Lawrence Blakeley wasn't taking any chances. The briefcase between his legs held evidence that would convict a powerful figure in Washington of forgery. For Blakeley, procuring the damning documents had been an exercise in cunning, but that was nothing compared to the task of holding onto them. All seemed peaceful on the Washington-bound Pullman; Blakeley even managed a lower berth. When he came to go to bed, however, he found a drunken man already asleep in Lower Ten. So Blakeley crawled into Lower Nine. When he awoke the next morning, all his clothes had been stolen and the precious briefcase was gone. Blakeley wasn't even in Lower Nine, but in Lower Seven. Even more disturbing, the man in Lower Ten had been murdered. And then the train crashed.
Like train rides? Next stop ....murder!
The style of writing is interesting and the setting is the 1920s when train travel was the norm. Solving mysteries is more about inductive reasoning and observation than high tech diagnostics, so the people side of this story is appealing as the depth of the characters is gradually revealed. A good read - one can almost see the movie version in one's head. At the core two lawyers, old friends and now partners, keep a light heart while trying to prevent one from hanging for a murder he didn't commit while vying for the affections of the same beautiful, but mysterious, woman.
