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Breathing Space
by Kristen PainterSeries: Ellis McFadden Mysteries #1
Published by Self-Published on January 31, 2025
SubGenres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Science Fiction
Format: eBook
Pages: 312
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Audience: 18+/Adult
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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?
Breathing Space is the first book in Kristen Painter’s Ellis McFadden Mysteries series. This isn’t the kind of book I usually pick up, but I’ve enjoyed her paranormal romance books before, so I wanted to give this series a try. I’m glad I did. It’s a cozy mystery that’s both entertaining and different, especially since it takes place on a spaceship in the future.
I liked the main character, Ellis McFadden, right away. She has the coolest job, she’s a librarian, and she comes across as down to earth, like someone I could be friends with in real life. She’s middle-aged and dealing with hot flashes, which made her even more relatable to me since I’m going through perimenopause myself. She also has a close relationship with her daughter.
The mystery pulled me in, especially when Ellis became the main suspect in the murder. Like her, I wanted to find out what really happened, since she was the last person to see the victim alive. If Ellis didn’t trust the ship’s security to solve the case, I didn’t trust them either, so I enjoyed following Ellis as she searched for the truth. She gets help from her friend Frank, who becomes something more. Yes, there’s a slow romance developing between Ellis and Frank, but it’s not the main focus, and I look forward to reading more about their relationship in the next books in the series. I always enjoy reading a romantic subplot in the books since romance is the genre I’ve read for many years.
One thing I love about Kristen Painter’s books is that she always includes animals. In this story, Ellis’s cat is actually a talking robot, which adds a fun twist. The cat made the story even more entertaining.
The only thing that bothered me, as someone with a military background who held a security clearance, was how Ellis, a librarian, had so much access on the spaceship, including being able to enter people’s rooms. But I reminded myself that this is fiction, not real life.
Overall, I give this book four stars. Even though this isn’t my usual genre, I’m glad I read it. It was refreshing to read about a mature heroine I could relate to, and it made me realize I should try more genres instead of sticking to just one.
Would I recommend this book? Yes. If you are looking for a SciFi/Cozy Mystery with a mature heroine who is down to earth, then check out Breathing Space by Kristen Painter.
About Kristen Painter
Kristen Painter likes to balance her obsessions with shoes and cats by making the lives of her characters miserable and surprising her readers with interesting twists. She currently writes award-winning paranormal romance and cozy mysteries. The former college English teacher can often be found on twitter @Kristen_Painter, Facebook at www.facebook.com/KristenPainterAuthor where she loves to interact with readers and her blog: http://kristenpainter.com/blog/.
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My obsession with reading started over 30+ years ago when I went to my first Scholastic Book Fair and found R.L. Stine's Fear Street series. Later, I came across Anne Rice's novels at my public library when I was fourteen when my obsession with vampires started. I was the girl who preferred to be a vampire over a princess any day. My husband says I would leave him a heartbeat for a vampire that looked like Spike or Angel (from Buffy the Vampire Slayer) or Damon Salvatore from The Vampire Diaries. (It's true, though, and he's accepted it.)
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