Edward Marston Railway Detective Collection 12 Books Set

Edward Marston Railway Detective Collection brings together twelve novels set against the early development of the British railway system. The series follows Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck, repeatedly drawn into crimes that unfold on trains, platforms and along the lines, where new technology and expanding routes create fresh opportunities for theft, sabotage and violence.

Across the collection, Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming investigate robberies, derailments and murders, from Lancashire viaducts to London termini. Cases range from protecting valuable cargo and tracing stolen goods to unpicking deaths linked to railway staff, schedules and hidden motives, with each investigation shaped by the pressures and dangers of the railways.

Included titles

• The Railway Detective
• The Railway Viaduct
• The Iron Horse
• Murder of the Brighton Express
• Silver Locomotive Mystery
• Railway to the Grave
• Blood on the Line
• Timetable of Death
• Signal for Vengeance
• Points of Danger
• Fear on the Phantom Special
• Death at the Terminus

Key details

• 12-book collection
• Series featuring Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck
• Includes investigations with Sergeant Victor Leeming
• Stories set around the British railway system

Synopses

The Railway Detective

In the early days of the British railways, Colbeck is brought in after a train is robbed and the driver is badly injured. As he works through the case, he must navigate the realities of a fast-growing industry while closing in on those responsible.

The Railway Viaduct

Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming investigate sabotage and murder on a Lancashire railway viaduct. With industrial unrest as a backdrop, they search for the reasons behind the attacks and the people orchestrating them.

The Iron Horse

With the Great Exhibition of 1851 approaching, Colbeck is assigned to protect a train carrying a valuable shipment. When the train is derailed and the cargo stolen, he races to recover the goods and stop further assaults.

Murder of the Brighton Express

A devastating crash on the Brighton Express causes multiple deaths, but evidence suggests it was not an accident. Colbeck must work through wreckage and deception to identify the killer behind the derailment.

Silver Locomotive Mystery

A silver coffee pot made in the form of a locomotive is stolen while in transit. Colbeck and Leeming pursue the thieves through railway links and high society as they piece together the crime.

Railway to the Grave

An apparent suicide on the tracks draws Colbeck into a case with links to an unresolved episode from his past. The investigation forces him to confront painful memories as he searches for the truth.

Blood on the Line

A notorious prisoner escapes during transport by train, and the pursuit turns deadly. Colbeck must recapture the fugitive while deaths mount along the railway lines.

Timetable of Death

The death of a stationmaster leads Colbeck into the world of timetables and tightly managed schedules. What appears straightforward begins to reveal conspiracies and long-held grudges.

Signal for Vengeance

Colbeck and Leeming investigate the murder of a signalman, uncovering deception and concealed motives among railway workers. The case challenges their judgement as well as their powers of deduction.

Points of Danger

A body found near the track draws Colbeck into a dangerous web of intrigue. As he follows the clues, he must also protect those close to him from threats he cannot yet see.

Fear on the Phantom Special

The Phantom Special, a luxury train service, becomes the focus of unsettling incidents that spread fear among passengers. Colbeck is tasked with keeping travellers safe while identifying the person behind the events.

Death at the Terminus

In the final book, a high-profile murder at a busy London terminus strikes at the heart of the railway system. Colbeck must draw on all his experience to solve the case and bring the series to its conclusion.