Breathing Space

Ellis McFadden Mysteries

By: Kristen Painter

Narrated by: Robyn Maryke

Step into the enigmatic world of the Athos—a vessel that blends the luxury of a cruise ship, the intrigue of a scientific research station, and the might of a military starship. Here, amidst the stars, you'll find Ellis McFadden, the ship’s head librarian, embarking on adventures she never anticipated this late in her career.

Even better that she gets to experience it all while in proximity to her daughter, who just happens to be the vice admiral. But life aboard the ship takes a darker turn when a library patron is found dead, and Ellis falls under suspicion.

With her reputation on the line, Ellis must navigate a labyrinth of secrets and lies. Armed with her wits, the loyalty of her eclectic friends, and her trusty android cat, she dives into a mystery that's as thrilling as the unexplored galaxies around her. Can she find the critical evidence to clear her name before the next jump into the unknown?

©2024 Kristen Painter (P)2025 Kristen Painter

No science in this SF

This story is nice but contains very little science. I liked it well enough and will go on with the series.

Very Enjoyable

This new series of Kristen Painters’ is a refreshing change from my normal genre. I’ll admit at the first it took me a little bit to understand the chat line but once I got into the story, I enjoyed that part of it too. In fact, I enjoyed this so much. I went back and listened to it again before reviewing it. I just wasn’t ready for it to be over yet.A very good story and very likable characters.

Word Pronunciation!

There is no such thing as a LIE-Bary. The word is pronounced with three syllables. Lie–brar-E !! I realize this performer is not the only one who does it, but it was the most prevalent due to the storyline. Storyline and performer were very good just a small annoyance.

awesome new series!

I very much enjoyed this adventure into space and a new series with Kristen Painter. The main character Ellis is a fascinating character and I cannot get enough of the Droid pets. The mystery of the murder on the ship and the budding love life make this book fly by. I can't wait to get more into the series and meet more passengers and planets!

Spaced out excellence

This was a delightful and unique story. I love Kristen Painter's work and always love to see a new series from her. The characters were wonderful. At first, I wasn't crazy about Ellis's daughter, Hazel. She didn't seem to be very supportive of her mother's predicament. But then I warmed up to her and loved her. My favorite part is the talking cat Harry and his accent. That is so awesome. The mystery was also great and I never dreamed about the solution. Too cool!

The narration was great. She talks a little fast but I think it's because I live in the south and everyone is SO country and slow talking. She really brought the characters alive. Can't wait to see what happens next.

A Wonderfully Unique Story

Kristen Painter has done it again! As a longtime fan of her work, I was intrigued when I discovered this new series—so different from anything she’s written before. And let me tell you, I was hooked! This story is rich with detail and draws you in as you explore its unique world aboard the Starliner,Athos, a fascinating blend of luxury cruise ship and military vessel.

At the heart of the story is Ellis, the ship’s head librarian—an incredibly sharp and knowledgeable woman who seems to have the answers for everything. She’s surrounded by an intriguing cast of characters, including her close-knit friends, her daughter (who just happens to be the Vice Admiral), and a charming new love interest, Frank. But when a murder happens to a library patron, Ellis becomes a suspect, Ellis and Frank takes it upon themselves to unravel the mystery. Their teamwork, quick wit, and natural chemistry make for a fun and engaging read.

What brought the book to life for me were the descriptions of new planets, wonderful new cuisines, and, of course, the ship itself. The Botanical Gardens restaurant? I’d book a table in a heartbeat! And let’s not forget one of my favorite surprises—Ellis’s android cat. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of him, but by the end, I was completely smitten.

If you love cozy mysteries with a sci-fi twist, this book is a must-read. Imagine Star Trek: The Next Generation meets a high-end interstellar cruise—packed with entertainment, adventure, food, and, of course, a mystery that will keep you turning the pages. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next!

Cozy Mystery Sci-fi

When I read that a book is a Cozy Mystery I visualize a small town with a new resident that has inherent a house and that person tries to resolve a murder. When I started listen to Breathing Space I have to admit restating the audiobook after a few chapters and the reason was for what I mentioned at the beginning of this review. My mind had to adapt to the definition of cozy and add Sci-fi to it. After that I just couldn't stop listening and I can't wait for the next audiobooks.

The main character is a middle-aged widow that's the Head Librarian in the special spaceship Athos destined to do a round trip that will last 20 years. Ellis McFadden's daughter is the vice admiral of the spaceship and part of the reason for Ellis accepting the job. The trip includes personal android companions like cats (Hieronymus), birds...

Ellis reminded me off Jane Frost (apprentice detective) and Ms Painter (cat, Knitting). She tries to solve the first "murder" in the ship with the help of Frank from Mechanical engineering and while investigating they become close. Andrew, botanist and morning news correspondent, was not well liked creating many possibilities for the culprit.

The narrator is very good allowing you to distinguish who is who. No cliffhanger. I highly recommend this audiobook.

A Little Different, and A Fantastic Read!

I loved this! It was different from her other series, which I love (Nocturne Falls, Shadowvale, Jayne Frost/Frost & Crowe). It still had the same feel, but definitely different. The world and community were beautifully developed and the story and characters were engaging! There was a lot of description of science fiction/starship-type things, but not so much jargon that you couldn't relate to it or follow what was happening. I've read other science fiction books that were so filled with jargon and made up words, I couldn't tell whether I was reading a story or if their keyboard blew up. This was not that. It was easy to follow and interesting, like a murder mystery on the Starship Enterprise. (Captain Picard era, of course!) I can't wait for the next two to drop.

Great new Series!!

Breathing Space is a new series from Kristen Painter, it is a different adventure than her other series. This one takes place in space on a luxury cruise liner Athos. I really enjoy Ellis and the awesome cast of characters and now I seriously want an android cat!!! I really enjoyed this book, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Great Narrator she really brought Ellis to life!!

I loved it.

I grew up in a family that loved Scifi. Later in life I discovered the joy and comfort of a cozy mystery book. So I was super excited when Kristen Painter decided to write a Scifi cozy mystery!!! It was delightful and I absolutely can't wait for the next book! 😊