The Iron HorseDerby Day at Epsom Downs. A multitude of people crowd to watch the races: dukes and dustmen, bishops and beggars, privileged ladies and prostitutes. The gamut of Victorian society and a hotbed for crime and crooks of all kinds. With the nation a-flutter in the run up to this national event, a disembodied head is discovered on a passenger train at Crewe; the first in a murky course of events that takes in murder, fraud and race-fixing. Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and his assistant are assigned to the case and are soon snarled up in a web of skullduggery stretching across the country. They are forced to ask themselves, just how much is someone prepared to hazard to win? |
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Aleppo arrest believe betting Bonny Rimmer bookmaker Brian Dowd Caleb Andrews Crewe crime Derby Week detectives door duel Edward Tallis Epsom eyes face Fagge favourite Feeny's Fido's filly gave George grinned groom Hamilton Fido hand happened Hendry's Hibbert hope horse Inspector Colbeck Ireland Jerry Doyle jockey John Feeny killer Kitty Lavender knew Lady Hendry laughed letter Limerick Lad LNWR London look Lord Hendry Maddy Madeleine Andrews Maguire Marcus Johnson Merry Legs Miss Lavender morning never night Odysseus painting Peter Cheggin police race racecourse racehorses railway Robert Colbeck Scotland Yard Sergeant Leeming severed head smile someone speak stables station stay Stenton superintendent sure Swinnerton talk tell Thank There's thing told took train trainer victim Victor Leeming watch What's wife win the Derby winner woman Wyvern Hotel young lady