Publisher: Harper Voyager
Publication Date – 13 February 2018
Murder has just been committed on the Moon, and all hell is about to break loose.
By 2072 the world has dramatically changed. A devastating natural disaster shook the planet and altered the balance of power between nations. The only hope for the future lies in a new energy source, helium-3, which can power Earth’s fusion reactors and provide unlimited clean energy.
Earth’s main source of helium-3 is on the Moon. Desperate to have as much of this valuable material as possible, the world’s leading nations each have their own mining expeditions in play. Life is tough for the miners, death lies around every corner and Moon dust can quickly destroy the hardiest of equipment.
For Caden Dechert, the Moon is the perfect place for a man trying to escape his past, even if it does strongly smell of gunpowder. Trying to forget the long wars he fought back on Earth as a marine, Caden has forged a new life as the chief of the U.S. mining station Sea of Serenity 1, a vital station for a country only just coming back into world prominence.
However, Caden’s small slice of peace is broken when a member of his mining team is murdered in a deliberate explosion. Evidence quickly points to the United States’ most prominent rival, China, whose bases are located a short distance from Caden’s station. Tensions are quick to rise, and a series of escalating incidents sees the two nations draw closer to the brink of war.
Despite the evidence supplied by his own country, Caden is not convinced that the Chinese are behind the explosion. Years spent working near the Chinese mining team has built up a certain respect, and Caden’s suspicions of a conspiracy begin to grow after noticing other unusual activities around his base. With his team trapped at Sea of Serenity 1, and with both nations ready to fire the first shot, Caden is forced to investigate the murder himself in order to stop a destructive war that could tear his beloved Moon apart.
From first time author David Pedreira comes Gunpowder Moon, a spectacular piece of crime fiction set on the harsh and unforgiving surface of the Moon. Pedreira has created an interesting murder mystery that combines with a high-stakes plot, science fiction elements and exotic location in order to produce a great story.
Without a doubt, the most memorable feature of this book is its setting of the Moon. Pedreira has done a remarkable job of highlighting and describing his story’s brutal backdrop. Significant time is also spent describing the narrator’s emotional attachment to the Moon and how it represents a new beginning for his crew of outcasts. By the end of the book, the Moon is nearly an additional character as it acts as an excellent emotive setting for the reader.
The Moon also serves as an important plot device, as various features of life on the Moon, such as the required technology, gravity, the isolation and the devastating effects of Moon dust, all play a key part in the overall story. In addition, Pedreira’s observations about the requirements for living on the Moon and his descriptions of the technology and mining work will appeal to the interests of many curious readers.
While the Moon is the main location for this book, Pedreira has also created an interesting potential future for humanity that serves as a backdrop for the story. Pedreira postulates an interesting build-up to a war between America and China made up of ecological problems on Earth, expansion outside the planet and a fight for a new energy source. Views of the near future of Earth are always fascinating, and the predicted future presented in Gunpowder Moon is a particularly intriguing story element that combines well with the books overarching mystery.
The plot of Gunpowder Moon focuses on a riveting murder mystery that is made unique by its location and the limited options for an investigation. The investigators do not have any traditional evidence or witnesses. They have limited information due to their isolation and they are unable to discuss the case with many of their suspects, who may be on Earth. The background plot of the United States and China going to war combines well with the murder elements, as there is a real sense of urgency and import to the investigation as the main characters are trying to stop an upcoming war.
Gunpowder Moon is an excellent science fiction murder mystery that contains a fast-paced, action-packed story. The author makes great use of his futuristic setting and unique location, providing the reader with impassioned descriptions of the Moon’s surface. David Pedreira’s debut novel is a captivating and intriguing new read that spectacularly captures humanity’s imagination with the Moon.
My Rating:
The Unseen Library 