Although a huge fan of Faith Martin, this is the first of her Hillary Greene series that I have read and it’s book number 18!
I, therefore, came fresh to the book as she changes direction and we are introduced to a new team with a new recruit ex army Gareth who is adjusting to civilian life and learning to deal with his physical injuries. Hillary leads the cold case team, investigating old crimes where an investigation didn’t lead to a ocnviction.
Their latest case is the murder of a drug dealer Andrew Feeley from a single stab wound. There are plenty of suspects for Hillary and her team to interview but little evidence so she is forced to rely on her meticulous notes and police instinct.
The police characters are down to earth and easy to relate to. There is no graphic forensic detail or violence, and the whole focus is on interview technique combined with careful sifting of facts so that we can join in with the process of eliminating suspects.
I thought that the way Faith Martin uses the new character of Gareth to introduce Hillary’s change of circumstances and role is really clever. It is a way to inform us of the processes involved in cold cases and the difference between this and usual police novels. It will suit previous fans of the series and also new ones like me đ
I think there is scope for many more novels with the new team, and long may Hillary reign!
Have a peek at stand alone spooky mystery The Lavender Lady that I reviewed last week đ
Hillaryâs Back (Detective Hillary Greene #18) by Faith Martin
ONE OF THE WORLDâS FAVOURITE DETECTIVES RETURNS.
A BRAND NEW MYSTERY IN THE MILLION-SELLING SERIES.
DETECTIVE HILLARY GREENE IS BACK!
Eighteen months after Hillary suffered a personal tragedy, she is throwing herself into her work to try to get over it.
Former soldier Gareth Proctor joins her team and finds himself quickly growing to enjoy his new environment.
The first cold case he works on is the murder of Andrew Feeley.
In 2012, this twenty-one-year-old was found dead in the woods near his home, killed by a single stab wound to the chest from his own knife.
Andrew was extremely unpopular. He was a drug dealer, pimp and bully. His stepdad was one of the main suspects, as they hated each other and often came to blows. Other suspects include Toby Truman and his mother Debbie. Andrew was responsible for getting Toby hooked on drugs.
Given Andrewâs criminal background, his murder is thought to be drug-related.
But Hillaryâs not buying it â she knows itâs personal. And a search of the Feeleysâ garden turns up some chilling evidence.
HILLARY GREENE RETURNS TO ONE OF HER TOUGHEST CASES YET.
This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to the absolutely thrilling conclusion.
THE DETECTIVE
DI Hillary Greene
An attractive, single woman just over fifty, Hillary Greene was a police officer of many yearsâ experience (earning the rank of DI) and came up through the ranks. Consequently, she knew how the system worked, and was always fiercely loyal to the force without being blinkered to its faults. Forced to retire early through no fault of her own, she has now returned to the force as a civilian consultant on cold cases.
DI HILLARY GREENE SERIES
BOOK 1: MURDER ON THE OXFORD CANAL
BOOK 2: MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY
BOOK 3: MURDER OF THE BRIDE
BOOK 4: MURDER IN THE VILLAGE
BOOK 5: MURDER IN THE FAMILY
BOOK 6: MURDER AT HOME
BOOK 7: MURDER IN THE MEADOW
BOOK 8: MURDER IN THE MANSION
BOOK 9: MURDER IN THE GARDEN
BOOK 10: MURDER BY FIRE
BOOK 11: MURDER AT WORK
BOOK 12: MURDER NEVER RETIRES
BOOK 13: MURDER OF A LOVER
BOOK 14: MURDER NEVER MISSES
BOOK 15: MURDER AT MIDNIGHT
BOOK 16: MURDER IN MIND
BOOK 17: HILLARYâS FINAL CASE
Book 18: HILLARYâS BACK!
FAITH MARTIN is the two-million-selling author of the DETECTIVE HILLARY GREENE and JENNY STARLING mysteries, which have topped the global best-seller charts.
Faith Martin was born in Oxford, and has spent all her life within twenty miles of the university city, even working at Somerville College for five years before turning to writing full-time. The author of the popular DI Hillary Greene novels, she also writes more classic-style âwhodunitsâ under the pen name Joyce Cato, but began her writing career as Maxine Barry, winning an award for penning romance novels! A popular writer for over 25 years, she has had nearly 50 novels published so far. Her hobbies include walking her now ageing dog, wildlife-watching, reading and (reluctantly) gardening.
More FAITH MARTIN books coming soon. Join the Joffe Books mailing list to be the first to hear about the next in the series.
I love Faith Martin’s murder mystery novels so jumped at the chance to read a new series with a strong romance element (and still a cracking mystery to solve!) The books all work as standalone novels but are set in the same location.
Oriana leaves prison after serving a sentence for a murder she did not commit. She is determined to clear her name and hires a bodyguard as she fears her life is in danger from the real killer. She returns to her home village and reconnects with her best friend Mercedes and true love Lowell, siblings to the man she was convicted of killing.
I absolutely loved The Lying Game. Oriana is a determined and passionate woman, focussed on getting justice for herself and the victim’s family by discovering the truth.
There was a healthy dash of romance between Oriana and Lowell, and also Mercedes and Connor. Sex scenes were included but they were not overly graphic and fitted into the story naturally.
It is easy to identify the murderer and by the second half we are left in no doubt at all with sections showing us the actions they take to protect themself. However, the motive is not revealed until the very end.
The style of writing is easy to read and the danger that various characters faced felt realistic. The inclusion of the romance brings an extra dimension that made the book even more enjoyable that the usual high standard I expect from this author.
The Lying Game was quite a quick read but then I couldn’t put it down so that might be the reason!
Oriana Foster is released from prison thirteen years after being jailed for a murder she didnât commit. She returns to her home village in Oxfordshire determined to discover the real killer of her boyfriend Rollo Seton. With a secret fortune from an unknown benefactor, and protection by rough and ready bodyguard, Connor OâDell, Oriana sets out to uncover the truth about the night that Rollo died.
Things get more complicated when Oriana comes face to face with Rolloâs brother, who was the real love of her life, and Connor falls for her former best friend, Mercedes Seton. Meanwhile, could Rolloâs murderer be plotting to claim another victim?
About the author
Maxine Barry is the romance novel pen name used by Faith Martin who is the two-million-selling author of the DETECTIVE HILLARY GREENE and JENNY STARLING mysteries, which have topped the global best-seller charts. She was born in Oxford, and has spent all her life within twenty miles of the university city, even working at Somerville College for five years before turning to writing full-time.
The author of the popular DI Hillary Greene novels, she also writes more classic-style âwhodunitsâ under the pen name Joyce Cato, but began her writing career as Maxine Barry, winning an award for penning romance novels! A popular writer for over 25 years, she has had nearly 50 novels published so far. Her hobbies include walking her now ageing dog, wildlife-watching, reading and (reluctantly) gardening.
Family: lots of wider family events including a christening for my cousin’s son, and my niece and nephew stayed over for 2 nights during half term. We had a family photo shoot with Mum and Dad and all their grandchildren which was lovely (here are my three looking almost angelic)
Work: completely unexpectedly, I now have 7 jobs! The school where I invigilate exams needed a temporary food technician so I have been enjoying a new experience! Two days after that, one of the schools where I clerk asked me to do some admin office work as I did for them last summer. Busy, busy me!
Days out: oh dear. Apart from the trip to Fleet for the photos and to Chinnor for the christening, we haven’t really been anywhere đ Our weekends have been spent catching up with chores and doing the kids’ homework!
Books: I managed to equal last month’s total! Click on any of the book covers to read my review:
Food: no experiments or new recipes (except for my winter veg soup which I actually made before Christmas) but I have made my chickpea dhal again as I was craving it.
