The Tea Master and the Detective

The Shadow's Child is a living mindship that was discharged from military transport service after an injury and now ekes out a living brewing teas to help space travelers, fully aware that her choice of profession is not without issues. When scholar Long Chau requests a corpse from space for scientific study, the sentient ship accepts the odd—if unpleasant—assignment, which shouldn't be too difficult as dead ships in deep spaces are, sadly, in larger numbers after the uprisings. However, the body she brings back turns out to have been murdered, and Long Chau insists on following the trail of a cold death in outer space. Impelled by her own stubborn interest, The Shadow's Child follows, soon realizing that her client's secretive past may point to answers in the investigation. This slim volume packs a visceral punch. Absorbing prose pulls readers into the dark, frigid space between stars, where ships can fail, physically and emotionally, as easily as people.