Murder on a Moon Trek (Sylvia Stryker Space Mystery #1)

Diane Vallere

Aug 2018 · Sylvia Stryker Space Mysteries Book 1 · Polyester Press

About this ebook

VERONICA MARS meets STAR TREK in this witty, retro-inspired sci-fi mystery.

A luxury space cruise. A fresh start. A murder that changes everything.

Sylvia Stryker has no business being aboard the Moon Unit Cruise Line—unless you count ambition and a talent for bending the rules. After her father’s arrest destroyed her future in Intergalactic Security, she’s stuck running an ice mine on the fringes of society.

Until she hacks her way onto a departing cruise ship.

Her plan? Lay low, do her job, and prove she belongs.

That plan unravels the moment a dead body falls out of the uniform closet.

Now Sylvia is trapped on a spaceship with a killer—and the head of security already has his eye on her. If she can’t solve the murder before they reach their destination, her second chance could end in a prison cell… or worse.

Perfect for readers who enjoy:

-Light science fiction mysteries

-Retro space settings with humor and heart

-Amateur sleuths in high-stakes environments

*Strong heroines who break the rules

Start the Sylvia Stryker Space Mysteries:

-A standalone mystery in every book

-A continuing character arc across the series

-Five-book completed series

Previously published as Fly Me to the Moon.

Ratings and reviews

Fascinated by the author's ideas of life throughout the solar system, the names & characteristics of the different types of creatures were fun: little green Martians, earthlings, Plunians like Stryker with violet skin & different gaseous needs for breathing. Her brilliance separated her from other Plunian potato or ice farmers. I can't recommend this book enough to readers of any age or sex. It's a murder mystery, spy story, and futuristic science fiction. Pure genius and entertaining!

Once I was done with the book, which I read all of in the same day, not what I normally do, I marveled that Diane Vallere succeeding at most everything she attempted in this new alternative cozy genre. She strapped on her moon boots and conquered this new alien terrain with thoughtfulness, intelligence and a sense of fun and adventure. I’m hoping this is the start of a new series because there were so many fun things about this book that I want to see how things turn out in subsequent stories.

I found myself quickly pulled in and pacing the corridors (and security cells) alongside Sylvia, trying to work out who the guilty party was: could it be her cranky & disapproving boss, the by-the-book head of security, or possibly the sweet Gremlon stowaway? When anyone else would just hunker down and contemplate saving their own skins, Sylvia boldly strides in to save the day. My Trek loving husband saw me enjoying the book & wanted his turn to read! A delightful new niche for cosy mysteries!

About the author

National bestselling author Diane Vallere crafts humorous mysteries that are out of this world. After two decades navigating the galaxy of luxury retailing, she swapped designer accessories for accessories to murder, propelling her career into the stratosphere. As past president of the national Sisters in Crime organization, she edited the Agatha-Award-winning essay collection PROMOPHOBIA: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction, rocketing the conversation about marketing crime fiction to new heights. Diane launched her own detective agency at the age of ten, and her passion for shoes, clues, and clothes has been in orbit ever since.