The filming of a movie scene on a train in Yorkshire didn’t go as planned. The actor in the scene turned up late, when the crew begins filming they discover that a curtain has been drawn over the window of the train compartment, obscuring any view of the actor in the scene. And finally when the train pulls in, he fails to exit the train compartment as expected. Unfortunately he’s dead, shot in the head, in an empty compartment that couldn’t have been accessed while it was moving.

The Railway Murders was my introduction to DCI Oldroyd and his team. The premise of victim alone in a compartment on a moving train made for an interesting “locked room” mystery. I really enjoyed the start of each chapter, which began with a description of different famous films, all of which involved railways in their plots. Lots of suspects and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. And while I did think that the last chapter could have been cut down quite a bit, the book as a whole made for an entertaining read.

A good police procedural with a nod to filmmaking and traditional mystery writers.

I have read quite a few of the books in this series now and enjoy them very much. I especially like the Yorkshire setting which takes me back to where I went to University. I was excited when the Strid was mentioned too. It is a beautiful, very scenic place.

The Railway Murders sees DCI Oldroyd investigating the murder of an actor on a train. It is another angle on the locked room mystery theme as the victim was on his own in a compartment on a moving train. How did the killer get in and out of the compartment without being observed? A second person is murdered, another abducted and it turns into a major crime indeed.

I enjoyed all the police work and the characters who make a great team. Some of the plot was furthered by hunches, but they were always valid ones based on facts, not guess work. There were plenty of suspects and a solution to how the murder was done, but it takes a policeman's memory of the past to introduce the vital clue that solves the case. Highly recommended especially if you like your mysteries set in England and even more so if you like steam trains.

I'm so happy to read a locked room mystery and it's really a locked room mystery.
This is a well plotted and entertaining story, the puzzle was not easy to solve and the mystery kept me guessing.
Entertaining and gripping.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

This is my first book in this series, it is a cozy Agatha Christie type story. A murder in a small private railroad car, no one who worked on the train, an old fashioned steam engine, no one on the movie set, an added bonus, a film crew was onsite also, which leaves the intrepid Inspector Oldroyd with a plethora of suspects. I liked the main characters, it is the type of mystery where you curl up with hot cocoa, a throw, and your favorite reading space, and spend a few hours in another place, and forget the present . Although not a historical mystery, it reads like an old fashioned story, my favorite genre are Historical Mysteries, so that is a good thing. I did think what world are these people living in when a murder takes place and the main detective asks his partner to come and stay with him at this Spa type Inn where the main attraction is hiking on the moors!? Really? Okay, at least the character addresses this unbelievable scenario. I recommend for those looking for an escape for a few hours. I tried to give it a 3.5
Thank you #Netgalley #AmazonPublishingUK
carolintallahassee

Though The Railway Murders is the eighth in the delightful Yorkshire Murder Mysteries series, it doesn't heavily rely on previous volumes to ensure a fabulous reading experience. It is written in the locked-room style with a heaping helping of wonderful wit and keen observations. Red herrings are sprinkled throughout, simple yet effective.

DCI Oldroyd has been asked to investigate a crime right up his alley...tricky and unique. His detecting team and his partner Deborah find themselves smack dab in the middle of danger on all sides. Filming of a historical movie has not gone entirely as planned as a very dead body appears in a train scene. The body is that of a disliked and entitled actor whose list of enemies isn't exactly short. When Deborah goes missing the investigation kicks into high gear. But there's more.

The gorgeous Yorkshire setting and food and nature descriptions are my favourite aspects as they add such beauty to an already good story. I also really liked the clever book and film blurbs as chapter headings. The characters are a bit undeveloped but then I am a character-driven reader.

Mystery readers who enjoy their murders on the light side ought to enjoy this refreshingly clean book. It's cozy yet has substance.

My sincere thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this charming book.

Thank you @amazonpublishing
& @netgalley for the E-Arc of ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀɪʟᴡᴀʏ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀs.
Pub date: 9th Nov 2022
The opinions are my own.
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This is the eight book in the Yorkshire Murder Muysteries.
A murder mystery that is reminiscent of a classic Agatha Christie with shades of Alfred Hitchcock thrown in.
The book has only six chapters, each beginning with an interesting paragraph about a daily murder mystery or book.
The writing is pretty straightforward and leads us smoothly into the plot.
A quiet Yorkshire town is buzzing with the excitement of A film crew shooting at A historic railway station.
A murder on the moving train during shooting sets off a mood quite similar to that in Murder On The Orient Express. I enjoyed the no nonsense attitude DCI Oldroyd, along with his colleague Steph and his intuitiveness towards the case was commendable. The book is very atmospheric which added charm to the plot and it was easy to visualise the setting since Yorkshire is a very scenic place ( I have visited it ). The insight into the actor's real lives was interesting and informative.
There were a few loopholes I had an issue with but overall, a good yet difficult locked-room murder mystery, an enjoyable read.

I thank Amazon Publishing and Netgalley for an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

A film group is at the Wharfedale Bridge Inn preparing for filming of some scenes at the Wharfdale Railway. The actors are all in Edwardian costume. Actor Daniel Hayward goes into a railway car by himself, and other actors are in other cars. The train backs out of the station and goes through a tunnel. Then it goes forward to the station. Hayward, the character who has just inherited a fancy home is supposed to come out to greet the family and housekeeper of the home. When he doesn't exit the car, they enter it and find Hayward dead, shot in the side of his head. Hayward is a difficult man to like. He was a womanizer, is always late to arrive, and difficult to work with. He thus has many enemies. Interestingly, he has had relationships with at least two of the others involved with the film, including the director's wife.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim Oldroyd is out bird watching when he gets a call from Bob Craven who needs his help at Oldthwaite Station. The dead man was alone in the railway car, and the train only stopped to move forward in front of many people. There are lots of possible culprits, but the biggest problem is to figure out how they managed to kill him when he was alone in the car. There was no connection between the cars, so someone would have had to step out of one car to the ground and then entered another which would have been impossible when the train was moving. When a railway enthusiast gets an idea of what happened, he is shot and killed. Well into the story, when a good suspect still hasn't been identified, Oldroyd gets a clue about Haywood's past from his boss who has been away on vacation. This allows Oldroyd to determine the perp and allows for a very exciting end.

This 8th book in the series is very well done.

Take a quaint, authentic steam engine driven railroad, add a film crew producing an Edwardian themed movie, add a picturesque location and what do you have? Murder.

When an actor, the sole passenger, is found dead in his compartment when the train pulls into the station, DCI Jim Oldroyd and his team are called in to investigate. The actor, an unlikeable womanizer who has been passed by the MeToo movement, has enemies. There are many, including ex-wives, former girlfriends hurt by his constant philandering, husbands of those girlfriends, creditors and more. As Oldroyd works through interviews with suspects, another murder changes everything.

Each chapter of The Railway Murders begins with a reference to a long ago movie or story that featured a train.This delightful technique keeps attention focused on the train and the rich history of steam railways in the Yorkshire area. As always, J. R. Ellis’ Yorkshire murder mysteries are character and plot driven and totally satisfying. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and J. R. Ellis for this ARC.

I enjoyed this tale of murder in a locked train car that takes place during a film shoot. The details of the train aficionados and the film people were a treat. What starts as an intriguing murder mystery in a lovely location morphs into something more sinister and violent. Oldroyd and his team work well to find the killer before more people are killed including someone they care about.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advanced reader's eGalley.

Another great read from J.R Ellis , this series keeps getting better and better.
DCI Jim Oldroyd loves locked room mysteries and he excels at solving them , this particular mystery involves a rail compartment where an actor is murdered.
The story involves revenge , deceit and murder all wrapped up in a quick , easy and enjoyable read.
Oldroyd is a complex character and at times wears his heart on his sleeve , but I enjoy his straight forward Yorkshire attitude and his character makes the books a joy to read.
The writing is excellent and moves at a fair pace , and makes for an all round entertaining read. Looking forward to the next in the series.
Highly recommended!
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK.

*3.5 stars rounded up.

Book #8 is the latest in a British police procedural series set in Yorkshire. The plot is a twist on the 'locked room' trope. A film set in Edwardian England is being shot at Wharfedale Railway where the lead actor is found murdered in one of the vintage steam engine's compartments. There was no way in or out without being observed so where did the murderer disappear to? Detective Chief Inspector Jim Oldroyd is called in to lend a hand on the case by Detective Inspector Bob Craven at the Skipton police station who feels overwhelmed by the complexity of the case.

It's a head scratcher, alright, and of course no one saw anything. The victim was not a very honorable person so there's no end of suspects and motives to sort through. But then another man is killed and someone Oldroyd cares about is threatened. Just what in the world is going on here?

Interesting characters, intriguing mystery and the lovely Yorkshire setting make for a quick and entertaining read. Ellis is a diehard Yorkshireman and that shows in his descriptions of the locale and even a bit of poetry.

One of the characters mentions going to a branch of the famous Betty's Cafe in Ilkey for one of their iconic Fat Rascals, described as a large, rich, fruity scone. Of course, as a baker, I had to look for a recipe for that and found one that claims to be close to Betty's of York Tea Room Fat Rascals recipe: https://www.food.com/recipe/bettys-of...

Yum! I can't wait to try them with a cup of tea!

I received an arc of this new mystery from the author and publisher via Net Galley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

A murder story set on a steam railway in West Yorkshire. The investigating team is well portrayed, some of the other characters are more one dimensional . Occasional dialect used, which is ok, but I am not wild about (I come from Yorkshire) . Not a bad read, not particularly suspensful but the crimes do make sense. The scenary is well described and you do get a good impression of the area and the people living tbere ..
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I would like to thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for and advance copy of The Railway Murders, the eighth novel to feature DCI Jim Oldroyd of North Yorkshire Police.

A film shoot at a steam railway station is thrown into disarray when one of the lead actors is shot in a moving carriage with the film crew outside and the perpetrator has vanished. DCI Oldroyd is asked to investigate because puzzling crimes are his specialty and he takes his partner Deborah to Wharfdale with him for a break. After another murder she finds she has bitten off more than she can chew.

I enjoyed The Railway Murders, which is a baffling, locked room style story that held my attention throughout. I have read several novels in this series and think that the execution of the crimes is overly complicated and this is no different. Still, it is a feature and I like the puzzle they present. Of course, my mind does not work like the author’s so I didn’t guess this one either, be it how the murder was done or the killer’s identity.

The novel is told from various points of view and while the killer features there is not the slightest hint about identity or motive. Oldroyd and the team therefore believe that victimology will reveal all, but Daniel Hayward, a womaniser and debtor with an awkward personality has many detractors, so it’s not until the end of the novel that the motive becomes clear and with it the perpetrator. By this time Oldroyd already knows the how, having taken inspiration from small comments made by others.

The Railway Murders is not the most polished novel and it has its feet firmly planted in Yorkshire, but its warmth and the conundrum of how the murder was committed mean that I can recommend it as a good read.

This locked room mystery had me from page one! On a movie set an actor is murdered in a train carriage while the cameras rolled outside. Detective Inspector Oldroyd and his team have to figure out how the murderer got in and out of the carriage without being seen, while investigating the many enemies the victim had. This was a twisty mystery with plenty of red herrings. I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for providing me with an advance readers copy!

Such an entertaining, clever and challenging book. This was worthy of the great Sherlock Holmes! I spent ages trying to puzzle out out the murder could have been carried out and the murdered escape. I loved the period feel of the book too , with the steam trains and the actors in costumes . The police characters were immensely likeable too . Very cleverly constructed and very well written, with brilliant characterisation and plot. I would love to read more of these .

A film crew is filming at the old Lower Whafedale railway station. But during filming one of the actors is murdered. But this will not be the last one. DCI Jim Oldroyd and his team investigate. But what could be the motive
Unfortunately they missed an obvious procedure to determine the killer much earlier.
But overall an enjoyable modern mystery.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A solid police procedural with a beautiful Yorkshire Dales setting, this book is a very enjoyable read. Although part of a series, it easily works as a stand alone novel. The plot moves along at a steady pace, and there are some good twists towards the end. I absolutely loved the descriptions of bird song, budding flowers, etc.

When an actor in an Edwardian period movie is found dead in an empty railway carriage during filming, the DI of the Skipton station calls in DCI Jim Oldroyd. There was no way anyone could have gotten into or out of the compartment and no one saw or heard anything.
In this newest case for Oldroyd, he is again called into a puzzling murder investigation. When another murder takes place and then a kidnapping, he and his team know they are closing in,
A quick, enjoyable and scenic mystery with a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this e-galley of "The Railway Murders".

3.5 stars, rounded up
The Railway Murders is a locked room murder mystery, although this time, it’s more a locked train compartment. An historical film is being filmed when during a scene, an actor turns up dead. DCI Oldroyd is brought in to investigate. The actor is an old rogue, with three marriages behind him, a habit of groping the young actresses and a pile of debts. Needless to say, this means there are plenty of suspects. But the question is who had the ability to plan out the murder and accomplish it? Soon, there’s a second death.
Ellis writes in a style that makes it easy to envision every scene. He also has a love of the area as some of its sights are lovingly described. He made me want to visit.
The story moves at a consistent pace with plenty of action and lots of red herrings. The plot was well thought out and plausible. I had no clue who the murderer was. I enjoy the main characters and there’s a nice blend of personal vs. professional lives here.
This is the 8th in the Yorkshire Murder mystery series but can easily be read as a stand-alone.
I love that each chapter starts with a summary of a classic railroad mystery.
My thanks to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for an advance copy of this book.

Wow this was dull. An interesting premise—a locked door mystery on A film set—yet it plod on and on. Usually film settings are full of colorful characters—not this one. I gave up on this.