by Paul Preuss
First published 2021
Sparta stands over two bodies in Labyrinth City. Someone has stolen an alien plaque from Mars and killed to cover their tracks. The artifact came from the edge of the north polar icecap, the first real proof that life exists beyond Earth. Now Sparta must hunt the killer across the solar system to recover it. Her beauty masks her true nature. She is the product of advanced biotech engineering, her abilities far beyond normal human limits. Her code name protects secrets she cannot afford to reveal. The investigation forces her to risk both her life and her carefully guarded identity. The case becomes a chase through space as Sparta pursues the stolen plaque. What starts as a murder investigation transforms into something larger. The quest will uncover more evidence of extraterrestrial life than Earth's scientists ever imagined possible. Sparta must solve the murders and retrieve the artifact before the trail goes cold among the stars.
Genres: science-fiction, adventure, action, aliens
Vibes: fast-paced, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, secrets
Setting: Mars, Labyrinth City, Solar System
Period: 21st-century
312 pages · Paperback · iBooks