fitting conclusion that will definitely satisfy the readers who have come to love these characters.
One thing is for certain, I cannot wait to see what Jo has in store for us next, I will be first in the queue to find out! Well done Jo and thank you for allowing us to share the world of Kat & Lock with you.
(And if you’ve not read this series - rectify that now, you’ve got a month to read the first three books!🙂)
So firstly, let me admit that I’ve been lucky enough to have a proof of this title since The end of last year, I have picked it up many times to read but because I didn’t want it to all be over I’ve ended up delaying reading until now!
I knew this fourth, and final, book in the series would be everything I wanted it to be & more, & I wasn’t wrong. After the dramatic events at the end of the last book (no spoilers!) I was desperate to know what direction this book took, and wow, what a journey.
From the outset we catch up with Kat who is thrown into a new case that is evident will cause questions to be raised. Jo’s powerful, engaging & captivating writing style continues to evoke every emotion possible from the reader - honestly this whole series has just been an emotional rollercoaster!
I don’t want to give anything away in regards to how the series ends but I think that Jo has achieved this perfectly. I for one am devastated that the series has come to an end, however it is a fitting conclusion that will definitely satisfy the readers who have come to love these characters.
One thing is for certain, I cannot wait to see what Jo has in store for us next, I will be first in the queue to find out! Well done Jo and thank you for allowing us to share the world of Kat & Lock with you.
(And if you’ve not read this series - rectify that now, you’ve got a month to read the first three books!🙂)
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thanks to Simon and Schuster for the gifted proof of this title in return for an honest review.
This is an epic conclusion to the series - which includes In the Blink of An Eye, Leave No Trace, and Human Remains - and whilst it is epic, the fact that it's the last one is just not good news, because this has been just one of the greatest series I've read. Whilst Jo has done a wonderful job in rounding everything up, I don't like the idea that there won't be another to look forward to.
Like I said with the previous books, Jo has an amazing capacity for writing about grief, which I imagine comes from her own bereavement. As someone who has lost a lot of people, I find it really difficult to explain just how I feel but she's taken the words straight from my heart and it's just beautiful.
I think it's a very timely book. Obviously the whole series is about AI, but this one looks into the safety of it, the job losses, and that is becoming a genuine fear, particularly in the creative industries, and so whilst it was a thoroughly enjoyable book, it is also thought-provoking.
Also this idea of an MP being killed. No matter what their policies, no-one deserves to be murdered, but sadly this is not solely found in fiction.
I found Lock was quite irritating in this one, for the most part (he does redeem himself as the book goes on). That's not a negative point, but rather a compliment to Jo's writing. We have seen this "man" go through four books and he has grown and learnt and is as close to human as AI can be, and with that comes new emotions, new reactions, new intelligence, and it's frightening.
Whilst the other books did focus on AI, obviously, it was more in relation to the crimes. Whereas this one looks at it on a more national and global scale, and looks at how much we rely on AI, robots, electricity, machines; we focus on how it can help and ignore how it can harm.
This is about more than "just" a murder; it has so many layers to it, feels more personal and more targeted.
It is rounded off nicely, everything tied up, but I still can't believe it's finished. I've spend the last few years excited for the next instalment, and now that's it. But it'll be interesting to see what avenue Jo goes down now.
This is an epic conclusion to the series - which includes In the Blink of An Eye, Leave No Trace, and Human Remains - and whilst it is epic, the fact that it's the last one is just not good news, because this has been just one of the greatest series I've read. Whilst Jo has done a wonderful job in rounding everything up, I don't like the idea that there won't be another to look forward to.
Like I said with the previous books, Jo has an amazing capacity for writing about grief, which I imagine comes from her own bereavement. As someone who has lost a lot of people, I find it really difficult to explain just how I feel but she's taken the words straight from my heart and it's just beautiful.
I think it's a very timely book. Obviously the whole series is about AI, but this one looks into the safety of it, the job losses, and that is becoming a genuine fear, particularly in the creative industries, and so whilst it was a thoroughly enjoyable book, it is also thought-provoking.
Also this idea of an MP being killed. No matter what their policies, no-one deserves to be murdered, but sadly this is not solely found in fiction.
I found Lock was quite irritating in this one, for the most part (he does redeem himself as the book goes on). That's not a negative point, but rather a compliment to Jo's writing. We have seen this "man" go through four books and he has grown and learnt and is as close to human as AI can be, and with that comes new emotions, new reactions, new intelligence, and it's frightening.
Whilst the other books did focus on AI, obviously, it was more in relation to the crimes. Whereas this one looks at it on a more national and global scale, and looks at how much we rely on AI, robots, electricity, machines; we focus on how it can help and ignore how it can harm.
This is about more than "just" a murder; it has so many layers to it, feels more personal and more targeted.
It is rounded off nicely, everything tied up, but I still can't believe it's finished. I've spend the last few years excited for the next instalment, and now that's it. But it'll be interesting to see what avenue Jo goes down now.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️ 5 ⭐️
Body of Lies is the fourth and final book (sob) in the Kat and Lock crime thriller series. If you haven’t read any of the other books, I can’t recommend them highly enough. They can all be read as standalones, but getting to know the characters’ backstories is all part of the fun.
Body of Lies is well written; the story is engaging and highly entertaining, but for me, the stars of the show are definitely the characters. From the first book, Kat and Lock quickly became one of my favourite duos. The pairing of DCS Kat and AI detective Lock is a match made in heaven; the humour, camaraderie, rapport and banter between the whole team are a joy, and reading it was like visiting old friends.
I absolutely loved it, and although I’m gutted that this is the end for the dynamic duo, the ending was spot on (and made me cry). What an amazing series (I still say it would make fantastic TV).
I can’t wait to see what Jo Callaghan’s got up her sleeve next. Put it (and the other three) on your list; you’ll thank me later!
Many thanks to the publisher for the proof copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
Body of Lies is the fourth and final book (sob) in the Kat and Lock crime thriller series. If you haven’t read any of the other books, I can’t recommend them highly enough. They can all be read as standalones, but getting to know the characters’ backstories is all part of the fun.
Body of Lies is well written; the story is engaging and highly entertaining, but for me, the stars of the show are definitely the characters. From the first book, Kat and Lock quickly became one of my favourite duos. The pairing of DCS Kat and AI detective Lock is a match made in heaven; the humour, camaraderie, rapport and banter between the whole team are a joy, and reading it was like visiting old friends.
I absolutely loved it, and although I’m gutted that this is the end for the dynamic duo, the ending was spot on (and made me cry). What an amazing series (I still say it would make fantastic TV).
I can’t wait to see what Jo Callaghan’s got up her sleeve next. Put it (and the other three) on your list; you’ll thank me later!
Many thanks to the publisher for the proof copy, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
May 21, 2026
Body of Lies is the fourth and final (😭) book in the Kat and Lock series by Jo Callaghan. This has firmly taken the spot as my favourite thriller series of all time.
Jo has out done herself with this book. The plot is gripping & the writing is nothing but exceptional. Once again Jo explores grief perfectly. She captures the stress & emotions related to severe infant illness brilliantly (this is something I know all too well and I was really impressed with the way this was all handled.) The book highlights where AI can be a real asset & throughout the whole series she explores the nuances associated with using AI so well. The ending of the book floored me. I haven’t been this broken by a book since The Amber Spyglass. The book is so current & thought provoking. It is nothing short of a masterpiece. I really hope we get treated to spin off books featuring some of the characters at a later date. My book of 2026. This one cannot be beaten.
Jo has out done herself with this book. The plot is gripping & the writing is nothing but exceptional. Once again Jo explores grief perfectly. She captures the stress & emotions related to severe infant illness brilliantly (this is something I know all too well and I was really impressed with the way this was all handled.) The book highlights where AI can be a real asset & throughout the whole series she explores the nuances associated with using AI so well. The ending of the book floored me. I haven’t been this broken by a book since The Amber Spyglass. The book is so current & thought provoking. It is nothing short of a masterpiece. I really hope we get treated to spin off books featuring some of the characters at a later date. My book of 2026. This one cannot be beaten.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
If you haven’t read any of this series, stop here. Because this is the last in the series and it is so blindingly, blooming wonderful that you deserve to read it from the beginning.
Jo Callaghan’s Body of Lies is one of those rare crime thrillers that genuinely unsettles because so much of it feels only a heartbeat away from reality. I tore through this novel, desperate to know what came after the devastating Human Remains.
Body of Lies is a tense, frighteningly plausible exploration of AI, truth manipulation and the dangerous human desire to control narratives. It is intelligent and emotionally layered.
The novel opens with the murder of an outspoken anti-AI MP on Halloween night, the victim posed beside a message in binary code directed specifically at DCS Kat Frank: ‘Catch me if you can.’ From there, the story accelerates rapidly into a web of cyberterrorism, political extremism, deepfakes and national panic after a devastating attack on the National Grid.
If it sounds a touch absurd, believe me, it isn’t. Jo Callaghan grounds every twist in emotional realism and procedural detail. The technological elements are disturbingly credible. Given the current anxiety surrounding AI-generated misinformation and attacks on critical infrastructure, the novel feels like a warning shot.
I love the way the relationship between Kat and AIDE Lock evolves. Their partnership has always been the emotional and philosophical heart of these novels, but here Callaghan pushes it into much darker territory. Kat is returning to work while carrying immense grief and emotional exhaustion, and her instinctive distrust of Lock has become more complicated. She depends on him professionally, sometimes even emotionally, yet remains deeply unsettled by what he represents. Lock, meanwhile, feels increasingly difficult to categorise. He is not written as a cold machine, nor as a conveniently humanised AI cliché. Instead, he exists (if that’s what he does) in a deeply uncomfortable middle ground.
There’s a wonderfully philosophical trait running through these books. Some of the most effective scenes in this novel are not the action packed moments, but the quieter exchanges between Kat and Lock. Questions of intuition, morality, and what it is to be human, bubble away beneath the investigation. There are moments where Lock appears almost compassionate, followed immediately by moments that remind Kat and us how fundamentally alien his intelligence actually is. That ambiguity creates an undercurrent of tension running through every chapter. By the final chapters, I found myself questioning Lock’s motives.
The pacing is superb throughout. Callaghan balances procedural detail with genuine thriller momentum, and once the cyberattack storyline escalates, the novel becomes utterly propulsive. The plot structure constantly widens the stakes without losing sight of the central murder investigation. One minute Kat is analysing evidence in an interrogation room; the next, the country is spiralling toward chaos as power systems fail and misinformation spreads faster than facts can catch up. The atmosphere becomes increasingly claustrophobic despite the scale of the crisis because nobody, including me, knows what information can actually be trusted.
I also loved the eerie tone Callaghan creates through the Halloween setting. The imagery of masks, shadows and digital ghosts works brilliantly alongside the novel’s themes of deception and manufactured reality. There is a persistent sense of paranoia hanging over the entire book. Even seemingly straightforward scenes feel loaded with uncertainty because the novel repeatedly forces us to confront how easily modern technology can manipulate perception.
What I love most, though, is how relevant the novel feels to contemporary society. Good crime fiction reflects the fears of its times, and Body of Lies captures current anxieties with chilling precision. AI ethics, online radicalisation, cyberwarfare, political polarisation and the erosion of objective truth all flood through this book, making us question how we feel about everything. Callaghan never allows these themes to overwhelm the storytelling, though. At its core, this remains an emotionally driven thriller about grief, trust and human vulnerability.
Verdict: Body of Lies is a stunning, deeply emotional book. The uncertainty over where humanity ends and artificial intelligence begins is such a massive question, it has given me a book hangover! This book combines page-turning suspense with genuinely thought-provoking ideas. It is smart, unsettling and unnervingly believable. Body of Lies is a crime novel that taps directly into fears we are already living with and because of that, it will stay with me for a long, long time. Its brilliant, timely and so unnerving. I cannot praise it too highly.
Jo Callaghan’s Body of Lies is one of those rare crime thrillers that genuinely unsettles because so much of it feels only a heartbeat away from reality. I tore through this novel, desperate to know what came after the devastating Human Remains.
Body of Lies is a tense, frighteningly plausible exploration of AI, truth manipulation and the dangerous human desire to control narratives. It is intelligent and emotionally layered.
The novel opens with the murder of an outspoken anti-AI MP on Halloween night, the victim posed beside a message in binary code directed specifically at DCS Kat Frank: ‘Catch me if you can.’ From there, the story accelerates rapidly into a web of cyberterrorism, political extremism, deepfakes and national panic after a devastating attack on the National Grid.
If it sounds a touch absurd, believe me, it isn’t. Jo Callaghan grounds every twist in emotional realism and procedural detail. The technological elements are disturbingly credible. Given the current anxiety surrounding AI-generated misinformation and attacks on critical infrastructure, the novel feels like a warning shot.
I love the way the relationship between Kat and AIDE Lock evolves. Their partnership has always been the emotional and philosophical heart of these novels, but here Callaghan pushes it into much darker territory. Kat is returning to work while carrying immense grief and emotional exhaustion, and her instinctive distrust of Lock has become more complicated. She depends on him professionally, sometimes even emotionally, yet remains deeply unsettled by what he represents. Lock, meanwhile, feels increasingly difficult to categorise. He is not written as a cold machine, nor as a conveniently humanised AI cliché. Instead, he exists (if that’s what he does) in a deeply uncomfortable middle ground.
There’s a wonderfully philosophical trait running through these books. Some of the most effective scenes in this novel are not the action packed moments, but the quieter exchanges between Kat and Lock. Questions of intuition, morality, and what it is to be human, bubble away beneath the investigation. There are moments where Lock appears almost compassionate, followed immediately by moments that remind Kat and us how fundamentally alien his intelligence actually is. That ambiguity creates an undercurrent of tension running through every chapter. By the final chapters, I found myself questioning Lock’s motives.
The pacing is superb throughout. Callaghan balances procedural detail with genuine thriller momentum, and once the cyberattack storyline escalates, the novel becomes utterly propulsive. The plot structure constantly widens the stakes without losing sight of the central murder investigation. One minute Kat is analysing evidence in an interrogation room; the next, the country is spiralling toward chaos as power systems fail and misinformation spreads faster than facts can catch up. The atmosphere becomes increasingly claustrophobic despite the scale of the crisis because nobody, including me, knows what information can actually be trusted.
I also loved the eerie tone Callaghan creates through the Halloween setting. The imagery of masks, shadows and digital ghosts works brilliantly alongside the novel’s themes of deception and manufactured reality. There is a persistent sense of paranoia hanging over the entire book. Even seemingly straightforward scenes feel loaded with uncertainty because the novel repeatedly forces us to confront how easily modern technology can manipulate perception.
What I love most, though, is how relevant the novel feels to contemporary society. Good crime fiction reflects the fears of its times, and Body of Lies captures current anxieties with chilling precision. AI ethics, online radicalisation, cyberwarfare, political polarisation and the erosion of objective truth all flood through this book, making us question how we feel about everything. Callaghan never allows these themes to overwhelm the storytelling, though. At its core, this remains an emotionally driven thriller about grief, trust and human vulnerability.
Verdict: Body of Lies is a stunning, deeply emotional book. The uncertainty over where humanity ends and artificial intelligence begins is such a massive question, it has given me a book hangover! This book combines page-turning suspense with genuinely thought-provoking ideas. It is smart, unsettling and unnervingly believable. Body of Lies is a crime novel that taps directly into fears we are already living with and because of that, it will stay with me for a long, long time. Its brilliant, timely and so unnerving. I cannot praise it too highly.
Review of advance copy
This is the 4th and final book in this series and continues directly on from the events at the end of the previous so you really do need to start from book and and read in order or things might not make sense...!
As already mentioned, this book picks up a little while after Human Remains finished. Kat and her team are still reeling from their devastating loss. An event that AIDE Lock firmly believes that wouldn't have happened had he a physical body. Something he is really gunning for. The event happened at Kat's home and we catch up with her just as she is returning home for the first time since said event. A home that now doesn't feel much like it, mostly due to the refurb, but that also means that there are more links to her late husband that have been lost to her. But, as well as being wary of the place she used to feel safe, to add to her woes, she has only just arrived when the lights all go out. Scaring her massively, until Lock reassures her that it's just a power cut and, through his hologram, provides some light. Long story short and the power cut wasn't a fault, more an attack and, during it, the new local MP was brutally murdered and displayed in the stocks. An MP who just happens to be very anti AI. With a message for Kat and Lock in her pocket.
Oh, and did I mention it was Halloween...!
And that's all I am saying as, if you have read the previous books, and you have, haven't you? You'll know exactly what you are letting yourself in for with this one. In fact, after the way book 4 ended, you'll have probably either begged, borrowed or stole to get your grubby mitts on this book, or you will have pre-ordered already and are waiting for the time to tick over to release date... In fact, I am not sure who is left reading this review...
So... this series for me has had its ups and downs and has challenged me along the way. I'm not a fan of AI and my limited experience of it has had mixed results. From some really great insight, to talking absolute rot, through guessing, and finally, and this has happened more than expected, actually being gas lit. One AI actually argued with me, trying to convince me that they were right (they weren't) and I was wrong (I wasn't). But that really scared me. Even though we were just talking about sports. Especially as my boss currently uses "just put it through AI" as an answer to pretty much everything these days... And couple that with the damage AI is doing to books, narration, films, art, even the stage, etc... It's only a matter of time before this all becomes fact. And don't get me started about how AI is progressing faster than legislation can catch up...
So yeah, this book, the ongoing story has in equal measure annoyed me, irked me, surprised me, and I have avidly followed Lock's development with both hope and trepidation. Fearful and excited for what the future could possibly bring. I've also loved his partnership with Kat who has been exactly the right person to both progress and challenge him. And the case they are embroiled in here takes it up a notch as they pretty much go national with what is happening...
And then there's the ending. I never thought we would ever go there. Not a clue. Didn't see that coming and actually feel quite bereft now the series has finished. Me and Lock have had our ups and downs but now the series is over, I think I'm really going to miss him...
Although... On the flip side, I also can't help wondering what the author will deliver up for her next book, and I am rather excited to find out...
As already mentioned, this book picks up a little while after Human Remains finished. Kat and her team are still reeling from their devastating loss. An event that AIDE Lock firmly believes that wouldn't have happened had he a physical body. Something he is really gunning for. The event happened at Kat's home and we catch up with her just as she is returning home for the first time since said event. A home that now doesn't feel much like it, mostly due to the refurb, but that also means that there are more links to her late husband that have been lost to her. But, as well as being wary of the place she used to feel safe, to add to her woes, she has only just arrived when the lights all go out. Scaring her massively, until Lock reassures her that it's just a power cut and, through his hologram, provides some light. Long story short and the power cut wasn't a fault, more an attack and, during it, the new local MP was brutally murdered and displayed in the stocks. An MP who just happens to be very anti AI. With a message for Kat and Lock in her pocket.
Oh, and did I mention it was Halloween...!
And that's all I am saying as, if you have read the previous books, and you have, haven't you? You'll know exactly what you are letting yourself in for with this one. In fact, after the way book 4 ended, you'll have probably either begged, borrowed or stole to get your grubby mitts on this book, or you will have pre-ordered already and are waiting for the time to tick over to release date... In fact, I am not sure who is left reading this review...
So... this series for me has had its ups and downs and has challenged me along the way. I'm not a fan of AI and my limited experience of it has had mixed results. From some really great insight, to talking absolute rot, through guessing, and finally, and this has happened more than expected, actually being gas lit. One AI actually argued with me, trying to convince me that they were right (they weren't) and I was wrong (I wasn't). But that really scared me. Even though we were just talking about sports. Especially as my boss currently uses "just put it through AI" as an answer to pretty much everything these days... And couple that with the damage AI is doing to books, narration, films, art, even the stage, etc... It's only a matter of time before this all becomes fact. And don't get me started about how AI is progressing faster than legislation can catch up...
So yeah, this book, the ongoing story has in equal measure annoyed me, irked me, surprised me, and I have avidly followed Lock's development with both hope and trepidation. Fearful and excited for what the future could possibly bring. I've also loved his partnership with Kat who has been exactly the right person to both progress and challenge him. And the case they are embroiled in here takes it up a notch as they pretty much go national with what is happening...
And then there's the ending. I never thought we would ever go there. Not a clue. Didn't see that coming and actually feel quite bereft now the series has finished. Me and Lock have had our ups and downs but now the series is over, I think I'm really going to miss him...
Although... On the flip side, I also can't help wondering what the author will deliver up for her next book, and I am rather excited to find out...
January 11, 2026
Was it my age, the raging hormones, or just how well written this book is, how heavily the ending lands, that had me in tears? I suspect somewhere in a mix of all three but I warn you now. If you are a fan of the books, if you have any love for Kat and her most unusual of partners in crime fighting, Lock, then do not underestimate how much reading this book is going to hurt, becuase it is. So, so sad that this is the final book, but if the series has to end, what a way to go.
I have out off writing a review of this book, not because I didn't enjoy it, because I absolutely, categorically did. It is simply because I don;t know if I have the words to do it justice when all I want to do is shout about all the "whaaaaat?", "OMG!" and "what the heck did you just do" that really do fall into spoiler territory. I can't and I won't just still. All of those and more. If you thought the ending of the previous book was shocking, just you wait. This book. So topical, so powerful. So absolutely brilliant.
I really am trying to avoid spoilers so this will be necessarily vague. Needless to say, we find Kat still reeling from what happened in the Human Remains, and trying to come to terms with what she believed she heard and saw in those dying pages. It's a big deal, as is moving back into her home for the first time since that fateful day that changed everything. I like how the author has portrayed this really clear emotional struggle that Kat goes through, wanting to rely on Lock but fearful of what has passed and what might come to be. It's not long before she has a very welcome distraction though in the form of the discovery of a body in her own home town, that of someone very critical of evolving AI capabilities and especially their place in the Police force. Not really hard to guess how quickly this is linked back to Kat and Lock or even how quickly this could all well go south ...
Which, ironically, it does. To Westminster and series of events that really do form the heart of this book. And that is where my recap ends and you have to read the book to get the rest for yourself. Whilst the murder investigation is equal parts intriguing and frustrating, and the list of potential suspects both finite and wide reaching given the victims status in the community, it is in the scenes in the latter part of the book where the story really picks up pace. Where Jo Callaghan plays an absolute blinder. I was both suckered in and also sceptical. I wanted to believe in the characters I have come to love even as all the evidence pointed wholly against them. This is very much a ticking clock case with huge ramifications if Kat cannot solve it, and also one in which she is going to have to rely on her own wits in order to come good. There is tension and intensity in every scene, and I had so many thoughts, doubts even, swirling in my mind at one time that I couldn't have looked away or put the book down even if I wanted to. Which I did not.
This book is so topical, generating such important questions for discussion that it probably the kind of thing that should be on a school English Lit syllabus. I had barely finished reading when the whole topic of AI and whether or not it would ever be capable of conscious decision making was on the morning news. And with all the recent take of AI being abused for the purpose of abusing others, the ethical, as well as very real environmental concerns of using AI is not only something brought to the fore in this book, but something I am ever more conscious now in the real world. And that is a powerful thing to pull from a book that is exceedingly thought provoking entertainment.
The ending of the book is shocking, heartbreaking even. I nearly dislocated my jaw, it fell so fast. And then the tears - emotional not pain derived - that were almost inevitable from the very first page of the book. You know you are heading towards an ending when you start reading a 'last in the series', but I never expected it to be this hard hitting or poignant. I like the final touches of the book, care taken with her characters right to the very end, but by golly. I am going to miss this series, and, in the (sort of) words of Dorothy Gale, 'I think I'll miss you most of all, Lock'. A fitting, if sad finale and completely recommended.
I have out off writing a review of this book, not because I didn't enjoy it, because I absolutely, categorically did. It is simply because I don;t know if I have the words to do it justice when all I want to do is shout about all the "whaaaaat?", "OMG!" and "what the heck did you just do" that really do fall into spoiler territory. I can't and I won't just still. All of those and more. If you thought the ending of the previous book was shocking, just you wait. This book. So topical, so powerful. So absolutely brilliant.
I really am trying to avoid spoilers so this will be necessarily vague. Needless to say, we find Kat still reeling from what happened in the Human Remains, and trying to come to terms with what she believed she heard and saw in those dying pages. It's a big deal, as is moving back into her home for the first time since that fateful day that changed everything. I like how the author has portrayed this really clear emotional struggle that Kat goes through, wanting to rely on Lock but fearful of what has passed and what might come to be. It's not long before she has a very welcome distraction though in the form of the discovery of a body in her own home town, that of someone very critical of evolving AI capabilities and especially their place in the Police force. Not really hard to guess how quickly this is linked back to Kat and Lock or even how quickly this could all well go south ...
Which, ironically, it does. To Westminster and series of events that really do form the heart of this book. And that is where my recap ends and you have to read the book to get the rest for yourself. Whilst the murder investigation is equal parts intriguing and frustrating, and the list of potential suspects both finite and wide reaching given the victims status in the community, it is in the scenes in the latter part of the book where the story really picks up pace. Where Jo Callaghan plays an absolute blinder. I was both suckered in and also sceptical. I wanted to believe in the characters I have come to love even as all the evidence pointed wholly against them. This is very much a ticking clock case with huge ramifications if Kat cannot solve it, and also one in which she is going to have to rely on her own wits in order to come good. There is tension and intensity in every scene, and I had so many thoughts, doubts even, swirling in my mind at one time that I couldn't have looked away or put the book down even if I wanted to. Which I did not.
This book is so topical, generating such important questions for discussion that it probably the kind of thing that should be on a school English Lit syllabus. I had barely finished reading when the whole topic of AI and whether or not it would ever be capable of conscious decision making was on the morning news. And with all the recent take of AI being abused for the purpose of abusing others, the ethical, as well as very real environmental concerns of using AI is not only something brought to the fore in this book, but something I am ever more conscious now in the real world. And that is a powerful thing to pull from a book that is exceedingly thought provoking entertainment.
The ending of the book is shocking, heartbreaking even. I nearly dislocated my jaw, it fell so fast. And then the tears - emotional not pain derived - that were almost inevitable from the very first page of the book. You know you are heading towards an ending when you start reading a 'last in the series', but I never expected it to be this hard hitting or poignant. I like the final touches of the book, care taken with her characters right to the very end, but by golly. I am going to miss this series, and, in the (sort of) words of Dorothy Gale, 'I think I'll miss you most of all, Lock'. A fitting, if sad finale and completely recommended.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Kat’s got a new case on Hallowe’en.
I am at a complete loss to know how to review Body of Lies. I thought it was utterly fabulous. There are so many aspects to Jo Callaghan’s insightful writing that each book rewards multiple reads and Body of Lies is no exception.
Obviously plot is of supreme importance and in Body of Lies there is a breathtaking, gripping, terrifying (just choose your own superlative and apply it) story. The intriguing police procedural element is layered with aspects of national and international importance and has such resonance in today’s world that the real life potential of this fiction is unnervingly plausible. I cannot stop contemplating what happens, so that the effect of reading Body of Lies is profound. It’s impossible to review Body of Lies without spoilers, but I cannot stress strongly enough how good it is or how fitting the title is.
With Kat’s partner, Lock, being AI, the effects and implications of how we create, use and control AI all feature throughout the book and I adore Jo Callaghan’s skill in presenting both positive and negative aspects without steering the reader to one particular viewpoint. Body of Lies is a book that is intelligently written and not only entertains flawlessly, but that makes the reader think long after the final page is read.
However, amongst a superb plot are themes of humanity that thrum with sensitive understanding, and affect the reader emotionally too. Kat’s PTSD following events in Human Remains, her ongoing grief at losing her husband, her desire to protect her adult son Cam as well as give him freedom and autonomy, her professionalism and strength as a DCS and her vulnerability, loneliness and compassion, all combine to make her a sublime character. Add in politics, national and international security, cyber attacks, trust, betrayal, zealousness and professional relationships, and Body of Lies transcends mere entertainment.
I realise this review is slightly vague as I really don’t want to spoil the story for others, but let me just say that Body of Lies is magnificent. It appeals to a wide range of emotions, and engages the reader completely. Indeed, I defy any reader not to shed a tear in reading it. Jo Callaghan is not only a sublime author, but her writing illustrates her as a superbly human individual who cares about her characters. Body of Lies is completely wonderful and not to be missed.
I am at a complete loss to know how to review Body of Lies. I thought it was utterly fabulous. There are so many aspects to Jo Callaghan’s insightful writing that each book rewards multiple reads and Body of Lies is no exception.
Obviously plot is of supreme importance and in Body of Lies there is a breathtaking, gripping, terrifying (just choose your own superlative and apply it) story. The intriguing police procedural element is layered with aspects of national and international importance and has such resonance in today’s world that the real life potential of this fiction is unnervingly plausible. I cannot stop contemplating what happens, so that the effect of reading Body of Lies is profound. It’s impossible to review Body of Lies without spoilers, but I cannot stress strongly enough how good it is or how fitting the title is.
With Kat’s partner, Lock, being AI, the effects and implications of how we create, use and control AI all feature throughout the book and I adore Jo Callaghan’s skill in presenting both positive and negative aspects without steering the reader to one particular viewpoint. Body of Lies is a book that is intelligently written and not only entertains flawlessly, but that makes the reader think long after the final page is read.
However, amongst a superb plot are themes of humanity that thrum with sensitive understanding, and affect the reader emotionally too. Kat’s PTSD following events in Human Remains, her ongoing grief at losing her husband, her desire to protect her adult son Cam as well as give him freedom and autonomy, her professionalism and strength as a DCS and her vulnerability, loneliness and compassion, all combine to make her a sublime character. Add in politics, national and international security, cyber attacks, trust, betrayal, zealousness and professional relationships, and Body of Lies transcends mere entertainment.
I realise this review is slightly vague as I really don’t want to spoil the story for others, but let me just say that Body of Lies is magnificent. It appeals to a wide range of emotions, and engages the reader completely. Indeed, I defy any reader not to shed a tear in reading it. Jo Callaghan is not only a sublime author, but her writing illustrates her as a superbly human individual who cares about her characters. Body of Lies is completely wonderful and not to be missed.
May 21, 2026
DCS Kat Frank has not been home since the terrifying hostage situation that saw DI Rayan Hassan become collateral damage in a last ditch attempt to save her. Being back in the house means coming to terms with more loss and trauma - and deciding whether she can still trust her AI partner AIDE Lock.
She and her FPU (Future Police Unit) team need to pick themselves up and get back to work without Hassan, and the opportunity presents itself when an anti-AI campaigning MP is murdered and strung up for all to see on a historic pillory in Coleshill.
There is something strange about this case from the start. The local powercut that coincided with the murder is odd, and the killer seems determined to taunt Kat and Lock. But the full scale of the dark motivation behind the crime only comes to light when a massive cyber attack on the National Grid brings the country to a dangerous standstill - just as the government are considering an AI bill which might see Lock finally get the body he desires...
This concluding volume of the gripping Kat and Lock series is the most ambitious, tense, and thought-provoking of them all. When a slow-burn murder investigation blows wide open into a national security situation of epic proportions, Kat and her team must race against the clock to find a killer and a cyber-terrorist. With the country on its knees, and lives in the balance, Lock is central to the investigation, but can they trust him to have human interests as his priority in the light of recent events?
Callaghan goes all out in this story, and I was kept teetering on the edge of my seat as the twists and turns culminate in a jaw-dropping finale that is as chilling as it is emotional - one which is so cleverly fore-shadowed earlier in the story. Trust issues keep things interesting, and every member of the team has a vital part to play - plus Kat's son Cam on his trusty bicycle!
This whole series has been a combination of compelling plot-lines, fabulous characters, and timely themes. I am sad to have reached the end of the line (or is it?), but Callaghan brings everything to a close with a satisfying flourish, and in a way which is true to her intention to make you ponder the role of AI in the present and the future... and what it means to be human.
I cannot wait to see what comes next from Jo Callaghan, because this has been quite a ride!
She and her FPU (Future Police Unit) team need to pick themselves up and get back to work without Hassan, and the opportunity presents itself when an anti-AI campaigning MP is murdered and strung up for all to see on a historic pillory in Coleshill.
There is something strange about this case from the start. The local powercut that coincided with the murder is odd, and the killer seems determined to taunt Kat and Lock. But the full scale of the dark motivation behind the crime only comes to light when a massive cyber attack on the National Grid brings the country to a dangerous standstill - just as the government are considering an AI bill which might see Lock finally get the body he desires...
This concluding volume of the gripping Kat and Lock series is the most ambitious, tense, and thought-provoking of them all. When a slow-burn murder investigation blows wide open into a national security situation of epic proportions, Kat and her team must race against the clock to find a killer and a cyber-terrorist. With the country on its knees, and lives in the balance, Lock is central to the investigation, but can they trust him to have human interests as his priority in the light of recent events?
Callaghan goes all out in this story, and I was kept teetering on the edge of my seat as the twists and turns culminate in a jaw-dropping finale that is as chilling as it is emotional - one which is so cleverly fore-shadowed earlier in the story. Trust issues keep things interesting, and every member of the team has a vital part to play - plus Kat's son Cam on his trusty bicycle!
This whole series has been a combination of compelling plot-lines, fabulous characters, and timely themes. I am sad to have reached the end of the line (or is it?), but Callaghan brings everything to a close with a satisfying flourish, and in a way which is true to her intention to make you ponder the role of AI in the present and the future... and what it means to be human.
I cannot wait to see what comes next from Jo Callaghan, because this has been quite a ride!
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