This is the eighth novel in the Railway Detective series set in the mid 19th century. Somewhat to my surprise, this has actually been my favourite of the series so far. This one concerned a Bonny and Clyde type couple on the run after they brutally kill two policemen so that the man, Jeremy Oxley, can escape custody. They are clever and cunning and elude their pursuers for a long time, but our heroes Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming of course close in on them eventually after a dramatic chase across the Atlantic and a stand off in New York. Colbeck's superior Inspector Tallis comes across as more human and rounded here too, as a mistake he makes costs the life of one of his men at the hands of the killers, and causes him to question, at least temporarily, his role and approach. I really enjoyed this story and the recurring characters' ongoing traits that I initially found annoying I now find rather endearing. At the end it also looks like Colbeck may at last marry his sweetheart Madeleine Andrews. There will be a shorter gap before I read book 9. ( )

Edward Marston just can’t write a book that is anything but interesting…entertaining...factual of the era… and isn’t just impossible to put down. The only thing I found rather off putting about this book... and that I have seen developing throughout from the first... is that one of the characters is becoming hard to tolerate. Sergeant Leeming needs to grow up… see a shrink…read the help wanted ads…or something. His constant complaining about being away from his family is belittling and redundant. Okay…he misses them…I get it…but did he miss this part of the job description? On the plus side the information about the railroad system in that slower era was fascinating and the chase for Jeremy Oxley was brilliant. Looking forward to the next adventure with Inspector Robert Colbeck. ( )

I like trains and Victorian England. I cataloged this one at work the other day and got sucked in. It's going fast, even if it's not exactly Sherlock Holmes.

***

I rounded up to two stars because I actually managed to finish this - I can imagine worse books. The "mystery" is nonexistent and the writing is on par with most romance novels I've read, minus the nakey bits. Not much to recommend here. ( )

This didn't have much going for it. Set in the early days of railway travel it tried to be golden age but had modern violence and unpleasant characters. ( )

Colbeck is on the trail of a vicious killer and his female accomplice and is lead a merry dance around the country, giving him the chance to explore several railway routes courtesy of Bradshaw! Undemanding story telling. ( )