Breathing Space

Ellis McFadden Mysteries

By: Kristen Painter

Narrated by: Robyn Maryke

Step into the enigmatic world of the Athos—a vessel that blends the luxury of a cruise ship, the intrigue of a scientific research station, and the might of a military starship. Here, amidst the stars, you'll find Ellis McFadden, the ship’s head librarian, embarking on adventures she never anticipated this late in her career.

Even better that she gets to experience it all while in proximity to her daughter, who just happens to be the vice admiral. But life aboard the ship takes a darker turn when a library patron is found dead, and Ellis falls under suspicion.

With her reputation on the line, Ellis must navigate a labyrinth of secrets and lies. Armed with her wits, the loyalty of her eclectic friends, and her trusty android cat, she dives into a mystery that's as thrilling as the unexplored galaxies around her. Can she find the critical evidence to clear her name before the next jump into the unknown?

©2024 Kristen Painter (P)2025 Kristen Painter

so different, but so great

I'm a fan of Kristen Painter. I have loved all of her series. This one the me for a loop because it is not her usual genre, and being narrated by not BJ Harrison felt wrong.

However, it didn't take me long to see that Ms. Maryke is the perfect choice for this series. This story is fresh and exciting.

I've always said that Kristen Painter does romance well, even though 'well' doesn't quite do her justice. Now, I see that Kristen also does mystery well. I can't wait to read the next one.

Very Enjoyable

This new series of Kristen Painters’ is a refreshing change from my normal genre. I’ll admit at the first it took me a little bit to understand the chat line but once I got into the story, I enjoyed that part of it too. In fact, I enjoyed this so much. I went back and listened to it again before reviewing it. I just wasn’t ready for it to be over yet.A very good story and very likable characters.

No science in this SF

This story is nice but contains very little science. I liked it well enough and will go on with the series.

Good start

Really enjoyed this book. A bit of a departure for her other books and it really works well. The narrator was a bit stiff, hopefully she will loosen up in the next book.

New world and characters

In Breathing Space, Kristen brings us a new world and characters to fall in love with. The descriptions make a person feel as if you are in the story and the depth of characters allow you to feel that they are old friends. Mix in a good mystery and you have a great read.