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Maliha Anderson #1
Murder out of the Blue
A gruesome death. An airship full of suspects. Maliha Anderson, a brilliant and fiercely independent Anglo-Indian, is on her way home to make peace with her past and future. When the nurse of a wheelchair-bound General turns up dead, the accusations begin to fly as fast as the Sky Liner RMS Macedonia zips across the clouds. Unlike the baffled authorities, Maliha believes the General is innocent, and so the mystery begins.
With landfall just hours away, Maliha must find the true murderer before the culprit escapes, even if it means putting herself in grave danger.
Murder out of the Blue is the first installment in the Maliha Anderson steampunk murder mystery series which includes unforeseen twists, vivid descriptions, intriguing characters, and crisp, elegant prose. The book serves as a great introduction to the steampunk genre and as an homage to Agatha Christie in an alternative Edwardian setting.
With landfall just hours away, Maliha must find the true murderer before the culprit escapes, even if it means putting herself in grave danger.
Murder out of the Blue is the first installment in the Maliha Anderson steampunk murder mystery series which includes unforeseen twists, vivid descriptions, intriguing characters, and crisp, elegant prose. The book serves as a great introduction to the steampunk genre and as an homage to Agatha Christie in an alternative Edwardian setting.
82 pages, ebook
First published November 30, 2013
76 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Steve Turnbull
63 books360 followersWhen he's not sitting at his computer building websites for national institutions and international companies, Steve Turnbull can be found sitting at his computer building new worlds of steampunk, science fiction and fantasy.
Technically Steve was born a cockney but after five years he was moved out from London to the suburbs where he grew up and he talks posh now. He's been a voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy since his early years, but it was poet Laurie Lee's autobiography "Cider with Rosie" (picked up because he was bored in Maths) that taught him the beauty of language and spurred him into becoming a writer, aged 15. He spent twenty years editing and writing for computer magazines while writing poetry on the side.
Nowadays he writes screenplays (TV and features), prose and computer programs.
Join the Voidships newsletter at http://voidships.com/
Technically Steve was born a cockney but after five years he was moved out from London to the suburbs where he grew up and he talks posh now. He's been a voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy since his early years, but it was poet Laurie Lee's autobiography "Cider with Rosie" (picked up because he was bored in Maths) that taught him the beauty of language and spurred him into becoming a writer, aged 15. He spent twenty years editing and writing for computer magazines while writing poetry on the side.
Nowadays he writes screenplays (TV and features), prose and computer programs.
Join the Voidships newsletter at http://voidships.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
February 10, 2015
Steampunk is new to me and this book showed me how nice it is to just sit back and go with the alternate universe where a difference like Faraday's discovering anti-gravity can change things. I found it very relaxing to let my mind flow in this way.
From the beginning of the reading, I knew I was in good hands with Steve Turnbull. His story has a classical feel to it. I did not feel bombarded with odd things, but just fell naturally into the story where things are not like they are here/now. I enjoyed his main character and his development of characters in general. This is enjoyable, light reading, but there is depth to consider the relationship of the story to my own experience of life. So, it was light, but not frivolous.
I love this universe and will continue in the series to mix it in with other reading. It truly was a pleasure reading this novella.
From the beginning of the reading, I knew I was in good hands with Steve Turnbull. His story has a classical feel to it. I did not feel bombarded with odd things, but just fell naturally into the story where things are not like they are here/now. I enjoyed his main character and his development of characters in general. This is enjoyable, light reading, but there is depth to consider the relationship of the story to my own experience of life. So, it was light, but not frivolous.
I love this universe and will continue in the series to mix it in with other reading. It truly was a pleasure reading this novella.
March 5, 2018
Murder Out of the Blue - a review by Rosemary Kenny
Not on the same level as E M Forster's A Passage to India, but with some of the same elements, Steve Turnbull's fascinating tale of heroine Maliha Anderson's unconventional parentage (a Scottish Presbyterian father and a Hindu mother), leaves her a somewhat of a social disadvantage as she travels to India aboard an airship powered by the Faraday effect, that has all the class distinctions of a sea-going liner or indeed the Orient Express.
The latter similarity becomes more marked when a young woman is found murdered and to have an even more startling secret, which stimulates Mahila to join the ship's security officer in seeking out the culprit before anyone else prematurely meets their maker!
Who was the victim? Why is their secret so shocking? Why does Mahila question another person?
Who is the next to die and how are the two deaths connected?
Who befriends Mahila and what is their reason for going to India? What is their secret?
Who is Lochan and what does he tell Mahila about the first victim?
With the body count rising and strange secrets abounding, can Mahila live long enough to avoid becoming the next in line for a gruesome end, or will she triumph and live to sleuth another day?
You'll never guess the ending in this curious case until you read it for yourself - get your copy now!
Not on the same level as E M Forster's A Passage to India, but with some of the same elements, Steve Turnbull's fascinating tale of heroine Maliha Anderson's unconventional parentage (a Scottish Presbyterian father and a Hindu mother), leaves her a somewhat of a social disadvantage as she travels to India aboard an airship powered by the Faraday effect, that has all the class distinctions of a sea-going liner or indeed the Orient Express.
The latter similarity becomes more marked when a young woman is found murdered and to have an even more startling secret, which stimulates Mahila to join the ship's security officer in seeking out the culprit before anyone else prematurely meets their maker!
Who was the victim? Why is their secret so shocking? Why does Mahila question another person?
Who is the next to die and how are the two deaths connected?
Who befriends Mahila and what is their reason for going to India? What is their secret?
Who is Lochan and what does he tell Mahila about the first victim?
With the body count rising and strange secrets abounding, can Mahila live long enough to avoid becoming the next in line for a gruesome end, or will she triumph and live to sleuth another day?
You'll never guess the ending in this curious case until you read it for yourself - get your copy now!
April 6, 2022
Great read!
MOotB is an interesting combination of genres including historical fiction, sci-fi and mystery. It is plot driven much more so than character driven. And the storyline with its many surprises kept me reading straight through. I highly recommend it.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
MOotB is an interesting combination of genres including historical fiction, sci-fi and mystery. It is plot driven much more so than character driven. And the storyline with its many surprises kept me reading straight through. I highly recommend it.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
February 12, 2015
Murder Out of the Blue is a steampunk murder-mystery set aboard a luxury airship and strongly written in the Victorian style. This is a thoughtful study of class, gender and racial prejudices in an alternate steam-era history. So if you're looking for air pirates and swashbuckling, this isn't it.
The protagonist is a bi-racial (Indian and British) young woman, at once driven by a strong moral code and tempered by the desire to stay out of the limelight. Hints at her backstory make her complex and intriguing enough to overcome the Victorian manners that keep her at arm's length from the reader.
The mystery itself resolved a little suddenly for my taste, but that may be down to the limitations of the novella as a vehicle for in-depth sleuthing. And there is a passage in which the POV shifts to that of the killer, which felt awkward both in the way it was written and that it happened at all.
The world the author created felt well constructed and believable. I'm willing to continue the series, to see how the character grows and to see if the next mystery clicks for me.
The protagonist is a bi-racial (Indian and British) young woman, at once driven by a strong moral code and tempered by the desire to stay out of the limelight. Hints at her backstory make her complex and intriguing enough to overcome the Victorian manners that keep her at arm's length from the reader.
The mystery itself resolved a little suddenly for my taste, but that may be down to the limitations of the novella as a vehicle for in-depth sleuthing. And there is a passage in which the POV shifts to that of the killer, which felt awkward both in the way it was written and that it happened at all.
The world the author created felt well constructed and believable. I'm willing to continue the series, to see how the character grows and to see if the next mystery clicks for me.
March 15, 2015
Nicely plotted little mystery. Maliha is an interesting character, but I would like to have known more about her past. There were only a few hints. That was likely due to the short length of the book. Also Mr. Crier remains a total enigma. That's notable because other secondary characters came in with spot-on clarity.
Incidentally there was very little mechanical or technical stuff in this book but that's not a minus for me. What details the author used of journeying in a derigible were interesting, authentic, and exactly what a smart and sensitive young woman would hone in on.
But I'd enjoy reading another book in the series to find out more about Maliha's personal life and watch her solve another mystery. Now that she's home in Ceylon I expect there'll be even more of the mixed cultures in this British-conquered colony in our alternate steampunk reality.
Incidentally there was very little mechanical or technical stuff in this book but that's not a minus for me. What details the author used of journeying in a derigible were interesting, authentic, and exactly what a smart and sensitive young woman would hone in on.
But I'd enjoy reading another book in the series to find out more about Maliha's personal life and watch her solve another mystery. Now that she's home in Ceylon I expect there'll be even more of the mixed cultures in this British-conquered colony in our alternate steampunk reality.
July 14, 2016
Though this is ostensibly a novella of the "steampunk" genre, the milieu takes a back seat to the events and characters of this alternate point in history. In truth, this is more of a classical whodunnit; and, while there are enough red herrings and misdirectors to keep you guessing, when the denouement arrives the earlier clues that may have seemed insignificant at the time all slot into place.
Running at a mere 84 pages, there's still plenty of time to get at least a taste of what the author describes as the Voidships universe; time to be engaged and intrigued by the characters (and there is clearly more to Maliha Anderson than we get to see here; with scope for development in further stories, I am sure); and time to be taken aback by at least one good twist that I didn't see coming.
Running at a mere 84 pages, there's still plenty of time to get at least a taste of what the author describes as the Voidships universe; time to be engaged and intrigued by the characters (and there is clearly more to Maliha Anderson than we get to see here; with scope for development in further stories, I am sure); and time to be taken aback by at least one good twist that I didn't see coming.
January 14, 2015
Despite its short length, I didn't find the story lacking in intrigue, suspense or mystery.
I loved the whole theme of the book. As a reader, I could almost smell the leather of those high-backed chairs, the slight squeamishness of first being bereft of gravity and the overall atmosphere was altogether very well detailed.
And when the first of many plot twists hooked me in, there was no way I could put it down!
Maliha was an interesting character. I felt a certain empathy with her. In this world she is viewed in an often, disrespectful light. I find her a strong willed and resourceful person.
This book was a glimpse into a world I find absolutely fascinating and will certainly be purchasing the next book in the series.
I loved the whole theme of the book. As a reader, I could almost smell the leather of those high-backed chairs, the slight squeamishness of first being bereft of gravity and the overall atmosphere was altogether very well detailed.
And when the first of many plot twists hooked me in, there was no way I could put it down!
Maliha was an interesting character. I felt a certain empathy with her. In this world she is viewed in an often, disrespectful light. I find her a strong willed and resourceful person.
This book was a glimpse into a world I find absolutely fascinating and will certainly be purchasing the next book in the series.
September 28, 2017
A slow mystery that was interesting to read.
January 7, 2019
This is the first book in the Maliha Anderson steampunk mystery series. The worldbuilding is seamless; being unfamiliar with steampunk, I wondered about the Faraday engines, but the world of steampunk is seamlessly integrated into the story. And Maliha Anderson is a wonderful character: in my opinion, Turnbull gave her not only a unique voice and gave her believable reactions to difficult and racially insensitive situation, but also provided an irresistible taste to an enticing backstory.
However, the mystery itself leaves a lot to be desired. The murder isn't uncovered until more than halfway through the story, which is perhaps expected in a novel written in Victorian times, but not a modern novel simply set in Victorian times—the first part of the novel drags a bit. More problematic is that the murder is solved too quickly, and with too little detective work on Maliha's part—at least, not that the reader sees. It's a bit of conjecture followed by a lot of luck, and the arc of the plot that has to do with the murder simply isn't very satisfying.
Turnbull's language is great, and quite appropriate for a Victorian-era mystery, but it becomes an issue in the climatic scene. A physical altercation that takes place very quickly—perhaps one or two seconds at most—is drawn out and over-described. It makes the immediacy of the scene tepid instead.
I plan on continuing in this series, as I think the short length of this book contributed to the issues. The books in the series get longer as they go on, and I'm quite invested in Maliha as a character.
However, the mystery itself leaves a lot to be desired. The murder isn't uncovered until more than halfway through the story, which is perhaps expected in a novel written in Victorian times, but not a modern novel simply set in Victorian times—the first part of the novel drags a bit. More problematic is that the murder is solved too quickly, and with too little detective work on Maliha's part—at least, not that the reader sees. It's a bit of conjecture followed by a lot of luck, and the arc of the plot that has to do with the murder simply isn't very satisfying.
Turnbull's language is great, and quite appropriate for a Victorian-era mystery, but it becomes an issue in the climatic scene. A physical altercation that takes place very quickly—perhaps one or two seconds at most—is drawn out and over-described. It makes the immediacy of the scene tepid instead.
I plan on continuing in this series, as I think the short length of this book contributed to the issues. The books in the series get longer as they go on, and I'm quite invested in Maliha as a character.
April 11, 2018
This was my first steam-punk story and if the others are as good as this one, it definitely won't be my last. I was afraid it would be heavy on the technical end of things, but was pleasantly surprised. There's enough technical description to satisfy my curiosity, but it is in the background. It was important to the story, but was not the key focus. The human story was compelling enough to make suspending disbelief relatively easy. Despite technical advances of the steam-punk gadgetry, social attitudes and organization were just what you would expect of the period. The characters were a bit stereotypical, but were fleshed out enough for their individuality to come through. I was surprised that Maliha, the main character, was only 19 years old, but given her history it seems plausible that she would have had to mature faster than her English peers and would have developed a rather jaded view of them. A matter of social survival at the least, perhaps literal survival as well. I'll be checking out the next Maliha Anderson adventure for sure.
September 5, 2021
A novelette changing the RMS Macedonia from passenger liner to airship in the steampunk era to offer a unique murder setting that highlights a biracial sleuth sensitive to LGBT suspects.
I found Maliha Anderson to be an interesting young woman who has learned how to portray self-confidence and keep her own counsel even in the most sensitive situations. Otherwise, I was glad the story could be read as a stand-alone and able to conclude in so few pages or I might not have finished the story. For this reader, it simply seemed that the author wanted to combine as many diverse subjects into one mystery in as few pages as possible. In that case, mission accomplished.
I found Maliha Anderson to be an interesting young woman who has learned how to portray self-confidence and keep her own counsel even in the most sensitive situations. Otherwise, I was glad the story could be read as a stand-alone and able to conclude in so few pages or I might not have finished the story. For this reader, it simply seemed that the author wanted to combine as many diverse subjects into one mystery in as few pages as possible. In that case, mission accomplished.
February 10, 2018
Interesting main character in the time of English colonial views still prevail pre WWI. Main character is a young lady returning to Ceylon after English boarding school. Maliha has an English father and Ceylonese mother. After a world of downwards glances and snobbery towards her, she longs for home and family once again. However she will come of age on this steampunk airship; surviving a murder among the first class passengers, hints of prewar ideas beginning to hint at what may come, death in three families that shape the hints of a series of books to come.
February 5, 2018
It doesn't seem to matter that I read my first Maliha Anderson mystery out of sequence as each story is complete and self-contained. Again, this one did not disappoint. The writing is easy reading and both plotlines and characters are intricate and well-developed. If you have an hour of 'me' time, I highly suggest that you read this fast-moving, intricate little mystery.
May 8, 2018
Steam punk stories are fascinating!
Maliha is traveling home from her school on a steam punk airship. Traveling first class was very nice and quiet elegant. When one of her acquaintances is murdered she begins to puzzle out the who and the why. Very interesting twist in the story.
Maliha is traveling home from her school on a steam punk airship. Traveling first class was very nice and quiet elegant. When one of her acquaintances is murdered she begins to puzzle out the who and the why. Very interesting twist in the story.
July 2, 2018
My first steampunk mystery and I really like it. Love the flying machine and the main character. And it looks like the series continues in Ceylon. A good mystery. Not 5 stars just because the repeated descriptions got over long.
February 9, 2018
Different but Enjoyed
A different read set in an unusual setting. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next mystery. Quick read!
A different read set in an unusual setting. I enjoyed it and look forward to the next mystery. Quick read!
March 6, 2018
Fun
Fun steampunk mystery. Will look for more. Love the futurism. Hate that I have to use so many words in order to post this
Fun steampunk mystery. Will look for more. Love the futurism. Hate that I have to use so many words in order to post this
April 16, 2018
Fantastical reality
A young Miss Marlow of Indian heritage. An enjoyable blend of 18th and 21st century. I'll be reading book two.
A young Miss Marlow of Indian heritage. An enjoyable blend of 18th and 21st century. I'll be reading book two.
May 6, 2018
Short but Sweet
Murder is far from sweet but the presentation of the story was just that. Maliha performed admirably looking forward to more .
Murder is far from sweet but the presentation of the story was just that. Maliha performed admirably looking forward to more .
May 27, 2018
A murder mystery aboard an airship. What more do you need?
May 31, 2018
Good read
Little slow at first, it was just setting up the story. Before I knew it, I was intrigued. Good read.
Little slow at first, it was just setting up the story. Before I knew it, I was intrigued. Good read.
July 7, 2018
I have a love/hate relationship with this novella -- too much info/not enough info, lesbian/gay/transgender all in one short book. Not sure what difference the steampunk made to the story.
April 16, 2021
Actually a 3.5. Interesting storyline which I feel could have been fleshed out a bit more.
March 21, 2017
Kindle Unlimited, writer of several sets {sets ku, when sold separate may not be}. Serialized type would say and a bit steam punk and mystery adventure.
Maliha Anderson, Books 1-3
Harry Takes Off: Books 1 - 3
Frozen Beauty: Books 1 - 3
The Faraday Cage {different writers, more like small anthology from voidships universe}
Elona (Patterner's Path Book 1) {different than the above, probably due a couple more installments too, more sci fi less steampunk than others}}
Maliha Anderson, Books 1-3
Harry Takes Off: Books 1 - 3
Frozen Beauty: Books 1 - 3
The Faraday Cage {different writers, more like small anthology from voidships universe}
Elona (Patterner's Path Book 1) {different than the above, probably due a couple more installments too, more sci fi less steampunk than others}}
July 18, 2015
Last night I finished reading Murder Out of the Blue, by Steve Turnbull. The rave reviews I'd been reading made me curious, so I decided to give it a read.
Last night I finished reading Murder Out of the Blue, by Steve Turnbull. The rave reviews I'd been reading made me curious, so I decided to give it a read.
Last night I finished reading Murder Out of the Blue, by Steve Turnbull. The rave reviews I'd been reading made me curious, so I decided to give it a read. I was happy to learn that the story was deserving of every bit of praise it has received.
Let's start with the setting. A Steampunk setting, which I love. But instead of Victorian England, we are given a peek into a Victorian era British-occupied India.the change of pace, although only glimpsed through the windows of an airship, is an exciting change of pace. Through this locale, we are given a glimpse into the mindset of those that lived under the rule of the monarchy in the colonies
The main technology referenced is the Faraday device.while the concept was unfamiliar, the author did a wonderful job explaining its purpose without making it sound like a user's manual.
The main Character, Maliha Anderson is an interesting character, that Mr. Turnbull walks a very fine line in developing. Miss Anderson is a private character, with a mysterious and troubling past. Being biracial, in a time when anyone not born of two white parents was, at best, treated as a second-class citizen, allows Maliha a surprising amount of freedom to move between both groups - as to both groups, she is an outsider,never truly belonging on either side.
Her reserved character could have made Maliha come across as unsympathetic, but Mr. Turnbull did an excellent job of showing us her vulnerability. All this poor young woman wants is to be left at peace and return home. Of course, as this is a mystery, it won't be quite that simple.
Without giving away the details if the plot, there were several twists and turns to the story. Some of them were truly surprising. In a short work, Mr. Turnbull had me guessing up until the reveal (I admit I did guess the identity of the culprit at one point, but quickly decided that it couldn't possibly be them!)
All in all, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. If I had one complaint, it would be that the story was too short. I will be reading the rest of the books in the series, so that I can revisit this interesting place and time.
Last night I finished reading Murder Out of the Blue, by Steve Turnbull. The rave reviews I'd been reading made me curious, so I decided to give it a read.
Last night I finished reading Murder Out of the Blue, by Steve Turnbull. The rave reviews I'd been reading made me curious, so I decided to give it a read. I was happy to learn that the story was deserving of every bit of praise it has received.
Let's start with the setting. A Steampunk setting, which I love. But instead of Victorian England, we are given a peek into a Victorian era British-occupied India.the change of pace, although only glimpsed through the windows of an airship, is an exciting change of pace. Through this locale, we are given a glimpse into the mindset of those that lived under the rule of the monarchy in the colonies
The main technology referenced is the Faraday device.while the concept was unfamiliar, the author did a wonderful job explaining its purpose without making it sound like a user's manual.
The main Character, Maliha Anderson is an interesting character, that Mr. Turnbull walks a very fine line in developing. Miss Anderson is a private character, with a mysterious and troubling past. Being biracial, in a time when anyone not born of two white parents was, at best, treated as a second-class citizen, allows Maliha a surprising amount of freedom to move between both groups - as to both groups, she is an outsider,never truly belonging on either side.
Her reserved character could have made Maliha come across as unsympathetic, but Mr. Turnbull did an excellent job of showing us her vulnerability. All this poor young woman wants is to be left at peace and return home. Of course, as this is a mystery, it won't be quite that simple.
Without giving away the details if the plot, there were several twists and turns to the story. Some of them were truly surprising. In a short work, Mr. Turnbull had me guessing up until the reveal (I admit I did guess the identity of the culprit at one point, but quickly decided that it couldn't possibly be them!)
All in all, I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this story. If I had one complaint, it would be that the story was too short. I will be reading the rest of the books in the series, so that I can revisit this interesting place and time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2014
Murder out of the Blue is a light entertaining read. I easily finished it in three days. It is about half the length of the average full size fiction work.
This steampunk story is set in an alternate world of English empire, at maybe the late 1800s. There is heavier than air travel and even space travel. The story is completely set on an airship traveling from Africa to India.
The heroine is a young Indian woman who is a first class passenger and a well-to-do citizen of the empire, but who faces prejudice because of her skin color.
The prejudice facing Maliha Anderson is well handled and feels realistic. One odd thing I noticed in the book, after I finished was that every character who had alternative gender preferences came to a bad end. Three characters who were gay, and had alternate livestyles were punished or came to a bad end in the book.
This is a well done steampunk book that is a quick read and a fun murder mystery with a smart and heroic female amateur sleuth. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
This steampunk story is set in an alternate world of English empire, at maybe the late 1800s. There is heavier than air travel and even space travel. The story is completely set on an airship traveling from Africa to India.
The heroine is a young Indian woman who is a first class passenger and a well-to-do citizen of the empire, but who faces prejudice because of her skin color.
The prejudice facing Maliha Anderson is well handled and feels realistic. One odd thing I noticed in the book, after I finished was that every character who had alternative gender preferences came to a bad end. Three characters who were gay, and had alternate livestyles were punished or came to a bad end in the book.
This is a well done steampunk book that is a quick read and a fun murder mystery with a smart and heroic female amateur sleuth. I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series.
April 14, 2014
This is a well-executed mystery with a distinct Victorian air about it which works well with the setting of the story. The author succeeds in giving hints at the world through little glimpses without any major info-dumps, and the characters are all distinct with strong voices. There were some formatting errors which led to moments of jarring, but overall the book is polished to a high degree. This will appeal to readers of mysteries and no doubt leave them wanting more from this author.
Full Review Available Here
Full Review Available Here
July 17, 2014
Miss Marple is back! Only this time she is a young Indian woman. But she is just as likeable and just as smart. And, just like Hercule Poirot on the Nile, she solves the murder on the vessel she is on. Only it is floating through air. Really nice story. I'm looking forward to reading the second mysterie with Maliha Anderson.
Thank you, Steve Turnbull, for sharing this!
Thank you, Steve Turnbull, for sharing this!
August 8, 2017
This was pretty good, but as I find with so many other novellas, it was too lacking in depth for me to really enjoy it. I'm not even sure why I keep trying works of this length, as I always have this problem with them. I'll certainly try another one, especially as the 4th title in the series is supposedly going to be full-length, and I did enjoy Maliha.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews