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The Railway Detective: The bestselling thrilling Victorian mystery series

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At a glance

Condition
New
Format
Kindle
Publisher
Allison & Busby
Accessibility
Learn more
Publication date
July 12, 2009
Language
English
File size
1.9 MB

Description

'A rattling good tale' - DAILY MAILFrom the bestselling Railway Detective seriesThe past is brought to life with brilliant colours, combined with a perfect whodunit. Who needs more? - The GuardianLondon 1851. With the opening of the Great Exhibition at hand, interest is mounting in the engineering triumphs of the railways, but not everyone feels like celebrating.In an audacious attack, the London to Birmingham mail train is robbed and derailed, causing many casualties. Planned with military precision, this crime proves a challenge to Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck who fights to untangle a web of murder, blackmail and destruction.As Colbeck closes in on the criminal masterminds, events take an unexpected turn when the beautiful Madeleine, daughter of the injured train driver, becomes a pawn in the criminals' game. With time running out, good and evil, new and old, battle against each other. But will the long arm of the law have speed on its side?The Railway Detective is an action-packed dip into murky 1850s London. Full of historical detail, unexpected twists and memorable characters, this is a mystery that will surprise you at every turn.Perfect for fans of Anne Perry and Andrew MartinReaders love The Railway Detective'I recommend this story to all of the mystery lovers out there.''This talented, prolific author never disappoints in creating a fascinating mystery amidst a carefully reconstructed historical setting.''It kept me guessing until the very end.''This starts with a bang and kept me hooked and turning pages.'The Railway Detective series has reached an incredible total of 25 books of mysteries and adventures, but each one can be read individually. Read more

Specs 9

Publisher Allison & Busby
Accessibility Learn more
Publication date July 12, 2009
Language English
File size 1.9 MB
Screen Reader Supported
Enhanced typesetting Enabled
X-Ray Not Enabled

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Top Amazon Reviews

The Railway Detective
I looked at the reviews of this series as wasn't sure if they would be worth reading. However, once l was into the robbery and its planning, I felt it might be a "Sherlock Holmes" wannabe. Even though the author let you in on the perpetrators early on, the detective work was well thought out. I enjoyed the characters, especially the Inspector and the Sergeant. The secondary characters were also given a good part in the story, so it helped the book sustain a good balance. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this and will read the next in the series. A 4.6 out of 5 rating. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2025 by Kindle Customer
Railroad, Crime, British Detectives, 19th Century - What More Would You Need?
The Railway Detective by Edward Marston (2005): This book is the first volume in a 12-book series that features the Scotland Yard detectives, Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming. It is set in 1850 when railroads were becoming more important to the British economy and popular with British citizens. However, not everyone was endeared to the noisy and dirty iron horses. In this book a train is hijacked, the locomotive is derailed, the driver is injured, and an extremely large sum of money is stolen. Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming head the investigation, which introduces the reader to a 19th-Century industrial society, with many poor citizens struggling to survive under difficult conditions. It also introduces the reader to a new and exciting railroad society that has just suffered its first violent crime. The book is informative, the characters are interesting, and the reader experiences significant and compelling action. I enjoyed this book very much and I plan to continue reading this series over time. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2015 by Clark Hallman
Great historical mystery!
Really enjoyed this mystery set in Victorian times and around the Industrial Revolution. Loved the inclusion of the Crystal Palace as well.
Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2025 by SAF48
... started this series out of order so it was fun to circle back to the beginning
Format: Paperback
Admittedly I started this series out of order so it was fun to circle back to the beginning, and learn about how Inspector Robert Colbeck became "The Railway Detective." The year is 1851 in England, and the city of London is gearing up for the grand opening of the Great Expedition. However, not everyone is excited about the advances made in the railway system. A mail train is derailed on its way to Birmingham. The railway driver, Caleb Andrews, is gravely injured, and his fireman, Frank Pike, is forced by the looters to take the train off the tracks. It's up to Inspector Colbeck and his sidekick if you will, Sergeant Lemming to solve the crime. Inspector Colbeck relies heavily on his intuition to solve the mystery, which can be frustrating at times. I'd prefer to see a more of a trial and error approach to his methods because that at least has some authenticity to it. The villain is also revealed in the middle of the novel simply with him pointing to the character list and saying, ah yes, that's him.He's also near flawless and described as such. The characters are divided into clear roles: the bad guys and the good guys with little wiggle room in between. For instance, Madeline Andrews, is the daughter of Caleb Andrews, and is the love interest. She's beautiful, smart, pleasant, etc. We are told all of this information rather than shown. I definitely think that the dirtier, grungier aspects of the story appealed to me more, such as when Inspector Colbeck visited the Devil's Acre. I found the second half of the book to be on the slower side, especially once the villains were revealed. There was just too much gloating on their side and while I understand their motives, I didn't particularly care for them. Granted, some of Marston's books are better than others but I always check them out, even if I don't particularly enjoy reading historical fiction. I enjoy spending time with these characters and the books aren't heavy lifting. Yes, the writing isn't the best at times but it's a quick weekend read. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2017 by Olga
Detailed
Format: Hardcover
The first entry in this series was solid. If you like trains and turn-of-the-last-century English murder mysteries, you shall be pleased. The attention to detail and accuracy is awesome.
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2026 by CMOT TMPV
Great Read on Cold Winter nights
It was enjoyable about a time in England during a time of change. Easy to read and held my interest.
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2025 by Dan
Easy and Enjoyable Read
I first read his Christmas novel, and enjoyed reading it very much, so I decided to go back to the first book in the series. I'm glad I did. Marston has an excellent writing style - an enjoyable read from beginning to end.
Reviewed in the United States on February 4, 2025 by Marco P
Predictable
I enjoyed the book. In particular, I knew very little about the beginnings of the British railways and their equipment. I do think, however, that some of the romantic parts of the plot are a bit too predictable.
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2022 by Sylvane
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