Based on a true story, it was a riveting and interesting read. The amount of detail from beginning to end, from the time of the crime to the end of the trial was meticulous. I looked forward for evening to come so I could get stuck in, loved it
Received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
#TheDublinRailwayMurder #NetGalley.

This is a reconstruction of the events surrounding the locked room murder of a Railway Cashier in Dublin, in 1856. The author had access to such an extensive range of official and unofficial records that there are very few of the ‘invented’ scenes needed in most such books. All relevant background history is also included, so we are aware that: Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, its legal system closely reflects that of England, there is a Detective branch (modelled on the system England had set up in 1840), it is a decade after the potato famines, there are strata within society defined by religion, nationality, affluence.
“The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there” is a commonly used quotation. And this story is a police procedural set in that country. It is successful in keeping the reader up to speed, although it sometimes becomes a bit repetitive. In a novel, for example, we would acquire the intricacies of the staircases accessing the murder scene through the plot, whereas here we get it explained at almost every mention. This is, I think, a consequence of the material being obtained from statements and court questioning. This changes after the acquittal (that’s not a spoiler, the story is based closely on reality) when we learn something of the subsequent history of the suspect, and the involvement of a Phrenologist.
If you like almost pedantic adherence to the details then you’ll love this. If you prefer the more nuanced and confected style of a typical mystery novel you may find this a struggle. As a work of scholarship it is meritorious.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

3.5 stars A fascinating true crime recollection of a horrific murder in the late 1800’s in Dublin. Diligently researched, the book gives detailed descriptions of the crime, the investigation and the setting of the railway station. There were at times too many characters for me to keep up with, but this only serves to remind the reader of the complexity of this type of crime in the 19th century.

This book is set in 1856, and is based on the true accounts of the time, about the horrific murder of George Little, and of the theft of a large sum of money that he was counting at the time. George was the chief cashier for the Broadstone Railway terminus in Dublin.
This book explores all aspects of the case, from the original murder scene, throught to arrests of various people, bungled investigations, the court case & what came after.
A well written account, that kept me interested from start to finish.
Not only was the story interesting, but it also gives an insight into life in Victorian Ireland.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone who loves true crime.

My review of The Dublin Railway Murder by Thomas Morris

This is a literary true crime story set in Dublin in the mid 19th century. It centres around the death of the Chief Cashier of the West Midland Railway Company at their head office in Dublin. He was found in his office, which was locked from the inside, with the door key missing. The only window was nailed shut. Initially thought as suicide it is soon discovered that he was murdered. Thousands of pounds of gold and silver are found in the room, untouched. However, it is subsequently discovered that there is a substantial amount of cash missing.

The book is based on historical records and effectively is a police procedural story following the investigation and trial. A leading Dublin lawyer and an experienced detective are on the case but their investigations lead nowhere. The story highlights the huge differences in investigations then compared to the modern era and this makes for very interesting reading.

I wasn’t too sure about the book at the beginning but as I read more, and could clearly see how well it had been researched and written, I ended up totally fascinated by the story line. Having visited the areas of Dublin involved helped me to visualise the case. Enjoyable reading and I would give it 4.5⭐️

Thanks to the publishers and to NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in return for this review.

An engrossing historical account of a true crime from 1856 in Victorian Dublin, Ireland. The level of geographical detail given by the author of the busy railway station where the crime took place, along with the in-depth accounts taken from police records, witness statements and contemporary newspaper records of the time which describe the crime itself, the investigation and the subsequent trial, all combine to really put the reader at the centre of the action. The author is to be congratulated on the level of research done to accomplish this, which has resulted in a tremendous and really enjoyable read. I will certainly be on the lookout for more works from this author.

Fascinating account of murder investigation in 1856, drawn from court records, newspaper articles and evidence. This is clearly meticulously researched, - but neither is it dry, rather the narrative flies along at the pace of a fictional crime thriller. This never veers into speculation, or theorising and any asides to the narrative serve only to provide background to the people at the heart of the story or to give context through social history which adds to the readers understanding.

This is a brilliant true crime read, and highly recommended - particularly to fans of Kate Summerscale.

They say truth is stranger than fiction, and that's certainly the case with the Dublin Railway Murder. Thomas Morris takes us through, with admirable and exhaustive attention to detail, one of the weirdest crimes I've ever heard tell of: George Little, chief cashier of the Broadstone Railway Terminus, is found one morning in his office with his throat cut and his head beaten in. But the door was locked from the inside! Dublin's finest leap into action to solve this terrible murder.

The weirdness in Little's death is not so much the ultimate means and motivation for it, which isn't too extraordinary when it's finally revealed, but the circus around it. Yes, this true crime has everything: lying witnesses, police misconduct, bungled evidence, hidden spoils, archaic laws, phrenology, and a suspect that ultimately wouldn't stack up too shabbily next to your eccentric Ian Bailey's or even Joe Exotics.

Morris does a wonderful job bring all the suspects and witnesses, and the world of Victorian Dublin itself, to life. The cast is large and the facts numerous and complex, and they're marshalled with great clarity. There are times, though, that the twists are so sudden and implausible that you wish Morris was a little less of an impartial documentarian and a little more of a sensational one to give the whole thing a bit more of a narrative. The wealth of information in the first half is commendable,but perhaps a little too thorough, and there are at least three amazing end-of-episode-sudden-cut-to-credits moments that would have shone with more emphasis. Morris has a wry voice that comes through sometimes, and I would have loved to hear more of it.

Gripes aside, The Dublin Railway murders is a fascinating story, tragic, strange and even a little farcical at times, and a splendid gift for true crime fans - especially the more historically minded ones.

I found this well-written book very much more difficult to get into than I'd expected, and what I'd thought would be a fun read turned out to be quite a slow burner. It is very well researched, giving me great insights into my ancestors' lives in Dublin in the nineteenth century, and it doesn't seem as though they had an easy time.

This is an ideal book for fans of locked-room murder mysteries who are happy to tackle a very thorough real-life murder investigation, and also for those keen to find out more about life in Victorian Ireland.

Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy in exchange for this honest review.

The line in the blurb that drew me to this book was "This meticulously researched true-crime tale reads like a quintessential Victorian thriller" but sadly although the book was meticulously researched and is a full and detailed narrative it did not come across as a Victorian thriller and was therefore less than satisfactory reading to me.
This is the story of George Little, chief cashier of the Broadstone railway terminus, who is found dead in November 1856. Initially the police thought he had taken his own life, but further investigation found a large number of blows to the head as well and the large gash across his throat. Part of the reason they thought Little had committed suicide was that the office door was locked from the inside and various coins and notes that Little had been counting were scattered about. Further investigation revealed however, that a large sum of money was missing from the room and thus the police had a motive for the murder.
Using the records of the time Thomas Morris has pieced together the police investigation into Little's death. Numerous interviews were carried out with the station employees, a canal was drained looking for the murder weapons, and all the buildings were searched to try and find the missing money. The police carried out a huge investigation but the newspaper records of the day show that public were far from happy with their efforts.
The different characters - employees of the railway company, the various police, authorities, lawyers and others - make for a daunting number of names to remember as one is reading, and the layout of the railway station was obviously complex with different doors that were locked overnight and never became very clear in my mind.
The facts and the relentless detail make this a dry book to read and it was only really once the police had a suspect that it became more interesting to me. The subsequent affect the trial had on this character and his attempts wheedle money out of the public through performances and lectures was fascinating as was Frederick Bridges' attempts to measure and analyse his brain as part of the new science of phrenology.
All in all, whilst I enjoyed some aspects of this story and can full appreciate the amount of research and writing that went into it, I found many stretches of it rather too detailed and certainly not as exciting as the blurb made it appear. For any student of Victorian life and times it would make an excellent read, for those wanting a face pace thriller, perhaps not.
With thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Vintage for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for an advance copy of this excellent book.
The book tracks the investigation, arrest of the suspect, and subsequent trial following the murder of a cashier at a Dublin Railway station.
It is however much more than a true-crime story it is a wonderful piece of social history. It shows us what life was like in victorian Dublin under British Rule.
As the investigation proceeds and various suspects are considered and discarded we are given insights into the social hierarchy of the time and to the plight of the average working man who has little chance to escape from the poverty into which he was born.
When a suspect is finally charged we are led through the trial and the events that follow. The reaction of the Irish public to events is clearly shown as is the autocratic manner of the British rule.
The book is well researched using official documents and newspaper reports of the time.
I enjoyed reading this book and can recommend it to all those interested in the period both as a crime and a historical piece of work.

The Dublin Railway Murder is the reconstruction of George Little's murder and consequent murder investigation, arrest and trial of the final suspect. Using a string of materials like court proceedings, archived documents from police, local authority, the railway company and newspapers from that period, Thomas Morris builds a very comprehensive narrative of this puzzling case. The writing has been so engrossing that I couldn't put it down and by the end of it I've been left as frustrated as all those who have so closely followed the case back in the day. I need answers, lol!!!

To compliment the main narrative, Morris also manages to bring to life Victorian Dublin in the aftermath of the Great Famine, looking at living conditions, the rule of law, the ascent of the railway, relationships with Great Britain and the Indian front. Really he doesn't leave anything unmentioned and I personally learned quite a bit. This is going to be a great read for true crime and history lovers.

The Dublin Railway Murder is an account of a real life Victorian murder that happened in Dublin in 1856.The Author has researched it extremely well, with great detail and those that have an interest in Victorian crime will enjoy it immensely. It was interesting to learn how crime was investigated in that era ,long before DNA and Computers. Many thanks to the Publisher the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

Historical true crime has become very popular recently and this is a great addition to the genre. Author Thomas Morris provides great detail to explore a brutal murder at Broadstone Station in Dublin. It is 1856 and Ireland has been devastated by the potato famine, debt, and emigration. At 8am on Thursday 13th November, George Little, a 42-year-old cashier for the Midland Great Western Railway Company, set off for work. The sole breadwinner for his widowed mother, sister, and aunt, he was a serious man, with a great deal of responsibility, but he was well liked at work.

Reading this, it is clear that Broadstone Station was very busy, almost like a little town by itself, with people living and working within it and hours of work very long. Mr Little regularly worked late, and that day was a busy one, with many cash boxes to be tallied and sorted. When his assistant left, the cashier – often the last to leave work – locked the door and worked alone. The next morning, he did not appear for work, but it was later when he was discovered murdered in his locked office.

This book looks at the investigation into George Little’s murder, how this ‘locked room,’ mystery was solved, the pressure on Superintendent Augustus Guy to solve the crime and the various suspects. Like the best historical true crime books, this explores not only the crime, but the historical period, widening its scope to look at the railways, phrenology, and other such subjects. It is packed with detail and a very in depth look at the crime, trial and aftermath. I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.

This book is an extensively researched review of actual events that took place in mid 19thC Dublin. There are a lot of characters involved and I had some difficulty in keeping track of them at first. It shows in detail that the supposed suicide is in fact a locked room murder. The initial police investigation was riddled with errors but further investigations bring a conclusion. Real world events don’t always have neat endings and the ability to disappear from any records in the Victorian age is is a factor. It is however, an absorbing account of crime investigation before the advent of forensic evidence.

Really enjoyed this Victorian story of a true crime. It certainly shows how policing and forensics have changed over the years. It’s told at a good pace and I really didn’t want to put it down as each chapter saw another piece of the puzzle solved and I always wanted to know the next bit.
It also showed how poor people really were and how desperate they might be just to survive. A really good story.

A very slow burn of a story, which is a mixture of fact and fiction. I felt it got bogged down in far too much detail, with so many characters, causing the narrative to slow to snail’s pace. The writing is very formal, so difficult to warm to.
It did demonstrate, almost in real time, the difficulties of investigating and solving a brutal murder back in the 1800s. This would work well for a reader interested in real crimes, but sadly not for me. I do however admire the huge amount of research done by the author for this book.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy of this book.

The author a one time BBC Producer and a freelance journalist is experienced and prolific. He interrogated the files on a notorious murder investigation in 1856 in Dublin Ireland.
A cashier George Little at Broadstone Railway Terminus was found dead at his workplace. Initially the police thought it was suicide. However a thorough examination showed he had been brutally murdered. Because of the intricate layout of the offices, the police suspected that it had to be a railway employee who was the murderer.
You quickly realise how difficult it was for the police in those far off days. Without a witness or catching someone in the act, there was no scientific way of proving guilt.
This was an Ireland before independence, still governed by English laws. This is a very unusual story. When eventually someone is charged, after several false trails, the story is only part way through The legal complexities make sober reading.
Some interesting facts come out of various members of the legal teams. One was a one time paramour of the author Jane Austen! Another has a descendent Amber Rudd who is an ex M.P. and Cabinet Minister for the Conservative government. There was also the father of a then three year old Oscar Wilde! Incredible - you couldn't make it up!
An interesting and engaging look at a vanished world, where people worked long hours for little pay and leisure time was virtually none existent. It serves to remind us that we are so better off today even though we do not appreciate it.
Recommended as a good read..

The year is 1856, the place is Victorian Dublin, and it’s the setting for a most notorious crime, a case that will flummox all those involved. Well respected employee of the Midland Great Western railway George Little, a cashier at the Broadstone terminus is found dead in his office, the door locked from the inside and no sign of an intruder. The manner in which his life has been taken is brutal and whilst the first assumption to be made is that he’s taken his own life, it quickly transpires police are looking at the scene of a murder. What is the motive, given no money appears to have been stolen, and how has the killer entered and escaped from the room? Thomas Morris has forensically trawled through the archives to bring this locked room true Victorian murder mystery to life, painting a vivid picture of city life in a country gradually recovering from the Great Famine. Capturing the murder mania that sweeps throughout the city Morris endeavours to captivate his readers with an in depth analysis of the crime, taking you on a step by step guide through the process from the beginning, with the gathering of evidence and witness statements through to the trial and beyond involving government officials, detectives, railway employees, suspects and ultimately the accused.

The author leaves no stone unturned in his recounting of the details of this case, setting the stage with an insight into George Little’s character, his personal life and his job description before moving on to the crime itself. The intricacies of how this murder took place gave me a headache but I did enjoy the in depth character analysis of the many potential suspects and the police personnel that the author provides. There’s no faulting his attention to detail. This is a murder investigation that from the outset is flawed with the author showcasing the inefficiency and ineptitude of those in charge time and time again. I like historical fiction but I wasn’t so keen on this historical true crime. From the synopsis I think I was expecting maybe something a touch more lighthearted, more salacious, more entertaining and not so dry (and frankly dull in places). I don’t agree with the statement that forms part of the publisher’s blurb that this is as compelling as any thriller and I certainly didn’t find it pacy. Considering the length of the book is only 384 pages, there were times I’d have believed it was twice that length. It’s so crammed full with facts that I found it to be a dense read and on occasion felt I was back at school with my history textbooks. The amount of individuals names to keep hold of in your head is quite a challenge and I admit I was initially put off by the incredibly long list that appears at the beginning of the book.

HOWEVER I’m glad I persevered as once the focus shifted to the accused I did become more engaged with this investigation which until this point yielded very little in the way of success. Or maybe I just became used to the writing style whose tone is understandably serious. The wheels of justice that grind so painstakingly slowly was just as frustrating for me as a reader as it must have been for the detectives and all those concerned. I particularly liked the Frederick Bridges phrenology aspect and the emphasis on the way in which the accused’s status is elevated to that of a celebrity, albeit a reviled one. There’s definitely an echo, particularly in the aftermath of the investigation of that old cliche “mud sticks” which is just as true today for anyone who finds themselves on the wrong side of the law and involved in a very public trial. It’s interesting to note too how little has changed in terms of the role the press play in sensationalising big murder cases. The spreading of malicious gossip and/or false news is not a new phenomenon! Even though at times I felt like I was wading through treacle I did finish this book more enlightened and educated regarding the legal processes and criminal justice system in Victorian Ireland as a whole. One of the most fascinating facts I gleaned from this read was in relation to witnesses and giving evidence. I was shocked to discover whose evidence would automatically be deemed inadmissible! Apprising his readers of the fate of some of the key players in this murder investigation is a nice note to end on although I did raise an eyebrow at one or two of the outcomes!

Whilst undoubtedly interesting in places overall I found this to be a dry and at times laborious read. I appreciate, respect and admire the meticulous approach the author has taken in researching this Victorian murder which in itself is worthy of 5⭐️. However taking into account the all important enjoyment factor I’m afraid I’m inclined to settle for a less impressive 3⭐️. Clearly I’m a fair weather history lover; I can either take it or leave it depending on the presentation of the facts and this veered too much towards textbook material for my liking. I’m always keen to read outside of my favoured genres but in all honesty this is probably one I’d pick up in a bookshop or a library, um and ah over for a while before deciding to return to the shelf! But of course I can now only make that comment having ploughed my way through the contents!

My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

True Crime in Victorian Dublin.

The savagely beaten body of George Little is found in a pool of blood in a room where the door has been locked from the inside. Who did it and how? Detective Augustus Guy investigates.

Meticulously researched, with a dramatic courtroom scene and an insight into the social conditions of Dublin and Liverpool in the mid-nineteenth century.

Morris allows the facts to speak for themselves.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.