The second book in the Elijah Baley, Robots series has more of a traditional murder mystery feel to it than Caves of Steel. The first book seemed to focus more on the dynamics of the earth’s society and how it relates to the bourgeoisie spacer worlds.

This book takes place on Solaria, the extrapolated end point to the long lived, robot dependent spacer society. Baley is sent to investigate a murder as well as to gather information for the leaders of Earth society. There seems far more focus on the crime in this book and as such the plot seems tighter and more focused. The investigation takes place in a series of interviews with suspects and in some ways is fairly formulaic as a crime procedural, with the Agatha Christie like reveal at the end in front of the cast of suspects.

It is the setting that draws you in though, the learning about the Solarian culture. It’s rigidity and isolationist bent are obvious immediately, but Asimov does a terrific job of exploring the implications of such a society. He teases out what come across as logical implications of such a society.

Then there’s Galdia. In some ways the prototypical femme fatale, the only real suspect for the murder, she’s a superbly drawn character and a welcome addition to the universe. The scene where Elijah ‘sees’ her at her home and she paints him and they take a walk through the grounds is a real highlight and one which I went back and read again with pleasure.

I think I actually preferred this book to Caves of Steel. While the world building was impressive and interesting and the depiction of life on a crowded, inward looking Earth was excellent, I found the central mystery less compelling. This book has more fascinating characters, more varied suspects, and better pacing, as well as the social and political message it carries, that are a natuaral extension of those found in the first book.