On a stormy night, Jeff takes the sleeper train from Paddington out to Cornwall. He meets a number of people on the train, but upon arrival, one passenger is missing, and according to the train staff, never existed.
Once he is settled into his Cornish digs, a body of one of the other passengers is found. But was it an accident as it was claimed? Some things don’t sit right with Jeff, and his own problems are pushed aside while he begins to investigate.
I really enjoyed JM Hall’s previous series, but don’t hesitate to say that this is his finest work. The novel has a noir-ish feel, the opening storm sets the tone of the story to follow. There’s an eerie feel to the Cornish landscape, and the novel keeps you gripped as the layers slowly peel back, revealing more about the train’s passengers, and about Jeff himself.
I really felt for the characters, and difficult topics were described with care and sensitivity. The mystery had a satisfying ending, and despite moments of bleakness and despair, ends on a note of light and hope (despite the weather).
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