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Harriet Walsh #2
Alpha Minor
What if your new recruit was lying about their real identity?The Peace Force's newest trainee, Alice, is trouble with a capital T.From disobeying orders to handling unauthorised cases, nothing is off-limits to the headstrong teenager.Now, her shady past has caught up with her.A ruthless killer is hunting her down, and Harriet Walsh is the only thing standing between Alice and a swift death.Which wouldn't be so bad, except they also have a tricky case to solve...
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2018
56 people are currently reading
33 people want to read
About the author
Simon Haynes
85 books172 followersSimon Haynes is the author of the Hal Spacejock, Harriet Walsh and Hal Junior (MG) series. He divides his time between writing fiction and computer software, with the occasional bike ride thrown in for a laugh.
Simon lives in Perth, Western Australia.
Simon lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 29, 2018
Science fiction is beautiful in how many times you can see something familiar, but it is fresh and new. This was the case when I got to read Simon Hayne’s soon to be released Alpha Minor, the second book in his new Harriet Walsh series.
If you have not had the chance to read the first, I promise you I won’t give away anything in this blog post. Harriet Walsh is a down on her luck, young woman who needs a change of fortune which comes in the strange form of a dinner menu.
Harriet is a down to earth girl who knows the limits of her abilities but is willing to test every bound when the planet Dismolle needs her.
Alpha minor picks up with the continuing adventures of Harriet and some new additions that are now serving with her in the Peace Force. Though the retirement planet is pretty much devoid of crime, there I still enough for the strange team to get themselves into.
What I loved the most about this adventure is that Simon Haynes has shown that he can handle the wacky humor of Hal Spacejock but also bring a more sophisticated, subtle tone to the story. The Harriet Walsh series is not, in essence, a sci-fi comedy like his other series but more an adventure with humorous compatriots (like a talking car named Steve) that brings in the laughs that we love.
I loved Harriet from her first appearance in Hal Spacejock #4: No Free Lunch, and it felt like a long lost friend when you get to read her origin story in Harriet Walsh #1: Peace Force. I became attached to Harriet in Alpha Minor as we not only got to see her character as a police officer but also how she handles mature decisions that could affect those around her.
This series is excellent and I am glad that I had had the opportunity to read the book before it came out and to talk to Mister Simon Haynes about his creations. If you love science fiction and are looking for something new, I recommend Alpha Minor. A long fan of Hal Spacejock and not sure? Buy it! The series has the same feel as the original series, and you will not be disappointed. I wasn’t!
If you have not had the chance to read the first, I promise you I won’t give away anything in this blog post. Harriet Walsh is a down on her luck, young woman who needs a change of fortune which comes in the strange form of a dinner menu.
Harriet is a down to earth girl who knows the limits of her abilities but is willing to test every bound when the planet Dismolle needs her.
Alpha minor picks up with the continuing adventures of Harriet and some new additions that are now serving with her in the Peace Force. Though the retirement planet is pretty much devoid of crime, there I still enough for the strange team to get themselves into.
What I loved the most about this adventure is that Simon Haynes has shown that he can handle the wacky humor of Hal Spacejock but also bring a more sophisticated, subtle tone to the story. The Harriet Walsh series is not, in essence, a sci-fi comedy like his other series but more an adventure with humorous compatriots (like a talking car named Steve) that brings in the laughs that we love.
I loved Harriet from her first appearance in Hal Spacejock #4: No Free Lunch, and it felt like a long lost friend when you get to read her origin story in Harriet Walsh #1: Peace Force. I became attached to Harriet in Alpha Minor as we not only got to see her character as a police officer but also how she handles mature decisions that could affect those around her.
This series is excellent and I am glad that I had had the opportunity to read the book before it came out and to talk to Mister Simon Haynes about his creations. If you love science fiction and are looking for something new, I recommend Alpha Minor. A long fan of Hal Spacejock and not sure? Buy it! The series has the same feel as the original series, and you will not be disappointed. I wasn’t!
June 16, 2022
I got Book #1 of this series as a free Kindle book and laughed myself silly. Naturally, I had to get Book #2 and see if Mr. Haynes could keep up the good work. I was not disappointed.
Harriet Walsh is once again dealing with the idiosyncrasies of her robotic boss in Planet Desmolle's Peace Force. Now she has a sidekick to boot with Alice—a fifteen-year-old headstrong street kid who likewise aspires to join the Peace Force, though not enough to study for the job.
Not all is as it seems. Alice isn't really Alice, and when the duo discover that someone is after her, things begin to get… interesting. This is especially true with the involvement of the Peace Force's robot, Bernie, their cruiser (also robotic), Steve, and a spaceship that ultimately gets called Rover because it will come when summoned like the dog Harriet's family had. And let's not forget the host of talking taxis, and the cantankerous elderly Desmollian who registers a complaint against the Peace Force and demands to talk with their superintendent, who regrettably doesn't exist.
If you have spent any time either in law enforcement or around officers, this light-hearted sci-fi will have you rolling. Though one of my favorite scenes, being a pilot and former flight instructor, is when the two humans aboard the spaceship, which is being controlled by a computer, have said ship believe that when Harriet tells Alice to "Throttle back there, hotshot" results in the ship cutting power to the engines believing it is being addressed. In my case, it was the errant instruction to a student to "cut power" when coming in to land and having the student grab not the throttle but the mixture control that cuts off fuel supply to the engine. Things get very quiet in an airplane when that happens. No harm, as a quick shove of the mixture restored power, and I learned quickly to say "reduce throttle" from then on.
Onward to Book #3!
Harriet Walsh is once again dealing with the idiosyncrasies of her robotic boss in Planet Desmolle's Peace Force. Now she has a sidekick to boot with Alice—a fifteen-year-old headstrong street kid who likewise aspires to join the Peace Force, though not enough to study for the job.
Not all is as it seems. Alice isn't really Alice, and when the duo discover that someone is after her, things begin to get… interesting. This is especially true with the involvement of the Peace Force's robot, Bernie, their cruiser (also robotic), Steve, and a spaceship that ultimately gets called Rover because it will come when summoned like the dog Harriet's family had. And let's not forget the host of talking taxis, and the cantankerous elderly Desmollian who registers a complaint against the Peace Force and demands to talk with their superintendent, who regrettably doesn't exist.
If you have spent any time either in law enforcement or around officers, this light-hearted sci-fi will have you rolling. Though one of my favorite scenes, being a pilot and former flight instructor, is when the two humans aboard the spaceship, which is being controlled by a computer, have said ship believe that when Harriet tells Alice to "Throttle back there, hotshot" results in the ship cutting power to the engines believing it is being addressed. In my case, it was the errant instruction to a student to "cut power" when coming in to land and having the student grab not the throttle but the mixture control that cuts off fuel supply to the engine. Things get very quiet in an airplane when that happens. No harm, as a quick shove of the mixture restored power, and I learned quickly to say "reduce throttle" from then on.
Onward to Book #3!
January 4, 2020
Sorry but the plot was just a bit thin
Yes it was entertaining up to a point and it did have it's lighter moments as well as a clearer picture of our two trainees but the plot itself had a few holes in it. It was based on a good idea but it just seemed to struggle in places and frankly for a child who had grown up in the school of hard knocks, Alice's naivety and trust surprised me.
A visitor to the station raises a warning light in Harriet's mind. He's looking for someone, a child he hasn't seen for years, a child that Harriet recognises as Alice from a picture. A box left for Alice from her murdered uncle. A box that can only be opened by DNA from the rightful owner. Break-ins, attempts at a kidnapping, a kidnapping, a betrayal and a lost cargo. Will Alice and Harriet survive this latest case and will they wish to continue as Peace Officers?
Yes it was entertaining up to a point and it did have it's lighter moments as well as a clearer picture of our two trainees but the plot itself had a few holes in it. It was based on a good idea but it just seemed to struggle in places and frankly for a child who had grown up in the school of hard knocks, Alice's naivety and trust surprised me.
A visitor to the station raises a warning light in Harriet's mind. He's looking for someone, a child he hasn't seen for years, a child that Harriet recognises as Alice from a picture. A box left for Alice from her murdered uncle. A box that can only be opened by DNA from the rightful owner. Break-ins, attempts at a kidnapping, a kidnapping, a betrayal and a lost cargo. Will Alice and Harriet survive this latest case and will they wish to continue as Peace Officers?
October 6, 2019
The second of Simon Haynes 'Peace Force' series, set in the same universe as his 'Hal Spacejock' series (although, as of yet there has been no crossover), this is probably best described as a light sci-fi mystery read: science fiction because of the setting (obviously), and light in that I blew threw this in about two days flat, having already solved the mystery quite early on, with no real plot twist coming that I hadn't already seen.
I'll probably still pick up some more of these, though, not every read has to be a full-blown course: sometimes you just want a nice palate cleanser!
I'll probably still pick up some more of these, though, not every read has to be a full-blown course: sometimes you just want a nice palate cleanser!
February 7, 2020
It was an enjoyable enough read but felt very linear and plot wasn't the deepest.
Could have benefited from delving a bit more on the characters perhaps to make up for that. It's like there is a suggestion of depth and character work but it never actually goes there.
Still a decent and easy read and hoping for more expansion in the third book.
Could have benefited from delving a bit more on the characters perhaps to make up for that. It's like there is a suggestion of depth and character work but it never actually goes there.
Still a decent and easy read and hoping for more expansion in the third book.
December 29, 2018
Keeps getting better
This series just keeps getting better. A very good stand-alone from the Hal Spacejock series, where I first met Trainee Harriet Walsh. Simon Haynes has a knack for writing humorous, interesting & unique tales.
This series just keeps getting better. A very good stand-alone from the Hal Spacejock series, where I first met Trainee Harriet Walsh. Simon Haynes has a knack for writing humorous, interesting & unique tales.
January 4, 2021
Excellent second book
Really good storyline, great narrative and character development throughout. Really looking forward to the rest of the series after returning to the Spacejock series
Really good storyline, great narrative and character development throughout. Really looking forward to the rest of the series after returning to the Spacejock series
February 22, 2021
Improbable attraction and robots
This is one heck of a adventure, two youngsters working as trainees for the Peace Force are called on to do jobs. From frivolous to fantastical, from boredom to life and death. Fast fun read, highly recommend.
This is one heck of a adventure, two youngsters working as trainees for the Peace Force are called on to do jobs. From frivolous to fantastical, from boredom to life and death. Fast fun read, highly recommend.
August 10, 2018
This was worse than the first book in the series. The plot is very good, it is just not handled very well or in an interesting way. Had a hard time finishing the book.
Want to read
May 7, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/7/2020)! 🎁
August 12, 2023
Excellent!
Even better than the first book of the series (that grows on you after each book). I really hope there will be more!
Even better than the first book of the series (that grows on you after each book). I really hope there will be more!
April 13, 2024
3.5 stars
September 7, 2025
I enjoyed this chance to see Harriet back in action alongside of Alice and even Bernie.
July 1, 2020
Harriet just gets better.
If you like Hal, you will LOVE Harriet.
Chuckles abound in this excellent sequel. The humour is simple and often dry, and the narrative bounces along like a Dismolle marsupial.
Well worth a read.
If you like Hal, you will LOVE Harriet.
Chuckles abound in this excellent sequel. The humour is simple and often dry, and the narrative bounces along like a Dismolle marsupial.
Well worth a read.
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December 17, 2018This book is an entry in the 2018 Aurealis Awards, for which I am a judge. Any review will be withheld until the results of the awards are announced.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews