Kristine Kathryn Rusch
****
Miles Flint has just returned from a cruise of the outer reaches of the solar system, a cruise he needed after the Disty crisis. Within minutes of his return he received a desperate plea for help from his mentor, Paloma. He rushed to her condo only to find that she had been murdered.
How, why, and by whom constitutes the mystery that Flint must unravel.
Once again the writing is taut, full of verisimilitude, and effective at creating a believable world with believable characters. It has been a long time since science fiction has captured my imagination the way this series has. I'm reminded a little of the Master and Commander series by Patrick O'Brian. Both series create believable, compelling characters who grow and change from book to book. At the same time their worlds are full of interesting twists and turns with unexpected but thoughtful quirks. I'll probably end up buying the whole series.
