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Katherine "Kitty" Katt #7
Alien in the House
Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini have learned the ins and outs of Washington politics, not to mention how to prevail in intergalactic war and foil dangerous plots. But, in the aftermath of Operation Destruction, the Gower girls’ powers are burned out, the entire A-C population has been “outed” as the aliens living on Earth that they are, and, worst of all, ACE is nowhere to be found.
Then murder and mayhem are served up at an important dinner party at the American Centaurion Embassy, and when the dust settles Alpha Team and the Diplomatic Corps have more problems than just a dead Congressman.
Is there a single criminal mastermind—or multiple enemies—behind all the conspiracies that want Kitty dead and the A-Cs gone or co-opted to become the War Division?
The return of the best assassins in the business, the reappearance of two individuals long-presumed dead, Agent Malcolm Buchanan felled by something no one can identify or cure, and new technology that can block even the most powerful empath on Earth … all of this means the game’s officially afoot.
Then Vance Beaumont comes to Kitty with a wild theory that someone is systematically killing off the House of Representatives…
It’s up to Kitty and the rest of the gang to find out what’s really going on and why. But will they be able to stop the killer or killers before the rest of the U.S. House of Representatives become casualties? And will the replacement Representative for New Mexico’s 2nd District, who happens to be Jeff Martini, be the next to die?
Then murder and mayhem are served up at an important dinner party at the American Centaurion Embassy, and when the dust settles Alpha Team and the Diplomatic Corps have more problems than just a dead Congressman.
Is there a single criminal mastermind—or multiple enemies—behind all the conspiracies that want Kitty dead and the A-Cs gone or co-opted to become the War Division?
The return of the best assassins in the business, the reappearance of two individuals long-presumed dead, Agent Malcolm Buchanan felled by something no one can identify or cure, and new technology that can block even the most powerful empath on Earth … all of this means the game’s officially afoot.
Then Vance Beaumont comes to Kitty with a wild theory that someone is systematically killing off the House of Representatives…
It’s up to Kitty and the rest of the gang to find out what’s really going on and why. But will they be able to stop the killer or killers before the rest of the U.S. House of Representatives become casualties? And will the replacement Representative for New Mexico’s 2nd District, who happens to be Jeff Martini, be the next to die?
524 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 7, 2013
31 people are currently reading
896 people want to read
About the author
Gini Koch
80 books911 followersGini Koch lives in Phoenix, Arizona and writes the bestselling fast, fresh and funny Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series for DAW Books, the Necropolis Enforcement Files series, and the Martian Alliance Chronicles series. Alien in the House, Book 7 in her long-running Alien series, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award as the Best Futuristic Romance of 2013. Book 14, Alien Nation, won the Preditors and Editors Reader's Choice Award for Best Science Fiction & Fantasy Novel of 2016. Alien Education releases May 2, 2017, and DAW Books has just contracted through Book 20 in the Alien series.
As G.J. Koch she writes the Alexander Outland series and she’s made the most of multiple personality disorder by writing under a variety of other pen names as well, including Anita Ensal, Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton, and J.C. Koch.
In addition to her upcoming Alien Series releases, she has stories featured in a variety of anthologies available now and coming soon, writing as Gini Koch, Anita Ensal, J.C. Koch, and Jemma Chase. Writing as A.E. Stanton she will have an audiobook release in 2017, Natural Born Outlaws (The Legend of Belladonna Part 1) coming from Graphic Audio.
For full details on all releases, all the news about Gini's books, signings, events, excerpts, and more, visit her website: http://www.ginikoch.com.
As G.J. Koch she writes the Alexander Outland series and she’s made the most of multiple personality disorder by writing under a variety of other pen names as well, including Anita Ensal, Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton, and J.C. Koch.
In addition to her upcoming Alien Series releases, she has stories featured in a variety of anthologies available now and coming soon, writing as Gini Koch, Anita Ensal, J.C. Koch, and Jemma Chase. Writing as A.E. Stanton she will have an audiobook release in 2017, Natural Born Outlaws (The Legend of Belladonna Part 1) coming from Graphic Audio.
For full details on all releases, all the news about Gini's books, signings, events, excerpts, and more, visit her website: http://www.ginikoch.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
July 24, 2017
Read 2014 - I absolutely love this series. Another "Washington" story but I still enjoyed it. I did worry when they moved to the diplomatic core that the books would lose their interest but I'm pleased to be proved wrong especially as I think politics will remain in the series for a while.
My final words - I really need my own Jeff Martini!
Re read 2017 - I think the cover of this one is my favourite so far, admittedly because it's a great picture of Jeff. Yes, I'm still riding the Jeff Martini bandwagon!!
My final words - I really need my own Jeff Martini!
Re read 2017 - I think the cover of this one is my favourite so far, admittedly because it's a great picture of Jeff. Yes, I'm still riding the Jeff Martini bandwagon!!
May 16, 2013
These books are very much a guilty pleasure series with remind me of the CW series on TV.
That being said at this point in the series Ms Koch needs to pair down her books somehow. The cast of characters has grown to something like 35 and they all need some kind of introduction in the book at various times even for people who have followed the series. This meant that to me it felt that 25% of the time we were just in a recap. In addition to this the book tries to introduce and complete so many different threads of a story (in addition to the pages on just how hot everyone is 9_9) that it felt we had very little time for character development of anyone.
In the last few books we keep seeing larger and larger conspiracies and grander plots I realize its a book for entertainment but I have to suspend so much disbelief when I'm reading that just as regular humans listening to an AC at full speed I get queasy. Gini needs to take an ax to the universe she has created and pare it down somehow. The over complicated plot can be fun but when it seems we spend 3/4 of the book explaining who everyone is that is involved in the super-conspiracy and just what it is that we lose that ability of the reader to connect to the characters.
Simply put while the book was everything this series has been built upon the structure is so massive that hitting all the points the author feel is essential for one of her Kitty books leaves little time to actually tell us a story. I will most likely only follow this series through a library I find that my desire to read any new books can stand a wait until I'm thrown back into the maelstrom.
gallandro
That being said at this point in the series Ms Koch needs to pair down her books somehow. The cast of characters has grown to something like 35 and they all need some kind of introduction in the book at various times even for people who have followed the series. This meant that to me it felt that 25% of the time we were just in a recap. In addition to this the book tries to introduce and complete so many different threads of a story (in addition to the pages on just how hot everyone is 9_9) that it felt we had very little time for character development of anyone.
In the last few books we keep seeing larger and larger conspiracies and grander plots I realize its a book for entertainment but I have to suspend so much disbelief when I'm reading that just as regular humans listening to an AC at full speed I get queasy. Gini needs to take an ax to the universe she has created and pare it down somehow. The over complicated plot can be fun but when it seems we spend 3/4 of the book explaining who everyone is that is involved in the super-conspiracy and just what it is that we lose that ability of the reader to connect to the characters.
Simply put while the book was everything this series has been built upon the structure is so massive that hitting all the points the author feel is essential for one of her Kitty books leaves little time to actually tell us a story. I will most likely only follow this series through a library I find that my desire to read any new books can stand a wait until I'm thrown back into the maelstrom.
gallandro
May 4, 2013
I'm going to start this review by telling you that this is a series that needs to be read in order, it is one of my all time favourite series though and it is well worth picking up a copy of Touched by an Alien if you haven't come across it yet. While this review won't contain spoilers for Alien in the House it will contain information about previous books so I wouldn't recommend reading further unless you have read up to Alien vs. Alien.
Just when Kitty and Jeff are settling into their roles as Diplomats things are all set to change again when Jeff takes on a completely new job. Becoming the Representative for New Mexico wasn't exactly his life goal though, especially when the last 2 candidates were murdered and it looks like he is next on the hit list. Jeff isn't the only target though and there have been multiple deaths in Washington over the last few months, each has been made to look like natural causes but the sheer number of bodies is too high to be a coincidence. It is up to Kitty to figure out why each of them were targeted and who is behind their deaths. Is it an anti A-C plot or is something deeper going on?
I'm a huge fan of this series, it's one of my favourites and I Kitty and Jeff are one of my most loved fictional couples. I love the humour that Gini Koch infuses throughout these books and there hasn't been an instalment yet that hasn't had me laughing out loud as I was reading it. The series has changed somewhat over the last couple of books with the focus more on politics than on the gang fighting superbeings like they did in the earlier stories but that doesn't mean that there isn't plenty of action. Kitty always manages to get herself right in the middle of things and Alien in the House isn't an exception to that, the stakes are higher than ever before and she isn't going to make it through without losing some friends and allies along the way. Nobody is safe and Kitty makes some surprising discoveries along the way, what with the appearance of both old friends and enemies previously presumed dead it is hard to know who she can trust.
I have to admit that I was a bit worried when Kitty and Jeff first took the jobs as Diplomats, I was worried that the series would become boring to read and I'll confess that there are times when I miss seeing Kitty out kicking butt with airborne and the rest of her team but there is always way too much going on for me to be bored for even a single second. Kitty and Jeff may not be leading the fight against superbeings but we still see plenty of the faces that we know and love and it is great to see how they are all getting on. I love spending time with Kitty and Jeff but it's also nice to see so many other characters developing their own relationships as the series continues. The series now has so many familiar faces that I do sometimes end up having trouble keeping all the names straight in my head but it doesn't take long to be pulled back into this world each time I pick up a new book. I might have to start writing myself a character list though just to help me remember how everyone is linked together, particularly as we now have more characters hooking up and joining to become one huge family.
Alien in the House has a few heartbreaking moments, ones where I was close to tears seeing what Kitty has to deal with, but it is also chocked full of humour and I chuckled all the time as I was reading it. The story has even more twists and shocking revelations than I've come to expect from the series and although some of our questions have been answered things have been very nicely set up to carry on into the next book. I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on Alien Research to see Kitty and Jeff both settling into their new roles hopefully uncover who is behind the latest plots against the A-Cs. I just can't get enough of these books and I hope this is a series that will continue for a long time to come.
Just when Kitty and Jeff are settling into their roles as Diplomats things are all set to change again when Jeff takes on a completely new job. Becoming the Representative for New Mexico wasn't exactly his life goal though, especially when the last 2 candidates were murdered and it looks like he is next on the hit list. Jeff isn't the only target though and there have been multiple deaths in Washington over the last few months, each has been made to look like natural causes but the sheer number of bodies is too high to be a coincidence. It is up to Kitty to figure out why each of them were targeted and who is behind their deaths. Is it an anti A-C plot or is something deeper going on?
I'm a huge fan of this series, it's one of my favourites and I Kitty and Jeff are one of my most loved fictional couples. I love the humour that Gini Koch infuses throughout these books and there hasn't been an instalment yet that hasn't had me laughing out loud as I was reading it. The series has changed somewhat over the last couple of books with the focus more on politics than on the gang fighting superbeings like they did in the earlier stories but that doesn't mean that there isn't plenty of action. Kitty always manages to get herself right in the middle of things and Alien in the House isn't an exception to that, the stakes are higher than ever before and she isn't going to make it through without losing some friends and allies along the way. Nobody is safe and Kitty makes some surprising discoveries along the way, what with the appearance of both old friends and enemies previously presumed dead it is hard to know who she can trust.
I have to admit that I was a bit worried when Kitty and Jeff first took the jobs as Diplomats, I was worried that the series would become boring to read and I'll confess that there are times when I miss seeing Kitty out kicking butt with airborne and the rest of her team but there is always way too much going on for me to be bored for even a single second. Kitty and Jeff may not be leading the fight against superbeings but we still see plenty of the faces that we know and love and it is great to see how they are all getting on. I love spending time with Kitty and Jeff but it's also nice to see so many other characters developing their own relationships as the series continues. The series now has so many familiar faces that I do sometimes end up having trouble keeping all the names straight in my head but it doesn't take long to be pulled back into this world each time I pick up a new book. I might have to start writing myself a character list though just to help me remember how everyone is linked together, particularly as we now have more characters hooking up and joining to become one huge family.
Alien in the House has a few heartbreaking moments, ones where I was close to tears seeing what Kitty has to deal with, but it is also chocked full of humour and I chuckled all the time as I was reading it. The story has even more twists and shocking revelations than I've come to expect from the series and although some of our questions have been answered things have been very nicely set up to carry on into the next book. I absolutely can't wait to get my hands on Alien Research to see Kitty and Jeff both settling into their new roles hopefully uncover who is behind the latest plots against the A-Cs. I just can't get enough of these books and I hope this is a series that will continue for a long time to come.
June 27, 2013
*Genre* Science Fiction
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Fast Summary*
Alien in the House, aka Operation Sherlock, once again throws Kitty & Gang into the middle of a firestorm that has political ramifications for the Alpha Centaurions. I do have to say that I really loved the arrival of Princess Rahmi & Rhee from Beta Twelve and hope they stick around so they can help Kitty survive and kick ass.
Another new character is Raj, a troubadour, who immediately becomes apart of the team and someone Kitty can team up with very easily. Not that there was anything wrong with Richard and Kitty being teammates. It's just nice to see other characters get the spotlight shined on them as well. Can I also say that I love Uncle Dingo and Surly Vic? Guess so since this is my review! I also like Malcolm Buchanan who as become Kitty's protector when the Uncles aren't around.
I'm currently debating my rating which is why this is not a full review but a partial one. The overall Mastermind is still hidden from view and is still out to get Kitty who is number one on his/her hit parade. There are a bunch of other apprentices, including some who apparently never die, that are still around causing Kitty problems. I also want to know the deal with ACE who has been around and apparently is worn out and needs a break.
What I really like about this series is that it moves ahead in time 6 months at a time. Unlike other series which apparently take place over the course of days, and weeks, this makes more sense. It also gives Jamie-Kat time to grow up and reveal what her apparently awesome powers really are.
I shall definitely be reading Alien Research when it releases in December 2013.
*Recvd 04/04/2013* Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by DAW
*Rating* 3-3.5
*Fast Summary*
Alien in the House, aka Operation Sherlock, once again throws Kitty & Gang into the middle of a firestorm that has political ramifications for the Alpha Centaurions. I do have to say that I really loved the arrival of Princess Rahmi & Rhee from Beta Twelve and hope they stick around so they can help Kitty survive and kick ass.
Another new character is Raj, a troubadour, who immediately becomes apart of the team and someone Kitty can team up with very easily. Not that there was anything wrong with Richard and Kitty being teammates. It's just nice to see other characters get the spotlight shined on them as well. Can I also say that I love Uncle Dingo and Surly Vic? Guess so since this is my review! I also like Malcolm Buchanan who as become Kitty's protector when the Uncles aren't around.
I'm currently debating my rating which is why this is not a full review but a partial one. The overall Mastermind is still hidden from view and is still out to get Kitty who is number one on his/her hit parade. There are a bunch of other apprentices, including some who apparently never die, that are still around causing Kitty problems. I also want to know the deal with ACE who has been around and apparently is worn out and needs a break.
What I really like about this series is that it moves ahead in time 6 months at a time. Unlike other series which apparently take place over the course of days, and weeks, this makes more sense. It also gives Jamie-Kat time to grow up and reveal what her apparently awesome powers really are.
I shall definitely be reading Alien Research when it releases in December 2013.
*Recvd 04/04/2013* Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by DAW
January 10, 2017
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Can they save the House of Representatives?
Opening Sentence: “As any person who’s ever had to hide a huge secret about themselves knows, being outed before you’re ready is one of the things you fear the most.”
The Review:
Jeff and Kitty and the gang are back in this 7th book. They are still reeling from the world finding out about them being aliens, and ACE disappearing as well. When the Representative from New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District dies at dinner at the Centaurion Embassy it is Kitty and the gang to the rescue. Especially because Jeff is going to the be the replacement. When Vance reappears to tell Kitty that someone is killing off representatives, she knows things are about to go from bad to worse.
Kitty wonders if the Cabal of Evil is behind this, and is it another conspiracy or is it just someone new on the scene? Plus, the representative dying in their embassy poses a whole other problem, will they be able to prove that they had nothing to do with it? Of course Kitty has to keep on the down low because while the aliens have been outed she is still considered their secret weapon as know one knows that she was enhanced by the birth of her daughter.
Also, since six months have gone by and baby Jamie isn’t so babyish anymore! A whole host of new characters arrive to add to the story, a new assassin, Uncle Peter, and two princesses!
I wanted to really love this series, but as I tried to get into the 7th book, I realized that I thought they were too long when they were clocking 480 pages and now that it is over 500 pages. Way too long. Not enough cohesion, too many characters to really get attached to any of them, and sometimes just too wordy. Plus, they just try too hard at times. Pared down the core of this series is great, Kitty and Jeff have a wonderful relationship. Chris and Amy, and some of the other characters are great and really just add to the story.
The humor is good, and Kitty is snarky still and I love her, but these are just too long and too much going on and I really do still want to love them!
Notable Scene:
There were photographers. Noticed them because they started snapping as soon as the Speaker joined us. Realized this was a great way for an enemy to get close. Examined them as well as I could. Most of them had their cameras up and flashing pictures. One of them smiled at me and, when I caught his eye, winked. Oliver was here, and I felt oddly better. Not like any of us were safe simply because Mister Joel Oliver was in attendance, but at least someone else on the floor was on our side.
FTC Advisory: DAW/Penguin provided me with a copy of Alien in the House. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Can they save the House of Representatives?
Opening Sentence: “As any person who’s ever had to hide a huge secret about themselves knows, being outed before you’re ready is one of the things you fear the most.”
The Review:
Jeff and Kitty and the gang are back in this 7th book. They are still reeling from the world finding out about them being aliens, and ACE disappearing as well. When the Representative from New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District dies at dinner at the Centaurion Embassy it is Kitty and the gang to the rescue. Especially because Jeff is going to the be the replacement. When Vance reappears to tell Kitty that someone is killing off representatives, she knows things are about to go from bad to worse.
Kitty wonders if the Cabal of Evil is behind this, and is it another conspiracy or is it just someone new on the scene? Plus, the representative dying in their embassy poses a whole other problem, will they be able to prove that they had nothing to do with it? Of course Kitty has to keep on the down low because while the aliens have been outed she is still considered their secret weapon as know one knows that she was enhanced by the birth of her daughter.
Also, since six months have gone by and baby Jamie isn’t so babyish anymore! A whole host of new characters arrive to add to the story, a new assassin, Uncle Peter, and two princesses!
I wanted to really love this series, but as I tried to get into the 7th book, I realized that I thought they were too long when they were clocking 480 pages and now that it is over 500 pages. Way too long. Not enough cohesion, too many characters to really get attached to any of them, and sometimes just too wordy. Plus, they just try too hard at times. Pared down the core of this series is great, Kitty and Jeff have a wonderful relationship. Chris and Amy, and some of the other characters are great and really just add to the story.
The humor is good, and Kitty is snarky still and I love her, but these are just too long and too much going on and I really do still want to love them!
Notable Scene:
There were photographers. Noticed them because they started snapping as soon as the Speaker joined us. Realized this was a great way for an enemy to get close. Examined them as well as I could. Most of them had their cameras up and flashing pictures. One of them smiled at me and, when I caught his eye, winked. Oliver was here, and I felt oddly better. Not like any of us were safe simply because Mister Joel Oliver was in attendance, but at least someone else on the floor was on our side.
FTC Advisory: DAW/Penguin provided me with a copy of Alien in the House. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
April 24, 2013
4.5 stars!
*NO Spoilers!
Kitty is back! Every “Alien” novel that comes out, is like finally getting a piece of your favorite dessert after too long without it! You are always feeling like you could have eaten much more.
I can’t believe we are already in book 7 of the Katherine “Kitty” Katt series. Gini Koch’s books are always a treat to read and Alien in the House is NO exception!
Kitty is back, along with all the friends, family and enemies she has acquired throughout the series. Alien in the House has a bit of a different pace from the previous books in the series, however. It is still a very fast-paced story and there is plenty of action. But, Alien in the House felt more like an in-between book. It was very dialogue oriented, which I LOVE, made us aware of a far-reaching arch from all the books and sets us up for much more action in the future.
We get a lot of Kitty and Martini time in Alien in the House. We also get to catch up with other couples in the series and even see some more budding romances all around. I love that and I love seeing the characters I have come to love from book one, find love.
One thing I did have an issue with was that there are SO many characters in the series, that the year since Alien Vs. Alien came out, meant that it took me awhile to situate myself. But, once I did, Alien in the House was a great political thriller that I could not put down for a second.
I loved Alien in the House, but in a different way from the previous books in the series. I mean, it still had the signature Gini Koch humor I so adore. However, it felt more like a Thriller/Murder Mystery novel than a Sci-Fi and I honestly was cool with that. It was a very interesting change of pace for the series, but a welcome one.
Alien in the House is another great addition to one of my favorite series EVER! I do caution you that, if you haven’t read the previous books in the series, it might be confusing. However, the Katherine “Kitty” Katt / Alien series is so freaking good, that you need to read them all anyways!
Originally Posted at Welcome to Larissa & Friends' Bookish Life
*NO Spoilers!
Kitty is back! Every “Alien” novel that comes out, is like finally getting a piece of your favorite dessert after too long without it! You are always feeling like you could have eaten much more.
I can’t believe we are already in book 7 of the Katherine “Kitty” Katt series. Gini Koch’s books are always a treat to read and Alien in the House is NO exception!
Kitty is back, along with all the friends, family and enemies she has acquired throughout the series. Alien in the House has a bit of a different pace from the previous books in the series, however. It is still a very fast-paced story and there is plenty of action. But, Alien in the House felt more like an in-between book. It was very dialogue oriented, which I LOVE, made us aware of a far-reaching arch from all the books and sets us up for much more action in the future.
We get a lot of Kitty and Martini time in Alien in the House. We also get to catch up with other couples in the series and even see some more budding romances all around. I love that and I love seeing the characters I have come to love from book one, find love.
One thing I did have an issue with was that there are SO many characters in the series, that the year since Alien Vs. Alien came out, meant that it took me awhile to situate myself. But, once I did, Alien in the House was a great political thriller that I could not put down for a second.
I loved Alien in the House, but in a different way from the previous books in the series. I mean, it still had the signature Gini Koch humor I so adore. However, it felt more like a Thriller/Murder Mystery novel than a Sci-Fi and I honestly was cool with that. It was a very interesting change of pace for the series, but a welcome one.
Alien in the House is another great addition to one of my favorite series EVER! I do caution you that, if you haven’t read the previous books in the series, it might be confusing. However, the Katherine “Kitty” Katt / Alien series is so freaking good, that you need to read them all anyways!
Originally Posted at Welcome to Larissa & Friends' Bookish Life
May 21, 2015
This took me ages to finish, and by the end, I was just relieved I had finally managed to. The book was pretty slow in places, with less action than the others. The story involved politics, murder, and lots of conspiracies all coming together. I really like Jamie, and how she seems to be an advanced baby. Plus, some characters we met a couple books ago turned out to be not all they seemed. To add to this, Kitty and Jeff had a lot of page time, and I liked seeing that. So I liked this book, but it'll never be one of my favorites in the series. I need a lot more action than this book gave me, and a plot that's just a bit less confusing. Still, I'll continue on with the series. I want to see how Jamie grows up, and if the whole ACE situation is figured out.
January 26, 2019
I'm a fan of this series. I started it when it first came out. I realized last year that I've fallen behind and going to try to catch up this year.
I love Kitty + ginormous gang. Since it's been a while, it was nice to have small recaps thrown in during the first portion of the book, but certain parts became redundant & repetitive as the story continued. Too much of a good thing can become annoying when they take up space rather than give relevant or new details for a good plot. Quirks are fine. Just have them in place and let it happen naturally. It's not as fun when the quirks are emphasized more than a complex plot line. It made the story bloated and took away any tension or thrill that should have been in place for many of the events in the book.
The actual plot for the book was great. I love the Kitty's family, adopted family, extended friend-family and Zoo of pet family. However, if I went and cut out all the extra junk, I would probably cut out about 150 pages from the book. It was nice for the little backstory about Kitty & Chuckie's days in school, because that is the point. Everyone thinks Kitty is a sorority gal without much of a brain. They forget that she knows how to work and do what needs to be done. That she's rather smart behind the pop culture geekery. That's why she's one of the leaders. It's hard to remember that when the reader is constantly reminded that she isn't taken seriously. That happened like every other page. It's a lot.
I'll load up the next book for me to read in the middle of February. =)
I love Kitty + ginormous gang. Since it's been a while, it was nice to have small recaps thrown in during the first portion of the book, but certain parts became redundant & repetitive as the story continued. Too much of a good thing can become annoying when they take up space rather than give relevant or new details for a good plot. Quirks are fine. Just have them in place and let it happen naturally. It's not as fun when the quirks are emphasized more than a complex plot line. It made the story bloated and took away any tension or thrill that should have been in place for many of the events in the book.
The actual plot for the book was great. I love the Kitty's family, adopted family, extended friend-family and Zoo of pet family. However, if I went and cut out all the extra junk, I would probably cut out about 150 pages from the book. It was nice for the little backstory about Kitty & Chuckie's days in school, because that is the point. Everyone thinks Kitty is a sorority gal without much of a brain. They forget that she knows how to work and do what needs to be done. That she's rather smart behind the pop culture geekery. That's why she's one of the leaders. It's hard to remember that when the reader is constantly reminded that she isn't taken seriously. That happened like every other page. It's a lot.
I'll load up the next book for me to read in the middle of February. =)
September 24, 2013
Let me start by saying that I love Gini Koch's Alien series and the latest book, Alien in the House, is no exception. Koch writes with a frenetic energy that is filled with action, romance and a large dose of humor, but this book was slight departure from the norm. There was still action aplenty but the premise was more about politics and intrigue than fighting the latest in a long line of evil bad guys and creatures.
What I enjoyed the most about the book was the closure of many lingering story lines and a renewed focus on some long term evil doer strategies. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I will say that several threads are closed and some of the personal ones move to the next level. Ms. Koch is brilliant about advancing her characters and making sure there is a significant amount of personal evolution. I care about these characters because they make huge mistakes and then actually learn from them to avoid repeating and sometimes the lesson hurts. This is rare and precious to me and makes this series a favorite. I also enjoyed the changes in titles, focus and positions that Jeff, Kitty and the gang had to endure that was started in the last book and continued to advance in this one as the A-C's take on Washington. We also get a visit from some interplanetary envoys who bring their own set of complications as they choose to attend Jeff and Kitty's daughter Jamie's 1st birthday party.
One of the downsides for me is the huge cast of characters and locations. In this book, the seventh in the series, the cast list is huge and very difficult to remember, especially since I read the first few several years ago. I almost wish I had gone back to the beginning and read them straight through all over again so I could remember all the little details that I felt I was missing this time. There are endless "Kitty-isms" that I didn't remember as well as I would have liked and it confused me a time or two. Also the rapid fire events can be hard to follow because there is very little breathing room between huge revelations and bouts of action.
Overall I give this book 4 stars and the strong recommendation to read them in order and close together. I am looking forward to the next installment coming in December.
What I enjoyed the most about the book was the closure of many lingering story lines and a renewed focus on some long term evil doer strategies. I don't want to give away any spoilers so I will say that several threads are closed and some of the personal ones move to the next level. Ms. Koch is brilliant about advancing her characters and making sure there is a significant amount of personal evolution. I care about these characters because they make huge mistakes and then actually learn from them to avoid repeating and sometimes the lesson hurts. This is rare and precious to me and makes this series a favorite. I also enjoyed the changes in titles, focus and positions that Jeff, Kitty and the gang had to endure that was started in the last book and continued to advance in this one as the A-C's take on Washington. We also get a visit from some interplanetary envoys who bring their own set of complications as they choose to attend Jeff and Kitty's daughter Jamie's 1st birthday party.
One of the downsides for me is the huge cast of characters and locations. In this book, the seventh in the series, the cast list is huge and very difficult to remember, especially since I read the first few several years ago. I almost wish I had gone back to the beginning and read them straight through all over again so I could remember all the little details that I felt I was missing this time. There are endless "Kitty-isms" that I didn't remember as well as I would have liked and it confused me a time or two. Also the rapid fire events can be hard to follow because there is very little breathing room between huge revelations and bouts of action.
Overall I give this book 4 stars and the strong recommendation to read them in order and close together. I am looking forward to the next installment coming in December.
April 21, 2013
This is a cool and funny read.
You might know by now that we've been fans of this series from the start and we're glad to be able to tell you Alien in the House is certainly worth its salt compared to the other books in this series.
There's a lot going on this time: conspiracies, murder, surprise visits, birthday parties and lots more. This book is packed with action, humor and wit and we were hooked from the start.
We had to keep paying close attention to the story, because so many things are happening and at times we got a little confused about what was going on. But we weren't the only ones: Kitty and her friends were just as confused occasionally. Luckily we could always count on Kitty to clear up confusion and set us on the right track again.
Long time favorite characters made their appearance as well as new characters and we enjoyed seeing some characters get more screen time. There were some hints of what still might come in future books as well.
All in all we got another book to add to our shelf of reread favorites and we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for the next installment in this fun, enjoyable series.
You might know by now that we've been fans of this series from the start and we're glad to be able to tell you Alien in the House is certainly worth its salt compared to the other books in this series.
There's a lot going on this time: conspiracies, murder, surprise visits, birthday parties and lots more. This book is packed with action, humor and wit and we were hooked from the start.
We had to keep paying close attention to the story, because so many things are happening and at times we got a little confused about what was going on. But we weren't the only ones: Kitty and her friends were just as confused occasionally. Luckily we could always count on Kitty to clear up confusion and set us on the right track again.
Long time favorite characters made their appearance as well as new characters and we enjoyed seeing some characters get more screen time. There were some hints of what still might come in future books as well.
All in all we got another book to add to our shelf of reread favorites and we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for the next installment in this fun, enjoyable series.
January 1, 2014
One of my favorite books in the series! Also love the fact that a great playlist can be made from each book. Now if Kitty would throw some Bowie in with her Aerosmith, I'd have a new best friend.
August 19, 2013
Seventh in the Katherine "Kitty" Katt romantic sci-fi comedy series revolving around Kitty Martini. This story is based in Washington D.C.
My Take
Go into this knowing it's off the wall...Koch has so much fun writing these...almost as much fun as I have in reading them…*grin*... She does go over the top with the Royal Peregrines and the Poofs and Kitty's being able to interpret their minds---it cracks me up when Kitty does the translation of whatever the critters are tellin' her. And I do adore how much Kitty and Jeff love their daughter. Just makes my heart swell up and conga.
I got to thinking about it, and y'all know how OCD I am about chronology, but you could read this one alone. I don't think you'd get as much out of it without having read what comes before as there are so many associations that relate back to earlier stories, but, no, it's not an essential of life.
Koch has a ball peeling back the reality of politics and the Washington life of one hand washing the other. It's such a dreamy treat to think there might be people there who actually do have the public's, their constituents', interests at heart. It's rather Dave-like in that the A-Cs want to help and not just take. The characters reflect this with their family values, honor, and loyalty...with all the snark in the world to make ya laugh!
Oh, you will not believe who wants to be best man for Chuck's wedding! And, yes, they did follow through on the Zoo, acquiring the building next door and extending the embassy into it.
Kitty just hates the diplomatic thing. She'd rather pull out her Glock and be done with it. Instead she's gotta play co-ambassador with Jeff. Of course there are perks to the job, namely sex with Jeff anywhere they can manage it.
Their friends, heck, I was gonna say coworkers, but nobody is actually a coworker in any of this. They are all either friends or family, whether blood is involved or not.
Arghhh, it's the dreaded oh, I'll look at it later trope.
I do enjoy the rock 'n roll, Star Wars, and Wolverine references. That Apprentice thing, though...that's just nasty.
My only whine is that scene at the end---and it's difficult to whine without revealing too much, dang it! I never did get the logic of how Y set Z up for that kill shot when Koch is explaining how it's Y who initiated that murder.
The Story
Events in Alien vs Alien , 6, have thrown everything off and elections for the year have been put on standby. But that hasn't held up the process of removing representatives from office as a number of them are dying from seemingly natural causes until one is murdered at a dinner at the American Centaurion embassy. It leaves Jeff and Christopher worried that groups will start blaming the Alpha Centaurions---since their secret is out.
Only Kitty gets there first, suggesting it's an act of war against the A-Cs. It's one quick way to hush up a roomful of diplomats and politicians.
Spying on the A-Cs is a given, but with all the murders, it's confusion and attack until a pattern emerges.
The Characters
Kitty (with a major thing for Aerosmith) and Jeff Martini, the world's strongest telepath, are both ambassadors for the American Centaurion Diplomatic Corps. Through her pregnancy, Kitty's has hyperspeed, superstrength, and the Doolittle thing besides being able to channel what the bad guys are thinking while Jeff got boosted in another of their adventures. Their daughter, Jamie-Kat, is quite forward with powers of her own, and her first birthday is coming up! The Poofs who belong to these three include Poofikins, who is Kitty's; Harlie, the head Poof, is Jeff's; and, Jamie-Kat's is Mous-mous. Bruno is Kitty's Peregrine; Lola is his mate, and she keeps an eye on the kids.
Mom, Angela Katt, is head of the Presidential Terrorism Control Unit (PTCU) and the only non-Jew to ever be in Mossad. After Alien vs Alien , the Katts' critters moved into the embassy: Sugarfoot, Candy, and Kane (the cats) and the dogs include Duchess, Dudley, Dotty, and Duke. Sol is her dad.
Christopher White is Jeff's cousin and an Imageer married to Amy Gaultier White, one of Kitty's best friends from high school and a lawyer. (see Alien Proliferation , 4). She'll be spending time with the board of directors for Gaultier Enterprises now that Daddy Dearest is dead. Toby is Christopher's Poof; Mignon is Amy's. Alfred and Lucia Martini are Jeff's parents. Clarence Valentino is Sylvia's husband (Jeff's oldest sister) and a traitor (see Alien Proliferation ).
Charles Reynolds has been Kitty's best friend since they were thirteen; now he's head of the CIA's Extra-Terrestrial Division, and about to get married to Mimi. Fluffy is his Poof, and Han and Leia are his Royal Peregrines. Clifford Goodman as Head of Special Immigration Services reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Chuck likes him. Pia Ryan was CIA, until she played body-in-the-car. Representative Santiago Reyes sounds like a really nice guy. Colonel Marvin Hamlin was in charge of Andrews Air Force Base before he took off a couple days before Operation Destruction. Only, it turns out he took off a lot longer ago than that…! Esteban Cantu is also CIA, but his true role was revealed, and he's in prison.
Embassy inhabitants include:
Len and Kyle are former college football players who are now CIA bodyguards for Kitty and Jamie (see Alien in the Family , 3 and Alien Diplomacy , 5). Their peregrines are Barney and Betty for Len and Kyle's are Fred and Wilma. Malcolm Buchanan is a bodyguard assigned by Kitty's mother in Alien Diplomacy . Former Pontifex Richard White is Kitty's new partner and has a thing for the catsuit and Nurse Carter. Richard's birds are Samson and Delilah. Dr. "The Great" Tito Hernandez ( Alien in the Family ) is Kitty and Jamie-Kat's personal physician while Melanie and Emily, both Dazzler A-Cs (and Lorraine and Claudia's moms), assist Tito. Walter Ward is in charge of embassy security with the help of his Royal Peregrines, George and Gracie. Pierre is James' friend and the Majordomo Concierge for the embassy and did they ever luck out getting him! Kevin Lewis is second-in-command for PTCU as well as the Defense Attaché for the Embassy. He, his wife, Denise, and their children, Raymond and Rachel, live in the embassy; Denise is in charge of the embassy daycare and is the in-house teacher. Doreen (her parents were the traitorous former heads of the Diplomatic Corps) and Irving Weisman (he's human) with baby Ezra also live at the embassy. Nurse Magdalena Rijos-Carter has signed on to help Tito, and she and Richard are hooking up!
Alpha team includes:
Paul Gower is a half-A-C/half-human and can read dreams and memories; he's ACE's habitat and the new Supreme Pontifex. Commander James Reader is a gorgeous former supermodel, who is in a relationship with Paul and Head of the Field for Centaurion Division; Kitty considers him one of her best guy friends. Gatita is Reader's Poof. ACE is an alien entity, who is missing in action. Michael Gower is Paul's younger brother, a playah, and an astronaut at NASA (although his playboy days may be coming to an end!); Fuzzball is his Poof. Naomi, a.k.a., Mimi, and Chuck are getting married---she's going Bridezilla! She and Abigail are Paul's hybrid sisters and the new cultural attachés. Serene, the head of Imageering, is married to Brian Dwyer (Kitty's old boyfriend), and they have a little boy, Patrick. Yeah, he's maturing at hyperspeed too. Gladys is head of overall security for the A-Cs. Jennifer Barone has been assigned, along with her brother, permanently to the Embassy. Camilla is the double, triple, possibly quadruple agent.
Airborne includes:
Captain Tim Crawford is the new head of Airborne in Kitty's place; he's married to Alicia?? The unmarried ones include Captain Jerry Tucker, Matt Hughes, and Walker. Joe Billings is married to Captain Lorraine, and they have a son, Ross Edward. Randy Muir is married to Captain Claudia, and they have a son as well, Sean Zachary.
Hacker International
The boys are now residing at the Embassy as well, much to Jeff's disgust. Stryker Dane, a.k.a., Eddy Simms, is a brilliant hacker who is the resident UFO and extraterrestrial languages expert, and undercover in the military along with Big George Lecroix, who is Europe's best hacker and speaks some twenty languages fluently. Also Doctor Henry Wu is a software expert, China's most expert hacker, and covers the languages the others don't; Ravi Gaekwad, a.k.a., Ravi the Geek, is India's best hacker and big on hardware and software---he and Jennifer Barone have hooked up; and, Omega Red, a.k.a., Yuri Stanislav, is blind but killer with audio cryptology.
Mister Joel Oliver is a photographer with World Weekly News, and he's inherited Bellie, the parrot from hell. He also rates a Poof, Button. Peter "the Dingo" Kasperoff is an assassin who has assumed the role of Uncle with Kitty. A really good uncle as he's keeping an eye on all those assassins targeting her and hers. Vic is his cousin and partner and therefore another uncle. Akiko is the Embassy designer on retainer and doesn't that just make a number of the other women miaow! Rajnish Singh (he has troubadour power) is from the New Dehli A-Cs and most likely to be transferred over. Mona Nejem and her driver/bodyguard, Khalid, are Bahraini; Oren and Jakob are Mossad. "Herman", a.k.a., Officer "Melville", is one of the cops from Alien Proliferation with whom the Martinis have a good relationship. Prince is his K-9 partner.
Senator McMillan of Arizona's philosophy for being in politics is one that I wish a lot more politicians espoused. Kelly is his wife. Caroline Chase is a high school friend of Kitty's and works for the senator.
Olga Dalca (she's former KGB) and Adriana, her granddaughter and personal assistant, are with the Romanian embassy and very interested in events at the AC embassy after events in Alien Diplomacy , 5. Andrei, Olga's husband and the ambassador, is a stand-up guy.
Princess Rhami is the older and Princess Rhee the younger are Queen Renata's daughters from the planet of Free Women. They're here to help celebrate Jamie's first birthday, they think. In truth, it's their training mission.
The Cabal of Evil includes:
Well, most of them are now dead or in prison, but there are still a few hanging on… Senator Vincent Armstrong is the senior senator from Florida who owes and is owed favors by the A-Cs. Elaine is his wife---both Kitty and her mom like her! Lillian Culver, a powerful lobbyist, is a well-dressed skeleton and the unofficial spokesperson for the group. Abner Schnekedy, odious and an artist, is her husband. Eugene and Lydia Montgomery---she's the junior senator from New York. Eugene's on Kitty's naughty list for his shenanigans in Alien Diplomacy , 5. The French Nathalie Gagnon-Brewer, a former international model, is married to vintner, Representative Edmund Brewer of California. Guy Gadoire , a lobbyist for the tobacco industry, and his husband, Vance Beaumont, are too interested in anything Kitty, although Vance is a big fan of Oliver's. Senator Zachary Kramer and his wife, Marcia, are also at the party.
Marion Villanova is chief aide to the secretary of state, and she's dating Langston Whitmore, secretary of transportation. They make good beards for each other.
Raul Diaz, a.k.a., Dier, a.k.a., Lars Reid, was adopted by Leventhal Reid and became an assassin who is usually hired by the CIA.
Dazzlers are how Kitty collectively refers to the A-C females because that's what they do: they dazzle everyone with their beauty, intelligence, and compassion. Imageers manipulate images electronically and in front of you and can learn all about a person simply by touching an image. Empaths feel emotions.
Poofs look like "tiny, fluffy kittens with no ears or tails, but with shiny black button eyes", who can morph into Jeff-sized, very, very protective critters. Once you name one, they're yours for life. And they're procreating all over the place...there're dozens of 'em. Enough that even the cats get a Poof.
The Royal Peregrines have become very welcome gifts from King Alexander; they make great guardians and help the gifted with their powers. The Poofs and the Peregrines have an alliance and help each other. Harold and Maude are stressed about an invasion.
The Elves are Kitty's term for those invisible helpers who produce anything and everything...and clean it as well. They exist in any habitation for A-Cs. I wanna be adopted!
The Cover
The cover is very different from previous books with a white background and red-framed circular insets of Jeff in his fedora, Edmund falling from a building and the State Capitol, two Royal Peregrines are flying in between them, one couple is running and Kitty in a white dress is standing in a chalked outline of a murdered man.
The title is too true, although it did not go where I first thought it would. Poor Kitty, there's an Alien in the House.
My Take
Go into this knowing it's off the wall...Koch has so much fun writing these...almost as much fun as I have in reading them…*grin*... She does go over the top with the Royal Peregrines and the Poofs and Kitty's being able to interpret their minds---it cracks me up when Kitty does the translation of whatever the critters are tellin' her. And I do adore how much Kitty and Jeff love their daughter. Just makes my heart swell up and conga.
I got to thinking about it, and y'all know how OCD I am about chronology, but you could read this one alone. I don't think you'd get as much out of it without having read what comes before as there are so many associations that relate back to earlier stories, but, no, it's not an essential of life.
Koch has a ball peeling back the reality of politics and the Washington life of one hand washing the other. It's such a dreamy treat to think there might be people there who actually do have the public's, their constituents', interests at heart. It's rather Dave-like in that the A-Cs want to help and not just take. The characters reflect this with their family values, honor, and loyalty...with all the snark in the world to make ya laugh!
Oh, you will not believe who wants to be best man for Chuck's wedding! And, yes, they did follow through on the Zoo, acquiring the building next door and extending the embassy into it.
Kitty just hates the diplomatic thing. She'd rather pull out her Glock and be done with it. Instead she's gotta play co-ambassador with Jeff. Of course there are perks to the job, namely sex with Jeff anywhere they can manage it.
Sadly, so many of [the Cabal of Evil] had suggested many different "fun" ideas during Operation Assassination that I now associated them equally with World Domination Dreams and Triple-X Porn."
Their friends, heck, I was gonna say coworkers, but nobody is actually a coworker in any of this. They are all either friends or family, whether blood is involved or not.
Arghhh, it's the dreaded oh, I'll look at it later trope.
I do enjoy the rock 'n roll, Star Wars, and Wolverine references. That Apprentice thing, though...that's just nasty.
My only whine is that scene at the end---and it's difficult to whine without revealing too much, dang it! I never did get the logic of how Y set Z up for that kill shot when Koch is explaining how it's Y who initiated that murder.
The Story
Events in Alien vs Alien , 6, have thrown everything off and elections for the year have been put on standby. But that hasn't held up the process of removing representatives from office as a number of them are dying from seemingly natural causes until one is murdered at a dinner at the American Centaurion embassy. It leaves Jeff and Christopher worried that groups will start blaming the Alpha Centaurions---since their secret is out.
Only Kitty gets there first, suggesting it's an act of war against the A-Cs. It's one quick way to hush up a roomful of diplomats and politicians.
Spying on the A-Cs is a given, but with all the murders, it's confusion and attack until a pattern emerges.
The Characters
Kitty (with a major thing for Aerosmith) and Jeff Martini, the world's strongest telepath, are both ambassadors for the American Centaurion Diplomatic Corps. Through her pregnancy, Kitty's has hyperspeed, superstrength, and the Doolittle thing besides being able to channel what the bad guys are thinking while Jeff got boosted in another of their adventures. Their daughter, Jamie-Kat, is quite forward with powers of her own, and her first birthday is coming up! The Poofs who belong to these three include Poofikins, who is Kitty's; Harlie, the head Poof, is Jeff's; and, Jamie-Kat's is Mous-mous. Bruno is Kitty's Peregrine; Lola is his mate, and she keeps an eye on the kids.
Mom, Angela Katt, is head of the Presidential Terrorism Control Unit (PTCU) and the only non-Jew to ever be in Mossad. After Alien vs Alien , the Katts' critters moved into the embassy: Sugarfoot, Candy, and Kane (the cats) and the dogs include Duchess, Dudley, Dotty, and Duke. Sol is her dad.
Christopher White is Jeff's cousin and an Imageer married to Amy Gaultier White, one of Kitty's best friends from high school and a lawyer. (see Alien Proliferation , 4). She'll be spending time with the board of directors for Gaultier Enterprises now that Daddy Dearest is dead. Toby is Christopher's Poof; Mignon is Amy's. Alfred and Lucia Martini are Jeff's parents. Clarence Valentino is Sylvia's husband (Jeff's oldest sister) and a traitor (see Alien Proliferation ).
Charles Reynolds has been Kitty's best friend since they were thirteen; now he's head of the CIA's Extra-Terrestrial Division, and about to get married to Mimi. Fluffy is his Poof, and Han and Leia are his Royal Peregrines. Clifford Goodman as Head of Special Immigration Services reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Chuck likes him. Pia Ryan was CIA, until she played body-in-the-car. Representative Santiago Reyes sounds like a really nice guy. Colonel Marvin Hamlin was in charge of Andrews Air Force Base before he took off a couple days before Operation Destruction. Only, it turns out he took off a lot longer ago than that…! Esteban Cantu is also CIA, but his true role was revealed, and he's in prison.
Embassy inhabitants include:
Len and Kyle are former college football players who are now CIA bodyguards for Kitty and Jamie (see Alien in the Family , 3 and Alien Diplomacy , 5). Their peregrines are Barney and Betty for Len and Kyle's are Fred and Wilma. Malcolm Buchanan is a bodyguard assigned by Kitty's mother in Alien Diplomacy . Former Pontifex Richard White is Kitty's new partner and has a thing for the catsuit and Nurse Carter. Richard's birds are Samson and Delilah. Dr. "The Great" Tito Hernandez ( Alien in the Family ) is Kitty and Jamie-Kat's personal physician while Melanie and Emily, both Dazzler A-Cs (and Lorraine and Claudia's moms), assist Tito. Walter Ward is in charge of embassy security with the help of his Royal Peregrines, George and Gracie. Pierre is James' friend and the Majordomo Concierge for the embassy and did they ever luck out getting him! Kevin Lewis is second-in-command for PTCU as well as the Defense Attaché for the Embassy. He, his wife, Denise, and their children, Raymond and Rachel, live in the embassy; Denise is in charge of the embassy daycare and is the in-house teacher. Doreen (her parents were the traitorous former heads of the Diplomatic Corps) and Irving Weisman (he's human) with baby Ezra also live at the embassy. Nurse Magdalena Rijos-Carter has signed on to help Tito, and she and Richard are hooking up!
Alpha team includes:
Paul Gower is a half-A-C/half-human and can read dreams and memories; he's ACE's habitat and the new Supreme Pontifex. Commander James Reader is a gorgeous former supermodel, who is in a relationship with Paul and Head of the Field for Centaurion Division; Kitty considers him one of her best guy friends. Gatita is Reader's Poof. ACE is an alien entity, who is missing in action. Michael Gower is Paul's younger brother, a playah, and an astronaut at NASA (although his playboy days may be coming to an end!); Fuzzball is his Poof. Naomi, a.k.a., Mimi, and Chuck are getting married---she's going Bridezilla! She and Abigail are Paul's hybrid sisters and the new cultural attachés. Serene, the head of Imageering, is married to Brian Dwyer (Kitty's old boyfriend), and they have a little boy, Patrick. Yeah, he's maturing at hyperspeed too. Gladys is head of overall security for the A-Cs. Jennifer Barone has been assigned, along with her brother, permanently to the Embassy. Camilla is the double, triple, possibly quadruple agent.
Airborne includes:
Captain Tim Crawford is the new head of Airborne in Kitty's place; he's married to Alicia?? The unmarried ones include Captain Jerry Tucker, Matt Hughes, and Walker. Joe Billings is married to Captain Lorraine, and they have a son, Ross Edward. Randy Muir is married to Captain Claudia, and they have a son as well, Sean Zachary.
Hacker International
The boys are now residing at the Embassy as well, much to Jeff's disgust. Stryker Dane, a.k.a., Eddy Simms, is a brilliant hacker who is the resident UFO and extraterrestrial languages expert, and undercover in the military along with Big George Lecroix, who is Europe's best hacker and speaks some twenty languages fluently. Also Doctor Henry Wu is a software expert, China's most expert hacker, and covers the languages the others don't; Ravi Gaekwad, a.k.a., Ravi the Geek, is India's best hacker and big on hardware and software---he and Jennifer Barone have hooked up; and, Omega Red, a.k.a., Yuri Stanislav, is blind but killer with audio cryptology.
Mister Joel Oliver is a photographer with World Weekly News, and he's inherited Bellie, the parrot from hell. He also rates a Poof, Button. Peter "the Dingo" Kasperoff is an assassin who has assumed the role of Uncle with Kitty. A really good uncle as he's keeping an eye on all those assassins targeting her and hers. Vic is his cousin and partner and therefore another uncle. Akiko is the Embassy designer on retainer and doesn't that just make a number of the other women miaow! Rajnish Singh (he has troubadour power) is from the New Dehli A-Cs and most likely to be transferred over. Mona Nejem and her driver/bodyguard, Khalid, are Bahraini; Oren and Jakob are Mossad. "Herman", a.k.a., Officer "Melville", is one of the cops from Alien Proliferation with whom the Martinis have a good relationship. Prince is his K-9 partner.
Senator McMillan of Arizona's philosophy for being in politics is one that I wish a lot more politicians espoused. Kelly is his wife. Caroline Chase is a high school friend of Kitty's and works for the senator.
Olga Dalca (she's former KGB) and Adriana, her granddaughter and personal assistant, are with the Romanian embassy and very interested in events at the AC embassy after events in Alien Diplomacy , 5. Andrei, Olga's husband and the ambassador, is a stand-up guy.
Princess Rhami is the older and Princess Rhee the younger are Queen Renata's daughters from the planet of Free Women. They're here to help celebrate Jamie's first birthday, they think. In truth, it's their training mission.
The Cabal of Evil includes:
Well, most of them are now dead or in prison, but there are still a few hanging on… Senator Vincent Armstrong is the senior senator from Florida who owes and is owed favors by the A-Cs. Elaine is his wife---both Kitty and her mom like her! Lillian Culver, a powerful lobbyist, is a well-dressed skeleton and the unofficial spokesperson for the group. Abner Schnekedy, odious and an artist, is her husband. Eugene and Lydia Montgomery---she's the junior senator from New York. Eugene's on Kitty's naughty list for his shenanigans in Alien Diplomacy , 5. The French Nathalie Gagnon-Brewer, a former international model, is married to vintner, Representative Edmund Brewer of California. Guy Gadoire , a lobbyist for the tobacco industry, and his husband, Vance Beaumont, are too interested in anything Kitty, although Vance is a big fan of Oliver's. Senator Zachary Kramer and his wife, Marcia, are also at the party.
Marion Villanova is chief aide to the secretary of state, and she's dating Langston Whitmore, secretary of transportation. They make good beards for each other.
Raul Diaz, a.k.a., Dier, a.k.a., Lars Reid, was adopted by Leventhal Reid and became an assassin who is usually hired by the CIA.
Dazzlers are how Kitty collectively refers to the A-C females because that's what they do: they dazzle everyone with their beauty, intelligence, and compassion. Imageers manipulate images electronically and in front of you and can learn all about a person simply by touching an image. Empaths feel emotions.
Poofs look like "tiny, fluffy kittens with no ears or tails, but with shiny black button eyes", who can morph into Jeff-sized, very, very protective critters. Once you name one, they're yours for life. And they're procreating all over the place...there're dozens of 'em. Enough that even the cats get a Poof.
The Royal Peregrines have become very welcome gifts from King Alexander; they make great guardians and help the gifted with their powers. The Poofs and the Peregrines have an alliance and help each other. Harold and Maude are stressed about an invasion.
The Elves are Kitty's term for those invisible helpers who produce anything and everything...and clean it as well. They exist in any habitation for A-Cs. I wanna be adopted!
The Cover
The cover is very different from previous books with a white background and red-framed circular insets of Jeff in his fedora, Edmund falling from a building and the State Capitol, two Royal Peregrines are flying in between them, one couple is running and Kitty in a white dress is standing in a chalked outline of a murdered man.
The title is too true, although it did not go where I first thought it would. Poor Kitty, there's an Alien in the House.
August 9, 2018
Well. This one was MUCH better, more like the earlier books in the series. People finally got over their stupid "let's keep Kitty in the dark" bullcrap (may that be a dead story thread that is never resurrected, please), and for the most part, it felt like the team found a better balance for working together.
There were still a couple points where I wanted to punch Reader - what is with his constant need to blame Kitty for everything - but I was happy to see them get back to old form after a serious chat.
So yeah, he's not really in my good graces yet. And I still have a problem with the implication that he's in charge of DipCorps at all. Because, again, that's not how the early books laid out their structure, and it is also the government of a military dictatorship, which, no thanks. He's head of military. That does NOT mean he's boss of every person. And if that now does, then they have bigger problems than the US Government, because they've had a military coup.
But I enjoyed this one. So I'm tentatively optimistic that we've transitioned into a better place with the series, and I'll like them more going forward.
There were still a couple points where I wanted to punch Reader - what is with his constant need to blame Kitty for everything - but I was happy to see them get back to old form after a serious chat.
So yeah, he's not really in my good graces yet. And I still have a problem with the implication that he's in charge of DipCorps at all. Because, again, that's not how the early books laid out their structure, and it is also the government of a military dictatorship, which, no thanks. He's head of military. That does NOT mean he's boss of every person. And if that now does, then they have bigger problems than the US Government, because they've had a military coup.
But I enjoyed this one. So I'm tentatively optimistic that we've transitioned into a better place with the series, and I'll like them more going forward.
January 1, 2019
First, I just want to say that I love the titles and the covers for these books. They’re always so perfect.
On to the review, I started this book two years ago, maybe? I got to 65% and for some reason stopped reading. I’m honestly not sure why, the book is fine, well within expectations of the series, so who knows. Jumping back in I did have a bit of confusion, the cast of characters is massive at this point, but they’re all so memorable that it didn’t take too long to remember what was going on.
What I love about this series is that Kitty is going to figure out what’s going on, no matter what. It is the ultimate wish fulfillment self-insert story. It’s like old sci-fi pulp fiction. Only instead of a dude getting to bang all the chicks and solve all the problems we’ve got a woman that gets to solve all the problems, boss everyone around, and bang her hot husband while all of her friends end up pairing up with hot smart people. It’s perfect.
There’s nothing too deep about this series, but it is complicated. There’s a mass of characters that almost always make an appearance and more are added each book. There’s multiple worlds, though, the this book only takes place on Earth. There are several government agencies and conspiracies and just a whole hell of a lot going on.
Like I said, though, Kitty and her crew will always figure it out in time and the core group of people will survive. It’s comforting junk food that I’m glad I returned too.
3.5/5
On to the review, I started this book two years ago, maybe? I got to 65% and for some reason stopped reading. I’m honestly not sure why, the book is fine, well within expectations of the series, so who knows. Jumping back in I did have a bit of confusion, the cast of characters is massive at this point, but they’re all so memorable that it didn’t take too long to remember what was going on.
What I love about this series is that Kitty is going to figure out what’s going on, no matter what. It is the ultimate wish fulfillment self-insert story. It’s like old sci-fi pulp fiction. Only instead of a dude getting to bang all the chicks and solve all the problems we’ve got a woman that gets to solve all the problems, boss everyone around, and bang her hot husband while all of her friends end up pairing up with hot smart people. It’s perfect.
There’s nothing too deep about this series, but it is complicated. There’s a mass of characters that almost always make an appearance and more are added each book. There’s multiple worlds, though, the this book only takes place on Earth. There are several government agencies and conspiracies and just a whole hell of a lot going on.
Like I said, though, Kitty and her crew will always figure it out in time and the core group of people will survive. It’s comforting junk food that I’m glad I returned too.
3.5/5
April 19, 2013
In the previous book, the Alpha Centaurians were outed to the Earthlings when they saved the earth from hostile invaders. Of course the population is divided, those who want them gone from Earth, and those who want to suppress them, to use them as soldiers and study them in a lab. Of course, there are also neutral people, but their voices are not heard.
Jeff Martini and his wife Kitty, to co-ambassadors for American Centauri (yes, they are all official US citizens, the government knew of their existence ever since they landed here) are busy learning the ropes and making friends and allies. They are hosting an important dinner, and are also busy with preparations for their daughter Jamie’s first birthday! Which is also a political event, instead of a family and friends affair. To Kitty’s dismay, they will have to invite the Cabal of Evil as well, and she really dislikes those people. But she will have to learn to smile and pretend to be nice, that is the life of a politician. It doesn’t matter that she did never want this job, and that she misses being in the heart of the action.
Jeff is a natural though, and he even enjoys following all the news and reading the boring reports and such.
That afternoon, the mailman returns with a new package for Kitty, and tells her he had to do almost his whole round again, as his load was knocked over, and he forgot to deliver that one when he came around first. But something is just not right about the package, and when Kitty sees an old enemy looking at her from across the square, she goes after him. Only to loose him at the cemetery, when she runs into some other old acquaintances. But her honorary uncle the Dingo assures her they come as friends, and are there to protect her. That package she is still carrying, holds a bioweapon and she really should give it to them to dispose off.
Going back home, she walks into Buchanan, her favourite bodyguard, but apparently he did not see the package. He only saw her chasing someone.
A very unsuspected visitor makes Kitty late for dinner, and again it is Buchanan who takes over for her. Until they can find out if this visitor is to be trusted, he will have to stay in the basement.
Kitty has to hurry back to the dining room, and she has to be nice to all the people waiting for her at the other tables. Her former friend Eugene, who sits at the table behind her, insists on helping her get seated, even though her two neighbours are perfectly capable of helping her. And he is very clumsy doing that, even bumping her into the table. When later their new friend Reyes (and Representative for New Mexico, their own district), gets sick, Kitty and Camilla help him to the bathroom, where it becomes clear he has been poisoned.
When Reyes dies on their soil, they have a murder on their hands, and Kitty is determined to find him or her. With the help of her favourite K-9 squad, that is not difficult. But when the killer is murdered while Kitty is questioning him, there are only more questions left they need to find the answers for. Especially if Vance tries to be her new best friend and wants to share his conspiracy theories with her.
What happens next is a lot of running around, talking theories and searching for clues in various politicians’ offices. Who can they trust, how will they find out the truth, and how do you make friends with your political enemies?
I liked the bits with the Peregrines and the Poofs, but I am sad that the Poofs did not have to come into action. The visitors from out of space are cool, and I hope they get to stay for a while, and help Kitty in her adventures. I was really glad to see a bit more of Reader in this book, as he was sorely lacking in the previous one. He and Kitty together are some of my favourite scenes.
Chuckie/Charles is getting married! His fiancée is turning into some kind of Bridezilla though, until Kitty gives her a piece of her mind about it all.
I also enjoy the parts with the hackers, the bantering with Kitty and those guys, and especially the obscure references to comic books and such.
And Amy is fighting to become the new director and manager of Gaultier Enterprises, as her fathers’ sole heir. He was evil to the bone and a lot of plots against the A-C’s lead back to Gaultier. With her at the helm, they will be able to find out more, and how to fight it.
But I have to admit, as I am really not interested in politics, and think they are all a bunch of liars and out to fill their own pockets instead of doing as they promised to their voters, I was not enjoying this book as much as the previous ones. Jeff as the new representative? Leaving Kitty as the sole Ambassador?
I am glad though, that I picked some clue up in the previous book, which was important for this one. My suspicions came true. And following a brilliant though chaotic mind like Gini Koch in one of her plots, is not easy. She keeps throwing surprises and twists as her readers, and it does keep you engaged.
I love the action, the main characters, all the different animals who all help out in their own way (except Belly) and the fun and weirdness of the plots. It is just, well, politics that I dislike.
I do recommend you to start this series with the first book, there are an enormous lot of secondary characters in those books, and you want to be introduced to them all gently. Otherwise, you have no idea of who is who and why are they doing what they are doing.
And I have to agree with Kitty, I miss the action from the first books, when they were the heads of the divisions, and could just go and fight the fuglies, instead of being polite to people you dislike. Music on loud, get the flyboys and go!
But now you know what the title means: Alien in the House!
8 stars.
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
Jeff Martini and his wife Kitty, to co-ambassadors for American Centauri (yes, they are all official US citizens, the government knew of their existence ever since they landed here) are busy learning the ropes and making friends and allies. They are hosting an important dinner, and are also busy with preparations for their daughter Jamie’s first birthday! Which is also a political event, instead of a family and friends affair. To Kitty’s dismay, they will have to invite the Cabal of Evil as well, and she really dislikes those people. But she will have to learn to smile and pretend to be nice, that is the life of a politician. It doesn’t matter that she did never want this job, and that she misses being in the heart of the action.
Jeff is a natural though, and he even enjoys following all the news and reading the boring reports and such.
That afternoon, the mailman returns with a new package for Kitty, and tells her he had to do almost his whole round again, as his load was knocked over, and he forgot to deliver that one when he came around first. But something is just not right about the package, and when Kitty sees an old enemy looking at her from across the square, she goes after him. Only to loose him at the cemetery, when she runs into some other old acquaintances. But her honorary uncle the Dingo assures her they come as friends, and are there to protect her. That package she is still carrying, holds a bioweapon and she really should give it to them to dispose off.
Going back home, she walks into Buchanan, her favourite bodyguard, but apparently he did not see the package. He only saw her chasing someone.
A very unsuspected visitor makes Kitty late for dinner, and again it is Buchanan who takes over for her. Until they can find out if this visitor is to be trusted, he will have to stay in the basement.
Kitty has to hurry back to the dining room, and she has to be nice to all the people waiting for her at the other tables. Her former friend Eugene, who sits at the table behind her, insists on helping her get seated, even though her two neighbours are perfectly capable of helping her. And he is very clumsy doing that, even bumping her into the table. When later their new friend Reyes (and Representative for New Mexico, their own district), gets sick, Kitty and Camilla help him to the bathroom, where it becomes clear he has been poisoned.
When Reyes dies on their soil, they have a murder on their hands, and Kitty is determined to find him or her. With the help of her favourite K-9 squad, that is not difficult. But when the killer is murdered while Kitty is questioning him, there are only more questions left they need to find the answers for. Especially if Vance tries to be her new best friend and wants to share his conspiracy theories with her.
What happens next is a lot of running around, talking theories and searching for clues in various politicians’ offices. Who can they trust, how will they find out the truth, and how do you make friends with your political enemies?
I liked the bits with the Peregrines and the Poofs, but I am sad that the Poofs did not have to come into action. The visitors from out of space are cool, and I hope they get to stay for a while, and help Kitty in her adventures. I was really glad to see a bit more of Reader in this book, as he was sorely lacking in the previous one. He and Kitty together are some of my favourite scenes.
Chuckie/Charles is getting married! His fiancée is turning into some kind of Bridezilla though, until Kitty gives her a piece of her mind about it all.
I also enjoy the parts with the hackers, the bantering with Kitty and those guys, and especially the obscure references to comic books and such.
And Amy is fighting to become the new director and manager of Gaultier Enterprises, as her fathers’ sole heir. He was evil to the bone and a lot of plots against the A-C’s lead back to Gaultier. With her at the helm, they will be able to find out more, and how to fight it.
But I have to admit, as I am really not interested in politics, and think they are all a bunch of liars and out to fill their own pockets instead of doing as they promised to their voters, I was not enjoying this book as much as the previous ones. Jeff as the new representative? Leaving Kitty as the sole Ambassador?
I am glad though, that I picked some clue up in the previous book, which was important for this one. My suspicions came true. And following a brilliant though chaotic mind like Gini Koch in one of her plots, is not easy. She keeps throwing surprises and twists as her readers, and it does keep you engaged.
I love the action, the main characters, all the different animals who all help out in their own way (except Belly) and the fun and weirdness of the plots. It is just, well, politics that I dislike.
I do recommend you to start this series with the first book, there are an enormous lot of secondary characters in those books, and you want to be introduced to them all gently. Otherwise, you have no idea of who is who and why are they doing what they are doing.
And I have to agree with Kitty, I miss the action from the first books, when they were the heads of the divisions, and could just go and fight the fuglies, instead of being polite to people you dislike. Music on loud, get the flyboys and go!
But now you know what the title means: Alien in the House!
8 stars.
© 2013 Reviews by Aurian
Full review on my blog, www.boeklogboek.blogspot.com
April 15, 2019
After finding the last two books in the series a little disappointing, I was pleasantly surprised that Alien in the House was more enjoyable - even though it is becoming more of a political intrigue series than the original action packed secret government agency blow your mind deal.
Kitty Katt-Martini is dealing with a hell of a lot, and having to move on up in the political hierarchy has caused mass chaos on the A-C Embassy. Even though I find all the political exposition tedious at times, I do love the core group of characters that have been with us since the first book. The addition of the Poofs (OMG, I want one!) and the new flavour of protector was wonderful. I’m still not there for all the political machinations, but I enjoy the characters and the world enough to keep going.
3.5 stars
Kitty Katt-Martini is dealing with a hell of a lot, and having to move on up in the political hierarchy has caused mass chaos on the A-C Embassy. Even though I find all the political exposition tedious at times, I do love the core group of characters that have been with us since the first book. The addition of the Poofs (OMG, I want one!) and the new flavour of protector was wonderful. I’m still not there for all the political machinations, but I enjoy the characters and the world enough to keep going.
3.5 stars
January 11, 2018
Another Washington novel. I feel ever since Jamie came a long the stories are starting to slip and be more cliche. But it's not even Jamie's fault just the focus of the stories has changed. I still enjoy this series but the focus on this one was too much on Kat and the new characters less on the original team which was sad. I hope the series picks up from here.
July 14, 2018
Obwohl ich Kittys Zeiten als aktive Agentin weiterhin schmerzlich vermisse, versteht Gini Koch es auch weiterhin, Kitty und ihr Team auf immer neue witzige, verworrene und actionreiche Missionen zu schicken, die fabelhaft und kurzweilig unterhalten. Jedes Buch der Reihe macht Spaß, aber das Level der ersten drei Romane erreichen sie leider nicht mehr ganz.
January 7, 2020
And the web gets bigger. All of the stories are lining up! I wonder how much longer we are gonna be lead on this adventure. A web of lies hiding a criminal mastermind. I can’t wait to see Jamie’s potential, if Kitty has another kid, if we are gonna continue with the thick diplomacy plots, and all that. Gonna start the next book now!
August 31, 2020
I've not read the prior books, so not sure if that's what made this a harder read for me. This is a very clunky book, that could have been tightened up and shortened. Parts just tried too hard and my attention wandered at the overuse of capital letter emphasis for nearly everything. Decent plot, good characters but the writing style wasn't my favorite.
July 2, 2021
Another enjoyable adventure for Kitty and her ever expanding crew. Political intrigue and mystery abound as they try to solve who is killing off members of Congress and the Senate ahead of legislation that could make life interesting for the A-C community.
Lots of fun, twists, and musical references that you should expect by now if you are a fan of this series.
Lots of fun, twists, and musical references that you should expect by now if you are a fan of this series.
February 7, 2018
And I thought it was going to get boring with them becoming diplomats! This book had lots going on and in true Kitty fashion it was great. I was really bummed by the last person to fall to die in this book. I liked him and we'd just decided he was great. Sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2017
Murder and mayhem, plus a baby's first birthday alien style.
February 10, 2018
Las aventuras de Kitty se han convertido en una lectura agradable. No dejan de sorprenderme, pero ya no es una locura contante como al principio. Eso sí, sigo teniendo ganas de leer más.
February 24, 2018
So far this is the slowest of the series I have read I hope the next few read faster with more action and less head scratching.
May 28, 2022
Another great book in the series. Lots of good character development, dead bad guys and interesting writing.
December 13, 2023
I'm really loving this series.
November 9, 2016
Forgot how funny this series was. Glad it hasnt lost its charm.
November 12, 2020
x.Koch paces action from passion, to new political House trade-offs, to fast conflict. Kit clears distractions. Her references to before in series taper off. Next titles I don't get.
July 17, 2014
This is the seventh book in the Alien series from Gini Koch. I'm desperately trying to catch up on this series, since the books are fairly large in size and she's producing them at two per year. I'm now two books behind, but hope to catch up before the tenth one comes out at the end of the year. This is a fun, action-packed quasi-SF series, with some romance elements thrown in. But in the recent novels, the romance aspects have taken a back seat, which makes the books much more appealing to me. Not that I hate romance, but I'm much more interested in the SF aspects. And of course the fun.
In this book, Kitty Martini and crew host a party for the DC elite, since they're now part of the Diplomatic Corps, and of course one of the newest Representatives in the House (and an Alien sympathizer) is murdered almost immediately. Everyone at the party is a suspect . . . except everyone who's anyone is at the party, so it doesn't narrow down the list much. But as Kitty begins to investigate, they discover that an unhealthy number of Representatives have been "accidentally" killed during the past year, and the deaths are escalating. When Jeff is asked to replace the Representative killed at the party, he becomes one of the targets. Now Kitty must find out who's behind the killings before they have a chance to kill anyone else. But in the process, she finds out that maybe there's really one Mastermind behind not just the deaths in the House, but perhaps all of the conspiracies she's uncovered since she killed her first Superbeing with hairspray and a pen.
Again, this series is really just good old fashioned rollicking fun. It's fast-paced, with conspiracies oozing out of every opening, bad guys (some thought dead) appearing around every corner, assassins on every rooftop, and SF elements that are more along the lines of the 50s B movies than hardcore science. Not that it's all fluff. You have to keep your brain engaged so you can follow all of the unraveling plotlines. For a brief time in this series, those plot threads were far too complicated to follow, but this book and the most recent ones have backed off on the complexity a little, and I think they're better books for it. Focusing in one a few of the ongoing conspiracies, while keeping the others in the background, makes for better reading and gives the reader more focus.
This book has a pretty clear plotline, easy to follow, with only a few side elements that confuse the matter in the beginnings. Basically, those are the red herrings. I enjoyed the murder mystery here, as well as the added thriller aspects introduced because of the plot; it starts to feel like a political suspense novel with the politics, assassins and conspiracies. So it has a slightly different flavor than the previous books, which is good. My biggest issue with the plot is that I felt it took far too long for the characters to figure out the reason why the Representatives were being killed. It seemed obvious to me what the reason would be almost from the start, and yet Kitty and crew don't figure it out until well after the halfway point, and then they take even longer trying to convince others that this is the reason when those other people should have realized it much sooner as well. It was a little hard to believe some of the characters took that much prodding to convince.
But, aside from that, I loved the noir-ish, suspense feel of the book, especially the political assassination aspects. The romance elements in the book were extremely light, which I like, but I know some of you will be disappointed with. I think it's one of the better of the recent books in the series. If you're looking for some action-packed SF with romance on the side, check this series out.
In this book, Kitty Martini and crew host a party for the DC elite, since they're now part of the Diplomatic Corps, and of course one of the newest Representatives in the House (and an Alien sympathizer) is murdered almost immediately. Everyone at the party is a suspect . . . except everyone who's anyone is at the party, so it doesn't narrow down the list much. But as Kitty begins to investigate, they discover that an unhealthy number of Representatives have been "accidentally" killed during the past year, and the deaths are escalating. When Jeff is asked to replace the Representative killed at the party, he becomes one of the targets. Now Kitty must find out who's behind the killings before they have a chance to kill anyone else. But in the process, she finds out that maybe there's really one Mastermind behind not just the deaths in the House, but perhaps all of the conspiracies she's uncovered since she killed her first Superbeing with hairspray and a pen.
Again, this series is really just good old fashioned rollicking fun. It's fast-paced, with conspiracies oozing out of every opening, bad guys (some thought dead) appearing around every corner, assassins on every rooftop, and SF elements that are more along the lines of the 50s B movies than hardcore science. Not that it's all fluff. You have to keep your brain engaged so you can follow all of the unraveling plotlines. For a brief time in this series, those plot threads were far too complicated to follow, but this book and the most recent ones have backed off on the complexity a little, and I think they're better books for it. Focusing in one a few of the ongoing conspiracies, while keeping the others in the background, makes for better reading and gives the reader more focus.
This book has a pretty clear plotline, easy to follow, with only a few side elements that confuse the matter in the beginnings. Basically, those are the red herrings. I enjoyed the murder mystery here, as well as the added thriller aspects introduced because of the plot; it starts to feel like a political suspense novel with the politics, assassins and conspiracies. So it has a slightly different flavor than the previous books, which is good. My biggest issue with the plot is that I felt it took far too long for the characters to figure out the reason why the Representatives were being killed. It seemed obvious to me what the reason would be almost from the start, and yet Kitty and crew don't figure it out until well after the halfway point, and then they take even longer trying to convince others that this is the reason when those other people should have realized it much sooner as well. It was a little hard to believe some of the characters took that much prodding to convince.
But, aside from that, I loved the noir-ish, suspense feel of the book, especially the political assassination aspects. The romance elements in the book were extremely light, which I like, but I know some of you will be disappointed with. I think it's one of the better of the recent books in the series. If you're looking for some action-packed SF with romance on the side, check this series out.
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