The Railway Detective's Christmas Case

The Railway Detective #20

by Edward Marston

December 1864. As a cold winter wind scours the Worcestershire countryside, an excursion train comes through a tunnel in the Malvern Hills to be confronted by a blockage on the line ahead. The driver manages to slow the train down so that the impact is minimised, but the passengers are alarmed. The first person to alight is Cyril Hubbleday, the man in charge of the excursion to the delightful spa town of Great Malvern. He walks to the front of the locomotive and as he is talking to the driver, fireman and guard, Hubbleday is shot dead by a sniper.



Christmas is coming all too soon and Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming are under pressure to solve the case quickly. However, with a number of disputes and enemies in the shadows behind the seasonal excursion and the investigation hampered by heavy snow, the hunt for a cold-blooded killer is far from straightforward.

Genres: Christmas, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Historical, Historical Mystery, Historical Fiction

378 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2022

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

[Julian Worker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Robert Colbeck does it again with the help of Sergeant Victor Leeming.

These books are becoming formulaic and I wonder how many more of these there can be, given there's only so many murder scenarios that can be provided based on Victorian train travel?

This story takes place in The Malverns and in the West Midlands with the contrast between the clean, fresh, prosperous countryside around Great Malvern and the grimy, dirty, polluted towns of Oldbury and Tipton well portrayed.

A man is shot dead when an excursion train is halted by sleepers on the line indicating a degree of collaboration between at least two different people. There are many different suspects but then another body is found and investigations begin in earnest, as it would seem the collaborators have fallen out.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review

this in the latest of the railway detective series is a return to how the series was in the past but maybe the time for the series is coming to the close as events in the latest book. the usual red herrings kept you entertained.

[Carol Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Railway Detective’s Christmas Case is the first I’ve read in the series. It works fine as a stand-alone, but I wonder if I would have enjoyed it more had I been more familiar with the characters. Colbeck’s family is featured often, mostly hoping he gets home in time for Christmas and, for me, those interludes were distractions from the plot, but if I cared more about the characters I might have been more interested.

Colbeck and Leeming are charged with finding the killer of a well-respected man, Cyril Hubblesday. Hubblesday was not a nice man though and there are a fair number of suspects, from employees at the works to his daughter’s former suitor. The clues the pair dig up point in several directions, and it turns out there is more going on than was originally suspected.

I don’t know. The case was interesting and I enjoyed the historical details, but it dragged a bit. There were a lot of characters, several of whom were rather eccentric, but not too many to keep track of. The final solution was not great though. The killer made sense, but the motive was a bit weak.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby for an advance copy of The Railway Detective’s Christmas Case, the twentieth novel to feature Inspector Colbeck of Scotland Yard, set in December 1864.

An excursion train is stopped in the Malvern Hills by a blockage on the line. When works manager and excursion organiser Cyril Hubblesday gets down to investigate he is shot by a sniper. With Christmas coming Colbeck and his partner, Sergeant Leeming know that they have to solve the case to get home for Christmas.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Railway Detective’s Christmas Case, which is an easy read with plenty of suspects and some unexpected violence. I have not read many novels in this series (and don’t have much memory of them) so I was pleased to renew my acquaintance with the famed Railway Detective in such an agreeable way.

The plot is ostensibly straightforward- find the killer of a well respected man, but Cyril Hubblesday was not a pleasant man, so suspects come pouring out of the woodwork, and the murder suggests premeditation, so attention gets focused on the Black Country where he lived and worked. The novel held my interest throughout and called me back when I put it down as Colbeck and Leeming work their way through the various suspects, conjecture and chase down clues. I was, however, disappointed by the conclusion which either leaves a thread dangling or has the flimsiest motive I have seen in a long time. Still, the journey to get there was great.

I’m divided on the historical detail. The physical side and some of the attitudes seem authentic, but the dialogue seems more modern than in keeping with the times. I, personally, have no issue with this as it makes the novel more inviting and easier to read, especially Leeming’s occasional dumb insolence which made me laugh.

The Railway Detective’s Christmas Case is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Karin Carlson · Rating 5 out of 5]

December 1864. As a cold winter wind scours the Worcestershire countryside, an excursion train comes through a tunnel in the Malvern Hills to be confronted by a blockage on the line ahead. The driver manages to slow the train down so that the impact is minimised, but the passengers are alarmed. The first person to alight is Cyril Hubbleday, the man in charge of the excursion to the delightful spa town of Great Malvern. He walks to the front of the locomotive and as he is talking to the driver, fireman and guard, Hubbleday is shot dead by a sniper. Christmas is coming all too soon and Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming are under pressure to solve the case quickly. However, with a number of disputes and enemies in the shadows behind the seasonal excursion and the investigation hampered by heavy snow, the hunt for a cold-blooded killer is far from straightforward. This is 12th in the series with Colbeck and Leeming but could read as a stand-alone. This is tightly plotted and the attention to historical detail is impressive. If you enjoy any of the Golden Age of mystery books, you will love this. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh how I miss the early years of this series, when Colbeck and Madeline were just courting and before the introduction of Lydia Quayle and Alan Hinton. These latter two characters sounded the death knell of this series. While it is understood that situations in a series such as this are bound to change and characters will develop, this series has developed in such a way that the original spark has been extinguished completely, and the remaining squib is tedious in the extreme.

While the basic premise of the books is sound, with Robert Colbeck and his faithful sidekick Sgt Leeming pursuing their unerring course to the solution of one railway-centric crime after another, the backstory featuring Madeleine Colbeck, her father, Lydia Quayle and Alan Hinton is such an unnecessary adjunct to these otherwise quite entertaining stories that one is constantly at a loss to fathom why they are still so much a feature of the books. These segues into the lives of the totally uninteresting Madeline and her unpleasant father, not to mention the simpering Lydia Quayle and her 'will-they, won't-they' relationship with Alan Hinton provide unnecessary interruption of the action, to absolutely no purpose whatsoever. I can give no more comment on the story than this, since it is a distraction that completely ruined any enjoyment I hoped for from the book. I have read all of these books on publication, but I am not at all sure I will read any more. That there is such a thing as a winning formula for a book I quite understand, but when the formula is flawed, then surely there needs to be some sort of reassessment. Marston, I think it is time...

Thanks to Netgalley for a free review copy of this book.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this latest entry in the series featuring railway detective Robert Colbeck, Sergeant Leeming and Superintendent Tallis is very easy reading, it does not offer much of a puzzle for the dedicated mystery fan. Nor is it particularly Christmassy, despite the decorating of the Colbeck Christmas tree, the heavy snow towards the end, and the constant moaning of the Inspector's father-in-law about his possible absence from home during the festivities. Meanwhile up in Great Malvern, there is little to be festive about. Two murders, one slightly gruesome, take up the time of the transport 'tecs.

There are lots of interviews, lots of suspects, lots of suspicious activity and few clues for the reader. But the writing is flat, and the plot, episodic, rather as if it had been written with television in mind-the Malvern Hills, the spa town, and Lady Foley's mansion contrasting with the bleak Black Country industrial landscape, the toiling workers and the teeming back streets.

I enjoyed the series a lot at first, but this was, to me, simply a nod to the seemingly-bottomless market for Christmas-themed detection, and not a very enthralling one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers, Allison & Busby, for the digital review copy.

[Sapna Chary · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Allison & Busby. I really wanted to like this book given that I am huge fan of who dunnit books. This book in particular I felt was dragged. The first 20% of the book goes by fast, the excursion and the train coming to a complete stop and the works manager is shot. After that you get introduced to so many characters which could have been scaled down, and from there on you just don't get where the story is going. I personally felt the story was lacking a good twist. The author did try to engage a reader, but this book is just not for me because I am huge Agatha Christie fan and I felt by the end of the book, the story could have been better.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read some of The Railway Detective books a few years ago for my book club, and I enjoyed them, so I was pleased to be approved to read and review this one.

This was a very entertaining Christmas-themed mystery, and it had the kind of cosiness that I typically enjoy about books that are set in this period. It was enjoyable and relaxing to read. I think it would be an enjoyable festive read for anyone who is already familiar with the series.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my opportunity to read and review this.

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Christmas work excursion goes horribly wrong, when the works manager is murdered. But was it a setup? Inspector Robert Colbeck is sent to Malvern to investigate and discovers that the works manager was not that well liked, so there could be a number of suspects. Can he unravel the threads of the investigation, find the murderer and still make it home for Christmas?

A very clever and complex crime thriller, that kept me very interested.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

1864. On a works excursion from Appleby's company in Oldbury to the Malvern Hills, the train is confronted by sleepers across the line. On exiting his carriage, works manager Cyril Hubbleday is shot dead. Inspector Colbeck, Sergeant Leeming with Superintendent Tallis are sent to investigate. But what is the motive.
An entertaining historical mystery though I didn't really take to the main characters. It can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Cook Memorial Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recommended by Karen. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore...

[Lily Whitehead-Young · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t believe that I’m saying this but this would be a better film than book

[Margaret Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good story-had me guessing right through!

[Charlotte Pawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming investigate murder connected to the Railways in the 1860’s. A work’s outing to Great Malvern will end in death and the local gentry Lady Foley wants Scotland Yard to solve it before fear has a chance to spread. The Victorian setting in the Midlands gives you a sense of these hard times mixed with the future of forward thinking industrialists who are starting to want change for their workers.
The two main characters come across as very personable. I particularly liked the way the story reflected how their work impacts on their private lives. An old fashioned murder mystery this will keep you happy on a wet winter afternoon.
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher Allison & Busby) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Sub Agatha Christie type plot. Language and behaviour of the characters didn’t ring true for 1854.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable and well-crafted classic style mystery.

I was impressed at how immersive this book felt despite lacking many of the atmospheric elements that I generally require to deeply enjoy a mystery of this sort. Though the title designates it as a Christmas mystery, the story doesn’t truly have much to do with Christmas and it certainly doesn’t bother much with the festive details we value in historical cozies. Regardless, it’s a good book that can stand on the quality of the story alone.

I loved the narrative structure employed by the book, switching rapidly between a dozen or so POVs, and the complexity of the mystery itself is quite good. The dialogue can be a bit wooden, but the story has a strong sense of humor and its tone is terrific.

This is my first Marston mystery and has made me decidedly interested in seeking out more. I’m impressed that twenty books into the series, the author is still churning out excellent work.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Stephen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series marches on with gusto

This is another thrilling story that sees this great series marching on with gusto. Colbeck and Leeming have another case to solve in a plot that has some suspense and gory passages coupled with the brilliantly crafted characters. A book you will struggle to put down once you start to read.

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the latest book in the Railway Detective Series. I was going to reread the last Railway Detective Christmas novel but I got approved for this one on NetGalley so I hurriedly caught up with the rest of the series and got started on this one.

Once again, Leeming and Colbeck are sent across the country right before Christmas and so there is the extra pressure of not only solving the case quickly but in time for Christmas. This one is about the leader of a excusion for workers is shot dead when the train is deliberately delayed. Turns out the guy was not a very popular guy and so there are all manner of suspects.

This was a fun one. I did guess the murderer before the reveal but it was well done, the clues present but the other suspects just as credible and the foreshadowing present for them as well. I liked how we got a sort of feel good murder mystery, with the victim being more of an arsehole victim and the murderer not having a particularly good reason for doing it. Colbeck and Leeming were great together as always and Tallis was more interesting than obstructive in this novel. Tallis is thinking about retirement so there is an undercurrent of subplot underneath the mystery and I enjoyed seeing Tallis being able to use his strengths on the case, rather than just getting in the way.

As always I enjoyed the little asides with Madeline, Lydia and Caleb Andrews, though there wasn't much of a plot there this time around. I hope the Lydia/Alan Hinton romance kicks off soon, but then again it took several books before Madeline and Colbeck got married so the pacing is consistent for the romances at least.

The only thing I would say is that I would have liked a little more wrap up by the ending, but I assume that is because subplots like Tallis' retirement are going to come up in later books. It might just be because this is the first time when I've finished a book in this series and there isn't another one out for me to get to. Another enjoyable one in this series.

4.5 stars!

[A.J. Sefton · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover of this book showing a steam engine evokes the feel of Victorian times, the romance of the railways and new industry, the smoky and dark suspense of dimly-lit alleyways. The detective in this series focuses on railways in the Midlands of England and this, as the title states, is a Christmas murder.

The story opens with a special Christmas treat for workers and their families having an annual excursion on the train for free. There is a blockage on the line and the driver tries not to alarm the passengers and spoil their rare day out, but the man who organised the trip is shot dead by an unknown sniper. Then of course, the railway detective and his team is called in to solve the crime and work out who is the murderer.

There are several points of view, all expressed in the third person, and there are quite a few characters. The book highlights the class system from the very wealthy landowner and her distain for the workers to the poorer people who are glad that the rich employers will take the time to let them have a train ride. The police officer is not too happy though when he is told to use the tradesman's entrance. There is also an interesting take on the Black Country region of the Midlands, so-called because of the pollution caused by industry, compared to the affluence and picturesque Malvern Hills and Worcestershire, particularly the spa town of Great Malvern.

There is a definite feel of the pedestrian way of life in Victorian England, and the story plods on trudging through a complex trail of investigation. The writing is clear and ageless and this is perfect for those who like railways, trains and Victorian detectives and mysteries.

[Elizabeth Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author and series to me. While The Railway Detective’s Christmas Case is the 20th book in the set, it stands beautifully on its own. Set in the late 1800’s, this cozy-style mystery shares aspects with the technological thrillers of the age. There is much made of the industrial workers, the efficiency of the railroads, telegrams, and of proper police procedure.

Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are a well established duo in this story, and while thery’re not keen on heading north to Malvern so close to Christmas; they know their duty. Unfortunately for them, their boss Superintendent Tallis is insistent on joining them, as he hopes to retire to the countryside and wishes to investigate the area. It’s made apparent that in previous cases, Tallis is more hindrance than help due to his micromanaging ways, so the men are less than enthused. With a self-imposed deadline to be home for Christmas, the detectives set off for a truly baffling case.

Told in alternating perspectives, The Railway Detective’s Christmas Case would be a challenge for any seasoned voice actor. Sam Dastor, whose work I had not been introduced to before is a master! Whether the plummy tones of the aristocratic Colonel, the grief-stricken daughter, or the common working man; he handles each voice with a deftness that is a delight to the ear. I’m certain that there are regional accents that I, as an American listener cannot hear, but may be there for the native speaker.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3

Been a while since I read any of this series, I did read the first 10-12 as they were published and generally liked them. But as with most series they became a bit repetitive for me so dropped them from my ‘must read’ list.
Picked this one up as a 99p kindle deal a while back and only now got around to reading it - gave myself a small challenge to read as many of the Christmas related mysteries I have in 2023 instead of reading one in mid summer.

Anyways as expected this was easy to read, the lead characters were as I remembered them.
The murder mystery itself was okay but not that engrossing for me tbh. The secondary characters I thought were well described if a shade generic in some cases.
The descriptions of Malvern, Oldbury and Tipton made for different and interesting locations for the characters to travel to.
The mixing of a couple of different plots added complexity to the story but still didn’t really think about it when not reading it.
The continual returning to the inspectors family in London broke the flow of the story for me and added several unnecessary chapters, if you wanted to be unkind.

Overall an okay read, I know there are a couple more novels in the series after this but do wonder how much longer it can run for.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good story. The narrative rolls along as well as the well oiled trains that connect London's Metropolitan Police with the rest of England.
In this book, Colbeck and Leeming are dispatched to the Malverns, where a works manager has been shot dead and another man has been beheaded. The works manager is not well liked by the staff on the shop floor, but he seems quite friendly with the firm's accountant. The manager is married, with two grown up daughters, and he rules the roost there, too.
Appleby, who owns the works, pays for some of his staff and their families to go on excursions. The train has to stop, which is when the murder happens.
Inspector Tallis decides to travel with Colbeck and Leeming, to 'help' them investigate. The investigation takes place a few days before Christmas, which doesn't bode well for the police. As the inquiry continues, another corpse is found. This one is beheaded.
The police have a difficult task ahead. The local workforce are somewhat uncooperative, but after a while, they start helping the police instead of telling them lies. Tallis is recalled to London, and Colbeck and Leeming can relax and solve the crimes.
The perpetrator is unexpected at first, but the clues are there, pointing towards the person.

[Sarah Oakey · Rating 4 out of 5]

🚂It's nearly Christmas 🎄1864 and there's been a murder deep in the heart of beautiful, rural worcestershire, and this, my friends, is precisely why I wanted to read this book, as prior to my decampment to France in 1999 I was Worcestershire born and bread and it truely is a beautiful part of the world.
....back to the book. 🚂An excursion train comes through a tunnel in the Malvern Hills to be confronted by a blockage on the line ahead, the train stops and Cyril Hubberday, the man in charge of the day trip, disembarks to investigate why the train has stopped, but as he walks along side the steam train he is shot dead by a sniper🔫... Cue the Railway Detectives from Scotland Yard 🔍Colbeck and Learning who are desperate to solve the case so they can make it back home for Christmas🎅

I totally loved any smidge of description of the settings, I love Malvern (I will hopefully be climbing it's vast hills this Christmas with my boys) so it was joy to hear about it from a historical point of view.
I love the whole countryside- vintage- Christmas feel to the book. As who-done-it's go it ticked all the boxes, it trotted along at a gentle pace and had a vast cast of characters.

[Andreas Kleiner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. This book - and the entire Railway Detective series by Edward Marston - are a hidden gem for me. Wonderfully written, a perfect crime & suspense story and I have always been looking forward with a warm feeling and joy taking the book in my hands again and continue reading. It is the second book in the series and I am really wondering why they are not more popular. Both books were excellent - crime & suspense at their very best. Nice insights into the high times of the Industrial Revolution in England.

“The Railway Detective’s Christmas Case” plays in the area around Worchester, south of Birmingham, in 1865. Cyril Hubbleday, the works manager of the Appleby train carriage company gets shot by an assassin when their train which is on an excursion for works employees gets stopped in open range and Cyril gets out of the train to check what is going on … A number of potential suspects arise, new secrets are uncovered and a second murder happens. I am looking forward to meeting Robert Colbert and Victor Leeming, the two Railway Detectives in their next book.

[Steven Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

December 1864. As a cold winter wind scours the Worcestershire countryside, an excursion train comes through a tunnel in the Malvern Hills to be confronted by a blockage on the line ahead. Although a disastrous derailment is averted, the passengers are alarmed. Cyril Hubbleday, the man in charge of the excursion, alights to investigate further, but the angry altercation with the driver is cut short by a shot from a sniper, straight through Hubbleday's head.



Christmas is coming all too soon and Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming are under pressure to solve the case quickly. However, with enemies in the shadows behind the seasonal trip, and with strong criticism from the local constabulary, the hunt for a cold-blooded killer is far from straightforward.
Read preview >

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another installment in this long running series and this time with a festive background. Though to be honest Christmas was only mentioned in discussions as to whether the detectives would make it home to their loved ones for the festive season.
This time the detectives along with Superintendent Tallis are called to the Malvern Hills to investigate the shooting of a man on an excursion train. However it is not long before they are investigating an even more gruesome murder.
All the usual cast of characters are here though I really feel Madeliene's father to be a tiresome character who seems to repeat much the same comments in every book. But if you enjoy the series - and I do then this is an enjoyable offering.

[Bibliophileverse · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Railway Detective's Christmas Case by Edward Marston is a mystery with Christmas flavor. The plot is set in a small town, and as a reader, you will definitely get the festive vibe in this mystery. The book is medium-paced with well-placed twists and turns. But the story is kind of a cozy one, and do not expect any kind of thrill. The characters are nice, and you get an elegant kind of feel from them. I have read this author for the first time, and the book is perfect for a one-time read.

I was a bit disappointed with the climax as I was expecting a surprise. Although the climax had a bit of action to add flavor to the story. The book deserves 4 stars.

Read more at https://bibliophileverse.blogspot.com...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another enjoyable book in this great series! I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because of a single issue I have had pretty much all along. Frankly, the Caleb Andrews character needs to be completely rewritten or eliminated entirely. Absolutely nothing is added to the storyline and he is a completely off putting person in every way with his constant complaints and bad attitude. I would also like to see Madeleine Colbeck’s role expanded and not entirely dependent on countering her fathers endless complaints.

[Anne Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very readable detective story and I enjoyed the characters and the plot very much. The relationship between the two main detectives is particularly good, and I also very much liked Superintendent Tallis - though he's obviously not a popular character with his two officers! The secondary characters are also very well drawn - the inspector's wife and family life is utterly charming and I enjoyed spending time with them. That said, the ending seemed very rushed to me and the solution to the murder was rather unsatisfying. However, up until then this is a good solid read.