House of Cards by Keith R. A. DeCandido

Moya and crew are hired to transport a passenger back to his native world, which happens to be surrounded with an energy field that prevents non-living ships from entering or leaving. The place reminds Crichton of Las Vegas, and it’s got just as much intrigue. Gambling, mystery, assassination attempts, impersonating PK officers, spying, bargaining, and the threat of imminent destruction - it’s all woven together in a grand tapestry.

Set in season two, this is an entertaining read. Easily believeable as an episode of the series, it’s nice to see Crichton get a chance to be the intellectual scientist he was originally written to be. Everyone gets a chance to shine, and the plot is delightfully twisted - much more intricate than a single episode on video would have time to cover.