The Mimicking of Known Successes was one of my top reads in 2023, and I was so excited for this follow up to the Holmesian coziness that is Mossa and Pleiti solving a mystery. The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles takes place some time after the first novella, and Mossa and Pleiti are in something of a relationship. Mossa is assigned a missing person case at Pleiti's university, and the two begin to investigate it together.
 
 Older manages to blend a sci-fi setting with the comfort of reading a Holmesian mystery with ease. There is an equal amount of attention given to the mystery itself as well as to Pleiti and Mossa (though Pleiti's eyes) as characters. In this second novella, we also get to see Pleiti navigate her relationship with Mossa; she often has trouble with her own perception of what their relationship really is, and with trying to fit Mossa's whole Holmes-ish character within the relationship they're building. But then Mossa smiles and Pleiti's lovestruck by it and they're incredibly adorable. 
 
 I would say that the one thing that brought it down a star for me compared to the first novella is that the world building felt like it took over a little more this time around, instead of feeling a lot more natural within the storytelling. But I truly enjoy this world Older has created, this future colony living in the orbit of Giant (aka Jupiter), growing and surviving and thriving even as they try to figure out if they can ever inhabit Earth again. 
 
 I highly enjoy this series and its weird but interesting blend of sci-fi and mystery. Seasoned sci-fi and mystery readers should definitely give it a chance if you haven't already. 
 
 Many, MANY thanks to NetGalley and Tordotcom for giving me the chance to read and review this! The Imposition of Unnecessary Obstacles will be available on February 13, 2024.