The viaduct murder

The story opens on the quiet, wind‑swept stretch of the Paston Oatvile railway line, where a towering viaduct arches over a river and the newly‑fashioned golf links. The once‑grand Dormy‑House, now a shabby club‑hotel surrounded by modest bungalows and overgrown gardens, serves as the hub for a community of golfers, railway staff, and local villagers. Its crumbling Italianate façade and the surrounding countryside create a mood that is both nostalgic and slightly unsettling, hinting that old secrets may still linger among the hedges and stone balustrades.

When a body is discovered near the viaduct, the tranquil routine is shattered, and an inquisitive investigator steps into the scene. As the train timetable ticks and the members of the club go about their daily rounds, each character— from the haughty club committee to the humble railway porter— becomes a potential suspect. The narrative weaves together the slow‑moving rhythm of country life with a tightening web of suspicion, inviting listeners to follow the clues hidden in the mist‑laden rails and the echoing halls of the Dormy‑House.