Sunday, October 20, 2013

The Railway Viaduct

It is 1852 and a man has been hurled from a train crossing the Sankey Viaduct.  Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming have been sent from Scotland Yard to Liverpool to investigate.

An artist, Ambrose Hooper, was painting the scene at the time of the incident.  He shows Colbeck his painting.  Colbeck also discovers from the victim's jacket that he came from France.  It is some time later when a woman comes to Colbeck at Scotland Yard to suggest a name for the victim.  Colbeck feels that she is leaving something out, so he asks his girlfriend, Madeleine Andrews, to help him.  What she finds out results in Colbeck and Leeming going to France to continue the investigation.

While there, Leeming goes undercover to work on the railway an English entrepreneur is building.  Meantime Colbeck discovers that the victim had been married and had been involved in a number of affairs.  Is a jealous husband at the heart of the matter?

Damage to a French railway by Irish navvies helps Colbeck discover who the murderer is and who was behind the scheme.  Author Edward Marston has written an intriguing historical murder mystery.  A good, quick read.

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