He is there, along with Professor Vorthys, an older, more experienced Auditor and engineer, to investigate whether the destruction of a solar power satellite vital to the ongoing terraforming of the planet was an accident or sabotage.

After persuading the Komarrans to surrender, Miles is surprised and utterly delighted to discover that Ekaterin has a previously hidden talent for causing mayhem and had already dealt the plot a fatal blow.

[3] Publishers Weekly called it "a fast-moving story that combines just the right amount of action and wit", and considered the portrayal of Ekaterin as "a good woman stuck in a loveless marriage" to be "both believable and intensely painful".

[4] At Tor.com, Jo Walton stated that Komarr is "a perfect mystery, with all the clues in plain sight (...) but cleverly misdirected", and commended Bujold's portrayal of "plausible villains who think of themselves as heroes".

[5] At the SF Site, Nicki Gerlach praised the depiction of an abusive relationship, noting in particular that Ekaterin's reasons for remaining with Tien ("other than inertia") are "not only believable, but also contribute to [her] overall characterization and likability.