Murder at Whitechapel Road Station

London Underground Station Mysteries #4

by Jim Eldridge

April, 1941. Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson are called to the former Whitechapel Road tube station when the body of a woman is discovered. Her body was found in an isolated part of the subterranean area away from the platforms currently being used as air raid shelters. She had been strangled and her body eviscerated.

When Coburg and Lampson examine the scene, they find an old Victorian doctor's case containing surgical tools. Has it been deliberately left to be discovered? Forensic examination dates the case and contents as being from the late nineteenth century. Could this be another of Jack the Ripper's victims? Coburg and Lampson have a very puzzling case to solve .

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

316 pages, Hardcover

Published November 21, 2024

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

[NikyB · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good detective story with elements of history thrown into the fiction tale. Easy to read and entertaining although for me a little basic.

[Sheila Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent I really enjoy this series. Lots of different subplots that are interwoven and will all come together at the end.
Detective Inspector Colberg and Sargent Lampson are a great team and their wider field of family and acquaintances

[MidgeB · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 ⭐️ it was nearly a DNF but continued onto the end . Just ok for me

[Manon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐️

[Emma · Rating 2.5 out of 5]

Naast de paar fouten in spelling of namen, en dat dit het (tot nu toe) laatste boek is in de detective series, en ik de rest niet gelezen heb.., pretty nice book 😌

[Irmina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis:

Set against the backdrop of the London Blitz in April 1941, Murder at Whitechapel Road Station opens with the discovery of a brutally eviscerated woman in the disused Whitechapel Road Underground station, now serving as an air raid shelter. Detectives Coburg and Lampson of Scotland Yard are assigned to investigate the grisly crime, uncovering little more than a mysterious Victorian doctor's bag at the scene. As further murders unsettle the city, the detectives find themselves drawn into an even more extraordinary assignment when they are secretly summoned by King George VI and Winston Churchill to undertake a separate, high-stakes investigation. Are the seemingly unrelated investigations connected? Has a Jack the Ripper copycat emerged to terrorize wartime London? And what secrets await Detectives Coburg and Lampson behind the doors of Buckingham Palace?

My Opinion:
While I appreciated the historical backdrop and enjoyed the appearances of Winston Churchill and King George VI, the novel ultimately left little lasting impression on me. It opens with a compelling premise and a strong sense of atmosphere, but the momentum fades as the story progresses. By the middle of the book, I found my interest beginning to wane.

For a crime novel, this is a significant shortcoming. The best mysteries create an almost irresistible urge to keep turning the pages, making it difficult to put the book down. In this case, I experienced the opposite: rather than struggling to stop reading, I found myself struggling to pick the book back up. Despite its intriguing setting and historical elements, the narrative lacked the sustained tension and pacing needed to keep me fully invested.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love these stories about the upper class DCI Edgar Saxe-Coburg and his down to earth DS Lampson. They're a good team who, with the help of Edgar's older brother, Magnus, and various others of a similar type, manage to solve many of the murders that come their way, along with the peripheral crimes connected to them.
Several prostitutes are murdered at Whitechapel Station and are eviscerated. Also, a local young thug and shoddy journalist suffer a similar fate, but are not eviscerated. Coburg becomes involved when the King and Prime Minister ask him to locate a missing valet, and a 'missing' watch. There are a lot of suspects, some of whom are arrested. Eventually, there is one final murder that gives DCI Coburg the final piece of the jigsaw that solves the crime.

[Nyssy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atmospheric, but a bit disjointed.

There is a lot to like here, especially the vivid historical backdrop. The tension of class divides, the shortage of bomb shelters, and the small escapes offered by the radio create a great atmosphere. The mystery itself has a clever twist, baiting the reader with Jack the Ripper vibes before pulling the rug out.

Unfortunately, the book feels like two separate stories. The detective getting pulled away for another assignment kills the pacing and breaks the flow. This is a subtle read with zero adrenaline. It won’t blow your socks off—it’s more like "pull your socks and leave them halfway on because you don't really care." 😏

[Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first I was a little disappointed when I discovered that the story revolved around the detective having to use his skills to help the King and the fact that Ripper crimes were being repeated as I have read numerous historical fiction books with similar themes. What I did like was Jim Eldridge's style of writing. It was another relaxing read with a serious investigation and one which kept me interested throughout. It has a very abrupt ending.

[Yorky Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was one of the best books so far with the murder interlinked with the Ripper cases. As always Eldridge is so good at setting the scene, telling the tales of life during the war, the lack of bomb shelters, the tensions between the working class and the upper class. I love that Rosa is in the books with so much detail about jazz music and radio that actually has nothing to do with the story but again just sets up the immersion into the period. Excellent read.

[Mr Derek Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another brilliant story.

A really gripping murder mystery is the correct title for this review. Fast paced and full of interesting background detail which explains all what it must of been like in those times. The characters come to life very well and makes for a really read.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant as always. Really well written and researched.

[Juliet Ruston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book with dci coburg and ds lampson.Just love these characters and always feel like I'm in a cosy blanket and a cuppa when reading. Hope they keep coming.

[Sadie Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do enjoy this authors writings and time set. Storyline was great and the characters depict with compassion and so engaging.

[Sally Archer · Rating 4 out of 5]

first book by this author will look for more

[Donald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather far fetched with 7 bodies showing up and with a rather unbelievable culprit tbh

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and worth reading.

[Dogeared · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded down, another good installment in the underground station series of historical mysteries.

[J Grimsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A rollicking good read. Characters and plot highly gripping

[Lyn Mayberry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Readable

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great mystery by aurifil Jim Eldridge. Lots of suspects made for a fun, twisty read. I'm hoping this isn't the last in the series or the last we've seen of DCI Saxe-Coburg and DS Lampson.

[Laura Gallen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[Eddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

Have read all the books in the series, including the hotel series and for me this was the best , a great plot good cast of characters and a couple of twists at the end .

[Carys · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasant read.