A cold case starts it all—human bones discovered beneath the Martian soil in the alien Disty's main city. The Disty evacuate, believing the area contaminated.  Forensic anthropologist Aisha Costard investigates and discovers that the bones belong to a woman last seen thirty years before.

But the woman didn't vanish, nor did anyone believe her dead. She Disappeared, along with her children, after being charged with crimes against an alien civilization. Costard believes the children hold the key to this mystery, but she can't find them on her own.  So she returns to the Moon to hire Miles Flint.

As Flint investigates, events move swiftly around him, and suddenly what began as a simple murder case turns into an incident that might destroy the entire solar system….

 "A high-velocity rush through cultures in full clash, as fear and panic overwhelm the day, and Rusch's writing makes the far-out scenario feel as present and credible as today's breaking news….Rusch has outdone herself yet again."

—The Edge Boston

"This time, Rusch ups the ante with a grand act of Sfnal imagination in her creation of the Disty."

—Locus

"An exciting, intricately plotted, fast-paced novel. You'll find it difficult to put down."

—SFRevu

"Like the other volumes in the series, this one combines elements of taut thriller, PI murder mystery, and SF. "

—Locus

"Exciting….The audience will find this science fiction mystery an excellent whodunit."

—Midwest Book Review

"Kristine Kathryn Rusch has written another exciting Retrieval Artist novel that reveals to readers much of the cultural mindset of an alien species."

—The Best Reviews

"Wonderfully plotted and written, this fourth entry in Rusch's Retrieval Artist series is a compelling read."

—RT Book Review