Andrew Martin, "The Lost Luggage Porter"

I was expecting to enjoy this one more than I actually did. After all, the 1900s, railways, York - what more could one want? But it somehow failed to thrill, and it was quite an effort even to get through it. About three quarters of the way through it suddenly picked up pace and was then quite interesting until the end. I skipped the preview of the next book in the series, though, and probably won't pick up any more of them.

Martin seems to have done his research in so far as the railways go; I wasn't convinced, though, by some of the dialogue, particularly the way all the villains addressed each other by first names. I suppose it made them a bit more sinister...

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/10065642/

Sara Paretsky, "Deadlock"

An enjoyable mystery set in the world of Great Lakes cargo shipping, about which I knew pretty much nothing. Paretsky manages to steer the reader between the Scylla of utter confusion and the Charybdis of info-dumping, at last bringing an exciting voyage to a close in the safe haven of a satisfying resolution.

Sorry. Couldn't resist. Seriously, though, this is the best, or at least the least irritating, modern crime novel I've read for a while, and I will be on the look out for more in the V. I. Warshawski series. (Though Britons can too cope with Polish names, thankyouverymuch.)

I was slightly surprised to find that this was as early as 1983; it had pinged me as mid-nineties (though I really should have guessed from some of the clothes!) - it's worn well.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/9973328/