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Sky Crimes and Mysteries #1
Fly Me To The Moon
Sylvia Stryker wants to explore the galaxy. A family scandal kept her from leaving home. Can a white lie help her change her future?
Sylvia Stryker used to help run her parents' dry ice farm, until her dad's arrest nearly left them bankrupt. But after finagling a job on board an outer space cruise ship, she's ready to explore all that outer space has to offer. With a private room in the staff quarters, her robot cat by her side, and the responsibilities of uniform management, Sylvia is thrilled to return to work--until she discovers the second navigation officer dead in the inventory closet.
Neptune, the head of ship security, finds Sylvia's presence to be the most suspicious part of the incident; that's what happens when you hack your way into a last-minute job opportunity! But despite his efforts to pin the murder on Sylvia, she won't accept how the clues are unfolding. And if Sylvia doesn’t expose the murderer on the cruise, then she’ll never learn the truth about her family.
Fly Me to the Moon is the quirky first cozy mystery featuring uniform lieutenant Sylvia Stryker. If you like unique characters, delightful plots, and cool space fashion, you’ll love Diane Vallere’s entertaining Space Case Cozy series.
Buy Fly Me to The Moon to blast off into out-of-this-world cozy adventure today!
Sylvia Stryker used to help run her parents' dry ice farm, until her dad's arrest nearly left them bankrupt. But after finagling a job on board an outer space cruise ship, she's ready to explore all that outer space has to offer. With a private room in the staff quarters, her robot cat by her side, and the responsibilities of uniform management, Sylvia is thrilled to return to work--until she discovers the second navigation officer dead in the inventory closet.
Neptune, the head of ship security, finds Sylvia's presence to be the most suspicious part of the incident; that's what happens when you hack your way into a last-minute job opportunity! But despite his efforts to pin the murder on Sylvia, she won't accept how the clues are unfolding. And if Sylvia doesn’t expose the murderer on the cruise, then she’ll never learn the truth about her family.
Fly Me to the Moon is the quirky first cozy mystery featuring uniform lieutenant Sylvia Stryker. If you like unique characters, delightful plots, and cool space fashion, you’ll love Diane Vallere’s entertaining Space Case Cozy series.
Buy Fly Me to The Moon to blast off into out-of-this-world cozy adventure today!
267 pages, ebook
First published December 17, 2017
251 people are currently reading
747 people want to read
About the author
Diane Vallere
84 books1,013 followersRequest MURDER ON A MOON TREK on NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/boo...
I use Goodreads to track my reading and TBR list. For that reason, my rating scale is less important. I don't force myself to finish books, and I don't rate books I DNF. Each year I choose my own BOTY from my have-read list.
AUTHOR BIO: Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/DianeVallere
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aVXczm
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RfiyAE
I use Goodreads to track my reading and TBR list. For that reason, my rating scale is less important. I don't force myself to finish books, and I don't rate books I DNF. Each year I choose my own BOTY from my have-read list.
AUTHOR BIO: Diane Vallere is the national bestselling author of several mystery series. She edited the Agatha Award-winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. Diane majored in art history at the College of William and Mary and worked in luxury retailing before reigniting her love of fiction. She currently lives in Pennsylvania. Find out more at: www.dianevallere.com.
Amazon: http://bit.ly/DianeVallere
Instagram: https://bit.ly/3aVXczm
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2RfiyAE
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
January 15, 2020
4 stars
This book is a cruise ship cozy mystery with the cruise ship being in space. The main character Sylvia is smart brave and funny, Neptune is her perfect foil and I’ll be happy if he is in the second book of the series.
Some things I guessed at but others were a complete surprise.
Fun book, when I went looking for my next cozy mystery read I’d never have guessed that it’d be a SF book.
Cozies Reading Challenge
This book is a cruise ship cozy mystery with the cruise ship being in space. The main character Sylvia is smart brave and funny, Neptune is her perfect foil and I’ll be happy if he is in the second book of the series.
Some things I guessed at but others were a complete surprise.
Fun book, when I went looking for my next cozy mystery read I’d never have guessed that it’d be a SF book.
Cozies Reading Challenge
May 22, 2018
Sylvia Stryker has hacked her way onto Moon Unit 5’s maiden voyage, and she is hoping to keep a low profile. However, within hours of getting on board, she finds a body in the uniform closet. Now she finds herself facing questions not only about whether she should be on the ship but about the murder itself. Setting out to clear her name, she begins to wonder if something much bigger is going on. Can she stop it?
I loved this mystery set in space. It took me a little while to fully feel comfortable in Sylvia’s world, but that was a minor complaint. The mystery starts quickly and the pace is steady until the end. The characters we got to know were strong, and I can’t wait to see them again. The setting really was creative and well done.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
I loved this mystery set in space. It took me a little while to fully feel comfortable in Sylvia’s world, but that was a minor complaint. The mystery starts quickly and the pace is steady until the end. The characters we got to know were strong, and I can’t wait to see them again. The setting really was creative and well done.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
August 6, 2023
Despite the confusion I had over titles (wait, is this Murder on a Moon Trek or Fly Me To The Moon?), this was charming.
I liked the fact that the action starts immediately and we get backstory as relevant. I liked the characters and their interactions. I liked that I didn't know immediately who'd done it and that there were several good options. I do think the main character made a few leaps of logic in some of her suppositions (there are only two options, and here they are, and it's very black and white and one of them is always that it is that person who did it), but sometimes you need to pack in some extra characters that could have committed the murder, so it is forgiven, especially in an early novel.
I'll absolutely travel to whatever planet is next with Sylvia and the crew, though.
I liked the fact that the action starts immediately and we get backstory as relevant. I liked the characters and their interactions. I liked that I didn't know immediately who'd done it and that there were several good options. I do think the main character made a few leaps of logic in some of her suppositions (there are only two options, and here they are, and it's very black and white and one of them is always that it is that person who did it), but sometimes you need to pack in some extra characters that could have committed the murder, so it is forgiven, especially in an early novel.
I'll absolutely travel to whatever planet is next with Sylvia and the crew, though.
August 28, 2018
I’ve never read a cozy mystery set in space and I’ve had my eye on this series since it came out. When I saw Amazon had it on sale for $0.99, I couldn’t resist! Sylvia Stryker is an intelligent and enthusiastic protagonist. Early on there were so many new characters and story elements being introduced I felt a bit overwhelmed, but after a few chapters, I had things figured out and I inhaled the book in less than 48 hours. I can’t wait to see where in the galaxy Sylvia’s adventures take her next!
Complete Review Here: https://cozyexperience.com/fly-me-to-...
Complete Review Here: https://cozyexperience.com/fly-me-to-...
June 21, 2022
Definitely a different setting for a cozy mystery. It was a little difficult for me to keep up w it h all the different species but it was entertaining
August 10, 2018
This book has an alternative title of Fly Me To The Moon.
A uniform attendant on a posting aboard a space tourist ship breaks her leg, and Sylvia Stryker takes her place, not completely legally. Sylvia will do almost anything to get off her home planet. She is half-Plunian, so her skin is a nice lavender colour, and she has a few other physiological differences. Maybe this is why she comes to the attention of the sole security officer, the burly Neptune. Or maybe it's something else, going by the number of times he walks in on her changing. Don't these doors lock?
I really can't see just one security officer on a luxury liner - suppose he becomes ill, or the infamous pirates attack, or someone needs to be restrained while he's asleep or elsewhere? At the minimum I'm looking at two shifts and a spare. But this is a fantasy, albeit dressed as SF. We do not meet the wealthy patrons, but all crew members need uniforms and this is Sylvia's job. So the appearance of a dead body in the wardrobe looks bad for her.
Be prepared for much folding, refolding and stacking and sewing in between figuring out the culprit. Also a pink girl gremlin stowaway. She's sweet. This is a light crime story with a difference and I am all in favour of crossing genre boundaries. Women will like this tale more than men. Enjoy!
I received an ARC from the author after winning a copy. I chose to review because I enjoyed the story. This is an unbiased review.
A uniform attendant on a posting aboard a space tourist ship breaks her leg, and Sylvia Stryker takes her place, not completely legally. Sylvia will do almost anything to get off her home planet. She is half-Plunian, so her skin is a nice lavender colour, and she has a few other physiological differences. Maybe this is why she comes to the attention of the sole security officer, the burly Neptune. Or maybe it's something else, going by the number of times he walks in on her changing. Don't these doors lock?
I really can't see just one security officer on a luxury liner - suppose he becomes ill, or the infamous pirates attack, or someone needs to be restrained while he's asleep or elsewhere? At the minimum I'm looking at two shifts and a spare. But this is a fantasy, albeit dressed as SF. We do not meet the wealthy patrons, but all crew members need uniforms and this is Sylvia's job. So the appearance of a dead body in the wardrobe looks bad for her.
Be prepared for much folding, refolding and stacking and sewing in between figuring out the culprit. Also a pink girl gremlin stowaway. She's sweet. This is a light crime story with a difference and I am all in favour of crossing genre boundaries. Women will like this tale more than men. Enjoy!
I received an ARC from the author after winning a copy. I chose to review because I enjoyed the story. This is an unbiased review.
March 13, 2018
A fast, light mystery set on an interplanetary spaceship on its way to one of Jupiter's moons. Sometimes it's a good thing to break away from the norm and read something paranormal or fantasy, to take a breather; this fit the bill very well. My main gripe was the author's tendency to repeat facts or actions; this is a running theme of mine when it comes to cozies that I'm sure will not end anytime soon. Secondary to that is the relatively small amount of time/emotion spent on a life-changing tragedy concerning the mc.
I haven't seen a notification for an upcoming second book in the series. When I see one I'll be in line for it.
I haven't seen a notification for an upcoming second book in the series. When I see one I'll be in line for it.
December 17, 2017
What a wild and wacky ride! Not to mention a delightful blend of Science Fiction/Fantasy with Cozy Mystery.
Dianne Vallere has created a wonderful scenario: a passenger cruise to Ganymede. The main character has hacked her way into the job of uniform manager just to get on board because she's always wanted to be involved with space travel. Within hours of arriving at her duty station, she's discovered a murdered man, met an alleged stowaway, and been taken into custody by a giant of a man who may or may not be trustworthy.
I loved reading this tale and I really want to see what happens in the next episode. The only problem I had with Murder on Moon Trek 1 was some questionable information about extracting water from dry ice. In full disclosure, I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Dianne Vallere has created a wonderful scenario: a passenger cruise to Ganymede. The main character has hacked her way into the job of uniform manager just to get on board because she's always wanted to be involved with space travel. Within hours of arriving at her duty station, she's discovered a murdered man, met an alleged stowaway, and been taken into custody by a giant of a man who may or may not be trustworthy.
I loved reading this tale and I really want to see what happens in the next episode. The only problem I had with Murder on Moon Trek 1 was some questionable information about extracting water from dry ice. In full disclosure, I received an ARC from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 5, 2018
This is a great first story in what promises to be a fabulous new series. The main character is reminiscent of those in other series by the author, in that she has a flair for fashion and a curiosity to solve mysteries around her. However, this character is from another planet, is PURPLE, and solves her mysteries in space.
When I read the description of this book/series, I was curious whether the author would be able to do it justice, as it seemed so far removed from her other series. However, after reading the entire book, I have no more doubts. Even though I'm not much of an expert in space travel, all the details felt realistic to me, with nothing that glaringly jumped out and said NO WAY!!
I love Sylvia, the main character, as well as the supporting characters, and look forward to more of their adventures.
When I read the description of this book/series, I was curious whether the author would be able to do it justice, as it seemed so far removed from her other series. However, after reading the entire book, I have no more doubts. Even though I'm not much of an expert in space travel, all the details felt realistic to me, with nothing that glaringly jumped out and said NO WAY!!
I love Sylvia, the main character, as well as the supporting characters, and look forward to more of their adventures.
February 8, 2020
I was really excited to see that a cosy mystery had been set in space. Didn’t totally live up to my expectations but still very good and kept my interest.
The MC, Sylvia, was half human and half alien and had hacked a computer to get herself a position as uniform officer on a luxury space cruiser. The first day on the job she finds a body in the uniform cupboard. This brings her to the attention of the very handsome head of security. Her hacking is discovered and she becomes the main suspect so she has to prove her innocence. While she did this it becomes apparent that finding the real murderer is the least of her problems - there is something much bigger going on. This book had so much potential - but at times the author was trying too hard to be light and fluffy and serious, and the characters were just starting to grow on me when the story ended.
As it is the first in a series I would be happy to read book two and hopefully see character growth continue.
The MC, Sylvia, was half human and half alien and had hacked a computer to get herself a position as uniform officer on a luxury space cruiser. The first day on the job she finds a body in the uniform cupboard. This brings her to the attention of the very handsome head of security. Her hacking is discovered and she becomes the main suspect so she has to prove her innocence. While she did this it becomes apparent that finding the real murderer is the least of her problems - there is something much bigger going on. This book had so much potential - but at times the author was trying too hard to be light and fluffy and serious, and the characters were just starting to grow on me when the story ended.
As it is the first in a series I would be happy to read book two and hopefully see character growth continue.
January 16, 2026
I enjoyed the way this felt like watching a TV show. And I’m happy to see there are more 'seasons'. Our main character's use of clever deductive reasoning reminds me of Sherlock in the best way. Her and Neptune. The tone and vibes fall somewhere between the Orville and Star Trek.
The book feels fun without being too silly. I definitely plan to read more books in the series. This would be a great airplane or beach read. Reading Murder on a Moon Trek won’t change your life but you will have a good time.
There is some tension along the lines of a thriller novel but each time it is resolved which keeps it in the cozy territory. If you are a scifi fan looking for a cozy thriller mystery series, Diane Vallere has got your back. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this book, I'm so glad I picked it up!
The book feels fun without being too silly. I definitely plan to read more books in the series. This would be a great airplane or beach read. Reading Murder on a Moon Trek won’t change your life but you will have a good time.
There is some tension along the lines of a thriller novel but each time it is resolved which keeps it in the cozy territory. If you are a scifi fan looking for a cozy thriller mystery series, Diane Vallere has got your back. Highly recommend.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this book, I'm so glad I picked it up!
August 8, 2021
Action-packed mystery on a cruise liner in space that will keep you guessing until the very end.
When Sylvia hacks her way into a job on board a commercial spaceship, she doesn’t expect to find a dead body in the laundry.
The pace and characters are excellent. The mystery is well crafted. The only thing that dimmed my enthusiasm (slightly) was the dodgy science and a few spots where I didn’t understand what happened.
When Sylvia hacks her way into a job on board a commercial spaceship, she doesn’t expect to find a dead body in the laundry.
The pace and characters are excellent. The mystery is well crafted. The only thing that dimmed my enthusiasm (slightly) was the dodgy science and a few spots where I didn’t understand what happened.
July 9, 2020
3.75 Stars
A murder mystery in space!
It's an interesting concept with the characters essentially trapped on a space cruise ship while making a dangerous trek across pirate-infested quadrants. Unfortunately, the characters didn't really appeal to me and I often felt that the plot was progressing a little slowly. This is a matter of personal taste; the writing was excellent.
A murder mystery in space!
It's an interesting concept with the characters essentially trapped on a space cruise ship while making a dangerous trek across pirate-infested quadrants. Unfortunately, the characters didn't really appeal to me and I often felt that the plot was progressing a little slowly. This is a matter of personal taste; the writing was excellent.
December 21, 2017
When I first started reading “Murder On Moon Trek 1”, I was skeptical about whether the author, Diane Vallere, would be able to pull of what she was attempting, based on the summary on the book’s back cover. She was doing a cozy murder mystery set on a space ship traveling to a distant moon and featuring off-world species, forged employment papers, class struggles, and a robot cat. On the first page, she jumped right in and presented us with a corpse, introduced the main character for a potential series, established the tone for the book and went headlong into the plot.
I took a shine to the lead character, Sylvia Stryker, from the start possibly because she wasn’t a clone of any of the author’s other lead characters. She had a much different mindset than they did and a different approach to the murder, focusing on logic, intelligence and protocol, rather than hunch, intuition and blind luck. She is sort of a cross between Mr. Spock and Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley. I also enjoyed the main protagonist, Neptune, who was the strong, silent, implacable, close-to-the-vest type of person so between the two of them there wasn’t much extraneous dialogue. The plot and the character’s actions drove the story, not added exposition. Both Neptune and Stryker were very smart and capable and it was nice to see the tug of war for who would take the lead in the murder investigation, knowing that either one would do a good job even though their motivations might be very different.
Of course, there are complications, additional characters, plot twists, and such but they integrated nicely with the existing framework established in that first chapter. I figured there might be some awkward flow since this was a new type of setting for Vallere, one that had no precedent in her previous works. Yes, people are people but there were a lot of scientific principles and terminology to deal with for the first time. It didn’t sound clumsy though- she either had done some basic research, knew someone of a scientific bent, or could dupe a scientific idiot like me. Since she clearly put some thought into her universe-building, I’m inclined to say it was related research, along with some additional binge-watching of the original Star Trek series (a clear influence). That gives her the credit she likely deserves and keeps me from being exposed as an idiot.
Diane also balanced the characters well. A robot cat can easily get over-used and annoying as could the pixie-ish alien confidant Pica, the sourpuss boss, and the main foil Neptune. There were nods to some of her trademarks- an eye for fashion and its’ influence on character and perception, some sly homages to other space themed narratives, humor, and overall mastery and affection for the world she built. On the negative side, her main characters have a tendency to faint once or twice, and this was no exception although here it was literally the result of oxygen deprivation. Also, Stryker didn’t seem to grieve enough after a horrible turn of events took place and the ending could have been expanded somewhat to be a little more coherent. (For instance why was Doc Edison a suspect, why were hull repairs attempted without confirming the problem, how did someone get the drop on Neptune, etc….) These were not insurmountable issues, just minor distractions but since the book was moving along so nicely, there was no need to hurry to the ending. I would have been happy to spend a little more time aboard this vessel.
Once I was done with the book, which I read all of in the same day, not what I normally do, I marveled that Diane Vallere succeeding at most everything she attempted in this new alternative cozy genre. She strapped on her moon boots and conquered this new alien terrain with thoughtfulness, intelligence and a sense of fun and adventure. It did not feel like a chore to review this book that I received an advance copy of. In fact, I’m hoping that this is the start of a new series because there were so many fun things about this book that I want to see how things turn out in subsequent stories with these characters. A successful launch to a promising new series.
I took a shine to the lead character, Sylvia Stryker, from the start possibly because she wasn’t a clone of any of the author’s other lead characters. She had a much different mindset than they did and a different approach to the murder, focusing on logic, intelligence and protocol, rather than hunch, intuition and blind luck. She is sort of a cross between Mr. Spock and Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley. I also enjoyed the main protagonist, Neptune, who was the strong, silent, implacable, close-to-the-vest type of person so between the two of them there wasn’t much extraneous dialogue. The plot and the character’s actions drove the story, not added exposition. Both Neptune and Stryker were very smart and capable and it was nice to see the tug of war for who would take the lead in the murder investigation, knowing that either one would do a good job even though their motivations might be very different.
Of course, there are complications, additional characters, plot twists, and such but they integrated nicely with the existing framework established in that first chapter. I figured there might be some awkward flow since this was a new type of setting for Vallere, one that had no precedent in her previous works. Yes, people are people but there were a lot of scientific principles and terminology to deal with for the first time. It didn’t sound clumsy though- she either had done some basic research, knew someone of a scientific bent, or could dupe a scientific idiot like me. Since she clearly put some thought into her universe-building, I’m inclined to say it was related research, along with some additional binge-watching of the original Star Trek series (a clear influence). That gives her the credit she likely deserves and keeps me from being exposed as an idiot.
Diane also balanced the characters well. A robot cat can easily get over-used and annoying as could the pixie-ish alien confidant Pica, the sourpuss boss, and the main foil Neptune. There were nods to some of her trademarks- an eye for fashion and its’ influence on character and perception, some sly homages to other space themed narratives, humor, and overall mastery and affection for the world she built. On the negative side, her main characters have a tendency to faint once or twice, and this was no exception although here it was literally the result of oxygen deprivation. Also, Stryker didn’t seem to grieve enough after a horrible turn of events took place and the ending could have been expanded somewhat to be a little more coherent. (For instance why was Doc Edison a suspect, why were hull repairs attempted without confirming the problem, how did someone get the drop on Neptune, etc….) These were not insurmountable issues, just minor distractions but since the book was moving along so nicely, there was no need to hurry to the ending. I would have been happy to spend a little more time aboard this vessel.
Once I was done with the book, which I read all of in the same day, not what I normally do, I marveled that Diane Vallere succeeding at most everything she attempted in this new alternative cozy genre. She strapped on her moon boots and conquered this new alien terrain with thoughtfulness, intelligence and a sense of fun and adventure. It did not feel like a chore to review this book that I received an advance copy of. In fact, I’m hoping that this is the start of a new series because there were so many fun things about this book that I want to see how things turn out in subsequent stories with these characters. A successful launch to a promising new series.
March 26, 2021
I havent been this entertained by a book in so long. This is just what I needed in a cozy. Sylvia and Neptune’s chemistry had me shooketh to my core. There were moments in the plot that were kinda silly but the character interactions were so much more rewarding. Who wouldve thought I’d find a Sci-fi COZY!!!! I cant wait to read the rest of the series. My fav book of the year!!
December 27, 2017
Sylvia Stryker was forced to drop out of the space academy when her father was arrested, but it didn't stop her from continuing to learn the remaining curriculum. And a few years later she saw an opportunity to get a position on Moon Unit 5, hacked into the necessary computers and got her credentials straightened out so she could get that job. Beyond that, nothing went right. Finding a dead man in the uniform room shortly after the trip began was only the tip of the iceberg. So much happens in so little time, it is almost overwhelming to the reader as well as Sylvia!
I was fascinated by the author's ideas of life throughout the solar system, and the names and characteristics of the different types of creatures. There were little green Martians, earthlings, and of course Plunians like Stryker. With her violet skin and different gaseous needs (for breathing), it was only her brilliance that separated her from other Plunian potato or ice farmers. For Stryker had an analytical brain that enabled her to reach the correct conclusions quickly, accurately, and assess what to do equally quickly. It was obvious to the reader that this was an exceptional person from the opening paragraphs. The more I read, the more I was impressed with her quick assessments and actions. I also loved the fact that she built a robot cat for interaction! What an incredible person!
I can't recommend this book enough to readers of any age or sex. It is a murder mystery. It is a spy story. It is a futuristic science fiction story. It is pure genius and entertaining from start to finish. I can't wait to read more adventures about this purple skinned half-earthling and half-Plunian woman who has no end to her abilities. It has something for every reader that will be of interest. This is where Diane Vallere shines-giving you the unexpected and yet exactly what you didn't even know you wanted. A galaxy of stars to the author!
I was fascinated by the author's ideas of life throughout the solar system, and the names and characteristics of the different types of creatures. There were little green Martians, earthlings, and of course Plunians like Stryker. With her violet skin and different gaseous needs (for breathing), it was only her brilliance that separated her from other Plunian potato or ice farmers. For Stryker had an analytical brain that enabled her to reach the correct conclusions quickly, accurately, and assess what to do equally quickly. It was obvious to the reader that this was an exceptional person from the opening paragraphs. The more I read, the more I was impressed with her quick assessments and actions. I also loved the fact that she built a robot cat for interaction! What an incredible person!
I can't recommend this book enough to readers of any age or sex. It is a murder mystery. It is a spy story. It is a futuristic science fiction story. It is pure genius and entertaining from start to finish. I can't wait to read more adventures about this purple skinned half-earthling and half-Plunian woman who has no end to her abilities. It has something for every reader that will be of interest. This is where Diane Vallere shines-giving you the unexpected and yet exactly what you didn't even know you wanted. A galaxy of stars to the author!
August 25, 2020
Sylvia Stryker is a great character and got me hooked to this series. She is smart, independent, and motivated! I like strong female characters and from the start she doesn’t let anything hold her back. I enjoyed the plot of this book, the other characters, and it was well paced. I’m excited to read the other books in the series! I would highly recommend you pick up this series!
September 21, 2020
Fabulous adventure cover to cover. Loved the main character and her spunk. Actually, all the main characters were unique and had their own voice. The plot moved at a steady pace and the end was solid. Highly recommend this book if you are looking for an out of this world adventure. I can’t wait to read more.
August 14, 2018
As soon as I heard of this book I knew I wanted to read it. A Cozy Mystery set in space just sounded exactly like my kind of the book. And I really enjoy how the author blended the two genres together. It was a very fun read and I liked reading it.
Fly Me to the Moon follows the story of Sylvia Stryker who has hacked her way aboard the newest space cruise ship, Moon Unit 5. She has taken the place of the original uniform manager to fulfill her dream of serving aboard a space ship. She is more than qualified, but she didn't pass the physical and didn't finish her studies. I liked how the main character was half alien, even tough it didn't really impact her character as much as I had hoped, I still thought it was a nice addition. I also thought her position at the uniform ward was interesting, although I still have no good idea what her normal duties would entail.
The mystery starts almost right away, but then slow downs as other storylines and plot points pop up. There are still some clues, but it's hard to notice them while reading, but they do make sense at the end. There are parts with lots of clues and parts with less and that goes on like that until the end when things suddenly build up. The pace of the mystery progression was a bit off to me and I would've preferred a more constant pace and more finding clues. It's also hard to really piece things together as for a long time you're missing a lot of information. Most of the important clues are either right there at the start already or get uncovered at the end. There are also people who keep secrets which muddles the investigation. All in all it was a fun mystery, but the pace was a bit off sometimes.
Besides the mystery there is a bunch of world building, background info, character info and more put into this book. There is a lot of setting the stage here, which slowed down the pace at times, but it was important to fully understand the whole situation. I am also hoping that now the stage is set and we know more about this world book 2 will be even better.
I like Sylvia well enough, but had a hard time fully warming up to her. I liked how she seemed smart and capable, but at the same time she could act as bit unprofessional at times. The whole drama surrounding her place on the ship also didn't really appeal to me, I just wanted to either see her locked up or not, now it was just going back and forth and it just felt weird. Although it makes more sense with some of the information we learn at the end. There's also a twist that didn't make as much sense as it would've been easy enough for people to figure out what had happened.
And her interactions with Neptune irritated me to no avail and I was pretty sure from the start of the book that he was the love interest. I just didn't get why they kept hiding things and instead of answering questions and being open with each other, they had this half annoyed and angry conversations at the time, which just didn't work for me. Also it felt pretty unprofessional at times as well when they worked together and didn't were open with each other. I did like them a bit better toward the end when some secrets come to light and Neptune's behavior makes a bit more sense.
The world building was pretty interesting. At first it very much felt like Star Trek meet cozy mystery, but the further I got in the book the more it started to feel like it's own universe with some nods to Star Trek. I liked that we have some aliens aboard the ship, but at the same time I would've liked them being a bit more alien. Plunians are said to be less emotional than humans, but with Sylvia being half plunian I didn't really notice much of that with how often she was annoyed and acted on emotions in this book. How their planets atmosphere was different was a nice twist. I did found a few parts of the world building to be a bit confusing and not everything made full sense to me, but this is more light sci-fi with a mystery, so I didn't mind too much.
To summarize: this was a fun and enjoyable read that brings cozy mystery to space. I liked the combination of genres and the author handled that part very well. The mystery was a good one, but I would've liked a bit more clues and the pace of the mystery felt a bit weird sometimes, with parts were it progressed much and then parts where not as much happened. I like how everything fell on it's place at the end. Sylvia was a nice main character to follow, although I didn't fully warm up to her. I liked how she was smart and it was a fun how she was half alien. Although the aliens didn't really seem too alien. The world building as well done and I liked getting a feel for the universe. Some things were a tad confusing or didn't quite make sense, but I didn't mind too much. The other plot lines and lots of background, world and character information and such slowed the pace down a bit and I hope book 2 will be even better than this one.
Fly Me to the Moon follows the story of Sylvia Stryker who has hacked her way aboard the newest space cruise ship, Moon Unit 5. She has taken the place of the original uniform manager to fulfill her dream of serving aboard a space ship. She is more than qualified, but she didn't pass the physical and didn't finish her studies. I liked how the main character was half alien, even tough it didn't really impact her character as much as I had hoped, I still thought it was a nice addition. I also thought her position at the uniform ward was interesting, although I still have no good idea what her normal duties would entail.
The mystery starts almost right away, but then slow downs as other storylines and plot points pop up. There are still some clues, but it's hard to notice them while reading, but they do make sense at the end. There are parts with lots of clues and parts with less and that goes on like that until the end when things suddenly build up. The pace of the mystery progression was a bit off to me and I would've preferred a more constant pace and more finding clues. It's also hard to really piece things together as for a long time you're missing a lot of information. Most of the important clues are either right there at the start already or get uncovered at the end. There are also people who keep secrets which muddles the investigation. All in all it was a fun mystery, but the pace was a bit off sometimes.
Besides the mystery there is a bunch of world building, background info, character info and more put into this book. There is a lot of setting the stage here, which slowed down the pace at times, but it was important to fully understand the whole situation. I am also hoping that now the stage is set and we know more about this world book 2 will be even better.
I like Sylvia well enough, but had a hard time fully warming up to her. I liked how she seemed smart and capable, but at the same time she could act as bit unprofessional at times. The whole drama surrounding her place on the ship also didn't really appeal to me, I just wanted to either see her locked up or not, now it was just going back and forth and it just felt weird. Although it makes more sense with some of the information we learn at the end. There's also a twist that didn't make as much sense as it would've been easy enough for people to figure out what had happened.
And her interactions with Neptune irritated me to no avail and I was pretty sure from the start of the book that he was the love interest. I just didn't get why they kept hiding things and instead of answering questions and being open with each other, they had this half annoyed and angry conversations at the time, which just didn't work for me. Also it felt pretty unprofessional at times as well when they worked together and didn't were open with each other. I did like them a bit better toward the end when some secrets come to light and Neptune's behavior makes a bit more sense.
The world building was pretty interesting. At first it very much felt like Star Trek meet cozy mystery, but the further I got in the book the more it started to feel like it's own universe with some nods to Star Trek. I liked that we have some aliens aboard the ship, but at the same time I would've liked them being a bit more alien. Plunians are said to be less emotional than humans, but with Sylvia being half plunian I didn't really notice much of that with how often she was annoyed and acted on emotions in this book. How their planets atmosphere was different was a nice twist. I did found a few parts of the world building to be a bit confusing and not everything made full sense to me, but this is more light sci-fi with a mystery, so I didn't mind too much.
To summarize: this was a fun and enjoyable read that brings cozy mystery to space. I liked the combination of genres and the author handled that part very well. The mystery was a good one, but I would've liked a bit more clues and the pace of the mystery felt a bit weird sometimes, with parts were it progressed much and then parts where not as much happened. I like how everything fell on it's place at the end. Sylvia was a nice main character to follow, although I didn't fully warm up to her. I liked how she was smart and it was a fun how she was half alien. Although the aliens didn't really seem too alien. The world building as well done and I liked getting a feel for the universe. Some things were a tad confusing or didn't quite make sense, but I didn't mind too much. The other plot lines and lots of background, world and character information and such slowed the pace down a bit and I hope book 2 will be even better than this one.
February 9, 2018
Murder on Moon Trek 1 is a fun book in Diane Vallere's new Sylvia Stryker Mystery series.
Sylvia Stryker is half-Plunian/half-Earthing and a stowaway on Moon Unit 5. Well, not so much a stowaway as she is there illegally after hacking the system and setting herself up as uniform inventory manager after the current manager broke her leg. She's always wanted to be part of the space program and as a space academy dropout, under less than stellar reasons, this was her best chance to leave her small planet and family-owned/run dry ice mining business. Only, things are off to a rocky start when she trips over the dead body of the second navigation officer in her uniform closet. Then, things get worse when she's detained by Neptune, who then decides to use her to help with the investigation into the murder.
Sylvia and Neptune of fantastically created characters with a love-hate type of relationship. Sylvia is determined not to get kicked off of the ship so she agrees to help Neptune figure out what a second navigation officer was doing dead in her closet. Neptune is a low-key kinda guy who doesn't do a lot of small talk. Therefore, the discussions that go on the book are not filled with useless chatter. There is a nice amount of character development regarding Sylvia. The reader finds out a lot about her past, what brought her to Moon Unit 5, her family on her home planet, and more. Neptune is more of an anomaly, which is okay because it suits his character.
Murder on Moon Trek 1 was engaging from the start. The story pulled me in and kept me entertained. The interactions between Sylvia and Neptune cracked me up at times. Neptune was also kind of infuriating but that's another thing that made this book great. The characters weren't cookie cutter characters. They were unique and different, as was the entire story.
I enjoyed this new side to Diane Vallere's writing. Her trip into sci fi was well-written, perfectly paced, and full of fun (even though there was a murder). Sylvia's penchant for fashion was not lost on me, as that is Diane Vallere's specialty. I look forward to the next book.
Sylvia Stryker is half-Plunian/half-Earthing and a stowaway on Moon Unit 5. Well, not so much a stowaway as she is there illegally after hacking the system and setting herself up as uniform inventory manager after the current manager broke her leg. She's always wanted to be part of the space program and as a space academy dropout, under less than stellar reasons, this was her best chance to leave her small planet and family-owned/run dry ice mining business. Only, things are off to a rocky start when she trips over the dead body of the second navigation officer in her uniform closet. Then, things get worse when she's detained by Neptune, who then decides to use her to help with the investigation into the murder.
Sylvia and Neptune of fantastically created characters with a love-hate type of relationship. Sylvia is determined not to get kicked off of the ship so she agrees to help Neptune figure out what a second navigation officer was doing dead in her closet. Neptune is a low-key kinda guy who doesn't do a lot of small talk. Therefore, the discussions that go on the book are not filled with useless chatter. There is a nice amount of character development regarding Sylvia. The reader finds out a lot about her past, what brought her to Moon Unit 5, her family on her home planet, and more. Neptune is more of an anomaly, which is okay because it suits his character.
Murder on Moon Trek 1 was engaging from the start. The story pulled me in and kept me entertained. The interactions between Sylvia and Neptune cracked me up at times. Neptune was also kind of infuriating but that's another thing that made this book great. The characters weren't cookie cutter characters. They were unique and different, as was the entire story.
I enjoyed this new side to Diane Vallere's writing. Her trip into sci fi was well-written, perfectly paced, and full of fun (even though there was a murder). Sylvia's penchant for fashion was not lost on me, as that is Diane Vallere's specialty. I look forward to the next book.
December 22, 2022
Sylvia Stryker grew up on Plunia, a small planet some way from Earth. Her mother was human whilst her father was Plunian which has given Sylvia lavender-coloured skin & the ability to survive in Plunia's oxygen-heavy atmosphere. Her family were rich & well-regarded until her father was accused of colluding with space pirates to keep the price of dry ice, mined on Plunia by his company, artificially high. He has been in prison for over a decade & it took Sylvia & her mother a long time to live down the notoriety.
Now Sylvia has managed to get a job aboard the ship 'Moon Unit 5', true it's as a Uniform Inventory Manager, but from small acorns. She boards the ship early & is about to start her work when she finds something very unexpected - the body of the ship's second navigation officer. What was he doing in the Uniform Closet? Was it an accident or murder? Who's going to believe she had nothing to do with it when she's lied about everything else?
The security onboard the ship is headed by Neptune, notorious enough for Sylvia to recognise him when he arrives to investigate. Sylvia is taken into custody by Neptune but he soon tells her that he wants her help to look into what is happening on the ship as something is badly wrong but he won't tell her more than that. Sylvia is left not knowing who to trust, & has no friends onboard except her mechanical cat & a mischievous Gremlon stowaway named Pika.
I will say right at the start that this is not my usual reading fare, I rarely read 'cozy mystery' type books, but the fact that this was set in space piqued my interest. Sylvia is your usual leading lady: intelligent, headstrong, sometimes prone to not thinking things through before acting, & being a little slow to pick up on clues, but she's fairly easy to like. Neptune is the archetypical strong, silent type who could save our heroine half the trouble if he just talked to her. Overall I liked it - it has a strange kind of charm, & a lively sense of humour & doesn't take itself too seriously. I'm not sure I'll read any more of the series but this was a pleasant surprise. 3.5 stars (rounded up).
Now Sylvia has managed to get a job aboard the ship 'Moon Unit 5', true it's as a Uniform Inventory Manager, but from small acorns. She boards the ship early & is about to start her work when she finds something very unexpected - the body of the ship's second navigation officer. What was he doing in the Uniform Closet? Was it an accident or murder? Who's going to believe she had nothing to do with it when she's lied about everything else?
The security onboard the ship is headed by Neptune, notorious enough for Sylvia to recognise him when he arrives to investigate. Sylvia is taken into custody by Neptune but he soon tells her that he wants her help to look into what is happening on the ship as something is badly wrong but he won't tell her more than that. Sylvia is left not knowing who to trust, & has no friends onboard except her mechanical cat & a mischievous Gremlon stowaway named Pika.
I will say right at the start that this is not my usual reading fare, I rarely read 'cozy mystery' type books, but the fact that this was set in space piqued my interest. Sylvia is your usual leading lady: intelligent, headstrong, sometimes prone to not thinking things through before acting, & being a little slow to pick up on clues, but she's fairly easy to like. Neptune is the archetypical strong, silent type who could save our heroine half the trouble if he just talked to her. Overall I liked it - it has a strange kind of charm, & a lively sense of humour & doesn't take itself too seriously. I'm not sure I'll read any more of the series but this was a pleasant surprise. 3.5 stars (rounded up).
August 14, 2018
Delightful Space Cozy
When Sylvia Stryker manages to land her dream job - through duplicitous maneuvering - on a space ship for celestial tourists headed for Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, she's pretty happy with herself. But that doesn't last long. When she discovers a a murdered crew member, she makes a by-the-book report, only to find herself at odds with her boss on her first day. Soon, she's also in custody of the security officer.
As a fan of Diane Vallere's Mad for Mod and Style and Error cozy mystery series, I knew she could write spunky sleuths in fun settings and make the mystery work. But decorating and fashion are real fields and Vallere knew something about them before embarking on her writing career. Recreational space travel and aliens?
I needn't have worried. Fly Me to the Moon brings all the vintage Vallere goodness and adds cool space fashion, a mysterious hunk, a classic bitch of a boss and some out-of-this-world characters, including literal little green men (from Mars, naturally).
Sylvia Stryker is a winning sleuth with the right blend of bravado and vulnerability. The intimidating and mysterious Neptune keeps keeps her - and us - guessing. Plenty of danger, a particularly quirky and mischievous alien, plus a hint of romance old and new give this cozy mystery everything it needs to get into orbit and stay there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment of the new series and look forward to the next one!
Note: I read the Kindle edition of this book, but Goodreads did not give me that option. I do not own the paperpack.
When Sylvia Stryker manages to land her dream job - through duplicitous maneuvering - on a space ship for celestial tourists headed for Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, she's pretty happy with herself. But that doesn't last long. When she discovers a a murdered crew member, she makes a by-the-book report, only to find herself at odds with her boss on her first day. Soon, she's also in custody of the security officer.
As a fan of Diane Vallere's Mad for Mod and Style and Error cozy mystery series, I knew she could write spunky sleuths in fun settings and make the mystery work. But decorating and fashion are real fields and Vallere knew something about them before embarking on her writing career. Recreational space travel and aliens?
I needn't have worried. Fly Me to the Moon brings all the vintage Vallere goodness and adds cool space fashion, a mysterious hunk, a classic bitch of a boss and some out-of-this-world characters, including literal little green men (from Mars, naturally).
Sylvia Stryker is a winning sleuth with the right blend of bravado and vulnerability. The intimidating and mysterious Neptune keeps keeps her - and us - guessing. Plenty of danger, a particularly quirky and mischievous alien, plus a hint of romance old and new give this cozy mystery everything it needs to get into orbit and stay there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment of the new series and look forward to the next one!
Note: I read the Kindle edition of this book, but Goodreads did not give me that option. I do not own the paperpack.
December 23, 2017
Diane Vallere has dared to go where no author has gone before in the cozy mystery genre with the first book in her new series, Murder on Moon Trek 1. The series is set in outer space and if the first book is any indication, it will be a delightful series.
The story opens as Sylvia Stryker, half earthling, half Plunian, begins her duties as uniform ward officer aboard Moon Unit 5…..by finding the dead body of the ship’s second navigation officer in the uniform closet. Since she hacked her way into the position, and also has a few other secrets, Sylvia is blackmailed into helping Neptune, the security officer, find the killer. But Neptune has secrets of his own, and it is up to Sylvia to find out if they are deadly or not, while keeping Moon Unit 5 from becoming space dust.
I very much enjoyed this book. Diane Vallere has a wonderfully wacky sense of humor that is evident in all her books, and this is no exception. Sylvia has a very dry sense of humor and at the same time a desire to improve and grow beyond her circumstances. This journey is an integral part of the story. She is also highly inventive and technologically accomplished, as evidenced by her pet, a robot named Cat that she built herself. The mystery itself is intriguing and has enough suspects and clues that it’s not easy to figure out. I was surprised at the identity of the killer. While everything is neatly wrapped up at the end, it is clear that Sylvia will have more adventures in space.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
The story opens as Sylvia Stryker, half earthling, half Plunian, begins her duties as uniform ward officer aboard Moon Unit 5…..by finding the dead body of the ship’s second navigation officer in the uniform closet. Since she hacked her way into the position, and also has a few other secrets, Sylvia is blackmailed into helping Neptune, the security officer, find the killer. But Neptune has secrets of his own, and it is up to Sylvia to find out if they are deadly or not, while keeping Moon Unit 5 from becoming space dust.
I very much enjoyed this book. Diane Vallere has a wonderfully wacky sense of humor that is evident in all her books, and this is no exception. Sylvia has a very dry sense of humor and at the same time a desire to improve and grow beyond her circumstances. This journey is an integral part of the story. She is also highly inventive and technologically accomplished, as evidenced by her pet, a robot named Cat that she built herself. The mystery itself is intriguing and has enough suspects and clues that it’s not easy to figure out. I was surprised at the identity of the killer. While everything is neatly wrapped up at the end, it is clear that Sylvia will have more adventures in space.
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 22, 2018
Delightful Space Cozy
When Sylvia Stryker manages to land her dream job - through duplicitous maneuvering - on a space ship for celestial tourists headed for Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, she's pretty happy with herself. But that doesn't last long. When she discovers a a murdered crew member, she makes a by-the-book report, only to find herself at odds with her boss on her first day. Soon, she's also in custody of the security officer.
As a fan of Diane Vallere's Mad for Mod and Style and Error cozy mystery series, I knew she could write spunky sleuths in fun settings and make the mystery work. But decorating and fashion are real fields and Vallere knew something about them before embarking on her writing career. Recreational space travel and aliens?
I needn't have worried. Fly Me to the Moon brings all the vintage Vallere goodness and adds cool space fashion, a mysterious hunk, a classic bitch of a boss and some out-of-this-world characters, including literal little green men (from Mars, naturally).
Sylvia Stryker is a winning sleuth with the right blend of bravado and vulnerability. The intimidating and mysterious Neptune keeps keeps her - and us - guessing. Plenty of danger, a particularly quirky and mischievous alien, plus a hint of romance old and new give this cozy mystery everything it needs to get into orbit and stay there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment of the new series and look forward to the next one!
When Sylvia Stryker manages to land her dream job - through duplicitous maneuvering - on a space ship for celestial tourists headed for Jupiter's moon, Ganymede, she's pretty happy with herself. But that doesn't last long. When she discovers a a murdered crew member, she makes a by-the-book report, only to find herself at odds with her boss on her first day. Soon, she's also in custody of the security officer.
As a fan of Diane Vallere's Mad for Mod and Style and Error cozy mystery series, I knew she could write spunky sleuths in fun settings and make the mystery work. But decorating and fashion are real fields and Vallere knew something about them before embarking on her writing career. Recreational space travel and aliens?
I needn't have worried. Fly Me to the Moon brings all the vintage Vallere goodness and adds cool space fashion, a mysterious hunk, a classic bitch of a boss and some out-of-this-world characters, including literal little green men (from Mars, naturally).
Sylvia Stryker is a winning sleuth with the right blend of bravado and vulnerability. The intimidating and mysterious Neptune keeps keeps her - and us - guessing. Plenty of danger, a particularly quirky and mischievous alien, plus a hint of romance old and new give this cozy mystery everything it needs to get into orbit and stay there!
I thoroughly enjoyed this first installment of the new series and look forward to the next one!
December 24, 2017
Murder on Moon Trek 1 was another great read from Vallere as well as an amazing start to a new series. Sylvia Stryker's dream is to leave her small planet behind and take part in a moon trek so she hacks into and falsifies her records so that she can take part in this maiden voyage. Things definitely don't go as planned when she finds a dead body, attracts the attention of the head of security, and become embroiled in the middle of a murder mystery.
I have to admit that I am not the biggest science fiction fan but I love reading cozy mysteries so I was excited to give this series a try. I am so glad that I did. I loved how Vallere made the main focus of the story on the characters especially Sylvia who was very well developed throughout the book. The book was about Sylvia's journey in achieving her dream, coming to terms with her past, and looking toward the future. I also loved the secondary characters as well especially Pika. I loved how Vallere combined science fiction, mystery, drama, and humor making this book very enjoyable and hard to put down. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, and I would most definitely recommend this book to readers who want a fun, enjoyable read.
Received a copy of Murder on Moon Trek 1 from the author in exchange for an honest review.
I have to admit that I am not the biggest science fiction fan but I love reading cozy mysteries so I was excited to give this series a try. I am so glad that I did. I loved how Vallere made the main focus of the story on the characters especially Sylvia who was very well developed throughout the book. The book was about Sylvia's journey in achieving her dream, coming to terms with her past, and looking toward the future. I also loved the secondary characters as well especially Pika. I loved how Vallere combined science fiction, mystery, drama, and humor making this book very enjoyable and hard to put down. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, and I would most definitely recommend this book to readers who want a fun, enjoyable read.
Received a copy of Murder on Moon Trek 1 from the author in exchange for an honest review.
January 7, 2026
Who doesn't want to cruise around the solar system? Taking a relaxing job, having some fun times, catching a show, solving a MURDER? Striker just wanted to go on an adventure and get away from home for a bit, and she got more than she could have ever expected.
This was such a fun space mystery. The characters were great, and the action starts right away, and easily sucked me in. Our FMC is a quirky intelligent purple alien. I really appreciated the fact that our FMC was incredibly competent, intelligent, and didn't have any moments of stupidity to move the plot forward. Although how many times did she get changed? I learned more about space wear uniforms then I ever wanted to know!
I was a bit confused about the murder's motives, I wish it had sort of been fleshed out a little bit more at the end, as it felt a bit rushed. I did want to throw the MMC out the airlock a few times, ok maybe more than a few.
I absolutely will jump on to the rest of the series as this was super entertaining. I need to know what kind of pranks Pika gets up to.
Thank you NetGalley and Polyester Press for a free copy of this arc in exchange for a honest review.
This was such a fun space mystery. The characters were great, and the action starts right away, and easily sucked me in. Our FMC is a quirky intelligent purple alien. I really appreciated the fact that our FMC was incredibly competent, intelligent, and didn't have any moments of stupidity to move the plot forward. Although how many times did she get changed? I learned more about space wear uniforms then I ever wanted to know!
I was a bit confused about the murder's motives, I wish it had sort of been fleshed out a little bit more at the end, as it felt a bit rushed. I did want to throw the MMC out the airlock a few times, ok maybe more than a few.
I absolutely will jump on to the rest of the series as this was super entertaining. I need to know what kind of pranks Pika gets up to.
Thank you NetGalley and Polyester Press for a free copy of this arc in exchange for a honest review.
December 22, 2017
Typically a cozy mystery takes place in a small town with someone working at a local shop or working locally in the community. This book takes us to outer space where the Moon Units are cruise ships through space. We meet our heroine Sylvia Stryker who is wonderful. Strong, passionate and ready to kick anyone’s butt who wants to put her down. Her father was arrested for a crime committed with the space pirates, her mother who is an earthling mines dry ice and her ex boyfriend Vaan is on the Federal Council. Of course being a cozy mystery Sylvia stumbles upon a dead body only minutes into this cruise where she is working in the Uniform Ward. This novel has me thinking Star Wars, Star Trek and all things Sci Fi. While I do not like Sci Fi books I do enjoy the movies and I do enjoy Murder on Moon Trek 1. Diane has another hit series. Cannot wait for book 2.
I received an ARC from the author and decided to write an honest review!
I received an ARC from the author and decided to write an honest review!
December 19, 2017
What an exciting and captivating book!
I loved this space cozy! I’m not normally much of an ‘outer space reader’ but I am super glad I made an exception for this book!
At the beginning of the book, you land smack bang in the middle of things. I immediately liked it; the feel of this book was really good. Sylvia is only just on the spaceship and already she’s in big trouble. She has to find the truth to clear her name. But who to trust?
The whole book was lots of fun, but - being a murder mystery - there was also some serious stuff going on. It was full of unexpected twists and turns. This is a lovely new series that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery with a bit of quirkiness!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and voluntarily posted an honest review.
I loved this space cozy! I’m not normally much of an ‘outer space reader’ but I am super glad I made an exception for this book!
At the beginning of the book, you land smack bang in the middle of things. I immediately liked it; the feel of this book was really good. Sylvia is only just on the spaceship and already she’s in big trouble. She has to find the truth to clear her name. But who to trust?
The whole book was lots of fun, but - being a murder mystery - there was also some serious stuff going on. It was full of unexpected twists and turns. This is a lovely new series that I would recommend to anyone who loves a good mystery with a bit of quirkiness!
I received a complimentary copy of this book and voluntarily posted an honest review.
February 27, 2022
I'm not sure about this book, it seemed scattered and formula, but it was fun to read. It's a crime/thriller type of story set in a science fiction environment - however it's much more "fiction" than "science". In fact some of the "science" doesn't make sense (or is just plain wrong). I have no idea of the setting of this story of a trip to a moon of Jupiter. Is it all set withing our solar system or is it intersteller? If the latter, why the interest in Ganymede. How about our protagonist's home planet? Is it an asteroid, a dwarf planet, perhaps a moon, maybe a regular planet? Maybe this should simply have been set on a cruise ship (earthly water type). While seeming to be poorly constructed, perhaps this is a spoof of sf and I didn't pick up on it. In any case, it was fun to read so I'll try another sometime (for light reading of course.)
July 6, 2018
Dreams can lead you to a whole heap of trouble!
What a terrific read. Okay it's set in a futuristic setting but the plot flows well and is very well written. Following her dreams might be difficult with her father being a convict and her own health imperfections. However where there is a will there's a way. Alright it might mean hacking to get her onto a ship and on her way to her dreams. What she didn't expect was murder, sabotage, pirates, her former life ending and her present under threat from a killer. Add in the inscrutable security officer who has her under close watch and a stowaway. Great characters with just the right mix of gentle humour mixed in a plot that will keep you riveted until the end. Watch out for the surprise at the end. Great read.
What a terrific read. Okay it's set in a futuristic setting but the plot flows well and is very well written. Following her dreams might be difficult with her father being a convict and her own health imperfections. However where there is a will there's a way. Alright it might mean hacking to get her onto a ship and on her way to her dreams. What she didn't expect was murder, sabotage, pirates, her former life ending and her present under threat from a killer. Add in the inscrutable security officer who has her under close watch and a stowaway. Great characters with just the right mix of gentle humour mixed in a plot that will keep you riveted until the end. Watch out for the surprise at the end. Great read.
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