‘Mai Tais For the Lost’ by Mia V. Moss is a detective novel set in an unusual underwater city.

Marrow Nightingale lives in an underwater city and is a P.I. and a perpetual thorn in everyone’s side. When her adopted sibling Rocket dies, it’s up to Marrow to find out who did it. But some things are better left alone and Marrow may be in over her head.

I really enjoyed this unusual pot-boiler. The world building was solid and the oceanic puns were a nice touch. I’d love to read more outings with Marrow Nightingale.

Mai Tais for the Lost by Mia V. Moss is a noir murder mystery novella, set in an undersea habitat for the rich on post-apocalyptic earth. Absolute best part: a sarcastic octopus who can talk to humans. Narrator Marrow, a detective who usually uncovers infidelity, is thrust into a more dangerous world when her older brother is murdered. Marrow, the child of domestic workers, was adopted by a wealthy family after her family was accidentally killed, to avoid bad press. Raised in a world of decadence and partying, she’s still looked at askance and constantly navigates societal borders. The worldbuilding was a lot of fun, especially details like fashionable “mer-suits” and ocean-themed food and drink; the mystery takes a while to get going, and felt bigger than the length allowed for it. I wanted to know more about the androids/robots (both words were used) who had Artificial Intelligence; so far as I could glean, AI was created and owned by corporations, but I wanted a lot more about that, and related ethical concerns, than I got. That aspect of the story intrigued me. An epilogue gave me hope for a possible sequel.

This one could be accused of false advertising. I was expecting a mystery set in a futuristic underwater world. That is not what I got. The main character is a "private investigator" but she is not good at it. The shortness of the story also meant that none of the characters really got fleshed out. I loved the setting and the ideas but the execution didn't work.

A short read, with surprisingly deep worldbuilding. The surface world is burning, so billionaires fund underwater cities where they can survive. They bring the help (servants, employees, the "have-nots", and tension is born, Don't overstep your boundaries peasant, or you'll be kicked out of town and sent back to the surface.

Our main character is a private investigator from a peasant family adopted into the rich and powerful. This is my only actual complaint about the book, this tension is used to advance the plot but isn't actually discussed. I don't think a single lower-class person speaks even though they're talked about enough. Lots of criticism of the rich, how bad capitalism is, etc., but poor people don't get to speak for themselves. This may be a limitation of such a small world count, but something I missed.

Still recommend, Great characters, some of the fastest worldbuilding I've read in awhile, motivations are believable, even for the sexually active octopus.

**I received an advance review copy for free from NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Stars: 2.5 out of 5

This was a meh book for me, even if it was very short at barely over 100 pages. I think the problem was that I went into the book thinking it would be a murder mystery. After all, we have a private detective, we have a murder, and we have a (sort of) investigation of that murder.

Sadly, none of it is executed very well. I'd say that it's good Marrow is the only private detective in that hab, because she sucks. If she had competition, she would go out of business in a heartbeat. All she does in these 100-some pages is get drunk and high and go from one party to another. Oh sure, call them "wakes" for her murdered brother, if you want to. I'll call them pointless waste of pages. 

No seriously, what was the point of showing us these parties? To introduce the other colorful characters Marrow grew up with? To show us just how decadent and selfish the rich are? One party would have been enough for that. And if it was to make us care for some of those characters, I'm afraid the author failed. By the end of the book, I can't remember anything about them apart from their weird names. Besides, the author doesn't even mention if they lived or died at the end of the book, though it's implied that they were left in imminent danger somewhere along the way.

Now let's talk about Marrow herself. She keeps telling us that she'd been ostracized because she come from "the Poor" and was adopted into a rich family, but from all the interactions I had seen with her brother's friends, they seem to be pretty accepting of her, even affectionate. So the "show" doesn't support the "tell," which to makes me doubt a lot of other assumptions Marrow has. She also sucks as an investigator. All she does during this book is get drunk or high and stumble into pieces of evidence conveniently left for her to find. Great detective she is not.

I also found the murder mystery itself rather lackluster. We really don't get any resolution there, just more questions and loose ends. Yes, we saved the habitat from a corporate assassin, but other than that, there is no emotional payoff...Like I said, I probably came into this book with a wrong set of expectations, and was left disappointed.

PS: I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I hate to say it but I found this novella lacking in some places. I've seen some other reviews so I think I'm in the minority on this one, but it just wasn't everything I was hoping for.

I liked the setting, the underwater colony for the rich has Bioshock vibes in the best ways and it's ninety percent of why I picked it up. I wanted to like our cast of characters as well, but I don't feel like any of them were given the space to breathe.

The book is short even by novella standards and our characters at times felt like they weren't given the space they needed to breathe. Many of them were introduced and then left to fall flat, and our characters that we are given more time with I felt like I wished I got more of them. As a mystery the plot is also very cut and dry, as a novella there aren't a lot of additional frills as the page count doesn't leave the room for it.

I think the story really would have benefitted from just a little bit more, so that everything had a little bit more space to breathe.

I absolutely love the world Moss created in Mai Tais for the Lost. All those who could, mostly the rich, have left the surface of Earth for underwater habitats. Life, at least for the lucky, is full of parties, designer drugs, and alcohol. Of course, they also brought with them security/ law enforcement and people to do the menial tasks of life, like cleaning. Marrow Nightingale was once one of the lower classes, but through a quirk of fate, was adopted by the rich and famous Nightingales. She drinks and parties with the upper classes, but isn’t at heart one of them. She is, however, the only private detective in Electric Blue Moon and her brother has been murdered.

Marrow is a tough young woman, both overly trusting and cynical. She’s definitely an alcoholic and one of those detectives who rub those in authority the wrong way. Mai Tais for the Lost is basically noir with a sci-fi backdrop and a lot of neon. Marrow’s search for the truth leads us through a world of corporately-owned androids, secret clambakes, and missing bodies. The stakes are high, both to find the killer and to avoid being deported. The reveal made sense, but was still surprising.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one and hope their will be more stories featuring the Nightingale Electric Detective Agency.

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This novella was a wild ride! It follows our main character, Marrow, the owner of a struggling detective agency with an intriguing back story, as she investigates her adoptive brother's murder. The plot pulls you in and the writing is fast paced so this is well suited for those who want a quick and exciting read.

The setting was the best part for me - this is an undersea city, called a Hub, with android technology and an intriguing power structure. The writing was vivid so despite this book being a novella, it didn't feel undeveloped.

My only reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5, is because I felt that Marrow's emotions were quite stilted. Her reaction to her brother being murdered had me questioning her relationship with him and her adoptive parents; though the novella discusses her birth parents and the events that led her to be adopted, it does not delve into her own reaction to it.

What a fun ride! This book is a succulent, salty noir set in a world all its own. Marrow Nightingale is a grumpy, shit-talking, alcoholic searching for a truth that will help keep her detective agency afloat. Who killed her brother?

A propulsive mystery with an incredibly unique world, this book is such a great read. The world-building is so, so mouthwatering. There are some really fun reveals that kept me up late, turning the pages. Themes of class differences made this sci-fi feel rooted in something relevant and the ending was satisfying without feeling too clean.

I don't read a lot of Sci-Fi/Fantasy and I found this so accessible and fun. The mystery really takes centre stage here, but not at the expense of the other genre elements. I can't wait to see what's next for Marrow.

Thank you to Underland Press and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Mai Tais for the Lost by Mia V. Moss is a captivating neo-noir sci-fi mystery and fast-read novella. The story revolves around Marrow, a private investigator at Electric Blue Moon. When her adoptive brother Rocket is found dead, she's suddenly involved in a case much more personal than before. Now, Marrow is navigating a rocky road and eccentric cast of characters in her mission to solve her brother's death. Can Marrow find the killer before the killer comes for her?

Here is an enchanting excerpt from the opening chapter:

"It was six in the evening and the sea above Electric Blue Moon was a riot of storm-tossed flotsam and unlucky fish. The call came in just as I was finishing the first round of a three-glass dinner of seaweed gin at Infinity's Cup, the favorite liquor cabinet of the habitat's young, reckless, and over-moneyed progeny.
Infinity Kovac himself was tending bar that night, slinging vintage trashy cocktails to classic house music in the moody purple light. He paused when my com buzzed next to my hand, the bottle of gin hovering a silent question over my empty glass. I glanced at the screen; it was Disco Bishop, my brother Rocket's fiancé. I nodded for Infinity to pour me another and picked up my com. I could polish off ten drinks before Disco was done talking."

Overall, Mai Tais for the Lost is a lovely sci-fi novella that will appeal to fans of Blade Runner or Jupiter Ascending. One highlight of this story is the main character, Marrow. Marrow has a no-nonsense, witty voice, and i loved seeing the world from her point of view. Another highlight of this book is the creative world-building. I loved reading about the world of a galaxy far, far, away, and I loved exploring the world of this story. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of sci-fi in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!

I started this book feeling a little disappointed - nothing in the description says it's a novella, and I've always struggled to get invested in novellas, partly perhaps because I feel that I can't emotionally commit to them like I would with a longer, full-length novel.

'Mai Tais for the Lost' is certainly imaginative, and spun off in a direction I did not expect at all. The fun and intriguing setting is well-executed, although I found myself wishing it had loomed larger; most of the time it felt like a distant backdrop. Similarly, I wish the octopus characters had featured more. Also: Marrow did not seem to react realistically to losing a loved one. I know at the very start she doesn't think it's true, but the way she thinks and the things she says give little indication that she's grieving, or otherwise numb.

Overall, an entertaining short read, although I would have preferred to read a full-length version with more space for world- and character-building.

(With thanks to Underland Press and NetGalley for this ebook in exchange for an honest review)

I received a free epub copy from NetGalley.

This was a fun, fun read. I really enjoyed it. I could definitely sense the edginess of the setting and the franticness of the main character. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Mai Tais for the Lost is a crazy mix of underwater sci-fi, dystopia, and mystery. The setting alone already intrigued me to no end. A society living underwater, in the future, with a bunch of androids and other technology, I absolutely loved it. On top of that, the story really well crafted too and I was definitely along for the ride. And even though this novella is extremely short, it doesn’t feel rushed and still manages to establish a very unique, somewhat claustrophobic atmosphere that just fits the story super well.

I really enjoyed this novella, and I’ll definitely be checking out other books by this author. I’d definitely recommend this book to fans of sci-fi, especially if you’re looking for a book that’ll deliver all the sci-fi vibes without being too long and convoluted.

I received a copy for this book for a free and unbiased opinion .
I couldn’t resist this book when I saw this title and despite being a novella, Mai Tais for the Lost by Mia V Ross packs a lot of action, tech, mystery and partying.
The book is told from Marrow’s point of view and I loved her voice-feisty and hilarious A wealthy family that adopted her after an accident caused by them killed her worker parents but Marrow doesn’t fit in with the rich crowd.
Marrow is asked by Disco, her brother’s finance to find out who murdered him and she is thrown into a world of weird conspiracy.
The world-building is great featuring merpeople, sentient octopuses, hubs and strange psychedelic drugs- a world that looks so different but feels the same. I loved the descriptions of the tech and weirdness of the people who inhabit this world.
The mystery is interesting and while I guessed who the murderer was and the motive caught me by surprise.
I really hope there are more books set in this world and Marrow has many more cases to solve.
Perfect for fans of
Anyone who loves their science fiction not too bogged down in science and funny heroines.

I had such a great time reading this sci-fi noir novella with post-apocalyptic undertones.
I read most of it visualizing and hearing the narrator as if she were a detective in a film noir and it was perfect. The only thing missing for me was that the fact that the main character’s grief never felt real to me.
The underwater context gave it a claustrophobic feel to this hedonistic community and although it was a novella, it didn’t feel that short because the character were well-developed, the world-building is very visual and engaging. I hope to read more of Marrow’s investigations soon!

Thank you, Underland Press, for allowing me to read Mai Tais for the Lost early!

I really enjoyed reading this mystery novel and I was floored by the ending. An exceptional debut novella for Moss.

I went into this novella with absolutely zero context, which made for a wild ride, but I thoroughly enjoyed it! I have to be honest and admit that I did, in fact, judge the book by it's cover (which is beautiful!). I don't think I would've picked this book up if it didn't have such a stunning cover.

Personally, this book sort of reminded me of a shorter, more detailed (and generally better) Crescent City. The fantasy elements were intriguing, and I loved how unique the world building was. Moss has created something special with Mai Tais for the Lost, and I, for one, am extremely interested in learning more about this world.

Have the bartender mix you a Sea Devil (which apparently is seaweed gin and absinthe mixed over sugared ice and shot through with cloudy tendril of squid in bitters--and I wish I could try one) and read this stellar dystopian mystery. It's an inventive romp through a submerged refuge for the wealthy who have escaped a hellscape Earth. Our guide to this new world is Marrow, who was adopted into this rarified society after losing her underclass parents in a workplace accident, and who now floats between the class divide as the habitat's only private detective. Grieving the loss of her murdered brother, Marrow's quest for answers propels us through a world of corporately-owned android mermaids, octopus burlesque dancers, and high-tech PI tricks to match the security in play.

The writing is full of verve and wit, backed by real emotions over the losses and by compelling stakes (the threat of being deported or expelled into the sea looms large)--all of which weave together the perfect vibe for an undersea sci-fi mystery. The dialogue soars, always letting us know who Marrow is and what she's up against. My jaw dropped at the resolution, and then the author perfectly stuck the landing on the last page while opening a door for more. Highly recommend for the landlocked and ocean dwellers alike.

Underwater sci-fi noir with glamorous parties, murder investigations, androids, mermaids, SUPER COOL worldbuilding with technology and aquatic societies...all in roughly 100 pages. This was incredibly fun and I am so in awe of how much world can be established and built without seeming like an information dump. You just get immediately immersed in the world and it seems like there are no bounds to anything you can explore within it. AND not only is it incredibly thorough for its short page span, but it's so unique and original that it's refreshing. I saw the author recommend this if you like "yacht rock noir" and I think that's a perfect description. If any of that piques your interest I highly recommend checking out this really cool and fascinating foray into sci-fi goodness!! Robotic mermaids, drug parties, glitzy outfits, clubs with seaweed gin, almost dystopian escapism? It's all good.

A solid sci-fi noir mystery with a female PI that takes place in 2112 in a undersea utopia after climate change ruins the surface.

Well crafted world with a well paced plotline and a diverse cast of characters. There are flavors of A Brave New World mixed with Raymond Chandler in this novella. While it could have easily been too much for such a short book, the author fully develops the fiction world, characters, and plot without feeling rushed or lacking.