Symphony Under Siege

by Stephen Hall

512 years in the future.

Not your typical Thursday morning.

Five centuries from now, ex-navy officer Diana Singh commands the monumental luxury spaceliner the "Symphony of the Stars". None of her crew knows their ship is smuggling a treasure worth millions. None of them knows which one of them is the serial killer. As Captain Singh pilots the mighty cruise ship back to base, she races to unmask the murderer in their midst before they can kill again.

So, not the most convenient time to be attacked by pirates... "I am Captain Salazar Sharp, here to claim what is wrongfully mine!" For the flamboyant leader of the pirates, infiltrating the "Symphony" is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But the secret treasure that could make him and his crew filthy rich is only the beginning; his ultimate goal is a far greater prize...

"Symphony Under Siege" is a witty sci-fi adventure packed with heroic exploits, twists and turns, nail-biting cliffhangers, and daring escapes. If you like rollicking, fast-paced sci-fi with a sense of humour, then you'll love this exuberant debut novel from veteran TV comedy writer Stephen Hall. Buy "Symphony Under Siege" today and get on board the adventure!

Genres: Fiction

Audible Audio

Published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Aristotle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another first time author with zero reviews that i won on Goodreads giveaway.
The last one i gave 4 stars.
Will this one be as good?
No!
Too bad.

A second rate movie on the Syfy channel.
Book needed the personality of Han Solo, Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds, Captain Janeway or my favorite, Ripley for this to work.
The story was all over the place. The dialogue was dry and at times dumb. Plus way too many characters to really get to know any of them.

[Blueberry · Rating 1 out of 5]

Won in a Goodreads giveaway.

Grammar was fine, but the synopsis led me to believe this would be a space opera/murder mystery and that really wasn't the point of this book. The murderer was unmasked by the 25% portion, and the book felt like it was a series of interludes that was pieced into a book. Quick read, and a few of the characters were interesting but for my taste, the storyline and worldbuilding needs to be fleshed out more. Not horrible enough to not finish, but not something I will reach for again.

[Kristy Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flabbergasted by how well this novel of one day (with a few flashbacks) held my attention, and made me laugh. Loads of jokes and one liners in here.

[Ira Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

I entered (and won) this book in a Goodreads giveaway, my decision being based on the outline of the plot that was offered. While described as humorous, witty and fast paced, it’s none of these. While not the worst book I’ve ever read, it’s the first in a long time that I had to force myself to finish.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book through goodreads. It's a futuristic story about a luxury spaceliner that normally caters to the rich and famous as an extremely posh vacation destination. This trip however, is devoid of guests and running on a skeleton crew. Also unbeknownst to most of the crew, they are carrying a king's ransom of gold and one of the crew is a serial killer.
Captain Diana Singh is just trying to reach the end of the trip without loosing either the treasure and any other crew members when they are boarded by Captain Salazar Sharp and his pirates.
Although this story is full of intrigue, mystery and adventure, it also is fast paced and funny in parts.

[Lacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the premise of this, I just wish it had been a little more detailed in its execution. The only characters that are given a backstory are the captains and with this motley crew there could have been some seriously fun and fascinating stories here. The story itself was cutesy and there were great descriptions of the environment but without the character development the plot just wasn't enough to keep this ship afloat. And there are just a ton of unanswered questions that didn't get resolved at the end of the story. So while it's a fun read it needed more to make it an amazing and memorable story.

I won this book through Goodreads Giveaway. All opinions are my own.

[Claire Whitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! Symphony Under Siege blends spacefaring adventure, murder mystery, and swashbuckling pirates in a way that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Captain Diana Singh is one of the most compelling sci-fi leads I’ve read in a while: brave, flawed, and fiercely human. The pacing never lets up, and the twist involving the killer? I gasped out loud. Stephen Hall’s imagination shines through every page. If you love mysteries with cosmic stakes, this one’s a gem.

[Stacey Hartley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn’t just another space opera, it’s a locked-room mystery disguised as a sci-fi thriller. Hall’s attention to detail in the ship’s design and crew hierarchy gives the story real weight. Some parts slow down for exposition, but once the tension ramps up, it’s relentless. The philosophical undertones about greed and loyalty add surprising depth. The ending ties everything up beautifully, with just enough ambiguity to keep me thinking.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining sf

This is a Sci fi novel that isn't quite sure what it wants to be. But it really doesn't matter because it is entertaining. Mystery? After all, we have a serial killer on board. Military? Several ex navy personnel. And it's funny. If you like your sf with some multiple personalities, this is your book.

[Kendall Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen Hall writes with an old-school confidence vivid, cinematic, and unapologetically pulpy in the best way. The Symphony of the Stars feels like a living character, and the tension between order and chaos mirrors the ship’s dual threats: a killer within and pirates without. The prose occasionally leans dense, but the payoff is worth it. A satisfying, atmospheric blend of noir and nebula.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, clever, Douglas Adams meets Agatha Christie in this drawing room farce in deep outer space, 513 years into the future on a Thursday morning. Lots of fun. Author Stephen Hall does a great job of voicing all the disparate characters in the audiobook version well. Very entertaining read.