Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck of Scotland Yard has earned the nickname of The Railway Detective because he has solved several major crimes connected with the railways of Victorian England.

In this story he is called to the English countryside to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Alexander Piper on Hallowe'en. Piper vanished into a wall of fire which suddenly appeared in front of his train, which was dubbed the Phantom Special. Colbeck and his loyal sergeant Victor Lemming travel to England's Lake District to solve the mystery. Piper's a troublemaker with many enemies, but is protected from any consequences of his bad acts: he's he nephew of Lord Culverhouse, a powerful local aristocrat. Colbeck and Lemming chase down clues and interview many people from a collection of interesting characters. There's plenty of false starts, diversions and red herrings, before the culprit is unmasked, in a subdued but fatal conclusion.

The story is told against a background of the natural beauty of the Lake District and its people. Readers get a view of life in rural England in Victorian times. Unlike some other Victorian mysteries (e.g. Anne Perry), the social commentary is thin. There's some commentary about the debates over building the railways into the countryside. One of the characters, a poet, is an avid opponent of their construction. The gentry does not escape getting an unflattering portrayal: it's not too much disclosure to reveal that Lord Culverhouse cannot be left alone with young women.

This is the 17th in a series (plus a collection of short stories) and has numerous recurring characters from previous books. While it helps to have read a prior book to be acquainted with the backstories this one can be read as a standalone without difficulty.

Marston is a good storyteller. This is a fast-moving story that is enjoyable and entertaining. Recommended ( )