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Space Detective - A Skip Brown Adventure #1
Murder on Nestor - Race to Death
Based on Fulton Station, Chief Skip Brown heads the Crab Nebula Sector Police Force which includes his hard working homicide detectives. Lieutenant Hill, his newest rookie detective, is a royal pain in his side but the two end up on Nestor, a planet fixated on its "car" racing. Nestor is hosting the end of the year Racing Circuit Championship. Drivers from the entire Humanoid Federation participate. Skip's brother is the top contender but the Chief learns his brother is embroiled in a nightmare blackmail scheme. What starts out a simple suicide investigation becomes a full blown murder mess. It's up to Chief Brown and his rookie Lt. Hill to solve the murders before they, themselves, become its latest victims.
246 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1996
305 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 2, 2014
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
Ideally, I'd have given this book 3.5 stars - it's not quite 4, but not quite 3, either.
The cover, although it looked a bit juvenile, did appeal to me when I was looking at giveaways. I think the cover did a really good job of showing a representation of the story, without giving too much away.
The use of first person worked particularly well and did a good job of drawing me into the story. Skip had a history and relationships with the other characters that really made me able to relate to him. I have to say, though, that I did notice a couple of slip-ups where Hill's thoughts were described - and Skip wouldn't have known them.
The science fiction aspects worked particularly well and it was interesting to learn more about the different alien races, though there were a few info-dumps about the races.
Parts of the book were especially intense and emotional. I did like Skip's relationship with his brother and I would have liked to see more of that - I'm a sucker for good brother relationships.
I also felt that there wasn't much of a mystery involved here, but the characters did make up for that. They were interesting and well-rounded with realistic strengths and weaknesses.
I did notice quite a few errors in the writing. I feel it would have benefited from another read-through before being published.
I'm certainly intrigued enough to want to read more books in this series. It would be good to see more of these characters.
(This review may contain spoilers).
Ideally, I'd have given this book 3.5 stars - it's not quite 4, but not quite 3, either.
The cover, although it looked a bit juvenile, did appeal to me when I was looking at giveaways. I think the cover did a really good job of showing a representation of the story, without giving too much away.
The use of first person worked particularly well and did a good job of drawing me into the story. Skip had a history and relationships with the other characters that really made me able to relate to him. I have to say, though, that I did notice a couple of slip-ups where Hill's thoughts were described - and Skip wouldn't have known them.
The science fiction aspects worked particularly well and it was interesting to learn more about the different alien races, though there were a few info-dumps about the races.
Parts of the book were especially intense and emotional. I did like Skip's relationship with his brother and I would have liked to see more of that - I'm a sucker for good brother relationships.
I also felt that there wasn't much of a mystery involved here, but the characters did make up for that. They were interesting and well-rounded with realistic strengths and weaknesses.
I did notice quite a few errors in the writing. I feel it would have benefited from another read-through before being published.
I'm certainly intrigued enough to want to read more books in this series. It would be good to see more of these characters.
March 26, 2014
My opinion on the book is that it was a well written story line.
I generally liked the fact there was a different universe out there, it kind of makes you think a little.
I read the book within 2 days because I was just so hooked!
I never thought that I would like a book based on detectives and crime but then I shouldn't judge before I read.
Pj Belanger is great writer with a wonderful imagination, I can't wait to read more of her Skip Brown adventures.
I generally liked the fact there was a different universe out there, it kind of makes you think a little.
I read the book within 2 days because I was just so hooked!
I never thought that I would like a book based on detectives and crime but then I shouldn't judge before I read.
Pj Belanger is great writer with a wonderful imagination, I can't wait to read more of her Skip Brown adventures.
August 9, 2016
Racing car fans with a yen for a good mystery will be most pleased to find this enjoyable read. Combination of auto racing and science fiction was done smoothly. Characters developed as story progressed in a reasonable manner. Cover might be a bit off putting but do not be distracted from reading. Received as Goodreads winner did not influence my review.
September 8, 2016
As a race fan found this a fun read with mystery enough to keep my interest. Will be reading more from this author who has touched my Sci-Fi button.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews