Come for the games. Stay for the murder. A mystery in the Gordian Division universe.

The Weltall Tournament's professional VR games were supposed to be a symbol of cooperation between SysGov and its militaristic neighbor, the Admin. But that was before star Admin player Elly Sako received a death threat, written in blood next to a copy of her own severed head. The Admin's Department of Temporal Investigation swiftly seizes control of the crime scene, and the tournament transforms into a flashpoint of charged politics and conflicting jurisdictions.

SysPol Detective Isaac Cho and DTI Special Agent Susan Cantrell--partners in the officer exchange program--are sent in to take charge of the investigation and bring the situation under control. But solving this mystery won't be easy, and the pair struggles to determine who is telling the truth. A jilted relationship between players soon explodes into signs of a far-reaching conspiracy, and the two detectives find themselves racing against time before the tournament ends.

Because the killer will be the only one who wins, should they fail.

Praise The Janus File:

"A satisfying, self-contained mystery for its mismatched protagonists to gradually unravel . . . moments of humor amid the expected culture clashes, and the exploration of the authors' well-realized far-future world . . . It's pure entertainment." --Publishers Weekly

Praise for prequel The Gordian Protocol:

"Tom Clancy-esque exposition of technical details . . . absurd humor and bloody action. Echoes of Robert Heinlein . . . lots of exploding temporal spaceships and bodies . . . action-packed . . ." --Booklist

"[A] fun and thrilling standalone from Weber and Holo. . . . Time travel enthusiasts will enjoy the moral dilemmas, nonstop action, and crisp writing." --Publishers Weekly

Praise for David Weber:
"[A] balanced mix of interstellar intrigue, counterespionage, and epic fleet action . . . with all the hard- and software details and tactical proficiency that Weber delivers like no one else; along with a large cast of well-developed, believable characters, giving each clash of fleets emotional weight." --Booklist

"[M]oves . . . as inexorably as the Star Kingdom's Grand Fleet, commanded by series protagonist Honor Harrington. . . . Weber is the Tom Clancy of science fiction. . . . His fans will relish this latest installment. . . ." --Publishers Weekly

"This entry is just as exciting as Weber's initial offering. . . . The result is a fast-paced and action-packed story that follows [our characters] as they move from reaction to command of the situation. Weber builds Shadow of Freedom to an exciting and unexpected climax." --The Galveston County Daily News

"Weber combines realistic, engaging characters with intelligent technological projection and a deep understanding of military bureaucracy in this long-awaited Honor Harrington novel . . . . Fans of this venerable space opera will rejoice to see Honor back in action." --Publishers Weekly

"This latest Honor Harrington novel brings the saga to another crucial turning point. . . . Readers may feel confident that they will be Honored many more times and enjoy it every time." --Booklist

"[E]verything you could want in a heroine. . . . Excellent . . . plenty of action." --Science Fiction Age

"Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!" --Anne McCaffrey

"Compelling combat combined with engaging characters for a great space opera adventure." --Locus

"Weber combines realistic, engaging characters with intelligent technological projection. . . . Fans of this venerable space opera will rejoice . . ." --Publishers Weekly

Praise for Jacob Holo:

"An entertaining sci-fi action novel with light overtones of dystopian and political thrillers." --Kirkus on The Dragons of Jupiter

"Thrilling . . . sci-fi adventure." --Kirkus on Time Reavers

Author: David Weber, Jacob Holo
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Baen
Published: 06/06/2023
Series: Gordian Division #4
Pages: 384
Weight: 1.23lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.00w x 1.40d
ISBN: 9781982192655

About the Author
With more than eight million copies of his books in print and 33 titles on the New York Times bestseller list, David Weber is a science fiction powerhouse. In the vastly popular Honor Harrington series, the spirit of C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and Patrick O'Brian's Master and Commander live on--into the galactic future. Books in the Honor Harrington and Honorverse series have appeared on 21 bestseller lists, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA Today. Additional Honorverse collaborations include the spin-off miniseries Manticore Ascendant with New York Times best-selling author Timothy Zahn; and with Eric Flint, Crown of Slaves, Cauldron of Ghosts, and To End in Fire contribute to Weber's illustrious list of New York Times and international bestsellers.

Best known for his spirited, modern-minded space operas, Weber is also the creator of the Oath of Swords fantasy series and the Dahak Saga, a science fiction and fantasy hybrid. Weber has also engaged in a steady stream of best-selling collaborations: the Starfire series with Steve White; the Empire of Man series with John Ringo; the Multiverse series with Linda Evans and Joelle Presby; and contributions to the Ring of Fire series with Eric Flint.

Jacob Holo is a former-Ohioan, former-Michigander living in sunny South Carolina. He describes himself as a writer, gamer, hobbyist, and engineer who started writing after his parents bought him an IBM 286 desktop back in the '80s. He's been writing ever since.