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branch_c 's review for:
The Spare Man
by Mary Robinette Kowal
This is an example of the classic murder mystery story transplanted into a science fictional setting, aboard an interplanetary cruise ship, and Kowal does a nice job making the combination work.
I will say that the emphasis on the protagonist’s struggles with the PTSD and chronic pain from an incident in her past may have been a bit overdone - if the intention was to convey to the reader that such struggles are literally a constant factor in the life of someone in that situation, that mission was accomplished. Also, there’s a bit of a romance novel feel to Crane’s frequent internal dialogue regarding her husband. I realize they’re on their honeymoon, so it’s not out of place, but other readers may enjoy that aspect more than I did. Oh, and the cocktail recipes beginning each chapter struck me as a somewhat strange touch - creative, I guess, but with no real connection to the story, unless I missed something.
The mystery is fairly convoluted and not easily solved, but the clues are there, and the conclusion is satisfying. There’s a diverse and interesting cast of characters, some more eccentric than others, and even as a non-dog person, I have to applaud the character of Gimlet, who steals many scenes.
Overall, it’s a fun read, well written and nicely paced. I’d say it’s a high three plus but I’m glad to round up to four for the good concept and polished execution.
I will say that the emphasis on the protagonist’s struggles with the PTSD and chronic pain from an incident in her past may have been a bit overdone - if the intention was to convey to the reader that such struggles are literally a constant factor in the life of someone in that situation, that mission was accomplished. Also, there’s a bit of a romance novel feel to Crane’s frequent internal dialogue regarding her husband. I realize they’re on their honeymoon, so it’s not out of place, but other readers may enjoy that aspect more than I did. Oh, and the cocktail recipes beginning each chapter struck me as a somewhat strange touch - creative, I guess, but with no real connection to the story, unless I missed something.
The mystery is fairly convoluted and not easily solved, but the clues are there, and the conclusion is satisfying. There’s a diverse and interesting cast of characters, some more eccentric than others, and even as a non-dog person, I have to applaud the character of Gimlet, who steals many scenes.
Overall, it’s a fun read, well written and nicely paced. I’d say it’s a high three plus but I’m glad to round up to four for the good concept and polished execution.