Death at the Terminus (Railway Detective 21)
England 1865. At the behest of the railway company’s chairman, Inspector Robert Colbeck of Scotland Yard travels north to investigate the death of a guard, killed in an explosion on a stationary train at York terminus. Was it those troublesome Irish again, perhaps anarchists, or simply an unfortunate accident? The case is wide open with suspects and clues queueing for attention. Affronted by outside involvement, the city’s police chief immediately arrests a notorious criminal from the local Irish community, reasoning he was “born guilty”, and claims to have solved the crime. Dismissive, Colbeck plugs away with an open mind and two helpful sidekicks.
Given that Marston has written “well over a hundred books”, I was expecting slick and sophisticated; instead, sadly, I got simplistic and caricatured. Grammar, dialogue, narrative and plot-line, all are devoid of genuine threat, real intrigue, humour, swearing or even local accents. Yes, there’s mystery, but barely credible characters (that police chief, that Irishman, sundry others) hinder the progression of what could have been a competent thriller. The bombing itself is already over by the third paragraph of a very short first chapter, so no anticipatory thrill there either; indeed, overall, I felt I was reading a book written for teenagers. Nevertheless, those who enjoy a simple tale, short easy sentences, over in an afternoon, will find this just the ticket.
