A young girl has discovered a body in a grave. In and of itself, it
shouldn't be extraordinary, but this is a newly dug grave and the person
it is intended for isn't the one in it! Detective Robert Colbeck and
his sergeant Victor Leeming immediately take the train to Derby to
investigate. They have been called out by a man who was a candidate for
chairmanship of the Midland Railway, as was the victim. Both Colbeck
and Leeming are suspicious of his motives.
A name in a reward broadsheet creates suspicion for Colbeck and when he
speaks to the son of the victim, his suspicions are aroused even
further. Leeming stays in Spondon, the little town where the victim
was found, to get a sense of the community and hopefully find things out
while Colbeck takes his investigation further afield. Colbeck also
learns that the family of the victim has issues.
Colbeck sends Leeming back to London to report to Superintendent Tallis
and to investigate the family's black sheep there. What he learns with
the help of Colbeck's wife is a revelation. Once together again, the
pair of detectives begin to slowly piece together the mystery. It is
only a chance accident that puts Colbeck on the right track.
Edward Marston's murder mystery is well written and concludes with a
surprise ending despite the author throwing up numerous potential
suspects. A good read.
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