Osiris Rising, the first novel in author Milos Davidovic’s proposed Jack Kessler Chronicles, is a science-fiction thriller set in the distant future during an era of expansionist human interplanetary colonization.

Focused on Osiris I, a frontier Saturnian mining colony in the outer reaches of the solar system, the novel centers predominantly on the adventures of federal law-enforcement official Jack Kessler. As a representative of the Terra Sol Federation, an organization based on Earth and responsible for the safety and governance of various territories and colonies, Kessler is tasked with the investigation of a murdered miner. As his inquiry develops, he becomes embroiled in an escalating political feud between Osiris’s local politicians and the Terra Sol Federation, which threatens to destabilize the colony and ultimately, the harmony of the wider solar system.

Played out against the politically volatile, industrial backdrop of Osiris I, Davidovic’s novel is an expansive, effectively realized mystery that coherently blends noir components and socio-political conspiracy thriller tropes into an intriguing whole.

The author is skilled at developing the novel’s morally upstanding, sympathetic protagonist, ensuring that readers remains invested in Jack’s travails as he strives to solve the complex murder case. Kessler is surrounded by memorable supporting characters, such as Solar Mining Corporation’s Crisis Communication’s Vice President Tessa Chan, and defiant Osiris politician, Governor Solomon Rasmussen, ensuring an immersive and emotionally fulfilling reader experience throughout.

At times, the novel’s growing focus on Osiris’s deteriorating political situation threatens to overwhelm the murder mystery narrative. However, Davidovic manages to ensure both aspects are satisfactorily resolved by the story’s conclusion.

Overall, Osiris Rising is an entertaining, intriguing story that serves as an impressive introduction to Jack Kessler and the future-world he inhabits. It will appeal to science-fiction fans seeking to discover a new, character-driven series.

Also available as an ebook.