Graham G. (Foucault) reviewed The Excursion Train (Railway Detective, Bk 2) on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
This was an enjoyable read, but not outstanding. While the plot was full of satisfying twists and turns which kept the reader guessing, I felt that the characters were a little two-dimensional and cliched. This contrasts with some books that I've read recently, where the characters have been complex, but the "whodunnit" elements have been secondary. I could well imagine this turned into a pretty ghastly made-for-tv movie.
It did hold my interest enough to be curious about the first book in this series, "The Railway Detective" however.
It did hold my interest enough to be curious about the first book in this series, "The Railway Detective" however.
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
Book Description
Set in 19th century England, a bustling crowd boards the Great Western Railway Excursion train on their way to an illegal championship fight in Maidenhead. As the rowdiness of the crowd increases, the train's guard fears "for the safety of his rolling stock". The last thing he expects to find is the brutal murder of one of his passengers, Jake Bransby. Once the shocking discovery of the body is made, Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant Inspector Leeming, are called to the scene. Faced with what initially appears to be a motiveless murder Colbeck is perplexed by the murder weapon, a noose -- until he later discovers Bransby previously worked as a public executioner. However, the more he delves into the case the more mysterious it seems to become. After a second death by noose takes place Colbeck knows he must act quickly. Can he catch the murderer before more lives are lost? Rich in historical detail The Excursion Train will hold you captivated from beginning to end.
My Review
This series is a great escape from the brutal thrillers that I normally read. It is rich in history and portrays the Victorian era very well. I love all the characters and there is, of course, a romantic interest for Madeline Andrews and Robert Colbeck which I find very interesting. This book is the second in the series and is a very enjoyable read for train enthusiasts and mystery buffs alike. I highly recommend this book and I definitely will continue with the series as I find the plots to be complex at times.
Set in 19th century England, a bustling crowd boards the Great Western Railway Excursion train on their way to an illegal championship fight in Maidenhead. As the rowdiness of the crowd increases, the train's guard fears "for the safety of his rolling stock". The last thing he expects to find is the brutal murder of one of his passengers, Jake Bransby. Once the shocking discovery of the body is made, Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant Inspector Leeming, are called to the scene. Faced with what initially appears to be a motiveless murder Colbeck is perplexed by the murder weapon, a noose -- until he later discovers Bransby previously worked as a public executioner. However, the more he delves into the case the more mysterious it seems to become. After a second death by noose takes place Colbeck knows he must act quickly. Can he catch the murderer before more lives are lost? Rich in historical detail The Excursion Train will hold you captivated from beginning to end.
My Review
This series is a great escape from the brutal thrillers that I normally read. It is rich in history and portrays the Victorian era very well. I love all the characters and there is, of course, a romantic interest for Madeline Andrews and Robert Colbeck which I find very interesting. This book is the second in the series and is a very enjoyable read for train enthusiasts and mystery buffs alike. I highly recommend this book and I definitely will continue with the series as I find the plots to be complex at times.
