Read in 2023 - 1: The Railway Murders

The Railway Murders (The Yorkshire Murder Mysteries, #8)

by J.R. Ellis

The latest book in the series about DCI Oldroyd was just as enjoyable as the others – thank you, Monica, for reviewing it on your blog! Otherwise I would not have known about its release until much later, probably.

Once again, Oldroyd is asked to investigate an „impossible“ murder – a classic Locked Room Mystery.

And once again, his trusted team rallies round. Steph and Andrew appear as a couple comfortable in their own skins and with each other, and this time, Steph is not only playing a bigger part in the investigation than Andrew, but she also faces an important decision in her private life.

Oldroyd’s partner Deborah is involved, too – in more ways than one. Their relationship is more pronounced in this book, I think, and I quite like that.

His sister makes an appearance, too, but his daughter is only mentioned briefly, and his ex-wife even less.

The case? A historical railway in Yorkshire (where else!) is used for filming a period drama. One of the actors, disliked by many in the industry for his womanising, and notorious for borrowing money without paying it back, is shot dead in the carriage he was to get off from while they were filming.

Nobody else was in the compartment with him, nobody was seen to get in or leave, and there was no access from the other compartments or carriages.

The list of suspects is long, and it soon becomes apparent that this can’t have been the work of just one person. That most of the suspects are actors does not make interviewing them any easier! Also, the railway is under pressure to open to the public again, and the film people need to know if they can go ahead with their work.

After the investigation seems to be stuck in a rut, sudden dramatic developments (and more deaths) speed the story up. Things come to a climax, and after the mystery is solved, the team is left with a new appreciation for what the good in their lives.

The story is set in summer, and the description of the Yorkshire landscape (Bolton Woods and surroundings, mainly) is very evocative. It felt odd reading about sun-dappled woodland paths, flowers and birds, while waiting for trains on windswept platforms in the dark and cold of a December or January morning or evening.

Hopefully, J.R. Ellis comes up with many more cases; I really like this series and will certainly buy the next book as soon as I learn about it (from Monica's blog, probably!).