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The Orionids
A fast-paced, enthralling science fiction mystery which will leave fans craving for the next book.
"The story's fast-paced nature and its captivating setting on the moon, replete with cutting-edge technology, offer all the hallmarks of an enthralling science fiction tale." -- Maria Yinks, San Francisco Book Review
"Werne's storytelling technique ... deftly balances interstellar politics with an amalgam of end-to-end action and Sherlock Holmes-styled sleuthing. The conversations between the characters are the icing on the cake as Werne displays an innate ability to extract comedic instances from even the most serious-sounding situation." - Readers Favorite
On the moon, Kate Devana is the law.
When an anti-technology terrorist cult dubs themselves The Orionids after the October meteor storm, knife a wedding guest, and then sets off a devastating bomb, Kate Devana must find a way to stop them before they become an extinction-level event.
She’s the chief of security for the Lunar Colony and a Marine and a Guardian, trained to fight behind enemy lines while outnumbered in space.
But she finds herself scrambling to keep the place from becoming the new Wild West. She’s a department of one, an eight-hour rocket ride from the nearest Earth police station, and she’s busy preventing the drunk uber-rich celebrities from killing each other. Her only backup will come to investigate political enemies if they come at all.
"The story's fast-paced nature and its captivating setting on the moon, replete with cutting-edge technology, offer all the hallmarks of an enthralling science fiction tale." -- Maria Yinks, San Francisco Book Review
"Werne's storytelling technique ... deftly balances interstellar politics with an amalgam of end-to-end action and Sherlock Holmes-styled sleuthing. The conversations between the characters are the icing on the cake as Werne displays an innate ability to extract comedic instances from even the most serious-sounding situation." - Readers Favorite
On the moon, Kate Devana is the law.
When an anti-technology terrorist cult dubs themselves The Orionids after the October meteor storm, knife a wedding guest, and then sets off a devastating bomb, Kate Devana must find a way to stop them before they become an extinction-level event.
She’s the chief of security for the Lunar Colony and a Marine and a Guardian, trained to fight behind enemy lines while outnumbered in space.
But she finds herself scrambling to keep the place from becoming the new Wild West. She’s a department of one, an eight-hour rocket ride from the nearest Earth police station, and she’s busy preventing the drunk uber-rich celebrities from killing each other. Her only backup will come to investigate political enemies if they come at all.
- GenresScience FictionMystery
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 19, 2023
9 people are currently reading
3263 people want to read
About the author
Wyatt Werne
2 books44 followersWyatt Werne has degrees in Biochemistry, Applied Math, and Economics. Economics is fiction, and he has over twenty-five years of experience in the financial services industry making stuff up. His prior work is kept encrypted under lock and key and marked Confidential and Restricted. Mostly, he’s too embarrassed to admit he wrote that stuff.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 23, 2023
The Orionids by Wyatt Werne is a murder mystery set in space! Set in the not too far distant future where man has several colonies on the moon it is a blend of hard science fiction and a detective novel.
This book is definitely action-packed with enough plot twists to keep you guessing until the end.
If you like sci-fi, murder mysteries, and thrillers, this book has it all. I recommend it to all fans of science fiction.
This book is definitely action-packed with enough plot twists to keep you guessing until the end.
If you like sci-fi, murder mysteries, and thrillers, this book has it all. I recommend it to all fans of science fiction.
September 20, 2023
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and I'm SO thankful I did! I'm not someone who goes for space books, but this was a great (super queer) murder mystery in space.
Everything felt very realistic in that space became a glorified tourist destination and politics still ruled everything. I was so busy enjoying learning and enjoying the dynamics between everyone that I didn't see the ending coming until it was right there.
All in all, I'm very glad I read this book and it's so worth the read :D
Everything felt very realistic in that space became a glorified tourist destination and politics still ruled everything. I was so busy enjoying learning and enjoying the dynamics between everyone that I didn't see the ending coming until it was right there.
All in all, I'm very glad I read this book and it's so worth the read :D
April 3, 2024
The Orionids is a twisty, turny thriller. Kate Devana is the law on the wild west playground of the rich and corrupt - the Moon. She deals with people who think they are untouchable and has to do it in the only way that will get through to them - with a gun.
The plot kept me guessing until the end. This may be the Moon, but the conflicts are all rooted in good old-fashioned human failings - greed and fear. A quick, fun read.
Kate is not as sure of herself in this book, so settling down may have mellowed her somewhat. I would have liked more of her wise-cracking, but because Total Eclipse (the prequel) was written after this one it could be that the writer is getting a clearer idea of his characters. It looks good for the next book.
The plot kept me guessing until the end. This may be the Moon, but the conflicts are all rooted in good old-fashioned human failings - greed and fear. A quick, fun read.
Kate is not as sure of herself in this book, so settling down may have mellowed her somewhat. I would have liked more of her wise-cracking, but because Total Eclipse (the prequel) was written after this one it could be that the writer is getting a clearer idea of his characters. It looks good for the next book.
September 11, 2023
This is a fast pace thiller. Taking place on our first moon station that has became a playground for the rich with Kate the sheriff, there to keep it in control. Werne does an amazing job of creating the world and characters to be the perfect mixture of sci fi and realistic values to give the story familiarity in a far away time and place. And when a murder takes place you join Kate and Jin as they meet new people across the moon to piece together the mystery. This book would be an awesome tv series as well.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 7, 2023
I found this story to be a fun read, combining science fiction, police procedural and thriller genres. The characters are well drawn and mostly sympathetic.
The antagonists are not as fully developed as I would have liked and there is a lot of discussion about the various characters relationship status which while I found tended to interrupt the story flow at times it is a fun story that engaged me from start to finish.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
The antagonists are not as fully developed as I would have liked and there is a lot of discussion about the various characters relationship status which while I found tended to interrupt the story flow at times it is a fun story that engaged me from start to finish.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
September 5, 2023
What a great book! I can see this being picked up to be the next great series on Netflix. I loved the book from beginning to end - the mystery will have you guessing until the end. Can you take everything at face value, or is there more going on? The characters are well-written, the is plot quick, and the dialogue is snappy. Of course, our first base on the moon is the playground of the rich and famous, but it's not boring and with Kate the new Sherriff in charge it wouldn't be the wild West either.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 21, 2023
The Orionids by Wyatt Werne was a satisfying double-edged sword. It was a complex plot-driven crime investigation solidly (and expertly) immersed in a Sci-Fi story. Kate Devana has a murder to solve. The only complication is that Kate is at a uber-rich resort … on the moon. The story is complex, just the way I like them. There are a multitude of characters, just the way I like them. And, no end to potential complications, like all the suspects might get on a rocket and go back to earth at any time. Throw in a rogue space station, the Russian mob, and, what was that, aliens. I mean, what is not to love. Fabulous!!! Five stars!!!
March 4, 2024
Orionids by Wyatt Werne book is engaging and suspenseful, and the characters are well-developed and relatable. The book also has a unique and original setting, which I thought was very well-described. Overall, I thought Orionids was a good book but there were a few sections where the dialogue was tough to follow who was speaking. I would give it a 3 out of 5 star rating. I would recommend it to readers who are looking for their next sci-fi read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 26, 2023
My thanks to Goodreads for an advanced copy of this science fiction mystery set on the Moon.
Space might be the final frontier, but human nature remains the same. Far from the prying eyes of governments and their militarized police forces, people on the outskirts of civilization will always take advantage of this kind of freedom. From not paying for services rendered, to dropping fake bodies during a wonderful wedding under the stars up to murder. The Orionids by Wyatt Werne is a fast paced adventure mystery set on a lunar colony on the Moon, a place with its own politics and ways of handling problems that arise.
Kate Devana is the head of a two person constabulary on the Moon colony. Kate's job is mostly helping the private security forces of the numerous hotels, and nightclubs, and other places, keep the peace, as the Colony is very focused on tourist dollars and in the 2070's, any media is bad media. The colony is soon to be visited by the president of the United States, and with that comes a whole bunch of problems. Advance teams of political hacks, spying on each other, protest groups who attack a wedding for the wealthy, and leaving one guest dead. With pressure coming from all sides, and a bomber blowing up Kate's headquarters, Kate is determined to figure out what the bigger story is, and how it ties in to a old interstellar exploration project from the past.
A very diverse look at Earth's future, with a lot of big ideas. Not just technical ideas, but political and social ideas. The writing is very good, with a nice pace and the feel of well I'll just read one more chapter before dinner/ bed. There is a large cast of characters, in fact Kate disappears in the beginning of the book, but returns with a vengeance, but the characters really enrich the story. There is a lot going on, but Werne, never losses control, and is a very enjoyable read. There is a bit of action, a lot of good character interaction, and a nice little love story. This is the first book for this character, a prequel is coming out soon, and I am very interested in reading that one also.
Recommended for fans of Mack Reynolds or for people who like a good mystery in their science fiction. A start of a very promising series.
Space might be the final frontier, but human nature remains the same. Far from the prying eyes of governments and their militarized police forces, people on the outskirts of civilization will always take advantage of this kind of freedom. From not paying for services rendered, to dropping fake bodies during a wonderful wedding under the stars up to murder. The Orionids by Wyatt Werne is a fast paced adventure mystery set on a lunar colony on the Moon, a place with its own politics and ways of handling problems that arise.
Kate Devana is the head of a two person constabulary on the Moon colony. Kate's job is mostly helping the private security forces of the numerous hotels, and nightclubs, and other places, keep the peace, as the Colony is very focused on tourist dollars and in the 2070's, any media is bad media. The colony is soon to be visited by the president of the United States, and with that comes a whole bunch of problems. Advance teams of political hacks, spying on each other, protest groups who attack a wedding for the wealthy, and leaving one guest dead. With pressure coming from all sides, and a bomber blowing up Kate's headquarters, Kate is determined to figure out what the bigger story is, and how it ties in to a old interstellar exploration project from the past.
A very diverse look at Earth's future, with a lot of big ideas. Not just technical ideas, but political and social ideas. The writing is very good, with a nice pace and the feel of well I'll just read one more chapter before dinner/ bed. There is a large cast of characters, in fact Kate disappears in the beginning of the book, but returns with a vengeance, but the characters really enrich the story. There is a lot going on, but Werne, never losses control, and is a very enjoyable read. There is a bit of action, a lot of good character interaction, and a nice little love story. This is the first book for this character, a prequel is coming out soon, and I am very interested in reading that one also.
Recommended for fans of Mack Reynolds or for people who like a good mystery in their science fiction. A start of a very promising series.
September 8, 2023
This murder mystery set in space is such a good book. It’s an absolutely fun read, taking place in an environment that most of us are interested in, the moon.
The world (moon) building in this book is done very well. You really get a feel for the atmosphere without it getting too technical. This character driven book also features some highly likable, and unlikable characters. I loved reading how Kate and Jin work through all the different clues and draw up the conclusions they do. And I loved reading how even they wanted to have certain characters get their comeuppance.
Definitely a great action packed read. If you love sci fi, murder mysteries and thrillers, this book has it all. Definitely a solid 4 star read!
I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The world (moon) building in this book is done very well. You really get a feel for the atmosphere without it getting too technical. This character driven book also features some highly likable, and unlikable characters. I loved reading how Kate and Jin work through all the different clues and draw up the conclusions they do. And I loved reading how even they wanted to have certain characters get their comeuppance.
Definitely a great action packed read. If you love sci fi, murder mysteries and thrillers, this book has it all. Definitely a solid 4 star read!
I received an advance reader copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 22, 2023
I would definitely recommend this book to a friend. A friend of mine recommended this new author’s book and I’m grateful for their suggestion because I enjoyed this book very much. The first chapter grabs you right away with its tension and anticipation. I love the authors combination of incorporating science and technology with really strong, well developed characters and storyline. I admit I had to look up a few things while reading but I’m the type of reader that likes to learn new things in the books I read. There’s also some really fun Easter eggs he’s thrown in for our enjoyment, which I also love.
The story was action packed but also had a well developed, wide-ranging storyline with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing. It was extensive without being overwhelming or overly complicated and it had some really great surprises and a little teaser at the end. I especially loved the author’s world building of the colony on the moon and the Russian party space station. Very clever.
The author created some very interesting characters, although there were a lot to keep track of but well with it. I thought to myself that Kate, Rae and Jin would be a blast to hang out with IRL. I also really would include the secondary characters, Cris, Leyna and Meloni in this imaginary get together. Hopefully there will be more adventures with Kate Devana and all these characters . I would definitely recommend this book to science fiction and murder mystery lovers but I also think it will appeal to many different types of readers, because it has a great plot, interesting characters and is overall, is well written.
The story was action packed but also had a well developed, wide-ranging storyline with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing. It was extensive without being overwhelming or overly complicated and it had some really great surprises and a little teaser at the end. I especially loved the author’s world building of the colony on the moon and the Russian party space station. Very clever.
The author created some very interesting characters, although there were a lot to keep track of but well with it. I thought to myself that Kate, Rae and Jin would be a blast to hang out with IRL. I also really would include the secondary characters, Cris, Leyna and Meloni in this imaginary get together. Hopefully there will be more adventures with Kate Devana and all these characters . I would definitely recommend this book to science fiction and murder mystery lovers but I also think it will appeal to many different types of readers, because it has a great plot, interesting characters and is overall, is well written.
September 5, 2023
I liked this book! I thought it was a fun read and it was a fast read. I also really liked the slight mystery that was in the book! I would definitely recommend this book to people who like space related books!
August 15, 2024
I purchased this ebook from Kindle because I had won and read book 2 in this saga, and I decided I wanted to read book 1. I thought this one was a bit more confusing due to the amount of characters and different storylines happening, but it was still a fun sci fi adventure and I enjoyed it. Looking forward to a book 3 in the future.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews