Inanna Harth
Jedi Knight
OUT OF CHARACTER INFORMATION
The cover of the first edition features a photo of the interior of a luxury starliner; emblazoned in white letters above the scene is the title. Inanna Hoole's name is printed below the title in a slightly smaller font.
CONTENT INFORMATION
Plot Summary:
As a reward for solving the kidnapping of his daughter in a previous novel, a grateful father gifts the private detective Amelia Merrick with a cabin aboard the Hydian Bolt, a luxury starliner. The other passengers aboard the ship include nobility from various planets, wealthy businessmen, and a young Jedi Knight named Tobias Gale (who seems very out of place). Amelia is approached by the charming Count Lucio Ardath of Serenno, who is staying in the cabin next to hers. She and the Count have a brief fling, though the affair is strained by the Count's paranoia. He confides in her that he is being hunted by people who want to kill him. When he refuses to say why they want him dead, Amelia decides to end the relationship.
That night Amelia is awakened by a cry coming from the Count's cabin. At her request, a crew member knocks on the door to check on him. A voice responds, reassuring the crew member that nothing is wrong. The following morning Count Ardath is found dead in his cabin, having been stabbed repeatedly. An examination of the body finds trace amounts of a drug causing paralysis, but not enough to have actually rendered him paralyzed. Upon examining his belongings, Amelia notices that his ID and passport have been altered, indicating he was hiding his true identity.
A mechanical issue with the Hydian Bolt's engine forces the starliner out of hyperspace, leaving them stranded in space without power until repairs are finished. Amelia sets to work interviewing the other passengers and crew about the night of the murder. Specifically she looks for any signs that they knew Ardath or were in some way connected to him. The Jedi Knight Tobias Gale attempts to intervene in her investigation; when confronted, he finally reveals that Count Ardath was a prominent member of the Sith Empire, where he was known as Darth Judicar, a brutal scientist and alchemist who performed experiments on unwilling sentient subjects. When the Empire fell, Ardath escaped justice and had been on the run ever since.
While there is clearly ample motive for Ardath's murder, Amelia is still at a loss as to who killed him and how. She hones in on Tobias Gale who, as a Jedi, was seemingly the only passenger with enough power to subdue the Sith. But it is ultimately 3-DC, a protocol droid owned by an elderly passenger named Trista Sibwarra, who provides the most crucial detail. When questioned Threedee mentions a family tragedy which has consumed his mistress' life, though he quickly clamps up when she tries to question him about it further. Amelia pretends that she already knows all about the tragedy, and as a result the other passengers begin revealing pieces of information, allowing her to form a picture of what happened.
Power is restored to the Hydian Bolt, allowing Amelia access to records that confirm a few final details. Trista Sibwarra is in fact a Jedi Master named Mara Karrde. Years earlier she had beaten Count Ardath in a duel, captured him and destroyed his research. As revenge, Ardath kidnapped her granddaughter and performed experiments on the child, resulting in her death. The incident destroyed Karrde's family. With Ardath escaping justice, Karrde, her surviving relatives, and others connected to the tragedy conspired together to track down and kill him. Their plans reached fruition when they managed to entrap Ardath aboard the Hydian Bolt, where Karrde restrained Ardath using the Force while the conspirators each took turns stabbing the Sith.
Given the circumstances, Amelia decides not to inform the authorities of the truth, instead allowing the case to remain officially "unsolved". However, Mara Karrde takes the blame and exiles herself from the Jedi Order, no longer able to reconcile herself with the beliefs of the Jedi.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Written after Inanna had established herself as an author of fairly good mystery novels, Murder On the Hydian Way was her breakthrough, propelling her to far greater success than she had previously achieved. The storyline was loosely inspired by true events; a friend of Inanna had a daughter who was kidnapped by a Sith Lord. In reality, the child lived, but in the novel the abducted child is killed, sparking the revenge plot which consumes the characters.
Critics praised the story for its originality, though some were less enthusiastic about the "morally gray" treatment of the characters. The rights to the novel were sold and a hit holofilm adaptation was made, further increasing its fame and success.
- Intent: To flesh out Inanna's bibliography.
- Image Credit: N/A
- Canon: N/A
- Permissions: N/A
- Links: N/A
- Media Name: Murder On the Hydian Way
- Format: Book/Holobook
- Distribution: Common
- Length: Medium
- Description: Murder On the Hydian Way is a mystery/thriller novel written by Inanna Hoole. The book centers on Amelia Merrick, a private detective who is traveling along the Hydian Way aboard a luxury starliner, the Hydian Bolt. During the journey, another passenger is found murdered in his cabin. With the ship then suffering an engine malfunction that leaves them stranded for several days, Amelia sets out to discover the killer's identity.
- Author: Inanna Hoole
- Publisher: Gildenleaf Inc.
- Reception: This novel is Inanna's most popular to date, becoming an instant bestseller and receiving recognition and praise from critics. A holofilm adaptation was released and also well-received, increasing the book's popularity.
The cover of the first edition features a photo of the interior of a luxury starliner; emblazoned in white letters above the scene is the title. Inanna Hoole's name is printed below the title in a slightly smaller font.
CONTENT INFORMATION
"Sure, there's plenty of evidence. But there's no psychology behind a forgotten handkerchief and some cigarra ash. I need to know why they did it, what drove them. Only when I have the motive will I solve this case." - Excerpt from Murder On the Hydian Express by Inanna Hoole.
Plot Summary:
As a reward for solving the kidnapping of his daughter in a previous novel, a grateful father gifts the private detective Amelia Merrick with a cabin aboard the Hydian Bolt, a luxury starliner. The other passengers aboard the ship include nobility from various planets, wealthy businessmen, and a young Jedi Knight named Tobias Gale (who seems very out of place). Amelia is approached by the charming Count Lucio Ardath of Serenno, who is staying in the cabin next to hers. She and the Count have a brief fling, though the affair is strained by the Count's paranoia. He confides in her that he is being hunted by people who want to kill him. When he refuses to say why they want him dead, Amelia decides to end the relationship.
That night Amelia is awakened by a cry coming from the Count's cabin. At her request, a crew member knocks on the door to check on him. A voice responds, reassuring the crew member that nothing is wrong. The following morning Count Ardath is found dead in his cabin, having been stabbed repeatedly. An examination of the body finds trace amounts of a drug causing paralysis, but not enough to have actually rendered him paralyzed. Upon examining his belongings, Amelia notices that his ID and passport have been altered, indicating he was hiding his true identity.
A mechanical issue with the Hydian Bolt's engine forces the starliner out of hyperspace, leaving them stranded in space without power until repairs are finished. Amelia sets to work interviewing the other passengers and crew about the night of the murder. Specifically she looks for any signs that they knew Ardath or were in some way connected to him. The Jedi Knight Tobias Gale attempts to intervene in her investigation; when confronted, he finally reveals that Count Ardath was a prominent member of the Sith Empire, where he was known as Darth Judicar, a brutal scientist and alchemist who performed experiments on unwilling sentient subjects. When the Empire fell, Ardath escaped justice and had been on the run ever since.
While there is clearly ample motive for Ardath's murder, Amelia is still at a loss as to who killed him and how. She hones in on Tobias Gale who, as a Jedi, was seemingly the only passenger with enough power to subdue the Sith. But it is ultimately 3-DC, a protocol droid owned by an elderly passenger named Trista Sibwarra, who provides the most crucial detail. When questioned Threedee mentions a family tragedy which has consumed his mistress' life, though he quickly clamps up when she tries to question him about it further. Amelia pretends that she already knows all about the tragedy, and as a result the other passengers begin revealing pieces of information, allowing her to form a picture of what happened.
Power is restored to the Hydian Bolt, allowing Amelia access to records that confirm a few final details. Trista Sibwarra is in fact a Jedi Master named Mara Karrde. Years earlier she had beaten Count Ardath in a duel, captured him and destroyed his research. As revenge, Ardath kidnapped her granddaughter and performed experiments on the child, resulting in her death. The incident destroyed Karrde's family. With Ardath escaping justice, Karrde, her surviving relatives, and others connected to the tragedy conspired together to track down and kill him. Their plans reached fruition when they managed to entrap Ardath aboard the Hydian Bolt, where Karrde restrained Ardath using the Force while the conspirators each took turns stabbing the Sith.
Given the circumstances, Amelia decides not to inform the authorities of the truth, instead allowing the case to remain officially "unsolved". However, Mara Karrde takes the blame and exiles herself from the Jedi Order, no longer able to reconcile herself with the beliefs of the Jedi.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Written after Inanna had established herself as an author of fairly good mystery novels, Murder On the Hydian Way was her breakthrough, propelling her to far greater success than she had previously achieved. The storyline was loosely inspired by true events; a friend of Inanna had a daughter who was kidnapped by a Sith Lord. In reality, the child lived, but in the novel the abducted child is killed, sparking the revenge plot which consumes the characters.
Critics praised the story for its originality, though some were less enthusiastic about the "morally gray" treatment of the characters. The rights to the novel were sold and a hit holofilm adaptation was made, further increasing its fame and success.
