Waypoint Kangaroo

In this rollicking splice of mystery and high-tech SF, a smart-aleck spy forced to take vacation after a mishandled assignment plunges into perilous intrigues that no one on a pleasure cruise should have to face. Evan Rogers—nicknamed Kangaroo for his ability to store and retrieve items from an extra-dimensional “pouch” that only he can access—is Mars-bound on the passenger liner Dejah Thoris when he’s roped into the investigation of an onboard double murder. While he labors to solve the crime without blowing his cover, the murderer hijacks the ship, setting in course a series of potentially world-shaking events that tax Kangaroo’s nimble skill for saving the day. Chen’s debut keeps the plot twisting as the story builds to a powerful climax, leavening the suspense with Kangaroo’s droll quips. This book is an auspicious start for its author and his wisecracking series. (June)