The Ark by Patrick S Tomlinson
Synopsis:
Humankind has escaped a dying Earth and set out to find a new home among the stars aboard an immense generation spaceship, affectionately named the Ark. Bryan Benson is the Ark’s greatest living sports hero, enjoying retirement working as a detective in Avalon, his home module. The hours are good, the work is easy, and the perks can’t be beat.
But when a crew member goes missing, Benson is thrust into the centre of an ever-expanding web of deception, secrets, and violence that overturns everything he knows about living on the Ark and threatens everyone aboard. As the last remnants of humanity hurtle towards their salvation, Benson finds himself in a desperate race to unravel the conspiracy before a madman turns mankind’s home into its tomb.
Review:
Bryan Benson is a detective on a ship with very few violent crimes. So when a man goes missing, Benson is one of the few who believes he was murdered. And as the colony ship nears their new home planet, a group of separatists have their own agenda.
The Ark blends two of my favorite genres – science fiction and mystery. The story is well-paced and exciting. The mystery is unpredictable and complex. There are plenty of twists and turns that keep readings guessing. And the setting is like a character all its own. I love “wagon train to the stars” stories, and this is no exception. Mystery and scifi fans alike will enjoy this exciting novel.
I’m currently reading “The Ark” and after 145 pages I can confirm that everything you wrote in your review is true.
Good to know that detective Benson will return in “Trident’s Forge” to be published in April 2016.