Books by Edward Marston

Book Synopsis1866. On a train bound for Portsmouth, an elegant woman shares a compartment with the lecherous Giles Blanchard. It is a lucky encounter for her, as she steps off the train after picking his pocket and in possession of scandalous material for a potential blackmail. It is a less fortuitous meeting for Blanchard, who will never reach his home on the Isle of Wight alive.Detective Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are swiftly dispatched to sift through the evidence. With Queen Victoria poised to spend the summer on the island, a speedy resolution to the case is imperative for their superiors. Tracing Blanchard''s killer is an endeavour freighted with difficulties, but will the fact that their inquiries lead them to the door of a royal residence be one complication too many?

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Book SynopsisStaring on the maiden voyage of the Lusitania, American private detective George Dillman and intelligent young Englishwoman Genevieve Masefield, make a winning duo for these compelling whodunnits aboard the iconic luxury liners of the time.

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

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Book SynopsisAs crowds of passengers rush to make the departure of the London to Brighton Express, a man watches from the shadows nearby - Chaos, fatalities and unbelievable destruction are the scene soon after when the train derails just outside the Balcombe Tunnel. Could it simply be a case of driver error? Detective Inspector Colbeck thinks not.Trade Review'Marston is a wonderful writer of historical detective fiction, and this investigation of a rail crash, set in 1854, is a gem of period detail' Peter James

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Book SynopsisWhile rumours are rife of Queen Elizabeth's declining health, celebrated theatre company Lord Westfield's Men suffer their own bitter blows. Stage manager Nicholas Bracewell can keep the company afloat, but as the Queen sinks towards death, he discerns connections between the company's misfortunes and a larger shadow over England...Trade Review'Steeped in authentic Elizabethan detail ... equal portions of humour and suspense.' Booklist

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Book SynopsisDecember 1860. Headed for the morning shift at the Swindon Locomotive works is an army of men pouring out of terraced houses built by the GWR, a miniature town and planned community that aims to provide for its employees from cradle to grave. Unfortunately, boiler smith Frank Rodman is headed for the grave sooner than he''d expected, or he will be once his missing head is found. Colbeck, the Railway Detective, finds his investigation into Rodman''s murder mired in contradictions. Was the victim a short-tempered brawler, or a committed Christian and chorister who aimed to better himself? On the trail of Rodman''s enemy as the season starts to bite, Colbeck finds little festive cheer in the twists and turns of this peculiar case.

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Book SynopsisA maritime mystery from Edward Marston, author of the bestselling Railway Detective series.

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

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Book SynopsisSouthampton, 1910. When the Oceanic sets sail its ultimate destination is New York. But it must make one very important stop first: at Cherbourg, to pick up internationally renowned financier and art collector J. P. Morgan, fresh from a continental buying spree. George Dillman and Genevieve Masefield, the ship''s detectives, are nervous about the presence of such an important passenger, not to mention his valuable cargo. After all, it is rare for a transatlantic voyage to pass without incident for the two sleuths. The everyday difficulties of managing passengers including a charming rake intent on causing mischief and a controversial painter travelling with his bohemian wife and his alluring French model, are brought to a pitch when a major art theft takes place and a throat is cut. Dillman and Masefield must draw upon all their experience to find the killer before it is too late.Previously published under the name Conrad Allen, the Ocean Liner series is making waves with a new generat

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Book SynopsisSeptember 1666. Meeting in the ashes of a devastated London, Christopher Redmayne, an architect with Cavalier instincts, and Jonathan Bale, a Puritan constable, are hardly kindred spirits. Redmayne dedicates himself to rebuilding the city that Bale believes was destroyed by its own inner corruption.Trade Review'A thoroughly entertaining romp - just the book for an evening's read by a snug fire when it's pouring down outside' HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

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Book SynopsisInspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are summoned to Burnhope Manor when young Imogen Burnhope and her maid Rhoda have disappeared on a non-stop train journey to Oxford.Trade Review'It has the reader hooked from the very first page. We sympathise with the characters and need to know what happens, while the descriptions of the railway system add authenticity to this well-written and enjoyable book.'Yorkshire Gazette & Herald

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Book Synopsis1859. St Mary's Church, Spondon. A little girl playing hide-and-seek jumps into a freshly-dug grave to find a dead man already occupying it. It is the body of a senior director of the Midland Railway. Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming travel to Derbyshire to investigate.Trade Review"One of a great series, Timetable of Death is a classic example of a Victorian police detective story. Filled with period detail, the pace is steady and the plot is thick with suspects, solutions and clues. Marston has a real knack for blending detail, character and story with great skill. Reading this as a stand-alone case, the reader will be compelled to get further cases of the "Railway Detective.""--Historical Novels Review

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Book Synopsis1851 and the city of London anticipates the grand opening of the Great Expedition. The London to Birmingham mail train is looted and derailed and Detective Colbeck fights to untangle a web of murder, blackmail and destruction.Trade Review'A grand romp very much in the tradition of Holmes and Watson and Cribb and Thackeray - packed with characters Dickens would have been proud of. Wonderful, well written' Time Out

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.Trade Review'A wild romp with subplots as amusing as those of many an Elizabethan comedy' Kirkus Reviews 'A richly detailed evocation of time and place ... remains suspenseful to the last page'. Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisAn eagerly awaited collection of brand new, specially commissioned short stories from the Master of historical crime fiction, featuring his quick witted Railway Detective, Inspector Colbeck.Trade ReviewTold with great colour and panache a wonderful sense of inhabiting the period. In Colbeck and Leeming, Marston has created a fine pair This is how history mysteries should be: fine storytelling, marvellous characters reminiscent of the great authors of the mid-Victorian period, and a sneaky mystery, too. 'In this specially commissioned collection of short stories featuring Edward Marston's hugely popular detective Robert Colbeck, the resourceful investigator faces a host of baffling conundrums' GOOD BOOK GUIDE 'Highly recommended' Antipodean Holmesian Society

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Book SynopsisAfter a calamitous performance and the death of one of their own, Lord Westfield's Men are more than despondent. So when Nicholas Bracewell is offered a new play, anonymously penned, his proposal seems too good to refuse. It is the story of a simple death used to conceal a greater treachery, perhaps even treason.Trade Review'A wild romp with subplots as amusing as those of many an Elizabethan comedy' Kirkus Reviews 'Marston's wit and vivid evocation of Elizabethan London's sights and smells provide a delightfully ribald backdrop for this clever series' Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA train veers off the rails near the Scottish border and plunges into the lake below. Inspector Colbeck is summoned to investigate and finds that a large, complex conspiracy may be afoot.Trade Review'Marston's attention to detail is second to none. His research is meticulous and this enables the narrative to come alive.' Bolton News

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Book Synopsis'London is a veritable cesspool... A swamp of corruption and crime'. When Sir Julius Cheever's son, a notorious rake, goes missing, and a blackmailer begins terrorising London's most dissolute fops, it seems plausible that the two events are connected.Trade Review'All the swashbuckling thrills and romantic swagger of blood-and-thunder tragedies' New York Times Review

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Book SynopsisYorkshire 1855. When Colonel Aubrey Tarleton walks into the path of a speeding train, he is crushed to death. Inspector Robert Colbeck is immediately put on the case. Tarleton's wife had recently gone missing, but was the colonel responsible for her disappearance? It's up to Colbeck and his trusty sergeant Victor Leeming to uncover the truth.Trade Review'A grand romp very much in the tradition of Holmes and Watson. Packed with characters Dickens would have been proud of. Wonderful, well written' Time Out

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Book SynopsisHis name was Will Fowler, an actor in the esteemed theatrical company called Lord Westfield's Men, a vibrant young man flushed from the success of a recent performance at The Queen's Head. Alas, a tavern brawl left him dead - but not before he gasped for Nicholas, the resourceful manager of the company, to administer a just revenge.Trade Review'Intriguing...different and diverting' KIRKUS REVIEWS

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Book SynopsisWhen the deathly horrors of the Black Plague decimate London's audiences, the troupe of players called Lord Westfield's Men take to the high road. But wherever they go, they are thwarted by misfortune and baffled by mysteries. Their scripts are stolen, their players abducted. A dead man walks, and a beautiful woman hears the voice of God.Trade Review'Absorbing ... splendid work' KIRKUS REVIEWS

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Book Synopsis1855. On the LNWR train a criminal is being escorted to his appointment with the hangman. But the wily Jeremy Oxley, con-man, thief and murderer, has one last ace up his sleeve: a ruthless accomplice willing to do anything to save her lover.Trade Review'Political intrigue, lots of railway interest, romance, and a fast-moving plot, this has to be a book that will keep anyone interested to read to the last page. Thoroughly recommended' Friends of the Railway Museum Magazine

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Book SynopsisGuy Fawkes Night, 1857. Joel Heygate was the popular stationmaster at Exeter St David s railway station. So the town is horrified when his remains are discovered in the embers of the annual Bonfire Night celebration. Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck unearths three suspects, but are they missing something?"Trade Review'Told with great colour and panache... A wonderful sense of inhabiting the period.' Sherlock Magazine

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Book SynopsisFaced with what initially appears to be a motiveless murder, Colbeck is intrigued by the murder weapon - a noose. When it emerges that the victim had worked as a public executioner, Colbeck realises that this must be intrinsically linked to the killer's choice of weapon. However, the further he delves into the case, the more mysterious it becomes.Trade Review'Marston continues to produce historical crime writing of the first order, replete with authentic period detail, a vivid cast of characters, and a plot that makes for compulsive reading' Good Book Guide 'Told with great colour and panache... This is how history mysteries should be: fine storytelling, marvellous characters and a sneaky mystery, too' Sherlock Magazine

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Book SynopsisLord Westfield's men are in dire straights when the company is offered a new play which could drag them out of their rut. However, during the play's first performance, a cast members is struck down, making it his first and last appearance on stage. Suspicion is rife and trusty book keeper Nicolas Bracewell refuses to let the crime go unpunished.

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Book SynopsisWhen unexpected disaster strikes Lord Westfield's Men during a packed performance, Nicholas Bracewell must save the day. Will a vagabond clown prophesy the end of the troupe, and perhaps the demise of Nick himself?Trade Review"One of the best outings of this series."

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Book SynopsisThe audience was merry indeed when a third devilish imp joined the two that were written into the script. But backstage all was uproar. The third demon seemed far too real. Even Nicholas Bracewell, the company mainstay, was shaken. Before the curtain rose again, Lord Westfield's Men would know danger as they'd never known it before ...Trade Review'Colourfully costumed and staged, with a bawdy, raffish and utterly amiable cast ' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.Trade Review'A richly detailed evocation of time and place ... remains suspenseful to the last page.' Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisWhen fire destroys their London theatre, Lord Westfield's players seek out venues in the countryside. But stage manager Nicholas Bracewell is distracted by a shocking tragedy - a mysterious messenger from his native Devon, murdered by poison. Though the messenger is silenced, Nicholas decides to return home and conclude some unfinished business.Trade Review'A wild romp with subplots as amusing as those of many an Elizabethan comedy' Kirkus Reviews

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Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.Trade Review`This is how history mysteries should be: fine storytelling, marvellous characters reminiscent of the great authors of the mid-Victorian period, and a sneaky mystery, too' Sherlock Magazine

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Book Synopsis'Edward Marston is a master of his craft' - Daily Mail

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Book SynopsisFebruary, 1918. In the small hours of a cold morning, a burglary in Limehouse has escalated into a sinister siege between a band of thieves and the authorities, and a police constable lies dead. Detective Inspector Harvey Marmion and Detective Sergeant Joe Keedy hasten to the scene where attempts at talking the men into surrendering have been met with stony silence. When the door is eventually battered down, Keedy bravely leads the way in. Then a gunshot is heard: Keedy has been hit. While his partner is rushed to hospital, Marmion is on the trail of the burglars, following leads as to their previous targets and overall goals. As defenceless Keedy remains in the sights of the murderous thieves, Marmion delves into the secrets that lie behind this fatal incident ...

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Book SynopsisBook 20 in the bestselling Victorian mystery series.

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Book SynopsisBombay,1909. Genevieve Masefield and George Dillman make a living as detectives aboard the early twentieth century's most extravagant ocean liners.

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Book SynopsisStaring on the maiden voyage of the Lusitania, American private detective George Dillman and intelligent young Englishwoman Genevieve Masefield, make a winning duo for these compelling whodunnits aboard the iconic luxury liners of the time.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEdward Marston has written well over a hundred books, including some non-fiction. He is best known for his hugely successful Railway Detective series and he also writes the Bow Street Rivals series featuring twin detectives set during the Regency; the Home Front Detective novels set during the First World War; and the Ocean Liner mysteries.Trade Review"Set in 1817, Marston's rollicking fourth Bow Street Rivals mystery (after 2017's Date with the Executioner) pits bounty hunter twin brothers Peter and Paul Skillen against the Bow Street Runners, London's first official police force. Three straightforward story lines keep the action moving. One follows the mainly failed attempts of the official police to beat the brothers in their quest to apprehend wily and rather likable thief Harry Scattergood. Another involves Peter's efforts on the behalf of Clemency van Emden, a well-to-do woman who has come to London in search of her estranged father. In the third, Paul hunts for the dastardly highwaymen who robbed the coach carrying his attractive companion, Hannah Granville, the "finest actress of her generation." Kidnapping, grave robbing, stalking, theatrical peccadilloes, and miraculous inventions keep the reader entertained, as do visits to inns, pubs, restaurants, and brothels, not to mention some daring gallops along the road between London and Bath. Marston skillfully creates a lively sense of derring-do."--Publishers Weekly

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Book Synopsis1854. As the Cardiff-bound train puffs out of Paddington Station, young Hugh Kellow wraps a protective arm around his large valise. He has been entrusted with a priceless silver coffee pot, designed in the shape of a locomotive, by his elderly silversmith employer.Trade Review'A grand romp very much in the tradition of Holmes and Watson' Time Out

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Book SynopsisWestfield's Men are out of work. When their widowed patron chooses a Danish bride and plans a wedding in Elsinore, the troupe is invited to perform, as guests of King Christian IV. But the play they select will prove a disastrous choice. Westfield's Men soon find themselves embroiled in political intrigue and religious dissension.

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