Blunt Force Rising: An Angela Hardwicke Sci-Fi Mystery

by Russ Colchamiro

“Russ Colchamiro has staked out a territory of sci-fi mystery uniquely his own. With Angela Hardwicke, he mines a vein of pulp fiction gold.” –Nicholas Meyer, writer/director of Star Trek The Wrath of Khan

Part Blade Runner, part Doctor Who, part Sarah

Angela Hardwicke is Eternity’s most daring private eye...

Still reeling from a brutal off-world case, Hardwicke and her protégé Eric Whistler are hired by Ther’eda Ranadyne, the realm’s sole creator of androids, to provide extra security during an industry conference aboard a galaxy cruise ship.

Isolated millions of miles from home, the event quickly devolves into heated arguments between the pro-android community and its detractors, while a murder sets off a harrowing chain of events, the likes of which even Hardwicke has never faced.

In Blunt Force Rising , the claustrophobic fourth novel in Russ Colchamiro’s Angela Hardwicke sci-fi mystery series, she is not only forced to confront unresolved waves of prejudice, bigotry, fear, and trauma... but fight for her very life.

And don't miss the first the three books in the thrilling series, Crackle and Fire , Fractured Lives , and Hot Ash !

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy

296 pages, Paperback

Published July 26, 2023

About the author

RUSS COLCHAMIRO is the author of Crackle and Fire, Fractured Lives, Hot Ash, Blunt Force Rising, and Trigger Point, the first five books in the sci-fi thriller series featuring his hardboiled intergalactic private detective Angela Hardwicke. He is also the author of the rollicking space adventure, Crossline, the zany sci-fi backpacking series Finders Keepers, Genius de Milo, and Astropalooza, editor of the sci-fi mystery anthology, Love, Murder & Mayhem, and contributing author for his newest project, Murder in Montague Falls, a noir novella collection, all with Crazy 8 Press.

Russ has contributed to several other anthologies including Tales of the Crimson Keep, Pangaea, They Keep Killing Glenn, Altered States of the Union, Thrilling Adventure Yarns, Brave New Girls vols. 3&4, Camelot 13, TV Gods 2, and Footprints in the Stars.

He is now writing the fifth book in the Angela Hardwicke series.

In addition, Russ hosts the Rockin' Rollercoaster podcast, where he interviews various Sci-Fi, mystery, crime, thriller, and horror authors.

Russ lives in New Jersey with his wife and their twin ninjas.

For more on Russ’s works, visit www.russcolchamiro.com, and follow him on Facebook, Blue Sky, YouTube and Instagram @AuthorDudeRuss.

Reviews

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Angela Hardwicke is the hardest working PI in the multiverse with multiple jobs that take her up against the richest scumbags in reality. Here, she's been hired by an android cyberneticist for security on a cruise ship. Angela didn't get this job on her own, though. Her younger partner, Whistler, got the job for her instead.

This troubles Angela because she really doesn't want to make Whistler an equal partner as he keeps pushing to be recognized as more than her sidekick. Unfortunately, the cruise ship trip is in space and full of anti-android bigots. When a nightmarish hate plague washes over it, it becomes a fight for survival and figuring out who is the party responsible for this seemingly senseless act of terrorism.

[Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blunt Force Rising is quite an enjoyable read. Despite not having delved into other books in the series yet, I didn't feel like I was missing any vital information while reading this one. The characters were well introduced, and it was easy to understand what was going on. I must say it took quite a while before things really got going. There was a lot to explain, and it was mostly done via conversations/during meetings, which made it slightly boring. But then things started happening, and it was great. The ending left me curious about the next book. 3.5/4.

[Siobhain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to admit that I have not read the other books in this series but I certainly will be doing. I do have to say that while it may have made a few bits easier to understand in the long run I don’t believe that you need to have read the others to appreciate and enjoy this fourth entry in Angela Harwicke’s mysteries.

Blunt Force Rising sees Angela Hardwicke, Eternity’s most daring private eye, return. She is still reeling from a brutal off-world case but Angela and her protégé Eric Whistler are hired by Ther’eda Ranadyne, the sole creator of androids in the realm to provide extra security during an industry conference abroad a galaxy cruise ship. Isolated millions of miles from home the event quickly sees heated arguments develop between the pro-android community and its detractors. A murder then sets off a harrowing change of events the likes of which even the seasoned Hardwicke has never faced. In this fourth installment Angela Hardwicke is forced to confront unresolved waves of prejudice, bigotry, fear and trauma but also to fight for her very life.

I enjoy a good sci-fi and a good mystery so it’s safe to say that I enjoyed Blunt Force Rising. It was fast paced and action packed. There is a lot happening in a relatively small space of the galaxy cruise ship which builds the tension and suspense to new hights. I enjoyed that the novel was set in first person so we get to understand Angela a little more and how she works things out and I felt that despite us being in the protagonists head as it were the other characters are all fleshed out and well developed (although perhaps we get a slightly biased view of them since we see them via Angela’s eyes).

One thing is certain this book does not let you go. From the start there is a lot happening and it quickly escalates so much so that you, if you are anything like me, may find it hard to stop reading. That isn’t a bad thing by the way, but you want to know what is happening, what’s going to happen and why it is happening. It’s definitely action packed and pacy but I never felt that too much was happening or it was hard to keep track (a problem that can sometimes arise if a novel has a lot going on). I think this was aided by the writing style which is easy to follow yet descriptive and keeps you hooked. If you love sci-fi with a strong detective flavour this one is for you

[Zury Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the Angela Hardwick Sci-fi mystery series.
This book was easy to jump in to
Even if you haven't read the previous books in this series.
The author does a very good job of developing these characters and bringing out their personalities. You get to know who they are and get a sense of what they have been through. None of the characters are one dimensional. they all have their own unique personality and it was easy relating to them.
Going in to this story i had no idea what to expect. The first couple of chapters i was trying to understand what was going on and suddenly it took a turn i was not expecting. At this point, i could not put it down. I did not know there was going to be action and so much more. I was submerged into this world with the descriptive details of everything that was going on.
I thought the author was able to capture the gray area that Androids represent and i could definitely see both sides of the argument that is part of the story. This was my 1st Sci-fi read, it kept me interested and i thought it was very well done.


Thank you to the Author and Henryroipr for this ARC.

[Zebaish James]

As a lover of mysteries specifically detective ones this was an absolute treat for me. The plot is skill fully constructed and intricate that captivates and grabs your attention definitely. It’s a really great book for sci-fi post-human technology enthusiasts. All the Star Wars Star Trek and interstellar fans this one’s for you! The protagonist Angela Hardwicke who’s a private deactivate is a very well built nuanced character and I really loved how the author subtly expressed her inner feelings and thoughts. The plot, the characterisation is so well done. All the characters Tyler and Eric and Selene were very well built with their own flaws and qualities, and the quotes are beautifully written, my favourite one is definitely “Then be human. You can’t claim the high ground when you’ve sunk to the bottom”. I found this book greatly philosophical at points too which was a good experience. It’s a thrilling adventure and I definitely recommend it to those who wish to go on a voyage the multidimensional galaxies!

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was good, but definitely different and not one of my typical reads.
It takes place in a world of androids, advanced tech, and space vessels that can take passengers “off realm.”
I could not figure out the mystery of who was responsible because so many different things were happening all at once. It was hard to keep track of everything for me, but that kept it very interesting!
I cannot believe how many people died, especially the major character ones that did.
I may have to check out more of this series soon.

[April B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Love Androids or Not To Love Androids, that is the question..

When I picked this book up I had no idea it was number 4 in a series, so I thought I would feel pretty lost but thankfully that wasn't the case.  The characters had solid introductions and included enough backstory that I was able to put the pieces together with the current time line.  I was expecting more action sooner in the book, the story did drag a bit in the beginning, lots of debates over the androids and such.  Once the murder happens, everything kicks up really fast and the story becomes very exciting!  The feeling of tension and isolation makes you flip pages very quickly to come to a satisfying conclusion!  I am interested in reading the first 3 books to really get a complete understanding of this universe!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! When a badass female PI and her sidekick take on a rich client, they find themselves on a luxury space cruise, and all hell breaks loose.

I loved the main characters and the tense dynamic between the two. I also loved how action-packed this book was.

What really made me love this book though was the social commentary. There are humans and there are androids. The book takes a hard look at what it's like to be "other" and how society can view "others" in a negative light. It really made me stop and think about my actions and reactions to people.

[Eli San Miguel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven't read anything by this author before, nor have I read anything in this series before. So to speak, this is my first time reading anything by Russ Colchamiro.

I must say that this book is a fantastic place to start if you don't enjoy reading science fiction, especially if you find it difficult to understand the worldbuilding. This book didn't make the plot flow difficult to follow, but it also didn't take away the anticipation of expecting the next occurrences throughout the story.

The only thing I was attempting to grasp was a closer connection with the characters. They were introduced nicely; yet, I believe it is tough to connect truly with their emotions. I suppose this is a plot-driven book rather than a character-driven one.

Overall, this is a nice book deserving of recognition. Hands up! 👏🏻

[Julie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blunt Force Rising is probably the darkest Angela Hardwicke novel yet and that's honestly saying a lot. It starts out very subtle. Angela and her partner, Eric Whistler are invited on a galaxy cruiser by their client, Ther’eda Ranadyne, CEO of Ranadyne Cybernetics, a leader in the development of AI intelligence and manufacturing androids. She is hiring the duo to look for a technician who is responsible for tampering with the Death Code, a code that creates premature aging and death within androids after a certain time.

At first, the book seems like a Science Fiction equivalent of Death on the Nile, Murder on the Orient Express or other Agatha Christie novels. A locked room or closed circle murder mystery set in the future where the main characters travel in luxury while bodies are hitting the floor. Indeed, Angela and Whistler are on a luxury cruiser that voyages across the galaxy.

It's all plush rooms, crystal decor, and pleasant service crew members. Angela touches base with some old friends, Nini and Dolores, and Whistler gets some alone time with his android girlfriend, Selene. Okay, there may be a dead body found inside a cabin but that's nothing that a seasoned pro like Angela can't handle. Yes, this Mystery seems pretty light and airy. Dare I say it, it might even be considered Science Fiction Cozy. At first.

The book takes a definite shift in tone halfway through. There were signs here and there that things might get darker. For all of the luxurious splendor in front of the characters, there is a lot of tension going on particularly between androids and humans. Androids want to be seen as people with all of the rights and privileges of their organic counterparts and quite a few aren't above using violence and resistance to get them. Some humans like Ther’eda are empathetic towards these struggles and want those rights granted while others like Dolores, are unrepentant bigots towards them.

This conflict inserts larger political issues into the book as Science Fiction often does, reminding us that what is seen in the far off future is actually happening right now. The presence of AI Intelligence becoming more prominent not to mention DEI conflicts and controversies are still huge parts of our daily lives.

However, the light quasi-Cozy Mystery and potentially darker political metaphorical tones eventually give way to something darker, bloody, aggressive, animalistic, primal, and fatal. During an onboard celebration something strange happens and everyone on board, crew and guests alike, behave unexpectedly, violently, and start attacking each other for seemingly no reason at all. The book is no longer just a Closed Circle Murder Mystery. It's a "Closed Circle Inside of a Zombie or rather Psychopathic Apocalypse and a Quest for Survival along with a Murder Mystery."

It is a pretty graphic scene that lasts several chapters and carries over through the remainder of the book. These aren't just verbal arguments with a few slaps, threats to murder, and aiming guns before they come to and realize that they can't pull the trigger. Colchamiro did not skimp on the gory details.

There are descriptions of eyes being gouged out, intestines ripped out from bodies, and pieces of the dead all over the place. People didn't just attack one another. They literally and brutally destroyed each other, friends, lovers, family members, colleagues. There is a mock trial where any sort of fairness, justice, or civility appear and instead is an excuse to murder without repercussions. It didn't matter who anyone was. They were violently and horrifically slaughtered often by people that they knew and loved.

One thing is for sure, those who murdered would probably prefer to be dead as well because once this mysterious circumstance passes and they return to normal, they may never forgive themselves for the horror that they inflicted on a loved one. This suggests that the psychological and emotional repercussions will last for a long time and lead to mental and psychotic breakdowns, suicide, addiction, and more violent acts to cope with the memories, anguish, and remorse. (For the record, we do see some of the fallout in Trigger Point, as Angela, Whistler, Nini and others are coping with these events, some in painful troubling or self-destructive ways.)

What is most disturbing is that this transformation even affects Angela and Whistler. It is heartbreaking to watch these two companions: partners, friends, mentor/student, surrogate big sister/kid brother attack each other with words referring to four books of past deeds and drawing blood.

During the attacks we get Angela's first person perspective as always and for storytelling purposes, it is a strong choice particularly here. We see Angela's internal struggles between what this transformation is making her do and her own nature that is appalled. Her thoughts not only turn to her experience with Whistler but her love for her son, Owen. She is fighting to hold onto the woman that she is: tough, hardened, cynical, but fiercely protective and loving, devoted to her home in Eternity by keeping the peace and catching thieves and murderers, but well aware of the corruption and imperfections within the system.

She knows that her actions are wrong but her body lives for itself and the dark aggressive emotions threaten to annihilate her mind. It's very easy to assume that this mental debate is happening to everyone making the violence even more anguishing.

It's also hard to read about Whistler going through this turmoil, particularly since he's become my favorite character in the series. He goes through great changes in the series from a flippant, idealistic sidekick and sometimes comic relief to a jaded world weary professional who willingly breaks laws and many of his previous standards, even killing. The events of the previous book, Hot Ash, traumatized Whistler and destroyed his idealistic naive character.

In the beginning of Blunt Force Rising, he is finally in a place where he can be looked on as a legitimate investigator in his own right and stand equal to Angela. He also can find comfort and stability with Selene. All of that is taken away from him because of this change. It's not surprising that two cases that throw him in physical and emotional turmoil would cause him to rethink his path in the next book and wonder if private investigation really is for him.

Of course there is a reason behind this transformation and of course the Dynamic Duo discover it but the mental and physical damage is ever present and spills into the next volume. This makes it understandable why Angela and Whistler will be in those dark places and are easily put into situations that imprison and bind them and are forced to face their previous errors, fears, and insecurities.

[art.books.chemistry (SamE.) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on a cozy mystery kick lately and for some reason my brain turned "Angela Hardwicke Mystery" into cozy-sci-fi-mystery and then once I was about 25% through Blunt Force Rising my brain exploded. Ok, maybe not literally, but figuratively while several characters' literally did. If you are at all squeamish, I Do Not recommend this! Gore++ Explicit and very messy. If you've seen the first Kingsman movie, it's similar to the church scene. Once I mentally readjusted for that, I kept breezing through BFR.

Personally, I'd call it a bit more of a thriller than mystery but there's definitely a fine line between the two sometimes. The Private Eye FMC is a deep character that definitely evokes empathy, though she can also be a bit frustrating. Coming into the middle of a series, I did feel a little left out on some of the relationships and references going on but they were still explained just enough that I didn't feel lost, just that I was missing easter eggs.

Blunt Force Rising is a rich sci-fi story that doesn't fall into the over-technical trap. There's just enough jargon and science words to immerse you and build this world that includes androids without making you bored. There was some pretty deep talk about bigotry, artificial life, some philosophical what-makes-a-person talk, and existential crises. Plus discussions of PTSD and childhood trauma. This is definitely not a good book if you have any triggers, but it's classic sci-fi in the sense that it's hitting all the hard topics by coming at them from a future/space age attitude.

Main con is that I did find it to be a slower read. I read most of it in one day but it took much longer than normal for me for a book under 300 pages. Some parts were longer tangents that could have been reduced, and some sections just dragged at the beginning during the set-up.

[Marie Sinadjan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea this was a series going in, let alone already the fourth book. But that did not prevent me from enjoying it. I didn't feel like I'd missed anything big, instead I wanted to go back and check out the previous books in the series. I liked Angela as a protagonist, and her partner Whistler was also interesting. I had mixed feelings about Dolores because she was so difficult at first, though later I came to understand why. And Nini. Gosh, I loved Nini.

I wasn't bothered either by the first person POV, though I understand that that might not be for everyone. I actually loved knowing the protagonist's thought processes and philosophical navelgazing, even if at times they got long and rambly. (I'm about the same age as Angela, and I can get long and rambly especially when I'm trapped in my own head and my thoughts are spiraling out of control, so I'm not complaining about that part, haha!)

I did not expect the resolution. At some point I just stopped bothering to guess who was behind it all, and it was actually clever how that played out. I did have to occasionally check when a new character showed up for a longer period of time because there was a good chance they'd already been mentioned or even appeared previously, and there were many characters!

All in all, this was a fun scifi mystery that left me wanting to read more.

[Nanasbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

Blunt Force Rising by Russ Colchamiro is a sci-fi mystery. It's the fourth book from The Angela Hardwicke series.

This book is one crazy ride. From the beginning until the end, it has a lot of suspense and action.
If you are familiar with the sci-fi genre then you'll have no problem following along and you'll love it. The main focus of the book is the war between humans and the androids. In this space cruise Angela, her partner Whistler and a few friends fight with the unknown. All the mystery and the trickery managed to keep my interest intact.
One of my favorite parts was the emotional scene towards the end. It broke my heart.

If you're a sci-fi lover you need to read this book. I will rate it with 4 stars.

[Abby Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review

Blunt Force Rising: An Angela Hardwicke Sci-Fi Mystery (The Angela Hardwicke Mysteries Book 4)
By Russ Colchamiro

Description:
Science Fiction

This is my first book by this author.

Even though this is the fourth book in the series I didn’t have any trouble getting into this book as you get introduced to the characters at the start.

It was a bit slow at the start but once a quarter way through the paced picked up.
Also I’m not a science fiction reader but had no challenges with the book as it’s also a mystery.

Really enjoyed the plot as it’s different to anything that I’ve read.

Recommend this to science fiction and anyone who’s interested in artificial intelligence.

My rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks Henry Roi PR and Russ Colchamiro for a digital copy of this book.

#tidepheonixcoffeebooktour #bluntforcerising

[Yonay Almeida Ramos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book that I have read by the author, it is also the first that I have read in the series, despite this it is so well structured that I have been able to follow the plot well.

The characters were very well developed, I became very fond of them. The author has a very beautiful and personal narrative style.

The plot developed naturally through dialogue, my favorite part was when the action broke out, simply epic.
I need to know how the story continues, very good book, highly recommended.


Valoración personal:

Obra en general: 8/10

Personajes: 8/10

Narración: 7/10.

Ambientación: 9/10.

Lo que me transmite a nivel personal: 8/10.


Valoración personal final: 8/10 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

[FangtasticBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read from the Angela Hardwicke series (which has 4 books in total so far), but it felt like I hadn't missed out on any of the plot by reading it as a standalone. It was a slow burn in the first few chapters while it got into the story, but after that, it turned into a fast-paced read. A lot of this book is one big action sequence, which I enjoyed. The author also did a good job of describing the tech, androids, and subsequent fear of them without it becoming too confusing or boring. In all, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it for anyone looking for a new Sci-Fi read.

Thank you, Henry Roi PR, for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Miia Salomäki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why do we hold onto so much hate when there’s not enough love to go around? Blunt Force Rising by Russ Colchamiro is the fourth book in PI Angela Hardwicke series and the first albeit not the last book I’ve read by this author. Set in Eternity and aboard a starship, Blunt Force rising is an amalgam of Star Trek, Dr Who, Terminator and Blade Runner. Though the book could be classified as a sci-fi thriller, there’s many more layers to this book, including friendship, racial prejudices and coping with PTSD. This book is packed with action scenes and great insights into what makes us human.
📖 sci-fi fantasy thriller
📖 mystery
📖 androids and humanity
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy sci-fi, and you enjoy pulp-style mysteries, you are going to absolutely fall in love with Angela Hardwicke. She's an amazing MC, strong, smart, and determined. It was so easy to dive right back into her world, Colchamiro does a great job of bringing the setting to life around the reader, and dropping you right into the action. The story moves along smoothly at a good pace, and the action scenes are absolutely heart-racing. If you're looking for a sci-fi mystery that will have your attention captured for hours, then grab this and prepare to travel to an entirely different reality!

[Diana Wolf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where: 33%

Reason: This book was intriguing, but I wasn’t quite in the mood for it. It’s very much like Blade Runner, and if you wish that you had seen more of Detective Dekker’s life, or are a fan of detective noir in Sci-Fi, this is the book for you, and I would recommend it to you.

I may revisit this book in the future.

Was this an advanced copy? Yes.

Stars: 4.5, rounded up to 5.

[Mybookmemories · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book started out a bit slow but I was hooked once it got going. I sometimes feel quite intimidated by sci-fi books, and worry they will be complicated and hard to follow. This, however, was not the case with this read. The book was easy to follow and the author did a great job at introducing the characters. I can’t wait to check out more by this author!

[♡Lea♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was 😘 it gave off men in black/guardians of the galaxy vibes for me! I ate this up and loved it!!!!

[Nebulous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of a series but works well as a standalone. Explores themes of racism and supremacy and well as trauma and PTSD. Nicely packaged in a fun, gory space romp. Evocative fight scenes.

[Doodlebutt von wankertip · Rating 1 out of 5]

why are you reading your own book sonion :crying emoji: boi ts not TUFF!!! were gonna send you to Omni man twerking country and you'll have to watch brandy Nitti OF on the daily