They took to the stars to build a cleaner society. Now one man is about to get his hands dirtier than he ever imagined. For years, Investigator John Romaine has traded his principles for a comfortable life in space. The deal is do as his corporate bosses tell him and they won’t send him into the dirt and danger of their planetary colonies. So he’s stunned when they deploy him to an unregistered world to solve the suspicious death of a corporate Marine. And even more astounded to discover that the planet is home to aliens, the first sentient species humans have encountered. The pressure mounts to accuse the aliens of murder, the clues aren’t adding up--and with conflict flaring between the locals and the Marines, Romaine is forced to do two things he’s never done before... Fight for his life. And choose a side that’s not his own. *** If you like heart-pounding action, high-stakes investigations, and rich scifi world-building, you’ll love Peter J Aldin’s standalone space opera, Eventide .
This was a GoodReads giveaway win of a Kindle ebook.
It was a murder mystery set on an Avatar world. The "unobtainium" in this case is a native plant, but still the same old might is right justification of actions. Well, maybe with a more urgent timeline. And reference to our current pandemic / endemic world. Fairly well tied together. A good protagonist. Someone I could read more adventures from. Our villain lived up to expectations. I would have liked a bit more justice in the end, but still a good end.
Really solid space opera with an underpinning murder mystery that puts a new race of aliens firmly in the "prime suspect" category. A big chunky book that I felt was value for money and let me escape into a welll-painted world hour after hour. Nice work!
Genre - Fiction/Science Fiction/Space Opera/Murder Mystery Pages - 568 Publication Information - Independently Published, July 18, 2020 ASIN: B088QDDH5W, ISBN - 13:978-0648309208 Format - Digital (Kindle - ARC) Reviewed by: William C. Bitner, Jr. , https://booksinmylibraryblog.wordpres... Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
There are times when the science fiction genre can leave me in a space that has me wondering or having a great deal of difficulty understanding what I just read. The terminology (sometimes made up), and all the technical minutiae (also made up) can be difficult to keep track of and imagine. With ‘Eventide’ by Peter J. Aldin, I finally read science fiction and enjoyed it and understood what was going on. I guess the reason for that is that the story, although taking place in space and on an alien planet, with that terminology and technical minutiae, is more about a detective and his search for a killer. This is a fast paced, ever changing landscape kind of read. With wonderfully imagined and believable characters along with a great story and brilliant world building. Mr. Aldin breathed life into his novel and gave it a life of its own. Entertaining, fun and just a great read.
From the back cover: A mysterious murder.
An alien race accused.
For one corporate cop, solving this case could get him killed.
For years, investigator John Romaine has traded his principles for a safe and comfortable life in space. The deal is clear: if he cleans up his employer’s messes, they won’t send him into the dirt and danger of their planetary colonies. So he’s stunned when he’s deployed to an unregistered world to solve the suspicious death of a Space Marine. And even more astounded to discover that the planet is home to aliens, the first sentient species humans have encountered.
The pressure mounts to charge the local people with murder, the clues aren’t adding up, and with conflict flaring between the locals and the Marines, Romaine is forced to do two things he’s never done before.
Fight for his life. And choose a side that’s not his own.
About the Author: Peter J. Aldin writes action-adventure in sci-fi or fantasy settings.
Under the pen name Pete Aldin, he writes darker, more brutal thrillers in paranormal or other fantasy settings. (These novels have more gore and a lot more swearing).
An Aussie, he lives in his homeland. From there he supports Chelsea FC (we won’t hold that against him) in the English Premier League. He is a fan of rums, whiskeys (and whiskeys), as well as ciders.
Other work by Peter J. Aldin - Pete Aldin: Black Marks, Doomsday Child (Book 1), Rescue Mission (Doomsday Child, Book 1.5), Came Monsters (Doomsday Child, Book 2), Nine Tales, Illegal: Digital Science Fiction Short Story, et.a..
For those appreciating hard military SciFi with a whodunnit crime thriller mix, this is the book for you. The pacing and setting were great, the characters (whether alien or human) were excellent, and the usual suspects aren't at all what they seem.
I'd say it was hard-to-put-down, but we have to eat and sleep sometime. Gritty, fast-paced action with a bit of humour as well. All in all, not a bad combination put together well.
I felt there was almost a chance of some romance ... but luckily, Mr Aldin managed to steer away from that ;)
What I enjoy about a real good sci-fi story is great adventure, dynamic yummy characters, a twist and turning plot and lots of surprises. Eventide is all of this. Commander John Romaine Military Intelligence detective is sent to investigate a soldier’s death on the earth like planet of Eventide. He prefers to work in space where it is safer and more his comfort level. Romaine has no recourse but to accept the assignment. Upon arrival on Eventide Romaine instantly wants to resolve the case. The weather is hot and humid and totally out of his comfort zone. The military presence doesn’t want him there and they have already decided the outcome of the case. Romaine is a man who likes to make his own decisions based on facts and not on others opinions. Corporal Fisher is assigned as his guide and helper during his stay. Eventide is rich in mineral resources but also one very important medical plant that could be a cure for a nasty virus that is invading other colonies. Unfortunately the medicinal plant is located on scared land of the natives (aliens) and they do not appreciate the military takeover and destruction. Could the murder be retaliation for military's aggressive actions? What Romaine finds out is nothing like what he expected and it changes his life. Join Romaine, Fisher and the other characters is a wild adventure. I think you will enjoy it.
I enjoyed it. The main cast of characters were well-written, and put through interesting dilemmas that determine not only the fate of two species but their souls. I've never screamed at a book before, and Aldin had the gall to make his antagonist make a compelling yet wrong and FRUSTRATING argument. I had to put the book down to calm down. And it's worse, knowing that the events in this book have happened in the past, and will happen again in our own future. We are left with a bleak but not entirely doomed view of humans and how we treat those unlike ourselves.
Read it. You will Feel Things, and I think that's something we need to do once in a while.
When it's the 22nd century and I am setting up a small base on a habitable planet with a unique and valuable resource, I'll be sending the A-Team. And layered 24 hour surveillance of *everything*.
Which is to say I didn't care for the science or the story.
DNF @ 17%. Reading is my escape - the tone of the book is much too aggressive for me right now, makes me anxious. May pick it up again at a later date.