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The Railway Detective #13
Signal for Vengeance
Librarian's note: There is an Alternate Cover Edition for this edition of this book here.
1860, Dorset. A married woman finds some escape from her miserable home life in an affair with another man. But the age-old tale has a new spin put upon it when, en route to a tryst, the wife trips over her dead lover on the railway tracks.
Inspector Colbeck is drafted in from London to solve the hideous crime but with no shortage of conflicting alibis and the victim's sordid past complicating matters, the mystery is hard to fathom. With pressure mounting from all sides, and urgent matters closer to home requiring his attention, only the Railway Detective can reveal the truth.
1860, Dorset. A married woman finds some escape from her miserable home life in an affair with another man. But the age-old tale has a new spin put upon it when, en route to a tryst, the wife trips over her dead lover on the railway tracks.
Inspector Colbeck is drafted in from London to solve the hideous crime but with no shortage of conflicting alibis and the victim's sordid past complicating matters, the mystery is hard to fathom. With pressure mounting from all sides, and urgent matters closer to home requiring his attention, only the Railway Detective can reveal the truth.
347 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2016
54 people are currently reading
332 people want to read
About the author
Edward Marston
239 books467 followersLibrarian 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
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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
August 7, 2016
felt this wasn't one of the best in the series though and could of been abit shorter but was an easy going read though
January 5, 2019
I have certainly missed a number of these but it doesn't matter because the characters at the heart of things don't change.
The year is 1860 and on a cold Saturday night a body was left on the railway tracks near Wimborne in Dorset. It was found by a mildly drunk shepherd who pulled it to the side of the tracks then reported it. We know that the dead man had an appointment to meet the crossing guard's wife, with whom he was carrying on an affair because we meet Rebecca the wife at the outset.
Policing in the 1850s and 60s was pretty minimal once you were outside London so Mr. Feltham, a local magnate hoping to be elected mayor of Wimborne telegraphs to Scotland Yard asking for the assistance of Inspector Colbeck, the Railway Detective in the hopes that he can be connected to Colbeck in the public's mind. This will help his campaign.
Meanwhile, in London, Colbeck's wife Madeleine is in the last stage of her first pregnancy. She is very fortunate that her husband has money of his own so he is able afford to have her attended by a nurse and supervised by a doctor. Sergeant Leeming's wife Estelle is a regular visitor as well as two other ladies who have carried on from earlier books. Not knowing them is not a problem. This story line carries on in parallel with the Dorset murder Colbeck is investigating.
A line I particularly liked was Mr. Feltham's remark that these Scotland Yard types have no proper respect for their betters. There was a time when they would have known to come to the servants' entrance and not talk back to people. The idea that police have rights and powers seems to be slow in coming. People with money feel that they can't be questioned let alone suspected of anything. It's very satisfying when they get their comeuppance.
A whole string of suspects is hauled in front of us and it takes a long while to narrow things down. In the meanwhile we have a visitation by the Superintendent, Colbeck darts back & forth to Dorchester, all the while wondering how Madeleine is doing. Leeming even gets to do some investigating on his own.
The year is 1860 and on a cold Saturday night a body was left on the railway tracks near Wimborne in Dorset. It was found by a mildly drunk shepherd who pulled it to the side of the tracks then reported it. We know that the dead man had an appointment to meet the crossing guard's wife, with whom he was carrying on an affair because we meet Rebecca the wife at the outset.
Policing in the 1850s and 60s was pretty minimal once you were outside London so Mr. Feltham, a local magnate hoping to be elected mayor of Wimborne telegraphs to Scotland Yard asking for the assistance of Inspector Colbeck, the Railway Detective in the hopes that he can be connected to Colbeck in the public's mind. This will help his campaign.
Meanwhile, in London, Colbeck's wife Madeleine is in the last stage of her first pregnancy. She is very fortunate that her husband has money of his own so he is able afford to have her attended by a nurse and supervised by a doctor. Sergeant Leeming's wife Estelle is a regular visitor as well as two other ladies who have carried on from earlier books. Not knowing them is not a problem. This story line carries on in parallel with the Dorset murder Colbeck is investigating.
A line I particularly liked was Mr. Feltham's remark that these Scotland Yard types have no proper respect for their betters. There was a time when they would have known to come to the servants' entrance and not talk back to people. The idea that police have rights and powers seems to be slow in coming. People with money feel that they can't be questioned let alone suspected of anything. It's very satisfying when they get their comeuppance.
A whole string of suspects is hauled in front of us and it takes a long while to narrow things down. In the meanwhile we have a visitation by the Superintendent, Colbeck darts back & forth to Dorchester, all the while wondering how Madeleine is doing. Leeming even gets to do some investigating on his own.
February 3, 2019
'Signal for Vengeance' is another in the Railway Detective series featuring the sartorial Inspector Robert Colbeck and his trusty sidekick the less than sartorial, some say scruffy, Sergeant Victor Leeming.
The action in this one is set in Dorset in 1860 although Superintendent Tallis, who is always interfering in Colbeck's investigations, initially assigns the case to a colleague of Colbeck's, Inspector Vallence. Colbeck complains of the decision but Tallis, contrary to his usual feelings of domestic bliss, tells him that he is doing it for Colbeck's own good as his wife, Madeleine, is expecting their first child and he feels that he should be at home to support her.
However, Colbeck eventually wins the day and off he and Leeming go to investigate a mysterious death aside the railway line at West Moors in the Wimborne/Dorchester area of the county. As is usual in Colbeck's cases the suspects are multifarious, many appear to have a motive for killing the dead man and the local railway police are less than helpful as they resent the fact that Scotland Yard has been called in to find the killer. And all the other residents of the area are pointing the finger at different people.
This all causes our intrepid duo many problems and they traipse all over the county to try and find a lead that will take them to the culprit. Various of the suspects are elevated to the number one suspect spot and when Tallis unexpectedly arrives in Dorset it seems as though they have their man. But as well as wishing to interfere with the investigation, Tallis is there on sympathetic grounds for he orders Colbeck home for a night to see how his wife is faring. Colbeck is torn between his professional duty and his personal life but eventually takes the opportunity of spending a night with Madeleine, who is delighted to see him as she is about to reach the climax of her confinement.
When Colbeck returns Tallis is almost certain of the culprit but Colbeck is not so sure. The disagreement between them is not allowed to fester, however, for, thankfully to Colbeck and Leeming, Tallis is called back to London. They carry on their investigation without him and in an unexpected turn of events, when it looks as though they have the murderer, they identify a different culprit and make the necessary arrest.
When Colbeck returns home Madeleine, who has her father there to support her, has given birth to a beautiful daughter and everyone, including father Caleb Andrews, who desperately wanted a grandson, is happy!
The action in this one is set in Dorset in 1860 although Superintendent Tallis, who is always interfering in Colbeck's investigations, initially assigns the case to a colleague of Colbeck's, Inspector Vallence. Colbeck complains of the decision but Tallis, contrary to his usual feelings of domestic bliss, tells him that he is doing it for Colbeck's own good as his wife, Madeleine, is expecting their first child and he feels that he should be at home to support her.
However, Colbeck eventually wins the day and off he and Leeming go to investigate a mysterious death aside the railway line at West Moors in the Wimborne/Dorchester area of the county. As is usual in Colbeck's cases the suspects are multifarious, many appear to have a motive for killing the dead man and the local railway police are less than helpful as they resent the fact that Scotland Yard has been called in to find the killer. And all the other residents of the area are pointing the finger at different people.
This all causes our intrepid duo many problems and they traipse all over the county to try and find a lead that will take them to the culprit. Various of the suspects are elevated to the number one suspect spot and when Tallis unexpectedly arrives in Dorset it seems as though they have their man. But as well as wishing to interfere with the investigation, Tallis is there on sympathetic grounds for he orders Colbeck home for a night to see how his wife is faring. Colbeck is torn between his professional duty and his personal life but eventually takes the opportunity of spending a night with Madeleine, who is delighted to see him as she is about to reach the climax of her confinement.
When Colbeck returns Tallis is almost certain of the culprit but Colbeck is not so sure. The disagreement between them is not allowed to fester, however, for, thankfully to Colbeck and Leeming, Tallis is called back to London. They carry on their investigation without him and in an unexpected turn of events, when it looks as though they have the murderer, they identify a different culprit and make the necessary arrest.
When Colbeck returns home Madeleine, who has her father there to support her, has given birth to a beautiful daughter and everyone, including father Caleb Andrews, who desperately wanted a grandson, is happy!
March 9, 2025
4.5
Una gran historia muy bien ambientada. Final precipitado.
Una gran historia muy bien ambientada. Final precipitado.
August 24, 2025
El libro ha terminado de una forma un poco inesperada, pero las tramas considero que están muy bien cerradas.
Lo único que no me ha gustado tanto es lo extensos que han sido los capítulos.
Lo único que no me ha gustado tanto es lo extensos que han sido los capítulos.
September 8, 2019
This book started off really well and even progressed well and I was enjoying it. Then the end was so disappointing. It just left you wanting, and kind of didn't really make sense with the rest of the story.
Still enjoying the series but this one was that just didn't live up to the rest! 3.25 Stars!
Still enjoying the series but this one was that just didn't live up to the rest! 3.25 Stars!
April 23, 2023
When a man is found murdered and lain across the tracks, the Railway Detective is on the case. I really love this Victorian Mystery series & Highly Recommend It!
September 23, 2018
Unfortunately this was one of those books where having eliminated all possible suspects the only person left in the book must be the guilty party.
As Colbert rushes back to London, Leeming has to make the arrest and luckily gets a confession.
I'm not a fan of whodunnits where there is no way the reader can work out the murderer and unfortunately this was one of those books.
As Colbert rushes back to London, Leeming has to make the arrest and luckily gets a confession.
I'm not a fan of whodunnits where there is no way the reader can work out the murderer and unfortunately this was one of those books.
October 2, 2017
It's a sad commentary on someone's life when at their death and you are asked if you've enough to pay for the funeral, you reply - ‘Oh, no,’ replied Wills, ‘I’m a careful man. I’ve always got something put aside. No, my fear is that …’ he grimaced ‘… that nobody will turn up.’ Evidently this murder victim was wholly disliked by all who encountered him. But the intrepid Colbeck & long-suffering Lemming flesh out the clues and solve the case with aplomb. Wow! Did NOT see THAT person as the murderer!
August 14, 2022
Another great story involving the Railway Detective usual twists and turns, now for book 14.
March 8, 2017
I've been on the hunt for a good mystery novel and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. (I normally prefer current time frames, not the 1800's, but I picked this book up on a whim) It was a great read - the pacing was on point, I liked the characterization. After I finished I went to the library and checked out a few more and also ordered the first book in the series.
Read
July 25, 2016In this the 13th Railway Detective outing we are of to Dorset, we really do get around with Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming last time it was Darby , as they unravel the murder of railway policeman John Bedloe. Edward Marston as always has provided us with plenty of period detail ,as they head of on LSWR and we learn about the Castleman Corkscrew. The plot is thick with suspects , clues and solutions as once again the Railway Detective is on the fast track to solve another intriguing mystery.
July 27, 2016
Another simple mystery but fun to read.I have loved the series since the beginning and watched the characters evolve.I do like how the wife of the Sargeant is developing, often these women are left in the background.
The historic detail is good so much so I posted in Facebook about the novel when a (modern) picture of a crossing site at Wimborne was shown.
The historic detail is good so much so I posted in Facebook about the novel when a (modern) picture of a crossing site at Wimborne was shown.
February 3, 2018
a fair entry in this series. although a good percentage of the story was centered around Colbeck's wife and the imminent arrival of their first child.
the murder itself was only vaguely linked to the railway system and companies and i do wonder if future novels will continue to diverge even further from the series title of 'Railway Detective'.
the murder itself was only vaguely linked to the railway system and companies and i do wonder if future novels will continue to diverge even further from the series title of 'Railway Detective'.
May 29, 2025
🔍🚂 RESEÑA | “Señal de venganza” de Edward Marston
📍Editorial Alma
📖 Serie: El detective del ferrocarril
🕵️♂️💥 Ambientado en plena era victoriana, este thriller ferroviario nos lleva a 1860, una noche helada en la campiña de Dorset. Allí, en mitad de las vías, aparece el cuerpo de un hombre: John Beth Lowe, agente de policía ferroviaria… y amante de Rebecca Tullithet, quien planeaba escapar de su matrimonio esa misma noche. Pero nada sale como esperaba. 😱
Aquí entra en juego Robert Colbeck, el infalible detective de Scotland Yard, decidido a desenredar un caso lleno de pasiones ocultas, mentiras, traiciones y secretos enterrados. Y, como siempre, acompañado por su inseparable compañero Leeming 🧠🗂️, deberán enfrentarse a un pueblo que desconfía de la ley y a una galería de sospechosos que parece no tener fin.
💥 La novela mezcla a la perfección el misterio clásico con la crítica social: desde la arrogancia de los poderosos hasta los rezagos de una sociedad donde la justicia no siempre está al alcance de todos. La ambientación histórica está cuidada con mimo, y los detalles sobre la vida ferroviaria del siglo XIX son fascinantes 🚆🕰️.
👀 Mientras Colbeck se mueve entre pistas y mentiras, también debe enfrentarse a una situación muy personal: su esposa Madeleine está a punto de dar a luz en Londres, y la tensión entre el deber y el amor familiar añade una capa emocional preciosa a la trama. 💔👶
💬 Frases como “los tipos de Scotland Yard no tienen respeto por sus superiores” o las reflexiones sobre las clases sociales aportan profundidad y autenticidad. Además, el ritmo es constante: sospechosos que cambian, investigaciones que se tuercen, y un final que no decepciona. 🎯
✨ Lo mejor:
• El equilibrio entre acción, emoción e historia.
• El dúo Colbeck-Leeming es de lo más entrañable.
• Madeleine y su historia paralela suman una dimensión íntima muy valiosa.
• Y por supuesto, ¡ese giro final inesperado! 🔄
📚 Si te gustan las novelas de misterio con sabor clásico, personajes entrañables y un contexto histórico muy bien trabajado, “Señal de venganza” es una apuesta segura. ¡Los amantes del crimen victoriano y las locomotoras misteriosas no se lo pueden perder! 😍🚂🕵️♀️
📍Editorial Alma
📖 Serie: El detective del ferrocarril
🕵️♂️💥 Ambientado en plena era victoriana, este thriller ferroviario nos lleva a 1860, una noche helada en la campiña de Dorset. Allí, en mitad de las vías, aparece el cuerpo de un hombre: John Beth Lowe, agente de policía ferroviaria… y amante de Rebecca Tullithet, quien planeaba escapar de su matrimonio esa misma noche. Pero nada sale como esperaba. 😱
Aquí entra en juego Robert Colbeck, el infalible detective de Scotland Yard, decidido a desenredar un caso lleno de pasiones ocultas, mentiras, traiciones y secretos enterrados. Y, como siempre, acompañado por su inseparable compañero Leeming 🧠🗂️, deberán enfrentarse a un pueblo que desconfía de la ley y a una galería de sospechosos que parece no tener fin.
💥 La novela mezcla a la perfección el misterio clásico con la crítica social: desde la arrogancia de los poderosos hasta los rezagos de una sociedad donde la justicia no siempre está al alcance de todos. La ambientación histórica está cuidada con mimo, y los detalles sobre la vida ferroviaria del siglo XIX son fascinantes 🚆🕰️.
👀 Mientras Colbeck se mueve entre pistas y mentiras, también debe enfrentarse a una situación muy personal: su esposa Madeleine está a punto de dar a luz en Londres, y la tensión entre el deber y el amor familiar añade una capa emocional preciosa a la trama. 💔👶
💬 Frases como “los tipos de Scotland Yard no tienen respeto por sus superiores” o las reflexiones sobre las clases sociales aportan profundidad y autenticidad. Además, el ritmo es constante: sospechosos que cambian, investigaciones que se tuercen, y un final que no decepciona. 🎯
✨ Lo mejor:
• El equilibrio entre acción, emoción e historia.
• El dúo Colbeck-Leeming es de lo más entrañable.
• Madeleine y su historia paralela suman una dimensión íntima muy valiosa.
• Y por supuesto, ¡ese giro final inesperado! 🔄
📚 Si te gustan las novelas de misterio con sabor clásico, personajes entrañables y un contexto histórico muy bien trabajado, “Señal de venganza” es una apuesta segura. ¡Los amantes del crimen victoriano y las locomotoras misteriosas no se lo pueden perder! 😍🚂🕵️♀️
March 30, 2021
Inspector Robert Colbeck and his sergeant, Victor Leeming, are sent from Scotland Yard to rural Dorset at the request of the mayor to be. They're charged with solving the murder of a local railway policeman, who had been found near a level crossing.
The dead man had been a local philanderer, usually with married women. The two detectives interview many people in the area and are met with a wall of silence. Nobody saw or heard anything and believe whatever they're told.
Colbeck and Leeming have several suspects, who are exonerated one by one. It's only after a second tragedy that Colbeck realises that he should have known earlier in the investigation who the murderer is. Leaving Leeming to arrest the killer, Colbeck travels back to London to be with his wife Madeline as she gives birth to their first child.
The dead man had been a local philanderer, usually with married women. The two detectives interview many people in the area and are met with a wall of silence. Nobody saw or heard anything and believe whatever they're told.
Colbeck and Leeming have several suspects, who are exonerated one by one. It's only after a second tragedy that Colbeck realises that he should have known earlier in the investigation who the murderer is. Leaving Leeming to arrest the killer, Colbeck travels back to London to be with his wife Madeline as she gives birth to their first child.
January 29, 2023
First published in 2016, 'Signal for Vengeance' is the 13th in the popular 'Railway Detective' series of crime novels set in mid-19th century Britain and featuring Inspector Robert Colbeck of Scotland Yard. In this instalment, he is sent to Wimborne in Dorset to investigate the grisly murder of a member of the Railway Police. The characterisations in this instalment are amongst some of the best yet, with some welcome further development of the characters of Superintendent Tallis and Sergeant Leeming. Tallis is often two-dimensional whilst Leeming usually does nothing but gripe, but in this case they contribute more fully to the story, a welcome change that hopefully continues. The flimsy plot is made more interesting through some great period detail of Dorset, and the interaction between different characters is terrific. Very enjoyable.
June 12, 2018
The Railway Detective books are always compelling. I like the short, punchy sentences of Edward Marston - the tale rattles along. This time, the urgency of solving the murder was set against the tension of the impending birth of the inspector's first child and a subplot involving women's friendships which is a little distracting if you haven't read all the books, but it's only a small part of this novel. I suppose it chimes in well with the theme of women's affairs which seem to be the reason for the murder. There are many false starts and dead ends and the local bigwig provides comic relief as he interferes with the investigation. I found the ending quite unsettling. As usual I will want to re-read the book to see all the clues, which were well-hidden.
April 24, 2018
Robert Colbeck leaves his pregnant wife to track down the killer of a railway detective. It seems the victim had acquired enough enemies to make a really long list of possible murderers. As he and Sgt. Leeming work through the suspects and eliminate one after another, Colbeck's wife enjoys getting to know a new friend, Lydia, and develops complications when she goes into labor. Estelle Leeming has been keeping an eye on Madeleine Colbeck and sends Madeleine's father out to notify Robert to come home immediately. No cell phones handy to make it easy to communicate. Sgt. Leeming gets the praise for nabbing the murderer. An interesting puzzle and a good cozy mystery.
April 23, 2021
Give me a Victorian historical murder-mystery novel and throw in a few steam trains and I’m hooked. I’ve read every book in the series up to this one and although the format is basically the same, I can’t help but be thoroughly entertained by the good simple, easy writing style of this author.
It’s not hard-boiled, there’s no swearing, no gratuitous violence. It’s a perfect antidote to the harder edged crime thrillers that I also enjoy. Thankfully there’s still a few more books left to read in the series.
It’s not hard-boiled, there’s no swearing, no gratuitous violence. It’s a perfect antidote to the harder edged crime thrillers that I also enjoy. Thankfully there’s still a few more books left to read in the series.
August 31, 2022
1860, Wimborne, Dorset. Rebecca Tullidge, miserably married to her callous husband, is having an affair with a railway officer, who she finds dead on the railway tracks. Determined to win votes for the upcoming election of mayor, Mr Feltham calls for Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Lemming to solve the hideous crime, which takes longer than anticipated. With a pregnant wife at home, Colbeck must work at speed if he is to return in time to be there when he becomes a father.
January 5, 2025
It's nice to know that you are going to enjoy a book even before you start reading it. All of the Railway Detective books that I have previously read were good and there should be no reason why this one would be any different. I wasn't disappointed. A womaniser had been murdered and Inspector Colbeck was called in to solve the case. I had no idea who the guilty person was until it was revealed and with an unexpected motive it was a pleasant read.
May 13, 2018
This is a good historical series, although I found the plot of this book to be a little labourered in parts. The plot didn't run very smoothly, as if the author was having to pad it out somewhat. But overall an entertaining read and while it didn't really keep me guessing, I was interested to see how it all unravelled.
September 7, 2018
I've read most of the Railway Detective series and enjoyed them all. This one, in common with the previous 12, is a simple mystery, well written with a nice peppering of historical facts, largely centred around life on Victorian railways. The development of the central characters through the series is a joy, although Colbeck himself seems unaltered by both his fame and marriage.
June 30, 2021
3.5 stars.
Perhaps not one of my favourites in this series but still a solid read. A most confusing list of suspects for Colbeck and Leeming to work their way through. Fascinating to consider how extremely different life was 160 years ago - always a useful reminder.
It's good to see the Colbeck family extended and Supt Tallis has certainly mellowed.
Perhaps not one of my favourites in this series but still a solid read. A most confusing list of suspects for Colbeck and Leeming to work their way through. Fascinating to consider how extremely different life was 160 years ago - always a useful reminder.
It's good to see the Colbeck family extended and Supt Tallis has certainly mellowed.
January 18, 2018
First venture into this 'cosy crime' series and first book by this author. Thought it was a really good read. I enjoyed the characters the story and the way it all tied up in the end. Will go back to start the series off. Would recommend
May 2, 2018
I love this series. It has enough history to give a clear insight on what like would have been like & what was changing in the era but still includes a clever mystery & romance. This is a great book & I could not wait to get to the end & have all ready started the next one 😀
July 11, 2020
I love the setting and the period, and the characterisations are excellent. There are a number of different strands to the story to keep you interested, and also a number of different possible murderers. I guessed who it was but I wonder if you will early on?
November 30, 2020
Another enjoyable visit to the world of Inspector Colbeck despite finding myself going ewww so many times. Although I enjoy tales from this era, I'm still very glad not to be living in such times even though we are suffering a pandemic.
May 17, 2021
Inspector Colbeck solves another crime, this time in darkest Dorset. 370 pages chasing three suspects up and down the county, yet the perpetrator only comes to light in the final few pages! Again!! I really hate that...
Anyhoo - everyone lives happily ever after.
Anyhoo - everyone lives happily ever after.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews