A Christmas Railway Mystery

Description

December 1860. Headed for the morning shift at the Swindon Locomotive works is an army of men pouring out of terraced houses built by the GWR, a miniature town and planned community that aims to provide for its employees from cradle to grave. Unfortunately, boiler smith Kenneth Rodman is headed for the grave sooner than he'd expected, or he will be once his missing head is found. Colbeck, the Railway Detective, finds his investigation into Rodman's murder mired in contradictions. Was the victim a short-tempered brawler, or a committed Christian and chorister who aimed to better himself? On the trail of Rodman's enemy as the season starts to bite, Colbeck finds little festive cheer in the twists and turns of this peculiar case.

Edward Marston has written over 100 books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series, the latest of which is The Circus Train Conspiracy. His other current series are the Home Front Detective, set in the Great War, and the Bow Street Rivals featuring identical twin detectives during the Regency.

`The combination of characters, place, and time gives readers get an entertaining escape that showcases the virtues of logical thinking, along with a toe dip into a bygone industrial age. The whole makes a cozy, light read suitable for winter evenings, especially around Christmas.' New York Journal of Books