Star Power

Ellis McFadden Mysteries

De: Kristen Painter

Narrado por: Robyn Maryke

Step into the enigmatic world of the Athos—a vessel that blends the luxury of a cruise ship, the intrigue of a scientific research station, and the might of a military starship. Here, amidst the stars, you'll find Ellis McFadden, the ship’s head librarian, embarking on adventures she never anticipated this late in her career.

The latest adventure sees the ship approaching a mesmerizing nebula, the centerpiece of a grand gala. It’ll be an evening filled with the galaxy's elite, all gathered to marvel at this cosmic wonder and the legendary gem rumored to be born from its very core.

But when this priceless jewel vanishes, Ellis, along with her dashing new boyfriend, Frank, and her charming android cat, has no choice but to find the gem. Failure could mean an interstellar incident, resulting in Ellis, and her daughter, the Vice Admiral, being ousted from their celestial home. Can they solve the mystery in time to save their place among the stars?

©2025 Kristen Painter (P)2025 Kristen Painter

Cosmic Mystery and Heartfelt Adventure

Kristen Painter once again takes readers on a thrilling ride through the cosmos in her latest novel, The Athos Affair, blending luxury, mystery, and a touch of sci-fi adventure that will captivate fans of the genre.

Set aboard the luxurious, multifaceted vessel known as the Athos, the story follows Ellis McFadden, the ship’s head librarian, who finds herself entangled in an unexpected mystery. The Athos is no ordinary ship—it's a fusion of the opulence of a cruise liner, the cutting-edge research capabilities of a science station, and the strength of a military starship. It's the perfect setting for Ellis to live out her final years in relative peace, or so she thought.

This time, the Athos is preparing for a glamorous gala held to celebrate the nebula it’s about to pass. The elite of the galaxy are on board to witness the celestial spectacle and admire the rumored gem that was supposedly birthed at the nebula’s core. But when the priceless gem mysteriously vanishes, the stakes are raised, and Ellis, alongside her witty android cat and her new boyfriend Frank, is thrust into a high-stakes hunt to recover it.

Painter’s ability to craft an intricate, layered narrative is on full display here. The world-building is both rich and immersive, making the Athos feel as much a character in the story as Ellis or Frank. The dynamic between the characters is fun, especially the addition of Ellis' charming android cat, which brings a unique and delightful touch of humor to the otherwise tense situation.

While the plot is gripping, and the stakes feel high, the true strength of the novel lies in the character of Ellis herself. At the heart of the story is her journey, not just to solve the mystery but also to confront personal demons, connect with her estranged daughter, and navigate her role within the high-stakes political world of interstellar governance. The emotional depth adds a layer of complexity to what could otherwise have been just a fast-paced space mystery.

Painter excels at blending the intrigue of the mystery with the intricacies of character relationships, creating a balance that keeps the pages turning. However, what keeps this from being a perfect five-star read is the pacing in certain moments. There are times when the narrative slows down, especially as Ellis reflects on her past or her relationships, and while these moments are meaningful, they occasionally disrupt the flow of the story.

Overall, The Athos Affair is a captivating and rewarding read. It blends genres effortlessly, offering both the glamour of space opera and the tension of a thrilling whodunit. Fans of Painter’s work, as well as newcomers to her writing, will find much to enjoy here. The book concludes with a satisfying resolution, leaving just enough room for more adventures aboard the Athos. Highly recommended for those who love well-crafted science fiction with a dash of heart and mystery.

Rating: 4.5/5

Star Power

Star Power by Kristen Painter
Ellis McFadden Mystery series #2. Science fiction mystery, cozy style. Can be read as a stand-alone but better in series order. Older heroine.
Ellis McFadden is the head librarian on the military starship, Athos. The ship is on a 20 year mission, primary military, and also carrying passengers in a luxury style, as well as a portion of the ship for scientific research. Ellis joined the starship crew since her daughter is the Vice Admiral and with no other family, it made sense to go together.
Ellis and new boyfriend Frank were helpful is solving a crime recently and are called in again to help investigate when a legendary and priceless gem goes missing. Two guards are missing and a fake is in place of the real jewel. Ellis, Frank and their android pets search areas of the ship, ask questions and create a modified murder board to solve the puzzle of the missing gem.

An intriguing starship premise with accepted other worlds and life across the galaxies. I love the android talking chunky cat Henry and cockatoo Gracie. Not the first time this author has included a talking cat into a series. The mysteries have been clever and fun to read.
Recommended for anyone that likes a cozy mystery with unique settings and characters.

🎧 I also listened to an audiobook version narrated by Robyn Maryke. Same as the first book in the series. The performance is wonderful with emotional content clearly heard and specific voices for the main characters. Even for the cat and cockatoo which made me laugh. The audiobook makes the characters come alive, and the starship environment become visual in the listeners imagination.
I did speed up the playback to between 1.5 and 1.7 to better match my reading and conversation comfort.

I was gifted a copy of the audiobook. I purchased a copy of the ebook.