I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
In the midst of a large corporate conglomerate pushing galactic expansion, an aging detective and a private security forces agent find themselves in a rush for survival in the midst of a massive conspiracy in author Walter Robinson’s “The Northern Route”.
The Synopsis
In the distant star cluster Messier 4, the vast and stagnant civilization of the Apeilous sits on the verge of its next great expansion. Several massive corporations have merged to start the Endeavor, the most far-reaching economic and humanitarian effort in history.
Vesta Amore leads a small team of private security specializing in the protection of whistleblowers and corporate defectors. She has no interest in the Endeavor until she is swept off her feet by the suave leader of the Fortuna Corp, an equal partner in the Endeavor. Balancing her altruism with the realities of power, Vesta joins the Fortuna as they work to establish a supply route along the contested northern border.
Cal Sunn is a career detective looking forward to retirement. When the Maressellya Corp backs out of joining the Endeavor, they hear rumors of a defector in their ranks and put Cal on the case. What starts as a simple assignment becomes a fight for survival as he works to untangle a shadowy conspiracy that threatens the Apeilous. With the Fortuna’s backing, he and his crew rush to uncover the plot.
The Review
This was a powerful and engaging read. The author did an incredible job of crafting a diverse cast of characters that drove the reader to find themselves amongst them all, and the attention to detail the author paid to the writing, especially the imagery and character development, allowed the reader to really picture the vast universe the author had brought to life on the page.
To me, the heart of this narrative rested in the author’s world-building, which allowed the universe to thrive and feel vibrant and alive to the reader. The author not only honed in on the worlds that populated this fictional universe, but also the different cultures, class systems, and social aspects of these characters’ lives, as well as the way the story touched upon our own world’s love of corporations and the power they wield over us all, made this a compelling sci-fi read.
The Verdict
Harrowing, intriguing, and entertaining, author Walter Robinson’s “The Northern Route” is a must-read sci-fi adventure. The world-building, the mystery and intrigue the conspiracy brings to life, and the way the author was able to weave in genres like corporate espionage and thrillers into the narrative really made an impact on the reader, and fans of shows and series like The Expanse will really fall in love with this compelling novel. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!
Rating: 10/10
About the Author
Walter Robinson is a speculative fiction author based in Western PA. A classically trained engineer with experience in product development and advanced materials manufacturing, he has a passion for telling the human stories that are fundamental to the built world. When he isn’t writing or drawing, Walter spends his time designing and fabricating.