Reviews

The Excursion Train by Edward Marston

mark_atkinson's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

readerworm28's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

bryan145's review against another edition

2.0

Not my favourite: the mystery wasn't particularly interesting, and never relied much on the deductive power of the detective. Other reviewers say the time period felt well realised but some strange anachronisms really took my out of it. Also some *blatant* spelling mistakes (one guy's name changes halfway through a passage). You could do better.

readingelli's review against another edition

mysterious

2.0

There are a lot of historical inaccuracies which I found extremely aggravating. I enjoy the thought of a Railway Detective but I’m not sure I’d be able to continue reading the series. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, and Violence

Moderate: Gun violence

techno's review against another edition

Didn’t connect with the writing, found it a bit dry

jonathanrobert's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

kerlthm's review against another edition

adventurous funny mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

bohemianharrison's review against another edition

adventurous informative mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

helenephoebe's review against another edition

4.0

Review - I really love the mysteries by Edward Marston; I've read the Nicholas Bracewell and Bow Street Rivals so far, and this series doesn't disappoint either. I love the contrast between Robert Colbeck and Victor Leeming. They work as foils to each other which is very clever. The setting is also clever as railways were just becoming popular in the mid-19th century, so Marston exploits that newness and uncertainty. The supporting characters were also quite colourful and really added to the story, with plenty of red herrings thrown in. However, I did manage to figure out who the killer was before it was revealed, which is unusual for me, I've normally got it so wrong!

Genre? - Historical / Mystery / Crime

Characters? - Robert Colbeck / Victor Leeming / Madeleine Andrews / Caleb Andrews / Nathan Hawkshaw / Adam Hawkshaw / Gregory Newman / Meg Newman / Superintendent Tallis / Winifred Hawkshaw / Emily Hawkshaw

Setting? - London & Ashford (England)

Series? - Railway Detective #2

Recommend? – Yes

Rating - 17/20

Full review at my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2019/09/26/book-review-the-excursion-train-by-edward-marston/

teal_reader's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Nice easy, quick read. You know where you are with these novels. If you feel the need for something straightforward, where the good guys triumph and there’s no heavy angst, then can’t really go wrong with any of the Railway Detective novels.