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London Underground Station Mysteries #1
Murder at Aldwych Station
December 1940. With the Luftwaffe pounding the city nightly, Londoners seek refuge in underground stations. Aldwych has been taken out of service to provide shelter for the British Museum's priceless Elgin Marbles, as well as civilians escaping the bombing. When the body of a young man is discovered on the tracks, wearing evening dress but barefoot, Detective Chief Inspector Coburg and Sergeant Lampson are on the case.
Before long, more bodies are discovered, and Coburg's wife Rosa becomes a target for the
brutal killer. Caught up in a world of underground jazz clubs, abandoned tube stations and looters, Coburg and Lampson must track down the ruthless murderer before it's too late ...
Before long, more bodies are discovered, and Coburg's wife Rosa becomes a target for the
brutal killer. Caught up in a world of underground jazz clubs, abandoned tube stations and looters, Coburg and Lampson must track down the ruthless murderer before it's too late ...
320 pages, Hardcover
Published November 17, 2022
41 people are currently reading
247 people want to read
About the author
Jim Eldridge
160 books152 followersJim 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
February 24, 2024
At first, this book got me irritated because of its stereotypical characters, but gradually the book grew on me! The plot was actually quite interesting and there were also sections about life in London during the 1940’s bombings that I appreciated. Anyway, not more than 3/5 but still an okay read.
September 24, 2022
“Murder At Aldwych Station” by Jim Eldridge features the same detective duo from his “Hotel Mysteries” series set in 1940’s London, DCI Coburg and Sergeant Lampson, with the action mostly taking place in the dark confines of the London Underground.
This is another very enjoyable and twisty whodunnit with lots of authentic period detail about the day-to-day life of Londoners during the Second World War, and is rich in atmosphere.
The main characters are multi-faceted protagonists and there is an interesting cast of secondary characters. It is a pleasant read, not exactly cosy crime as there is a plethora of social comment, and is another good novel from Jim Eldridge.
This is another very enjoyable and twisty whodunnit with lots of authentic period detail about the day-to-day life of Londoners during the Second World War, and is rich in atmosphere.
The main characters are multi-faceted protagonists and there is an interesting cast of secondary characters. It is a pleasant read, not exactly cosy crime as there is a plethora of social comment, and is another good novel from Jim Eldridge.
October 31, 2025
Really enjoyable, simple cozy mystery, and really liked the characters. Will definitely look out for more in the series.
December 5, 2022
Jim Eldridge’s Murder at Aldwych Station is the latest book about DCI Coburg. Eldridge has written several books about Coburg, all based around murders at famous London hotels (the Ritz, Savoy and Claridge’s) and this is the first of a series based around Underground Stations. It starts with figures emerging from a side tunnel onto the Underground line between Aldwych and Holborn and laying a body on the line. There are also a bunch of thieving volunteer firemen. I liked the way that a Mrs Mallowan from the University College Hospital confirmed that the murder victim had died of strychnine poisoning. If you haven’t heard of the real-life Mrs Mallowan, wife of the famous archaeologist, Max Mallowan, you may know her better by her professional name: Agatha Christie. Someone from Coburg’s past appears, much to his dismay.
There are multiple murders in this book. Although I really enjoy Eldridge’s Coburg books and the series about the Victorian Museum detectives – his plots are gripping and his characterisation is good – I did think there was almost an element of the guilty party being the only one left alive by the end of the book. It didn’t quite reach that stage, but it was getting close!
When I read Eldridge’s DCI Coburg books, I do get a strong sense of how it felt to be in London during the Blitz. The strong sub-plots (will Sergeant Lampson ask his son’s teacher out on date? What exactly is Coburg’s elder brother, the Earl of Dawlish, doing, working for the Government?) provide realistic colour and depth to the novels. Eldridge is also very good indeed at weaving together a number of plot lines to give a satisfying ending. I really do look forward to a new book from Jim Eldridge and this one didn’t disappoint me.
#MurderatAldwychStation #NetGalley
There are multiple murders in this book. Although I really enjoy Eldridge’s Coburg books and the series about the Victorian Museum detectives – his plots are gripping and his characterisation is good – I did think there was almost an element of the guilty party being the only one left alive by the end of the book. It didn’t quite reach that stage, but it was getting close!
When I read Eldridge’s DCI Coburg books, I do get a strong sense of how it felt to be in London during the Blitz. The strong sub-plots (will Sergeant Lampson ask his son’s teacher out on date? What exactly is Coburg’s elder brother, the Earl of Dawlish, doing, working for the Government?) provide realistic colour and depth to the novels. Eldridge is also very good indeed at weaving together a number of plot lines to give a satisfying ending. I really do look forward to a new book from Jim Eldridge and this one didn’t disappoint me.
#MurderatAldwychStation #NetGalley
January 14, 2023
The Hotel series has become The Underground Station series it seems. There's some nonsense in the acknowledgements about running out of luxury hotels, but I can think of at least three instantly, and indeed, The Dorchester features briefly in this one... the supposed twist at the end was painfully obvious - it was the first thing I thought of - so it felt rather stupid that intelligent, experienced coppers who knew the area wouldn't have considered it. So a star comes off.
December 17, 2025
During the London blitz of 1940, a dead body is found on the railway lines at an abandoned Underground Station. DCI Coburg and Sergeant Lampson are assigned to find the murderer. As the case progresses, more bodies keep appearing.
This is a fast paced and well plotted murder mystery that kept me gripped until the last page.
It is very much a plot driven book. Description and characterisation are mostly absent.
Despite being set in the London of 1940, there is little description of London itself. No burning buildings crumbling and crashing into the streets below. No civilians lying dead beneath rubble. No searchlights crisscrossing the sky hunting for German bombers. Even the London Underground, a big feature of this book, gets only the briefest of descriptions. No rats scurrying through tunnels. No sense of dilapidation and abandonment.
The central character is DCI Coburg who is an Etonian toff working in an organisation of mainly working class men. Does the class divide cause friction, misunderstanding, or even resentment? How do they view one another? We are not told.
Despite these criticisms, this book is a well plotted story that is vividly written and I shall certainly be checking out Jim Eldridge’s other books. However, a bit more description to create a sense of place and atmosphere and a bit more characterisation to create tension and depth would have been nice.
This is a fast paced and well plotted murder mystery that kept me gripped until the last page.
It is very much a plot driven book. Description and characterisation are mostly absent.
Despite being set in the London of 1940, there is little description of London itself. No burning buildings crumbling and crashing into the streets below. No civilians lying dead beneath rubble. No searchlights crisscrossing the sky hunting for German bombers. Even the London Underground, a big feature of this book, gets only the briefest of descriptions. No rats scurrying through tunnels. No sense of dilapidation and abandonment.
The central character is DCI Coburg who is an Etonian toff working in an organisation of mainly working class men. Does the class divide cause friction, misunderstanding, or even resentment? How do they view one another? We are not told.
Despite these criticisms, this book is a well plotted story that is vividly written and I shall certainly be checking out Jim Eldridge’s other books. However, a bit more description to create a sense of place and atmosphere and a bit more characterisation to create tension and depth would have been nice.
November 5, 2022
This is a new series - London Underground Station Mysteries. However, it stars familiar characters, Detective Chief Inspector Edgar Walter Septimus Saxe-Coburg, his wife Rosa, and Sergeant Ted Lampson. It all takes place in early December 1940, when the Blitz on London is a regular item. Aldwych station is out of service, but is heavily used as a bomb shelter on the main platform, and a little further down the tracks the Elgin Marbles are stored. Just beyond the Elgin Marbles, the museum guard finds a dead body. He is a young man in formal evening wear, no shoes, and has grooves on his fingers indicating a guitarist or banjo player.
Rose looks at the picture and immediately identifies the man as jazz guitarist Benny Martin. Coburg and Lampson quickly find he last played at Pat Riley's. They also find out that he was having an affair with Pamela Cuddington, the wife of Lord Colin Cuddington, and former girlfriend of Coburg. We also find out that Emergency Fire Crew 127 has been breaking into safes and stealing money and jewelry from the apartments where they are putting out fires while the owners are in the subways.
Rosa is attacked and sent to the country home of Coburg's brother for safety, and more dead bodies appear. Coburg and Lampson must find the links between the robberies and the killings in order to solve this exciting mystery!
Rose looks at the picture and immediately identifies the man as jazz guitarist Benny Martin. Coburg and Lampson quickly find he last played at Pat Riley's. They also find out that he was having an affair with Pamela Cuddington, the wife of Lord Colin Cuddington, and former girlfriend of Coburg. We also find out that Emergency Fire Crew 127 has been breaking into safes and stealing money and jewelry from the apartments where they are putting out fires while the owners are in the subways.
Rosa is attacked and sent to the country home of Coburg's brother for safety, and more dead bodies appear. Coburg and Lampson must find the links between the robberies and the killings in order to solve this exciting mystery!
March 15, 2024
London, 1940. Crime is soaring, thanks to blackouts, which enable burglars to work at will; rationing, which encourages a growing black market; fewer police, thanks to men being in the army; bombings, which give rise to looting and murders (because when thousands are being killed by bombs, what’s a few more bodies? Plus, miles and miles of unused tunnels under London provide a great place to dump bodies). D.S. Coburg is investigating 6 seemingly related murders, he just has to figure out connections and find proof.
A couple interesting things I picked up about the time period: Britain was keeping Italians and Germans in internment camps just like the US was interring people of Japanese descent. Clubs could legally have tableaux of nudes as long as they didn’t move. If they moved, that was obscenity. The club owners had successfully argued that if the women didn’t move, they were no different than all the nude paintings and statues in museums. Police went around monitoring that nobody moved.
My one objection was a character who fully explained to his intended victim everything he had done, which may be a useful device for authors, but lacks real life behavior for the reader.
A couple interesting things I picked up about the time period: Britain was keeping Italians and Germans in internment camps just like the US was interring people of Japanese descent. Clubs could legally have tableaux of nudes as long as they didn’t move. If they moved, that was obscenity. The club owners had successfully argued that if the women didn’t move, they were no different than all the nude paintings and statues in museums. Police went around monitoring that nobody moved.
My one objection was a character who fully explained to his intended victim everything he had done, which may be a useful device for authors, but lacks real life behavior for the reader.
March 28, 2025
I love the idea of a senior police officer being related to the aristocracy, and using his connections (including his older brother, the Earl of Dawlish) to aid and abet his enquiries.
It's December 1940. DCI Edgar Coburg and his colleague, DS Ted Lampson, are called in to investigate the suspicious death of a body in the tunnels under Aldwych Station. The victim was poisoned, and had been a jazz guitarist. Enter Rosa Weeks, Coburg's wife, who is a jazz singer and pianist. She tells her husband who the dead man was. A team of Fire Service volunteers are capitalising on their unique position by looting bomb damaged homes of rich people. The two investigations are thought to be linked. Coburg and Lampson investigate all leads, despite most of them being dead ends. Eventually, after Rosa is almost kidnapped, the two policemen stop her from being killed. Coburg has a few days' leave, after being injured whilst rescuing his wife.
Jim Eldridge has written a number of books centred around DCI Coburg. All the ones I've read so far I've really enjoyed. Looking forward to the next one.
It's December 1940. DCI Edgar Coburg and his colleague, DS Ted Lampson, are called in to investigate the suspicious death of a body in the tunnels under Aldwych Station. The victim was poisoned, and had been a jazz guitarist. Enter Rosa Weeks, Coburg's wife, who is a jazz singer and pianist. She tells her husband who the dead man was. A team of Fire Service volunteers are capitalising on their unique position by looting bomb damaged homes of rich people. The two investigations are thought to be linked. Coburg and Lampson investigate all leads, despite most of them being dead ends. Eventually, after Rosa is almost kidnapped, the two policemen stop her from being killed. Coburg has a few days' leave, after being injured whilst rescuing his wife.
Jim Eldridge has written a number of books centred around DCI Coburg. All the ones I've read so far I've really enjoyed. Looking forward to the next one.
November 17, 2022
This new series from Jim Eldridge features characters from his Museum detective series and takes them off into a slightly different direction giving them room to breathe and for their characters to develop in different ways. Here we are in bomb-strewn London and you can feel the tension of the people as the War rages on around them, imagine yourself walking down a street over the rubble and sense the relative safety of the Underground stations where efforts were made to make it as cheerful as possible. Highly atmospheric writing. The mystery of the musician who is found dead in Aldwych station provides th emain narrative and in true Eldridge style we follow their detecting around the streets with the blind alleys, moments of clarity and fogs of confusion typical of any detective novel.
An easy read with hopefully with many more to come. Thanks to the publishers for an advance reding copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
An easy read with hopefully with many more to come. Thanks to the publishers for an advance reding copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2023
I enjoyed reading about DCI Coburg and Sergeant Lampson in the Hotel Mysteries series, so I was excited to see a new series featuring them.
I had some trouble following the facts of the case and keeping every character straight in my head, but that didn't take anything away from my enjoyment of this book. It's the sort of mystery novel that doesn't linger and that doesn't keep you up for hours after finishing it. That sounds like a bad thing, but it's really not. These books are perfect for a few hours of escapism from real life, with a guarantee you won't be bringing the characters or the story into real life with you once you return from between the pages.
I like the gimmick the author is going for in his series, with centering the stories around specific locations (museums, hotels, the London underground), and it makes me curious about what location he'll pick next.
(I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
I had some trouble following the facts of the case and keeping every character straight in my head, but that didn't take anything away from my enjoyment of this book. It's the sort of mystery novel that doesn't linger and that doesn't keep you up for hours after finishing it. That sounds like a bad thing, but it's really not. These books are perfect for a few hours of escapism from real life, with a guarantee you won't be bringing the characters or the story into real life with you once you return from between the pages.
I like the gimmick the author is going for in his series, with centering the stories around specific locations (museums, hotels, the London underground), and it makes me curious about what location he'll pick next.
(I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.)
November 18, 2022
Detective Chief Inspector Coburg, his wife Rosa and Sergeant Lampson are well plotted and relatable chacters I liked and I was happy I was able to read a new instalment in this entertaining series.
It's a well plotted historical mystery, full of twists and red herrings. It kept me guessing and I appreciated the solution.
The historical background is well researched and I always learn something new when I read a Jim Eldridge's mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
It's a well plotted historical mystery, full of twists and red herrings. It kept me guessing and I appreciated the solution.
The historical background is well researched and I always learn something new when I read a Jim Eldridge's mystery.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and it's highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
December 2, 2022
As ever a brilliantly enjoyable book from Jim Eldridge. Deviating slightly from the Hotel theme of the previous books in this series we start with a dead body in Aldwych tube station which is currently being used an air raid shelter during WW2.
DI Coburg and his right hand man Lampson are drawn into a case that inadvertently brings those they care about into danger,
As with all of these novels the sense of history is excellent and you get a real picture of how life was.
Great read, thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
DI Coburg and his right hand man Lampson are drawn into a case that inadvertently brings those they care about into danger,
As with all of these novels the sense of history is excellent and you get a real picture of how life was.
Great read, thank you to NetGalley and the author for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 28, 2022
This marks a new series, but using the same core characters from the Hotel series by Aldridge, which I’m happy about, as I love Coburg and Rosa. Overall, this was a good first entry into a new series set in underground London, with an interesting plot and lots of twists and turns. I’m more than happy to read more books in this new series.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.
September 30, 2023
After solving three cases at high-profile London hotels, DCI Coburg now finds himself investigating a murder victim found in an unused underground tunnel, near where the Elgin Marbles are being stored for safety. This convoluted mystery is made both easier and more difficult when Coburg's wife, Rosa, identifies the victim as a young jazz guitar player, since her attempts to help put her in grave danger. Fascinating story set in an equally fascinating time and place. Hard to put down.
November 30, 2024
I bought this as a birthday present for Jim because he chose to tour Aldwych Station on our trip to London this past summer. He liked it and assured me that I would too. He repeated that the author has other series that he'd read, so I have some gift ideas in the bag, a relief since Jim is not easy to shop for.
Eldridge inserts history and facts without being heavy-handed. High body count, though not as high as some Midsomer Murders.
Looking forward to another.
Eldridge inserts history and facts without being heavy-handed. High body count, though not as high as some Midsomer Murders.
Looking forward to another.
November 17, 2024
35. it was a pretty average read but I always like reading about WWII London so I enjoyed it. This was a little different because the rails were shut off and some of the bodies were found on the track. I like the way detectives solved crimes by walking and talking. The crimes were a little different too.
January 7, 2025
The first in the London Underground mystery series and set during the 2nd World War, not only was it a great story, I also learnt a number of things about the period which I was unaware of. As historical police procedural goes, this was one of the better ones. Each one of the 380 pages was a pleasant and interesting read. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
December 29, 2022
Characters from a previous series but that didn't matter. Good story and likeable characters. Occasionally i thought there were phrases before their time - but I've been wrong before. Looking forward to the next one.
March 12, 2023
If you like saxon-coburg /Lampson hotel crime books then you'll like this as the same characters return in this new station series. It was so easy to just get a cuppa and read, I love these characters and still set in 1940s blitz too.
Can't wait for the next books
Can't wait for the next books
December 15, 2023
I really enjoyed this mystery set in 1940's London at the time of the blitz. The author is new to me but I will certainly be reading more. This is several books in to a series featuring Detective Chief inspector Coburg & Co., but there was enough back story to make reading this as a standalone enjoyable.
It is the height of the blitz and a body is found in the tunnels near Aldwych underground station. But this is no natural death and soon Coburg and his colleagues are busy investigating the seedy underworld of 1940's London. More deaths occur and the pace of the story is fast, involving several colourful characters.
i look forward to reading more of DCI Coburgs exploits.
It is the height of the blitz and a body is found in the tunnels near Aldwych underground station. But this is no natural death and soon Coburg and his colleagues are busy investigating the seedy underworld of 1940's London. More deaths occur and the pace of the story is fast, involving several colourful characters.
i look forward to reading more of DCI Coburgs exploits.
June 23, 2024
Well what a contained cosy ending to the eventual six murders, drug trafficking, robberies, assault & battery, kidnap and more in this 1940’s based thriller.
Not so much a thriller as an unbelievable manor of policing back in those days… no forensic evidence or securing the scene and if a little roughing up happened whilst being arrested, well guess that may have been often the norm…
Was pleased to reach the end of this. Btw several type errors which surely would be easily noticed to any editing assistant.
Not so much a thriller as an unbelievable manor of policing back in those days… no forensic evidence or securing the scene and if a little roughing up happened whilst being arrested, well guess that may have been often the norm…
Was pleased to reach the end of this. Btw several type errors which surely would be easily noticed to any editing assistant.
October 7, 2022
A well written and absolutely gripping book full of vivid descriptions and rich imagery making me feel like I was right ther ein the 40's in amongst the action
January 14, 2023
Another great read.
This story just like the previous ones, was once again faced paced, full of authentic background detail. A really great story.
This story just like the previous ones, was once again faced paced, full of authentic background detail. A really great story.
February 3, 2023
I didn't finish it.
It's ok I guess, if you haven't read the classics.
Start from the Detection Club, read all those first.
It's ok I guess, if you haven't read the classics.
Start from the Detection Club, read all those first.
March 8, 2023
Very complicated but terrific as usual.
March 15, 2023
The stations carry on from the hotels, so more Rosa and Edgar!
May 1, 2023
Enjoyed this will move on with series
July 30, 2023
Fast-paced mystery set in London in 1940, when Germany was bombing the UK. The war is only peripheral to the story but adds some background.
August 5, 2023
Another mystery series to add to the mix! Not bad. May read some of the other books these characters are in.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews