One of Marston's Railway Detective series featuring Inspector Colbeck, written in the style of a Victorian melodramatic mystery, although I noticed a couple of modern phrases slipped in. This time, Colbeck is investigating a murder and theft in Wales. The murdered man is the silversmith who created a finely crafted silver teapot in the shape of a locomotive, which is now missing. The intended owner, a domineering woman, is implacable, she wants that teapot not another one, even though there is no other silversmith who could make one. Filled with colourful Dickensian characters, this is light entertainment but in the end unremarkable. ( )

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 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. ( )

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 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.

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 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. ( )

Another enjoyable instalment in the Railway Detective Series, this time set in Wales. ( )