Nice little story

Not much of a murder mystery. More of a thriller. A small amount of backstory.

It really lacked depth. While it was mildly interesting, there wasn't anything to figure out. You don't know too much more about the characters and the world than you did at the beginning.

Still, nice enough as a momentary diversion. ( )

*** A free copy of this book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review ***

Zero Flux reintroduces us to Mairwen and Luka from Overload Flux, and the author has again put their special and complementary gifts to imaginative use in this short but enticing story of a multiple murder frozen in time on Lumi Silta, Luka's home planet. They are accompanied by Luka's friend Einar, who is assisting them but also strangely withholding information despite having initiated their involvement in the case.

As if the extreme and challenging conditions on Lumi Silta weren't enough, other life-threatening forces are at work and, as Mairwen, Luka and Einar become separated, they each face different dangers and threats to their survival, until circumstances again bring them together for a showdown they aren't prepared for.

Since this is such a short novella and the cast of characters is small, details are necessarily kept to a minimum but my attention was held by what was happening as each revelation is shared with us.

What the threesome discover at the scene of the crime is at once shocking and potentially breathtaking in scope, leaving Mairwen and Luka to ponder their future once the implications of what they're faced with become clearer. Their chosen solution to the dilemma, which we're only left to assume takes place, is far-reaching and final, so I'm wishing for it not to actually happen and that instead the threads are picked up in a future story.

I love what Mairwen and Luka have together. They're devoted lovers, which we only see glimpses of here because this journey isn't a romance, but the added dimension of their combined talents makes them a formidable team, which is appealing and exciting to follow as their investigation leads us down a path that is anything but predictable.

I would really have liked to see this story fleshed out and become a full-length novel and believe this is perhaps a lost opportunity, but Zero Flux was still a tasty and engaging morsel in the Central Galactic Concordance series and it provides yet another layer to the overall story arc. I therefore urge readers to join the adventure at the beginning with Overload Flux to get the most from where the author is taking us. I'm eagerly waiting to see where we're going next. ( )