Keith Miles

Keith Miles is a British author who has written extensively across multiple genres, including historical fiction, mysteries, and television scripts. He is particularly recognized for writing historical mystery novels under various pen names, most notably Edward Marston. Under the Edward Marston pseudonym, Miles has authored several successful historical crime series including the Railway Detective series, the Domesday series, and the Restoration series. His work spans different periods of British history, from medieval times through the Victorian era. Writing as Keith Miles, he has penned contemporary crime fiction and historical novels set in both England and America. His adaptations for television include work for BBC Radio 4 and contributions to various British drama series. Miles holds membership in the Crime Writers' Association and has served on its committee. His extensive bibliography includes over 100 books across all his pen names, with many of his works having been translated into multiple languages.

Keith Miles appears to have very limited online reader reviews and ratings available, making it difficult to provide a comprehensive summary of reader opinions. His books under both his real name and pen names (including Edward Marston) have scattered reviews across platforms, but no clear consensus emerges. On Goodreads, most of his railway detective series books average 3.7-4.0 out of 5 stars, with readers noting: Liked: - Period detail and historical research - Steady pacing - Consistent plotting Disliked: - Character development seen as shallow - Dialogue called "wooden" by multiple readers - Predictable mysteries Average ratings: Goodreads: 3.8/5 (across series) Amazon: 4.2/5 (limited reviews) Most reviews focus on his historical mysteries written as Edward Marston rather than works under Keith Miles. The limited sample size of public reviews means these observations may not fully represent overall reader opinions.

The Railway Detective - Set in 1851, this mystery follows Detective Inspector Robert Colbeck as he investigates a train robbery and murder aboard the London to Birmingham express.

The Railway Viaduct - Detective Inspector Colbeck pursues a case involving a body discovered beneath a collapsed railway viaduct in 1852 Victorian England.

Ellis Peters - Created the Brother Cadfael medieval mystery series set in 12th century England during the civil war period. Her blend of historical detail and crime-solving parallels Miles' approach to historical mysteries.

C.J. Sansom - Writes the Matthew Shardlake series featuring a lawyer-detective in Tudor England. His work combines detailed historical research with complex mystery plots in a way that matches Miles' style in the Domesday series.

Anne Perry - Authors Victorian-era detective series including the William Monk and Thomas Pitt novels. Her focus on period detail and police procedural elements mirrors Miles' Railway Detective series.

Bernard Cornwell - Creates historical fiction across multiple time periods in British history. His attention to historical accuracy and military detail aligns with Miles' approach to historical settings.

Peter Lovesey - Writes both historical and contemporary British crime fiction, including the Peter Diamond series. His work spans different time periods and combines police procedure with historical elements similar to Miles' various series.