Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Allison and Busby (2010), Edition: Reprint, 288 pages
Description
An exquisitely designed silver coffee-pot in the shape of a locomotive is on its way to Cardiff in the care of the young, talented silversmith, Hugh Kellow. It has been commissioned by wealthy ironmaster Clifford Tomkins for his acquisitive wife, who wants it to be the envy of all her friends - and enemies. But the coffee-pot is stolen. When a gruesome murder is committed at the Railway Hotel, Winifred Tomkins is distraught. Caring little for the dead silversmith, all she can think about is her missing treasure. Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming of the Detective Department are summoned to Wales from London by telegraph and they are soon confronted by some additional crimes. The situation is complicated by the arrival of a famous theatre company and by revelations of illicit liaisons among members of the local high society. There is no shortage of suspects and Colbeck has to sift through layers of deceit to find the killer - before it is too late.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member HBpencil
Really enjoyable instalment in The Railway Detective series. Intriguing story that takes Detective Inspector Colbeck all the way to Cardiff, with his reluctant Watson, Sgt Leeming. The story grips you from start to finish with an interesting twist and more involvement from Scotland Yard Chief
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Tallis, and Colbeck's Madeleine Andrews. Show Less
LibraryThing member Helenliz
Read all 6 of these pretty much on the trot, which is good and bad. The bad thing about it is that it becomes obvious that there are passages that are repeated in each book. For example, when ever he introduces Madeline to the book, he describes how she & Robert became acquainted - which you know
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if you're read the previous ones. But it's only a minor gripe - and certainly one you wouldn't notice to the same extent if you read them individually. Other than the the stories are quite interesting. It tends to be reasonably obvious who-dun-it, although that doesn't always detract from the story, the means and motivations being as interesting as the unravelling of the crime. Not the most taxing of books, but they're a reasonably easy read. Show Less
LibraryThing member infjsarah
Ok. An easy read to pass a few hours without effort. But I wouldn't pick up another.
LibraryThing member PilgrimJess
This is the sixth book in the Railway Detective mystery series set in Victorian Britain featuring Inspector Robert Colbeck and his partner Sergeant Victor Leeming.
A young London silversmith is given the job of delivering a silver coffee pot in the shape of a train locomotive to Cardiff, to the
During their enquiries they meet a varied group of suspects ranging from a pair of self-obsessed actors to the professional mistress of a local business magnate, each are generally well drawn. Each have a liking for silver but otherwise no apparent motive. However, the stand-out character is the opinionated and callous wife of the businessman who had initially commissioned the coffee-pot.
As the case proceeds Colbeck and Leeming shuttle between London and Cardiff as endeavour to track down the killer and his female accomplice. There are several twists along the way but I still managed to work out the accomplice fairly quickly if not the main culprit. Set against the background of the country's burgeoning railway system there is enough information to be interesting but not so much as to overwhelm non-enthusiasts. The story is told at a good quick pace making it any easy read but still manages to be an enthralling whodunit. Despite being the sixth in the series this was the first that I've read and as such feel that it capable of standing on its own rather than relying too heavily on what went before. Something light but still substantial for a long train journey or flight.
A young London silversmith is given the job of delivering a silver coffee pot in the shape of a train locomotive to Cardiff, to the
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wealthy customers who commissioned it. On the way there he meets the leading principals of an acting troupe. Shortly after arrival in Cardiff a body matching the young silversmith's description is found in a hotel bedroom despite apparently knowing know one in the city. As the silversmith travelled by train to Cardiff and his body was found in a Railway hotel Colbeck and Leeming are called in by the local constabulary to help solve this baffling and dastardly crime.During their enquiries they meet a varied group of suspects ranging from a pair of self-obsessed actors to the professional mistress of a local business magnate, each are generally well drawn. Each have a liking for silver but otherwise no apparent motive. However, the stand-out character is the opinionated and callous wife of the businessman who had initially commissioned the coffee-pot.
As the case proceeds Colbeck and Leeming shuttle between London and Cardiff as endeavour to track down the killer and his female accomplice. There are several twists along the way but I still managed to work out the accomplice fairly quickly if not the main culprit. Set against the background of the country's burgeoning railway system there is enough information to be interesting but not so much as to overwhelm non-enthusiasts. The story is told at a good quick pace making it any easy read but still manages to be an enthralling whodunit. Despite being the sixth in the series this was the first that I've read and as such feel that it capable of standing on its own rather than relying too heavily on what went before. Something light but still substantial for a long train journey or flight.
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LibraryThing member Auntie-Nanuuq
From the website: "Inspector Colbeck's sixth outing takes him to South Wales to investigate a murder at the Railway Hotel and the theft of a silver coffee pot in the shape of a locomotive. Key witnesses are members of a touring theater company performing Macbeth at the Theater Royal in Cardiff.
When
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the leading lady suddenly vanishes, it seems as if the Scottish play has brought disaster to yet another troupe. As the crimes multiply, Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming have to dash to and fro on the railway system.Even though they have the assistance of Jeremiah Stockdale, the town's chief constable, their efforts are nevertheless hampered at every turn. When they finally run the villains to ground, they are in for a great shock."
Although I figured out who did it fairly early on, I really enjoyed the mystery and the Red Herrings.... I liked the main characters and even a few of the peripheral ones as well. There were a few pages that I skimmed, but that didn't put me off the book at all.
I didn't find this overly "masculine" and I'd compare it favorably to the Charles Lenox mysteries. Just the right type of balance & charm.
I'm looking forward to reading others, because I found myself to be running out of mysteries to read.....
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LibraryThing member Andrew-theQM
Another enjoyable instalment in the Railway Detective Series, this time set in Wales.
LibraryThing member MHThaung
This is the first Railway Detective mystery book I've read. It was a quick, easy read and I didn't have a problem with coming in partway through the series.
Detective Colbeck and his assistant Leeming travel from London to Cardiff in order to investigate a murder, as well as the theft of a
The clues (and Colbeck's suspicions) point in various plausible directions until we finally discover whodunnit. The ultimate reveal wasn't much of a surprise, but neither was it telegraphed from the start (imo, of course - other readers may have spotted it immediately).
There's a whole cast of shady characters with possible motivations to commit the crimes. Several of them had unpleasant personalities, and I felt in some cases they approached caricatures.
We visited so many different characters' heads in quick succession that I lost track of who was thinking what. I think this added to my general impression of over-explaininess. At times, it seemed that the author was dragging the reader into a minor character's thoughts merely to ensure we picked up what the author intended.
Overall, an entertaining light read that's not too challenging.
Detective Colbeck and his assistant Leeming travel from London to Cardiff in order to investigate a murder, as well as the theft of a
Show More
custom-made silver coffee pot. Needless to say, the investigation isn't straightforward.The clues (and Colbeck's suspicions) point in various plausible directions until we finally discover whodunnit. The ultimate reveal wasn't much of a surprise, but neither was it telegraphed from the start (imo, of course - other readers may have spotted it immediately).
There's a whole cast of shady characters with possible motivations to commit the crimes. Several of them had unpleasant personalities, and I felt in some cases they approached caricatures.
We visited so many different characters' heads in quick succession that I lost track of who was thinking what. I think this added to my general impression of over-explaininess. At times, it seemed that the author was dragging the reader into a minor character's thoughts merely to ensure we picked up what the author intended.
Overall, an entertaining light read that's not too challenging.
Show Less
LibraryThing member john257hopper
This is the sixth novel in the Railway Detective series set in mid 19th century Britain. This one concerns the theft of a silver coffee pot shaped like a locomotive and a related murder. The story was reasonable, and the "obvious" suspect far too obvious; indeed the last two chapters altered the
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view of the leading suspects and victims. And a romantic ending as Inspector Colbeck finally proposes to Madeleine Andrews. This is never going to be a great series, but I am starting to warm more to the characters. Even Colbeck's boss Superintendent Tallis was more human in this one. Show Less
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2009
Physical description
288 p.; 5 inches
ISBN
9780749007782
DDC/MDS
| 823.914 |