Polaris (Amazon link because my public library server is down) is the second novel in McDevitt's Alex Benedict series. Upon starting it I immediately wondered why his assistant Chase Kolpath doesn't get billing, as at least two of the books, Polaris and Echo, are told from her perspective. So Polaris is our first view of Benedict from Kolpath's eyes. Not too flattering. But then again, the series hasn't really picked up speed for me either. These are mystery novels with big-picture ambitions, but in the end seem to be told small. Protecting the key to immortality (spoiler, ha ha) is an interesting idea for one of the Big Four back in the '50s, but it seems just a tad less innovative now. There is some room to grow here, but it just doesn't feel like McDevitt's going to take it. There's mild adrenaline toward the end, but not enough to make it worth a novel.
Many seem to like him, though, so I will persevere. The next book, Seeker, won a Nebula. Could be we're going to pick up here.
2 stars for this one.
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