This excerpt is from the book entitled The Frisby Waterless Murders, an English Murrder Mystery book set in the countryside, starring two policemen who have been working together for a few years and get along really well. There’s lots of dialogue and banter with some humour thrown in amongst the murders and suspects.

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“That’s a pity, but then again if the windows were opened deliberately by the would-be murderer in order to create confusion so that they could attack the Major with a dart, if you’re right sir, then this is a minor issue compared to investigating who shook him by the hand earlier in the journey.”

“Yes, I believe we must find out who shook him by the hand and when. You should ask Mrs Harkness about this when you visit her tomorrow. Don’t forget we are probably investigating two crimes here, murder and attempted murder; we should also remember there are at least two people who believe their plan to kill the Major has been successful.”

“Good point, sir, but if there was a person who fired a dart at the Major during the smoke and they believe this dart killed him, then they can’t know that much about curare, because it doesn’t work that quickly,” said Barnes.

“So this time we are looking for an ignorant attempted murderer?”    

“Yes, sir, we are,” replied Barnes remembering the recent murder at the monastery near Manton Rempville Hall.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

“How on earth are we going to break the news to them; sorry you’re not the murderer only the attempted murderer…”

“The person might need counselling,” said Smythe.

“That’s true, Linda, but I think we’d have trouble justifying that to the social services,” said Knowles, winking at Barnes. The Inspector was glad Linda was trying to join in the fun.

“So onwards to lucky Seat 13 occupied by Zoe Casimir, interviewed by Linda,” continued Barnes.

“Yes, Sergeant, Zoe was playing the aunt of the intended victim and is married to Josef who was sitting opposite her. Married in the role and in real life too. She was walking around just as the train started off and was aware of the Major being moved to his new seat. She looked around the kitchen area and saw the caterer in there preparing the food. There was another person in there too, but she was then distracted by the stewards and Train Manager returning to start serving the beverages. There was a slight breeze she noticed as she went back to her seat. When the smoke came in she soaked her hanky in the tisane she had just been served and headed towards the kitchen area along with Josef. She thought there were about a dozen people in there altogether. The train manager went to close the windows and the steward went to ask the driver to move the train down the tracks so that the smoke would not be trapped under the bridge.”