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The Railway Detective #2
The Excursion Train
Set in 19th century England, a bustling crowd boards the Great Western Railway Excursion train on their way to an illegal championship fight in Maidenhead. As the rowdiness of the crowd increases, the train's guard fears "for the safety of his rolling stock." The last thing he expects to find is the brutal murder of one of his passengers, Jake Bransby. Once the shocking discovery of the body is made, Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant Inspector Leeming, are called to the scene. Faced with what initially appears to be a motiveless murder Colbeck is perplexed by the murder weapon, a noose -- until he later discovers Bransby previously worked as a public executioner. However, the more he delves into the case the more mysterious it seems to become. After a second death by noose takes place Colbeck knows he must act quickly. Can he catch the murderer before more lives are lost? Rich in historical detail The Excursion Train will hold you captivated from beginning to end.
351 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2005
88 people are currently reading
699 people want to read
About the author
Edward Marston
238 books463 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston
Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.
Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
February 6, 2025
Lunchtime Listen January 2025
This is the second of the Railway detective novels we have listened to, and it is set about a year after the first. Again it is a really enjoyable story with lots of twists and turns, well written and well read as well.
It starts with the murder of a man on a special excursion train going to a prize fighting match. Initially Inspector Colbeck and his sidekick have trouble identifying the man, but then they discover he uses a pseudonym and is in fact
Why was he murdered and why was he on the train ? Was he a boxing fan, in which case could they use this as a lead. Tracking down his address they interview his wife and find he has had to move house many times over the last few years as soon as people discover who he really is.
They start by looking at the last few people that he officially hung and start their investigation from there.
Brilliantly read, and an interesting novel that we both enjoyed. I really like the Victorian feel, and the characters that we are now getting to know. In fact I enjoyed it so much I have bought the next in the series.
(This means that as a minimum, for our lunchtime listen, we can cycle round Maigret, Colbeck and a “Christie” mystery, along with anything else that grabs our attention) .
This is the second of the Railway detective novels we have listened to, and it is set about a year after the first. Again it is a really enjoyable story with lots of twists and turns, well written and well read as well.
It starts with the murder of a man on a special excursion train going to a prize fighting match. Initially Inspector Colbeck and his sidekick have trouble identifying the man, but then they discover he uses a pseudonym and is in fact
Why was he murdered and why was he on the train ? Was he a boxing fan, in which case could they use this as a lead. Tracking down his address they interview his wife and find he has had to move house many times over the last few years as soon as people discover who he really is.
They start by looking at the last few people that he officially hung and start their investigation from there.
Brilliantly read, and an interesting novel that we both enjoyed. I really like the Victorian feel, and the characters that we are now getting to know. In fact I enjoyed it so much I have bought the next in the series.
(This means that as a minimum, for our lunchtime listen, we can cycle round Maigret, Colbeck and a “Christie” mystery, along with anything else that grabs our attention) .
April 6, 2023
I truly enjoyed this mystery that partially takes place on a train. The time period is so well written that I did a double-take when I realized that it was first published in 2005 and not decades earlier!
This is the second volume in the series and I intend to gradually make my way through the entire series, interspersing other books in between as I go. This story transported me back in time to England in 1852 and the attention to details of the time period anchored me there.
For example: "The picture rail looked as if it had been painted that morning. She had even run a vigorous duster around the pot holding the aspidistra and over the black leading on the grate."
At the beginning of the book, people are crowding on to an excursion train, which will carry them out of London, and on through rolling hills into the countryside, where a boxing match is to be held in a field. The fight is between two undefeated prize fighters (boxers who fight for money) at the height of their strength.
The match takes place and "glancing up at the sky, Leeming saw a flock of birds flying in the general direction of London." This indicates that the fight has concluded, as these birds are "Carrier Pigeons [...] carrying word of the result." I had forgotten how people used Carrier Pigeons back in those days and it was fun to be reminded.
I loved the playful humor such as, "I never expected to hear myself say this, Inspector, but I think that we should take a train."
The characters are well written and I especially enjoyed reading about a young couple in the first blush of falling in love. "When they sat opposite each other near the window, he beamed at her, still unable to believe that she had come all the way from London to see him." How I love to be the cause of someone's smile!
The following quote speaks to the thoroughness of Inspector Colbeck (The Railway Detective) who appears to leave no stone unturned: "He dug away until he unearthed things that I never thought he'd find."
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't include my favorite tea quote: ""A cup of tea would be welcome," said Colbeck."
This is the second volume in the series and I intend to gradually make my way through the entire series, interspersing other books in between as I go. This story transported me back in time to England in 1852 and the attention to details of the time period anchored me there.
For example: "The picture rail looked as if it had been painted that morning. She had even run a vigorous duster around the pot holding the aspidistra and over the black leading on the grate."
At the beginning of the book, people are crowding on to an excursion train, which will carry them out of London, and on through rolling hills into the countryside, where a boxing match is to be held in a field. The fight is between two undefeated prize fighters (boxers who fight for money) at the height of their strength.
The match takes place and "glancing up at the sky, Leeming saw a flock of birds flying in the general direction of London." This indicates that the fight has concluded, as these birds are "Carrier Pigeons [...] carrying word of the result." I had forgotten how people used Carrier Pigeons back in those days and it was fun to be reminded.
I loved the playful humor such as, "I never expected to hear myself say this, Inspector, but I think that we should take a train."
The characters are well written and I especially enjoyed reading about a young couple in the first blush of falling in love. "When they sat opposite each other near the window, he beamed at her, still unable to believe that she had come all the way from London to see him." How I love to be the cause of someone's smile!
The following quote speaks to the thoroughness of Inspector Colbeck (The Railway Detective) who appears to leave no stone unturned: "He dug away until he unearthed things that I never thought he'd find."
Finally, I would be remiss if I didn't include my favorite tea quote: ""A cup of tea would be welcome," said Colbeck."
August 27, 2014
Edward Marston is a guilty pleasure. Simple, easy to read mysteries, perfect when you fancy an unchallenging but enjoyable read!
October 13, 2024
Ok, so I’ll admit, I’m hooked now. Really enjoy the setting and characters. The stories feel a bit simplistic, almost naive at times, but that gives a bit of matinee feeling and a bit of innocent air that actually works well with the 1850s setting. It would not have been enough for further books though, but to my pleasure, this third instalment turns pretty gritty (well, in comparison). Our main couple’s courting seems stuck at trembling handholding, but that’s fine too.
This time the investigation takes the Railway Detective across the channel to France and a troubled railway building project. He brings he’s trusty but reluctant companion, Victor Leeming and later, the force of nature that is ex-policeman Brendan Mulryne. The pair are actually the best characters in the books this far, and I greatly enjoyed their antics.
Going to have to look for the next one now…
This time the investigation takes the Railway Detective across the channel to France and a troubled railway building project. He brings he’s trusty but reluctant companion, Victor Leeming and later, the force of nature that is ex-policeman Brendan Mulryne. The pair are actually the best characters in the books this far, and I greatly enjoyed their antics.
Going to have to look for the next one now…
January 16, 2016
This series is a great escape from the brutal thrillers that I normally read. It is rich in history and portrays the Victorian era very well. I love all the characters and there is, of course, a romantic interest for Madeline Andrews and Robert Colbeck which I find very interesting. This book is the second in the series and is a very enjoyable read for train enthusiasts and mystery buffs alike. I highly recommend this book and I definitely will continue with the series as I find the plots to be complex at times.
December 20, 2013
The railway detective’s second outing is a fine piece of gentle Victorian crime detection – not that the crimes are all that gentle, nor their reason, but Edward Marston has a measured hand, a fine sense of the era, a good grasp of the impact of technology in Victorian London and of the social consequences of the new transportation technology. London in 1850s was going through rapid development, population growth and expansion, the shift toward suburbia was beginning and the effects of rapid industrialisation being felt. Trains were making the country smaller, as travel times reduced and the Home Counties in particular drawn into the city’s daily life.
In this instance, we find ourselves in the world of prize fighting (that is, illegal bareknuckle boxing where there were vast sums to be made and lost), with some of mid-Victorian England’s most important sports stars (the modern world of football celebrity is far from the first instance of sports stardom) when a down at heel cobbler is found dead in the compartment of an excursion train – prize fights were staged in the country to minimise risk of arrest. DI Robert Colbeck and his trusty sidekick Sergeant Lemming are called in to investigate – he has public profile as ‘the railway detective’ and the train company pressures the Metropolitan Police.
Marston shows a deft and light touch sense of class politics in these stories – the corporate pressure for a particular police officer investigator, the pride that Caleb Andrews (Colbeck’s engine driver friend) takes in his work and his specialist knowledge and in his daughter’s insight to his work (the daughter who also just happens to be the dandy Colbeck’s romantic interest). He also has a powerful sense of social justice, but like his class awareness this is not heavy handed – resulting in sharp insight to the state of Victorian prisons and gender hierarchies, the nuances of market town life and economic precariousness.
At heart, these are exceptionally good police procedurals that are fully enjoyable (I suspect) without even noticing the class politics of social justice elements. Marston crafts a fine plot, builds suspense and sets up just enough plot options to keep us uncertain of who might be the culprit until close to the end – and then gives us a cracking climax and denouement. On top of that, we get good characters, a sharp sense of the city and its environs, crisp social history and believable voices. This is some of the smartest historical crime fiction I know, and police procedurals are not my preferred form. Take a look, you’re not likely to be disappointed.
In this instance, we find ourselves in the world of prize fighting (that is, illegal bareknuckle boxing where there were vast sums to be made and lost), with some of mid-Victorian England’s most important sports stars (the modern world of football celebrity is far from the first instance of sports stardom) when a down at heel cobbler is found dead in the compartment of an excursion train – prize fights were staged in the country to minimise risk of arrest. DI Robert Colbeck and his trusty sidekick Sergeant Lemming are called in to investigate – he has public profile as ‘the railway detective’ and the train company pressures the Metropolitan Police.
Marston shows a deft and light touch sense of class politics in these stories – the corporate pressure for a particular police officer investigator, the pride that Caleb Andrews (Colbeck’s engine driver friend) takes in his work and his specialist knowledge and in his daughter’s insight to his work (the daughter who also just happens to be the dandy Colbeck’s romantic interest). He also has a powerful sense of social justice, but like his class awareness this is not heavy handed – resulting in sharp insight to the state of Victorian prisons and gender hierarchies, the nuances of market town life and economic precariousness.
At heart, these are exceptionally good police procedurals that are fully enjoyable (I suspect) without even noticing the class politics of social justice elements. Marston crafts a fine plot, builds suspense and sets up just enough plot options to keep us uncertain of who might be the culprit until close to the end – and then gives us a cracking climax and denouement. On top of that, we get good characters, a sharp sense of the city and its environs, crisp social history and believable voices. This is some of the smartest historical crime fiction I know, and police procedurals are not my preferred form. Take a look, you’re not likely to be disappointed.
November 23, 2015
Sometimes, you go to a library book sale and grab something for $1 that turns out the be awesome, like The Mexican Mafia by Tony Rafael that I found at last year's sale, or the big pile of Isabel Allende books I hauled home. Other times, you spend $1 on a book like The Excursion Train, which despite its semi-decent Goodreads reviews was one of the dullest, most poorly written books I have read all year.
Set in England in the 1800s, The Excursion Train is about a murder on a (duh) train that's headed to an illegal boxing match. The murder victim was an executioner, so there are quite a few suspects. The murderer used a garrote, because the hangman hangs people! The detective, a wanna-be Sherlock Holmes named Colbeck, investigates the murder, then someone else dies, and blah blah blah. I got kind of drunk to make it through the last 100 pages, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. But who cares, because you won't read it anyway (seriously, don't).
It was just dull. And the writing was bad. The story probably could have been saved by a better author, but after the third time that someone told the detective something along the lines of "wow, you're just so much smarter and observant than us, gee shucks!" (I'm paraphrasing), I really had to pour another glass of wine. I like Victorian England. I like homages to Sherlock Holmes. But this was a disgrace to the genre, and a waste of my dollar.
Set in England in the 1800s, The Excursion Train is about a murder on a (duh) train that's headed to an illegal boxing match. The murder victim was an executioner, so there are quite a few suspects. The murderer used a garrote, because the hangman hangs people! The detective, a wanna-be Sherlock Holmes named Colbeck, investigates the murder, then someone else dies, and blah blah blah. I got kind of drunk to make it through the last 100 pages, so I'm a bit fuzzy on the details. But who cares, because you won't read it anyway (seriously, don't).
It was just dull. And the writing was bad. The story probably could have been saved by a better author, but after the third time that someone told the detective something along the lines of "wow, you're just so much smarter and observant than us, gee shucks!" (I'm paraphrasing), I really had to pour another glass of wine. I like Victorian England. I like homages to Sherlock Holmes. But this was a disgrace to the genre, and a waste of my dollar.
November 8, 2017
3.75 Stars!! A charming well written crime mystery that kept me entertained and interested to the end. I enjoyed the characters but hoping as the series develop they get a bit more depth. The mystery itself was intriguing and thought provoking! Will be reading the next book!
October 13, 2012
I had high hopes for this series, but it was disappointing, the dialogue was stilted, the characters two-dimensional and overall it left me feeling irritated.
May 23, 2018
Scotland Yard and the Railway Detective are called in again, this time to investigate the garotting of a hangman on his way by train to a boxing match. Mr Marsden includes all sorts of period references to "the Fancy" including the origin of the phrase "up to scratch" which refers to the scratch in the centre of the ring where the match begins. He deals with the fact that such matches were illegal and that training sites were subject to raids by the authorities as were the sites of the matches themselves.
That is just the beginning as we then learn about hangmen and the varying opinions on the usefulness of capital punishment as a deterrent to crime, the proceedings involved in a public hanging, and the methods available to a detective searching out the origins of a case.
One interesting note is the way he has his characters angry about the injustice done to Nathan but the reluctance of people to look into the origins of the case. That's over and done with, they say. Nathan should never have been hanged and it's just another example of how unfair the system is and that is where they want to leave it since you can't bring Nathan back.
Mr. Marsden is very good at giving us characters with whom we can empathise without having them portray feelings not present in the time period. I rather enjoy Superintendent Tallis in his ex-army ordering about. He has had to infiltrate a female into a totally male environment but she seems mostly harmless and Robert does keep her mostly out of dangerous situations.
That is just the beginning as we then learn about hangmen and the varying opinions on the usefulness of capital punishment as a deterrent to crime, the proceedings involved in a public hanging, and the methods available to a detective searching out the origins of a case.
One interesting note is the way he has his characters angry about the injustice done to Nathan but the reluctance of people to look into the origins of the case. That's over and done with, they say. Nathan should never have been hanged and it's just another example of how unfair the system is and that is where they want to leave it since you can't bring Nathan back.
Mr. Marsden is very good at giving us characters with whom we can empathise without having them portray feelings not present in the time period. I rather enjoy Superintendent Tallis in his ex-army ordering about. He has had to infiltrate a female into a totally male environment but she seems mostly harmless and Robert does keep her mostly out of dangerous situations.
January 24, 2018
Another great mystery novel by Edward Marston. Story gets somewhat convoluted with the amount of characters in the second and third acts, but very entertaining with a satisfying conclusion.
October 10, 2023
I really enjoyed The Excursion Train as a nice, relaxing escape to 19th Century England with an intriguing murder mystery that chugged along at a good pace… much like the trains that continue to feature in these stories. Thankfully we don’t get bashed over the head with train trivia this time (unlike in Book 1) and there’s space for other interesting snippets of that period like the profession of public hangman, illegal prize fighting and so forth.
The mystery has just enough twists and turns to keep one engaged - what was initially an isolated case of a man being murdered on a train takes on a far grimmer turn when it’s revealed that he’s a public executioner and may have once been involved in the hanging of an innocent man. I thought the double layered mystery of a past murder case and the present one was well done, although I didn’t find it too hard to guess the truth behind the past case.
I was pleased to see Madeleine back to play a more active role in assisting Colbeck this time as well, although I was surprised that their potential romance hadn’t taken off with as much speed as I’d thought after the previous book. This is going to be slow burn, evidently!
The mystery has just enough twists and turns to keep one engaged - what was initially an isolated case of a man being murdered on a train takes on a far grimmer turn when it’s revealed that he’s a public executioner and may have once been involved in the hanging of an innocent man. I thought the double layered mystery of a past murder case and the present one was well done, although I didn’t find it too hard to guess the truth behind the past case.
I was pleased to see Madeleine back to play a more active role in assisting Colbeck this time as well, although I was surprised that their potential romance hadn’t taken off with as much speed as I’d thought after the previous book. This is going to be slow burn, evidently!
April 5, 2021
I loved this. It all starts with the murder of a hangman on a train, and then another murder linking an earlier botched hanging - really intriguing. The only problem with this book is I noticed some punctuation problems in the last 100 pages, but I'm not sure if that's just the ebook.
February 22, 2025
A very good read, I worked out the murderer before it was revealed, looking forward to the next one
October 24, 2022
Not a bad story but I wasn't that interested in the, doubtless accurate, historical content!
November 19, 2024
Read it on my flight to Uganda from Ottawa. Very entertaining. I am loving the Robert Colbeck series!
October 25, 2021
The Excursion Train is the second in Edward Marston's "Railway Detective" novels.
Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck is called upon to investigate the murder of a man on a crowded excursion train, its passengers bound for a prize fight. Colbeck and his partner, Sgt Victor Leeming soon learn that the victim, who had been a hangman, had been living under an assumed identity, and had been responsible for the brutal hanging of a man who may have been innocent.
The cast of characters includes Colbeck and Leeming, their straightlaced superintendent, Tallis, the conductor, Andrews and his beautiful daughter, and Colbeck's love interest, Madeleine. Unfortunately, Colbeck - his backstory is that he was a barrister, gave up that profession to be a detective - is thinly drawn and less interesting than his sidekick, his boss or any of the players in the drama, who include the victim's widow, the widow and stepdaughter of the hanged man, a loyal family friend, and an overly eager local constable. Solid writing, and setting, and historical detail are well done, but the pacing is very slow until just about the end, with a lot of who- and why-dun-it crammed into the last 30 pages or so. Still, it was interesting enough for me to check out others in the series.
Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck is called upon to investigate the murder of a man on a crowded excursion train, its passengers bound for a prize fight. Colbeck and his partner, Sgt Victor Leeming soon learn that the victim, who had been a hangman, had been living under an assumed identity, and had been responsible for the brutal hanging of a man who may have been innocent.
The cast of characters includes Colbeck and Leeming, their straightlaced superintendent, Tallis, the conductor, Andrews and his beautiful daughter, and Colbeck's love interest, Madeleine. Unfortunately, Colbeck - his backstory is that he was a barrister, gave up that profession to be a detective - is thinly drawn and less interesting than his sidekick, his boss or any of the players in the drama, who include the victim's widow, the widow and stepdaughter of the hanged man, a loyal family friend, and an overly eager local constable. Solid writing, and setting, and historical detail are well done, but the pacing is very slow until just about the end, with a lot of who- and why-dun-it crammed into the last 30 pages or so. Still, it was interesting enough for me to check out others in the series.
January 27, 2016
When a hangman bound to watch a bare knuckle fight is found dead, having been garrotted on an excursion train, Inspector Robert Colbeck is called in to investigate. This is a mystery of the first order but one that nods with due respect to the masters of the past rather than the present. The murders, as such must be, are presented as being violent and bloody the reader is left to imagine how horrendous they are for the author does not go in for grim realism.
The pacing is immaculate, the characters straight from Dickens and there is even a bit of love interest. This is not a book for those who like modern mystery fiction for there is no sex, little real violence but as a consequence concentrates on the story rather than the peripheral narrative.
There is character development which follows the same set of individuals as first seen in the previous novel. The situations are sound based on good historical knowledge but never in a clever 18look what I know 19 way. If you want something light and easy to read that is well written then look no further than the 18Railway Detective 19 series by Edward Marston.
The pacing is immaculate, the characters straight from Dickens and there is even a bit of love interest. This is not a book for those who like modern mystery fiction for there is no sex, little real violence but as a consequence concentrates on the story rather than the peripheral narrative.
There is character development which follows the same set of individuals as first seen in the previous novel. The situations are sound based on good historical knowledge but never in a clever 18look what I know 19 way. If you want something light and easy to read that is well written then look no further than the 18Railway Detective 19 series by Edward Marston.
November 21, 2013
A quick, engaging read, a complex, satisfying mystery populated with vivid, interesting characters and packed with great period detail. A more or less perfect piece of entertainment, a mystery set in the early days of rail travel in England, with settings ranging from the noisome slums of London to a pleasant village that is slowly being overrun by industry. The supporting cast is equally varied and colourful and there's a bit of everything in here: terror, tragedy, pathos and even some humour. I was a bit thrown by the occasional shifts to viewpoints outside of the main focus characters; Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant, Sergeant Leeming, and thought they were somewhat out of place given the tightly focussed limited third person viewpoint of the rest of the book, but this a minor quibble of the sort that I rarely engage in.
September 27, 2015
Excursion Train by Edward Marston – This is book two in the Railway Detective series by Marston. It is another very entertaining novel about the 19th-Century Scotland Yard inspector, Robert Colbeck and his assistant, Sergeant Victor Leeming. A man is murdered in a Great Western Railway carriage during a crowded excursion to a boxing match. Colbeck and Leeming quickly become embroiled in a complex case that involves multiple murders, multiple suspects, and an attempted murder of Inspector Colbeck. In addition to the unique railroad environment, this book is populated by interesting characters, and Marston provides an engaging story. I thought this book was even more enjoyable than the first volume in the series and I look forward to reading more of this series.
April 11, 2024
Edward Marston's railway books are definitely not something I ever saw myself reading. And yet these characters, the setting, the writing style all just come together to create something comforting. I can pick up ay of this series and just lose myself in a nice cozy murder mystery novel, with familiar people and have a good time, and this second entry is no exception.
I would actually go as far as to say this is better than the first book!
I would actually go as far as to say this is better than the first book!
September 15, 2011
First one of this series I read and the second book in the series.
On a train full of sports fans going to a boxing match a man is killed.
This opens up a story of a miscarriages of justice and no less than thee murders.
Well written and entertaining and good recreation of the period.
I will certainly check out the other books by this author.
On a train full of sports fans going to a boxing match a man is killed.
This opens up a story of a miscarriages of justice and no less than thee murders.
Well written and entertaining and good recreation of the period.
I will certainly check out the other books by this author.
December 16, 2014
This is the worst book I have read all year.
February 6, 2017
Well written mystery. I liked it and will continue the series.
May 4, 2017
One of the best features of The Railway Detective series is that it offers solid variety concerning the set-up on the inevitable crimes to be solved. My first experience (with a later volume in the series) began with a suicide (Railway to the Grave). My second, the eponymous first volume, began with a train robbery and assault. The actual second volume in the series, The Excursion Train, begins with a bare-knuckled prize fight—illegal at the time, and it is followed by the discovery of something else illegal, a murder.
When the victim turns out to be a hangman, Inspector Colbeck quickly suspects that this might be a vengeance killing. There are strange ancillary circumstances, too. It seems a young woman is involved in the murder, but she was not physically capable of performing the crime. When other victims relate to an alleged innocent man who was hanged, the idea of a conspiracy comes to mind. Of course, the intransigent Superintendent Tallis believes that Colbeck’s instinct is off the mark (as usual). So, the supervisor and the detective are head-to-head for much of the story. It is only Colbeck’s reputation among the railroads which keeps him involved in the investigation.
There is a portion of this mystery which reminds me of The Lone Ranger or Wild, Wild West on television. In the two television series just cited, the protagonist often sent his sidekick (respectively, Tonto or Artemis Gordon) into dangerous situations in which, predictably, they were discovered and placed in grave danger. In The Excursion Train, Victor Leeming finds that undercover work can be very dangerous. Fortunately, Mulryne (a member of the supporting cast) is able to pick up where Leeming has to leave off—in spite of Superintendent Tallis’ prejudice against the big Irishman and ex-policeman.
More than the first volume of the series, The Excursion Train rather emphasizes the rather unpleasant social plight of women during the era. Particularly moving in this story was the reaction of widows to the news of spousal deaths. Almost more than the sense of emotional loss was the sense of economic loss and a feeling of unease (or even fear) for the future. Of course, Colbeck’s romantic interest, the lovely Madeline, proves as much of an exception to the rule as Charlotte Pitt does in the investigations found in Anne Perry’s novels.
Railroad fans, Victorian Era fans, and those who like mysteries with just enough twists beyond the expected tropes should enjoy these volumes. The Excursion Train won’t disappoint.
When the victim turns out to be a hangman, Inspector Colbeck quickly suspects that this might be a vengeance killing. There are strange ancillary circumstances, too. It seems a young woman is involved in the murder, but she was not physically capable of performing the crime. When other victims relate to an alleged innocent man who was hanged, the idea of a conspiracy comes to mind. Of course, the intransigent Superintendent Tallis believes that Colbeck’s instinct is off the mark (as usual). So, the supervisor and the detective are head-to-head for much of the story. It is only Colbeck’s reputation among the railroads which keeps him involved in the investigation.
There is a portion of this mystery which reminds me of The Lone Ranger or Wild, Wild West on television. In the two television series just cited, the protagonist often sent his sidekick (respectively, Tonto or Artemis Gordon) into dangerous situations in which, predictably, they were discovered and placed in grave danger. In The Excursion Train, Victor Leeming finds that undercover work can be very dangerous. Fortunately, Mulryne (a member of the supporting cast) is able to pick up where Leeming has to leave off—in spite of Superintendent Tallis’ prejudice against the big Irishman and ex-policeman.
More than the first volume of the series, The Excursion Train rather emphasizes the rather unpleasant social plight of women during the era. Particularly moving in this story was the reaction of widows to the news of spousal deaths. Almost more than the sense of emotional loss was the sense of economic loss and a feeling of unease (or even fear) for the future. Of course, Colbeck’s romantic interest, the lovely Madeline, proves as much of an exception to the rule as Charlotte Pitt does in the investigations found in Anne Perry’s novels.
Railroad fans, Victorian Era fans, and those who like mysteries with just enough twists beyond the expected tropes should enjoy these volumes. The Excursion Train won’t disappoint.
November 25, 2023
I love this genre of Historical Crime, it has vast potential and is cast over all of the different centuries and eras. Edward Marston writes his Railway Detective series in the 19th century and in the era of the early railways. It features the very well dressed DI Robert Colbeck and his eager assistant Sergeant Victor Leeming. The DI is also an ex barrister and has a polite and well mannered demeanour and his knowledge of the law and his desire for justice and his highly defined instincts are what leads him to uncover the most dastardly of crimes.
A man is found murdered, obviously garrotted, on an excursion train taking people to an illegal knuckle fight. It is later discovered that the man was a public hangman, hence the choice of murder weapon. As Colbeck and Leeming dig further into their investigation, another murder is committed on another train in exactly the same way, they realise that the killer might be seeking vengeance for something that only he or she knows. It is far from obvious who the killer is and this not going to be an easy case to solve and for the reader there are a few red herrings along the way.
As I have said, Edward Marston writes interesting and entertaining novels that are so quick to read that I have finished them well before I would like them to. The kind of book to read on a rainy day when there is nothing better to do. Really good fun and well written 5/5
A man is found murdered, obviously garrotted, on an excursion train taking people to an illegal knuckle fight. It is later discovered that the man was a public hangman, hence the choice of murder weapon. As Colbeck and Leeming dig further into their investigation, another murder is committed on another train in exactly the same way, they realise that the killer might be seeking vengeance for something that only he or she knows. It is far from obvious who the killer is and this not going to be an easy case to solve and for the reader there are a few red herrings along the way.
As I have said, Edward Marston writes interesting and entertaining novels that are so quick to read that I have finished them well before I would like them to. The kind of book to read on a rainy day when there is nothing better to do. Really good fun and well written 5/5
May 24, 2024
This second installment of the series switches to a more standard mystery structure... while there are a few scenes with the suspects, the reader doesn't find out what's going on until the characters do. there would a couple twists (including one particularly skeevy one) but for the most part this series seems to be pretty 'cozy' as far as the mystery goes. I do wonder how many times the writer can manage to make a train ride be essential to catching the bad guys with out it being the same every time (or maybe it will just be the same every time)
It takes place a year after the 1st one and none of the characters change at all.. that's a bit of a long time to still be in the same opening stages of a romantic relationship as far as that part goes, and no one else changes at all either. That could definitely get annoying quickly.
It was still a fun page turner though, and has some great history bits... this one focused on boxing as it was in mid 19th century England, which was fun. The author also does a great job depicting it as an era of change and progress (lead by the rails, of course)... we'll have to see if there can be enough variety in this narrow theme for me to not get bored after the next one or two.
It takes place a year after the 1st one and none of the characters change at all.. that's a bit of a long time to still be in the same opening stages of a romantic relationship as far as that part goes, and no one else changes at all either. That could definitely get annoying quickly.
It was still a fun page turner though, and has some great history bits... this one focused on boxing as it was in mid 19th century England, which was fun. The author also does a great job depicting it as an era of change and progress (lead by the rails, of course)... we'll have to see if there can be enough variety in this narrow theme for me to not get bored after the next one or two.
April 13, 2022
The second novel of this series was definitely an improvement on the first novel. For one thing, we are not told who the culprit is half-way through. This time, the mystery is far better plotted and written, and we are not given to know the culprit until the final chapter. We have great suspects to meet, and many red herrings. A really solid novel.
I still really enjoy how Colbreck and Leeming bounce off each other in this novel. They are a fun crime-fighting duo, and even though there is some level of stereotyping in their characters, they are still engaging and interesting.
Another thing I enjoyed is how Madeleine and her father, Caleb, made appearances in this novel. Caleb is definitely a fun character, adds the colour that all cosy-mysteries must have. Madeleine is also interesting, and I wonder if she'll pop up with thoughts on the crimes and clues in future novels.
A quick read and definitely ticks the boxes for cosy-mystery fun. Here's hoping the series remains to this standard, for I do plan to read more.
I still really enjoy how Colbreck and Leeming bounce off each other in this novel. They are a fun crime-fighting duo, and even though there is some level of stereotyping in their characters, they are still engaging and interesting.
Another thing I enjoyed is how Madeleine and her father, Caleb, made appearances in this novel. Caleb is definitely a fun character, adds the colour that all cosy-mysteries must have. Madeleine is also interesting, and I wonder if she'll pop up with thoughts on the crimes and clues in future novels.
A quick read and definitely ticks the boxes for cosy-mystery fun. Here's hoping the series remains to this standard, for I do plan to read more.
May 19, 2021
The Excursion Train by Edward Marston is the second book featuring Inspector Colbeck. Set in 1852, Colbeck is a railway detective. On the shocking discovery of a passenger's body on the Great Western Railway excursion train, Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant, Sergeant Victor Leeming, are dispatched to the scene. Faced with what initially appears to be a motiveless murder, Colbeck is intrigued by the murder weapon - a noose. When it emerges that the victim had worked as a public executioner, Colbeck realizes that this must be intrinsically linked to the killer's choice of weapon. However, the further he delves into the case, the more mysterious it becomes.
Marston always creates his characters to be interesting and well rounded. The plot has both enough twists and turns to keep you interested. The story is both well written and engaging, the mystery both entertaining and keeps you guessing till the very end.
A very satisfying and enjoyable series.
Marston always creates his characters to be interesting and well rounded. The plot has both enough twists and turns to keep you interested. The story is both well written and engaging, the mystery both entertaining and keeps you guessing till the very end.
A very satisfying and enjoyable series.
March 26, 2022
An interesting and enjoyable mystery. I also like the relationship between Robert Colbeck and Madeleine. Much better done than the relationship in a comparable series (George and Genevieve in Conrad Allen's Ocean Liner series) and so much more believable. I also really like Victor Leeming. He is a real plus and a nice contrast to Colbeck.
I did spot one big goof, however. When the priest is killed, it specifically mentions the woman in the railway car as "dark-haired". So, naturally, I believe the accomplice is a brunette. So when Kathleen Brennan is introduced late in the book and her RED hair is specifically mentioned, I figure she is a poor attempt at a red herring. Except she's not. It seems her hair color has magically changed since no mention is ever made of a wig. Why make such a big point of the hair color if the author is only going to ignore (or forget about it) later on? Not only the author, but the editor missed an obvious mistake.
I did spot one big goof, however. When the priest is killed, it specifically mentions the woman in the railway car as "dark-haired". So, naturally, I believe the accomplice is a brunette. So when Kathleen Brennan is introduced late in the book and her RED hair is specifically mentioned, I figure she is a poor attempt at a red herring. Except she's not. It seems her hair color has magically changed since no mention is ever made of a wig. Why make such a big point of the hair color if the author is only going to ignore (or forget about it) later on? Not only the author, but the editor missed an obvious mistake.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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