Scorched Earth
Scorched Earth by Kathleen S McFall, published by Pumpjack Press on February 14, 2021, is a science fiction novel that intertwines elements of mystery and hard-boiled detective storytelling. Set in the year 2188, the narrative unfolds in a world where Earth has been abandoned by the wealthy elite in favor of a thriving Mars, governed by an advanced AI named Halo. The story follows Crucial Larsen, a disillusioned labor cop, who becomes embroiled in a murder investigation that challenges his reluctance to confront the powerful Five Families controlling both planets.
Readers will find a gripping tale that explores themes of genetic engineering and the consequences of environmental collapse. As Crucial navigates his past and the complexities of his relationships, particularly with his long-lost love Melinda, he uncovers secrets that could alter the fate of both Mars and Earth. This edition spans 318 pages and offers a unique blend of speculative fiction and detective work, making it a notable entry in The Halo Trilogy.
Official synopsis Publisher
A MURDER ON MARS LEADS TO HELL ON EARTH
The year is 2188 and the Earth-long-ago abandoned for Mars by the plutocrats-is scorched by poverty, disease and environmental collapse. Meanwhile, the red planet is a flourishing playground for the Five Families who, thanks to Halo-an advanced AI-control everything and everyone on Earth, including Crucial Larsen, a disillusioned labor cop.
The wealthy elite of Mars don’t know that on his last trip up-universe, Crucial stumbled onto a secret that could destroy them. Yet, despite fervent pleas from his sister (a leader in the resistance), Crucial believes fighting back against the Five Families is a fool’s game destined for failure-or worse. Plus, he never wants to set foot on that damn planet again.
Then Melinda, his long-lost love and a staff scientist on Mars, begs for his help clearing her fiancée of a murder charge. Crucial jumps on the next quantum rocket, hoping maybe this time he can patch things up with Mel. His investigation ultimately leads back to Earth’s radiation-blasted sunbelt, where cannibal lizard-people-a climate change mitigation genetic experiment gone terribly wrong-hold the key to a different future, if only Crucial can stay alive long enough to unlock it.
Blending science-fiction with a classic, hard-boiled detective story, Scorched Earth is the second book in The Halo Trilogy, an irreverent series set on post-colonial Mars, and the ninth novel by Clark Hays and Kathleen McFall.
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