Title: Murder by Memory
Author: Olivia Waite
Year Published: 2025
Format: Library Hardcover, 100 pp
Summary: Welcome to the HMS Fairweather, Her Majesty’s most luxurious interstellar passenger liner! Room and board are included, new bodies are graciously provided upon request, and should you desire a rest between lifetimes, your mind shall be most carefully preserved in glass in the Library, shielded from every danger.
Near the topmost deck of an interstellar generation ship, Dorothy Gentleman wakes up in a body that isn’t hers—just as someone else is found murdered. As one of the ship’s detectives, Dorothy usually delights in unraveling the schemes on board the Fairweather, but when she finds that someone is not only killing bodies but purposefully deleting minds from the Library, she realizes something even more sinister is afoot.
Dorothy suspects her misfortune is partly the fault of her feckless nephew Ruthie who, despite his brilliance as a programmer, leaves chaos in his cheerful wake. Or perhaps the sultry yarn store proprietor—and ex-girlfriend of the body Dorothy is currently inhabiting—knows more than she’s letting on. Whatever it is, Dorothy intends to solve this case. Because someone has done the impossible and found a way to make murder on the Fairweather a very permanent state indeed. A mastermind may be at work—and if so, they’ve had three hundred years to perfect their schemes…
My Summary: A fun, quick read. 4 stars.
My Thoughts: Olivia Waite writes an endearing main character and an interesting plot, all taking place in a curious environment. I particularly enjoyed Dorothy’s observations and reflections. I did not find myself in a hurry to try to “solve” the mystery, but rather enjoyed the narration. I was glad to find out there is another book in this series, and I am excited to explore this world a bit more with the amusing Dorothy Gentleman.
Caryn Considers 