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The Railway Detective #21
Death at the Terminus
London March 1918. Marmion and Keedy are just about to leave Scotland Yard one evening when the alarm is raised. There is a siege in progress and they are dispatched to the scene at once. Three men were disturbed during a burglary and shot a policeman but suddenly things take a sinister turn, and Keedy is in the firing line himself. With his trusty sergeant hovering between life and death in hospital, Marmion alone gathers information about the three men and picks up their scent. They had been living under false names in London, but Marmion traces them back to Ireland. Will he be able to bring them to justice, and will Keedy ever recover?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 20, 2023
38 people are currently reading
237 people want to read
About the author
Edward Marston
239 books466 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 45 reviews
July 1, 2023
Latest in the series this time the action centres around York and many twists and turns as sent to investigate the death of a guard at York Station. Enjoyed but feeling that the series coming to an end now
October 27, 2024
These books are always a delight to read as they're well written and contain certain characters who are reliably predictable in their behaviour.
Such is the case here, as DS Victor Leeming is concerned that their latest case in York will keep him away from his younger son's birthday. The reader knows this isn't going to happen, that DI Robert Colbeck is going to solve the case in time.
I managed to guess who the culprit was, but I had no idea how and why the culprit committed the crimes they did - incinerating the guard Jack Follis in the brake van and throttling another character in their bed.
There are many false trails laid by the author throughout the book and they all seem plausible until an explanation is provided as to why they can't be the culprit.
Such is the case here, as DS Victor Leeming is concerned that their latest case in York will keep him away from his younger son's birthday. The reader knows this isn't going to happen, that DI Robert Colbeck is going to solve the case in time.
I managed to guess who the culprit was, but I had no idea how and why the culprit committed the crimes they did - incinerating the guard Jack Follis in the brake van and throttling another character in their bed.
There are many false trails laid by the author throughout the book and they all seem plausible until an explanation is provided as to why they can't be the culprit.
April 30, 2023
I would like to thank Netgalley and Allison & Busby for a review copy of Death at the Terminus, the twenty-first novel to feature the Railway Detective, Inspector Robert Colbeck.
An explosion in the brake van of a train waiting to depart York Station kills one of the guards. The North Eastern Railway asks Scotland Yard for help, so Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are dispatched to investigate. There are plenty of suspects, but the first task is to decide if the guard was deliberately targeted.
I thoroughly enjoyed Death at the Terminus, which is the story of a complex investigation with several surprises and unexpected events. I found myself glued to the pages as I tried to work out what actually happened and why. Suffice to say I failed miserably.
This is a well written, evenly paced novel that covers a multitude of possible scenarios. Was the explosion designed to kill the guard, Jack Follett? It’s more than possible as several people had cause to dislike him? Or was he unwittingly caught up in an explosion designed to cause the railway company problems? That too is possible and most of the town dignitaries are keen to blame either the Irish or anarchists. Colbeck has his own ideas that he keeps closely guarded until further events bring it all together. It is an engrossing story, leavened by a little humour and some good period detail.
The characterisation is strong in the novel with Colbeck being the strong, smart one and Leeming being the moaning subordinate, prone to accepting the obvious. They are recognisable as are some of the supporting York characters. Mrs Colbeck and Leeming supply the domestic background to the life of a travelling detective, but I’m not quite sure that they add value to the novel. I was even less sure about one of the characters portrayed (no names, no spoilers) whose motives and behaviour seem extremely unlikely.
Death at the Terminus is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
An explosion in the brake van of a train waiting to depart York Station kills one of the guards. The North Eastern Railway asks Scotland Yard for help, so Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are dispatched to investigate. There are plenty of suspects, but the first task is to decide if the guard was deliberately targeted.
I thoroughly enjoyed Death at the Terminus, which is the story of a complex investigation with several surprises and unexpected events. I found myself glued to the pages as I tried to work out what actually happened and why. Suffice to say I failed miserably.
This is a well written, evenly paced novel that covers a multitude of possible scenarios. Was the explosion designed to kill the guard, Jack Follett? It’s more than possible as several people had cause to dislike him? Or was he unwittingly caught up in an explosion designed to cause the railway company problems? That too is possible and most of the town dignitaries are keen to blame either the Irish or anarchists. Colbeck has his own ideas that he keeps closely guarded until further events bring it all together. It is an engrossing story, leavened by a little humour and some good period detail.
The characterisation is strong in the novel with Colbeck being the strong, smart one and Leeming being the moaning subordinate, prone to accepting the obvious. They are recognisable as are some of the supporting York characters. Mrs Colbeck and Leeming supply the domestic background to the life of a travelling detective, but I’m not quite sure that they add value to the novel. I was even less sure about one of the characters portrayed (no names, no spoilers) whose motives and behaviour seem extremely unlikely.
Death at the Terminus is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.
June 5, 2023
Straightforward cosy mystery in the railway detective series. If you enjoyed Edward Marston's previous novels I'm sure you'll enjoy this one. The descriptions of York were vivid and interesting and the plot was fairly well paced. I did however feel the ending was rather rushed hence the award of 3.5 stars rather than 4.
September 28, 2025
An interesting case ( or cases ) for Colbeck and Leeming to solve in 19th Century York.
June 29, 2024
I always enjoy Edward Marston’s Railway detective books. Not too demanding, just a gentle read even though there are a couple of murders!
March 5, 2024
Rating 3
An entertaining enough entry in this series, but it does feel like overall the series and characters have run their course.
This time the setting was York and the usual scene setting took place, historical details of the city and particular railway company involved.
The crime itself tbh seems quite small even though someone did die in the explosion that was intended to damage rolling stock at the station.
Surprised that Scotland Yard would send two experienced and relatively senior officers at the request of the railway company.
The novel was easy to read and flowed along quite nicely, the actual solution to the crime felt like it came out of nowhere tbh and wasn’t really earned.
I have felt the same about the last couple of novels in the series, not bad really but below the level the series once was at .
Overall still a solid recommendation but read the earlier novels first.
An entertaining enough entry in this series, but it does feel like overall the series and characters have run their course.
This time the setting was York and the usual scene setting took place, historical details of the city and particular railway company involved.
The crime itself tbh seems quite small even though someone did die in the explosion that was intended to damage rolling stock at the station.
Surprised that Scotland Yard would send two experienced and relatively senior officers at the request of the railway company.
The novel was easy to read and flowed along quite nicely, the actual solution to the crime felt like it came out of nowhere tbh and wasn’t really earned.
I have felt the same about the last couple of novels in the series, not bad really but below the level the series once was at .
Overall still a solid recommendation but read the earlier novels first.
April 18, 2025
I always devoured and loved the Railway Detective series in its early days but this 21st offering has lost some of its sparkle even though the same characters play out the drama. 'Death at the Terminus' is still very readable but the storylines have become more and more predictable.
This one is set in Victorian York and Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming get called in after an incident on York station. Initially this causes resentment in the local police force but once Superintendent Tallis gets involved, that little issue is resolved. The two forces then work together with Colbeck and company taking the lead.
The usual investigations take place and, as always, Edward Marston moves between various protagonists to weave the story together. Another incident then takes place so between them, the two forces have this to investigate as well. It does complicate the whole issue and leads to more and more suspects entering the fray.
But dogged work by both forces eventually leads to solutions, the main one,, the incident at York station, rather too quickly explained for my liking - indeed, it appeared rushed as though to say that we have had enough let's have a denouement. As usual there are sub plots going on with the wives of Colbeck and Leeming back home in London and the former's father-in-law also getting involved.
The way this series is going, I do wonder if it has had its time and Edward Marston should try something else - as he ahs done with the Ocean Line mysteries.
This one is set in Victorian York and Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming get called in after an incident on York station. Initially this causes resentment in the local police force but once Superintendent Tallis gets involved, that little issue is resolved. The two forces then work together with Colbeck and company taking the lead.
The usual investigations take place and, as always, Edward Marston moves between various protagonists to weave the story together. Another incident then takes place so between them, the two forces have this to investigate as well. It does complicate the whole issue and leads to more and more suspects entering the fray.
But dogged work by both forces eventually leads to solutions, the main one,, the incident at York station, rather too quickly explained for my liking - indeed, it appeared rushed as though to say that we have had enough let's have a denouement. As usual there are sub plots going on with the wives of Colbeck and Leeming back home in London and the former's father-in-law also getting involved.
The way this series is going, I do wonder if it has had its time and Edward Marston should try something else - as he ahs done with the Ocean Line mysteries.
October 1, 2023
Oy vey, how many characters can one author cram into a modest murder mystery? Apparently, author Edward Marston thinks 400 or 500 is good. Just kidding. I didn’t count how many characters the book has, but there has to be two to three dozen. And most of them are completely irrelevant. They pop into the story and they pop out again with no apparent purpose other than to fill space on the page.
The book is easy to read, and the story moves along quickly. I didn’t see the end coming, although I had had an inkling who offed the victims within the first couple chapters. I absolutely love how the author changes scenes and characters every few paragraphs, which makes the book easy to put down and pick up without losing one’s place in the story.
This is a quick-read murder mystery set in York, England during Victorian times. It’s not bad, but neither is it great.
The book is easy to read, and the story moves along quickly. I didn’t see the end coming, although I had had an inkling who offed the victims within the first couple chapters. I absolutely love how the author changes scenes and characters every few paragraphs, which makes the book easy to put down and pick up without losing one’s place in the story.
This is a quick-read murder mystery set in York, England during Victorian times. It’s not bad, but neither is it great.
April 29, 2023
Really enjoyed this story.
Colbeck and Leeming are sent for by the stationmaster at York to investigate an explosion in a brake van, and the subsequent death of a railway worker. The local constabulary begin their own investigation into the crimes, in opposition to Colbeck's.
Superintendent Tallis comes to York, and the local police begin to collaborate with the Scotland Tard men.
As the investigation moves along, information is forthcoming, but not all of it is credible. Then, another murder occurs, and the York police ask for advice on how best to investigate the murder. Colbeck believes the crimes are connected. He has no proof, only a gut feeling.
At last, Colbeck and his team have a breakthrough, and the cases are solved, thanks to an archaeological dig.
Colbeck and Leeming are sent for by the stationmaster at York to investigate an explosion in a brake van, and the subsequent death of a railway worker. The local constabulary begin their own investigation into the crimes, in opposition to Colbeck's.
Superintendent Tallis comes to York, and the local police begin to collaborate with the Scotland Tard men.
As the investigation moves along, information is forthcoming, but not all of it is credible. Then, another murder occurs, and the York police ask for advice on how best to investigate the murder. Colbeck believes the crimes are connected. He has no proof, only a gut feeling.
At last, Colbeck and his team have a breakthrough, and the cases are solved, thanks to an archaeological dig.
May 16, 2024
The twenty first Railway Detective novel sees Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming in York investigating an explosion at York Station which has caused the death of a railway guard.
These mystery novels are always interesting, as Marston succeeds in giving a real sense of the period. At times the novels can seem repetitive, with the characters fulfilling their usual roles; Leeming unhappy at leaving London, Superintendent Tallis being arrogant and pompous, Colbeck’s father in law being difficult. And there is usually someone annoyed that Colbeck and Leeming have been called in to investigate- here it is Superintendent Nash. However, Marston succeeds in creating a clever plot with several false trails making the novel an interesting mystery.
These mystery novels are always interesting, as Marston succeeds in giving a real sense of the period. At times the novels can seem repetitive, with the characters fulfilling their usual roles; Leeming unhappy at leaving London, Superintendent Tallis being arrogant and pompous, Colbeck’s father in law being difficult. And there is usually someone annoyed that Colbeck and Leeming have been called in to investigate- here it is Superintendent Nash. However, Marston succeeds in creating a clever plot with several false trails making the novel an interesting mystery.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 9, 2023
These books used to be great, but they get worse and worse. Mr Marston (or whatever soubriquet you wish to use), please get rid of the loathsome Caleb Andrews, the totally superfluous Madeline Colbeck and the simpering Lydia Quale, and perhaps these books can get back to basics. These characters are totally extraneous to every story and give the books absolutely nothing at all, but take away a great deal. Alan Hinton is yet more ballast, but without Lydia Quale his presence would also melt away. And before anyone asks 'then why do you continue to read them?', my answer is that I am ever an optimist and possess my soul in hope.
June 27, 2023
Yet another highly entertaining novel in the long established Railway Detective series.
I was interested that this story was set in York, although the station we are told about seems very different from the present day one. I particularly liked the inclusion of material regarding the Viking archaeological digs, which was a nice reference to the current tourist attraction in the city.
As always, Sergeant Leeming is there, playing the Watson to Colbeck's Holmes, but in this novel we see more of Alan Hilton as a colleague, probably at the expense of the curmudgeonly Tallis, as well as Colbeck's wife and father in law. However, it is clever of the author to move these characters around from book to book to maintain freshness.
All in all, a great story, well told.
I was interested that this story was set in York, although the station we are told about seems very different from the present day one. I particularly liked the inclusion of material regarding the Viking archaeological digs, which was a nice reference to the current tourist attraction in the city.
As always, Sergeant Leeming is there, playing the Watson to Colbeck's Holmes, but in this novel we see more of Alan Hilton as a colleague, probably at the expense of the curmudgeonly Tallis, as well as Colbeck's wife and father in law. However, it is clever of the author to move these characters around from book to book to maintain freshness.
All in all, a great story, well told.
February 19, 2024
As I live near York and often use the station, I found this particularly interesting. The characters were intriguing even though the old plot lines of Victor not liking leaving his family and Lydia and Alan failing to get anywhere are becoming a bit boring now. And who knew Madeleine and Estelle were friends?! I guessed the murderer about two thirds of the way through and was sad, as he was a nice man. The second murder seemed a bit far-fetched - it would have been good to learn more about the victim's contrasting characteristics. The ending was a bit rushed, which is a shame after such an absorbing web of plots and suspects.
Read
November 29, 2025York, 1865. A passenger train stands ready to depart amid the bustle at the station. The flurry of passengers and porters, the swooping pigeons and barking dogs are thrown into a state of turmoil when an explosion rips through the brake van of the train, killing guard Jack Follis.
In response to a summons from the North Eastern Railway, Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are sent to investigate. Was it an accident, deliberate vandalism or targeted murder? The longer the investigation goes on, the more complex it becomes.
With a dizzying array of suspects and motives, will the combined skills of the detectives be enough to identify and catch the culprit?
In response to a summons from the North Eastern Railway, Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are sent to investigate. Was it an accident, deliberate vandalism or targeted murder? The longer the investigation goes on, the more complex it becomes.
With a dizzying array of suspects and motives, will the combined skills of the detectives be enough to identify and catch the culprit?
November 9, 2023
Published in 2023, 'Death at the Terminus' is another in the popular 'Railway Detective' series of murder mystery novels set in the mid-19th century and featuring the exploits of Inspector Robert Colbeck of Scotland Yard. In this tale, a gruesome murder at York railway station begins a fast-paced story. As is often the case with Marston stories, the characters make this story, whilst the plot comes a close second, finishing with a seemingly rushed ending. Very enjoyable.
January 5, 2025
After being disappointed by the previous book in the Railway Detective series, Death at the Terminus was like a breath of fresh air. The case was interesting dispite it's longevity and throughout I was impressed with the storyline. Unfortunately, shortly into the story I chose the most unlikely character as the culprit and in the last few pages a confession proved that I had guessed correctly. With a dramatic finale it's a good book.
May 12, 2023
I love this series as these are well plotted, entertaining, and compelling mysteries and I love the characters.
This starts with a bang and kept me hooked and turning pages.
I didn't guess the culprit and enjoyed the historical background.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
This starts with a bang and kept me hooked and turning pages.
I didn't guess the culprit and enjoyed the historical background.
Can't wait to read the next one.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
September 12, 2024
Predictable from the start. The Railway detective stories follow exactly the same theme from start to finish in each book in the series, and there are many.
I found this repetitive, not of the story but of the whole series. There is another book come out since this one but won't be going out to purchase it. In my mind The Railway Detective has had his day.
I found this repetitive, not of the story but of the whole series. There is another book come out since this one but won't be going out to purchase it. In my mind The Railway Detective has had his day.
April 24, 2023
Another thrilling addition to the series
This is anther very thrilling story that adds greatly to this amazing series. All the characters are once again brilliantly crafted, and with the mystery combined, make this a really captivating and entertaining read.
This is anther very thrilling story that adds greatly to this amazing series. All the characters are once again brilliantly crafted, and with the mystery combined, make this a really captivating and entertaining read.
May 8, 2023
Another masterpiece.
Edward Marston has created another great plot and I really enjoyed the fast pace. This time I did suspect the culprit. As I am a railway can the background to the story filled me with great interest. The location for the story is also not far from me.
Edward Marston has created another great plot and I really enjoyed the fast pace. This time I did suspect the culprit. As I am a railway can the background to the story filled me with great interest. The location for the story is also not far from me.
September 17, 2024
This is the only novel in the series I have read and I picked it up because it was set in nearby York. It was a well-paced mystery with lots of attempts at twists and turns with many characters. However, it did feel very old-fashioned and there was only ever one person who could've dunnit.
November 5, 2025
The famous Railway detective and his colleagues are called to York to investigate a death in an explosion at the Railway Station, but are met with a hostile welcome from the local police. Plenty of twists and turns.
April 26, 2023
Another excellent Railway Detective book. They quickly deduce that the first death is an accident, but then there is a murder connected to it. It keeps you guessing to the final few pages.
May 6, 2023
I did guess the murderer this time even though it was a nice character. Good series tho
July 6, 2023
Book was great, just a bit disappointed in the ending
August 4, 2023
Goopd
I am a fan of Edward Marston and his railway detective stories. I found this book as enjoyable as the previous ones.
I am a fan of Edward Marston and his railway detective stories. I found this book as enjoyable as the previous ones.
August 5, 2023
Quaint little British mystery. First novel I read in the series. Good story and character development though a couple of characters just felt utterly unnecessary for the story. Quick read.
August 10, 2023
Light entertainment but the end was contrived.
October 19, 2023
I never work out who dunnit
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews