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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
Tesla Crane, heiress and talented engineer, is on her honeymoon on a luxury space liner traveling from the Moon to Mars. She and her new husband are traveling under assumed names in order to try to gain some privacy. Along for the trip is Tesla's adorable service dog, Gimlet, a West Highland White Terrier. Tesla suffers from chronic pain due to an accident years ago on a project she developed- an accident that not only left Tesla permanently injured but where people died. It left Tesla with not only the wrecked spine, but ongoing PTSD. When a passenger is murdered, suspicion falls on Tesla's new husband, and the security force on the liner aren't interested in hearing anything different. When a second body is discovered and all the passengers on the liner are accounted for, Tesla decides it is up to her to clear her husband's name and stop the body count from rising.
This was a fun book. It is in the vein of a light-hearted murder mystery in the vein of The Thin Man movies. There's some humor, some romance, some sleuthing, and a good bit of drinking. Yes, Tesla, once she decides she needs to toss her alias aside, does throw her name, connections, and money around a bit in order to make sure she gets what she wants, but it didn't seem that far off from what someone in her position would do. A fortune and a well-known name go a long way toward getting things done, in our world and this future one. The "police" here do seem a bit underwhelming in their abilities, but again, they are the security on a luxury liner full of rich folk on holiday, not actual detectives. Most of the characters are quirky and odd. Gimlet is adorable and manages to steal any scene she's in. The plot is pretty straightforward with a few twists and suspenseful moments, but nothing too convoluted or bloody. The setting is quite nicely done, with accurate touches like the lag in communication time from the liner to Tesla's attorney on Earth.
It's a quick, fun read that does require some suspension of disbelief to enjoy fully, but if you can do that, it's also an enjoyable romp. If you liked the Thin Man stories, you will probably enjoy The Spare Man.
This was a fun book. It is in the vein of a light-hearted murder mystery in the vein of The Thin Man movies. There's some humor, some romance, some sleuthing, and a good bit of drinking. Yes, Tesla, once she decides she needs to toss her alias aside, does throw her name, connections, and money around a bit in order to make sure she gets what she wants, but it didn't seem that far off from what someone in her position would do. A fortune and a well-known name go a long way toward getting things done, in our world and this future one. The "police" here do seem a bit underwhelming in their abilities, but again, they are the security on a luxury liner full of rich folk on holiday, not actual detectives. Most of the characters are quirky and odd. Gimlet is adorable and manages to steal any scene she's in. The plot is pretty straightforward with a few twists and suspenseful moments, but nothing too convoluted or bloody. The setting is quite nicely done, with accurate touches like the lag in communication time from the liner to Tesla's attorney on Earth.
It's a quick, fun read that does require some suspension of disbelief to enjoy fully, but if you can do that, it's also an enjoyable romp. If you liked the Thin Man stories, you will probably enjoy The Spare Man.
3.5 stars, rounded up. A mystery, which isn't really my thing, but still enjoyable enough. I liked the thought behind the futuristic society, even though Tesla wasn't my favorite character, and the mystery was twisty enough to suit my tastes, such as they are.
I really wanted to enjoy this book but it just fell flat for me. The main character's chronic pain only seemed to effect her when the plot needed it. (I have chronic pain) she was also very annoying. She said one thing but then her actions completely go against that.
Overall this book had such a solid idea. It could have worked so well but Kowal just didn't seem to know what to do.
Overall this book had such a solid idea. It could have worked so well but Kowal just didn't seem to know what to do.
Starts out mildly entertaining but bogs down and becomes overcomplicated. I don't insist on protagonists being "likeable," but this one stretched my tolerance. (In another novel she'd make a good villain.) The inclusion of a cocktail recipe for every chapter is both twee and a heavy-handed nod to The Thin Man, and by the end I was even starting to hate the dog.
I enjoyed it but didn’t think it was amazing or special.
I got tired of the bitchy lawyer card and the dog is so amazing card. Also the dog’s disappearance was a major plot point but we never find out where it went or how it got back? It just suddenly reappeared.
I did like the ptsd (that sounds wrong but …). I also liked Tesla’s inner monologue when her pain device was disconnected that she COULD function before she had it and how she worked through the pain to fight.
The blurb says they need to stop more murders but actually all the people who needed to die did die. All they did was foil the false identity.
I got tired of the bitchy lawyer card and the dog is so amazing card. Also the dog’s disappearance was a major plot point but we never find out where it went or how it got back? It just suddenly reappeared.
I did like the ptsd (that sounds wrong but …). I also liked Tesla’s inner monologue when her pain device was disconnected that she COULD function before she had it and how she worked through the pain to fight.
The blurb says they need to stop more murders but actually all the people who needed to die did die. All they did was foil the false identity.
I read this one in just two days as it was a very easy one to get through. I’ve read quite a few works by this author and enjoyed them, but I think this is the first standalone by her I’ve tried.
I do think this bears a few similarities to her Calculating Stars series, but we’re following a character called Tesla Crane who is on her honeymoon and travelling on a massive luxury space ship. She’s travelling incognito as she’s a pretty famous character, and her husband is helping to protect her.
There is a murder quickly after they arrive on the ship and Tesla’s husband is very quickly accused as the murderer. Tesla is adamant that it can’t be him and is keen to call up her lawyer (despite massive time delays due to space travel) and get his name cleared.
The story was quite fast paced and I found it easy to enjoy the plot. I didn’t fall in love with any characters specifically but I liked the the concepts of the luxury ship and the way that the mystery slowly got revealed to the reader with more layers. There were a few twists but I think some were a little more obvious than others. 3.5*s in the end from me.
I do think this bears a few similarities to her Calculating Stars series, but we’re following a character called Tesla Crane who is on her honeymoon and travelling on a massive luxury space ship. She’s travelling incognito as she’s a pretty famous character, and her husband is helping to protect her.
There is a murder quickly after they arrive on the ship and Tesla’s husband is very quickly accused as the murderer. Tesla is adamant that it can’t be him and is keen to call up her lawyer (despite massive time delays due to space travel) and get his name cleared.
The story was quite fast paced and I found it easy to enjoy the plot. I didn’t fall in love with any characters specifically but I liked the the concepts of the luxury ship and the way that the mystery slowly got revealed to the reader with more layers. There were a few twists but I think some were a little more obvious than others. 3.5*s in the end from me.
this is my favourite book of 2022.
the disability rep in this was so good. like, crying in the bathroom at 10 pm good.
also? also. Shal? space Charles Lastra. that man is the space detective version of Charles Lastra and i just KNOW he has sexy shoes.
the disability rep in this was so good. like, crying in the bathroom at 10 pm good.
also? also. Shal? space Charles Lastra. that man is the space detective version of Charles Lastra and i just KNOW he has sexy shoes.
It was an interesting premise, but I thought it was a bit lacking and I could not keep my attention on the book. 3.5 stars (the 0.5 star is for Gimlet though).
Ahoy there me mateys! I love this author's work and yet this was a complete miss for me. The short version is that privilege and money solve everything in the novel. The longer version is that the individual elements didn't work when mixed together.
For example, I liked that the main character, Tesla, suffers from both chronic pain and PTSD. I liked the inclusion of a service dog. I enjoyed the setting of a luxury cruise liner in space. I loved that there was an extra dead body but everyone is supposedly accounted for. I liked that Tesla's spouse, the detective, is a suspect and is locked up leaving her to solve the crime and save him. I liked the concept of Tesla dealing with her lawyer in space and having to account for the time lag. I enjoyed how the future dealt with gender and identity. And I absolutely loved the author's notes behind the novel.
Sadly, I think what the author was going for fell spectacularly flat. Tesla wants to care about the poor but once her secret identity is blown she throws her name, money, and attitude around like crazy. Her PTSD and pain seem to fluctuate in direct relation to what is needed in the storyline and her internal computer is real convenient. The police force on board is so stupid that they all came across as villainous caricatures and botch everything to further the plot. I got tired of all of the focus on drinking. Ditto for the romance elements when there is a murder investigation going on. Tesla has a service dog that is not actually used correctly to do its job but always seems to be off-duty to be petted. How the spouse is dealt with didn't work at all and Tesla is always looking to him for validation. Tesla doesn't seem to actually use deductive reasoning well and "solves" the crime by accident. There are several red herrings and a ridiculous solution to the murder. Seriously how climax and ending happened were laughable.
I honestly spent the entire book waiting for the magic moment where the story would click for me and I would fall in love. This didn't happen and I am heartbroken. Arrr!
For example, I liked that the main character, Tesla, suffers from both chronic pain and PTSD. I liked the inclusion of a service dog. I enjoyed the setting of a luxury cruise liner in space. I loved that there was an extra dead body but everyone is supposedly accounted for. I liked that Tesla's spouse, the detective, is a suspect and is locked up leaving her to solve the crime and save him. I liked the concept of Tesla dealing with her lawyer in space and having to account for the time lag. I enjoyed how the future dealt with gender and identity. And I absolutely loved the author's notes behind the novel.
Sadly, I think what the author was going for fell spectacularly flat. Tesla wants to care about the poor but once her secret identity is blown she throws her name, money, and attitude around like crazy. Her PTSD and pain seem to fluctuate in direct relation to what is needed in the storyline and her internal computer is real convenient. The police force on board is so stupid that they all came across as villainous caricatures and botch everything to further the plot. I got tired of all of the focus on drinking. Ditto for the romance elements when there is a murder investigation going on. Tesla has a service dog that is not actually used correctly to do its job but always seems to be off-duty to be petted. How the spouse is dealt with didn't work at all and Tesla is always looking to him for validation. Tesla doesn't seem to actually use deductive reasoning well and "solves" the crime by accident. There are several red herrings and a ridiculous solution to the murder. Seriously how climax and ending happened were laughable.
I honestly spent the entire book waiting for the magic moment where the story would click for me and I would fall in love. This didn't happen and I am heartbroken. Arrr!