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Adventures of a Jump Space Accountant #8
A Free Trader
Free Trades for Everyone!
Successful traders Jake and Nadine are ready for some well-deserved relaxation when they return to Delta. But the shocking news of Dashi’s death throws them both into turmoil. Who killed Dashi? How? Why? And most importantly, how are they going to punish them? Does Jake have the smarts to not only find the killer, but also punish them in a well deserved Jake fashion? And what about Nadine’s feelings – she keeps those sharp knives for a reason.
Jake and friends are back in book 8 in the adventures of a Jump space Accountant. If you like strategy over tactics, and thought before action, this series is for you.
Successful traders Jake and Nadine are ready for some well-deserved relaxation when they return to Delta. But the shocking news of Dashi’s death throws them both into turmoil. Who killed Dashi? How? Why? And most importantly, how are they going to punish them? Does Jake have the smarts to not only find the killer, but also punish them in a well deserved Jake fashion? And what about Nadine’s feelings – she keeps those sharp knives for a reason.
Jake and friends are back in book 8 in the adventures of a Jump space Accountant. If you like strategy over tactics, and thought before action, this series is for you.
313 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 21, 2025
62 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
Andrew Moriarty
25 books283 followersAndrew Moriarty has been reading science fiction his whole life, and he always wondered about the stories he read. How did they ever pay the mortgage for that space ship? Why doesn’t it ever need to be refueled? What would happen if it broke, but the parts were backordered for weeks? And why doesn’t anybody ever have to charge sales tax? Despairing on finding the answers to these questions, he decided to write a book about how space ships would function in the real world. Ships need fuel, fuel costs money, and the accountants run everything.
He was born in Canada, and has lived in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Germany, and Maastricht. Previously he worked as a telephone newspaper subscriptions salesman, a pizza delivery driver, wedding disc jockey, and technology trainer. Unfortunately, he also spent a great deal of time in the IT industry, designing networks and configuring routers and switches. Along the way, he picked up an ex-spy with a predilection for French Champagne, and a whippet with a murderous possessiveness for tennis balls. They live together in Brooklyn.
He was born in Canada, and has lived in Toronto, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Germany, and Maastricht. Previously he worked as a telephone newspaper subscriptions salesman, a pizza delivery driver, wedding disc jockey, and technology trainer. Unfortunately, he also spent a great deal of time in the IT industry, designing networks and configuring routers and switches. Along the way, he picked up an ex-spy with a predilection for French Champagne, and a whippet with a murderous possessiveness for tennis balls. They live together in Brooklyn.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 11, 2025
I got an advance copy of A Free Trader (Jake Stewart book 8), and it is a really fun read - the best book of the series! Just a great, well paced sci-fi action yarn with well timed humor. I especially enjoyed Andrew Moriarty’s signature snarky dialog. His characters continued to evolve. You could see how the book would likely end, but there were some interesting and unexpected twists and turns along the way. I highly recommend!
December 27, 2025
I’m a beta reader so I get early access. Jake in his usual fashion is plying a long game. Here’s the deal Great and improved world building. The characters keep growing except of course the dead, I didn’t see that coming. A coherent explanation of arbritage. But I don’t think Jake gets shot. You’d think it was boring. Not so. This my be the best book in this series
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December 21, 2025
Although this is the 8th book in the series I love that each of the books are complete stand alone reads. The author continues to create new and exciting adventures for different characters in the crew. I have constantly been amazed by the situations that pop up and the direction that leads us to explore. The world building that the author employs has put me right in the middle of the action that is often breathtaking and always entertaining. I did receive an advance copy for an honest review and I honestly really enjoyed it.
February 4, 2026
A book about political and economic maneuvering. Jake and the rest of the living characters are back. Several dead characters are there also in the form of a mystery. The action keeps going along. This book does have resolutions to plot elements in the end. This could be the end of the series or it could be the last of the old and what comes next takes on a new tone. Neat Series! Start this series at the beginning not with this book.
January 20, 2026
Well made story!
So room for sequel or side plots with new characters like staw whars or staw thwek did. Probably room for a "Below Decks" animation or three also.
So room for sequel or side plots with new characters like staw whars or staw thwek did. Probably room for a "Below Decks" animation or three also.
January 10, 2026
Full disclosure, I was a beta reader for A Free Trader and provided feedback on it. That said, I read the final version and here’s my independent thought on it.
I’m going to open by saying I’m a big fan of Mr. Moriarty's books. Been there since the early days of Jake and one of my favorite authors (I don’t rank them past saying a must read for me). Because of that I had to get this one because Jake is back in town (okay, in his home solar system) and Nadine is with him! This is a fun pairing since Jake has a great mind and out thinks the people around him (I’d say many people in this solar system aren’t the sharpest but then we all have our off days, except Jake) and Nadine is, well an open live wire who believes in direct action. They’re back and have learned that the system has been thru a little chaos (sorry, no spoiler here. Read the previous book in the series to fully understand).
What makes this and the others in the series so great is the fast paced action with an almost free for all happening. Jake is the mastermind who’s three steps ahead and that’s what makes this book and the series fun! He assess the environment and determines the best path while things swirl around. As things evolve we see how things work out.
Rating wise, Five Stars! Fun, lively, with some great thought into the story. Something I like is Mr. Moriarty breathes life into a few of the tertiary characters (will they step up to secondary in future stores?!?) which to me means the writer is prepared to develop their story more than many. Read it! You’ll love it and if you haven’t read the rest in the series you will.
I’m going to open by saying I’m a big fan of Mr. Moriarty's books. Been there since the early days of Jake and one of my favorite authors (I don’t rank them past saying a must read for me). Because of that I had to get this one because Jake is back in town (okay, in his home solar system) and Nadine is with him! This is a fun pairing since Jake has a great mind and out thinks the people around him (I’d say many people in this solar system aren’t the sharpest but then we all have our off days, except Jake) and Nadine is, well an open live wire who believes in direct action. They’re back and have learned that the system has been thru a little chaos (sorry, no spoiler here. Read the previous book in the series to fully understand).
What makes this and the others in the series so great is the fast paced action with an almost free for all happening. Jake is the mastermind who’s three steps ahead and that’s what makes this book and the series fun! He assess the environment and determines the best path while things swirl around. As things evolve we see how things work out.
Rating wise, Five Stars! Fun, lively, with some great thought into the story. Something I like is Mr. Moriarty breathes life into a few of the tertiary characters (will they step up to secondary in future stores?!?) which to me means the writer is prepared to develop their story more than many. Read it! You’ll love it and if you haven’t read the rest in the series you will.
January 17, 2026
Dashi is dead. Jake will make his killer pay, but first, he and Nadine must do some fancy trading. Should we worry that Nadine is strutting around the good ship Accounting Error in an eyepatch with a skull and crossbones? This series is always pulpy fun.
December 26, 2025
Brilliant, Jake and Nadine at their finest!
I do not know if this is the end of Jake and Nadine’s story but if so, it’s a perfect conclusion. Right up to the very last paragraph. Jake and Nadine have matured over the last 7 books, but they are still true to their characters. Never underestimate a great accountant. Thank you Andrew, Free Trades forever!
I do not know if this is the end of Jake and Nadine’s story but if so, it’s a perfect conclusion. Right up to the very last paragraph. Jake and Nadine have matured over the last 7 books, but they are still true to their characters. Never underestimate a great accountant. Thank you Andrew, Free Trades forever!
December 22, 2025
I received this book as an ARC for review purposes.
This book was a barn burner. Definitely one of the more exciting in the series. They’re all great, but this one was on another level, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Andrew Moriaty can definitely write a gritty street-level space opera like the best of them. The Jump Space Accountant series it what got me into reading these kinds of books.
This one portrays a darker tone than the with a real emphasis on revenge that is truly appreciated.
Buy this book and enjoy.
This book was a barn burner. Definitely one of the more exciting in the series. They’re all great, but this one was on another level, and I thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. Andrew Moriaty can definitely write a gritty street-level space opera like the best of them. The Jump Space Accountant series it what got me into reading these kinds of books.
This one portrays a darker tone than the with a real emphasis on revenge that is truly appreciated.
Buy this book and enjoy.
December 21, 2025
A long-awaited story in Adventures of a Jump Space Accountant. (I received an ARC copy) Jake Stewart is back! And he, along with Nadine are traveling through space. Jake is making his trades and Nadine is keeping her knives sharpened. There are some surprises from beginning to end that I won’t share. But prepare to be shocked. And there’s the usual Jake strategies that I love so much. A really good story in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Was sent an 'Advanced Reader Copy'.
I am a big fan of the "Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire" Usually 5* but usually not so much a fan of the "Jump Space Accountant", usually 4*.
Book 8 is a noticeable improvement in my eyes, so many of the threads that have been hanging in previous books start to come together and make more sense and Jakes scheming reaches a whole new level as this book progresses.
Nadine is still wanting to shoot first and ask questions later and Jake has his work cut out to not do so, until he has asked the questions.
If you have read enough of the authors books previously, you can see where this one is going about half way through, but its enjoyable watching it happen and how Jakes plans coalesce into his final plot.
The last 2 or 3 sentences of the book make for an interesting conclusion and opens the door for an interesting book 9
One thing I would ask for and it is something many authors need to consider, is a synopsis of previous book, to remind us where we actually are in the storyline. Its 2yrs since book 7 and it took me a number of chapters to get the earlier story straight and the new story to make more sense.
I am a big fan of the "Decline and Fall of the Galactic Empire" Usually 5* but usually not so much a fan of the "Jump Space Accountant", usually 4*.
Book 8 is a noticeable improvement in my eyes, so many of the threads that have been hanging in previous books start to come together and make more sense and Jakes scheming reaches a whole new level as this book progresses.
Nadine is still wanting to shoot first and ask questions later and Jake has his work cut out to not do so, until he has asked the questions.
If you have read enough of the authors books previously, you can see where this one is going about half way through, but its enjoyable watching it happen and how Jakes plans coalesce into his final plot.
The last 2 or 3 sentences of the book make for an interesting conclusion and opens the door for an interesting book 9
One thing I would ask for and it is something many authors need to consider, is a synopsis of previous book, to remind us where we actually are in the storyline. Its 2yrs since book 7 and it took me a number of chapters to get the earlier story straight and the new story to make more sense.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Jake and Nadine return from their trip to find Dashi, the Admiral and Marrianne dead. Who did it? Because someone needs to pay. Nadine and Jake have very different ideas of how that should be done. Nadine is in favour of the "stab first" ask questions later planning technique, where Jake prefers to ask lots of questions first and then make them pay... financially. Their team dynamic evolves as they both seek information and justice in their own unique ways.
As always, the dialogue is entertaining and the adventure is fast paced. Plots layer on plots resulting in a twisted, but satisfying, conclusion.
As always, the dialogue is entertaining and the adventure is fast paced. Plots layer on plots resulting in a twisted, but satisfying, conclusion.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews