Actually I couldn't finish this book. Martin's books are popular so the fault's all mine. I like history, I like mystery, but Jim Stringer seems to me a Pooterish character, slightly obsessive in his love of all things railway. I gave 100 pages a go, but when I realised I was putting off picking the book up to read in favour of more interesting activities (washing up, anyone?) I decided it was time to call it a day. ( )

This is the second in the series and Jim Stringer has moved from London to Halifax to work as a fire man for the 'Yorkshire and Lancashire Steam Company'. On an excursion to Blackpool the train that Jim is working on is suddenly halted in its tracks by a gritstone placed on the tracks ahead of it and a young woman loses her life. Jim sets out to discover who tried to wreck the train.

Once again I should point out that I live in the North, work on the trains there, often even to Blackpool, have a friend who lives in Sowerby Bridge so know the area quite well and enjoy reading about social history. The author paints a vivid picture of Halifax in 1905, the great weaving mills with their Wakes Weeks holidays to a Blackpool in its heyday, the music halls and pubs of the era and of course, the Edwardian steam railway. I found this all fascinating and compelling. In particular I found the description of the first trip on the steam-engine thrilling: could imagine the landmarks I know flashing by, the heat and sweat of stoking the firebox, the almost dance-like nature of keeping your balance on the footplate whilst the engine was barrelling along at full steam- I almost felt I was there with them.

Unfortunately the whodunit element of this book just didn't work for me. It just wasn't particularly gripping. Jim seems to spend the whole book dreaming up tenuous scenarios to fit in each person. The authorities barely seemed to care – I didn’t either.

Jim is a likeable character, an intelligent, working-class railwayman but I saw little in the way of character development from the first in the series. I have several more of these in my possession so I don't intend to give up on them totally but it may be a while before I get to the next in line. ( )

Having previously read 'The Necropolis Railway' and enjoyed it when I saw this on the shelf of the hotel I was staying in I dived in.

Continuing on from the first book we're in Edwardian England; Jim Stringer has landed his woman, moved into a house and started on a new railway line where someone attempts to derail his train. Naturally, amateur sleuthing ensues.

One thing to note is whilst these books are not fast paced or action filled they are very detailed and atmospheric so its a bit of a departure from many other modern books which seem to be constantly action filled lest the reader gets bored and turns on the television.

Overall an excellent picturesque Edwardian mystery novel. ( )

A gentle steam railway-based who-dunnit, set in Edwardian England, this is the second book in the Jim Stringer series, though the first that I have read. There were plenty of train details, most of which probably passed over my head, but didn't distract from the story. I enjoyed the descriptions of the various Northern towns which are visited in the book - you could easily picture yourself there on a Wakes trip.

The ending of the book was a bit of a let-down after the long build-up, but enjoyable all the same. ( )

The second installment of Andrew Martin's Jim Stringer series. Jim has moved back north and is working for the Lancashire and Yorkshire. Still not a driver, but working towards that, Jim's colleague is the rather dapper Clive, well-dressed, a hit with the ladies. The Stringers decide to rent out a room in their home to George, another up and coming lad, who works in the ticket office.

As the weather warms up, Clive and Stringer are to take mill workers on a jolly to Blackpool, unfortunately, this is when tragedy strikes. In the midst of turbulent times, socialist groups against mill owners and even the railway companys, who is to blame? Jim takes up the case when a split second decision leaves him emotionally involved.

I enjoyed picking up Jim's story, as well as the character of his wife being more fleshed out, she is no shrinking violet of a housewife. I look forward to reading more about her. Martin also does well to set the scene historically, the mills of northern England and the trips to the seaside towns.

As in The Necropolis Railway, there is a lot of train info here, Martin fairly peppers the text with trivia and jargon, but it never feels affected or as if it were getting in the way of the story. This is a light murder mystery, but the railway backdrop gives it its quirky edge. ( )