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Overview
From the author of The Necropolis Railway, The Blackpool Highflyer, and The Lost Luggage Porter comes another thrilling mystery featuring railway detective Jim Stringer. It is winter 1909, and Jim desperately needs his anticipated New Year’s promotion in order to pay for a nurse for his ailing son.
Jumping at any opportunity to impress his supervisor, Jim agrees to investigate a standard assault in a nearby town. But when his train home hits a snowdrift and a body is discovered buried in the snow, Jim finds himself tracking another dangerous killer. Soon he is on a mad chase to find the suspect, trailing him to the furnaces of Ironopolis and across the country on a dangerous ride to the Highlands. As pursuer becomes pursued, Jim begins to doubt he will ever get his promotion—or that he will survive this case at all.
Synopsis
From the author of The Necropolis Railway, The Blackpool Highflyer, and The Lost Luggage Porter comes another thrilling mystery featuring railway detective Jim Stringer. It is winter 1909, and Jim desperately needs his anticipated New Year's promotion in order to pay for a nurse for his ailing son. Jumping at any opportunity to impress his supervisor, Jim agrees to investigate a standard assault in a nearby town. But when his train home hits a snowdrift and a body is discovered buried in the snow, Jim finds himself tracking another dangerous killer. Soon he is on a mad chase to find the suspect, trailing him to the furnaces of Ironopolis and across the country on a dangerous ride to the Highlands. As pursuer becomes pursued, Jim begins to doubt he will ever get his promotion- or that he will survive this case at all.
The New York Times - Marilyn Stasio
The story is solid, but it's the extraordinary period atmosphere that elevates both this novel and this series. Whether he's describing a long night journey to a hellish blast furnace or a quick run to the city on the early-morning milk train, Martin writes with intense feeling for the beauty and dangers of life as it once was lived on the iron road.
Editorials
Marilyn Stasio
The story is solid, but it's the extraordinary period atmosphere that elevates both this novel and this series. Whether he's describing a long night journey to a hellish blast furnace or a quick run to the city on the early-morning milk train, Martin writes with intense feeling for the beauty and dangers of life as it once was lived on the iron road.—The New York Times
Publishers Weekly
In Martin's solid fourth Edwardian-era whodunit to feature railway detective Jim Stringer (after 2008's The Lost Luggage Porter), a blizzard forces the train on which Stringer, his wife and young son are riding home to York one cold December day to stop at a remote station. When workmen find the remains of photographer Paul Peters in a nearby storage building, a length of rope dangling from the roof beam above the body, Stringer discounts the obvious explanation that the man hanged himself. After Stringer realizes the exposures in Peters's camera are missing, he getsA on the trail of a secretive upper-class society whose ranks had been dwindling until it went out of existence a year earlier. If he solves the murder, Stringer might just get promoted to sergeant. While the revelation of the crime's motive may disappoint some mystery fans, the period atmosphere and railroad lore provide ample compensation. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Library Journal
In Jim Stringer's fourth adventure (after The Lost Luggage Porter), the railway detective is worried about his very ill young son, and he finds himself on the outs with his railway police force supervisor. Money is a decided issue; Stringer may lose his job, but he gets involved in a murder investigation when his train hits a snowdrift and uncovers a body. In 1909, the British railways were flourishing, and this portrait of the era will captivate railroad aficionados. For mystery collections where historicals circulate.
—Jo Ann Vicarel