December 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.

Allows fans of Thomas to rediscover the original classic stories about the world's best-loved tank engine. This title includes the four original Thomas stories.

Anna Katharine Green's "The Detective Ebenezer Gryce Mysteries - Complete Collection: 11 Mystery Novels in One Volume" is a riveting collection of classic mystery novels set in the late 19th century. Green's literary style combines intricate plot twists with well-developed characters, making each mystery a thrilling journey for readers. The stories are filled with suspense, intrigue, and clever detective work, all written in Green's signature eloquent prose that keeps readers guessing until the very end. This collection showcases Green's talent for crafting intricate plots and clever solutions that have stood the test of time in the mystery genre. Anna Katharine Green, often referred to as the mother of the detective novel, drew inspiration from her love of mystery and crime fiction, as well as her keen observation of human nature. Her background in law and her passion for writing led her to create the iconic character of Detective Ebenezer Gryce, a brilliant and astute investigator who solves the most baffling mysteries with ease. Green's unique perspective and storytelling abilities have made her a revered figure in the world of detective fiction. I highly recommend "The Detective Ebenezer Gryce Mysteries" to readers who enjoy classic detective fiction and intricate, well-crafted mysteries. Green's collection is a must-read for fans of the genre, offering a glimpse into the Golden Age of detective fiction and showcasing the timeless appeal of masterfully written mysteries.

Discover the captivating treasures buried in the British Library's archives. Largely inaccessible to the public until now, these enduring classics were written in the golden age of detective fiction. "This is the perfect volume for fans of short, high-quality, fair-play detective fiction." —Publishers Weekly "Never had I been given a tougher problem to solve, and never had I been so utterly at my wits' end for a solution." A signalman is found dead by a railway tunnel. A man identifies his wife as a victim of murder on the underground. Two passengers mysteriously disappear between stations, leaving behind a dead body. Trains have been a favourite setting of many crime writers, providing the mobile equivalent of the "locked-room" scenario. Their enclosed carriages with a limited number of suspects lend themselves to seemingly impossible crimes. In an era of cancellations and delays, alibis reliant upon a timely train service no longer ring true, yet the railway detective has enjoyed a resurgence of popularity in the twenty-first century. Both train buffs and crime fans will delight in this selection of fifteen railway-themed classic mysteries, featuring some of the most popular authors of their day alongside less familiar names. This is a classic short story collection to beguile even the most wearisome commuter. These fascinating mystery stories are: For fans of Agatha Christie and Anthony Horowitz Perfect for readers of Classic Crime Fiction and Golden-Age Murder Mysteries Also in the British Library Crime Classics: Smallbone Deceased The Body in the Dumb River Blood on the Tracks Surfeit of Suspects Death Has Deep Roots Checkmate to Murder

When Robert Pomeroy, a young undergraduate at Corpus Christi College, finds a letter slipped under his door in the early hours of a rainy day, he flies into a panic. Hastily readying himself and dashing off a few lines for the porter to summon his friend Nicholas Thorpe, he hurries to the railway station. But he doesn't reach his destination alive. Inspector Colbeck and Sergeant Leeming are called upon to investigate this tragedy on the railway. It soon becomes apparent that Cambridge's hopes of success in the forthcoming Boat Race rested on Pomeroy's shoulders. With academic disputes, romantic interests and a sporting rivalry with Oxford in play, the Railway Detective will have his work cut out to disentangle the threads of Pomeroy's life in order to answer the truth of his death.

Three in one complete mystery novels.