What is it about a snarky android that makes even a murder investigation something that can produce a chuckle? Once again Murderbot is stuck speaking to humans, mainly because Mensah thinks that getting on better terms with Station Security will help Murderbot to achieve permanent refugee status in the Preservation Alliance. So our faithful security unit is busy looking for clues, analyzing feeds, and reviewing any sort of recordings that might help trace the murderer and victim. Despite past experience in dealing with GrayCris agents, Murderbot notes that "No, I didn’t kill the dead human. If I had, I wouldn’t dump the body in the station mall." Good to know.
This installment in the Murderbot Diaries takes place entirely on the space station of the Preservation Alliance and involves station security personnel, crews on ships docked at the station, and the hunt for the murderer and the motive. There is precious little time to watch any favorite shows while trying to find a way to legitimately gain access to station systems and track the movements of arrivals and departures. "Preservation has to make everything complicated. And that’s not a metaphor for my experience here. Okay, yes, it is a metaphor," Murderbot reflects while dealing with the head of security.
Readers will get to see Murderbot in action, as well as learning a little more about interactions between it and Dr. Mensah's family members. There is also more detail about how things work within Corporation space and around the Rim. As Murderbot explains, "Most were afraid to travel outside the Rim. (They thought everywhere outside the Rim was all raiders killing everybody and cannibalism.)" My first reaction to that was that people must still be watching "Firefly" episodes in Murderbot's time.
If you haven't read any of the earlier diaries, some of the references and byplay between characters may be a little opaque, but the story is still a solid mystery/action/thriller with robots, drones, illogical humans, and a kick-butt android. Anyone encountering Murderbot for the first time in this book will most likely be finding and reading the other diaries as soon as possible. (No, I don't have a probability rating on that - my processors aren't as fast as Murderbot's.)
Highly recommended for existing fans and as a gateway for new fans in the YA and older group (due to language a bit harsh for middle grade readers). I read an advance copy provided by the publisher for review purposes. Scheduled release date, 4/27/21
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