Spare Man (2022, Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom)
English language
Published Oct. 12, 2022 by Doherty Associates, LLC, Tom.
Some compelling elements, but as a murder-mystery there's a bit too much "Why are they doing this?" and, ultimately, an unsatisfying conclusion.
This novel and its author are new to me, but they came highly recommended by a good friend that knows The Thin Man is my favorite movie I try to watch every year around the holidays. This book is by no means a retelling of that classic, but it does draw some inspiration while updatring with touchs like characters introducing themselves with their pronouns, the protagonist having a disability that's a daily reality, and it takes place in SPACE!
Next, as I do witrh most recommendations, I looked to borrow it from the library. However, I noticed that the ebook was DRM-free, so I immediately headed to ebooks.com and grabbed a copy The surest way to get me to buy a book is to offer it without DRM.
And then I realized that this book is a two-for-one! It is both a novel and a cocktail recipe book. Each chapter …
This novel and its author are new to me, but they came highly recommended by a good friend that knows The Thin Man is my favorite movie I try to watch every year around the holidays. This book is by no means a retelling of that classic, but it does draw some inspiration while updatring with touchs like characters introducing themselves with their pronouns, the protagonist having a disability that's a daily reality, and it takes place in SPACE!
Next, as I do witrh most recommendations, I looked to borrow it from the library. However, I noticed that the ebook was DRM-free, so I immediately headed to ebooks.com and grabbed a copy The surest way to get me to buy a book is to offer it without DRM.
And then I realized that this book is a two-for-one! It is both a novel and a cocktail recipe book. Each chapter is named after a classic cocktail (except the few the author made up herself) and is then preceded by the recipe for that cocktail. Both the print and ebook editions provide a quick reference for some excellent cocktails, which I plan to work through in the next year. Warning to the intrepid reader: the chapters are short and beg to be read quickly, so it would be unwise to attempt to drink each chapter's namesake as one proceeds through the book.
The Spare Man gets a lot closer to the protagonist than Dashiell Hammett's Thin Man. We really get a sense of what Tesla feels as she interacts with the other characters in the story, creating a real connection for the reader. Also, the book exhibits a great element of good, readable science fiction in that the Sci-Fi is hardly noticeable. There are places where it is a serious part of the setting and plot, however, the general story could stand anytime on its own.
Overall a fun, quick read and highly recommended for people that like some combination of noir, sci-fi, mystery, and cocktails.
Ahh, this was lovely. The bones of this are Agatha Christie, its a locked room mystery on an interstellar cruise liner. The twist is that it is structured like Hammet's the Thin Man and uses that as the character templates for the protagonists.
It sailed along with brim and vigor and no small amount of wit. A vastly entertaining romp with some science fictional elements. Given this is Kowal, the space and speculative tech elements are spot on as well.
It wasn't 5 stars for me because I felt some plot elements didn't come together at the end but that's probably more a me thing. I inhaled this in like 2 sittings while away for the weekend and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Definite recommend.
