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Mars One
Not yet published
Expected 23 Apr 26ONE SMALL STEP. ONE FATAL MISTAKE.
On the barren plains of the Kazakh Steppe, Alyssa Wright stands on the brink of the most ambitious space flight in a one-way mission to Mars. But when disaster strikes, she begins to uncover a conspiracy that threatens her life - and the lives of everyone on board.
In Hong Kong, a coder vanishes from his home, leaving nothing behind but a cryptic warning and his cat. Pursued by violent forces, his sister finds herself on the run, in possession of the one thing capable of saving him.
Amidst a dark vacuum of nothingness, as the Argo spaceship hurtles toward Mars, the crew realise that someone is sabotaging the mission from the inside. Every second brings them closer to catastrophe, and time is running out.
Across Earth and space, three stories collide in a breathless thriller that what is the price of progress, and who must pay it?
On the barren plains of the Kazakh Steppe, Alyssa Wright stands on the brink of the most ambitious space flight in a one-way mission to Mars. But when disaster strikes, she begins to uncover a conspiracy that threatens her life - and the lives of everyone on board.
In Hong Kong, a coder vanishes from his home, leaving nothing behind but a cryptic warning and his cat. Pursued by violent forces, his sister finds herself on the run, in possession of the one thing capable of saving him.
Amidst a dark vacuum of nothingness, as the Argo spaceship hurtles toward Mars, the crew realise that someone is sabotaging the mission from the inside. Every second brings them closer to catastrophe, and time is running out.
Across Earth and space, three stories collide in a breathless thriller that what is the price of progress, and who must pay it?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication April 23, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 3, 2026
I don’t usually give a full five stars for any book but I really enjoyed this well written sci-fi thriller. The story involved many questions about space flight, is going to Mars worth the risk, worth the insane amounts of money involved? It questions the ethics and priorities of multi billionaires (Musk?) and the corruption and amorality of the media. It involves environmental questions and the legality of some eco protesters. Despite all this it is not a novel that preaches or tries to persuade the reader but we are left to make up our own minds as these issues are skilfully woven into the story.
This is an exciting read. There’s Alyssa Wright, the protagonist who is about to take command of Mars One, one of the 6 astronauts about to make history by establishing a colony on Mars. Of course nothing goes smoothly and after an inexplicable accident Alyssa is taken off the crew to be replaced by a woman Ana, beautiful and seemingly wholly unsuited for the mission. Henceforward Alyssa becomes more and more suspicious. Is Ana a plant to sabotage the mission? If so why? Or is she just there as ‘eye candy’ as the whole mission will be broadcast live to the world, in exchange for the funding needed for the whole private enterprise.
Then in parallel there’s Kai, a coder in Hong Kong who goes missing and leaves instructions for his sister, Jia, to deliver a piece of code he’s hidden in an ingenious way, to someone who can read the content. Nothing about this is straight forward and why is Jia being persued by several groups of people seemingly willing to kill to get hold of this code?
The story unfolds from several individual points of view which, to my surprise, works really well. As a reader I felt I was getting the inside story and that made me fully engaged as the various strands unfolded. All the characters in the story are well rounded, even the characterisation of the cat, who plays an important role. I suspect the author herself has a cat! The science and scenes aboard the spaceship are written wholly realistically to my mind (I am not a scientist or technically minded) and has obviously done her research.
I recommend this book to readers who like a well-written, exciting thriller with added sci-fi which seems very contemporary.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my kindle. This is my honest review after a full read of the book.
This is an exciting read. There’s Alyssa Wright, the protagonist who is about to take command of Mars One, one of the 6 astronauts about to make history by establishing a colony on Mars. Of course nothing goes smoothly and after an inexplicable accident Alyssa is taken off the crew to be replaced by a woman Ana, beautiful and seemingly wholly unsuited for the mission. Henceforward Alyssa becomes more and more suspicious. Is Ana a plant to sabotage the mission? If so why? Or is she just there as ‘eye candy’ as the whole mission will be broadcast live to the world, in exchange for the funding needed for the whole private enterprise.
Then in parallel there’s Kai, a coder in Hong Kong who goes missing and leaves instructions for his sister, Jia, to deliver a piece of code he’s hidden in an ingenious way, to someone who can read the content. Nothing about this is straight forward and why is Jia being persued by several groups of people seemingly willing to kill to get hold of this code?
The story unfolds from several individual points of view which, to my surprise, works really well. As a reader I felt I was getting the inside story and that made me fully engaged as the various strands unfolded. All the characters in the story are well rounded, even the characterisation of the cat, who plays an important role. I suspect the author herself has a cat! The science and scenes aboard the spaceship are written wholly realistically to my mind (I am not a scientist or technically minded) and has obviously done her research.
I recommend this book to readers who like a well-written, exciting thriller with added sci-fi which seems very contemporary.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my kindle. This is my honest review after a full read of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love reading standalone sci-fi and Mars One had a compelling blurb, so I was excited to get started.
An ambitious mission to Mars funded by a TV company who seem to thrive on the drama – what could possibly go wrong?
Mars One was actually very different from what I assumed it would be – it’s less of a sci-fi and more of a thriller. I saw a comparison to a Dan Brown book in another review, and I think this is quite accurate. The narrative splits between Alyssa - a comms expert and commander of the mission, Jia – a woman on the hunt for her missing coder brother who has disappeared without a trace and Rubio – an astronaut on the mission with a secret. The chapters alternate but we do stay with one perspective for a few chapters if the action warrants it, which I think is a great way to do this technique, so we don’t feel like we are rushing over chapters to get back to an interesting bit!
The story is very action packed and there is a certain amount that you have to suspend your disbelief for. It did have me hooked though and I finished it in just a few sittings. I was initially excited about the tv show element of the story, but this did take a bit of a step back to a more political storyline. I enjoyed Rubio’s perspective which deals with addiction and even though he was in space, his point of view felt the most realistic of the three. Possibly because of the action-packed nature of the other narrators, I did feel like some of his storyline felt repetitive and dragged in places, but the payoff was worth it. The conclusion may divide readers as it was deliberately left very open and ambiguous. I think a few more chapters would have been appreciated though, as it did feel like it ended rather abruptly.
Overall, Mars One is more a thriller than a straight sci-fi, but it’s a gripping, action-packed and fast paced read. Thank you to NetGalley & Random House UK – Transworld Publishers – Bantam for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
An ambitious mission to Mars funded by a TV company who seem to thrive on the drama – what could possibly go wrong?
Mars One was actually very different from what I assumed it would be – it’s less of a sci-fi and more of a thriller. I saw a comparison to a Dan Brown book in another review, and I think this is quite accurate. The narrative splits between Alyssa - a comms expert and commander of the mission, Jia – a woman on the hunt for her missing coder brother who has disappeared without a trace and Rubio – an astronaut on the mission with a secret. The chapters alternate but we do stay with one perspective for a few chapters if the action warrants it, which I think is a great way to do this technique, so we don’t feel like we are rushing over chapters to get back to an interesting bit!
The story is very action packed and there is a certain amount that you have to suspend your disbelief for. It did have me hooked though and I finished it in just a few sittings. I was initially excited about the tv show element of the story, but this did take a bit of a step back to a more political storyline. I enjoyed Rubio’s perspective which deals with addiction and even though he was in space, his point of view felt the most realistic of the three. Possibly because of the action-packed nature of the other narrators, I did feel like some of his storyline felt repetitive and dragged in places, but the payoff was worth it. The conclusion may divide readers as it was deliberately left very open and ambiguous. I think a few more chapters would have been appreciated though, as it did feel like it ended rather abruptly.
Overall, Mars One is more a thriller than a straight sci-fi, but it’s a gripping, action-packed and fast paced read. Thank you to NetGalley & Random House UK – Transworld Publishers – Bantam for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out Kindig Blog
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The world is dying, and instead of trying to fix it, the rich are taking the first step in an exodus to a new planet: sending the first humans to colonise Mars. Alyssa Wright, commander of the mission, stands ready to lead her crew of six to the lonely red planet. Funded by a millionaire, things start to go wrong when more power over the project is given to a Production company, which is recording everything and broadcasting it live.
A young woman in Hong Kong has returned home to find her brother is gone, blood left in his room, and his computers gone too. She begins looking into his disappearance, but that puts her in the crosshairs of Homeland Security, though she has no idea why. After fleeing the country, she has to look for a diner in America, hoping to find a coder.
On the Argo, the Ship going to Mars, there are cameras recording and broadcasting all the time, but things still seem to be going wrong. Glitches, small acts of personal sabotage, are there greater threats aboard trying to stop the ship?
How are all three connected? And what does it mean for humanity and the crew in the deep black os space?
This was a great book to read, one that is so relevant to today's events.
A young woman in Hong Kong has returned home to find her brother is gone, blood left in his room, and his computers gone too. She begins looking into his disappearance, but that puts her in the crosshairs of Homeland Security, though she has no idea why. After fleeing the country, she has to look for a diner in America, hoping to find a coder.
On the Argo, the Ship going to Mars, there are cameras recording and broadcasting all the time, but things still seem to be going wrong. Glitches, small acts of personal sabotage, are there greater threats aboard trying to stop the ship?
How are all three connected? And what does it mean for humanity and the crew in the deep black os space?
This was a great book to read, one that is so relevant to today's events.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Not a classic sci fi set in the far future with bold ideas, rather it is about a planned trip to Mars to establish a small outpost in the near future and all the political machinations that go with such a grand project that is being privately funded.
The book starts with two distinct threads that eventually come together. In Hong Kong we have Jia and her brother Kai living in the same house but having rather different lives and in Kazakhstan Alyssa the very driven commander of the impending mission to Mars trying to make up for mishaps in the past.
It was an interesting idea having the space mission set in the near future with the conflict between the safety at all costs approach to NASA style space flight and the intrusive needs of the streaming companies who are partly funding the mission. To reinforce the fact that the book is set in the very near future ,Environmental activists also play a big part in influencing events.
The escapades of Jia escaping her pursuers is a bit far fetched as are the later ones when the threads of the story come together.
However if the novel is viewed mainly as an easy to read thriller then it won’t disappoint scifi diehards too much.
The book starts with two distinct threads that eventually come together. In Hong Kong we have Jia and her brother Kai living in the same house but having rather different lives and in Kazakhstan Alyssa the very driven commander of the impending mission to Mars trying to make up for mishaps in the past.
It was an interesting idea having the space mission set in the near future with the conflict between the safety at all costs approach to NASA style space flight and the intrusive needs of the streaming companies who are partly funding the mission. To reinforce the fact that the book is set in the very near future ,Environmental activists also play a big part in influencing events.
The escapades of Jia escaping her pursuers is a bit far fetched as are the later ones when the threads of the story come together.
However if the novel is viewed mainly as an easy to read thriller then it won’t disappoint scifi diehards too much.
January 14, 2026
This is a ripping good space Odyssey it follows a story of Alyssa who was supposed to be in the five Man crew travelling from earth to Mars on the first ever manned expedition to Mars. Unfortunately, she has an accident in the last stages of training and therefore has to stay on Earth and watch from the control tower.
Things seem to be going wrong with the Mars expedition from the beginning and it becomes clear that there are further issues as the story progresses. We meet the sister of a computer coda who has discovered abnormal coding within the Mars module and has hidden his findings on a chip which is placed inside his pet cat. We follow her as she travels to America in attempt to influence the outcome of the space expedition.
There’s a little bit of suspension of disbelief that you have to go to through to enjoy this book the kill switch in the cat for example is so far-fetched that I find it hard to believe it nevertheless I’m enjoying the book so much that I’ll forgive it
This is a fast paced exciting thriller of a novel. The space element adds novelty to what is effectively a journey story.
The author has clear flowing writing style. This is an easy book to read and I enjoyed being immersed in it for a few days.
I can’t help but think that this would make a great film and I wonder if the film nights will be taken up. I can see it appearing on my screens in due course.
I’d recommend this novel for lovers off fast paced thrillers. The sci-fi element is additional to the main thriller elements and adds novelty.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an unbiased review
The book is published in the UK on the 23rd of April 2026 by random house UK Transworld publishers
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com after publication will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones online
Things seem to be going wrong with the Mars expedition from the beginning and it becomes clear that there are further issues as the story progresses. We meet the sister of a computer coda who has discovered abnormal coding within the Mars module and has hidden his findings on a chip which is placed inside his pet cat. We follow her as she travels to America in attempt to influence the outcome of the space expedition.
There’s a little bit of suspension of disbelief that you have to go to through to enjoy this book the kill switch in the cat for example is so far-fetched that I find it hard to believe it nevertheless I’m enjoying the book so much that I’ll forgive it
This is a fast paced exciting thriller of a novel. The space element adds novelty to what is effectively a journey story.
The author has clear flowing writing style. This is an easy book to read and I enjoyed being immersed in it for a few days.
I can’t help but think that this would make a great film and I wonder if the film nights will be taken up. I can see it appearing on my screens in due course.
I’d recommend this novel for lovers off fast paced thrillers. The sci-fi element is additional to the main thriller elements and adds novelty.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an unbiased review
The book is published in the UK on the 23rd of April 2026 by random house UK Transworld publishers
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com after publication will also appear on Amazon and Waterstones online
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Quite simply, I loved it. My perfect space story. A terrific start that captures the tension and drama while introducing us to our main character Alyssa.
What follows is the story of Mars One and expedition of the first six astronauts to attempt to get to Mars and establish a colony. Corporate greed, ridiculous media coverage, treachery, environmentalism, mistrust, lies and lots of sci fi that give me a story that I tore through. I’ll be waiting for a TV series adaptation of this and since the author has experience in this area, I hope it follows soon.
What follows is the story of Mars One and expedition of the first six astronauts to attempt to get to Mars and establish a colony. Corporate greed, ridiculous media coverage, treachery, environmentalism, mistrust, lies and lots of sci fi that give me a story that I tore through. I’ll be waiting for a TV series adaptation of this and since the author has experience in this area, I hope it follows soon.
December 28, 2025
The premise is interesting and some of the political and philosophical arguments - the power of the media, the priorities of the billionaire class, the eco crisis - do strike an echo. But, and it’s a large BUT, the storyline is weak.
I was expecting sci-fi but instead was treated to a thriller with leaps of location and logic akin to the worst excesses of Dan Brown. The passages from onboard Mars One, with a possible saboteur on board, are by far the more interesting and entertaining.
The pursuit on land to save the mission goes from the unlikely to the ridiculous - a twin engine private aeroplane flying illegally from the US to Kazakhstan - and undermines any tension. Even the uncovering of the saboteur on board Mars One is overblown.
If the author could rein in some of the excesses, there may be some potential.
(I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review)
I was expecting sci-fi but instead was treated to a thriller with leaps of location and logic akin to the worst excesses of Dan Brown. The passages from onboard Mars One, with a possible saboteur on board, are by far the more interesting and entertaining.
The pursuit on land to save the mission goes from the unlikely to the ridiculous - a twin engine private aeroplane flying illegally from the US to Kazakhstan - and undermines any tension. Even the uncovering of the saboteur on board Mars One is overblown.
If the author could rein in some of the excesses, there may be some potential.
(I was given an advance copy in exchange for an honest review)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An enjoyable thriller with some intriguing characters and a clever dual story that holds the attention.
A trip to Mars, politics, sabotage, mystery, all elements here that are managed well by the author and very well written.
Should do very well. An addictive story that you sink into.
A trip to Mars, politics, sabotage, mystery, all elements here that are managed well by the author and very well written.
Should do very well. An addictive story that you sink into.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews