Kate Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Synopsis from Amazon: October 1854. As an autumnal evening draws to a close, crowds of passengers rush onto the soon to depart London to Brighton Express. A man watches from shadows nearby, grimly satisfied when the train pulls out of the station...Chaos, fatalities and unbelievable destruction are the scene soon after when the train derails on the last leg of its journey. What led to such devastation, and could it simply be a case of driver error? Detective Inspector Colbeck, dubbed the 'railway detective' thinks not. But digging deep to discover the target of the accident takes time, something Colbeck doesn't have as the killer prepares to strike again. This is the first Marston book I have read, and I really enjoyed it. Set in 1854, we meet the Railway Detective, Inspector Robert Colbeck. When the Brighton Express collides with a goods train, Colbeck has his work cut out for him. With his partner, Leeming, they have to find the man who instigated the crash, and all the people connected with this horrific incident. There are many lines of enquiry that Colbeck pursues. The adventure and excitement range from the first page to the last, with many suspects being chased, several attempted murders and obstacles to overcome such as unsupportive railway investigators. I wasn't excited to read this book, however, I quickly changed my mind. I feared it would be all about trains, but it wasn't. Although the starting point is the train crash, the investigations take the reader away from the railways and into the heart of Brighton and London. Marston's writing was engaging, gripping and enthralling. I found myself not wanting to put the book down. It was an easy read, but very enjoyable. Even people who are not fans of the crime genre will enjoy this book. I was guessing right up to the end. I did have my suspicions that were confirmed but with several leads the outcome was not clear. I think the way Marston portrayed the characters. I was convinced by all of them. My favourite was Tallis, the scary superintendant. He made me laugh in several places. I was also impressed by the historical accuracy. At all times you were in Victorian England, which I appreciated. Overall, I highly recommend this book. I can't find any faults. A fast, enjoyable read, with several deaths, several leads and some great story telling. 10/10 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SueK Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 Kate, I love this series. I started with the Railway Detective (which introduces us to Colbeck). They are wonderfully written with enthusiasm for the Victorian railway which I love. I like Colbeck very much - I lilke the friction between him and his boss. Marston is a very prolific writer as he wrote (amongst others) a whole fictional series centred around the Domesday book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrissy Posted April 24, 2009 Share Posted April 24, 2009 The mention of the Railway Detective books keep cropping up all around me. I am clearly destined to read them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrStabber Posted June 12, 2009 Share Posted June 12, 2009 What I want to know is when the detective is going to make an honest woman out of Madeline! I think Superintendent Tallis would make an excellent choice of best man. Can you imagine the after dinner speach! Looking forward to the next book which is out this month and set in my home town of Cardiff Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowstonegirl Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Thanks for the tip. This novel sounds interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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