Under Attack

Home Front Detective #7

by Edward Marston

June, 1917. While another daylight air raid batters London, the body of respected businessman and devoted family man Gilbert Donohoe is fished from the Thames, the victim of strangulation. Inspector Marmion struggles with the case alongside his anxieties for his now-missing son, Paul, but the pressure increases when the Metropolitan Police are the target of a series of vicious press attacks. As Marmion is pilloried in the press, he uncovers a seedy path through London which will lead him towards the killer.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Crime, Historical Mystery, British Literature, Historical, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published October 19, 2017

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

A pseudonym used by Keith Miles
AKA A.E. Marston

Keith Miles (born 1940) is an English author, who writes under his own name and also historical fiction and mystery novels under the pseudonym Edward Marston. He is known for his mysteries set in the world of Elizabethan theatre. He has also written a series of novels based on events in the Domesday Book, a series of The Railway Detective and a series of The Home Front Detective.


Series contributed to:
. Malice Domestic
. Crime Through Time
. Perfectly Criminal

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

felt this one was one of the weakest in the series so far with a rushed ending

[Gerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward Marston has produced another exciting adventure in the Home Front Detective series that admirably captures the simmering intensity of life during World War I, when despite the fighting going on, crimes were still being committed in the capital.

Enter Detective Inspector Harvey Marmion and his trusty Sergeant Joe Keedy. They are required in this instance because while German bombers are dropping their load on London, a body is fished out of the River Thames. The identity of the victim is unknown so the detectives' first task is to identify him. This leads the duo to friends, family and business acquaintances and unravels a tangled web of private and business activities that prove more difficult to sort out than Marmion imagines.

And while this investigation is ongoing, with the detectives spending their time between London and Birmingham, vicious gang warfare breaks out in the East End of London and this also needs police activity with another officer, Clifford Burge, being recommended by Marmion to take on the job. And to complicate matters another unidentified body is discovered in the Thames, which throws an additional burden on the prime investigation.

In addition Marmion has personal problems as his son is still missing and he has to try to support his wife, Ellen, and daughter, Alice, as they investigate the boy's disappearance following his injury during fighting on the Somme. And Marmion's daughter is having trouble with her romance with Joe Keedy and that increases the tension that is building in the Marmion household, which is not helped by another sub-plot in that Alice, a policewoman, is partnered by a policewoman who is involved in an awkward relationship and continually wants to discuss it with her while they are on the beat.

But Marmion juggles and manages all the pieces successfully so that his boss, Superintendent Chatfield, is able to congratulate him on another job well done.

[Chad · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book so far of this series. What an ending! I won’t give it away but I’ll just say the final chapter has a lot of surprises to the many plots going on in this installment of The Homefront Detective Series. Highly recommended but it’s best to start with the first installment “A Bespoke Murder” and read the books in order so you’ll have a better understanding of the characters involved.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read! I usually get pretty close to guessing who done it but I really didnt see this one comming. The best of the series so far.

[Michael Rumney · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a number of Marston's The Railway Detective novels and this is in a similar vein, although set about 50 years after the Railway Detective. The characters are very similar in each series. It's as if Marston has regurgitated them.
Set in 1917 although the great war gets mentioned there isn't enough evidence of it within the narrative. There are several strands and sub plots to this involving street gangs, a missing person, romance and a couple of murders. Although the murder story is interesting enough everything else felt like padding and the ending was too rushed.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rattles along nicely, like all Marston's books I've read. Slow reveal of an obviously suspicious situation, with some side stories which continue throughout this series (so you ought to read in order, really). No time wasting with long descriptions; lots of conversation, some amusing.

Poor Iris.

[Robert Hepple · Rating 4 out of 5]

First published in 2017, 'Under Attack' is 7th in the 'Home Front' series of mysteries set mainly in London during WW1. The plot involves the murder of a visiting Birmingham businessman and some East End juvenile street gangs along with an assortment of bizarre plot twists. As usual, the Marston trademark rich characterisations drive this story, making the tale pass quite swiftly and enjoyably.

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marston never disappoints. Under Attack a winner.

Street gangs terrorizing a neighborhood, dead body found floating in the river with his tongue missing, inspector’s son missing; these are the story lines of this novel set during the First World War in London. Highly recommended.

[Pete Harmes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Often when writing a review, I wish it were possible to add a half-star. This is just such an occasion. Really enjoyed the story although my suspicions regarding the outcome were correct. As stories should, it gained momentum and ended with great excitement.

[Catherine Pinkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best so far in the series. The plot was very complex and interesting
I didn't guess the killer. The main characters and their private lives are developing further. Excited for the next in the series.

[Iris Pusemuckel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Edward Marston knows how to write. This is a fact. And I like very much the setting of every novel I have read of him. I read all the Railway Detective Series.

Nevertheless, I am very annoyed about the missing sex life of the main characters. (Well, maybe they have a sex, maybe not.) The wife of Detective Marmion is some sort of motherly middle-aged creature, who is apparently a neutre.

Why would a man like Marmion want such a wife? He is described as a wordly, smart, intelligent, broad-minded man. Sex is all over the place when it concerns the characters in the crime story and outside the family.

And now, in this book, a former Lady's man (and the collegue of the Detective) is betrothed to Alice for 2 years and they never get intimate!

I want to fill you in in a secret: No man waits 2 years or longer for sex. Not in 1917 and not in 2021. It's against our animal instincts.

Please, Mr. Marston, stopp the bullsh... Give Alice a damned sex life and give Marmion a woman who has not only peas in her brain and motherly feelings for her children.

[Steven Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

June, 1917. While German Gotha bombers raid London from above, a man's body is fished from the Thames below. The man had been garrotted and his tongue cut out before he was left to his watery grave, and as the killer has taken care to remove identifying items and even labels, Detective Inspector Marmion and Sergeant Keedy struggle to name the victim before they can begin properly with their investigation.
As family and business associates are found, the list of suspects grows ever longer, and as Marmion wrangles with the case, he and his family must also contend with their anxieties for his now-missing son Paul. The interminable presence of war and, closer to home, pitched battles in the East End between rival adolescent gangs, suggest the Home Front is more insecure than ever before. With great care, Marmion must pick his way along a twisting path that will lead him towards the killer.

[Barbara (Bobby) Title · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book in my library's "New Book" section. I'd not heard of Marston's works before, but liking mysteries set in England, I thought I'd give it a try.

While I liked this book, I am not enamored with it; perhaps after reading a few more by Marston and getting more familiar with the jumping around that he does as he furthers his many plots along, I'll feel differently. I like to have a dependable series in my pocket to pull out when I am tired of hunting for those books that provide me with wonderful surprises. The latter often take many starts and stops before I can settle in for what I call a delicious read. Those gaps are when I like to pull out one of the old faithful authors; I'm hoping to put Marston close at hand.

[Paul Robinson]

Under Attack is the 1st Edward Marston Book I have read but it definitely won't be the last, It is from his Home Front Series Featuring Inspector Marmion and Sargant Keedy, I loved the Book.

He is very Readable, It took me a while to get used to his style, it seemed to me he wrote the start of each Chapter (Except the 1st) and deleted the first Sentence so it wasn't always apparent with whom he was focussing about but perhaps that is just me. I am not totally sure how he came to the conclusion but again perhaps that is just me too anyway it made for a cracking read and I will search for more of Edward Marston's Home Front series and would recommend this book to anyone.

[Neil Spark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great escapist who-done-it, part of Edward Marston’s Homefront detective series. Set during World War one, A music-loving businessman, who has a strained relationship with his son, has been murdered. Many of his circle are plausible suspects.

When the corpse of a naked woman is found in the Thames, the ante is upped.

Other tension wrenches are inspector Marmion’s family. His son has returned from the western front a changed man. After being at home for a short time, he flees.

Marston skilfully brings together the various strands of this novel in a surprise ending. Great historical murder-mystery writing.

[Jayal · Rating 3 out of 5]

A detective novel set in early 20th century London, it's definitely inside a crowded market, and doesn't do much to stand out in it either. The writing lacks appeal, and the storytelling is haphazard, with jumping across too many scenarios too fast. The characters rarely have depth, and the plot is average at best.
I will not be in a hurry to look for Edward Marston next time I'm in a book store 🤔

[Daniel Byrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5

For the most part, the book was well written and entertaining; however, it had many deep flaws. One was that it jumped back and forth between 3 or 4 different stories at a time (2 of which had nothing to do with the main plot). Another issue was that the killer and motive was revealed in the last 20 pages or so and were so off the storyline that it comes off as rushed and barely connected to the story whatsoever. It had a lot of potential, but the book fell extremely flat by the end.

[Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am 'late comer' to EM's books {and there are PLENTY] but over the past few weeks have rad a few with more on order from my libraries.
# 7 in the Home Front series and yet an another atmospheric read that transports the reader to the seedy side of England during the last years of WW1.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable and easy reading detective series that I have started half way though, although you can pick these up midway without too much problems and they serve well as a stand alone story. A few interweaving stories here and a twist in the end that I really didn't see coming.

[Steve Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marston always does an excellent job with period accurate settings, and a great mystery to get lost in. this ending was unexpected, i thought i'd figured it out, but nope, another layer and events proved me wrong again.
Great story.

[Annette O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

love the story lines in these books

[Gill · Rating 2 out of 5]

London during WW1. A body fished out of the Thames. A distracted detective.

[Caitlin · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF.

[Lilac · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not finish

[Dawn Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshingly entertaining book, thoroughly enjoyed it

[Stephen Badger George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this a bit of a struggle. I suspect more down to me than the writer.

[simon nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edward Marston Does It Again

A cracking read, filled with suspense all the way through. A who done it at it's best, I'm looking forward to Book 8

[ANDREW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

[Paul Dymond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. I did see the killer coming, but didn't see the why until the end. Hopefully Paul's subplot gets resolved one way or another.

[Jill Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent