The Mimicking of Known Successes

By: Malka Older

Narrated by: Lindsey Dorcus

Length: 4 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

The Mimicking of Known Successes presents a cozy Holmesian murder mystery and sapphic romance, set on Jupiter, by Malka Older, author of the critically acclaimed Centenal Cycle.

On a remote, gas-wreathed outpost of a human colony on Jupiter, a man goes missing. The enigmatic Investigator Mossa follows his trail to Valdegeld, home to the colony’s erudite university―and Mossa’s former girlfriend, a scholar of Earth’s pre-collapse ecosystems.

Pleiti has dedicated her research and her career to aiding the larger effort towards a possible return to Earth. When Mossa unexpectedly arrives and requests Pleiti’s assistance in her latest investigation, the two of them embark on a twisting path in which the future of life on Earth is at stake―and, perhaps, their futures, together.

©2023 Malka Older (P)2023 Blackstone Publishing

Sci-fi missing person mystery

Malka Older’s The Mimicking of Known Successes is a cozy detective mystery set on a habitat orbiting Jupiter. Earth has suffered environmental collapse forcing humanity’s relocation in space. One of the activities in this habitat is the study of Earth’s ecosystems with an eye towards restoring conditions on Earth. A man has gone missing, and the investigator reconnects with an old flame to assist on the case. What transpires is a disagreement among the scientific community as to whether to restore Earth’s ecology to pre-collapse or move in a different direction. At the same time, the investigator and the university researcher slowly reignite their old romance.

Older’s world building around Jupiter is spartan without a sense of how extensive this branch of humanity actually is. The detective case is interesting, but heavily influenced by unique features of the habitat itself. The most compelling aspect, but getting brief attention, is the divergence in opinions about the Earth’s future ecological state.

The narration is reasonable with decent character distinction. Pacing is smooth and a bit slow.

Two fantastic female protagonists

I enjoy the complex interplay between the two main characters, a crime investigator and an academic researcher. The world building is nuanced and expertly embedded throughout the narrative. The narrator did a fantastic job. I’m looking forward to the sequel coming out soon.

Strong mystery, but limited characterization

Great world-building and an interesting mystery, but the romance and character work was more subdued and limited than I would have liked. This ends in a HFN and if the series continues, I would need to see more about how they address the issues they had in their earlier relationship rather than hand-waving them away.

The narrator had engaging character work, but the words were a bit garbled sometimes. I wish there had been clearer pronunciation. But this narrator had subtle acting work that lent itself to the world.

Quite fun listen

Good story. A nice little adventure with enough of a victorian twist to affect my mental picture of the charactors. I wish it was longer but at least a sequel is on the way.

Cozy Holmesian mystery...on Jupiter

This was a fun, quick listen that left me wanting more! The main characters are charming but it was the detailed world-building that won me over. The story also went some interesting places related to ecology and human responsibility in a future in which humanity has destroyed Earth and most of its species. The sequel comes out next week and I'm very interested to see where the author takes it next.

Interesting short story

The main focus of this book is the mystery which i liked and it wasn't obvious what the outcome would be. The world building of living above the surface of a gas giant is subtle and not much detail is given but i found it interesting. The story kept me engaged and the narrator was good. The romance is subtle and showed how the dynamic between two people can chamge over time.

Very cozy futuristic Sherlock style sapphic quick read indeed

I tend towards long high fantasy sapphic stories but this was such a fun, quick story to curl up with on a cold day. I loved both main characters and the plot was enough to keep your attention. If looking for any sort of “smut” you will be disappointed but there is plenty of Sherlock-esque affection/romance. Especially fun for the neurospicy. The characters make sense and mesh really well. If you can’t put your fact checking about space aside you may struggle. Embrace it as a mostly fantastical future. Even has a sweet little moral of of the story at the end.

Victorian style love story with mystery that happens to be on Jupiter

Interesting idea or writing prompt…. But a boring story with flat characters. The sci-fi nature just fails. The Victoria esthetic simply can’t be a contemporary of modern or advanced technology sufficent to move the human species to the atmosphere of Jupiter…