A Murder of Clones

Retrieval Artist #10

by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

A deadly conspiracy…

The Anniversary Day bombings on the Moon sent shockwaves throughout the Earth Alliance. No one knows who created the clones responsible and turned them into ruthless killers. No one knows where or when they’ll strike next.

The bombings compel Earth Alliance Frontier Marshall Judita Gomez to launch an unauthorized investigation into a case from her past involving the murder of clones. An investigation that might cost Judita not only her career but the lives of her crew.

This third book of the Anniversary Day Saga sheds further light on the Anniversary Day events, and introduces several new key characters.

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Audiobook, Thriller, Crime, Space Opera

362 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2013

About the author

Kristine Kathryn Rusch is an award-winning mystery, romance, science fiction, and fantasy writer. She has written many novels under various names, including Kristine Grayson for romance, and Kris Nelscott for mystery. Her novels have made the bestseller lists –even in London– and have been published in 14 countries and 13 different languages.

Her awards range from the Ellery Queen Readers Choice Award to the John W. Campbell Award. In the past year, she has been nominated for the Hugo, the Shamus, and the Anthony Award. She is the only person in the history of the science fiction field to have won a Hugo award for editing and a Hugo award for fiction.

In addition, she's written a number of nonfiction articles over the years, with her latest being the book "A Freelancer's Survival Guide".

She has also published as:
Sandy Schofield (collaborations with husband Dean Wesley Smith)
Kristine Grayson - romances
Kathryn Wesley (collaborations with husband Dean Wesley Smith)
Kris Nelscott - mysteries
Kris Rusch - historical fiction
Kris DeLake - romances

Reviews

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact I'm bummed the next installment isn't out until next Tuesday. I've pre-ordered it and should have it at midnight.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Murder of Clones introduces a whole new series of characters in the Retrieval Artist series. Those of us who are long time fans of the series get to add a new layer to story. What we will not get is an appearance from Miles Flint. Don’t be disappointed. It is a great story. Rusch does say that this is a Retrieval artist Universe Novel as the main characters in the previous novels do not make an appearance here.

Everything plays off of the Anniversary Day bombings on the moon. Part is set in the past and part in the present. This is a very complex story tha sets up future action. While not exactly a cliff hanger ending it does leave everyone with more than one problem. There are five more books in this saga and they will come out one a month for the next five months. You can start here as the story will stand alone but it is better if you have read the pervious books in the series.

[Z-squared · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't sure going into this one if I would enjoy an entire book without Flint and DeRicci. They are the heart and soul of the RA series. But I was worried for nothing -- this was fantastic. All the signature sci-fi/noir blend we've come to know and love from KKR, plus a whole new set of flawed, interesting characters to get tangled up with. And, as always, Jay Snyder does a kick-ass job with the audiobook edition. This is definitely the beginning of a new, long plot arc, but I am so thrilled about the book-a-month release schedule for the rest of the Anniversary Day saga. No long wait for these cliffhangers to be resolved!

[Soo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:

A different perspective & links of the hidden dangers of clones.

[Marion Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

How would you feel as a reader about the direction of a series when the author introduces a brand new character?

This is the question that Kristine Kathryn Rusch presents in the third book of the Anniversary Day Saga of the Retrieval Artist Series. I have read and review the nine previous books in the series that features the main characters of Retrieval Artist Miles Flint and the Moon’s Chief Security Officer Noelle DeRicci. I will admit I have grown fond of both characters throughout the series and had some trepidation in reading A Murder of Clones that did not feature either one of them in the novel.

A Murder of Clones introduces Earth Alliance Frontier Marshall Judita Gomez as the main character of the novel. She launches with her team an unauthorized investigation into a case about the murdering of clones that connects it to the Moon’s Anniversary Day bombings.

Marshall Gomez and team learns more than they bargained for with the investigation. It will put everyone’s careers and lives into jeopardy as they get closer to the truth about those bombings. Also, they uncover a truth about the Earth Alliance that is unsettling to everyone.

As she has done for the entire series, Rusch creates a solid science fiction thriller with complex twists and turns that keeps you guessing right up to the end of the novel. While, I did not warm up to Marshall Gomez like I did with Flint and DeRicci in The Disappeared, the first book of the Retrieval Artist Series. Gomez has the potential to be a well-written and fully-drawn out character as the Anniversary Day Saga continues towards its conclusion. Also, it does bring a freshness and vitality to a long running series that could be written on autopilot with a skillful storyteller like Rusch.

Murder of Clones is still more of a transition book in the series and it could be read as a standalone. However, I would suggest that new readers start with Anniversary Day and continue with Blowback to get the full scope of this saga. I highly recommend this novel and looking to Book Four of the Anniversary Day Saga, Search and Recovery.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent! It clearly is a saga and I can't wait for the next installment!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the plot; looking forward to the next one!

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Murder of Clones by Kristine Kathryn Rusch is book ten in the Retrieval Artist series and I really enjoyed returning to this world for another instalment. I think it's the best series I've read for portraying alien cultures and species as truly alien - and a lot of the books are about legal dilemmas for humans dealing with unfamiliar rule systems on far-off worlds. This book is a bit of a side-quest from the main plot thread, introducing all new characters but providing some insight and developments about the terrorist attack on the Moon that happened over the last couple of books.
I liked the new characters and am keen to find out what happens next, whether it includes them or not - though I'm hoping some of them will connect up with more familiar folks in upcoming books. I've still got five to go, but I'm determined to finish the series before too long.

[Chris Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just getting sucked in deeper and deeper.

This 3rd installment of the Anniversary Day stories adds a whole other layer to the tale, with no mention at all of Miles Flint.

Addictive reading, and I would have breezed through this if it were not my "backup book" available to me through Scribd for situations where I can't get a physical book in my hands.

This series is so good that I end up reading it on my handheld sometimes even when real books are available.

Rushing to start the next one.

[Alain Normand · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. This one goes into a tangent as the author explain that she needed to have a few side stories to bring the conclusion events into a scenario that made sense. New characters that are fun to follow. Dramatic and unexpected late chapter but no spoilers here. Good ending but leading to want to read more.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Flint. No Dericci. And yet somehow still compelling. I think this is the weakest of the series so far... And yet it also has some of my favorite scenes. Scenes that have stayed with me. On the other hand, some parts are slow and it doesn't stand alone at all.... But I'm still gonna reread the next one.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reads more as a part of a story than as a story within a larger story like the first two books in the Annaversary Day Saga.

[Al Menaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent novel in this series. Well written, interesting, thought provoking.

[Jean Hontz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Darn it! This book follows the money, as they say, looking for bombers and assassins, and didn't check back in on the Moon and Miles and DeRicci at all. Now gotta hurry and read the next one too.

[Charl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa! This is getting really interesting! A new character and her crew, all of them involved in something way deeper than they expected.

[Ed Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same style sequel with more info about the world. Equally good characterization.

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unique perspectives on early contact with aliens, the legal status of clones, investigations into terrorist activities and day to day life of the group involved in these activities.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story continues....the repercussions of the moon catastrophe echo across the Allience and involve new characters who become involved in solving the mystery of the crime. The origin of the clones who participated in this is the plot of this book, one of several planned for the next few months. I enjoyed it but to be honest I prefer the characters in the moon books better.

[Karen A. Wyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost skipped this book because it doesn't feature Miles Flint, the Retrieval Artist and primary character in the overall series. I'm glad I didn't: if you're reading the Anniversary Day saga, there's a good deal of crucial information in this book, more easily absorbed here than in latter rehashes, and the new characters are well worth meeting.

[Carly Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series!

Even though Flint isn't in this book the continuing story being told loses nothing of its complexity or what makes it interesting. I definitely recommend reading the series from the beginning!

[Gregoire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jamie says //It clearly is a saga and I can't wait for the next installment!// same for me

[Nic Cain · Rating 4 out of 5]

great entry into the series. Game changing part.

[Samuel Lubell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review is at www.sfrevu.com. Basically I was disappointed as the book is mostly setup for future volumes, with no real resolution.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book took a bit of a while to get going, but when it did it took me along for the ride.

[Muff · Rating 4 out of 5]

More Miles Flint, please.

It's interesting to read about the same event from various perspectives. Since I read Anniversary Day and Blowback a while ago, I'm rereading them now.

[Ryan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, fantastic! Miles Flint is fantastic, but I really enjoyed this story and Marshall Judita Gomez. Having a lot of fun binging on the Anniversary Day Saga!

[Angie Boyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worthy addition

Great continuation of the saga. Makes me want to rush to read the next one. I am glad I waited until all were available

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

highly recommend.