Can't Wait Wednesday: The Corpse on the Bristol Train by Edward Marston (The Railway Detective Series Book 25)

 For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, The Corpse on the Bristol Train, by Edward Marston. It says this is the "grand finale" of the series. The cover reminds me of an old fashioned mystery novel like those in the British Classic Crime series. Set in Victorian England with a male detective lead it also sounds a lot like the Anne Perry books I love.

In this story, a young woman is found dead on a train when it stops in Bristol and the detectives must untangle who she is, why she died, and who she was traveling with.

Cozy Mystery, Historical Mystery

October 22, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

On the last train of the day London Paddington to Bristol, a young woman drifts into what appears to be a peaceful sleep - only to be discovered dead on arrival. With no sign of violence and no clue to her identity, the case threatens scandal for the Great Western Railway. Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck and Sergeant Victor Leeming are sent to uncover the truth behind the silent corpse. 

All witnesses agree on one she travelled with a devoted husband who vanished into the night. As the trail leads through railway stations, theatres and dark deception, Colbeck must expose a killer who hides behind superficial charm.

Stacking the Shelves #107

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Click on the cover to learn more about the book!

Uncrowned Queen: The Fateful Life of Margaret Beaufort, Tudor Matriarch by Nicola Tallis

Kindle purchase: Free with points

This is one of the few books exclusively devoted to the story of Margaret Beaufort, the mother of Henry Tudor. Most books cover her as a side note in the Wars of the Roses but I know she lived a long, complicated life and sacrificed a lot for her son to become King. I'd like to know more about her. 

The Devil's Queen: A Novel of Catherine de Medici by Jeanne Kalogridis

Kindle purchase: $2.99 this week

I still need to tackle Jean Plaidy's three volume series on Catherine de Medici as it's been on my bookshelf for way too long. This book looks interesting and was a great price this week. I confess I know very little about her but her life was definitely not boring! I read the sample and it looks promising. 

Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book Three)

Libby borrow: Free

I am determined to read or listen to all the Hercule Poirot books eventually. This book is a collection of eleven short stories, which typically aren't my favorite, but I have to go in order and it says this is book three. Hopefully these include Hastings quite a bit as he is my favorite addition to the stories. 

Hallowe'en Party by Agatha Christie (Hercule Poirot Book 36)

 

Publication Date:

November 1, 1969

Genre: 

Cozy Mystery, Holiday Mystery, Historical Mystery

Length:  

336 pages

Series:

Hercule Poirot Mysteries

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

A teenage murder witness is drowned in a tub of apples at a Hallowe'en party.

Joyce, a hostile thirteen-year-old, had boasted that she once witnessed a murder. When no-one believes her, she storms off home. But within hours her body is found, still in the house, drowned in an apple-bobbing tub.

That night, Hercule Poirot is called in to find the 'evil presence.' But first he must establish whether he is looking for a murderer or a double-murderer!

It's Agatha Christie and Hercule Poirot at their finest.

My Thoughts: 

Of course October is the perfect time for a Halloween mystery and what better author to read than Agatha Christie! The story begins not with Poirot, but rather with his friend, mystery author Adriane Oliver having an unsettling encounter at a children's Halloween party. I absolutely love Oliver's character and so I knew I'd like this one just from her being in it. She is witty and funny and always up for giving Poirot her two  cents worth about his cases. 

The victim had confided in Oliver that she'd witnessed a murder and then was herself murdered at the party. As Oliver and Poirot set out to interview potential suspects and piece together random clues they discover that not everyone is telling the truth about who they are, what they saw, or even where they'd been. Poirot rightly wants to know who else has died recently in the area and under what circumstances. 

Further inquiries reveal a scheme involving a will, a forgery, more murders, and even possible Satanic rituals. There is one part of the mystery that I feel makes it almost impossible to figure things out on your own. I give Christie a lot of credit for this one as the twists and turns are very difficult to follow or guess outright. While the ending was interesting as always and I love it when Poirot is explaining things to everyone, I found the initial reason behind it all a little far fetched and unlikely. Still, this was a good one and I certainly give her points for creativity. It's a good one to read in October for sure!

Can't Wait Wednesday: Princesses of the Later Middle Ages: Royal Daughters of the Plantagenets by Sharon Bennett Connolly

 

For this week's Can't Wait Wednesday hosted by Tressa at the book blog, Wishful Endings, I'm featuring, Princesses of the Later Middle Ages, by Sharon Bennett Connolly. She is one of my favorite history authors and I always look forward to promoting her newest book. I love to listen to her podcast, A Slice of Medieval, where she examines the lives of many important medieval figures. 

It shows this book has already been released in the UK but is set to release here on October 30th. It should be wonderful with meticulous research as all her works are. Check out her amazing blog if you are into history, History....the interesting bits!

History, Medieval History

October 30, 2026

Book description courtesy of Goodreads:

England’s princesses emerge as diplomats who shape alliances through transformative marriages.

‘My daughter wanted me to treat her more like a princess. So, I married her to a stranger to strengthen the alliance with Poland!’

The medieval princess has often been portrayed as a pawn in the political machinations of her father or brother, married off to distant lands for the sake of peace, or land, or both. Never to be seen or thought of again.

But was that really her fate?

Princesses of the Later Middle Ages examines the lives and experiences of England’s princesses, from the treasured daughters of Henry III to the children of Edward IV, whose lives were turned upside down when they were declared illegitimate.

What we see is a very different story, where a foreign marriage does not mean eternal exile, but a purpose in life, where a princess is a diplomat, an ambassador for England in her new country. She is the bond between allies – most of the time.

Princesses of the Later Middle Ages shines a light on the lives and experiences of these remarkable women.

Stacking the Shevles #106

 

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Reading Reality. It's a place to showcase any books I have purchased, borrowed, or been lucky enough to have been given an advance copy of. Hope you find something that looks interesting to you or that makes you remember a favorite book you need to finish. Happy reading y'all!

Click on the cover to learn more about the book!

Son of York by Amy Licence 

Kindle purchase: 99 cents with points

I have been back on a Wars of the Roses kick lately, rewatching The White Queen on STARZ. I just can't help myself. It seems like there is always something new to learn about the people, the battles, the political turmoil. I'll probably be reading about it the rest of my life. This is book one of two in Amy Licence's series and I couldn't pass up the great price. Looking forward to seeing her take on it all. 

The Queen of Last Hopes by Susan Higginbotham

Used book store: $2.49

I have come across this author before and right in step with my Wars of the Roses fascination, she has written several books about that time period. This one focuses on Margaret of Anjou and her tumultuous life married to King Henry VI during the wars. 

The Case of the Christie Conspiracy by Kelly Oliver (A Detection Club Mystery Book One)

Hoopla Digital Borrow: Free

Having just finished Oliver's Fiona Figg mystery series I'd like to start this one next. She imagines Agatha Christie if she were solving mysteries herself in the 1920's. I have to confess I was skeptical when these books came out because it is a risky move to take such a beloved author and real person and create an imaginary life for them. But they appear to be so popular I'm willing to give them a chance. And of course the covers are adorable.