The Dillman and Masefield series, featuring private detectives George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield, and set on board ocean liners of the early 1900s. This series has subsequently been reprinted credited to Edward Marston: Edward Marston is the pseudonym used by the famous British author Keith Miles for writing mystery and historical fiction novels. Edward also writes under his original name sometimes. Other than these names, he has also written novels featuring ship’s detectives under other pseudonyms Conrad Allen and Martin Inigo. Edward is particularly known for writing the mystery novels set in the time of Elizabeth theater. Among the all the novel series’ written by him, the most famous ones include The Railway Detective series, the Bracewell series, the Domesday series, the Christopher Redmayne series and the Home Front Detective series. The Domesday series is the one for which author Edward Marston is well known. Apart from the mysteries, he also likes to write novels based on the Biography and Children’s genres. Edward was born in the year 1940 in Wales, United Kingdom and was also brought up there. He completed his studies from the Oxford University in Modern History and began working as a lecturer in the same college. He taught Modern History to the students of the Oxford College for a period of three years before going on to become a full time writer, mostly as a freelancer.

A good, old-fashioned mystery set on the maiden voyage of the famous Lusitania from England to New York in 1907, Murder on the Lusitania certainly doesn't disappoint.Edward has also worked as a director and an actor for a short period and also owned a professional theater company. Edward has also served as a drama teacher in a prison and worked as an editor for the stories of a film company situated in Pinewood. In his career spanning around 50 years, Edward has written more than 40 plays for the radio, theater and television. He has even completed a drama series comprising of hundreds of episodes. But today, Edward has left everything else and tries to concentrate on the development of his mystery series’. His nautical mysteries under the pseudonym Conrad Allen are set in the Edwardian era, the first of which, “Murder on the Lusitania” was released in the year 1999. Edward’s first historical mystery novel was released under the title “The Queen’s Head” in the year 1988, which launched the Bracewell series. Under his original name Keith Miles, he has written a total of 6 novels based on the crime genre. These novels feature the main protagonist, Alan Saxon. Edward has set all the novels in different countries each having different settings, the latest of which was released in the year 2004. I wasn’t very keen on Murder On The Lusitania. It’s a competently crafted cosy mystery with an interesting period shipboard setting, but it didn’t really work for me. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Miles turned to writing mystery fiction. His first series, written under his own name, featured Alan Saxon, a professional golfer-turned-amateur detective. After four books, Miles's publisher did not wish to continue the series, [1] which only resumed after a hiatus of more than a decade. [5] He has written two mysteries set in the United States which feature a Welsh architect, Merlin Richards. stars for this (I assume) final book in the series. Conrad Allen is a pen name for the prolific historical mystery writer Edward Marston, who often writes in series of six books; this is book 6 in the series about the golden age of ocean cruising, in which we’ve followed the adventures of ship detectives Genevieve Masefield and George Dillman. The mystery is well-plotted, and like other classic mysteries, you discover most of the clues at the same time as George does, so you can "sleuth" along with him. I really enjoyed this element, particularly after having read a number of cozy mysteries recently featuring amateur detectives who stumble their way onto the truth more than using any real brain work. In contrast, George is refreshingly competent, intelligent and clearly experienced in his line of work.

a b Pierce, J Kingston (September 1999). "The Many Roles of Keith Miles". January Magazine . Retrieved 14 December 2010. So, new line, smaller ship, new longer cruise route. Also, our two detectives, until now universally adored - throughout the series, the author tells us at length how gorgeous, witty, charming Genevieve is, and George is just as handsome, smart, tough, etc. Finally, a bit of conflict enters their Teflon existence - first, the Marmora bursar has no use for them on his ship, and resents their presence, especially George. Kilheaney (I think that was the name, an Irishman) doesn’t like Americans (George), and thinks of Cunard as the enemy, so resents both detectives. Plus, their reputation as effective professionals precedes them, and he resents that as well. We learn there is more to his story, of course. Also, Genevieve spots a very unpleasant man from her past among the passengers, so she’s on pins and needles much of the time. George continues to be charming and intelligent, handling difficult situations adeptly and with grace without letting himself get trampled on. His constant professionalism and inward aloofness made him feel distant in past books, but he forms an actual friendship with the Egyptologist Mr. Goss and his family this time around that made him feel more human. We find out more about Genevieve this time as well, and finally know the story of her past. The American Revolutionary War series, featuring Captain Jamie Skoyles, set during the American Revolutionary War: [16]While many of them had moments where they were hindrances, none were more dangerous to my blood pressure than Nigel Wilmshurst and his wife, Araminta. What made the whole experience particularly unpleasant was that Genevieve turned into a doormat every time Nigel or Araminta were involved - she’s never been strong at handling her unwanted suitors, despite always telling George she can handle it alone, but there were almost dire consequences to her ridiculous insistence that everything is fine this time. I was appalled at her (frankly brainless and silly) decision to brush what happened near the end under a rug - it was the one dark spot to this otherwise great 5th book. I’m as frustrated as George that the villain never received just punishment. The Elizabethan Theatre series, featuring Nicholas Bracewell, stage manager (and amateur detective) for one of Elizabethan London leading theatrical companies: I had never heard of this series when it came out originally, and I’m glad I got a chance to read this. This was entertaining, with two interesting main characters, George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield. He’s an American detective formerly of Pinkerton, employed by Cunard Lines on the 1907 maiden voyage of the massive and prestigious Lusitania, and she’s a young, attractive woman with a secret in her past, looking for a new opportunity in America. Keith Miles (born 1940) is a Welsh writer of historical fiction and mystery novels. He has also written children's books, radio and television dramas and stage plays. He is best known under the pseudonym Edward Marston, and has also written as Martin Inigo and Conrad Allen.

This was okay for a first in a series, read with the Reading the Detectives group. Dillman is an appealing detective, and I thought it was an interesting premise to have the former Pinkerton agent, now a plainclothes detective for the Cunard Line, undercover as a first class passenger on the maiden voyage of the Lusitania. In the tradition of novels by Golden Age mystery writers like Christie and Marsh, we have an interesting and varied cast of characters/suspects, mostly restricted to the first class passengers, whom we're slowly introduced to. George Porter Dillman, our protagonist, is hired by the Cunard Line as an undercover detective and finds more trouble than he had expected when an overly nosey journalist, Henry Barcroft, is found murdered. As an experienced reader of whodunnits, I had an inkling of the culprit early on, but did not really get the full picture until late in the book. This had so much potential. SO much. And just kind of fell flat for me. It did have enough that I may read the second one, but I am not in a huge hurry. Sigh. As Dillman works to get to the bottom of the crimes, he makes an unusual friend, first-class passenger Genevieve Masefield, and the two uncover secrets aboard the ship that prove explosive.The man from Genevieve’s past is thoroughly nasty, but even he comes across as rather pathetic by the end, and the author ends on a positive and exciting note with a real twist as to the murderer. Fun and entertaining lighter historical mystery conjuring the glamor of ocean cruising in the Gilded Age. Also on board are a recently engaged couple, a charming rake who seems set on breaking them apart as well as seducing Genevieve, a controversial painter of nudes traveling with his bohemian wife and his alluring French model, and a pair of cabin stewards who have exclusive access to the private lairs of all aboard. Miles has used three other pseudonyms: Martin Inigo, Conrad Allen and David Garland. As Allen, he wrote about the private detectives George Porter Dillman and Genevieve Masefield, who operated aboard ocean liners of the early 20th century. There were eight books in this series, starting with Murder on the Lusitania (1999) and concluding with Murder on the Celtic (2007). [12] As Garland he wrote novels about the American Revolutionary War, Saratoga and Valley Forge. [6] He also wrote several other types of books as Garland. [13] It is September, 1907 and the Lusitania is sailing her maiden voyage to New York. This novel introduces American George Porter Dillman, a detective who is usually called upon to keep an eye on professional card sharps, or some thieving. However, this voyage offers more than the usual excitement - and romance. From the time Dillman boards the train from Euston to Liverpool, Lime Street, he feels that things are not right. He is intrigued by Mr and Mrs Rymer, whose daughter Violet seems sad and listless for such an exciting event as a trip on such a wonderful liner and is further concerned about the oily journalist Henry Barcroft, who bothers the passengers and crew alike. When there is murder onboard, his detective skills are put to the test. When one of the guests on board is murdered, George and the staff on board have their hands full dealing with the situation. To avoid panic and damaging rumours for Cunard, George counsels they keep the murder quiet while investigating. George questions and searches, and gradually Genevieve becomes involved, too, though mostly peripherally till the violent confrontation at the end.