Murder At Down Street Station

London Underground Station Mysteries #2

by Jim Eldridge, David Thorpe (Reader)

December 1940. Down Street underground station, in the heart of London's Mayfair, is now a secret retreat for Prime Minister Winston Churchill and his cabinet from the relentless air raids overhead. In this supposedly secure location, the body of a woman is found, stabbed in the heart. The victim, fortune-teller Lady Za Za, did not see this one coming. Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson are called to investigate but whispers of treason and corruption succeed in muddying the waters of the case. As the pressure rises and more victims come to light, Coburg and Lampson are on dangerous ground, with a devious killer on the loose.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Historical Mystery, London

Audio CD

Published May 1, 2023

About the author

Jim Eldridge is the author of many books for children, including titles in the My Story series, the Warpath books, and How to Handle Grown-Ups. He has had 250 TV scripts broadcast in the UK and internationally for children's and teen television, and is also the creator and writer of Radio 4's long-running comedy-drama series, King Street Junior.

Reviews

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Sally Archer · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great read

[CPE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Eldridge’s Murder at Down Street Station is the latest book in his WWII London Underground Station Mysteries series, featuring DCI Edgar Saxe-Coburg, younger brother to the Earl of Dawlish. A young woman’s body is found at Down Street Underground station on Christmas Day, 1940 and DCI Coburg and his assistant, Sergeant Ted Lampson are assigned to the case.

This is a fast-paced story with several murders. There is also a nice sub-plot with Ted wanting to ask his son’s teacher, Eve Bradley, for a date. The book is self-contained, like all Eldridge’s novels, but there is a narrative arc that progresses from book to book e.g. Lampson’s relationship with Eve. I really enjoyed the book: the resolution of the various plot strands was satisfying, although there was a faint whiff of “deus ex machina” with one or two. The characterisation is excellent and the more I see of Edgar’s brother, Magnus and his factotum, Malcolm, the better. They make an excellent odd couple! Even the minor characters such as Doris, the ambulance driver; Danny Bell, a gangster, and his henchman, Duffy Powell, are distinctive and delineated in a few sentences. There’s no danger of getting confused by similar characters.

The book is historically accurate. The author was born during the Blitz and knows London very well indeed. The language, the behaviour and just, for want of a better word, the atmosphere within Eldridge’s books are highly evocative. One can easily imagine a BBC producer like John Fawcett, asking Coburg’s wife, Rosa, to appear on Henry Hall’s radio programme.

Highly recommended.

#MurderatDownStreetStation #NetGalley

[Jean-Luc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Criminal and political shenanigans set in London during the Blitz at end of 1940, a cleverly plotted and superbly choreographed whodunit that really kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The various murders may or may not be connected and more than one killer might be involved but the twists and turns are numerous and the rhythm of the entire story and how the chain of events falls into place is simply dazzling!

The ensemble cast is exquisitely drawn and the historical details of a city under constant enemy bombardment are truly fascinating.
And last but not least, it's always a delicious treat to be spending some time with the winsome Edgar Saxe-Coburg and his talented wife....

A captivating new addition to a terrific series that deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Allison&Busby for this fabulous ARC!

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Eldrige always writes solid historical mysteries that are both entertaining and informative.
This series that mixes luxury hotels and underground station is very good and I love the description of everyday life in London during the Bliz and the story of the stations.
They're always complex and full of twists, they show you some of the truth but they also makes you suspect the wrong guy (or that's what happens to me).
Coburg and Rose are back together and they are part of a subplot.
A gripping, soldi, and compelling mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Kerry Britnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another excellent book Jim Eldridge and the second in the London underground series

I love how in all of his books Eldridge blends fiction with fact and his use of language really brings the WW2 era to life in both it's horror and it's spirit.

Fast paced and well written you just don't want to put this down.

Highly recommended yet again.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby for an advance copy of Murder at Down Street Station, the fifth novel and second in the London Underground Station Mysteries series to feature DCI Edgar Saxe-Coburg and DS Ted Lampson of Scotland Yard, set in 1940/1.

On Boxing Day Coburg and Lampson are called out to Down Street underground station, now disused for trains and serving as Churchill’s bunker, as a woman has been found stabbed to death on the platform. They find themselves in dark territory involving international politics, potential treason and more personal threats.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder at Down Street Station, which is a straightforward police procedural with some clever twists and a large dose of sociopathic behaviour. I say straightforward when the plot is anything but, it’s more a case of linearity in the time line and logic in the developments.

Coburg starts his investigation with victimology and it’s a doozy. I’m not going to say how she earned her living or her history, but they are non traditional and open up so many lines of enquiry, both domestic and international. It’s cleverly done and very interesting in terms of the historical information it allows the author to expound on. The plot moves on with more discoveries and more murders, but who is behind them is unclear, especially with the author indulging in a little misdirection, like more than one character claiming to be the murderer for their own reasons. As I said, lots of sociopathic behaviour and this is just one example. The ending is another case in point where the ruthlessness involved is marked.

The novel has a subplot of a threat to Coburg’s wife, jazz singer Rosa Weeks. It is gloriously over the top from start to finish and often made me smile.

Murder at Down Street Station is a good read with plenty of meat on the bones that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable story, set against wartime London. DCI Coburg and DS Lampson are called to the closed down Down Street Underground Station. They are called in to investigate the murder of a young Russian woman, who had come to Britain with her brother to escape Stalin and his paranoia. As they investigate, the detectives are faced with conspiracy theories, more murders, death threats and treason. They call on several colleagues, as well as Coburg's brother, Magnus, to aid and abet their enquiries. They even have the help of a known gangster. This is a mystery that not only affects Coburg and his wife personally, but the Government, MI5 and the RAF, too. Despite hitting the usual snags that occur during their investigations, Coburg and Lampson close the case, but not quite as they would have liked. I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the past, my preference for mysteries ranged from Victorian thru the Roaring 20s, but this series has really allowed me to expand my horizons. This is a captivating and complex mystery. There were plenty of layers that kept me guessing as to whodunit. At least one subplot from the previous book was nicely tied up while another remains to be resolved. I enjoy the mysteries by this author and will definitely continue with this series as well as his Museum Mysteries series. I also have plans to read the author's Hotel Mysteries series.

[Andrew Macfarlane · Rating 3 out of 5]

good enough. very easy to read. entertaining enough. I feel a bit done because I saw it was number 2 in the series and I had read a book that was number 1 of a series by the same author, same detective and sidekick, same period of time and same location, (London in a miniscule period of time late 1940 to very early in 1941) same minor characters. Apparently this was number 2 in a different series though. and the author uses the same characters, times locations for a third series of murder mysteries

[Martin Hollands · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like a nice little mystery, and this is similar to the Railways Detective series in some ways.

The book is nicely written and is well paced throughout. The historical detail is fine and helps set the scenes quite nicely.

The characters are developing quite nicely and their personalities beginning to shine through.

I have thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 books of the series and have the thiurd book lined up ready to read as well.

[Martin Hollands · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Murder at Aldwych station, the first of the London Underground Station Mysteries with DCI Coburg so much I couldn't wait to start on this to see how the characters developed.
It is set in the war years and the detail of events going on and around this area seemed really accurate and didn't gloss over the nastiness.

I enjoy the characters in the series and the way their personalities are developing.

[Marina Martínez · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn’t get past the page 130. It’s very poorly written and uninteresting, I’ve read childbooks that were more complex. The descriptions of the characters, the places, actions, etc couldn’t be more simple. If a character is having doubts about what to do in a certain situation it will just say: “Mr X didn’t know what to do so he said ‘I don’t know what to do’”. Come on, try to develop the story a little bit more, man.

[Beachcomber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another outing with the characters you’ve grown to know and love - this one just felt a little more jumbled. Lots of mini storylines and it didn’t feel very clear in terms of the Irish bit. And the attempt on Rosa’s life felt a bit paint by numbers villain, and added to pad out the word count. Still overall fair, but not quite up to the usual standard, I think.

[Jane Irish Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

As 1940 comes to a close, a murdered woman's body is found at the closed Down Street Station, and Inspector Coburg is tasked with the investigation. But that is not the only mystery: it appears that someone is out for Rosa's blood as well. This very intricate mystery opens a window into a different time, and is full of interesting and believable characters, making it hard to put down.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave this book as high as a 4/5 because of the 1940s atmosphere during the London blitz. Also on the plusside are is the exciting plot with both political and socieital twists and the unexpected dissolution to the murder story. As always, I am very sensitive to any hints of stereotypical charachters, and this is what this book looses out on too. The good are too good and perfect, and the evil are too evil and mad... Still, a nice setting and a good plot.

[Kelly Grice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Coberg and Rosa are up to their necks in this one. Two Russian siblings are found murdered and they think it’s Russian related. Delving into it opens a can of worms involving the IRA and treason against the British state. Meanwhile, a delusional ex jazz singer is out for revenge. She’s adamant that Rosa has stolen her thunder.
A cosy read that’s fast moving and filled with twists and turns.

[Mary Warnement · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this series, a first in a long time that I didn't read in order. I started with Aldwych, a gift for Jim since we'd just toured the closed station. I've gotten the two hotel series with the same detective that precede this and look forward to the museum series with a different detective.

[Juliet Ruston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet again a good read. I can't get enough of this series and to know it's on to under ground stations now even better. I also find the characters appealing and to me it's like having a cuppa in front of a cosy fire when I read these book. Please keep them coming.

[Lucy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book more to this second one: Murder at Down Street station. I found it to be less gripping and more “he said this, she said that.” I’m not sure if I will continue on to book three… we’ll see. I did enjoy the passages about the bombings and events happening during the war.

[Eddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

good ( but)

I enjoyed this Second World War crime thriller , this is the 5th book I’ve read and I really like the main characters but not sure I’m satisfied with the ending , the next book might help , we will see.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Number 5 in the series, and just as good as the first one.

[ANDREW]

Just finished reading this one, as I really enjoyed the First in this Series just had to get this one as well. Absolutely loved it highly recommend it.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical crime series with lots of interesting background information.

[E G Melby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciate the numerous twists and turns - no starting the hotel mysteries

[Gene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only a complex mystery, but an excellent view into the WW2 London life.

[J Grimsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book in this series. Detectives and wife very likable.

[Lyn Mayberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable

[Rita Chapman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Several murders, but a bit lacklustre in the telling.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complicated. Terrific. Exciting. Great history.