Emma Newman: After Atlas

 Hi everyone

After Atlas is the second book in Emma Newman's Planetfall series. This is also my second time reading the series and just like before, After Atlas remains my least favorite in the series. I bought the entire Planetfall series from Bol.com.

"Govcorp detective Carlos Moreno was only a baby when Atlas left Earth to seek truth among the stars. But in that moment, the course of Carlos’s entire life changed. Atlas is what took his mother away; what made his father lose hope; what led Alejandro Casales, leader of the religious cult known as the Circle, to his door. And now, on the eve of the fortieth anniversary of Atlas’s departure, it’s got something to do why Casales was found dead in his hotel room—and why Carlos is the man in charge of the investigation.
To figure out who killed one of the most powerful men on Earth, Carlos is supposed to put aside his personal history. But the deeper he delves into the case, the more he realizes that escaping the past is not so easy. There’s more to Casales’s death than meets the eye, and something much more sinister to the legacy of Atlas than anyone realizes..."

There’s a lot to love in After Atlas, even if it’s my least favorite in the Planetfall series. The writing is great; it flows nicely and reads without hitches. There’s humor, a murder mystery that actually feels mysterious, and characters with real depth. I enjoyed every single one of them.
But at its core, After Atlas is essentially a murder mystery with a lot of questions attached to the murder and the victim. And I’m just not into police novels. That’s not to say it’s bad; it’s just not really my cup of tea. I loved the sci-fi elements much more.

What did annoy me was Carlos’ inner drama. The constant whining about being owned and the implications on his life felt unnecessary. We get it, Mrs. Newman, we can remember that fact without being reminded every chance we get.

But aside from that, After Atlas delivers wonderful worldbuilding, amazing characters, and a great plot. And that cliffhanger at the end? Perfect.

Have you read After Atlas? Did you enjoy it more than I did, or did you feel the same way? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy reading!
Helena