A Thousand Words for Stranger

There's something in the writing style of this author that I find magnetic: If I pick up the book I just find it really hard to put it down - it always feels like there is a big revelation just around the corner, and often there is an extra clue to the mystery just around the corner.To me this book felt as if [a:Isaac Asimov 16667 Isaac Asimov https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1341965730p2/16667.jpg] and [a:Anne McCaffrey 26 Anne McCaffrey https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1323715139p2/26.jpg] had teamed up to write a space adventure. The two main characters are Sira and Morgan. Morgan is a space trader straight out of the [b:Foundation 29579 Foundation (Foundation, #1) Isaac Asimov https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1417900846l/29579.SX50.jpg 1783981] stories, while Sira is a young lady with inner strength who feels very McCaffrey (perhaps with hints of [b:The Rowan 61938 The Rowan (The Tower and the Hive, #1) Anne McCaffrey https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1358551536l/61938.SY75.jpg 1892324]). The way the two stumble through the unfolding mystery is fascinating, but there is so much foreshadowing and build up that I was worried that the author wouldn't be able to bring it to a conclusion, but let me tell you that, to me, the final climax really pays off.