Railway to the Grave

It is 1855 and a man has walked directly into an oncoming train.  On his body is a note asking the finder to contact Superintendent Tallis of Scotland Yard.  Superintendent Tallis, Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming set off to inquire into the death of what turns out is an old army friend of Tallis.  Tallis had received a letter indicating that his friend's wife had disappeared.

Tallis is not impressed when the newspaper suggests that the disappearance of his friend's wife is associated with his death.  The towns people are sure that the victim had killed his wife.  Colbeck now wants to focus on the disappearance of the wife.  The local railway policeman is of the opinion that the wife is not dead, that she has simply left the area.

Shortly after the inquest into the suicide, the body of the wife is found.  Colbeck also finds out that the suicide had had words with at least two people in the community.  Spent cartridges with the body point Colbeck in the direction of the murderer.  He is certain that the suicide did not kill his wife and that the cartridges were a plant to mis-direct the police.

Author Edward Marston offers up several different suspects through the course of this Victorian murder mystery.  It isn't until the last few pages where the culprit is finally revealed.  A good, quick read.