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Cover of The Spare Man

Science Fiction · 2022 · PG-13

The Spare Man

by Mary Robinette Kowal

Newlyweds on a space cruise. A dead body in the pool. Classic.

Hugo, Locus, and Nebula-Award winner Mary Robinette Kowal blends her no-nonsense approach to life in space with her talent for creating glittering high-society in this stylish SF mystery, The Spare Man. A 2023 Hugo Award Finalist! A 2022 Locus Magazine Recommended Reading List pick! Tesla Crane, a brilliant inventor and an heiress, is on her honeymoon on an interplanetary space liner, cruising between the Moon and Mars. She’s traveling incognito and is reveling in her anonymity. Then someone is murdered and the festering chowderheads who run security have the audacity to arrest her spouse. Arm

For14+GenreScience FictionLength371 pagesRead time~9.5 hours

This analysis was generated by AI from publicly available reader reviews, literary criticism, and book discussions. It has not been verified by a BookLens community reviewer and may contain errors. Be the first to verify →

Content snapshot

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What's in this book, at a glance — five things readers want to know before they start.

Violence

Some

A murder and some danger; investigation of a crime aboard a cruise ship

Language

Barely any

Mild language throughout

Sexual Content

Barely any

Newlywed couple; affectionate; some adult content implied

Substance Use

Some

Martinis are a recurring element; PTSD affects Tesla's relationship with substances

Emotional Intensity

Some

PTSD recovery in an unusual setting, a woman solving the case her husband is blamed for, the warm humor of a retro mystery in space

What this book is about

Tesla Crane — a billionaire heiress recovering from PTSD and physical injury — is on her honeymoon with her new husband Shal, a detective, aboard an interplanetary cruise liner. When a fellow passenger is found dead in the pool, and Shal becomes a suspect, Tesla starts quietly investigating. Kowal's mystery novel is a direct homage to Nick and Nora Charles from The Thin Man — a witty, fizzy mystery with a service dog and a very good martini.

Notes for sensitive readers

Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.

PTSD and its physical effects

murder mystery pacing

alcohol as a homage to the genre

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