With the series structure I've established as a trilogy, bridging novel, then another trilogy, the first seven books have a consistency that has proven to work and has been popular with readers. So, my intention with the 8th book was as another bridging novel, a pause to reset the galactic stage in service of the more dynamic trilogy to follow. However, this particular story is more of a slow-burn mystery, focusing on a single solar system and a tragic criminal cover up therein that cost millions of innocent lives. It's great prose and I'm enjoying the heck out of creating it. However, the bulk of the previous novels were action-adventure, not a slow boil to an eventual eruption. My concern is that while I'd be perfectly happy doing a Dashiell Hammett-style hard-boiled thriller, which fits in with the lore, story, and momentum of books previous, it's too drastic of a change and I may upset long-time fans.
The story is about 6o% complete. Should I continue on this path, or try to shoehorn it back to my sine qua non of epic space battles and brutal ground combat?