The Spare Man is an SF classic closed-circle setting mystery by Mary Robinette Kowal. Released 11th Oct 2022 by Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 368 pages and is available in all formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.
Apart from the setting (future with interstellar space travel), this is a cozy mystery with a classic closed circle of suspects setup. There are some nods to the future/space/SF setting, but mostly it's very much secondary to requirements. Readers who love classic Hammett will find a lot to love here because it's a more intricate reworking of The Thin Man, including the dog (who in this instance is a service dog and not a wire fox terrier like Asta).
Cocktails and banter in space.The fact that the main character is dealing with chronic health issues is nice, and the mystery is well constructed. The writing is above average (as expected for this author's oeuvre) and all the parts are in place.
Four stars. High quality, entertaining, and breezy.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
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