On Track for Murder
Abigail Sergeant’s brother Bertrand has difficulties which, in the late nineteenth century, could have sent him to an institution, but Abigail is hoping that a new start emigrating to Australia will bring them both a better life. Of course, though, things are never as simple as that. When a murder is committed the evidence is damning, the obvious guilty party found standing over the body, bloodied knife in hand. Abigail is certain the police are wrong, and sets out to prove it.
“Chasing across Western Australia with a reluctant Constable Dunning as her chaperone, Abigail is determined to uncover the truth. If only she had an inkling of what that may be. Through deception, kidnap, sabotage and arson, Abigail finds a resolve she didn’t know she possessed… She turns out to be a capable young woman. But is that enough to save an innocent from injustice?”
This novel is the type of paperback which folks in the Victorian era, determined to read serialised novels by aspiring authors, would have purchased from bookstalls at main line stations. Popular murder and horror titles were increasingly churned out in syncopation with the rolling bogies of the overnight expresses in the 1890s, when On Track For Murder is set.
Stephen Child’s book is well written and like a steam engine gathering speed, picks up momentum after a slightly slow start. The action has more unexpected twists and turns than a roller coaster ride. That said, characterisation is fairly simplistic and background plot touching on disabilities, women’s rights, gender roles and religious fanaticism is not deeply explored. The good guys are very sweet and innocent; the bad guys plainly evil and long strayed from the straight and narrow.
There were several small ink smudges on some pages which should be drawn to the attention of the printer. Proofreading is of the highest quality but maybe another edit would polish the characterization and mixing of verbose Victorian with modern colloquial English.
At the end, Abigail and Bertrand live happily ever after so this is enjoyable to read, if perhaps a little predictable, but with crime, history and romance all rolled into one it was entertaining.
