A review by elisastoneleahy
The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal

5.0

This cozy, sci-fi murder mystery was a delightful romp in a fascinating world! With all the elements of a traditional murder mystery and a classic whodunit feel, the story is set on a luxury spaceship cruise with enough technological jargon to give the whole setting a fresh, authentic twist. The setting is fun to explore both for the imaginative sci-fi but also the glimpses of kindness in a future society where standard politeness includes introducing people with their pronouns and courtesy masks. The main character suffers from chronic pain as well as PTSD and the management of both is key to the plot. Although the pain-suppressing technology implanted in her brain is cool, the star of the show is certainly Tesla's therapy dog, Gimlet. The mystery pulled me along and kept me enjoying the questions (Where did that extra body come from if everyone on board was accounted for? Who else on the ship has the necessary robotics knowledge? What is the magician hiding? WILL GIMLET BE OKAY?) while never feeling true fear for the characters (yes, including the dog!). It's a solid cozy read, with just enough thrill, sci-fi and romance to add flavor. Also, each chapter begins with a cocktail recipe and I'm looking forward to trying them!