Search and Recovery

Retrieval Artist #11

by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Book Four of the Anniversary Day Saga

Amid the ruin, heroes emerge from the unlikeliest places...

The Anniversary Day bombings devastated the Moon, killing thousands. While survivors search for missing loved ones and the rich and powerful set plans in motion to capitalize on the Moon’s misfortune, one ruthless man vows to uncover those responsible for the attacks on the Moon.

Luc Deshin, the most feared man in Armstrong, knows all too well the bombings could have killed the wife and son he loves more than life itself. To protect his family, Deshin immerses himself in a criminal network he fought long and hard to leave behind.
Deshin doesn’t scare easily, but what he finds in the black market underbelly of the Moon will chill him to the bone.

Genres: Science Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction, Crime

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2014

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

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant back stories to the Anniversary Day attacks!

[Soo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notes:

The POV did not add much to the overall story. It felt more like a brainstorming session that was fleshed out than a complete story that really added to the overall plot.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm quite enjoying this and the previous Miles Flint-free book. Solid installment, I've already pre-ordered the next book.

[Marion Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This latest installment in the Retrieval Artist Series by Kristine Kathryn Rusch focuses on different characters outside of the main protagonists, Retrieval Artist Miles Flint and the Moon’s Chief Security Officer, Noelle DeRicci.

In her author’s note, Rusch writes that Search & Recovery is actually written out of order. The events of this novel takes place after Anniversary Day, the first book in the Anniversary Day Saga but was published as the fourth book in the saga. She goes on to explain why the rest of the books in the series after Blowback, the second book in the Anniversary Day Saga, were released in a TV episode style similar to what you see on Netflix or Amazon.

I can respect an author’s creativity and whatever it takes writing or publishing wise to make this series works has truly been an enjoyable reading experience for me. I would recommend to start with Anniversary Day and read this saga as it currently published and you will be able to connect all various threads together.

Luc Deshin, the master criminal from the Moon’s colony Armstrong, is the main character in Search and Recovery. The Anniversary Day bombings on the moon hit to close to home and he has decided to use his influence, wealth, and skill to find out what really happened on the fateful day of those bombings. What he discovers and gets immersed into will reveal a lot more than he bargained for.

The story reveals a couple of new characters, Berhane Magalhares and Donal O’Bradaligh, that adds more intrigue into helping solve the mystery of who committed those Anniversary Day Bombings. One of Rusch’s strengths as a storyteller is writing fully fleshed and multi-dimensional characters throughout this series. Even though, Search and Recovery will seem like a filler novel in order to tie loose ends together, I’ve learned about more characters outside of Flint and DeRicci that will have a signficant role in finding out about the bombings.

Search and Recovery is another solid entry in the Retrieval Artist Series. It is recommended reading in order to get one step closer in finding out who is responsible for those Anniversary Day bombings.

[Alain Normand · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the Retrieval Artist series but I was disappointed with this entry. I understand that the author is preparing us for some of the intersecting stories that will lead to the conclusion but this book brought in many new characters or characters that had very minor roles in previous books, making it a bit difficult to follow. In addition, none of the stories had any kind of closure, lots of hanging threads in all sorts of directions. I will read the next one because I want to see where the whole story is going but I hope that we can at least have some significant developments. Many of the chapters in this book could have been a simple back story recap in a future book without dragging the story so much.

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this is book for in the Anniversary Day 8 book digression from the retrieval artist series. This is not a stand alone novel in any way. It follows three minor characters from previous books and plants the initial seed story of four additional characters. This story is so complex that the 8 "books" are probably warranted but it is really more like one very long complex novel following dozens of character and 50 years. In short, it is not for everyone but it is apparently for me.

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

More small parts in the larger story with no feeling of closure (for the book, I know the overall story is much longer). I did not really connect with the people or the arcs in this book, and after two "Retrieval Artist Universe" story books, I find I really miss the familiar regular characters.

[John Wegener · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a bit of a fill in the gaps read. It didn't seem to have any real purpose other than progressing the storylines of several characters who might become significant in later books. Still a good read.

[Al Menaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always well written, holds my interest. But almost nothing happens in this novel, a slew of stories about folks searching for stuff.

[Jean Hontz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as some of the other books in the series, but still pushing the plot forward.

[Charl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues the Anniversary Crisis storyline, fills in some background info.

[Michal · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars
I love the world and characters but author is repetitive besides including backstory and plot points from the previous books which any reader/fan will have already got/remember(padding!?no need! I hope not!) and it caused to me to skim. Which means pacing is way off, too. And that's a bummer.
I don't feel like there needs to be so many view point characters. I see where this is going, but I feel like there had to be a way to streamline this somewhat. OR I'm just impatient!
It's a very interesting story, the themes are important to me, and I just wish I could get into the story more, instead of being pulled out all the time by those above digressions .

[Ed Dragon · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a Mystery novel, not enough world building. Interesting characters and their lives on Moon and on the Earth.

[Gregoire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un peu déçu : trop court et de nouvelles questions mais pas de réponses ... J'aime toujours la façon que l'auteur a d'élargir notre vision par de brèves descriptions qui titillent l'imaginaire On croise de nouvelles espèces d'ET et on enrichie notre cartographie de son monde lunaire
Ce tome là m'a cependant laissé sur ma faim : certes on retrouve plus en profondeur certains personnages qui auront on s'en doute, un rôle à jouer dans le prochain tome mais c'est tout : pas d'intrigues, pas d'actions réelles, juste une "atmosphère" Maintenant, faut attendre mars !!! gnarfff

A little disappointed: this story is too short , with new questions but no answers ... I still love the way RUSCH expand our vision by brief descriptions that titillate the imagination, new species and enhance her lunar world
This volume, however, left me on my hunger: of course some of the characters are pictured in more details They will certainly have a role to play in the next book but that's it: no plot, no real action, just an "atmosphere" Now I must wait until March !!! gnarfff

[Karen A. Wyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the previous book in this series, A Murder of Clones, this book doesn't feature Miles Flint, but after the previous book, I had confidence -- which proved justified -- that I wouldn't greatly miss him. I enjoyed getting a closer look at several of the heretofore-minor characters, especially former (and still partial) underworld figure Luc Deshin. For anyone reading the Anniversary Day saga, which is (for me, so far) well worth reading, I recommend reading this book in series order.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

A furthering of the story of destroyed domes and the people whose lives are destroyed as well. The heroine, Behane, goes about reconstructing her life after the first incident of dome destruction, only to have to begin again with the second incident. This book is mostly about her, altho there are other characters and side plots. It is a connecting novel and will lead to others planned for the series. I will look forward to Miles Flint's reappearance.

[Angie Boyter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, but even more than any of the others in the "Saga" so far, it is simply a book-length part of the series, consisting of very well-done vignettes about the experiences in the aftermath of Anniversary Day of some characters who are in the main thread.
Most DEFINITELY not a book to stand alone, but it is a book to make me want to continue to read the series!

[Mickey Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author has the habit of introducing new characters past the halfway point in the book. I find this takes away from the flow of the plot. This book is interesting, although the descriptions could be more colorful.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This hardly seemed like a complete novel. I'm not sure why it couldn't have been included in a previous real novel. Or something called Necessary Background. As is, it's woefully incomplete. And not very long either.

[Ryan Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this next book in the Anniversary Day Saga! The books take place at different times, moving back before and during Anniversary Day with different characters. The next will bring it back to the 'present' with Flint and the gang after Anniversary Day.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm sure all these micro stories will help in the overall story arc, but by itself, it's a bit of a jumbled mess. Worth reading, and I'm looking forward to seeing how everything ties together. Hopefully won't have to wait too long until I can get my hands on the next book in the saga.

[Jill Carroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weakest volume in the series so far. Quite short, and less story arc than usual.

[Samuel Lubell · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't see the point of the last book and this one was even worse. Basically, it was getting some of the characters in place for the next book.

[Daniel Govar · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite in the series :/ This one seemed to lack its own voice.

[Carly Kirk · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good...

There's so much info in these books it's hard to keep up with it all, but it's definitely worth it! I'm so looking forward to seeing where the story is going

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

highly recommend.

[Rain · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confusing and disappointing. Too many side-trips, it would have been better to include just a few of these vignettes in earlier novels.