| Title | : | The Stationmasters Farewell (The Railway Detective #9) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0749040211 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780749040215 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 383 |
| Publication | : | First published April 30, 2012 |
The Stationmasters Farewell (The Railway Detective #9) Reviews
-
I think Marston broke one of the fundamental rules of detective fiction in this story. I can't really say much more without giving the game away.
-
I can't believe that it was only June 28 when I got my hands on the first book in this series
after Goodreads recommended it to me and now here I am a month later having read 9 years worth of books in the series and feeling kind of blue because Marston only puts out a book in this series once a year and now I have to wait for a year to see if he writes another. Bah, humbug!
I enjoyed this book about Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck of Scotland Yard and his assistant Detective Sergeant Victor Leeming in 1850's England very much. As usual, their boss, Superintendent Tallis, drives them crazy when he won't trust them to handle the case but he winds up getting stabbed for his troubles.
In this book, it is Guy Fawkes day in the English town of Exeter and the stationmaster, the very popular Joel Heygate, has gone missing. He was last seen by Mrs. Rossiter, the widow who is manager of the Refreshment Room at the station and her assistant, the sweet young Dorcas Hope. He told them he would be at the bonfire the next day and tried to dodge Mrs. Rossiter's very aggressive attempts to get him to take her. She is in some fantasy la-la land imagining that she will marry the widowed stationmaster who clearly can't stand her.
The next day, the pompous ass of a bishop leaves the Cathedral in order to avoid the merrymaking that usually turns into petty crime. This windbag needs for someone to stick a pin in his balloon. He has no care of compassion for others and thinks anything that happens is directed at him.
Later at the bonfire, when the flames die down, the body of the missing stationmaster who never showed up at the festivities is found- beaten to death and left to burn in the flames.
As always, there are so many colorful characters here. When you read this book, you will meet the pompous bishop who no one likes, the perverted doctor at the insane asylum who has a nasty habit of molesting inmates, a known criminal named Bagsy and his plump old hooker girlfriend, the stationmaster's estranged brother and his greedy wife who are out for the money and nothing else, a canary named Peter and an owl the stationmaster befriended. Actually it is the canary and the owl who offer the most clues.
I get so tired of Victor Leeming not understanding that his job requires travel away from home and whining about wanting to be back in bed with his wife so it gave me a laugh to see Superintendent Tallis feel as frustrated as me about it and threaten to send him back to being a beat constable (with less pay and prestige).
I also enjoyed seeing Colbeck and Tallis stick it to the pompous bishop who needed taking down a notch or three.
Another bit of humor comes when Madeleine Andrews, fiance of Robert Colbeck , worries about her dad , the retired railway driver Caleb Andrews going too fast in a new romance. He goes to tea with the new ladyfriend only to have her sister show up and then later follow him home and set upon him trying to talk her sister down and get him for herself! Poor Caleb. He even has to bar the door to keep her out.
Speaking of craziness, Mrs. Rossiter winds up in the lunatic asylum. She insists she was the stationmaster's lover though she was not and at one point runs wild in the cathedral breaking things and slamming the crucifix down and then hurtling herself through the undertaker's window to try to get to the stationmaster's dead burned body.
I would like to see more strong women who are not criminals or hookers or who turn crazy. I am disappointed in the development of the character of Madeleine who looked in earlier books like she would become something but in the last few, including this one, we can see she will just be a boring housewife and mother who dabbles in painting and nothing more. She has become a drudge though I don't care for the rude way she speaks to the father who has supported her all of her life.
Get on with it Edward Marston. I need more books! -
The Railway Detective series continues to enthral as Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck embarks on another baffling case.
A stationmaster's body is found at the bottom of the 5 November bonfire in Exeter and the railway authorities, much to the initial annoyance of the local police force and in particular Superintendent Steele, call in Colbeck and his partner, the persevering Sergeant Victor Leeming, to investigate.
Suspects immediately emerge when the duo begin their investigations but, as is to be expected, nothing is clear cut. Steele decides that he knows who the murderer is but Colbeck is not convinced.
In a well-plotted tale, the investigations lead to a variety of nasty incidents and, with all the local people interrogated, the water becomes muddier. However, the chief suspect, at least according to Steele, is eventually arrested but Colbeck is still unconvinced and continues his enquiries.
Meanwhile his bride to be, Madeleine Andrews, remains in London wondering whether he will have solved the mystery before their wedding day arrives. She eventually decides to make her way to Exeter to be near her intended, taking her retired railwayman father with her.
Their presence does not hinder the investigations and, in a surprising turn of events the culprit is apprehended, as Maddy says, thanks to her presence!
Edward Marston captures the Victorian times and working life on the railways superbly and the series is a delight to read and enjoy. -
It was interesting to see that Superintendent Tallis hadn’t learnt his lesson from the previous book about meddling in an investigation on the ground…! I really enjoyed this one, although there were some unanswered questions, I felt.
I can’t wait to continue on with this series, for a reason that would become obvious to regular readers at the end of this one! -
This was actually a fantastic mystery that had me guessing all the way through. I like that nothing was clear and simple and the answers wasn't revealed until the end! I felt that the returning character grew and that the plot characters where believable and consistent! A wonderful mystery 4.75 Stars!!
-
I rather enjoyed it, though not his best one in the series
-
An okay book and series. I hope we see less of Caleb Andrews once Colbeck and Madeleine marry. The ending to the mystery seemed like a cop out in my opinion.
-
The Stationmaster’s Farewell by Edward Marston (2012) – This is another very interesting and entertaining book in Marston’s Railway Detective series. On Guy Fawkes Day in Exeter, England in 1857 the stationmaster’s (Joel Heygate’s) charred body is discovered in the coals of the celebratory bonfire. Thus begins another complex and extensive murder investigation by Inspector Robert Colbeck and his loyal and adept assistant, Sergeant Victor Leeming. The investigation involves a diverse group of very interesting characters including Superintendent Tallis, Colbeck’s immediate supervisor, and the pompous Bishop Phillpotts, who both try to influence the investigation. The list of suspects is short, but the colorful Bagsy Browne, a well-known criminal thug, quickly becomes the primary suspect in the case However, Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming struggle to prove his guilt. Colbeck is also under pressure to solve the murder case quickly, because of his upcoming wedding to Madeleine Andrews. Like the previous eight books that I have read in Marston’s Railway Detective series, this period piece crime novel keeps the reader interested through complex plot twists, dangerous action, and unique, yet believable, characters. I enjoyed this novel very much.
-
Edward Marston’s The Railway Detective series brings crime to the steam locomotives of the late 1800s.
The Stationmasters Farewell, for me, is one of the best of the series, providing twists and turns galore, leading down several paths before the least expected individual is identified as the culprit.
The writing is distinctive, flows beautifully and as always is captivating. I got lost in this book, detailing the murder of the Stationmaster, delving into his life when he was alive and into the lives of all those around him, so many of whom carry secrets they would rather weren’t uncovered, all with a background of a wedding and a canary.
Definitely worth a read if you haven’t. -
Edward Marston always gives his reader a plain tale well told. This novel is one of his 19thC Railway Inspector series and has all the Marston marks, a solid plot with twists, good characters, growth and development and good plain writing.
Inspector Colbeck and his friend and sergeant, Victor Leeming are railway police and in this story they have to go to Exeter to find out who has murdered the popular stationmaster.
Edward Marston novels are an easy read, a pleasant read and well worth reading. -
If you've read the other Railway Detective books you'll enjoy this one...if you haven't then go and read them from the first one rather than start with this. Not that you 'have' to, but as the characters develop over the books it's more fun to see that happen!
I used to live in Exter so the location for this one is fun...even though it involves Maddie's father travelling on the dreaded GWR :-) Dawlish was obviously less busy then, though you still get your train splashed by waves! -
Published in 2012, 'The Stationmaster's Farewell' is the 9th in the popular 'Railway Detective' series of murder mystery novels set in 1850s Britain and featuring DI Colbeck of Scotland Yard. As usual the convoluted plot takes second place to the characters as they interact against the background of a murder in 1850s Exeter. Really enjoyable.
-
I do so love Edward Marston's Railway Detective series. Great period piece and Marston sets the scene so very well. Wonderful characters and a really great who dun it!!! I didn't guess it at all. Wonderful.
-
Book Nine in the Railway Detective whereby he investigates a body found burnt in a Bonfire, on Guy Fawkes night, the usual twists and turns fast paced, highly recommended, now for book 10 in the series.
-
Cracking story and based around my place of birth.
-
Easy to read cozy crime series really enjoyable Would recommend reading series in order
-
A mystery to the very end.
-
Edward Marston doing what he does best. Very entertaining. Takes you right into the period.
