5 stars for Buried Deep (Retrieval Artist book 4) by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
Ever since the Disty first make their appearance in book 1 of the Retrieval Artist series, we learn that it is best to steer clear of this particular species of aliens due to their belief in vengeance killing. However, due to interstellar commerce, it is almost impossible to have zero contact with these extra-terrestrials. Hence, to avoid being prosecuted for crimes – which so often, in the eyes of human laws are regarded as insignificant, harmless or not even considered offenses at all - against the Disty, the humans can only aim to minimise communication and hence mitigate the risk of incurring the wrath of the Disty.
In this book 4, the Disty are once again thrust into the limelight but by one not of their choice. As the humans learn more about the Disty, their culture and rituals, it seems that the less is understood about them for the Disty are extremely secretive, especially about personal matters – even to the extent of revealing their names – and it makes dealing with them more of a nasty chore than welcomed challenge. As a result, no one in the Earth Alliance can comprehend completely the Disty and their traditional rituals of dealing with the dead. This lack of in-depth knowledge in turn leads to devastating consequences in the crisis that follows.
Something has been unearthed on the Disty dominated Mars; something so terrifying to the Disty that they are fleeing Saraha Dome where it is found; something so petrifying that the Disty have turned irrational to get out of said Dome by any means - trampling one another, taking trains, stealing aircars and jamming exits in the port - even if it means dying in the process. To survive the catastrophe, these panicky Disty may travel to any available port in the solar system and Armstrong Dome being one of the largest and closest to Mars stands out as an ultra-bright beacon to attract these soon-to-be refugees.
Buried Deep is a story competently written and a title cleverly chosen. The mystery is so well buried decades ago deeply into the grounds in Sahara Dome on Mars that it requires a professional - Retrieval Artist – to uncover the truth hidden within layers of the past upon the past.
It is always fascinating to see how my favourite character, Flint combines his past police training with his data-recovery skills - acquired from his time as a computer specialist - to aid in his research by taking up significantly lesser amount of time than the average Retrieval Artist. Another equally captivating character is Noelle DeRicci. The respect she has earned from the marathon attack since book 2 Extremes and the bombing incident in book 3 Consequences is forcing her into places she does not want to go and positions she does not want to hold. Yet, DeRicci bravely takes up the reins of leading as Chief of Moon Security and asserts her belief to protect by taking matters into her hands.
I truly enjoy reading the Retrieval Artist series ingeniously fabricated by this author. In Buried Deep, she continues to astound me in how she builds a case story with the subplots and then proceeds to link them up beautifully to form the big picture. Just when I am almost convinced that the issue at hand has spiralled out of control with no possible solution in sight and has reached a hopeless point of no return, the author surprises me by revealing the light at the end of the tunnel. Suddenly all’s well that ends well.
Publisher: WMG Publishing
Publication date: 7 Jun 2011
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A cold case starts it all—human bones discovered beneath the Martian soil in the alien Disty’s main city. The Disty evacuate, believing the area contaminated. Forensic anthropologist Aisha Costard investigates and discovers that the bones belong to a woman last seen thirty years before.
But the woman didn’t vanish, nor did anyone believe her dead. She Disappeared, along with her children, after being charged with crimes against an alien civilization. Costard believes the children hold the key to this mystery, but she can’t find them on her own. So she returns to the Moon to hire Miles Flint.
As Flint investigates, events move swiftly around him, and suddenly what began as a simple murder case turns into an incident that might destroy the entire solar system….
*Blurb from author's website*
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