No Free Lunch

A ice-cold planet, a dead body, and a rookie cop with an itchy trigger finger—welcome to Hal's fresh start.

A routine freight run to planet Forzen goes sideways when Hal Spacejock walks into a crime scene. Local Peace Force trainee Harriet Walsh is convinced a recent "accidental" death is actually murder—and that a massive conspiracy is covering it up.

Outmaneuvered and out of her depth, Harriet needs help. Everyone else thinks she's paranoid and deluded, but Hal stands right at her side.

That would be the handcuffs.

Now this unlikely duo must crack the mystery before the conspirators silence them both for good.

•Winner: 2008 Western Australian Science Fiction Foundation Award
•Finalist: 2008 Aurealis Awards (Best Speculative Fiction)
•Finalist: 2008 Ditmar Awards