Things are getting serious now. 
 Things are looking up. Kylara Vatta (Ky) and her crew having successfully lived through a brimming war, mutiny , personal injury and still come out with a profit. Continuing her journey of "trade and profit" ky delivers her cargo and all things are indeed quite well... until someone tries to blow up her ship, send assassins to kill her and virtually all outsystem communication goes down. 
 Faced with danger and a severe lack of information she does the only thing, try and find more. 
 This second installment of Elizabeth Moon's Vatta's war series does not disappoint. The story is intriguing and a prime example where intellect and savvy can do quite a lot. The story starts off in a calm and sedate pace where Ky and her crew shine and the wheeling and dealing of a merchant captain comes to the foreground. In addition the the main case several other viewpoint characters are introduced and piece by piece the story unfolded in a coalescent whole. 
 A well written book with good characters for readers who like their space opera with only a pinch of military seasoning.