This was a unique story with mystery and aliens that was the perfect book to escape with. It was definitely out of my typical genre that I read the most, but fun to be immersed into this world.

*many thanks to Berkley and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review.

Thank you so much to Netgalley & the publisher for this review copy! I am so looking forward to this and to writing a full review on my social media when I am able! Thanks again!

Mur Lafferty has a new mystery set on Station Eternity(paper), a living alien space station that appeared in the Solar System a decade from now. Mallory Viridian fled Earth because her ability to solve murders of random strangers kept forcing her towards more deaths. Apparently she had been stung by an alien wasp hiding on Earth before the station arrived. Now some of her old friends are coming to the station so of course there’s a murder of a human and thousands of the alien wasps. I bought Chaos Terminal (paper from Ace) because I missed the review copy in my list of review books, I enjoy this series enough to pay for it.

Last year’s debut of Station Eternity had me sitting up and taking notice. Mur Lafferty’s aliens were truly alien and her sentient station was as alien as all the rest. The humans were few and were the ones needing to adjust to how things worked in the great black of space. A murder mystery in this environment even had an alien-feel. It was incredible and I was ready for more so I was salivating for Chaos Terminal.

Chaos Terminal assumes the reader got up to speed on the series’ worldbuilding, setting, background, and characters in Station Eternity so doesn’t make for a good starting point. In fact, the story picks up just after the dust barely settles on the previous events.

Mallory was a tough sell for me in the first book because of her whining about her issues. Granted, they were pretty extreme since she is a murder magnet and got a load of suspicion from law enforcement and danger from those she exposed in turn. But, Mallory is on her way to accepting her situation, particularly now that she knows why and I was into her all the way.

Things are going topsy-turvy again. Mallory must face a personal crisis caused by the alien bugs she associates with and then there is a broader crisis that involves the whole station. Tina is working up to starting a war within her race with Eternity Station stuck in the middle. I enjoyed getting more of Mallory’s past and connection with the people who come with hidden motives and not so hidden tension that leads to a murder in no time. She stumbles a bit on this case, but gets her detecting skills working even while doubting her abilities. It was great seeing her work through that struggle.

Chaos Terminal pulls in narration from others beyond Mallory including her friends, Xan, Tina, Stephanie, Adrian, and some of the new humans. Gave good depth to the storyline and I enjoyed the build to the action and seeing Mallory work to solve the latest case while chaos reigns on Eternity.

Another great outing in the series and I can recommend it to those who want an out of this world murder mystery.

Chaos Terminal is the second installment in Lafferty’s Midsolar Murders series, books that center around a young woman named Mallory Viridian who, after aliens make contact with humans in what is our near future, flees to a sentient space station. Wherever she goes on Earth, murders inevitably follow (so much so that she, à la Angela Lansbury, writes murder mystery books about the cases after she helps local law enforcement solve them).


The first book, 2022’s Station Eternity, sees Mallory take up residency in the titular station as one of the few humans on board. There, despite her best efforts, the murders keep on coming, though more than one mystery is solved by the book’s end, including a sci-fi answer as to why Mallory always seems to be around when murders happen.

Chaos Terminal picks up after the events of Station Eternity, and while you don’t need to have read the first to understand and enjoy the sequel, you will absolutely have the whodunnit of the first (and those other mysteries as well) spoiled. You’ll also have some catch-up on getting to know the cast of characters who make the station their home, but if you’re up to overcoming that hurdle that’s inevitable in most sequels, the book turns into a fun read.

{rest at link below]

Station Eternity is one of the most unique, enjoyable books I’ve encountered- so was beyond thrilled that @netgalley & @berkleypub shared this eArc!

Much like book 1- this book was outstanding. It’s difficult to discuss within spoilers, but if you enjoy excellent, unique, humorous sci fi & also murder mysteries, is the series for you. I hope the author writes never ending entries!

I enjoyed this follow-up but I found myself struggling to remember some of the details from the previous book, and this felt far more limited in scope than "Station Eternity" did. There were also characterizations that felt contradictory -- Parker never tried in school and was a jokester in one chapter, but then was quiet and studious in the next -- and the ending felt a bit rushed. I do still love the world-building and all; I just wish there had been more there there.

Mrs. Brown is leaving Eternity for a few days and leaving Mallory in charge. This shouldn't be a big deal but there is a delegation of humans, including the new ambassador who are arriving soon.

The station has been unsettled and Mrs. Brown is hoping to fix that, but things get worse before they get better including the fact that Mallory knows several of the people who have arrived on this ship and, where there are coincidences for Mallory, there is usually murder.
Her best friend from high school, Amy, and Amy's twin brother Parker are among the group. However, it takes Mallory quite some time to remember Parker at all. Their older brother Reggie and his husband Max are there as well as is Oscar Daye, a basketball coach at North Carolina (where the rest of them are from as well) who also runs a gossip blog. Oh, and of course, Jessica, the new ambassador who seems to know quite a bit about Xan and Mallory.
The story does get a bit convoluted but so was the first. It's still highly enjoyable and, especially if you loved the first book, you should read this one.

Four stars
This book comes out November 7, 2023
Follows Station Eternity
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Lets talk about Chaos Terminal. It's the second in Mur Lafferty's Midsolar Murders series, and if you ask me, that pun alone is worth the price of admission. The first instalment introduced us to Mallory Viridian, a woman who always seems to be around when a murder takes place, and who always seems able to solve them. Getting tired of a constant cavalcade of dead bodies in her wake, she now lives on a space station, surrounded by aliens, most of whom don't drop dead around her. A few of them do eat people, or, from time to time, turn into sentient battlemechs made of rock, but that's a small price to pay, relatively speaking. Unfortunately for Mallory, the people of Earth have finally been allowed to send a proper ambassador out to talk to the different aliens in the galaxy, starting with her location. And they're on their way - which probably means someone is about to die, again.
The focus of the story remains Mallory, a protagonist whose business-like public face is backed up by vulnerability, honesty and an intense, well, humanity. After the events of the first book in the series, Mallory seems a little more settled in herself. No longer spooking at casual interactions,, not immediately assuming the worst, not living a hand to mouth existence in fear of what she might make happen next. Having said that, she's not action-girl-superhero either. Mallory Viridian is a woman who tries to think things through, figure things out as best she can, and do the right thing. If she's a little less internally conflicted about who she is and what she is now, that helps - but she's still the same thoughtful investigator she's always been, pulling on threads and connections, trying to see what's what and who's who to who. And she still has a certain emotional fragility to her, a life built on loss and murder having not really helped with that. This new Mallory is going to have to adjust though, because her past is, quite literally, going to catch up with her. A shuttle full of new people, well, new humans, form Earth is here. And, of course, a lot of them know her, and a lot of them can't stand each other. But whether the new Mallory will sink or swim when faced with past friends and enemies thought long gone is another matter - and while I won't spoil it for you, I'll say this: if Mallory comes out at the end of this story, she'll be a very different person to the one we see on page one. And you can rely on Mur Lafferty to make us care about it. To feel the raw emotion, feel the truth of Mallory's existence, the small joys and different pains that make her life a,, well, life.

The story itself starts gently, as people start to arrive on Station Eternity, Mallory's new home. And people start to leave, too. And we're treated to some wonderful descriptions of truly alien environs, physiologies, and attitudes. That sense for the alien but familiar, and that feel for the deeply strange, have made this series one with a depth of imagination and invention in its worldbuilding that is hard to beat. As things escalate, as alarms start to go off, both mental and physical, that world seems in danger of crashing down. The rising tension and the steadily beating pace will keep you turning pages; just one more, to see how they get out of this one. Just one more, to see what happens next. Just one more, to see if this suspect is a killer. Just one more, to see who the guilty parties are. And it's three in the morning and the end was worth it but damned if you don't want the next book right now.

And that, right there, that feeling was what I got when I finished this book, and why it's a book I think you all should hurry up and read.

Alas that I did not receive this book in time to pitch it for work, as I had with its predecessor Station Eternity, the first book in the Midsolar Mysteries. As that latter was my favorite book of 2022, I knew I had to sneak this into my reading schedule sooner than later, and am so glad I did!

This is not, weirdly enough, simply because it's the excellent sci-fi murder mystery that it is. It's not even because of the amazing Tina, whom I adore. No, it's because Mur Lafferty threw in some free therapy there when Mallory Viridian, our heroine, is getting one of her suspects, Reggie, to explain why he's being so awful to his husband Max. Mal listens with calm neutrality, then gently dissects what Reggie is doing, in a way that made me (the Max in the relationship) better understand that I am not the problem. So if you, too, want a dose of free therapy with your classic mystery in space, then you absolutely need to read this terrific novel.

Even if you're not as desperately in need of therapy as I am, I do recommend this book, with the caveat that maybe you want to read Station Eternity first. There's a lot of interesting backstory to Mal and her abilities that is first explored and explained in SE, and finding out retroactively just isn't as fun. That said, there may be spoilers for SE in the rest of this review, as these are now treated as established facts in Chaos Terminal, so consider yourself warned.

Mal is settling into her new life aboard Eternity, and feeling a way about hiring herself out as a private investigator. It was always easy enough amidst her fellow humans, but aliens have entirely different tics and problems. She's also shying away from her connection to the Sundry, unwilling to be overwhelmed or even perhaps used by the hivemind that technically gave her her abilities. Thus she's a little surprised when the creeping dread that first forced her to flee Earth does not seize her again upon learning that a fresh shuttle of humans is due to arrive at the station. Does this have anything to do with the station's current administrator deciding to go on sabbatical with Eternity's daughter, Infinity, effectively leaving Mal in charge?

The new shuttle arrives not only with humanity's new ambassador to Eternity but also with several figures from the past that Mal would really rather not have anything to do with. When one of their companions is murdered, however, it's up to Mal to figure out whodunnit and why. Ordinarily, this is a task Mal would carry out with aplomb. Alas, the Sundry are going haywire and won't, or can't, tell her why. As the very safety of the station and its inhabitants comes under dire threat, will Mal be able to save her new home, while coming to grips with her past?

I loved the pacing and construction of this mystery (as well as the free therapy!) but felt that it didn't have quite the same impact, surprise-wise, as the first book did for me. It's still a very solid installment with more than enough to satisfy both murder mystery and sci-fi fans. Definitely recommended, even if it doesn't quite reach the heights that the first book did for me (tho I definitely have friends who liked this even more than SE, so YMMV!)

Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty was published November 7 2023 by Ace and is available from all good booksellers, including <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15382/9780593098134">Bookshop!</a>

CHAOS TERMINAL by Mur Lafferty (Station Eternity) is another in an exciting sci-fi mystery series featuring Mallory Viridian, a human who has an unusual connection with the hivemind of Sundry insects who help keep a spaceship running and its inhabitants alive. Lafferty certainly does not disappoint, offering another complicated plot and plenty of suspects amongst the numerous twists and turns. For me, this new title would best be read after Station Eternity so that the reader can fully appreciate the characters and "science" involved. There are many likeable characters and subtle subplots which will no doubt feature in future series entries. CHAOS TERMINAL received starred reviews from Booklist ("delicious humor and intricate mystery") and Library Journal ("complex and engaging"). 4.5 stars

I really enjoy this series! It is a fun, quirky murder mystery set in space with aliens, sentient ships, and an absolutely delightful cast of characters.
For mystery readers who love a character driven story, this series is an excellent gateway for expanding into science fiction! Readers need to start at the beginning since the author did an excellent job of laying out the world and introducing pivotal characters.

This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
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WHAT'S CHAOS TERMINAL? ABOUT?
A contingent of humans is about to arrive on Eternity—a mix of scholars wanting to interact with all the alien races on board, a couple of tourists, a couple of spies, the detective who had Mallory in his sights for years, and the new ambassador to Eternity. Sadly, they arrive at a bad time—Mrs. Brown, the new host for the sentient space station has left for some training on how to be a better host, leaving Eternity functional, but not optimally so. Mallory has been left as the primary contact for Eternity (which only Mrs. Brown and Eternity seem to think was the right choice)—but she's not quite herself once these humans arrive.

Now, as is wont to happen around Mallory, one of this group is murdered. Something is going on with the Sundry that no one can quite understand. The Gneiss outside of Eternity aren't happy with what Tina and Stephanie did in the concluding chapters of the last book—and just might attack the station to express their displeasure. Oh, and among the newly-arrived humans are two people Mallory has had zero contact with for years—her High School BFF, Amy, and Amy's brother, Parker. Parker is Mallory's long-lost unrequited love, and it's pretty clear that he's never really put the torch he carries for her down anywhere.

ADRIAN
After what happened to him in Station Eternity (and what he did before that), I really thought we were done with the former ambassador, Adrian. Alas, I was wrong—he's still around. For a guy who's not a villain or a real antagonist, he's really unpleasant as a character. I really wish he was something other than "the annoying human on the station."

He's toned down a little bit after his recent experiences, but at his heart, he's still an arrogant twit who doesn't contribute much of worth to anyone. At least that I can tell. I really hope that now that his replacement is on board he decides to head back to earth.

(or, fine, Lafferty does something really interesting with him in the next book would be preferable to losing him—she really didn't this time out—but it'd have to be quite interesting not to get on my nerves)

THE KILLER
I want to start out by saying that I really don't have sympathy for the killer and think things wrapped up justly for them (that's a fairly spoiler-free way to put it, I think).

But once it was revealed what led up to the murder—and how things spiraled out of control afterward—I kind of felt bad for them. They were unknowingly wrapped up in things and fell victim to bad assumptions because of that. Yes, their reactions were utterly wrong—but I can understand how they got to the point where murder seemed like a solution. That understanding lasted until they started taking the next steps to cover up the crime and everything that ensued.

I do appreciate that Lafferty set things up that way for the killer—the alien cultures, the intrigue around the killer and the trip to Eternity, and the least-sympathetic murder victim I remember reading this year—help the reader to be ambivalent about the killer's actions (at least initially). Not enough writers do that.

SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT CHAOS TERMINAL?
The one thing I wish Lafferty had done differently was the humor in this book. Not that Station Eternity was a yuk-fest by any means, but there was a fairly steady stream of humor throughout—either in character moments, misunderstandings between the aliens and humans, or just the preposterous nature of Mallory's abilities and what she did with them. The humor in Chaos Eternity was almost entirely centered on Tina. She was a walking, talking (and/or yelling) embodiment of chaos and slapstick. So much so that it started to be too much a few times (but Tina and Lafferty won me over each time I was tempted to give up).

I do wish Xan had a little more to do, too. But he was integral to so much of the plot, but not in an overt way—I remember him playing a bigger role in Station Eternity than he did here. He was almost as important as Mallory before, and he was demoted to the fourth-most integral character. Here's hoping that's not a permanent thing.

While I was engaged, very curious, and entertained throughout—I wasn't having as much fun as I did with Station Eternity and I will admit I wondered if I misjudged the other book. Then two things happened—1. Mallory and Parker had a good conversation where they both communicated* and 2. The killer was revealed. After that (or in the midst of that) everything clicked into place and almost everything that had me on the fence about this book went away.

* There was nothing wrong with the scenes earlier where they failed to actually communicate, both were distracted, unsure if they could trust the other, getting over baggage, and thinking they could delay the conversation.

I did say "almost everything" there. I'm not wholly on-board with everything Lafferty was doing. I really haven't had as much time to think about this book as I wanted to between the time I finished and the time I wrote this post—I assume that if I had, a lot of what I'm uncertain about would make sense to me. I really don't understand some of the relationships in this book, why some of the interpersonal conflicts existed, and just why Lafferty decided to take up so much space with all that. However, most of that provided a couple of red herrings—or at least things that distracted Mallory from what she needed to focus on—which was likely a large part of the point. It could be as simple as Lafferty was using everything possible to add to the titular chaos.

None of this detracts from everything that (eventually) worked about the novel, but it keeps me from raving about it. It's not really what I expected from this sequel—and that's such a good thing. What happens in the last few chapters ensures that Book 3 won't be anything like this or Station Eternity. I'm not sure what's going to happen—nor am I going to bother trying to guess (although it's probably safe to assume that a new group of humans will visit Eternity and one of them will be murdered). I will trust Lafferty to come through with a satisfying conclusion however.

And, boy howdy, did this conclusion satisfy. Everything was wrapped up fairly nicely—those things that weren't really only served to set things in motion for Book 3.

As the dust settled with the book's events—and as the dust settles in my mind about those events and Lafferty's plotting—I'm left satisfied and impressed with the way it all went down. I had my doubts, but they were quelled and assuaged, leaving me able to say that those who enjoyed Station Eternity would do well to pick this up—more importantly, those who like a good mystery in an even better SF setting, in the years soon following First Contact should grab both books in this series and prepare for something great next year (or so).

Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this.

This series is such a fun, exciting win! We meet back up with Mallory and the gang of the sentient station Eternity just as more humans are headed to the station, only humans and Mallory have not worked out well in the past. She's clearly less than thrilled, but imagine her surprise when, of all the billions of humans who could have arrived on the ship, she happens to know at least half of them. There begins what can only be described as a dark comedy of errors, where folks both human and otherwise are anything but safe.

Honestly, the best part of this series is absolutely the characters. I adore Mallory, but many of the secondary characters are just an absolute riot. Like more Tina, always, please and thank you. But all the characters make even the most dire space catastrophe seem entertaining. I still cannot totally picture what the other species look like, and in my mind, the Gneiss look like bigger and more jovial Whomps from Mario, so do what you will with that. Regardless, they are all great.

Anyway, I think because I loved the characters so much is a big reason of why I loved this second installment equally as much. I cared about what was going to happen to them, basically. And add to it, the journey to get there was entertaining in itself, again, because of the characters. And the stakes are certainly high, don't get me wrong! There was a lot of excitement and dire straights and murder and hijacking and... well I could go on all day, just do yourself a favor and give this series a chance!

Bottom Line: The characters are endlessly endearing and there is plenty of action to go around, so bring on book 3!

As always, first a thank you to the PRH team for offering an eArc for review to the team. I was eager to read this sequel and my thoughts remain honest.

Hello again dear reader or listener, I’m a few days late on this one perhaps but through no fault of this brand new story in Malory Viridian’s ongoing saga as an unwilling hero and amateur detective. Lafferty picks up a few months after the events of book one and, even though I still remembered the story well enough from last year to not feel the need for a reread, I found the recaps to be both extremely helpful and seamlessly integrated into the story. In other words, you could definitely pick this up as a standalone but it would spoil you on a lot from book one so, unless you don’t mind going back with prior knowledge to challenge yourself and see if you can see the reveals coming, then definitely do read them in order.

Everything that was fun and entertaining was still as amusing and fulfilling in this second entry, with Lafferty’s sharp wit and humor shining as expected. The pop-culture references remained on point and the homages to Agatha Christie continued. Getting to reunite with all of the characters aboard the sentient station Eternity felt like revisiting old friends that you’d almost forgotten how much they can amuse and entertain you. From the ever-reliable Xan, to ex security team member Devanshi the phantasmagore alien and the grouchy and unlikeable human Adrian, to even the trio of Korg-alike Gneiss aliens, Stephanie, Tina, and Ferdinand. Protagonist Malory is also joined by a fresh new cast of humans visiting the station, among which people from her tumultuous past on Earth. Revisiting old favorites while having that new influx of backgrounds and points of view made for a solid mix of getting to enjoy what you already know without the risk of it tasting stale or remaining static. Also, Lafferty has a definite knack for writing slimy characters you can really dislike instantly with one sentence, and as we all know there are few crimes bigger in fiction than being utterly annoying/unlikeable. Any writing that gives you such sudden and visceral reactions to its characters is excellent writing in my book.

This time around the murder mystery was a little easier to figure out in advance as well as some of the big reveals but that doesn’t necessarily detract from the overall effect of the novel imo, as I found it more character driven than the first entry in this series. Sure, the reader gets to the points before the characters do but, in fairness, they are all in some way at a disadvantage, or proverbially hobbled for the duration of this misadventure. It was a great way for the author to show us that even though Malory or Xan don’t have their biggest advantages at their sides to help them, namely their respective symbiotic alien relationships, they still manage to salvage the situation in some way. For both of them in fact, the events in this book work as a catalyst toward acceptance and better understanding of their new lives in space, among all these aliens and fluctuating social and cultural labyrinths that they need to navigate daily. Just like in the first book and in honor of Christie, with each new pov chapter, the reader is treated to a sort of catch up of the background events that led each character to reaching the present moment in the story which is always interesting and providing a 360 for each character. Some of the flashbacks were perhaps a little overly long and meandering in ways that meant you had somewhat forgotten where you had left off in the present plot line granted, but the ongoing and speedy pace always picked up right away after.

I’ve used this term in reviews before, but this series is what I’d classify as a popcorn read. In other words, something that is fun, you can’t really get enough of and get through pretty quickly, but satisfyingly low effort, even when containing underlying heavier themes. And finally, just like Doctor Who, there is an ever present mix of diversity be it human or alien, hilariously exasperating antics, and characters who just need a long nap yet they are called to rise to the occasion and avoid galaxy wide repercussions if possible. I’m certainly eager to read more entries in this series in the future and see how Malory and co will continue developing and growing through all the various alien shenanigans, while continuing to cultivate great friendships and relationships along the way. I feel like this series has a long and amusing character-exasperation-filled future ahead of it.

Until next time,
Eleni A. E.

I'm the problem. It's me. I think this was definitely a case of it's me and not the book. I didn't identify with the characters or story very well. That's not the books fault! Read this if you love a good space adventure!

I was so excited to see Mallory go back to her definitely not chosen profession! I had really enjoyed the previous installment in the series and I was craving some more space detecting. I do feel like it benefited from some of the world setup already being in place. I really enjoyed getting more background on Mallory, the aliens and the new ambassador and really liked the sleuthing that Mallory did.
Thank you so much to Berkley Pub for the ARC of this one.

"Mallory Viridian would rather not be an amateur detective, and fled to outer space to avoid it...but when one of the new human arrivals on a space shuttle is murdered, she's back in the game.

Mallory Viridian would rather not be an amateur detective, thank you very much. But no matter what she does, people persist in dying around her - and only she seems to be able to solve the crime. After fleeing to an alien space station in hopes that the lack of humans would stop the murders, a serial killer had the nerve to follow her to Station Eternity. (Mallory deduced who the true culprit was that time, too.)

Now the law enforcement agent who hounded Mallory on Earth has come to Station Eternity, along with her teenage crush and his sister, Mallory's best friend from high school. Mallory doesn't believe in coincidences, and so she's not at all surprised when someone in the latest shuttle from Earth is murdered. It's the story of her life, after all.

Only this time she has more than a killer to deal with. Between her fugitive friends, a new threat arising from the Sundry hivemind, and the alarmingly peculiar behavior of the sentient space station they all call home, even Mallory's deductive abilities are strained. If she can't find out what's going on (and fast), a disaster of intergalactic proportions may occur...."

The fact that this series is called The Midsolar Murders continues to entertain me to no end.

This is shaping up to be a fun series! I found book one a little slow at the start but it shaped up into a fun book after the world setup. Book two has the world well set up so it drops right into the action. I went right through this one in a single weekend. Had a great time reading this and seeing where the story went. Lighter read and a fairly cozy mystery. You see the body but it doesn’t get into gross details.

Chaos Terminal by Mur Lafferty is the second book in a cozy sci-fi genre mix set in a world so complex I found myself wishing I had read Book 1 before venturing into Book 2. I definitely recommend reading this series in order.

However, I did love the characters. Chaos Terminal is a character-driven story full of wonderfully developed characters - some human and some alien - that are so unique and authentic that they can easily carry the reader through the complex world-building. Mallory, the main character, is a human stung by aliens as a child. This causes the aliens to be able to see the world through Mallory’s eyes, and the aliens apparently love a good murder mystery.

I also enjoyed the lock-room-style murder mystery (and the shoutout to North Carolina and UNC Chapel Hill, which are both near and dear to my heart). The mystery led me down the wrong path more than once, and I never guessed who did it until it was revealed. I enjoy a well-thought-out classic murder mystery. And the sci-fi setting only makes it more complex.