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DI Hillary Greene #5
Murder in the Family
15-year-old Billy Davies is found dead in his father’s shed. A pair of gardening shears thrust brutally into his chest.
DI Hillary Greene tries to get to the bottom of this baffling crime. How had Billy come into contact with such a vicious killer? Who wanted him dead and why? The investigation reveals that the teenager was not such an innocent young man.
Meanwhile, Hillary’s having a tough time at work. She’s been passed over for promotion, and her reliable constable Tommy Lynch is to be transferred out. But Hillary won’t let distractions get in the way of solving crimes.
To catch this killer, Hillary will need to dig deep into the dark secrets of a small community.
Please note this is a revised edition of a book first published as Through a Narrow Door.
DI Hillary Greene tries to get to the bottom of this baffling crime. How had Billy come into contact with such a vicious killer? Who wanted him dead and why? The investigation reveals that the teenager was not such an innocent young man.
Meanwhile, Hillary’s having a tough time at work. She’s been passed over for promotion, and her reliable constable Tommy Lynch is to be transferred out. But Hillary won’t let distractions get in the way of solving crimes.
To catch this killer, Hillary will need to dig deep into the dark secrets of a small community.
Please note this is a revised edition of a book first published as Through a Narrow Door.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
4946 people are currently reading
867 people want to read
About the author
Faith Martin
99 books981 followersFaith Martin is a pen name of English author Jacquie Walton, who is best known for her popular detective series, starring Detective Inspector Hillary Greene.
As Joyce Cato, she writes more classically-inspired 'cosy' murder mysteries, such as the Monica Noble mystery series.
As Maxine Barry, her latest romance novels are now available from Corazon Books.
As Jessie Daniels, her 'spooky' crime novel, The Lavender Lady Casefile came out in November 2017.
As Joyce Cato, she writes more classically-inspired 'cosy' murder mysteries, such as the Monica Noble mystery series.
As Maxine Barry, her latest romance novels are now available from Corazon Books.
As Jessie Daniels, her 'spooky' crime novel, The Lavender Lady Casefile came out in November 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
February 15, 2022
This is such a reliably good series that I am now buying it in boxed sets from Amazon. And there are still so many more to look forward to.
In Murder in the Family Hillary and her team investigate the death of a fifteen year old boy found stabbed with a pair of garden shears. This turns into an intriguing mystery with a surprise solution. Of course we also follow all the latest developments in the lives of all the regular characters. Hillary finds herself in the middle of a love triangle and Mel and Janine have a huge surprise up their sleeves. All good fun.
I do not think it will be long before I pick up the next book - I am really looking forward to finding out what happens next!
In Murder in the Family Hillary and her team investigate the death of a fifteen year old boy found stabbed with a pair of garden shears. This turns into an intriguing mystery with a surprise solution. Of course we also follow all the latest developments in the lives of all the regular characters. Hillary finds herself in the middle of a love triangle and Mel and Janine have a huge surprise up their sleeves. All good fun.
I do not think it will be long before I pick up the next book - I am really looking forward to finding out what happens next!
April 13, 2023
Immediately following a ceremony where Hillary had a bravery award presented to her, there followed a demotion, then a murder investigation was thrust into her hands. She shrugged her shoulders and got stuck into it! The death of a 15 year old school boy in a particularly brutal manner left DI Hillary Greene, Tommy and Janine bamboozled. There was much more to this case than there seemed. Billy's parents and younger sister were in shock, but what Hillary uncovered about Billy showed he wasn't a particularly nice boy. She also discovered that the small village in Oxfordshire held secrets. But would someone kill to keep those secrets intact?
Murder in the Family is the 5th in the DI Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hillary is an excellent character, and particularly hard done by in this episode. But her strength and determination always get her through. Looking forward to #6. Highly recommended.
Murder in the Family is the 5th in the DI Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hillary is an excellent character, and particularly hard done by in this episode. But her strength and determination always get her through. Looking forward to #6. Highly recommended.
January 8, 2018
EXCERPT: He was a big lad, but not fat, with dark hair and what she thought might be blue eyes. He might be as old as an under-developed sixteen, or as young as a well-developed thirteen, it was hard to tell. He was dressed in dark blue tracksuit bottoms and a T-shirt. The logo was hard to make out, mostly due to the fact that he had a pair of garden shears sticking out of his chest. The dark stain of blood had pooled into his lap, but very little had made it to the floor. And from that alone she surmised that his heart must have stopped beating almost immediately. She had hoped so anyway, the poor little bugger.
THE BLURB: 15–year-old Billy Davies is found dead in his father’s shed. A pair of gardening shears thrust brutally into his chest.
DI Hillary Greene tries to get to the bottom of this baffling crime.
How had Billy come into contact with such a vicious killer? Who wanted him dead and why? The investigation reveals that the teenager was not such an innocent young man.
Meanwhile, Hillary’s having a tough time at work. She’s been passed over for promotion, and her reliable constable Tommy Lynch is to be transferred out. But Hillary won’t let distractions get in the way of solving crimes.
To catch this killer, Hillary will need to dig deep into the dark secrets of a small community.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “THROUGH A NARROW DOOR. "
MY THOUGHTS: Who would want to stick a pair of gardening shears into the chest of a fifteen year old boy? A good question. And there are multiple possible answers. DI Hillary Greene is tasked with solving the crime.
Although this is #5 in the DI Hillary Greene series, it works well as a stand alone read.
Murder in the Family could almost be classed as a cosy murder mystery. There is no overt violence, no sexual content and, I 'm afraid, not much in the way of suspense either. While I didn't find this particularly suspenseful, it was still a good read. Faith Martin has created interesting and realistic characters and a plot with plenty of red herrings and suspects. She has a good balance between the investigative story, and the personal lives of the characters. She writes humorously at times - I loved the name of Hillary’s ancient Volkswagen, Puff the Tragic Wagon.
I would have liked a little more suspense, and I felt that the ending was a little rushed. Otherwise it was a good solid read, if nothing particularly special. Would I read other titles in the series? Yes, it was an easy, undemanding and enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.
One more thing, I much prefer the books original title, Through A Narrow Door. It somehow seems more mysterious.
Thank you to Joffe Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Murder in the Family by Faith Martin for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
THE BLURB: 15–year-old Billy Davies is found dead in his father’s shed. A pair of gardening shears thrust brutally into his chest.
DI Hillary Greene tries to get to the bottom of this baffling crime.
How had Billy come into contact with such a vicious killer? Who wanted him dead and why? The investigation reveals that the teenager was not such an innocent young man.
Meanwhile, Hillary’s having a tough time at work. She’s been passed over for promotion, and her reliable constable Tommy Lynch is to be transferred out. But Hillary won’t let distractions get in the way of solving crimes.
To catch this killer, Hillary will need to dig deep into the dark secrets of a small community.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “THROUGH A NARROW DOOR. "
MY THOUGHTS: Who would want to stick a pair of gardening shears into the chest of a fifteen year old boy? A good question. And there are multiple possible answers. DI Hillary Greene is tasked with solving the crime.
Although this is #5 in the DI Hillary Greene series, it works well as a stand alone read.
Murder in the Family could almost be classed as a cosy murder mystery. There is no overt violence, no sexual content and, I 'm afraid, not much in the way of suspense either. While I didn't find this particularly suspenseful, it was still a good read. Faith Martin has created interesting and realistic characters and a plot with plenty of red herrings and suspects. She has a good balance between the investigative story, and the personal lives of the characters. She writes humorously at times - I loved the name of Hillary’s ancient Volkswagen, Puff the Tragic Wagon.
I would have liked a little more suspense, and I felt that the ending was a little rushed. Otherwise it was a good solid read, if nothing particularly special. Would I read other titles in the series? Yes, it was an easy, undemanding and enjoyable read. 3.5 stars.
One more thing, I much prefer the books original title, Through A Narrow Door. It somehow seems more mysterious.
Thank you to Joffe Books via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Murder in the Family by Faith Martin for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 24, 2017
4.5 Stars
MURDER IN THE FAMILY, a treat for lovers of British Crime, sees the return of DI Hillary Greene in her fifth suspenseful romp set in Oxfordshire.
For DI Greene, there's almost nothing worse than finding the murdered body of an elderly person... but finding a 15=year-old boy dead with a pair of gardening shears sticking out of his chest is the worst.
Who would have wanted this young boy dead? and Why? He had never been in trouble..nothing beyond normal teenage activities. Or is that the real story?
What Greene and her team find when investigating is that there are secrets in this small community .. and everyone lies.
DI Greene is a terrific series character. She's older, dedicated to her job, and not afraid to speak her mind. She's known for her persistence and knowing how to interrogate suspects to get at the truth. Her team is quite credible ... the DC who's leaving for another post shortly, another DC who may have her eyes on their new boss, and then there's Frank. Not even sure how to describe him, but he's always around and he and Green absolutely do not like each other.
There are plenty of suspects to zero in ... starting with the victim's family and expanding to their jobs and the neighbors, to his girl friend who is definitely keeping secrets from her father.
This is a well written crime thriller. I always recommend starting at the beginning of a series, but this one does well as a stand alone. Each books seems to be better than the last.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley for the advance copy of this British crime thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
MURDER IN THE FAMILY, a treat for lovers of British Crime, sees the return of DI Hillary Greene in her fifth suspenseful romp set in Oxfordshire.
For DI Greene, there's almost nothing worse than finding the murdered body of an elderly person... but finding a 15=year-old boy dead with a pair of gardening shears sticking out of his chest is the worst.
Who would have wanted this young boy dead? and Why? He had never been in trouble..nothing beyond normal teenage activities. Or is that the real story?
What Greene and her team find when investigating is that there are secrets in this small community .. and everyone lies.
DI Greene is a terrific series character. She's older, dedicated to her job, and not afraid to speak her mind. She's known for her persistence and knowing how to interrogate suspects to get at the truth. Her team is quite credible ... the DC who's leaving for another post shortly, another DC who may have her eyes on their new boss, and then there's Frank. Not even sure how to describe him, but he's always around and he and Green absolutely do not like each other.
There are plenty of suspects to zero in ... starting with the victim's family and expanding to their jobs and the neighbors, to his girl friend who is definitely keeping secrets from her father.
This is a well written crime thriller. I always recommend starting at the beginning of a series, but this one does well as a stand alone. Each books seems to be better than the last.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley for the advance copy of this British crime thriller. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
June 10, 2018
I received a review copy of this novel directly from the author and publisher Joffe Books. I have voluntarily chosen to review the book, and the gifting in no way determines my review/rating, which reflects my honest opinion.
This novel is my favourite so far in the DI Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin!
Another exemplary mystery, this time surrounding the murder of a 15yo boy with garden shears. Hillary has her work cut out for her with this investigation, not because there are no clues or suspects, but because there is a surfeit of them. With lots of twists, turns and surprisingly shocking reveals this story had me glued and was a remarkably quick read. Although I picked the why of the murder, I didn't pick the who - you'll never guess!
As always, the background stories of the team are just as mesmerising - I love the dimensional characters that Faith brings to life and how they interact with each other. It broke my heart a little knowing that Tommy was leaving. 😞
A stunning addition to the Hillary Greene series that I can't recommend highly enough.
This novel is my favourite so far in the DI Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin!
Another exemplary mystery, this time surrounding the murder of a 15yo boy with garden shears. Hillary has her work cut out for her with this investigation, not because there are no clues or suspects, but because there is a surfeit of them. With lots of twists, turns and surprisingly shocking reveals this story had me glued and was a remarkably quick read. Although I picked the why of the murder, I didn't pick the who - you'll never guess!
As always, the background stories of the team are just as mesmerising - I love the dimensional characters that Faith brings to life and how they interact with each other. It broke my heart a little knowing that Tommy was leaving. 😞
A stunning addition to the Hillary Greene series that I can't recommend highly enough.
June 19, 2025
It's hard to give 4 stars to a book in a reliable police procedural series, but I never put the book down once started and had to keep following the progress of Hillary's murder investigation along with the relationship developments between the co-workers. This one is focused on a young man who was a gifted photographer and used that talent to ensnare his victims. Which of them could have stopped him cold?
That's it for me, circling back to #5 of the series of 22 I think? All now read.
Kindle Unlimited
That's it for me, circling back to #5 of the series of 22 I think? All now read.
Kindle Unlimited
August 17, 2024
Hillary thought she was going to be promoted permanently, but instead someone else, a man, was chosen. No time to dwell on that, though--her newest case involves the murder of a 15 year old boy. He came from a poor family, yet seemed to have a surprising amount of disposable income. He is a talented photographer--could he have photographed something that would be worth money to the subject?
November 25, 2017
I am absolutely loving this Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin. I think it is, possibly, even better because Joffe Books are republishing them so the next book is never far away.
Following events in the previous book Hillary is acting DCI and Mel has been promoted to the position he lost out on in book 4 due to his relationship with Janine. Tommy is on the verge of leaving for a Sergeant position at another station so the whole dynamics of the team is undergoing change. Hillary is unsure if she is suited to the DCI position when she is replaced by Paul Danvers and is back to what she is going best: investigating murder. The case is the murder of a teenage boy and there is a lack of suspects and motives until Hillary gets going and starts uncovering clues.
The book is very intriguing there seems to be nothing to go on all the way through the story so the big reveal in the last chapter is a shock I definitely wasn’t expecting.
Being a mother I am aware of the way teenage friends have each other's backs in their quest to keep as much from the parents' as possible and Faith has captured that excellently in this book. As the team interview person after person they keep hitting brick walls knowing that there is a lot more to the stories than the people are telling and it is up to the team to try to get to the bottom of it. There is a lot going on which adds to the mystery and keeps the pages turning.
I loved this book but I did feel there was too much reference to events in previous books this might be an advantage for people reading the book as stand alone but for the ones who have read the series it makes it a bit slow going in places. That said overall another brilliant read and well worth the 5 stars.
Following events in the previous book Hillary is acting DCI and Mel has been promoted to the position he lost out on in book 4 due to his relationship with Janine. Tommy is on the verge of leaving for a Sergeant position at another station so the whole dynamics of the team is undergoing change. Hillary is unsure if she is suited to the DCI position when she is replaced by Paul Danvers and is back to what she is going best: investigating murder. The case is the murder of a teenage boy and there is a lack of suspects and motives until Hillary gets going and starts uncovering clues.
The book is very intriguing there seems to be nothing to go on all the way through the story so the big reveal in the last chapter is a shock I definitely wasn’t expecting.
Being a mother I am aware of the way teenage friends have each other's backs in their quest to keep as much from the parents' as possible and Faith has captured that excellently in this book. As the team interview person after person they keep hitting brick walls knowing that there is a lot more to the stories than the people are telling and it is up to the team to try to get to the bottom of it. There is a lot going on which adds to the mystery and keeps the pages turning.
I loved this book but I did feel there was too much reference to events in previous books this might be an advantage for people reading the book as stand alone but for the ones who have read the series it makes it a bit slow going in places. That said overall another brilliant read and well worth the 5 stars.
February 23, 2020
Consistent storytelling from Faith Martin
If you’re a fan of her Hillary Greene books you won’t be disappointed. If, like me, you’re still undecided, this tale of a teenage tearaway being killed won’t win you over. Her plotting is ok but she has no ear for dialogue or current vernacular. She may well skew some of her references for a US reader because Brook Brothers is not an everyday comparison a British reader would make.
If you’re a fan of her Hillary Greene books you won’t be disappointed. If, like me, you’re still undecided, this tale of a teenage tearaway being killed won’t win you over. Her plotting is ok but she has no ear for dialogue or current vernacular. She may well skew some of her references for a US reader because Brook Brothers is not an everyday comparison a British reader would make.
December 13, 2017
This is the fifth book in the best selling series featuring DI Hilary Greene and her team. It’s also the fifth book by this author that I have absolutely loved but more about that in a bit.
At the beginning of the book, DI Greene is actually acting Detective Chief Inspector. I got the impression that DI Greene isn’t so much bothered about losing out on the permanent promotion, but she is bothered about the person who she lost it to as there is a history of ill feeling between the two of them. DI Greene has been feeling a bit swamped by the amount of paperwork that comes with the role of a Detective Chief Inspector and that is one thing that she won’t regret giving up. She has also been missing the investigation role that she has as a Detective Inspector. When she is acting up, she has her own little office, where she is on her own and she feels left out of the loop as regards the normal day to day banter that her team usually share. Hillary is still a bit of a loner, who seems to much prefer her own company than mixing with people. Hillary works well with her team, who seem to have her back but there are two individuals that she doesn’t seem to trust- Frank and Lauren. Hillary is a feisty, independent lady, who is in her forties. DI Greene is determined and she tells it like it is. She certainly speaks her mind. DI Greene does more than her fair share of the workload and is always happy to muck in if somebody needs help. This case seems to get to her more than most because it is the brutal murder of a 15 year old boy, still a child in so many ways. The young age of the victim strengthens DI Greene’s determination to get to the truth, to solve the case and apprehend the murderer before anybody else is killed. There were two characters that I really didn’t take to and I could quite cheerfully have slapped them around the face with a wet flip flop and a wet fish. Of course I am talking about the characters of Frank and Lauren. Frank has got to be the laziest, most chauvinistic waste of space ever to walk the earth. To be honest it is beyond me how he is still a serving police officer as he has some pretty unpleasant views, which are abhorrent in today’s police service and he never does his fair share of the work. Lauren is a bit of a tart, who was in an affair with one of Hillary’s bosses and she thought that this would afford her some extra privileges- wrong!!! Her lover breaks off the affair as he wants promotion, but he knows that he is unlikely to get it if he is still with her. Lauren certainly uses her femininity to get what she wants.
Once again, and as I have found the rest of the books in this series, I found ‘Murder In The Family’ to be superbly written and unputdownable (not sure if that is a word or not but it is now). I don’t mean that my Kindle was glued to my hand, because it wasn’t, but I found that when I started reading the book I just couldn’t stop. Reading ‘Murder In The Family’ became seriously addictive and I just had to read one more chapter and then another and so on and so forth. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t realise how quickly the pages were turning. In fact, it was almost as if they were turning themselves and before I knew it I had finished the book, which I was so disappointed about. I was enjoying the writing style and the reunion with old friends and enemies so much that I just wanted the book to continue. Reading this book was a bit like riding on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns and stomach churning moments. Several times I almost had to read through my fingers as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next. More than once I thought that I had fathomed out who the murderer was but of course I was completely wrong and the murderer was somebody else entirely. Oops The author perfectly captured the small village mentality, where all the villagers are suspicious of in comers and they don’t like outsiders interfering in village life. Not only that but the small village seems to be full of drama, intrigue and downright scandalous happenings.
In short, I loved reading ‘Murder In The Family’ and I can’t wait to read what comes next from the talented, but slightly twisted, pen of Faith Martin. I would recommend this series to anybody. The score on the board for this book is a whopping 5* out of 5*.
At the beginning of the book, DI Greene is actually acting Detective Chief Inspector. I got the impression that DI Greene isn’t so much bothered about losing out on the permanent promotion, but she is bothered about the person who she lost it to as there is a history of ill feeling between the two of them. DI Greene has been feeling a bit swamped by the amount of paperwork that comes with the role of a Detective Chief Inspector and that is one thing that she won’t regret giving up. She has also been missing the investigation role that she has as a Detective Inspector. When she is acting up, she has her own little office, where she is on her own and she feels left out of the loop as regards the normal day to day banter that her team usually share. Hillary is still a bit of a loner, who seems to much prefer her own company than mixing with people. Hillary works well with her team, who seem to have her back but there are two individuals that she doesn’t seem to trust- Frank and Lauren. Hillary is a feisty, independent lady, who is in her forties. DI Greene is determined and she tells it like it is. She certainly speaks her mind. DI Greene does more than her fair share of the workload and is always happy to muck in if somebody needs help. This case seems to get to her more than most because it is the brutal murder of a 15 year old boy, still a child in so many ways. The young age of the victim strengthens DI Greene’s determination to get to the truth, to solve the case and apprehend the murderer before anybody else is killed. There were two characters that I really didn’t take to and I could quite cheerfully have slapped them around the face with a wet flip flop and a wet fish. Of course I am talking about the characters of Frank and Lauren. Frank has got to be the laziest, most chauvinistic waste of space ever to walk the earth. To be honest it is beyond me how he is still a serving police officer as he has some pretty unpleasant views, which are abhorrent in today’s police service and he never does his fair share of the work. Lauren is a bit of a tart, who was in an affair with one of Hillary’s bosses and she thought that this would afford her some extra privileges- wrong!!! Her lover breaks off the affair as he wants promotion, but he knows that he is unlikely to get it if he is still with her. Lauren certainly uses her femininity to get what she wants.
Once again, and as I have found the rest of the books in this series, I found ‘Murder In The Family’ to be superbly written and unputdownable (not sure if that is a word or not but it is now). I don’t mean that my Kindle was glued to my hand, because it wasn’t, but I found that when I started reading the book I just couldn’t stop. Reading ‘Murder In The Family’ became seriously addictive and I just had to read one more chapter and then another and so on and so forth. I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t realise how quickly the pages were turning. In fact, it was almost as if they were turning themselves and before I knew it I had finished the book, which I was so disappointed about. I was enjoying the writing style and the reunion with old friends and enemies so much that I just wanted the book to continue. Reading this book was a bit like riding on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns and stomach churning moments. Several times I almost had to read through my fingers as I genuinely feared what was going to happen next. More than once I thought that I had fathomed out who the murderer was but of course I was completely wrong and the murderer was somebody else entirely. Oops The author perfectly captured the small village mentality, where all the villagers are suspicious of in comers and they don’t like outsiders interfering in village life. Not only that but the small village seems to be full of drama, intrigue and downright scandalous happenings.
In short, I loved reading ‘Murder In The Family’ and I can’t wait to read what comes next from the talented, but slightly twisted, pen of Faith Martin. I would recommend this series to anybody. The score on the board for this book is a whopping 5* out of 5*.
November 24, 2017
Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
This series just gets better and better and I'm so glad Joffe Books have started reissuing the books. It's also exciting to know there are quite a few more to follow (at least I hope so!).
DI Hillary Greene, fully recovered from a previous gunshot wound and still living on her longboat (she finally bought it), is involved in the case of a 15-year old boy, found stabbed to death by garden shears in his father's shed. His little sister found him. After a few days the team (Janine, nasty old Frank and Paul Danvers, the new boss) realize the boy wasn't quite the young innocent. From a modest background, he seemed to have an awful lot of money to spend. Was he involved in drugs?
After interrogating the neighbors the truth comes out and it's not pretty.
Hillary, besides working hard to find the killer, also has to deal with the fact that Paul Danvers, her new boss, is also the man who previously investigated her for being a bent cop...not the most pleasant of circumstances.
As before, this book can be read as a standalone, but believe me, it's worth starting from the beginning, it's such a great series!
This series just gets better and better and I'm so glad Joffe Books have started reissuing the books. It's also exciting to know there are quite a few more to follow (at least I hope so!).
DI Hillary Greene, fully recovered from a previous gunshot wound and still living on her longboat (she finally bought it), is involved in the case of a 15-year old boy, found stabbed to death by garden shears in his father's shed. His little sister found him. After a few days the team (Janine, nasty old Frank and Paul Danvers, the new boss) realize the boy wasn't quite the young innocent. From a modest background, he seemed to have an awful lot of money to spend. Was he involved in drugs?
After interrogating the neighbors the truth comes out and it's not pretty.
Hillary, besides working hard to find the killer, also has to deal with the fact that Paul Danvers, her new boss, is also the man who previously investigated her for being a bent cop...not the most pleasant of circumstances.
As before, this book can be read as a standalone, but believe me, it's worth starting from the beginning, it's such a great series!
November 29, 2019
I’m beginning to think it might be about time I leave these books alone for a while. I find myself focusing more on the irritations rather than the story.
I’m a bit disappointed with Hillary, even though she didn’t really want to be a Chief Inspector I would have liked her reaction to have been a bit more resentful. This probably says more about me, but I’m sure she could have ‘punished’ Mel and especially Danvers, at least in a small way. Instead she has cosy drinks with them.
Also given what they already know, why aren’t the senior management checking on Frank Ross?
Unfortunately there is also the prospect of a love triangle with Regis and Danvers both competing for Hillary’s favours, I really don’t want to be reading about this in the next book.
Overall the story wasn’t bad, although I thought the ending was a bit weak and there were a few things I wasn’t happy with.
I’m a bit disappointed with Hillary, even though she didn’t really want to be a Chief Inspector I would have liked her reaction to have been a bit more resentful. This probably says more about me, but I’m sure she could have ‘punished’ Mel and especially Danvers, at least in a small way. Instead she has cosy drinks with them.
Also given what they already know, why aren’t the senior management checking on Frank Ross?
Unfortunately there is also the prospect of a love triangle with Regis and Danvers both competing for Hillary’s favours, I really don’t want to be reading about this in the next book.
Overall the story wasn’t bad, although I thought the ending was a bit weak and there were a few things I wasn’t happy with.
July 29, 2018
"Another engaging and easy read"
This story might not have the thrills and excitement of some of the others but every series needs a change of pace and a change of characters. Faith Martin cleverly weaves the re-positioning of the faces in the office with the story of the young boy found murdered in the allotment shed. In the previous books the back story of her late husband and the missing money was a prominent feature. This time it got barely a mention as the lives of Mel Mallow, Janine, Tommy and the new DCI Paul Danvers come under the microscope.
The murder case was almost secondary to the deft placement of the chess pieces as Faith Martin sets us up for what's to come from Book Six and beyond. I can't wait to see where the characters go next.
This story might not have the thrills and excitement of some of the others but every series needs a change of pace and a change of characters. Faith Martin cleverly weaves the re-positioning of the faces in the office with the story of the young boy found murdered in the allotment shed. In the previous books the back story of her late husband and the missing money was a prominent feature. This time it got barely a mention as the lives of Mel Mallow, Janine, Tommy and the new DCI Paul Danvers come under the microscope.
The murder case was almost secondary to the deft placement of the chess pieces as Faith Martin sets us up for what's to come from Book Six and beyond. I can't wait to see where the characters go next.
February 2, 2019
DI Hillary Greene is back, on the trail of a teenager's murderer. Her career is now secure, as the suspicions of her involvement in her late husband's crimes have been judged unfounded. She is happy in her unconventional home. And although her team is due for a major upheaval, that's in the future. She is still obsessed with her looks and her figure, seeing herself in a much harsher light than others do. This crime is a fairly straightforward one although there are some holes in the plot. Not the best example of this genre, but a quick easy read for a cold day when there's no need to stray from the fire.
December 6, 2017
A teenagers body is discovered in a shed at the family allotment. He doesn’t appear to be in any sort of trouble so who on earth would murder him in this backwoods of the Oxfordshire countryside? DI Green is back on the case with her respected crew. Hillary is a likeable character and Faith gives us a little more of her background in each read along with others in the team. These are always a pleasurable read with nothing too gory, just a good detective plot with characters that you can relate to. A cleverly thought out plot with a few twists and turns which always makes for an interesting read. This is the fifth in the series and each will stand alone however the get the background and camaraderie of the main characters the series is better read in order to make sense of certain things, and why miss out on some excellent reads? An Intriguing read with an ending that I didn’t see coming. Happily looking forward to the next one.
October 31, 2021
An excellent read.
Hillary has another case, this time the murder of a 15 year old boy. She is very perceptive and it was a pleasure to follow her logic. There were red herrings and twists aplenty as she seeks out the guilty party. Characters were certainly convincing and made the suspense more gripping.
Hillary has another case, this time the murder of a 15 year old boy. She is very perceptive and it was a pleasure to follow her logic. There were red herrings and twists aplenty as she seeks out the guilty party. Characters were certainly convincing and made the suspense more gripping.
November 28, 2020
Tense and suspenseful
April 19, 2021
The team drama was a bit more interesting than the case, but I still liked it.
October 24, 2023
3.5 star listen
Enjoy this series
Romance needs a hike up but that’s the only fault.
Continuing as I can.
Enjoy this series
Romance needs a hike up but that’s the only fault.
Continuing as I can.
December 29, 2022
Another great story, no idea of the killer until the end. The writing balances actions, angst and people so well, it's excellent story telling.
December 3, 2017
A teenagers body is discovered in a shed at the family allotment. He doesn’t appear to be in any sort of trouble so who on earth would murder him in this backwoods of the Oxfordshire countryside? DI Green is back on the case with her respected crew. Hillary is a likeable character and Faith gives us a little more of her background in each read along with others in the team. These are always a pleasurable read with nothing too gory, just a good detective plot with characters that you can relate to. A cleverly thought out plot with a few twists and turns which always makes for an interesting read. This is the fifth in the series and each will stand alone however the get the background and camaraderie of the main characters the series is better read in order to make sense of certain things, and why miss out on some excellent reads? An Intriguing read with an ending that I didn’t see coming. Happily looking forward to the next one.
June 13, 2019
The fifth novel in the DI Hillary Greene series and I enjoyed this one more than the fourth one. The central story was about the murder of a fifteen year old boy in his father's allotment shed, an apparently motiveless murder. After many twists and turns Hillary solves the case in spite of being injured in the line of duty on a drugs raid. No more about that because I'm sure the character leading that raid will crop up in a future novel. The main reason I enjoyed this book more than the previous one is that everyone's back story has moved on. Hillary's house is sold, other characters are moving on in their careers, personal relationships are changing, (for good or ill). It put more energy into the story.
November 26, 2017
5 stars
Acting DCI Hillary Greene goes into the office expecting a normal day. She is hit with a bombshell when she learns that she is no longer the DCI. Paul Danvers was selected. He was the officer who investigated her connection to her n’er-do-well and crooked cop husband Ronnie. DC Tommy Lynch was promoted to DS and offered a position at another city nearby. Hillary will be very sorry to see him go, but is happy for him at the same time.
Fifteen-year old Billy Davies is found dead in his father’s allotment shed. He was stabbed through the heart with a scissors. He was found by his eleven-year old sister who is naturally very upset. The house is very isolated and initial interviews of neighbors reveals that no one has seen anything. Billy was heavily into photography and was very good at it.
When DI Hillary Greene and DS Janine Tyler interview his best friend, they learn that they weren’t very close any longer. The former friend gives them the name of a Lester Miller as Billy’s current best friend. Hillary and Janine will interview him next. Meanwhile, DS Frank Ross is still trying to discover what happened to the money that Hillary’s dead former cop husband had squirreled away. He’s also trying to get some dirt on the new DCI Paul Danvers.
When interviewing past and present teachers, a different picture of Billy comes to the fore. He was a selfish and subtle bully. He believed that the world owed him. He was clever, sly and selfish. He wanted to be a paparazzi and get rich. It looks like Billy’s secret has something to do with his photography. Billy’s girlfriend Heather Soames goes missing and the tension in our story increases.
The identity of the murderer was somewhat of a surprise, but the motive came as a big one.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. It is Faith Martin’s best book thus far. I really like DI Hillary Greene and DC Tommy Lynch. DS Janine Tyler not so much, but it’s more her entitled attitude (because of her looks?) that bugs me. She does, however, admire Hillary’s techniques and insights. The most irritating member of the team is DS Frank Ross. Yukkers! I appreciate the way the team gets along, especially Hillary and Tommy. The suspense in the story begins immediately and does not let up until the explosive ending. I like the way Ms. Martin injects a bit of humor in her story and her writing is straightforward and an easy read.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this really great book to read and enjoy.
Acting DCI Hillary Greene goes into the office expecting a normal day. She is hit with a bombshell when she learns that she is no longer the DCI. Paul Danvers was selected. He was the officer who investigated her connection to her n’er-do-well and crooked cop husband Ronnie. DC Tommy Lynch was promoted to DS and offered a position at another city nearby. Hillary will be very sorry to see him go, but is happy for him at the same time.
Fifteen-year old Billy Davies is found dead in his father’s allotment shed. He was stabbed through the heart with a scissors. He was found by his eleven-year old sister who is naturally very upset. The house is very isolated and initial interviews of neighbors reveals that no one has seen anything. Billy was heavily into photography and was very good at it.
When DI Hillary Greene and DS Janine Tyler interview his best friend, they learn that they weren’t very close any longer. The former friend gives them the name of a Lester Miller as Billy’s current best friend. Hillary and Janine will interview him next. Meanwhile, DS Frank Ross is still trying to discover what happened to the money that Hillary’s dead former cop husband had squirreled away. He’s also trying to get some dirt on the new DCI Paul Danvers.
When interviewing past and present teachers, a different picture of Billy comes to the fore. He was a selfish and subtle bully. He believed that the world owed him. He was clever, sly and selfish. He wanted to be a paparazzi and get rich. It looks like Billy’s secret has something to do with his photography. Billy’s girlfriend Heather Soames goes missing and the tension in our story increases.
The identity of the murderer was somewhat of a surprise, but the motive came as a big one.
This is a very well written and plotted novel. It is Faith Martin’s best book thus far. I really like DI Hillary Greene and DC Tommy Lynch. DS Janine Tyler not so much, but it’s more her entitled attitude (because of her looks?) that bugs me. She does, however, admire Hillary’s techniques and insights. The most irritating member of the team is DS Frank Ross. Yukkers! I appreciate the way the team gets along, especially Hillary and Tommy. The suspense in the story begins immediately and does not let up until the explosive ending. I like the way Ms. Martin injects a bit of humor in her story and her writing is straightforward and an easy read.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this really great book to read and enjoy.
March 18, 2023
In book five of the series, Hillary has been acting Detective Chief Inspector for a few months following the events of book four, but that is soon to change with her bosses deciding she is not quite up to it despite giving her an award for bravery for having saved her old friend and boss Mel, whose own promotion does become permanent. I did wonder if there was a subtle sexism going on, although Hillary isn't sorry to go back to the more hands-on role of a Detective Inspector. The DCI role is a deskbound one, dealing with paperwork - I didn't think there was an indication that she wasn't any good at it, just that it bored her. To make matters worse, the man who investigated her for corruption (although had to clear her as she was not involved in the activities of her 'bent cop' estranged and now dead husband) is moved into the vacant DCI position and becomes her boss. And it seems he fancies her.
More change is in the air, as my favourite in her team, Tommy, is due to move to another police station in the area to take up the new role of Detective Sergeant, having passed his Boards. Janine, too, may be moving on though, rather than with the promotion she seeks, her relocation is connected with the ongoing and thoroughly unbelievable affair with Mel who had dropped her in book 4 just to get his promotion. Things will be grim if Hillary is left with the obnoxious and lazy Sergeant Frank Ross, plus whatever newbies the bosses see fit to put under her nurturing wing.
She finds refuge in directing the case of a murdered 15-year-old boy found in a shed on the allotments near his home. It soon becomes clear that he was involved in criminal activities which directly led to his murder. I found one or two aspects of this rather odd. It's obvious early on that photographs must be key to the enquiry, yet the police never impound the digital camera found in the victim's bedroom - surely there was a card inside with crucial evidence? - or get a warrant to look at his friend's computer when it becomes obvious that he did his printing at the other boy's home. After all, they are aware of his ambition to become a paparazzi. To me it seemed very obvious what he had been up to and I couldn't understand, even when they finally located printouts, that they didn't follow that up. At least there is a twist on the discovery made late in the story, so it wasn't quite as obvious as I thought, but the actual ending is rather rushed. So a 3-star rating from me.
More change is in the air, as my favourite in her team, Tommy, is due to move to another police station in the area to take up the new role of Detective Sergeant, having passed his Boards. Janine, too, may be moving on though, rather than with the promotion she seeks, her relocation is connected with the ongoing and thoroughly unbelievable affair with Mel who had dropped her in book 4 just to get his promotion. Things will be grim if Hillary is left with the obnoxious and lazy Sergeant Frank Ross, plus whatever newbies the bosses see fit to put under her nurturing wing.
She finds refuge in directing the case of a murdered 15-year-old boy found in a shed on the allotments near his home. It soon becomes clear that he was involved in criminal activities which directly led to his murder. I found one or two aspects of this rather odd. It's obvious early on that photographs must be key to the enquiry, yet the police never impound the digital camera found in the victim's bedroom - surely there was a card inside with crucial evidence? - or get a warrant to look at his friend's computer when it becomes obvious that he did his printing at the other boy's home. After all, they are aware of his ambition to become a paparazzi. To me it seemed very obvious what he had been up to and I couldn't understand, even when they finally located printouts, that they didn't follow that up. At least there is a twist on the discovery made late in the story, so it wasn't quite as obvious as I thought, but the actual ending is rather rushed. So a 3-star rating from me.
December 8, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for a review copy of Murder in the Family, the fifth book to feature DI Hillary Greene of Thames Valley Police.
The novel opens with a bang as Hillary doesn't get the DCI role she has been doing for the past 5 months. It's disappointing but as she was unsure she really liked the DCI role she is happy to dive back into investigating the murder of 15 year old Billy Davies, found in his dad's allotment shed with a pair of gardening shears in his chest. The case is puzzling as it initially seems motiveless but careful investigation uncovers a host of suspects.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in the Family which is another good addition to a series which is becoming a firm favourite with me. It is not a taxing read but is sufficiently complicated to hold my attention throughout, wondering what would come next. I like the format which has a linear timeline and Hillary's point of view as I really like the challenge of trying to get there before Hillary and her team (needless to say I failed!) with the same information they have. The solution is ingenious but the motive seems slightly outdated (I can't say more without spoilers).
My real pleasure from this series lies, however, in the ongoing saga of Hillary's life. With her ex husband's ill gotten gains now consigned, if not to the history books then certainly the back burner, it would seem that she is ready for a fresh start but this brings more dilemmas. It is compulsive reading and I'm itching to know what Ms Martin has in store for her next. The rest of the team is not standing still either and change is in the air. I've come to really enjoy the team dynamic with their petty squabbles, different hopes and aspirations and unacknowledged dependence on Hillary for guidance and leadership.
I have no hesitation in recommending Murder in the Family as a good read.
The novel opens with a bang as Hillary doesn't get the DCI role she has been doing for the past 5 months. It's disappointing but as she was unsure she really liked the DCI role she is happy to dive back into investigating the murder of 15 year old Billy Davies, found in his dad's allotment shed with a pair of gardening shears in his chest. The case is puzzling as it initially seems motiveless but careful investigation uncovers a host of suspects.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in the Family which is another good addition to a series which is becoming a firm favourite with me. It is not a taxing read but is sufficiently complicated to hold my attention throughout, wondering what would come next. I like the format which has a linear timeline and Hillary's point of view as I really like the challenge of trying to get there before Hillary and her team (needless to say I failed!) with the same information they have. The solution is ingenious but the motive seems slightly outdated (I can't say more without spoilers).
My real pleasure from this series lies, however, in the ongoing saga of Hillary's life. With her ex husband's ill gotten gains now consigned, if not to the history books then certainly the back burner, it would seem that she is ready for a fresh start but this brings more dilemmas. It is compulsive reading and I'm itching to know what Ms Martin has in store for her next. The rest of the team is not standing still either and change is in the air. I've come to really enjoy the team dynamic with their petty squabbles, different hopes and aspirations and unacknowledged dependence on Hillary for guidance and leadership.
I have no hesitation in recommending Murder in the Family as a good read.
April 30, 2022
In this, the fifth in the DI Hillary Greene series, there is a feeling that things are changing for our intrepid Oxfordshire Detective.
With her former boss now promoted to Superintendent, the book begins with Hillary as acting Detective Cheif Inspector receiving a medal for her role in a previous case (Murder In The Village). The question is will Hillary get the permanent promotion or not?
She barely has time to polish her award when another case demands her urgent attention. This time it is the death of a 15-year-old boy at his father's allotment.
As DI Greene and her team begin the painstaking process of digging below the surface of the teenager's life, they find more questions than answers. But as always, Hillary's calm and methodical approach, together with not a little intuition begin to pay off. What they find uncovers not only the truth behind this troubled teenager's life but also some of the dark secrets of the small Community.
While dealing with this tricky case, Hillary must also deal with some big changes at the station. A surprise change of boss together with the news that she is losing two of her tight-knit team put her at a crossroads. What the changes will mean and how they will impact her remain to be seen.
As always, Faith Martin weaves an interesting and easily read tale. I become invested in Hillary Greene and her story and look forward to reading her next case.
With her former boss now promoted to Superintendent, the book begins with Hillary as acting Detective Cheif Inspector receiving a medal for her role in a previous case (Murder In The Village). The question is will Hillary get the permanent promotion or not?
She barely has time to polish her award when another case demands her urgent attention. This time it is the death of a 15-year-old boy at his father's allotment.
As DI Greene and her team begin the painstaking process of digging below the surface of the teenager's life, they find more questions than answers. But as always, Hillary's calm and methodical approach, together with not a little intuition begin to pay off. What they find uncovers not only the truth behind this troubled teenager's life but also some of the dark secrets of the small Community.
While dealing with this tricky case, Hillary must also deal with some big changes at the station. A surprise change of boss together with the news that she is losing two of her tight-knit team put her at a crossroads. What the changes will mean and how they will impact her remain to be seen.
As always, Faith Martin weaves an interesting and easily read tale. I become invested in Hillary Greene and her story and look forward to reading her next case.
March 3, 2023
DI Hillary Green of the Thames Valley Police has herself a new and difficult case. A fifteen year old boy has been found stabbed to death with a pair of shears in the hut on his father’s allotment. He’s known as a troublemaker but he’s never been in trouble with police and doesn’t seem to be involved in drug dealing so what has he been up to that made some one angry enough to murder him?
Hillary and her team have their work cut out. After interviewing the boy’s family, his best friend, his girlfriend, classmates and neighbours they are no closer to finding out what he’s done to get himself killed. However, a chance conversation with an elderly man on a neighbouring allotment will start her off on the right track and we know that once Hillary has a sniff of a lead she’s tenacious in tracking it to the end.
It's always good to spend time with Hillary and good to see her in a good place, finally able to move on from her past problems with her corrupt husband and all that followed. She isn’t thrilled that Paul Danvers, who led the investigation into her after her husband was found guilty of corruption has now been made her DCI and finds it awkward that he’s attracted to her. Especially since Mike Regis from Vice is now divorced and is also keen to pursue her again. Things could get very awkward indeed!
Hillary and her team have their work cut out. After interviewing the boy’s family, his best friend, his girlfriend, classmates and neighbours they are no closer to finding out what he’s done to get himself killed. However, a chance conversation with an elderly man on a neighbouring allotment will start her off on the right track and we know that once Hillary has a sniff of a lead she’s tenacious in tracking it to the end.
It's always good to spend time with Hillary and good to see her in a good place, finally able to move on from her past problems with her corrupt husband and all that followed. She isn’t thrilled that Paul Danvers, who led the investigation into her after her husband was found guilty of corruption has now been made her DCI and finds it awkward that he’s attracted to her. Especially since Mike Regis from Vice is now divorced and is also keen to pursue her again. Things could get very awkward indeed!
November 30, 2017
*Thanks to the team at Joffe Books for a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review*
The book opens with the murder of 15 year old Billy Davies, in his father's allotment shed, with a set of gardening shears. The murder of a young child immediately upsets the team, and they are even more upset by the news that initially his 11 year old sister found him, before going home to tell their parents.
The team cannot understand who would want to murder a young boy, and for what reasons. So begins another intriguing tale of secrets, lies, suspicions and red herrings.
It's also all change in the station - DCI Mallow has finally been promoted, and Hillary has been passed over for promotion in favour of the DI who investigated her in book 1. Her DC, Tommy Lynch, is also about to leave as he has been promoted in a different station.
This is book 5 in the series, and to fully understand the upcoming restructures in the team, you would certainly benefit from having at least read some of the previous novels.
It was another fast paced page turner that I got through in record time. I love Faith Martin's writing and her characterisation, and I've been left wondering will it feel like a new series with so many changes coming.
The book opens with the murder of 15 year old Billy Davies, in his father's allotment shed, with a set of gardening shears. The murder of a young child immediately upsets the team, and they are even more upset by the news that initially his 11 year old sister found him, before going home to tell their parents.
The team cannot understand who would want to murder a young boy, and for what reasons. So begins another intriguing tale of secrets, lies, suspicions and red herrings.
It's also all change in the station - DCI Mallow has finally been promoted, and Hillary has been passed over for promotion in favour of the DI who investigated her in book 1. Her DC, Tommy Lynch, is also about to leave as he has been promoted in a different station.
This is book 5 in the series, and to fully understand the upcoming restructures in the team, you would certainly benefit from having at least read some of the previous novels.
It was another fast paced page turner that I got through in record time. I love Faith Martin's writing and her characterisation, and I've been left wondering will it feel like a new series with so many changes coming.
December 17, 2022
Lots going on in this one, professionally and personally
This fifth book in the series has several different plot lines running and we’re about to see a big shake up in things for Hillary both professionally and personally.
The book starts with a big shock for Hillary and before she can adjust she is called out to the murder scene of a teenage boy. She’s not quite in the right frame of mind to be starting an investigation like this. As the story progresses we get to see Hillary at her deductive and interrogating finest. There are a number of surprises. The one at the end that blows the case open is pretty hard to see coming though there were a couple small clues that make sense after the fact. There’s a big hole as to the “how did he know” element that is never addressed which is a bit off putting.
Also Hillary is going to have to get used to change in her team. There are spoilers so I can’t be specific but I am very interested to see what happens from here.
And professionally Hillary is dealing with male attention. Some unwanted, some sort of welcome. The book ends on a great cliffhanger on that note.
I’m really loving this series and just found out about another series by this author that I will be checking out soon.
This fifth book in the series has several different plot lines running and we’re about to see a big shake up in things for Hillary both professionally and personally.
The book starts with a big shock for Hillary and before she can adjust she is called out to the murder scene of a teenage boy. She’s not quite in the right frame of mind to be starting an investigation like this. As the story progresses we get to see Hillary at her deductive and interrogating finest. There are a number of surprises. The one at the end that blows the case open is pretty hard to see coming though there were a couple small clues that make sense after the fact. There’s a big hole as to the “how did he know” element that is never addressed which is a bit off putting.
Also Hillary is going to have to get used to change in her team. There are spoilers so I can’t be specific but I am very interested to see what happens from here.
And professionally Hillary is dealing with male attention. Some unwanted, some sort of welcome. The book ends on a great cliffhanger on that note.
I’m really loving this series and just found out about another series by this author that I will be checking out soon.
March 19, 2018
As a fan of the Hillary Greene books, I have to admit that I was rather disappointed with some aspects of this one, even though I did still enjoy it. It seemed to end rather abruptly and, whether it was my own fault because I was not attentive enough, somehow I seemed to miss how she actually came to solve the case. But it was better in that the repetition that I have disliked in previous books was actually not anywhere near as grating in this one, and as always I enjoyed the story development and the characters who are now becoming familiar old friends. I will miss the one who will not be appearing in the next book, that is certain.
I did like the fact that the overarching storyline played a lesser part in this book, and that things seem to be a bit more setttled as far as personal lives go, but that is a personal preference for liking my detective stories being more about the detectING than the detectIVES and I know that for many their preference is different.
As always, I'm straight onto the next book in the series, though. It's lovely to have discovered a series of books where I want to read them in quick succession.
I did like the fact that the overarching storyline played a lesser part in this book, and that things seem to be a bit more setttled as far as personal lives go, but that is a personal preference for liking my detective stories being more about the detectING than the detectIVES and I know that for many their preference is different.
As always, I'm straight onto the next book in the series, though. It's lovely to have discovered a series of books where I want to read them in quick succession.
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