3.0
The Body on the Train
ByPublisher Description
The eleventh whodunit in this “satisfying historical mystery series” set in post-WWI England is sure to delight fans of Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspear (Booklist).
Two murders. A one-way ticket to trouble. Can Kate Shackleton derail the killer?
London, 1929. In the darkness before dawn, a railway porter, unloading a special train from Yorkshire, discovers a man's body, shot and placed in a sack. There are no means of identification to be found and as Scotland Yard hits a dead end, they call on the inimitable Kate Shackleton, a local sleuth, confident her local knowledge and investigative skills will produce results. But it's no easy task.
Suspicion of political intrigue and fears of unrest in the Yorkshire coalfields, impose secrecy on her already difficult task. The murder of a shopkeeper, around the same time, seems too much of a coincidence. The convicted felon was found with blood on his hands, but it's too tidy and Kate becomes convinced the police have the wrong man.
By then it’s too late. Kate finds herself in a den of vipers. The real killer is still at large, and having tinkered with Kate’s car, nearly causes her to crash. Not only that, but Scotland Yard has turned their back on her. As Kate edges toward the shocking truth, she's going to need all the strength and resourcefulness she can muster to uncover this sinister web of deceit.
Two murders. A one-way ticket to trouble. Can Kate Shackleton derail the killer?
London, 1929. In the darkness before dawn, a railway porter, unloading a special train from Yorkshire, discovers a man's body, shot and placed in a sack. There are no means of identification to be found and as Scotland Yard hits a dead end, they call on the inimitable Kate Shackleton, a local sleuth, confident her local knowledge and investigative skills will produce results. But it's no easy task.
Suspicion of political intrigue and fears of unrest in the Yorkshire coalfields, impose secrecy on her already difficult task. The murder of a shopkeeper, around the same time, seems too much of a coincidence. The convicted felon was found with blood on his hands, but it's too tidy and Kate becomes convinced the police have the wrong man.
By then it’s too late. Kate finds herself in a den of vipers. The real killer is still at large, and having tinkered with Kate’s car, nearly causes her to crash. Not only that, but Scotland Yard has turned their back on her. As Kate edges toward the shocking truth, she's going to need all the strength and resourcefulness she can muster to uncover this sinister web of deceit.
Download the free Fable app
Stay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.
Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building tool
Rate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tags
Curate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesStay organized
Keep track of what you’re reading, what you’ve finished, and what’s next.Build a better TBR
Swipe, skip, and save with our smart list-building toolRate and review
Share your take with other readers with half stars, emojis, and tagsCurate your feed
Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communitiesThe Body on the Train Reviews
3.0
“"The opposite of justice is poverty."
It's 5/5 for me as it's my first mystery book I've read. It's light and easy to read. Not too predictable for me. I like the ending, so yeah 5/5.”“it was okay i guess ! the ending was a bit rushed i did enjoy it!!! i did sturrgle with all the different view points tho and following along might have just been a me problem tho!”
“This one wasted no time at all - straight into the murder. Which i loved. It set the tone immedietely, gave me something to grab onto, had me forming theories before i’d even settled in.
That said, the beginning was a little overwhelming. So many questions, so many names and identities, my brain did feel stretched. It did build steadily after a while, but i quickly realised this was the kind of book you need a clear head for.
And scotland yard? The way they drip-fed information - or rather, withheld it, was infuriating! If this was real life and i was caught up in the case, i’d be furious.
The structure of the chapters worked well, short enough to be manageable, easy to follow, just enough detail. The chapters gave me that dangerous “oh i’ll just read one more before bed” mindset…turned into three more, then four more.
Not everything landed however, some sections fell into a list-like style - this happened, then that, then i went here, then they left. The imagery was fine, even good at times, but the simplicity made it feel flat.
Still, i couldn’t help enjoying the main characters determination. Even when evidence was thin, she was already plotting who she wanted behind bars, loved it.
Book was engaging, quick, a strong hook, sometimes muddled and overloaded with characters/information. Not perfect, but definitely kept me turning the pages.”
“An easy to read story with a likeable cast of characters. It was well paced, if a little bland, but it was refreshing to read a non london centric detective novel - I liked Kate Shackleton all the more knowing she was from near Leeds.”
About Frances Brody
Frances Brody lives in Leeds where she was born and grew up. After leaving school at 16, she worked and traveled, including a spell in New York. She then won a place at Ruskin College, Oxford, and afterwards studied at York University. Before creating the Kate Shackleton mysteries, Frances wrote historical sagas, winning the HarperCollins Elizabeth Elgin award for most regionally evocative debut saga of the millennium. When not writing or reading, Frances likes to test her less than brilliant map reading skills by walking in the Yorkshire Dales.
Other books by Frances Brody
Start a Book Club
Start a public or private book club with this book on the Fable app today!FAQ
Do I have to buy the ebook to participate in a book club?
Why can’t I buy the ebook on the app?
How is Fable’s reader different from Kindle?
Do you sell physical books too?
Are book clubs free to join on Fable?
How do I start a book club with this book on Fable?
