Polaris

This was a cool Alex Benedict novel, the third I've read, though I'm reading them out of sequence. But I digress....

Years ago the Polaris, a starship, was with a group of other starships witnessing the collision of a dwarf star with a planet (Jack McDevitt uses this dwarf star theory further in the novel, Seeker). For some mysterious reason, everyone disappears off the ship. No one can find them. Years, then decades go by. Polaris conventions pop up. Wild theories are proposed. Even a cult following!

But what really happened? And how and why do Alex and his lovely assistant Chase get involved?

Similar to the other Benedict novels I've read, we get narrated by Chase, who relates her fears and goals and though supporting her boss, is not all that thrilled to get the ship's mystery solved.

A museum explosion, apparently an assassination attempt on a dictator (who Chase thought charming) wipes out the majority of Polaris artifacts. Alex is suspicious and takes nothing on face value. We the reader and Chase wonder why we're sent across half the galaxy to find clues as to what happened to the Polaris.

The ending is thought-provoking and ends on a mysterious note in itself.

Our first clue: A scientist discovers the secret to immortality. A group rallies against this as a very bad idea. Part of the group protests were also part of the crew of the Polaris. Yikes!

Love the long-forgotten outposts in space. Love the several murder attempts. Love the science that can mold mens' minds but cannot always breed out the murder gene.

Exciting, at times tedious, and occasionally drags, McDevitt keeps you going and maintains your interest.

Recommended.