About the book, Rocket Girl 
- Pages: 330
- Publisher: Polyester Press
- Publication Date: 23 February 2027
- Categories: Historical Mystery/Thriller
A plucky, recently widowed mathematician takes a job with a new NASA-funded research center, but when a fellow employee turns up dead, things add up to murder…
Dallas, 1961. There’s a new president in the White House, a new birth control pill, and a new Russian satellite called Sputnik flying overhead. Everything’s new except Kick Johnson’s options: she’s unexpectedly on her own after three months of marriage to a man she barely knew, her car has been repossessed, and no bank will give her—or any single woman—a loan. When she answers an employment ad at the new Center for Rocket Science Research and lands a job as a math aide, her trajectory points upward—until evidence of a murder is found on the property.
The victim was an engineer who worked on the space program. His death raises questions about the safety of the center and the lengths someone will go to steal the research inside. It also highlights more personal issues like why he was at Kick’s house two days before he was killed. Now her new life involves a fair amount of deception and danger with global stakes—not to mention a surprising secret that hits painfully close to home.
As the space race heats up, Kick has to solve a formula she had no part in writing before her future—and that of the space program she’s learned to love—burns up on reentry.
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About the Author, Diane Vallere 
National bestselling author Diane Vallere writes mysteries where ordinary women stumble into extraordinary situations…and murder is never far behind. From the dawn of the Space Race to contemporary life, her character-driven novels combine memorable heroines with humor and heart.
A past president of Sisters in Crime Worldwide, Diane edited the Agatha Award–winning essay collection Promophobia: Taking the Mystery out of Promoting Crime Fiction. She studied art history at the College of William and Mary and spent decades working as a merchant in the luxury fashion industry before trading fashion accessories for accessories to murder.
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My Thoughts 
I’m a space junkie, and I love a strong female character, so a historical mystery that combines wit, charm, and the space race was practically guaranteed to appeal to me. I devoured Rocket Girl in a single afternoon, completely forgetting to eat or drink in the process.
Kick Johnson is exactly the kind of amateur detective I love. Circumstances propel her into a radically different life: from newlywed to widow in just three months, and from homemaker to gainfully employed at a fictional research center reminiscent of the facilities depicted in Hidden Figures. It’s a whirlwind of change, but the story never feels rushed.
Diane Vallere clearly did her research. She captures the atmosphere of Mercury-era NASA and its associated research facilities while grounding her story in the broader culture of 1961 Texas. Women faced significant barriers to financial independence, while public schools were still struggling through court-ordered desegregation. These realities aren’t merely period window dressing. They’re part of the world that shaped Kick, and they inform both her choices and the story itself.
One thing I particularly appreciated was the distinction between systemic misogyny and individual behavior. While Kick encounters plenty of institutional barriers, most of the men she works with at the rocket center have genuinely good intentions. I especially liked Don Lancer, who gives her a chance professionally, and Bill Arden, who encourages her growing sense of adventure. Honorable mention goes to her brother-in-law, Ned.
The female friendships are equally important, particularly because they’re imperfect. Kick’s relationship with her mother-hen sister, Trudy, is especially compelling. Watching her establish her independence without sacrificing their closeness was one of my favorite aspects of the novel. Connie and Betty, her colleagues at the rocket center, also stood out, as did Mildred, whom I sincerely hope we’ll see more of in future books.
Of course, there’s also a murder to solve, and Vallere delivers excellent plotting with pacing to match. The mystery unfolds naturally alongside Kick’s personal transformation, with neither element overshadowing the other.
Rocket Girl is a thoroughly satisfying historical mystery that feels like a period piece without ever feeling dated. Instead, it has a breezy, retro-futuristic energy that perfectly suits its setting. It’s smart, engaging, and full of characters I’d happily spend more time with. I’m already looking forward to Kick’s next adventure.
Goes well with: Texas BBQ brisket, coleslaw, and a cold Shiner Bock.
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