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DI Hillary Greene #4
Murder in the Village
A would-be politician is found battered to death in the kitchen of his expensive home in a lovely Oxfordshire village. His wife's alibi is full of holes and there's another woman in the background. And what about his seemingly mild-mannered political rival? DI Hillary Greene tries to get to the bottom of this perplexing murder. She certainly doesn't think the prime suspect is as guilty as everyone thinks. Just as she's about to make a breakthrough, everything is turned upside down by a fatal development in another case she is working on . . . Can Hillary find the murderer and will she survive a brush with one of Oxford's most dangerous criminals?
7 pages, Audiobook
First published January 1, 2006
5380 people are currently reading
935 people want to read
About the author
Faith Martin
97 books978 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 245 reviews
January 23, 2022
The more I read this series the more I enjoy it. I think it is the fact that the main character, DC Hillary Greene, is such a sympathetic character. The more you get to know her the more you like her!
Murder in the Village features several different cases. A murder takes up a lot of time but is not the most important part of the book. Greene solves it in a moment of brilliance but I had already guessed the murderer several chapters earlier. Much more exciting is the attempt to take down a drug supplier which eventuates in a gun fight, injuries and deaths. Then there is Hillary's own crusade to expose a dirty cop and a surprise happening around the huge secret she lives with herself.
This is a really excellent read, full of action, lots of good police work and really good characters. And I still have a number of books to go. Perfect.
Murder in the Village features several different cases. A murder takes up a lot of time but is not the most important part of the book. Greene solves it in a moment of brilliance but I had already guessed the murderer several chapters earlier. Much more exciting is the attempt to take down a drug supplier which eventuates in a gun fight, injuries and deaths. Then there is Hillary's own crusade to expose a dirty cop and a surprise happening around the huge secret she lives with herself.
This is a really excellent read, full of action, lots of good police work and really good characters. And I still have a number of books to go. Perfect.
March 12, 2023
When DI Hillary Greene was called to the murder of an up and coming politician, it seemed like an open and shut case. But all the leads came to nothing while her team became more frustrated with the second and third interviews they were holding. But it was the other case that Hillary was working on that went belly up, with several bodies at the site and a confusing outcome that didn't feel right to Hillary. Something was off, and she was determined to find out what it was...
Murder in the Village is the 4th in DI Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin and I really enjoyed this one. Fast paced with plenty of action, Hillary found herself in danger a number of times. This is a great series and I'm looking forward to #5 already. Highly recommended.
Murder in the Village is the 4th in DI Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin and I really enjoyed this one. Fast paced with plenty of action, Hillary found herself in danger a number of times. This is a great series and I'm looking forward to #5 already. Highly recommended.
November 13, 2017
DI Greene and her team are back and involved in two almost unsolvable cases.
A man running for a political office is found dead in his home with his head battered. No witnesses .. no DNA .. no clues. The wife has a solid alibi .. she was playing cards with several friends. There is no lack of suspects, though and Greene's team is going to have to sift and sort through a lot of lies and secrets.
And then there's the death of a major drug dealer, one that the law has been after for a long time and never had enough to put him away. So who killed him .. especially as he was surrounded by cops?
On the personal side of things, Greene is recovering from a gun shot when she decides to investigate her new supervisor. Going by her gut feelings, something just isn't quite right. Her DS who is having an affair with the boss has created a problem within the team.
The characters are all so finely drawn and full of life. The who-dun-its are well thought out and always leaves me guessing until the very end. Although 4th in the series, each one does well as a stand alone. But I would highly recommend starting at the very beginning.
Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
December 3, 2022
Definitely the best of this series so far, and not just because there was a lot less foul language in it. Some of the topics weren't ones I would have chosen, but seriously... well done, despite characters not doing what I wanted them to do. LOL.
January 25, 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.
The fourth in the DI Hillary Greene series, Murder In The Village has everything and more in it!
Three major criminal investigations fight for Hillary's attention but only one with her as SIO. The murder of a local, campaigning to get into government, supplies Hillary and her Team with a plethora of suspects and just as many dead ends. Interrupting her ongoing investigation is a raid by the Vice Squad on a garden centre to recover guns being sold. After successful completion, another handgun is found, and with the Tactical Team having already left, Hillary passes the weapon to Sgt Frank Ross to be logged into evidence. You just know something is going to go horribly wrong with that scenario!!
An Operation headed by new Superintendent Jerome Raleigh, to capture Luke Fletcher and take a shipment of a particularly nasty new drug off the streets, goes horribly wrong with Hillary being shot.
Just what happened during the meticulously planned raid for it to finish in the way it does? And why is Hillary getting a very bad feeling about the new Super ...... and his new buddy Frank Ross?
While recovering from surgery Hillary decides to investigate Jerome's past and why he transferred to Thames Valley Police. What she finds is shocking, but what will she do with the information?
.Finally, a return to work from a still recovering Hillary sees her navel gazing when it suddenly come to her who the murderer for her original investigation is! The woman is definitely canny with the last minute connections she makes.
With revelations and bombshells galore, this really is an action packed, adrenaline soaked read Faith Martin has provided for her readers. Highly, highly recommended.
The fourth in the DI Hillary Greene series, Murder In The Village has everything and more in it!
Three major criminal investigations fight for Hillary's attention but only one with her as SIO. The murder of a local, campaigning to get into government, supplies Hillary and her Team with a plethora of suspects and just as many dead ends. Interrupting her ongoing investigation is a raid by the Vice Squad on a garden centre to recover guns being sold. After successful completion, another handgun is found, and with the Tactical Team having already left, Hillary passes the weapon to Sgt Frank Ross to be logged into evidence. You just know something is going to go horribly wrong with that scenario!!
An Operation headed by new Superintendent Jerome Raleigh, to capture Luke Fletcher and take a shipment of a particularly nasty new drug off the streets, goes horribly wrong with Hillary being shot.
Just what happened during the meticulously planned raid for it to finish in the way it does? And why is Hillary getting a very bad feeling about the new Super ...... and his new buddy Frank Ross?
While recovering from surgery Hillary decides to investigate Jerome's past and why he transferred to Thames Valley Police. What she finds is shocking, but what will she do with the information?
.Finally, a return to work from a still recovering Hillary sees her navel gazing when it suddenly come to her who the murderer for her original investigation is! The woman is definitely canny with the last minute connections she makes.
With revelations and bombshells galore, this really is an action packed, adrenaline soaked read Faith Martin has provided for her readers. Highly, highly recommended.
September 25, 2023
I enjoy this police procedural series by Faith Martin. Not only does it solve a complete murder mystery in each book, but there are several intriguing back stories going on throughout the the saga to make you want to pick up the next installment. In "Murder in the Village," a local murder gets solved, a major crime boss is run to ground and some internal machinations at headquarters reach a boiling point. A good read.
December 13, 2020
2.5, reluctantly rounded down. This was my first Faith Martin book. I found it disappointing. DI Hillary Greene investigates the murder of a would be politician bludgeoned to death. The murder is secondary (with an obvious outcome) while happenings from a past book pops up. I didn’t read any earlier novels so I felt at a slight disadvantage even though this one works as a standalone. It was also not surprising.
Perhaps another chance needs to be given by me as this one may be a one off. I feel like if it had invested in her first three novels I may have rated this one higher but there’s no way of knowing.
Perhaps another chance needs to be given by me as this one may be a one off. I feel like if it had invested in her first three novels I may have rated this one higher but there’s no way of knowing.
November 15, 2017
This is book 4 in the Hillary Greene series. The books will work very well as stand alone but a better reading experience will be accomplished by reading them in sequence.
Hillary is a dedicated DI and is still dealing with the fallout from a bad marriage to a bent copper who died leaving Hillary with his mess to clear up. She is living on a Narrow Boat on the Oxford Canal while working her way through the fall out from Ronnie's death. She survived investigation by the IPC and is fighting off a court action resulting from her Ex-husband's illegal dealings.
She is well thought of within the department and leads her team with compassion and guidance. Janine is not impressed with having Hillary as her 'boss' and her relationship with Mel causes problems for everyone. Despite this Hillary still has her back.
This story is very intriguing and moves along pretty quickly with many twists and turns and unexpected events popping up to keep you turning the pages.
I love how this series is progressing. The books have a little humour interwoven in the story and very unique characters that make up Hillary's diverse team. Well written, gripping and a little light humour thrown in what more could a reader ask for? Well worth the 5 stars and looking forward to book 5.
Hillary is a dedicated DI and is still dealing with the fallout from a bad marriage to a bent copper who died leaving Hillary with his mess to clear up. She is living on a Narrow Boat on the Oxford Canal while working her way through the fall out from Ronnie's death. She survived investigation by the IPC and is fighting off a court action resulting from her Ex-husband's illegal dealings.
She is well thought of within the department and leads her team with compassion and guidance. Janine is not impressed with having Hillary as her 'boss' and her relationship with Mel causes problems for everyone. Despite this Hillary still has her back.
This story is very intriguing and moves along pretty quickly with many twists and turns and unexpected events popping up to keep you turning the pages.
I love how this series is progressing. The books have a little humour interwoven in the story and very unique characters that make up Hillary's diverse team. Well written, gripping and a little light humour thrown in what more could a reader ask for? Well worth the 5 stars and looking forward to book 5.
November 1, 2024
Another very satisfying read with lots going on in the plot and sub plot. Has one "problem" been solved ? I will have to read the rest of the series to find out ! I really enjoy the interplay between the police team and solving the crime is quite interesting too !
August 28, 2025
These are always highly enjoyable easy reads in Faith Martin's brilliant Hillary Greene series. Fast paced with a couple of different storylines running and underpinned by the Ronnie Greene story. Hillary is a superbly portrayed character and gives so much depth to the story. Well thought out, well written and another solid read from Ms Martin
December 13, 2017
I recently had the delight of reading and reviewing ‘Murder Of The Bride’ by Faith Martin, which is the previous book in the series featuring DI Hilary Greene, and I absolutely loved it. So you can imagine my excitement when I was asked if I would like to read and review ‘Murder In The Village’. Of course I said ‘yes’ and oh wowzers I absolutely loved it. In fact I think that this series just gets better and better with each book that is released, but more about that in a bit.
DI Hillary Greene is a woman of a particular age, whose career is basically her life. She doesn’t have anything else. DI Greene was married to a less than savoury character and she had no idea about the true extent of his dodgy dealings until they were exposed. Her husband is no longer around and the couple had no children. Greene is one of those feisty female detectives, who are not easily, if ever, afraid and she does all she can to seek justice for the victims of crime and to ensure that the guilty party pays for what he or she has done. DI Greene is popular with her team and she is more than willing to muck in and do her fair share of the day to day work. DI Greene enjoys a close working relationship and friendship with her immediate superior DCI Phillip Mallow, also known as ‘Mellow Mallow’. DI Greene tells it like it is and doesn’t pull any punches and her no nonsense attitude earns her the respect of her colleagues. That is except for DS Frank Ross, who was her ex-husband’s best friend. DS Ross is one of those characters, who made me want to poke him in the eyes with a sharp stick before slapping him across the face with a wet flip flop and a wet fish. DS Ross is basically a slob, who avoids work when he can, he has no respect for those in authority, he doesn’t follow procedure, he doesn’t play by the rules, he cosies up to the criminal fraternity and he tries to get up DI Greene’s nose as much as he can. He also seems to be very much a lecherous pervert, who gave me the heebie jeebies every time he was mentioned. How he is still a serving police officer is beyond me.
I have to say that in my opinion ‘Murder In The Village’ is brilliantly written. As I mentioned at the start of the review, this is a series that just keeps getting better and better. The writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn in to the story. I was literally hooked from the first word on the last page and before I knew it I had got a quarter of the way through the book. I didn’t notice either the time passing or the pages turning. In fact the pages were turning that fast that it was almost as if they were turning themselves. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case, as I was able to cut out all other noise and avoid any distraction. The writing was that good that I literally felt as though I was a member of DI Greene’s team. I felt that I could easily have fitted right in. Opening ‘Murder In The Village’ felt like being reunited with old friends, all apart from DS Ross that is. Reading this book was a bit like being on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns and the odd occasional stomach churning moment. I smugly thought that I had fathomed out who the murderer(s) was/ were but I was wrong and the book sent me down another path entirely. This is a book that certainly kept me guessing and kept me on my toes.
In short, I absolutely LOVED this book and I absolutely love this series. I can’t wait to read more about cases involving DI Hillary Greene and her team. Here’s hoping that I don’t have too long to wait. I would recommend this series to anyone. I award this book an easy 5* out of 5*.
DI Hillary Greene is a woman of a particular age, whose career is basically her life. She doesn’t have anything else. DI Greene was married to a less than savoury character and she had no idea about the true extent of his dodgy dealings until they were exposed. Her husband is no longer around and the couple had no children. Greene is one of those feisty female detectives, who are not easily, if ever, afraid and she does all she can to seek justice for the victims of crime and to ensure that the guilty party pays for what he or she has done. DI Greene is popular with her team and she is more than willing to muck in and do her fair share of the day to day work. DI Greene enjoys a close working relationship and friendship with her immediate superior DCI Phillip Mallow, also known as ‘Mellow Mallow’. DI Greene tells it like it is and doesn’t pull any punches and her no nonsense attitude earns her the respect of her colleagues. That is except for DS Frank Ross, who was her ex-husband’s best friend. DS Ross is one of those characters, who made me want to poke him in the eyes with a sharp stick before slapping him across the face with a wet flip flop and a wet fish. DS Ross is basically a slob, who avoids work when he can, he has no respect for those in authority, he doesn’t follow procedure, he doesn’t play by the rules, he cosies up to the criminal fraternity and he tries to get up DI Greene’s nose as much as he can. He also seems to be very much a lecherous pervert, who gave me the heebie jeebies every time he was mentioned. How he is still a serving police officer is beyond me.
I have to say that in my opinion ‘Murder In The Village’ is brilliantly written. As I mentioned at the start of the review, this is a series that just keeps getting better and better. The writing style is such that you can’t fail to be drawn in to the story. I was literally hooked from the first word on the last page and before I knew it I had got a quarter of the way through the book. I didn’t notice either the time passing or the pages turning. In fact the pages were turning that fast that it was almost as if they were turning themselves. Usually I have the attention span of a gnat and I am easily distracted but not in this case, as I was able to cut out all other noise and avoid any distraction. The writing was that good that I literally felt as though I was a member of DI Greene’s team. I felt that I could easily have fitted right in. Opening ‘Murder In The Village’ felt like being reunited with old friends, all apart from DS Ross that is. Reading this book was a bit like being on a rollercoaster ride with all the twists, turns and the odd occasional stomach churning moment. I smugly thought that I had fathomed out who the murderer(s) was/ were but I was wrong and the book sent me down another path entirely. This is a book that certainly kept me guessing and kept me on my toes.
In short, I absolutely LOVED this book and I absolutely love this series. I can’t wait to read more about cases involving DI Hillary Greene and her team. Here’s hoping that I don’t have too long to wait. I would recommend this series to anyone. I award this book an easy 5* out of 5*.
January 7, 2018
You know when you're reading a series and you get to that point where you feel like you're part of the team or the family (albiet as a fly on the wall) and can anticipate how a character is going to react? Well, this is the book that has me feeling that way.
While DI Hillary Greene is the main protagonist, the supporting cast is just as important, and well developed, which really adds to the depth of the story. I love how each book solves a specific crime (or two) while the overarching storyline of Hillary's scheming (and very dead) ex-husband continues to unfold.
Onto book 5 to see what "my" team is up to next!
***4.5***
While DI Hillary Greene is the main protagonist, the supporting cast is just as important, and well developed, which really adds to the depth of the story. I love how each book solves a specific crime (or two) while the overarching storyline of Hillary's scheming (and very dead) ex-husband continues to unfold.
Onto book 5 to see what "my" team is up to next!
***4.5***
November 27, 2019
I’ve enjoyed the previous three books in this series, but some of their minor irritations have final become very annoying in this book. It didn’t help that the investigation into the murder of the politician was quite boring, although Hillary’s private investigation was a bit more interesting.
What really annoyed me was the author’s solution to Ronnie Greene’s ill-gotten gains, the fact Hillary had done nothing about the book and that Raleigh could workout what it was within minutes of searching Hillary’s boat. The author really doesn’t respect the intelligence of her readers and just for this the book doesn’t deserve better than one star, but I have generously given it two.
What really annoyed me was the author’s solution to Ronnie Greene’s ill-gotten gains, the fact Hillary had done nothing about the book and that Raleigh could workout what it was within minutes of searching Hillary’s boat. The author really doesn’t respect the intelligence of her readers and just for this the book doesn’t deserve better than one star, but I have generously given it two.
November 22, 2017
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I really enjoyed this book, this is certainly a series I am thoroughly enjoying and was delighted to find out that hot on the heels of this book, the next one is due out very soon!
The plot was great in this book as normal and I loved the character development in this book and Hillary is an excellent character with a lot of baggage!
The book has plenty of twists and turns, a great pace for the plot and it is a gripping story - 5stars from me for this one and looking forward to book 5!
I really enjoyed this book, this is certainly a series I am thoroughly enjoying and was delighted to find out that hot on the heels of this book, the next one is due out very soon!
The plot was great in this book as normal and I loved the character development in this book and Hillary is an excellent character with a lot of baggage!
The book has plenty of twists and turns, a great pace for the plot and it is a gripping story - 5stars from me for this one and looking forward to book 5!
July 1, 2018
These books keep getting better. This is the fourth in the DI Greene series and for the first time, there feel like there's real jeopardy around. Hillary continues to fight crime while dealing with her rag-bag team and senior officers who may, or may not, be on her side. Who needs criminals in an environment like that?
November 13, 2017
The body of a man is found in his kitchen under suspicious circumstances. Meanwhile rumour has it that one of the local thieves has got his hands on more than his usual set of tools of the trade. Somehow there is a mole in the camp so things have to be kept underwraps. DI Greene is a very likeable character that you take to easily. Her team are a mixed bunch from Janine who is having a relationship with the Hillary superior to Frank who can’t really be relied on but has a good set of “nouses” to keep him informed. When a stakeout takes place, Hillary gets slightly more than she bargained for. This is one of a series by Faith Martin, each one being a very enjoyable read. They could stand alone but why miss out on other excellent reads? They have a solid plot line, believable characters and a little humour along with enough background to keep the reader interested without overdoing things. I love “puff the tragic wagon”- very clever! A very enjoyable easy read.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
November 23, 2017
Great series, love it. Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC and the chance to enjoy this terrific series.
The book can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series from the beginning, so you get DI Hillary Greene's back story and hopefully like her as much as I do.
This particular story gets her shot, but she can't but stopped. Determined as always to crack the case, staying on her longboat to recuperate is not on her agenda. She sneakily investigates and interviews; and in the end successfully finds the answers.
She's a hell of a police woman and I'm very lucky to have just started the next in the series: Murder in the Family.
The book can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series from the beginning, so you get DI Hillary Greene's back story and hopefully like her as much as I do.
This particular story gets her shot, but she can't but stopped. Determined as always to crack the case, staying on her longboat to recuperate is not on her agenda. She sneakily investigates and interviews; and in the end successfully finds the answers.
She's a hell of a police woman and I'm very lucky to have just started the next in the series: Murder in the Family.
July 11, 2018
"Terrific. I couldn't put it down"
This series gets better and better. You certainly get your money's worth. Three story lines to enjoy this time. A would-be politician is murdered. We discover the reason Jerome Raleigh transferred from the Metropolitan Police and the constant thread of Hillary Greene's late husband's criminal past is taken that little bit further. Great stuff. Can't wait to read #5.
This series gets better and better. You certainly get your money's worth. Three story lines to enjoy this time. A would-be politician is murdered. We discover the reason Jerome Raleigh transferred from the Metropolitan Police and the constant thread of Hillary Greene's late husband's criminal past is taken that little bit further. Great stuff. Can't wait to read #5.
March 30, 2020
I really like this series, and this book represents the high quality of the ones I have read previously. In this one, there is a murder in the village near where Hillary Greene lives, and not only does she get involved in that investigation, but her superiors involve her in another case, which proves to be very dangerous for her. This is a very satisfactory story, and I am eager to read the next one.
August 17, 2024
Hillary has a new supervisor from London, and everyone's wondering why he transferred to their small department. A local Tory politician has been murdered, and Hillary and her team are investigating. Then after an incident on a raid, Hillary is on sick leave and decides to look into their new superintendent. But he is a crafty one, and may figure out a way to get around his very intelligent DI.
March 21, 2020
Ots been really nice going back over the early books in
this series. Ties up all the loose ends so to speak. Excellently written and grammatically perfect. Woth the benefit pf am perfect proof
reader. Just great.
this series. Ties up all the loose ends so to speak. Excellently written and grammatically perfect. Woth the benefit pf am perfect proof
reader. Just great.
February 28, 2021
With a candidate’s murder Hilary is once again trying to sift through all the leads. In addition to that she has a new superior officer in the station who seems to have made an odd career move. There is also the matter of the Dick Francis paperback she has yet to deal with.
March 21, 2019
Keeps you guessing
The characters in this book are very likeable and you want them to be successful. The plot keeps your interest and you will never guess the ending.
The characters in this book are very likeable and you want them to be successful. The plot keeps your interest and you will never guess the ending.
July 8, 2019
Satisfying read in this series.
July 31, 2021
Really strong!
May 16, 2021
I have been listening to these on audio book and really enjoying this new to me series. DI Hilary Green of the Thames Valley Police force is smart, intuitive and tenacious. All of this makes her one of the best homicide DI’s; however, an unfortunate marriage to a bent cop has blighted her chances of promotion. Her estranged husband, Ronnie Green, is the gift that keeps on giving. Ronnie was under investigation for selling illegal endangered animal parts at the time of his death. He diedbeing prosecuted, however, the cops are still looking for his ill gotten gains and investigate Hilary. She is cleared; but is denied Ronnie’s pension and was forced out of her home by Ronnie during the divorce.
Despite the personal challenges, Hilary is always up for a murder investigation. The death of a wannabe politician in a small village is her latest case. The case has multiple suspects; but the most likely ones keep getting cleared. The series has some strong secondary characters, her young, eager Detective Constable Tommy Lynch and her insubordinate Sergeant, Janine, who is shacking up with her boss. Hilary’s professional life is definitely complicated which keeps the series interesting.
Despite the personal challenges, Hilary is always up for a murder investigation. The death of a wannabe politician in a small village is her latest case. The case has multiple suspects; but the most likely ones keep getting cleared. The series has some strong secondary characters, her young, eager Detective Constable Tommy Lynch and her insubordinate Sergeant, Janine, who is shacking up with her boss. Hilary’s professional life is definitely complicated which keeps the series interesting.
July 4, 2021
The ensemble cast is back for more murder and mystery in the picturesque Oxford suburbs. During the course of the first three books, the regular crew of the Thames Valley force have become well established. Their relationships and idiosyncrasies have woven themselves into the fabric of the books. But in this new adventure things begin to unravel in unexpected ways.
The arrival of new Superintendent, Jerome Raleigh. Raleigh is something of a high-flyer from the Met, but there is something about him that just doesn't sit right with DI Greene. Why would an ambitious and driven man like him swap the Met for the leafy suburbs of Thames Valley? Greene is a natural and instinctive detective with an uncanny ability to see when something isn't right. In the new Super's case, alarms bells are ringing loud and clear. And she is not alone in her suspicion that there is more to Jerome Raleigh's move than meets the eye.
But before she can give any time to her thoughts about the new boss she has a murder to solve. Her investigation into the unexplained death of a would-be politician is going nowhere when an unexpected twist in another case leaves Greene with unplanned time on her hands.
With DI Greene's forced absence from the station, DS Tyler takes over the murder investigation whilst trying to deal with a shocking upheaval in her personal life.
Murder in the Village sees our regular cast of characters thrown off-kilter by the plots interesting little twists. Whilst I have enjoyed the previous three books in the series, I felt there was a greater maturity to this one that indicates Faith Martin's growing confidence in her characters and their stories.
I do enjoy the way she writes. The books are full of twists and turns, told with a directness and lack of unnecessary detail that makes them very easy to read. DI Greene herself is a character I find it easy to empathise with. She is good at her job and good with the people around her, but she isn't perfect. She has her own secrets that continue to pull at her conscience like a broken thread.
I have to admit I have become a fan of the Hillary Green stories and look forward to reading the next instalment, already sat on the shelf awaiting my attention.
The arrival of new Superintendent, Jerome Raleigh. Raleigh is something of a high-flyer from the Met, but there is something about him that just doesn't sit right with DI Greene. Why would an ambitious and driven man like him swap the Met for the leafy suburbs of Thames Valley? Greene is a natural and instinctive detective with an uncanny ability to see when something isn't right. In the new Super's case, alarms bells are ringing loud and clear. And she is not alone in her suspicion that there is more to Jerome Raleigh's move than meets the eye.
But before she can give any time to her thoughts about the new boss she has a murder to solve. Her investigation into the unexplained death of a would-be politician is going nowhere when an unexpected twist in another case leaves Greene with unplanned time on her hands.
With DI Greene's forced absence from the station, DS Tyler takes over the murder investigation whilst trying to deal with a shocking upheaval in her personal life.
Murder in the Village sees our regular cast of characters thrown off-kilter by the plots interesting little twists. Whilst I have enjoyed the previous three books in the series, I felt there was a greater maturity to this one that indicates Faith Martin's growing confidence in her characters and their stories.
I do enjoy the way she writes. The books are full of twists and turns, told with a directness and lack of unnecessary detail that makes them very easy to read. DI Greene herself is a character I find it easy to empathise with. She is good at her job and good with the people around her, but she isn't perfect. She has her own secrets that continue to pull at her conscience like a broken thread.
I have to admit I have become a fan of the Hillary Green stories and look forward to reading the next instalment, already sat on the shelf awaiting my attention.
March 18, 2023
After the major hiccup I found with vol 3, this returns more to form although the actual murder investigation of a would-be politician didn't really hold my interest. More to the point was the subplot of whatever new Superintendent Raleigh is up to, culminating in the near-disastrous result of a raid on local crime boss Fletcher's house during a drug exchange with other criminals. It was clear that Raleigh was corrupt in some way, but the raid outcome did clue me in on what his motive must really be, down to the family member involved. I don't usually guess the outcome in police procedurals, but did this time. Nevertheless, tension was maintained with Hillary investigating her boss and possibly ending up in the proverbial for doing so. On the whole, that whole subplot had real drive and maintained a high level of drama.
The one thing I thought unrealistic was the denouement concerning her late husband's ill gotten gains, because previously it seemed that only Hilary with her knowledge of his likes and dislikes etc would have worked out exactly where to look for them. It didn't seem credible that a third party without any of that knowledge would have been able to reach the same conclusion with ease. That, and her lack of interest in the disappearance of a certain book didn't really convince.
I also find it increasingly irritating that her female sergeant Janine is always described as 'pretty blonde'. Also the romance between Janine and a senior officer has never struck me as believable. And a reference to 'first degree murder' jarred - in the UK, it's always been a case of murder or manslaughter. I googled the subject after finishing the book, and it seems there was a recommendation back in 2006 by the Law Commission to adopt a system of first and second degree murder plus manslaughter, but this was rejected by the UK government. I have wondered at times whether the author was English or not, as a few other American-related terms occasionally do show up. So all in all, for me it balances out at a 3 star rating.
The one thing I thought unrealistic was the denouement concerning her late husband's ill gotten gains, because previously it seemed that only Hilary with her knowledge of his likes and dislikes etc would have worked out exactly where to look for them. It didn't seem credible that a third party without any of that knowledge would have been able to reach the same conclusion with ease. That, and her lack of interest in the disappearance of a certain book didn't really convince.
I also find it increasingly irritating that her female sergeant Janine is always described as 'pretty blonde'. Also the romance between Janine and a senior officer has never struck me as believable. And a reference to 'first degree murder' jarred - in the UK, it's always been a case of murder or manslaughter. I googled the subject after finishing the book, and it seems there was a recommendation back in 2006 by the Law Commission to adopt a system of first and second degree murder plus manslaughter, but this was rejected by the UK government. I have wondered at times whether the author was English or not, as a few other American-related terms occasionally do show up. So all in all, for me it balances out at a 3 star rating.
November 16, 2017
I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for a review copy of Murder in the Village, the fourth novel to feature DI Hillary Greene of Thames Valley Police.
Hillary is pleased to be appointed Senior Investigating Officer in the murder of aspiring politician, Malcolm Dale, found bludgeoned to death in his kitchen but with few clues and several suspects her team will have to work hard to find the killer. She grudges, therefore, having to spend time on newly appointed Superintendent Raleigh's latest initiative to catch local crime boss, Luke Fletcher.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in the Village which is the best novel in the series so far. The plot is compulsive with some unexpected twists and turns and a very clever ending and moves the characters' personal lives forward in different ways. The novel works well as a standalone but I'm hooked on the characters and can't wait to see where Ms Martin is taking them next so I would recommend reading the series in order.
While the plot is interesting and absorbing - I had no idea of the killer until the dénouement it is not overly complicated or taxing and the real strength of the novel lies in the ongoing saga of the characters. What will Hillary do with her ex-husband's ill gotten gains stashed in an offshore account she accidently discovered? How will she deal with DS Frank Ross, her ex-husband's best friend, who spends his life trying to do her down? Will DCI Mel Mallow and DS Janine Tyler's relationship last given their career ambitions? It's intriguing.
I also like the writing style. The novel is easy to read and there is some light humour in the dialogue. Hillary is easy to like and I, for one, couldn't help but identify with and root for her when events take a darker turn. It makes for a tense read at times.
Murder in the Village is an easy read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
Hillary is pleased to be appointed Senior Investigating Officer in the murder of aspiring politician, Malcolm Dale, found bludgeoned to death in his kitchen but with few clues and several suspects her team will have to work hard to find the killer. She grudges, therefore, having to spend time on newly appointed Superintendent Raleigh's latest initiative to catch local crime boss, Luke Fletcher.
I thoroughly enjoyed Murder in the Village which is the best novel in the series so far. The plot is compulsive with some unexpected twists and turns and a very clever ending and moves the characters' personal lives forward in different ways. The novel works well as a standalone but I'm hooked on the characters and can't wait to see where Ms Martin is taking them next so I would recommend reading the series in order.
While the plot is interesting and absorbing - I had no idea of the killer until the dénouement it is not overly complicated or taxing and the real strength of the novel lies in the ongoing saga of the characters. What will Hillary do with her ex-husband's ill gotten gains stashed in an offshore account she accidently discovered? How will she deal with DS Frank Ross, her ex-husband's best friend, who spends his life trying to do her down? Will DCI Mel Mallow and DS Janine Tyler's relationship last given their career ambitions? It's intriguing.
I also like the writing style. The novel is easy to read and there is some light humour in the dialogue. Hillary is easy to like and I, for one, couldn't help but identify with and root for her when events take a darker turn. It makes for a tense read at times.
Murder in the Village is an easy read which I have no hesitation in recommending.
November 19, 2017
5 stars
DI Hillary Greene gets a case involving a minor politician who has been murdered. The man’s name is Malcolm Dale and he was battered to death with a blunt object. He lived in an affluent section of Oxfordshire. The body was discovered by his secretary. His wife is not at home at the time of the murder.
At the same time, her new boss’ boss Superintendent Jerome Raleigh has his sights set on capturing one of Oxfordshire’s major crime bosses, Fletcher. He will go to almost any lengths to catch him. When his raid on Fletcher’s place goes sideways, he scrambles to make it look right.
Hillary and her team interview possible witnesses, friends, acquaintances and relatives of Malcolm Dale. They learn that Mrs. Dale’s alibi does not hold water. They also interview the victim’s political rival George McNamara. He seems a good suspect. The assiduously follow the clues and work the case very hard.
The identity of the murderer comes as a real surprise, but not near as surprising as the killer’s motive.
This remarkable novel is both well written and plotted. It has just the right amount of action. I like DI Hillary Greene very much and I appreciate the way she gets along with her team. Her relationship with her boss, DCI Mel Mellow is solid and professional. Hillary has both compassion and empathy, not only for the victims, but also for her team members. She suffers DS Frank Ross with good humor and works well with team member Janine, even though Janine’s relationship with Mel is ill-advised at best. I like the way Ms. Martin injects little bots of humor here and there: “Puff the Tragic Wagon” is her nickname for her older VW Golf. Faith Martin is a brilliant writer and I can hardly wait for the next novel in the series to come out.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy.
DI Hillary Greene gets a case involving a minor politician who has been murdered. The man’s name is Malcolm Dale and he was battered to death with a blunt object. He lived in an affluent section of Oxfordshire. The body was discovered by his secretary. His wife is not at home at the time of the murder.
At the same time, her new boss’ boss Superintendent Jerome Raleigh has his sights set on capturing one of Oxfordshire’s major crime bosses, Fletcher. He will go to almost any lengths to catch him. When his raid on Fletcher’s place goes sideways, he scrambles to make it look right.
Hillary and her team interview possible witnesses, friends, acquaintances and relatives of Malcolm Dale. They learn that Mrs. Dale’s alibi does not hold water. They also interview the victim’s political rival George McNamara. He seems a good suspect. The assiduously follow the clues and work the case very hard.
The identity of the murderer comes as a real surprise, but not near as surprising as the killer’s motive.
This remarkable novel is both well written and plotted. It has just the right amount of action. I like DI Hillary Greene very much and I appreciate the way she gets along with her team. Her relationship with her boss, DCI Mel Mellow is solid and professional. Hillary has both compassion and empathy, not only for the victims, but also for her team members. She suffers DS Frank Ross with good humor and works well with team member Janine, even though Janine’s relationship with Mel is ill-advised at best. I like the way Ms. Martin injects little bots of humor here and there: “Puff the Tragic Wagon” is her nickname for her older VW Golf. Faith Martin is a brilliant writer and I can hardly wait for the next novel in the series to come out.
I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy.
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