Weekly Reader: Crackle and Fire (An Angela Hardwicke Mystery Book 1) by Russ Colchamiro; Science Fiction Detective Angela Hardwicke is on Fire in Her First Mystery
By Julie Sara Porter
Bookworm Reviews
Spoilers: Last year, I was introduced to Russ Colchamiro's Angela Hardwicke Science Fiction Mystery Series, a series that combines the wry narration, duplicitous characters, and biting commentaries on human nature of the Hard Boiled Mystery with the technological and intergalactic settings, the sense of far reaching wonder of questions yet undiscovered, and larger expansive themes of interconnectivity of Science Fiction. These two seemingly different genres worked together to produce a great book in Fractured Lives and work again to create its equally well written predecessor, Crackle and Fire, the first book in the Angela Hardwicke series.
Just as a reminder: Angela is a sardonic, cynical private detective living in Eternity, the cosmic realm that is responsible for the creation, design, and maintenance of the Universe. Her job is to chase after criminals or search for missing people and make sure that the crimes don't affect the smooth run of the Universe. Angela is a single mom whose son, Owen, has been taken by Milo, one of the Minders,the three individuals who are in charge of the entire Universe. Technically, he couldn't be in better hands but Angela worries and is in anguish when the boy is away. For now, all she can do is wait for him to return, go through withdrawals from dRops, a drug in which she was once addicted, and bury herself in work.
In this book, Angela has two intriguing cases. Gil Habersau, an accountant for the firm of Breslin, Anders, & Li hires her to look for his colleague, Arthur Hanson, who disappeared and took some incriminating files with him. Things get even more interesting when it is revealed that Gil and Hanson do not work for a simple accounting firm. Instead, they work for the Visitor Consulting Program, a semi secret but sanctioned organization that identifies all beings, recruits them to Eternity, and trains them to observe the Cosmos. In fact, Arthur Hanson was the latest recruit from Earth.
The second case involves Jamie, the only Minder currently on duty and CEO of the Rubicon Hotel. Eternity recently celebrated Astropalooza, a series of celebrations including fireworks displays that bring The Fourth of July, Guy Fawkes' Day, and New Year's Eve to shame. Jamie informs Angela that thousands of caches of fireworks have been unreported. Concerned, that the fireworks are being rerouted to the black market, Jamie wants Angela to locate them. ("I can't let it be known that I can be taken for granted, Jamie declares.") These two cases end up tied together through the Ashanis, an organized crime family that is after Angela for revenge after their cousin died in prison, and the MinderNots, a terrorist group that vows to rid Eternity of the Minders once and for all.
What is the most fascinating about this series is the existence of Eternity itself. The idea that there is a realm in which various species design and create the universe is exciting and even overwhelming. In fact, many state how difficult the concept is for newcomers to accept. People from Earth especially are prone to breakdowns and existential crises because of their sternly held beliefs in religion or science. Gil says that even explaining the concept to an Earthling recruit drove her to have a nervous breakdown and Hanson had some serious emotional and psychological issues after his arrival and during his time working. Angela, who the book implies may have come from Earth herself, is understanding of this.
There are some pretty interesting passages that describe the process of organizing the Cosmos. In one chapter, two Universe designers put on an illuminated spectacular exhibit in the style of Las Vegas-style illusionists to show how they position the stars and planets. It's a thrilling section to read and imagine the idea that beings are able to move celestial bodies with a wave of their appendages, suggesting an actual order in design rather than the randomness that often characterizes the universe.
Everyone takes a part in making the Universe run and everything from work, to education, to entertainment, to recreation is centered around the entire universe. Even something like taking drugs lends itself to an intergalactic perspective. Angela's drug of choice, dRops, allows the user to feel like they are everywhere in the Universe. It seems to be the largest high imaginable.
Even transportation is governed by the Universe's omniscience. In one chapter, Angela dissolves across dimensions to enter Earth right after Hanson left. After all that she has experienced, she is rather underwhelmed by this planet and acts almost like a big city cop working in a small town for the first time. After being in a place where she is practically sitting at the right hand of gods and seeing the cosmos move about like marbles, yeah Earth would seem pretty boring (though no less dangerous as she learns during her investigation).
In this amazing setting, Angela is also a great character. She goes through personal struggle such as her worry over Owen and trying to recover from her addiction (at one point sliding back in). But she still makes for an excellent lead detective. She is able to boldly stare down and fight against antagonists like the Ashanis siblings and even cleverly turn their animosity towards each other.
Perhaps because of the loss of her son, she also has a maternal side which she especially shows to her sidekick Whistler who acts as an informant and gofer. She teases him but also shows concern when an investigation puts him and a suspect in harm's way.
Angela is definitely a compelling lead full of fire and determination to find solutions and see justice done.
With an impressive setting and protagonist, the first Angela Hardwicke Mystery crackles with excitement and is fired up with originality.
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