About this series
Railway Detective is a series by Edward Marston. We list 25 books in this series so far, in reading order.
Start with Book 1: The Railway Detective: The bestselling Victorian mystery series.
Tagged on most books in this series: City (Historical), Male Protagonist, British and Police detective.
If you like Railway Detective, try Cotton Cops Mysteries by Anna Markland, Inspector French by Freeman Wills Crofts and A Sergeant Cribb Investigation by Peter Lovesey.
What readers say
Readers enjoy the Railway Detective books for their 1850s setting, steam-age railway history and the easy partnership between the dapper, clever Inspector Colbeck and his steady sergeant, with a gentle romance running alongside. Fans describe the series as reliable, brisk and easy to read. Common criticisms are a hero who seems too perfect, mysteries that are easy to solve early, plain, explain-everything prose and dialogue that feels modern. Some reviewers find the train detail dry, and opinions on later entries are mixed, with complaints about padded domestic scenes and rushed endings.
Best for: Readers who like gentle Victorian mysteries with railway history and a dependable detective duo.
Summary of public reader reviews, updated October 2026.
📖 Reading Order
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