The Girl in the Train [short story]

Written near the mid 1920s, this story very much has the feel of those light and charming early tales of Earl Derr Biggers’ pre-Charlie Chan stories. The Girl in the Train is a product of another era which readers will either embrace or dismiss. I loved it.

The Girl in the Train is an utterly charming light romantic adventure, a story that is very old-fashioned and enjoyable, not to mention quite humorous. Christy displays a deft touch for light adventure here that is quite refreshing. Those expecting something more akin to Poirot or Marple, or especially Mr. Quin, may find it too light and frivolous, but being a fan of Earl Derr Biggers’ early stories like The Agony Column, I found this quite wonderful.

A fun listen, short and to the point.
George Rowland is estranged from his Uncle and so he leaves London in High a fit of temper and decides to take a train to a random location - he chooses Rowland's Castle as it shares a name with him, it could be his place of origin and he could claim his castle (note - it is a real place and the remains of the castle amount to a couple of blocks of masonry near the station - it's not an impressive castle and no-one knows who Rowland was). This train leaves from Waterloo and he takes the stopping train (note - from experience to stop at Rowland's Castle you take a train that seems to stop at every garden gate!). As it is about to depart a girl bursts into the carriage and begs George to hide her, show more which he does and so begins a wild goose chase of a story that takes place in a provincial hotel in Portsmouth. It's a tale of mistaken identity, criminals, foreign nobility and general ill deeds that George manages to negotiate his way through, more through good luck than any thing else. It all ends back on a train heading in the reverse direction, by which time George's life has changed somewhat - and he is planning a return visit to Rowland's Castle. show less