The year is 2027. When a swimmer is found drowned in a London park, the police computer rules the death as accidental. Chief Superintendent Nathan Spring’s natural instincts lead him to suspect otherwise, and he begins an investigation - despite the objections of his colleagues and superiors. To deflect him from pursuing this, Spring is manipulated into accepting a job that he does not want - as commander of the International Space Police Force, an organisation set up to enforce law and order on various space stations orbiting the Earth. The ISPF, disparagingly nicknamed the ‘Star Cops’, is an undistinguished force populated by undisciplined officers, concerned mainly with their own welfare and making money on the side, rather than upholding the law.Arriving at the European space station Charles de Gaulle, Spring struggles to adapt to conditions in low gravity while working to mould his team into an effective force for law enforcement. Before he’s even begun to adjust, he discovers that several crewmembers have recently died, following unforeseen spacesuit malfunction. Although these apparent accidents fall well within the limits of statistical acceptability, Spring’s instincts again lead to him to suspect the work of a saboteur. He decides to expose the culprit by taking a desperate course of action - gambling with his own life... Elsewhere, Spring’s second-in-command David Theroux investigates an explosion on a distant space freighter that has knocked the craft off course and condemned its two pilots to death, the Star Cops are warned of terrorist attacks by a communications expert based on the Moon, a scientist disappears without trace from the American space station - with the crew denying his very existence - and rumours begin to grow of alien artefacts having been discovered on Mars...

It’s the near future, and mankind has expanded its presence in space. Maintaining law and order among this network of space stations, satellites and moon outposts is the responsibility of the International Space Police Force, known colloquially as the Star Cops. Their leader is Commander Nathan Spring. While dealing with crimes including drug smuggling and murder, the Star Cops find themselves facing a new and sustained threat. The activist group Mother Earth, ideologically opposed to humanity’s presence in space, has been quiet for some time. But no longer. The group returns with a vengeance, prepared it seems to go to any lengths to achieve its aims. 1.1 One of Our Cops is Missing by Andrew Smith As construction of the Vasco da Gama, the largest space station ever put into orbit, nears completion, Nathan is visited by an old friend, who asks for his help in tracking down a missing undercover officer. Meanwhile, Inspector Priya Basu is investigating a near-fatal spacewalk accident on the space station Rakesh Sharma that may be no accident at all. 1.2 Tranquillity and Other Illusions by Ian Potter A murder at the historic scene of the first Apollo moon landing offers few clues for the Star Cops. Why would anyone want to kill Philip Hughes, a property entrepreneur? And what has become of the mysterious woman who was with him at the time? The investigation leads to a moon outpost, where anyone may be the killer. 1.3 Lockdown by Christopher Hatherall Tech Tower is a state of the art, high-security, high-technology building located in Paris. It seems the ideal venue for an international conference on how to counter the growing threat from the Mother Earth group. Nathan and Priya attend as representatives of space policing. Soon, they and everyone else in the building find themselves in danger as a disruptive attack by Mother Earth coincides with a plot by criminals to carry out a high stakes robbery. 1.4 The Thousand Ton Bomb by Guy Adams A failed bombing of Moonbase provides the Star Cops with an opportunity to strike back at Mother Earth. Paul Bailey is called on to use his undercover skills once more. But Mother Earth is about to escalate its campaign of violence with a spectacular attack. And the Star Cops are among those in the firing line.

It’s the near future, and mankind has expanded its presence in space. Maintaining law and order among this network of space stations, satellites and moon outposts is the responsibility of the International Space Police Force, known colloquially as the Star Cops. Their leader is Commander Nathan Spring. It’s been months since the last attack by Mother Earth, the activist group opposed to mankind’s expansion into space. It’s believed that the group is finished. But instead, Mother Earth is about to renew its campaign. This time with even more ferocity and violence. 2.1: Dead and Buried by Guy Adams At Lunar Interments, the moon’s graveyard for the wealthy, the caretaker has noticed something odd in the burial records. Odd enough for him to call in the Star Cops. Devis isn’t happy at being assigned to what he thinks is a mundane case. Not when Nathan and Kenzy are off to investigate a burglary at the home of billionaire businessman Ben Alexander. A break-in where the burglar has finished up dead. But in the lunar resting place of the dead, Devis will find himself racing against the clock to save his life and hundreds of others. 2.2: The Killing Jar by John Dorney The Charlie Chaplin is a second-hand space station operated as a space-tourism hub by entrepreneur Martin Thane. When Nathan receives reports that serious accidents and even a death have been caused by Thane flouting safety laws, he decides to investigate. An accident investigation soon becomes a murder enquiry. And as the Star Cops hunt for the killer, the station becomes a death trap threatening everyone on board. 2.3: Moonshine by Roland Moore A friend of Kenzy’s on the space station Coral Sea has been dismissed for possession of alcohol and sent back to Earth. She believes his claim that he was framed, and when she learns of his subsequent suicide she and Devis travel to Australia to investigate. A difficult enquiry is not helped when Kenzy’s former fiancé, a Police Superintendent, appears on the scene. On Moonbase, Nathan is expecting an official visit from a powerful dignitary. So it’s not a good time for there to be a fatal incident that may be the work of Mother Earth... 2.4: Hostage by Andrew Smith The Star Cops are under intense pressure in the face of continuing Mother Earth attacks. The very existence of the International Space Police Force is in jeopardy. Kenzy and Priya are responding to a murderous Mother Earth explosion at a moon outpost when one of the workers, Mary Ward, takes a hostage and makes demands, accusing others of trying to kill her. She appears to have snapped under pressure. As the crisis develops, dangerous secrets are revealed. Secrets that some will be prepared to kill for. And die for.