Exit Strategy

August 1, 2018
After finding evidence proving that the GrayCris Corporation engaged in illegal activities, Murderbot heads out to hand the case over to Dr. Mensah, its former owner. But Dr. Mensah has disappeared, and Murderbot must track her down?straight into the heart of enemy territory. Saving its mentor and taking down GrayCris are just the beginning of its challenges?Murderbot also has to figure out who it is, where it fits in society, and just how it is supposed to relate to all these people. The fourth installment of Wells' Murderbot Diaries (after Rogue Protocol, 2018) will satisfy readers' hopes for this series finale. It follows the same basic structural formula as its predecessors, so it has all the action fans expect. Exit Strategy tones down the humor a bit but adds depth to Murderbot's introspection as it wrestles with questions of identity that it has been avoiding, and the story leaves it to decide its own future. Everything comes full circle while remaining appropriately open ended. Wells gives us a worthy conclusion to one of the best series in recent memory.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)

Starred review from September 15, 2018

Having gathered a lot of pertinent information to take down GrayCris Corporation, Murderbot returns to its place of origin to help Dr. Mensch, who started this quest. However, with a special security team on its tail, Murderbot soon discovers that GrayCris is well on its way to covering its tracks. Mensch has been accused of corporate espionage and is being held at another station. Realizing Mensch's situation is a result of its own actions, Murderbot must help its former owner/friend escape, along with the rest of the Preservation team, even if it means this SecUnit will finally get caught. Coming full circle from the beginning of its journey to awareness, Murderbot once again works to save the fragile humans and discovers that trying to avoid humanity is one sure way to get caught in the midst of it. VERDICT The last of Hugo Award winner Wells's "Murderbot Diaries" (after Rogue Protocol) brings the concept of an AI's dealing with humanity--for better and worse--to a sarcastic, sharp, thrilling conclusion.--Kristi Chadwick, Massachusetts Lib. Syst., Northampton

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