I liked this one better than the first one. I gave the first one a 4 but it was just barely. The science fiction was good but the mystery struggled. This one the mystery really worked for me. I much better blending of the two genres. I like the multiple story lines and the fun way they all pull together. ( )

Regrettably, although the number of accidental deaths of participants in the Moon Marathon is declining, they still do occur. However, this death is murder. Meanwhile, Miles Flint is unsure whether to accept his first case as a fully-fledged Retrieval Agent, although the potential client, a lawyer from a firm Paloma frequently worked with, is very persistent.

The different threads came together nicely in this exciting case which kept me up way past my bedtime. In the shadow of Covid, the story of a genetically enhanced lethal cold virus does of course have more resonances than it did in 2004. ( )

A great detective story, told from 3 different perspectives. The action takes place on the moon, within a comprehensible near time milieu—the story resonates with modern sensibilities and deep space concepts. Someone dies in strange circumstances during a lunar marathon—with space suits and scattered rock debris, etc. Aliens are mentioned, but only as background to the story. So we have an insane medical killer who is so charismatic that people tend to like/believe her, a cop that is so competent that it’s only her lack of social competence that prevents her from getting promoted, and a skip-tracer that needs to prove you’re worthy of his services before you can hire him. The threads woven by each character manages to keep the action moving until the author can finally merge the threads and save the day. A gripping story. ( )

Rusch, Kristine Kathryn. Extremes: A Retrieval Artist Novel. Retrieval Artist No. 2. Roc, 2003.
Extremes, the second full novel in Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s Retrieval Artist series, hits closer to home than Rusch could have imagined in 2003. Miles Flint, now an independent investigator of cases involving people who have vanished, either because of or in spite of the various alien legal systems with which humanity has become involved, is troubled by the suspicious death of one of his fellow investigators. His former partner in the Armstrong city police department finds herself investigating the death of a marathon runner and later a viral outbreak in one of the city’s domes. The idea of a crowd disease in the closed environment of a lunar city seems all too real as we claw our way out of our own pandemic. Rusch has once again created a well-plotted mystery with strong characters and somce fun science fiction twists. She is a writer I will continue to read. ( )

This was a good book. I had forgotten how well the story worked. This story expands the Retrieval Artist universe. Miles has his first case as Retrieval Artist. Naturally it is entangled in his old partner DeRicci's case as well. I even like Zweig/Tey and her 'cause'. Well written and engrossing. ( )