Star Cops: Conflict: Suspicion and Sabotage

Star Cops #5.1

by Andrew Smith

It's the near future, and mankind has expanded its presence in space. Maintaining law and order beyond Earth is the responsibility of the International Space Police Force, known colloquially as the Star Cops. Their leader is Commander Nathan Spring.
With Earth’s vital mineral resources running low, and worldwide suspicion over the true purpose of a mission to mine the asteroid belt, international tensions are running high.
A series of suspected sabotage incidents at the Moon’s south pole, and an attempted assassination on Earth, threaten to provoke tensions to the point of war.
Can the officers of the International Space Police Force avert an escalating catastrophe?

Audiobook

First published January 15, 2026

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Andrew^Smith

others:
Andrew2^Smith : Fiction, Young Adult
Andrew3^Smith : GR Author Historical Fiction, Literature
Andrew4^Smith : wrote Dr Who
Andrew5^Smith : Scottish surgeon, explorer, ethnologist and zoologist (1797-1872)
Andrew6^Smith : GR Author, Fiction & Nonfiction
Andrew7^Smith : Literature & Fiction, Horror, Gothic
Andrew8^Smith : Philosophy
Andrew9^Smith : GR Author, Fiction
Andrew10^Smith : GR Author, Fiction
Andrew11^Smith : Children's book illustrator
Andrew12^Smith: GR Author
Andrew13^Smith: Sports
Andrew14^Smith: IT
Andrew15^Smith: South Africa, Zoology
Andrew16^Smith: Veterinary, Canada
Andrew17^Smith: Cities
Andrew18^Smith: Business
Andrew19^Smith: Comics
Andrew20^Smith: Stroke
Andrew21^Smith: GR Author, Children's books
Andrew22^Smith: "Haunted historian" (NZ)

Reviews

[Seagullslost]

Nathan and Devis are on Earth, valuable minerals are running low, but an astroid belt holds the answer. A plan to mine it for the benefit of all is under discussion. As usual not all are on board.

Meanwhile Kenzy goes to the lunar pole; tapping into the ice sheets has been the target of sabotage. Luckily Paul is already under cover.

Alice isn’t present in this, we find out early on that she is bringing a prisoner back from Mars. On Earth Nathan and Devis meet Alexandra Myers, and there’s a nice bit of drama as Nathan follows someone and he gets into a perilous situation. The action sequences do suffer being on audio, but it's quite enthralling, bringing back memories and excitment I felt staying up late because I couldn't put my book down.

The Kenzy and Paul strand has its moments too, and it all comes together when Nathan, Devis and as it happens Alexandra return to the Moon.

Its enjoyable. The end does set things up for the series and resolves an issue that’s been hanging around for a while. It's intriguing as it's not quite how you think, and brings in the conflict element.

Flash lights - used again in a British production - it's called a torch. It seems Big Finish are making audios solely for the US market, which I’m not. So as much as I've enjoyed the audios it may be some time before I buy the next series if at all.