A Colonial Murder

Constabulary Casefiles #2

by Eric Thomson

Chief Superintendent Caelin Morrow of the Commonwealth Constabulary is the most hated cop in the entire Rim Sector. And with excellent reason. She heads the Sector's Professional Compliance Bureau, which hunts for corrupt Commonwealth officials, whether they're police officers, members of the military, judges, bureaucrats, and even colonial governors. Her unit also investigates Constabulary officers destined for senior appointments, to make sure they're not hiding a habit of taking bribes, abusing their powers, or worse.When Mission Colony's governor complains about the man recently appointed as head of her star system's Constabulary unit, Deputy Chief Constable Maras turns to Caelin Morrow because something doesn't smell right. Morrow had vetted Assistant Commissioner Braband less than a year earlier, and he came up squeaky clean. Honest cops don't go bad in the space of a few months.But within hours of landing on Mission Colony, Morrow and her team must take charge of a murder investigation before a precarious situation spirals out of control. The case, involving the star system's leading citizens and highest officials, will take them into the rotten heart of colonial darkness. There, corruption, organized crime, and corporate malfeasance combine in a deadly brew that threatens not only Morrow's very existence but the political stability of an entire sector.

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery

362 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2020

About the author

Eric Thomson is my pen name. I'm a former Canadian soldier who spent more years in uniform than he expected, serving in both the Regular Army (Infantry) and the Army Reserve (Armoured Corps). I spent several years as an Information Technology executive for the Canadian government before leaving the bowels of the demented bureaucracy to become a full-time author.

I've been a voracious reader of science-fiction, military fiction and history all my life, assiduously devouring the recommended Army reading list in my younger days and still occasionally returning to the classics for inspiration. Several years ago, I put my fingers to the keyboard and started writing my own military sci-fi, with a definite space opera slant, using many of my own experiences as a soldier as an inspiration for my stories and characters. When I'm not writing fiction, I indulge in my other passions: photography, hiking and scuba diving, all of which I've shared with my wife, who likes to call herself my #1 fan, for more than thirty years.

Reviews

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The previous book caused me some problems because I didn’t realise how the author intertwines all the different series and unfortunately I read the Ghost Squadron books first and this ruined the plot and the ending. However I did like Caelin and she was worth trying the next one in the series.

Caelin was again the star of this story and I really enjoyed her no compromise attitude. Again there is a tie in with the Ghost Squadron books, but this time it only added to the story.

[V.L. Stuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Colonial Murder by Eric Thomson is the second in what we hope will be a long series of Constabulary Casefiles books. Why? Because they are so damn well written.

Thomson is an obvious planner (for those of you who aren't writers, we semi-divide ourselves into planners, or plotters, people who lay out aspects of their books ahead of time, and pantsers, people who start writing and let the characters and plot develop organically (we write “by the seat of our pants.”). Mystery writers, good ones, are plotters. And oh boy, this plot is twisted.

I got to know the principals in the first book. They are bright, engaging, well-rounded and they are back. A complaint made against a member of the constabulary takes them to the Mission Colony world where things are not what they seem. They don't reveal their true mission in order to preserve the surprise and take people unawares. Shortly after their arrival there is a murder and they take over the case.

Evil corporations, entangled government, secret factories, the mystery deepens. I am looking forward to book three.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like all Thomson's book, very well written by an author who understands how to tell a story, with a strong military background to support the structure, and can write excellent dialog for very well developed characters.

Like all his books so far, this story continues one of the time arcs in the universe has created, continuing the lay the groundwork for the final act of this one, and tying back to the previous arc to provide the provenance of this arc, while providing the historical story for the later arc.

If you enjoy well written, strong, future history military science fiction, you will enjoy all his books.

(note: I seldom give 5 stars, no matter how good a book, except to authors who meet the standards of Bujold, Weber, Drake and other top notch authors)

[Michael Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Constabulary Casebook 1 and 2

Two excellent SF books. Not really murder mysteries both read more as good detective books set in the same universe the authors other sf books are in. This time in the slime and corruption of a civilization threatened by criminal corporations and the crime syndicates. Recommend.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. I like the idea of a science fiction that involves policing. I really enjoyed the good vs. Evil and the tie in with fleet and other agencies. Definitely a couple of twists along the way. And I particularly loved all the RCMP references….Sam Steele, Benton Fraser, Frank Preston….yay for the Canadian tie in. I can’t wait to read more in this series.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superior, some of the author’s best work. Intriguing story and a main character you want to know and see in action.

This is the finest work so far that I have read by this author and I was already was a fan of his other works. Can’t wait for more, I am hooked!

[Mike Daigneault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read as normal

Great characters..easy read. I love this universe can't wait for the next installment
It does help if you begin with deckers war