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Kate Shackleton #11
The Body on the Train
Frances Brody's eleventh Kate Shackleton mystery is sure to delight readers of Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspear.
Two murders. A one-way ticket to trouble.
And it's up to Kate to derail the killer.
London, 1929. In the darkness before dawn, a railway porter, unloading a special train from Yorkshire, discovers a man's body, shot and placed in a sack. There are no means of identification to be found and as Scotland Yard hits a dead end, they call on the inimitable Kate Shackleton, a local sleuth, confident her local knowledge and investigative skills will produce results. But it's no easy task.
Suspicion of political intrigue and fears of unrest in the Yorkshire coalfields, impose secrecy on her already difficult task. The murder of a shopkeeper, around the same time, seems too much of a coincidence. The convicted felon was found with blood on his hands, but it's too tidy and Kate becomes convinced the police have the wrong man.
By then it's too late. Kate finds herself in a den of vipers. The real killer is still at large, and having tinkered with Kate's car, nearly causes her to crash. Not only that, but Scotland Yard has turned their back on her. As Kate edges toward the shocking truth, she's going to need all the strength and resourcefulness she can muster to uncover this sinister web of deceit.
Two murders. A one-way ticket to trouble.
And it's up to Kate to derail the killer.
London, 1929. In the darkness before dawn, a railway porter, unloading a special train from Yorkshire, discovers a man's body, shot and placed in a sack. There are no means of identification to be found and as Scotland Yard hits a dead end, they call on the inimitable Kate Shackleton, a local sleuth, confident her local knowledge and investigative skills will produce results. But it's no easy task.
Suspicion of political intrigue and fears of unrest in the Yorkshire coalfields, impose secrecy on her already difficult task. The murder of a shopkeeper, around the same time, seems too much of a coincidence. The convicted felon was found with blood on his hands, but it's too tidy and Kate becomes convinced the police have the wrong man.
By then it's too late. Kate finds herself in a den of vipers. The real killer is still at large, and having tinkered with Kate's car, nearly causes her to crash. Not only that, but Scotland Yard has turned their back on her. As Kate edges toward the shocking truth, she's going to need all the strength and resourcefulness she can muster to uncover this sinister web of deceit.
329 pages, Hardcover
First published October 17, 2019
229 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Frances Brody
41 books671 followersFrances Brody's highly-praised 1920s mysteries feature clever and elegant Kate Shackleton, First World War widow turned sleuth. Missing person? Foul play suspected? Kate's your woman. For good measure, she may bring along ex-policeman, Jim Sykes.
Before turning to crime, Frances wrote for radio, television and theatre, and was nominated for a Time Out Award. She published four sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award in 2006.
www.frances-brody.com
Before turning to crime, Frances wrote for radio, television and theatre, and was nominated for a Time Out Award. She published four sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin Award in 2006.
www.frances-brody.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
November 8, 2019
I do not usually start a series with the most recent book instead of the oldest one, but I stumbled across The Body on the Train and it sounded right up my alley! I was right and I enjoyed it very much.
Historical mystery is one of my favourite genres and I particularly like an English 1920's setting. Kate Shackleton is a Private Detective who appears to have made quite a name for herself with the powers that be, and who is requested to help solve a crime the police cannot. She has a wide circle of friends and family who assist her and occasionally save her from a nasty end.
I enjoyed learning a little about rhubarb farming in the Leeds area and about the special trains which rushed the fresh rhubarb down to London to the markets. The mystery was intriguing and the detective work was smartly done.
So now I am determined to go in search of the first book and discover how Kate started out in her chosen field and why. Another good series for me to explore!
Historical mystery is one of my favourite genres and I particularly like an English 1920's setting. Kate Shackleton is a Private Detective who appears to have made quite a name for herself with the powers that be, and who is requested to help solve a crime the police cannot. She has a wide circle of friends and family who assist her and occasionally save her from a nasty end.
I enjoyed learning a little about rhubarb farming in the Leeds area and about the special trains which rushed the fresh rhubarb down to London to the markets. The mystery was intriguing and the detective work was smartly done.
So now I am determined to go in search of the first book and discover how Kate started out in her chosen field and why. Another good series for me to explore!
May 19, 2020
This is so slow to start that I almost dropped it. I didn't and read the entire.
It's a cozy 1929 English village tale that would fit easily into a Midsummer series or one of the other Acorn or PBS "mystery" fare film, tv, drama outputs. And it holds many characters, dozens. For most of them, including a dog, you will hear more household or tea or coffee clutch details than you will wont. For me that was the case, maybe you'll differ.
The entire crime surround was on a topic of orphanage disposal/ closing. And that was good, pushing inclusively interesting. That was certainly eyes of the era as well. Along with all the hats, caps, and turbans.
But Kate herself, she is likable, but also so flat. She seems just her job/ goal/ focus and not an entire whole person. That and the improvable nature of knowing and lodging with these many different "folks" from her past? Well, it doesn't work for me all that well to any depth for some reason. I couldn't feel bad for any of the baddies either. And why that young man was kept in prison with absolutely no evidence either, that all seemed quite weird. Too many people had witness of his before and after period too for him to be "tried" so quickly.
Regardless, it is what it is. Mid quality cozy. They just don't ring my bells for real. And when I like them to 4 stars the writing has to be crisper than this. It was just too long (tedious in spots) with too many jumps between the 3 main operatives working with Kate too. So that involved so much repetition to their locations and more redundant explanations every time they met or phoned.
Regardless, the trains and lots of other info may be what you like to read in cozy format within decent English prose. I just need far more fire in the belly, spirit tics of personality, and especially a lot less physical injury scenarios. Not my series to continue, that's for sure.
It's a cozy 1929 English village tale that would fit easily into a Midsummer series or one of the other Acorn or PBS "mystery" fare film, tv, drama outputs. And it holds many characters, dozens. For most of them, including a dog, you will hear more household or tea or coffee clutch details than you will wont. For me that was the case, maybe you'll differ.
The entire crime surround was on a topic of orphanage disposal/ closing. And that was good, pushing inclusively interesting. That was certainly eyes of the era as well. Along with all the hats, caps, and turbans.
But Kate herself, she is likable, but also so flat. She seems just her job/ goal/ focus and not an entire whole person. That and the improvable nature of knowing and lodging with these many different "folks" from her past? Well, it doesn't work for me all that well to any depth for some reason. I couldn't feel bad for any of the baddies either. And why that young man was kept in prison with absolutely no evidence either, that all seemed quite weird. Too many people had witness of his before and after period too for him to be "tried" so quickly.
Regardless, it is what it is. Mid quality cozy. They just don't ring my bells for real. And when I like them to 4 stars the writing has to be crisper than this. It was just too long (tedious in spots) with too many jumps between the 3 main operatives working with Kate too. So that involved so much repetition to their locations and more redundant explanations every time they met or phoned.
Regardless, the trains and lots of other info may be what you like to read in cozy format within decent English prose. I just need far more fire in the belly, spirit tics of personality, and especially a lot less physical injury scenarios. Not my series to continue, that's for sure.
July 1, 2020
Visit the locations in the novel The Body on the Train
A nice little mystery this one. A very unusual premise too - how many times do you find a body tucked inside a sack on a rhubarb train? What is a rhubarb train? Ha well apparently there was a train that would come all the way from Leeds (famous for its rhubarb at the time don't cha you) to London. Then there's a mystery about an orphanage and the two threads take Kate around the houses and back again looking for answers.
The English 1920's setting is nice and I was pleased to be back in Kate Shackleton'scompany. She is brought into a case given her local knowledge but that first chapter is stuffed with blatant sexism and I don't know how she didn't smack anyone in the room to be honest. Or at least stuck out her foot and tripped someone up ;)
The investigation and subsequent reveal were nicely done and this is a fine cosy mystery easy to get into and even more comforting to see the villain or villains get their comeuppance.
A nice little mystery this one. A very unusual premise too - how many times do you find a body tucked inside a sack on a rhubarb train? What is a rhubarb train? Ha well apparently there was a train that would come all the way from Leeds (famous for its rhubarb at the time don't cha you) to London. Then there's a mystery about an orphanage and the two threads take Kate around the houses and back again looking for answers.
The English 1920's setting is nice and I was pleased to be back in Kate Shackleton'scompany. She is brought into a case given her local knowledge but that first chapter is stuffed with blatant sexism and I don't know how she didn't smack anyone in the room to be honest. Or at least stuck out her foot and tripped someone up ;)
The investigation and subsequent reveal were nicely done and this is a fine cosy mystery easy to get into and even more comforting to see the villain or villains get their comeuppance.
October 19, 2019
It's the second book I read in this series and I think this is a an excellent mystery.
I like the well written and interesting cast of characters as much as I like the well researched historical background.
The plot keeps you hooked even if it's quite fast paced but it never bores and always kept my attention.
The mystery is complex and solid and it kept me guessing till the end.
It was an entertaining read by I also learned a lot about rhubarb and the historical background.
I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I like the well written and interesting cast of characters as much as I like the well researched historical background.
The plot keeps you hooked even if it's quite fast paced but it never bores and always kept my attention.
The mystery is complex and solid and it kept me guessing till the end.
It was an entertaining read by I also learned a lot about rhubarb and the historical background.
I look forward to reading the next instalment in this series.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 19, 2020
Honestly, I didn't think I would finish this one. So many mistakes/typos throughout which is frustrating. The initial murder didn't seem to line up with the side story and so many seemingly random characters, but once the pieces started falling into place I couldn't put it down. I'm glad that I pushed through, because it was a very good mystery.
"In the darkness before dawn, a London railway porter discovers a man's body as he unloads a special goods train from Yorkshire, all means of identification stripped away. Hitting a dead end, Scotland Yard call on indomitable sleuth Kate Shackleton, hoping her local Yorkshire knowledge and undoubted skills at winkling out information will produce the results they need. 1929, Yorkshire. Fears of unrest in the Yorkshire coalfields mean that Kate must conduct her investigation with the utmost secrecy. But when she discovers that another murder occurred around the same time as the mysterious body on the train, she is convinced there must be a connection. Using her sharp instincts and persuasive charm, she begins to uncover a web of intrigue that edges her closer to the truth. But with attempts being made on her life, Kate needs all the strength and resourcefulness she can muster, before she becomes the next victim ."
"In the darkness before dawn, a London railway porter discovers a man's body as he unloads a special goods train from Yorkshire, all means of identification stripped away. Hitting a dead end, Scotland Yard call on indomitable sleuth Kate Shackleton, hoping her local Yorkshire knowledge and undoubted skills at winkling out information will produce the results they need. 1929, Yorkshire. Fears of unrest in the Yorkshire coalfields mean that Kate must conduct her investigation with the utmost secrecy. But when she discovers that another murder occurred around the same time as the mysterious body on the train, she is convinced there must be a connection. Using her sharp instincts and persuasive charm, she begins to uncover a web of intrigue that edges her closer to the truth. But with attempts being made on her life, Kate needs all the strength and resourcefulness she can muster, before she becomes the next victim ."
February 14, 2020
Private Detective Kate Shackleton is called into Scotland Yard to help solve a perplexing case. The body of a man was found naked in a sack aboard a rhubarb train heading south from Yorkshire to London. As Kate is from Yorkshire, she can go undercover so to speak and investigate. Scotland Yard has reason to believe the man may have been a Russian spy sent with gold to stir up rebellion among the workers of Britain. Three years ago, in 1927, the country was crippled by a coal strike and the government refuses to allow that to happen again. Kate fears Scotland Yard is holding back on her, willing her to fail but with the help of DC Yeats, she obtains her briefing and agrees to take the case. Kate heads to the village of Wakefield to visit a childhood friend. There she becomes distracted by the murder of a local shopkeeper on the same night the mysterious man was killed.. The police have their suspect locked up tight but he insists he didn't do it and Kate believes him. Two murders is too much of a coincidence. A visit to her childhood friend reveals secrets about the village that may have contributed to at least one of the murders. As her visit becomes more dangerous, Kate knows she should leave but she is determined to see justice done for an innocent man and bring the criminals to court.
This was Kate's most exciting and dangerous case yet. When I got very tired and was about to shut off my light, the plot took an exciting and dramatic turn. Needless to stay, I stayed up late to read and skim to the end. I wasn't surprised by the revelation but I was surprised by what happened to Kate in this story. If I recall correctly, that's never happened before. This story is a little grim and lacks the humor from the secondary characters. The upper class people in this story and the police made me so angry. Like Katie, I wanted justice for the innocent and feared it would not happen. This book will make you think and hopefully feel. I'm sure readers already have empathy for the poor and this book will hopefully encourage readers to take action.
The accused, Stephen Walmsley, is in prison for murdering Mrs. Farrar. This is absolutely preposterous. There is no evidence Stephen is guilty. He was arrested for having blood on his hands. If the police really cared about doing their job, they'd find out time of death and discover Stephen had an alibi. They should have investigated and discovered Mrs. Farrar was Stephen's foster mother. She took him in from the orphanage and gave him a good home. He had plenty of opportunity to rob the till and since he was close to Mrs. Farrar, if he needed money he could have asked for a loan. He had a job and had recently been paid. There's absolutely no way he killed Mrs. Farrar. Mrs. Farrar was a kind lady, concerned with village matters and integral to the fabric of village life. She did not deserve to be murdered. Besides Kate, Stephen has two good friends at his back, as well as the Temperance Band. Milly, a maid, is nervous and cries a lot but that is understandable considering the way the police arrested her sweetheart without evidence and they way the police don't do their job. I like Milly's best friend Joan better. Nicknamed Joan of Arc, she's a champion of social justice. Joan is fearless and feisty. She won't stop until everything has been done to help her friend. She's even willing to walk off her job when hours and wages are cut. I think she will become a labor leader. Abandoned as an infant, she was raised in the orphanage under the loving guidance of the Arkwrights who later adopted her. The Arkwrights loved and cared for all the children in the Bluebell home. They thought of the children as their own and were one big family. The orphanage has now been closed and the orphans sent away. Ordinarily, this might work in their favor but the children were ripped away from the only parents, only family they had ever known and this is not right.
Kate's old friend Gertrude Brockman is the lady of the manor. The land belongs to her husband's family and the landholders are in charge of the village, the mills, the mines and the orphanage. Gertrude is incredibly awful. Finally, we get some emotion from Kate when her horrid friend Gertrude reveals she wants to adopt a child, but not one of the poor, working class orphans in the village. Oh no... she doesn't want a child of "bad blood"! Who knows what would happen? She intends to adopt an orphan in London from an agency that specializes in "good" families. If I were Kate, I would have promptly informed her where to take her blueblood and shove it because "I" came from a "bad" family and look how I turned out! Kate wisely keeps her temper and merely informs her friend she was adopted. It's not something Kate reveals freely. Not even Sykes knows so this shows some character development for Kate. Gertrude is selfish, manipulative, spoiled and generally an all around awful person. Her justifications make sense sometimes but her actions do not. I despise people like Gertrude.
Her husband seems to know what Kate is up to. She's worried because he's a higher up in government and may know more than he lets on. Mr. Brockman has a bizarre sense of humor but he's kinder to the working class than Gertrude. I'm a little confused as to why everyone believes Alec is Mr. Brockman's son. How long ago did his father die if his brother died too young to be the father of a 16-year-old. Why was he in an orphanage? did the mother go "funny" before or after her child was taken away from her. That's enough justification for her to have a mental breakdown and not recover. Alec is a cheerful lad in spite of his upbringing and smart too. Since he was born before Gertrude's marriage I don't know why she loathes him so much. I know, it's a class thing, scandal and all that.
Mr. Brockman's butler/financial adviser, Mr. Raynor, is a weird person. He lurks, spies and probably knows more about the murder than he lets on. Kate worries he is trying to thwart her investigation to protect his boss. Her suspicions seem accurate and I would probably be wary of him too. Eliot Dell, a neighboring landowner, is also creepy. He sends off weird vibes like he finds Kate attractive but he's also in mourning for his wife. I didn't like his veiled hints and threats to Kate's investigation and neither did she but because of the sensitivity of the case, she can't confront him. So much for being undercover. His mother, Mrs. Dell, also seems a little creepy. She's devoted to her son and seems to support his business plans.
Kate's childhood friend Philip Goodchild is her self-appointed bodyguard. He seems to have traits of perhaps mild autism. The villagers think he's slow but as long as he has his routine and cars to work on, he's happy. He seems smart enough to me and not slow at all. He likes people to speak plainly and mean what they say. I do too and I believe he has a good instinct for knowing when people are not telling the truth. He has a keen mind for detail and comes up with some important information on the area. I like the way his mind works. I really like him and want to be his friend. I hope he appears again to help Kate. Philip is one of my favorite characters in the story. Of course my favorite character is Sargent Dog who doesn't appear until late in the story and uses his impeccable nose to nose out a big clue. I wish he had been in the story more. Harriet arrives late in the story and doesn't really play a part in the story. Mrs. Sugden and Sykes are off on their own investigations for Kate and occasionally the story switches to one of their points-of-view. Sykes is way underutilized here and his foray into golf clubs is boring.
I really like how seamlessly the author works the history into the story. The research she uncovered is really interesting. I enjoyed this story the best of all Kate Shackleton adventures so far and I look forward to seeing what Kate gets up to next, especially if she lets her feelings show more.
This was Kate's most exciting and dangerous case yet. When I got very tired and was about to shut off my light, the plot took an exciting and dramatic turn. Needless to stay, I stayed up late to read and skim to the end. I wasn't surprised by the revelation but I was surprised by what happened to Kate in this story. If I recall correctly, that's never happened before. This story is a little grim and lacks the humor from the secondary characters. The upper class people in this story and the police made me so angry. Like Katie, I wanted justice for the innocent and feared it would not happen. This book will make you think and hopefully feel. I'm sure readers already have empathy for the poor and this book will hopefully encourage readers to take action.
The accused, Stephen Walmsley, is in prison for murdering Mrs. Farrar. This is absolutely preposterous. There is no evidence Stephen is guilty. He was arrested for having blood on his hands. If the police really cared about doing their job, they'd find out time of death and discover Stephen had an alibi. They should have investigated and discovered Mrs. Farrar was Stephen's foster mother. She took him in from the orphanage and gave him a good home. He had plenty of opportunity to rob the till and since he was close to Mrs. Farrar, if he needed money he could have asked for a loan. He had a job and had recently been paid. There's absolutely no way he killed Mrs. Farrar. Mrs. Farrar was a kind lady, concerned with village matters and integral to the fabric of village life. She did not deserve to be murdered. Besides Kate, Stephen has two good friends at his back, as well as the Temperance Band. Milly, a maid, is nervous and cries a lot but that is understandable considering the way the police arrested her sweetheart without evidence and they way the police don't do their job. I like Milly's best friend Joan better. Nicknamed Joan of Arc, she's a champion of social justice. Joan is fearless and feisty. She won't stop until everything has been done to help her friend. She's even willing to walk off her job when hours and wages are cut. I think she will become a labor leader. Abandoned as an infant, she was raised in the orphanage under the loving guidance of the Arkwrights who later adopted her. The Arkwrights loved and cared for all the children in the Bluebell home. They thought of the children as their own and were one big family. The orphanage has now been closed and the orphans sent away. Ordinarily, this might work in their favor but the children were ripped away from the only parents, only family they had ever known and this is not right.
Kate's old friend Gertrude Brockman is the lady of the manor. The land belongs to her husband's family and the landholders are in charge of the village, the mills, the mines and the orphanage. Gertrude is incredibly awful. Finally, we get some emotion from Kate when her horrid friend Gertrude reveals she wants to adopt a child, but not one of the poor, working class orphans in the village. Oh no... she doesn't want a child of "bad blood"! Who knows what would happen? She intends to adopt an orphan in London from an agency that specializes in "good" families. If I were Kate, I would have promptly informed her where to take her blueblood and shove it because "I" came from a "bad" family and look how I turned out! Kate wisely keeps her temper and merely informs her friend she was adopted. It's not something Kate reveals freely. Not even Sykes knows so this shows some character development for Kate. Gertrude is selfish, manipulative, spoiled and generally an all around awful person. Her justifications make sense sometimes but her actions do not. I despise people like Gertrude.
Her husband seems to know what Kate is up to. She's worried because he's a higher up in government and may know more than he lets on. Mr. Brockman has a bizarre sense of humor but he's kinder to the working class than Gertrude. I'm a little confused as to why everyone believes Alec is Mr. Brockman's son. How long ago did his father die if his brother died too young to be the father of a 16-year-old. Why was he in an orphanage? did the mother go "funny" before or after her child was taken away from her. That's enough justification for her to have a mental breakdown and not recover. Alec is a cheerful lad in spite of his upbringing and smart too. Since he was born before Gertrude's marriage I don't know why she loathes him so much. I know, it's a class thing, scandal and all that.
Mr. Brockman's butler/financial adviser, Mr. Raynor, is a weird person. He lurks, spies and probably knows more about the murder than he lets on. Kate worries he is trying to thwart her investigation to protect his boss. Her suspicions seem accurate and I would probably be wary of him too. Eliot Dell, a neighboring landowner, is also creepy. He sends off weird vibes like he finds Kate attractive but he's also in mourning for his wife. I didn't like his veiled hints and threats to Kate's investigation and neither did she but because of the sensitivity of the case, she can't confront him. So much for being undercover. His mother, Mrs. Dell, also seems a little creepy. She's devoted to her son and seems to support his business plans.
Kate's childhood friend Philip Goodchild is her self-appointed bodyguard. He seems to have traits of perhaps mild autism. The villagers think he's slow but as long as he has his routine and cars to work on, he's happy. He seems smart enough to me and not slow at all. He likes people to speak plainly and mean what they say. I do too and I believe he has a good instinct for knowing when people are not telling the truth. He has a keen mind for detail and comes up with some important information on the area. I like the way his mind works. I really like him and want to be his friend. I hope he appears again to help Kate. Philip is one of my favorite characters in the story. Of course my favorite character is Sargent Dog who doesn't appear until late in the story and uses his impeccable nose to nose out a big clue. I wish he had been in the story more. Harriet arrives late in the story and doesn't really play a part in the story. Mrs. Sugden and Sykes are off on their own investigations for Kate and occasionally the story switches to one of their points-of-view. Sykes is way underutilized here and his foray into golf clubs is boring.
I really like how seamlessly the author works the history into the story. The research she uncovered is really interesting. I enjoyed this story the best of all Kate Shackleton adventures so far and I look forward to seeing what Kate gets up to next, especially if she lets her feelings show more.
September 10, 2019
I would like to thank Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advance copy of The Body on the Train, the eleventh novel to feature 1920s private detective Kate Shackleton.
When the body of a murdered man turns up in a cart of the forced rhubarb train, attention centres on Yorkshire where the train originated. With rumours of foreign involvement in industrial unrest Scotland Yard wants Kate to take on an undercover investigation to identify the body and work out why he ended up on the rhubarb train.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Body on the Train which is an intriguing period mystery. Having read one or two of the previous novels I was prepared for the lack of humour, so prevalent in contemporary novels set in the period, and for a good, puzzling crime and it doesn’t disappoint. The novel is told from the investigative point of view, a first person narrative from Kate and third person for her assistants, Mr Sykes and Mrs Sugden, so the reader knows as much as they do and no more.
I love the premise of an unidentified body turning up amongst the rhubarb as there’s something anarchic about it, especially with Bolshevists trying to foment revolt. It just seems delicious. With so little to go on Ms Brody could have taken her novel anywhere but wisely chooses to keep it close to home in Yorkshire. I was glued to the pages as she unravels her plot until the end which I felt was unnecessarily drawn out and long winded. I guess the point of it was to emphasise the customs of the era but even then it could have been tighter.
There’s not much to say about the characters as it’s a plot driven novel. Kate Shackleton is a widow who makes her living as a private investigator, ably assisted by Mr Sykes and Mrs Sugden. She’s a tenacious investigator with a rather modern social conscience but on the whole she’s quite boring.
The Body on the Train is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
When the body of a murdered man turns up in a cart of the forced rhubarb train, attention centres on Yorkshire where the train originated. With rumours of foreign involvement in industrial unrest Scotland Yard wants Kate to take on an undercover investigation to identify the body and work out why he ended up on the rhubarb train.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Body on the Train which is an intriguing period mystery. Having read one or two of the previous novels I was prepared for the lack of humour, so prevalent in contemporary novels set in the period, and for a good, puzzling crime and it doesn’t disappoint. The novel is told from the investigative point of view, a first person narrative from Kate and third person for her assistants, Mr Sykes and Mrs Sugden, so the reader knows as much as they do and no more.
I love the premise of an unidentified body turning up amongst the rhubarb as there’s something anarchic about it, especially with Bolshevists trying to foment revolt. It just seems delicious. With so little to go on Ms Brody could have taken her novel anywhere but wisely chooses to keep it close to home in Yorkshire. I was glued to the pages as she unravels her plot until the end which I felt was unnecessarily drawn out and long winded. I guess the point of it was to emphasise the customs of the era but even then it could have been tighter.
There’s not much to say about the characters as it’s a plot driven novel. Kate Shackleton is a widow who makes her living as a private investigator, ably assisted by Mr Sykes and Mrs Sugden. She’s a tenacious investigator with a rather modern social conscience but on the whole she’s quite boring.
The Body on the Train is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
October 7, 2020
New to me, though the 11th book of a series, I have found another good mystery series to follow. Yorkshire setting for the most part in this book, 1929 the year, and the featured detective Kate is intelligent and the right choice for the job working in cooperation with Scotland Yard and police.
The events include money making schemes that bring about the destruction of a home for orphans, murders and other bad acts perpetrated by a childhood friend of Kate's.
The title of this book refers to the finding of a dead body wrapped in a boxcar shipment of rhubarb, the case Kate is called in to investigate. We are introduced to a collection of very interesting characters, and I look forward to reading more books from this series.
I happily purchased this kindle format for 1.99 but will look for more books from my library where they can be found.
The events include money making schemes that bring about the destruction of a home for orphans, murders and other bad acts perpetrated by a childhood friend of Kate's.
The title of this book refers to the finding of a dead body wrapped in a boxcar shipment of rhubarb, the case Kate is called in to investigate. We are introduced to a collection of very interesting characters, and I look forward to reading more books from this series.
I happily purchased this kindle format for 1.99 but will look for more books from my library where they can be found.
July 8, 2019
Another excellent, thoughtful story in the long-running, consistently solid series. Brody explores the unsettling and exploitative mining community of Yorkshire in 1929 when Scotland Yard reluctantly calls Kate in to help identify a dead man found in a sack on the famous Rhubarb Train ending up at a London station. Brody always gives her readers plenty of intrigue set amidst a fascinating and well researched cultural background. The character of Kate is richly amplified. Fans will find this to be a very strong and satisfying story in the immensely readable Kate Shackleton series.
December 10, 2019
I can't believe I'm giving this one star, but the description fits. I did not like it. Maybe I'm dumb. Maybe they've been like this all along and I just don't remember. But it seems like the last few books of this series have gotten LESS developed rather than more. I don't even understand how this one ended. It just... did. Utterly disjointed. Too much left unsaid, unexplained. Bit characters more developed than Kate (maybe it's the POV?). It's just too frustrating for me to keep trying. Done here... after 11 books!!
May 8, 2020
A 3.5, but I rounded up because this is the first Kate Shackleton book that hasn't disappointed me in a long while.
The biggest positive in regard to "The Body on the Train" is the fact that Mrs. Sugden and Jim Sykes play fairly large roles in the book. They had been missing for good portions in the last few books. I also enjoyed the scenes with Harriet and look forward to the continuing growth of her character and role. However, scenes that included all or a mixture of these three characters could be confusing at times. Ms. Brody has a tendency to switch back and forth with POV in the same scenes.
Ms. Brody does a wonderful job with the character of Raynor. I could see and hear him so vividly. Kate seems to be growing more prickly with age. Okay with me as long as she doesn't lose her acerbic sense of humor.
I do think the mysteries were too easy to figure out. I had Gertrude and Eliot pegged as guilty very early on and also guessed they were having an affair. I'm surprised Kate took so long to suspect Gertrude, but maybe friendship was blinding her to facts. Nice to see she hasn't become a total cynic. I also deduced the angle regarding the children's home almost immediately. So, the story was lacking just a little, but the wonderful characters (Kate, Harriet, Mrs. Sugden, Jim, Raynor, even Bennie) made up for it.
The biggest positive in regard to "The Body on the Train" is the fact that Mrs. Sugden and Jim Sykes play fairly large roles in the book. They had been missing for good portions in the last few books. I also enjoyed the scenes with Harriet and look forward to the continuing growth of her character and role. However, scenes that included all or a mixture of these three characters could be confusing at times. Ms. Brody has a tendency to switch back and forth with POV in the same scenes.
Ms. Brody does a wonderful job with the character of Raynor. I could see and hear him so vividly. Kate seems to be growing more prickly with age. Okay with me as long as she doesn't lose her acerbic sense of humor.
I do think the mysteries were too easy to figure out. I had Gertrude and Eliot pegged as guilty very early on and also guessed they were having an affair. I'm surprised Kate took so long to suspect Gertrude, but maybe friendship was blinding her to facts. Nice to see she hasn't become a total cynic. I also deduced the angle regarding the children's home almost immediately. So, the story was lacking just a little, but the wonderful characters (Kate, Harriet, Mrs. Sugden, Jim, Raynor, even Bennie) made up for it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 2, 2020
A female protagonist working in an unusual role for a woman in 1929, familiar characters collaborating together, the Yorkshire countryside, and I am happy to be transported on a winter day. Add to this the ubiquitous issues of social class, power and greed, and the challenges of England after WW I, and the novel becomes a reminder about learning from history.
As in many of the Kate Shakleton novels, there is a lot of coming and going in cars and trains, looking for a telephone without risk of being overheard, and trying to determine who she can trust amidst a layered plot and villains. In this mystery, I found myself feeling discouraged at the lack of empathy for the murder victims and how easily their lives could be dismissed. The protection of the landed gentry, while not surprising, was even more disheartening. Protecting the development of a new mine, "saviors of the nation," was carefully guarded, however maddening the justification. However, the callous attitude toward orphaned children made me angry, a compliment to the author's ability to weave a story, to elicit emotions.
In her acknowledgments, the author identifies people and events of the time that inspired some of the ideas for this novel. "The initial inspiration...came from the way the children of the poor fare in twenty-first-century Britain. The opposite of justice is poverty." In a few words, Frances Brody makes this 90-year-old plot timely, a call to arms.
As in many of the Kate Shakleton novels, there is a lot of coming and going in cars and trains, looking for a telephone without risk of being overheard, and trying to determine who she can trust amidst a layered plot and villains. In this mystery, I found myself feeling discouraged at the lack of empathy for the murder victims and how easily their lives could be dismissed. The protection of the landed gentry, while not surprising, was even more disheartening. Protecting the development of a new mine, "saviors of the nation," was carefully guarded, however maddening the justification. However, the callous attitude toward orphaned children made me angry, a compliment to the author's ability to weave a story, to elicit emotions.
In her acknowledgments, the author identifies people and events of the time that inspired some of the ideas for this novel. "The initial inspiration...came from the way the children of the poor fare in twenty-first-century Britain. The opposite of justice is poverty." In a few words, Frances Brody makes this 90-year-old plot timely, a call to arms.
December 18, 2019
I enjoyed it well enough. Nothing special. Just something to pass the time.
August 19, 2019
Like meeting up with an old mate for coffee, like no time has passed.
September 15, 2020
I thoroughly enjoyed this murder mystery. The characters, plot and context were all most enjoyable. I did not feel the need to rush through the story but rather enjoyed pacing my read and savouring each twist and turn, and there were many. If I had one concern it was in the wrap up, I think I'd have liked a little more detail, but it did not detract too much from the overall experience.
My thanks to the author. the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy.
My thanks to the author. the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy.
April 18, 2021
Mrs Kate Shackleton is a woman detective. She has an assistant, Mr Sykes, a former policeman. And Mrs Sugden is her housekeeper/cook and part time investigator.
When Kate is called into Scotland Yard to investigate a murder, she is at first surprised. Then disappointed. She is told to investigate a dead body, but she is unable to discuss anything with anyone. Her job is to find out who the man was and possibly how he got shoved into a burlap bag in a freight car full of rhubarb. It is suggested that Russians have come to incite unrest among miners and they have murdered this unknown man.
It so happens that the murder is in the area where Kate grew up. She has friends there. Her father is an officer in the police department there.
She goes to visit one of her best friends, Gertrude. The large house and grounds will be Kate’s home base while she investigates. Mr Sykes will be asking questions among the rhubarb farmers.
The more Kate finds out, the more she realizes that nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust and why does she feel as though every question she asks is being answered with a lie.
This is a well written mystery. Although it is part of a series, it is easy to follow.
There is a village and in the village there is another murder which happened. An elderly lady who ran the only store in town was found dead. And the young man who lived with her has been arrested. He is devastated. The only people who believe he is guilty are the police. Everyone else knows he is not capable of doing such a horrible crime.
The investigation moves along at a good pace. I did not figure out all the particulars, but for me it was evident who the villains were and who were innocent bystanders.
I did lose patience when Kate put herself in jeopardy. I do not have a lot of admiration for women who continually go into dangerous situations again and again.
Kate, Sykes and Mrs Sugden are really well drawn characters. The secondary characters are terrific people. Each of them add texture to the story. The villagers and farmers are all important to the story. Some of them are wonderfully interesting and all of them are entertaining.
I enjoyed this book.. I look forward to reading another story in the series.
When Kate is called into Scotland Yard to investigate a murder, she is at first surprised. Then disappointed. She is told to investigate a dead body, but she is unable to discuss anything with anyone. Her job is to find out who the man was and possibly how he got shoved into a burlap bag in a freight car full of rhubarb. It is suggested that Russians have come to incite unrest among miners and they have murdered this unknown man.
It so happens that the murder is in the area where Kate grew up. She has friends there. Her father is an officer in the police department there.
She goes to visit one of her best friends, Gertrude. The large house and grounds will be Kate’s home base while she investigates. Mr Sykes will be asking questions among the rhubarb farmers.
The more Kate finds out, the more she realizes that nothing is as it seems. Who can she trust and why does she feel as though every question she asks is being answered with a lie.
This is a well written mystery. Although it is part of a series, it is easy to follow.
There is a village and in the village there is another murder which happened. An elderly lady who ran the only store in town was found dead. And the young man who lived with her has been arrested. He is devastated. The only people who believe he is guilty are the police. Everyone else knows he is not capable of doing such a horrible crime.
The investigation moves along at a good pace. I did not figure out all the particulars, but for me it was evident who the villains were and who were innocent bystanders.
I did lose patience when Kate put herself in jeopardy. I do not have a lot of admiration for women who continually go into dangerous situations again and again.
Kate, Sykes and Mrs Sugden are really well drawn characters. The secondary characters are terrific people. Each of them add texture to the story. The villagers and farmers are all important to the story. Some of them are wonderfully interesting and all of them are entertaining.
I enjoyed this book.. I look forward to reading another story in the series.
April 25, 2024
(hi leah!)
this isn't my usual genre - like at all, and i'll be honest the first chunk of chapters didn't exactly persuade me. entirely a me thing, but i really struggled trying to get a hold of all the names, and i felt a few didn't quite get enough time to be memorable enough (i'll be completely honest i'm still not entirely sure who the brockmans and the awkrights were when they cropped up again near the end), but the main cast was likeable! raynor was all the way my favourite, and i loved the direction they took his character in even if it's pretty out of left field.
the last third or so of the book is where it really got me, though. having read however long of old-timey dialogue i was stoked to see some action, and the way a certain part within those last few chapters was written really hooked me! admittedly i was a little disappointed with the ending, it felt as though kate had gotten so far in trying to solve the case just for someone else to take over and do the arrests for her. i'd have loved to see what evidence finally made it clear who the killer was - although i wouldn't be surprised if we were told and i just missed it.
the killers were obvious yet not, in the same ballpark as where most readers would place their suspicions but still reveals itself overtime in a way that's interesting to follow along with. i am very glad that there's a slight twist with the characters that seemed destined to be the killers, and where they end up in the end.
a nice look into a style of book that i don't personally read, but i think i'll be sticking with my usual tastes after this.
this isn't my usual genre - like at all, and i'll be honest the first chunk of chapters didn't exactly persuade me. entirely a me thing, but i really struggled trying to get a hold of all the names, and i felt a few didn't quite get enough time to be memorable enough (i'll be completely honest i'm still not entirely sure who the brockmans and the awkrights were when they cropped up again near the end), but the main cast was likeable! raynor was all the way my favourite, and i loved the direction they took his character in even if it's pretty out of left field.
the last third or so of the book is where it really got me, though. having read however long of old-timey dialogue i was stoked to see some action, and the way a certain part within those last few chapters was written really hooked me! admittedly i was a little disappointed with the ending, it felt as though kate had gotten so far in trying to solve the case just for someone else to take over and do the arrests for her. i'd have loved to see what evidence finally made it clear who the killer was - although i wouldn't be surprised if we were told and i just missed it.
the killers were obvious yet not, in the same ballpark as where most readers would place their suspicions but still reveals itself overtime in a way that's interesting to follow along with. i am very glad that there's a slight twist with the characters that seemed destined to be the killers, and where they end up in the end.
a nice look into a style of book that i don't personally read, but i think i'll be sticking with my usual tastes after this.
July 11, 2019
Kate is a private investigator with a motley crew of assistants and a father in area law enforcement. She is called to Scotland Yard for an assignment regarding a murdered man dumped into a train car but is hobbled by instructions of silence and basically blocked at every turn. She heads northward and arranges to stay with an old friend and becomes aware of a seemingly unconnected murder in the town. The reader also gets to learn about rhubarb growth and transport to market outside of the normal growing season, a bit about pit coal mining, and the orphanage system of the time. The book insisted that I read it all in one hot afternoon.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
November 22, 2019
The investigation was a bit messy with several different cases becoming intertwined and Kate, Sykes and Mrs Sugden all involved in tracking down clues.
As the communication difficulties mount the investigation becomes a bit farcical, with each person knowing something that the others desperately need to know but unable to get the information to each other.
There are some books where I get irritated because the ‘sleuth’ has all clues, but is incapable of putting them together. In this book it isn’t because they are incapable it’s because they are spread across several people, but I found it just as annoying waiting for them to bring everything together. Perhaps this is just because I am used to living in an age when communication is almost instant.
This didn’t really spoil my enjoyment, what did was what Kate did after putting all the pieces together. Just walking straight into harm was ridiculous.
Overall this was an interesting story with just a few minor problems, but I didn’t think it was one of the best in the series.
As the communication difficulties mount the investigation becomes a bit farcical, with each person knowing something that the others desperately need to know but unable to get the information to each other.
There are some books where I get irritated because the ‘sleuth’ has all clues, but is incapable of putting them together. In this book it isn’t because they are incapable it’s because they are spread across several people, but I found it just as annoying waiting for them to bring everything together. Perhaps this is just because I am used to living in an age when communication is almost instant.
This didn’t really spoil my enjoyment, what did was what Kate did after putting all the pieces together. Just walking straight into harm was ridiculous.
Overall this was an interesting story with just a few minor problems, but I didn’t think it was one of the best in the series.
November 24, 2019
2019 bk 283. The newest of the Kate Shackleton Mysteries. Kate is hired by Scotland Yard - when they have a mystery that, because of personal investments on the part of the detective and the location of the crime - who do they call, Kate Shackleton. Seeking to give a reason for her jaunt into another close location in Yorkshire, Kate calls imposes herself upon an old school friend, not realizing that she'll find out more than she wishes. Along the way she learns more about trains, rhubarbs, the nefarious activities of some capitalists, prisons, and a Salvation Army Band. There are kindnesses distributed to counter effect the evils that men do - and most of those kindnesses do help. A lovely look into life and crime in 1929.
August 6, 2019
I did not realize that this was the eleventh Kate Shackleton mystery when I requested it and now I have another author I want to read. It worked as a standalone and was easy to follow. It takes place in 1929. PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR Kate is summoned to Scotland Yard and asked to find an answer how an unidentified man was placed in a railroad car. The train was a special taking force rhubarb to market. There are no clues as to where, when and how the body was place. Kate has a number restrictions on how she can investigate.
At same day there is a murder robbery that occurs in the village. The police believe they have the man and don't feel the two events are connected. Kate feels the man is not guilty and sets out to prove it. Kate gets invited to stay with an acquaintance so she can look into the matter of who the body is and how it was placed on the train. She finds chaos in the rhubarb fields before she finds an answer to the questions. The ending shock me. It took me by surprise. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.
Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own
At same day there is a murder robbery that occurs in the village. The police believe they have the man and don't feel the two events are connected. Kate feels the man is not guilty and sets out to prove it. Kate gets invited to stay with an acquaintance so she can look into the matter of who the body is and how it was placed on the train. She finds chaos in the rhubarb fields before she finds an answer to the questions. The ending shock me. It took me by surprise. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.
Disclosure: Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own
September 16, 2025
Felt this was an ok read. It’s the 11th book in the series not that it particularly mattered but I found it too slow to start with which made it difficult to get into. Set in the 1920’s in Yorkshire, I felt it had more potential, though it’s a cozy crime & easy to read am sure plenty will enjoy it.
January 22, 2020
Another enjoyable tale in this series. It makes a visit to the rhubarb fields and looks at society of the time as well as being a crime novel. Will continue to look out for more books by Frances Brody.
March 16, 2024
Well this is the first I have read in the Kate Shackleton, lady detective series…. And will probably be the last!
So very tiresome and endless before getting going… reminded me of a weak Miss Marple or even weaker Agatha Christie…
Plot was unbelievable …. Just too much nonsense….
Not for me…
So very tiresome and endless before getting going… reminded me of a weak Miss Marple or even weaker Agatha Christie…
Plot was unbelievable …. Just too much nonsense….
Not for me…
October 27, 2019
Full review at classicmystery.blog
December 20, 2019
Book received from NetGalley
Review to Come
Review to Come
November 1, 2021
*Listened to audio book
I wasn't sure if I'd like this or not, it was the only audio at the library so I just started with this one. It was really good! I enjoyed it a lot, the mystery was interesting and different. I recommend! There is nothing improper, a clean English mystery.
I wasn't sure if I'd like this or not, it was the only audio at the library so I just started with this one. It was really good! I enjoyed it a lot, the mystery was interesting and different. I recommend! There is nothing improper, a clean English mystery.
February 18, 2020
I like Kate Shackleton, her car, her helpers, and the era. The books are entertaining, well written, and I always learn something about the times and the country.
December 31, 2019
English, cozy, country, murder and Scotland Yard needs the help of Kate Shackleton- Private Investigator -to discover the identity and solve the mystery of the dead man on the train that was carrying rhubarb from Leeds to London markets. Well written,meticulous detail,good plot set in 1929. A cozy English mystery with an intelligent, persistent heroine you will love.
December 12, 2019
The story was really engaging, especially as it got closer to the end. The last quarter was a real page turner. But I didn't understand the rationale behind Kate posing as a photojournalist among friends who knew she was a private detective. I am giving the book 3 stars because it was full of typos and missing words to the point that it marred the narrative. Very poor editing. A good read but not Brody's best.
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