Book Review: Kris Longknife: Deserter by Mike Shepherd

Kris Longknife: Deserter
Author: Mike Shepherd
Series: Kris Longknife (Book 2)
Publication: Ace; 1st Printing edition (November 30, 2004)

Description: A search for her lost friend leads the female space warrior into a galactic hellhole with no way out.

My Thoughts: This second book in the Kris Longknife series has Lieutenant JG Kris Longknife assigned to a ship which is testing the new smart metal. 

When she gets a distress call from her friend Tom, she uses some leave time to travel to Taurantic to try to rescue him. She is traveling with her bodyguard Jack and a new maid hired by her mother whose name is Abby. Not to mention Kris's computer Nelly who has just gotten a new upgrade and who is analyzing an artifact left by the Three which might or might not be influencing Kris.

Rescuing Tom is not beyond her small team's capabilities especially with the addition of another Navy Lieutenant named Penny. But the rescue was a trap set by Kris's old enemy Cal Sandfire. Sandfire wants Kris dead but she's only one small part of his bigger plan. 

With Kris stuck on Taurantic because of an Ebola outbreak and a strangely coincidental failure of the Comm System, Kris finds herself using her role of Princess Longknife to find out what is going on on the planet. She finds that Sandfire is building a space fleet using merchant hulls. The question is whether he is working on his own or at the direction of Henry Smythe-Peterwald the Twelfth.

Kris has met Hank Peterwald the Thirteenth who is her agemate and someone she should have a lot in common with considering that each has a trust fund hovering around a trillion and powerful parents. But a series of accidents whenever he's around leaves Kris uncertain about whether Hank is a villain or a dupe.

The story was filled with action and intrigue. I really like Kris's new maid who seems to have lots and lots of secrets and some really strange competencies. I like that Kris is smart and creative and driven to make things better for those around her. 

This is an entertaining series with great worldbuilding and great characters. 

Favorite Quote:

No question about it, excitement was something horrible happening to someone else as far away from your own thin and delicate skin as possible.

I bought this one back in 2004. You can buy your copy here.