The Spare Man

July 18, 2022
An engineering magnate gets swept into a murder investigation in this vibrant space mystery from Kowal (the Lady Astronaut series). Communications scion Tesla Crane and her new husband, retired detective Shal Steward, take their honeymoon on a luxury spaceship en route to Mars under assumed identities to avoid publicity. When Shal witnesses the murder of the ultra-wealthy Haldan Kuznetsova’s assistant, George, Shal becomes the ship’s retrograde security team’s prime suspect, leaving Tesla and Shal determined to catch the real killer. Their sleuthing grows complicated, however, as promising leads crumble, suspects get murdered, and Tesla’s true identity gets out. Meanwhile, Tesla struggles to cope with her trauma from a lab accident years prior that killed six colleagues and left her in chronic pain. Kowal expertly weaves in red herrings and twists right up to the unmasking of the killer, and punctuates the suspense with moments of sparkling wit and the antics of Tesla’s therapy dog, Gimlet. The author’s nuanced portrayal of Tesla’s disabilities and the complexities of the technology that assists her to navigate them is particularly welcome. This is a page-turner.

September 15, 2022
Kowal (The Calculating Stars, 2018), seamlessly blends science fiction and detective fiction in her latest release. The beautiful, entitled, and obscenely rich Tesla Crane has recently married and departed for her honeymoon on the interplanetary cruise ship Lingren with her retired detective spouse, Shal, and service dog, Gimlet. When a murder occurs on the ship and Shal is accused, the trio is forced to investigate to clear Shal's name and find out the identity of the real killer. From the luxurious depictions of high-class life, to the witty banter and one-liners of the main characters, this book takes the best of both genres and serves them up with a unique cocktail recipe opening each chapter. Kowal delivers a fast-paced thrill ride that places a traditional hard-boiled detective story in space. Whether there to find out whodunit, or to experience the layered and interesting world building that Kowal is known for, readers of traditional detective stories and science fiction alike will not be disappointed.

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Starred review from August 1, 2022

In the latest from Kowal (author of the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Award winner The Calculating Stars), Tesla Crane and her brand-new spouse are on their honeymoon cruise. It's a rare opportunity for the famous heiress to spend a few days wrapped in luxury and anonymity while canoodling with her almost-as-famous husband. It's all fun and sexy games until they stumble over a dead body and the witless ship's security tries to pin the blame on Tesla's spouse. That's when the gloves come off, and the real Tesla stands up and investigates a sudden murder spree on this intergalactic cruise liner on its way between Luna and Mars. Tesla is a woman who keeps standing up in spite of devastating chronic pain and PTSD--always with a dash of gin, a load of snark, and a dogged determination to use her fame and fortune to make sure that everyone gets a fair shake. VERDICT Kowal's comedy-of-manners SF mystery is a rollicking case of knowing when to throw decorum out the window in order to get results. Highly recommended for fans of the author's Regency fantasy series "The Glamourist Histories," as well as anyone who loves a good mystery in an out-of-this-world setting.--Marlene Harris

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