I Only Killed Him Once by Adam Christopher

Adam Christopher returns to Tinseltown and his quirky memory-addled robot detective/hit man Raymond Electromatic in his third book of the LA Trilogy, I Only Killed Him Once. A new case has Ray going after a G-man, a man in black, an expressionless lawman… and once the deed is done, the memory lingers in the robot’s mixed up mind. What is it about this man? What is causing the electrical synapses to fire? Ray leaves himself notes to try to help his future self, and soon enough, people return to his life who may help or hinder his task to find the truth behind these triggered responses to his artificial intelligence. The next morning the book turns a sharp corner when the object of his seemingly successful hit visits him, alive… again.

The best of Christopher’s writing lies in the quick-witted and smart-aleck voice of his robot protagonist. The author’s 1960s alternative California is as interesting as ever, filled with descriptions of the cars, the diners, and the dialect of the times. There is just enough science in Christopher’s description of the mechanics of robotics to lend credibility, but not overwhelm the reader.

I Only Killed Him Once proves to be a satisfying ending to the narrative arc of the LA Trilogy. And although the book could adequately stand on its own, a reader would really want to start with the first book in the series, Make to Kill, to fully explore Christopher’s world. I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend a little more time with Ray?

4 out of 5 stars

Comes out on July 10th, 2018.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan-Tor Books, and Adam Christopher for the advanced copy for review.