Inspector Robert Colbeck has been requested to investigate a derailment
in Scotland. Unfortunately Superintendent Tallis doesn't want him to
go. He feels that London has enough crime to keep Colbeck and Sergeant
Leeming busy. Only the threat of Colbeck resigning forces the hand of
Tallis to allow him to go to Scotland with Leeming to investigate the
crime scene.
When they arrive at the accident scene, Colbeck and Leeming discover
that the railway police superintendent is an old rival of theirs.
McTurk has his own mind about the accident and has no intention of
helping the two detectives from Scotland Yard solve the crime. The
police inspector, Malcolm Rae, is of a similar bent and not likely to
work well with the detectives from Scotland Yard.
While gathering information, Colbeck finds out that the railway has been
threatened by sabbatarians. Meantime back in London, a robbery occurs
at the home of the owner of the LWNR. Colbeck's father-in-law is sure
that the robbery isn't what it seems. He is sure that the burglar was
after the time of the train carrying the Queen to Balmoral would be
running, the details of which were in the safe which was broken into.
Colbeck is informed that the gunpowder for the attack on the railway
came from an army barracks. It convinces him that there is more to
come. Returning to London, the two detectives go in search of a
criminal who can break into safes. But will they find the information
in time to save the royal family?
Author Edward Marston builds up the tension as Colbeck and Leeming fight
their way to solving this murder mystery. A good, quick read.
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