Having been transferred from what he had previously thought was the worst posting possible, Neil Gordon doesn’t even make it out of Luna City spaceport before people try to kill him. And his day doesn’t get much better from there.

Disclaimer: This review is based on an ARC copy provided by the author.

Moon Cops on the Moon takes place in a solar system that is some point between the author’s Agent G and Space Academy series, although knowledge of either isn’t necessary to enjoy this book. Its tone is closer to the latter, with rapid-fire dialogue being punctuated with either sarcasm, pop-culture references, or occasionally, someone trying to kill the main character. If you have read any of the above books, or indeed anything by the author, this won’t be a surprise.

While he’s not a newcomer to either law enforcement or betrayal, and has the artificial leg to prove it; Neil is frequently bemused by the situation and the complex, shifting loyalties in his new assignment. As the 1st-person narrator/protagonist, he acts as the reader’s guide to the inner workings of Luna City; from the competing (sometimes to the death) police & security services and cybernetically enhanced gangs to the various oddballs that make up his new co-workers.

Ultimately Moon Cops…, is a fast-paced and action-packed read, full of witty one-liners and memorable characters. I defy anyone not to find Detective Barksley completely lovable as soon as he appears.

4 1/2 Purple Rains

C.T. Phipps