Hillary's Back!

DI Hillary Greene #18

by Faith Martin

ONE OF THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE DETECTIVES RETURNS.

A BRAND NEW MYSTERY IN THE MILLION-SELLING SERIES.

DETECTIVE HILLARY GREENE IS BACK!

Eighteen months after Hillary suffered a personal tragedy, she is throwing herself into her work to try to get over it.

Former soldier Gareth Proctor joins her team and finds himself quickly growing to enjoy his new environment.

The first cold case he works on is the murder of Andrew Feeley.

In 2012, this twenty-one-year-old was found dead in the woods near his home, killed by a single stab wound to the chest from his own knife.

Andrew was extremely unpopular. He was a drug dealer, pimp and bully. His stepdad was one of the main suspects, as they hated each other and often came to blows. Other suspects include Toby Truman and his mother Debbie. Andrew was responsible for getting Toby hooked on drugs.

Given Andrew’s criminal background, his murder is thought to be drug-related.

But Hillary’s not buying it — she knows it’s personal. And a search of the Feeleys’ garden turns up some chilling evidence.

HILLARY GREENE RETURNS TO ONE OF HER TOUGHEST CASES YET.

This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to the absolutely thrilling conclusion.

THE DETECTIVE
DI Hillary Greene
An attractive, single woman just over fifty, Hillary Greene was a police officer of many years’ experience (earning the rank of DI) and came up through the ranks. Consequently, she knew how the system worked, and was always fiercely loyal to the force without being blinkered to its faults. Forced to retire early through no fault of her own, she has now returned to the force as a civilian consultant on cold cases.

DI HILLARY GREENE SERIES
BOOK 1: MURDER ON THE OXFORD CANAL
BOOK 2: MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY
BOOK 3: MURDER OF THE BRIDE
BOOK 4: MURDER IN THE VILLAGE
BOOK 5: MURDER IN THE FAMILY
BOOK 6: MURDER AT HOME
BOOK 7: MURDER IN THE MEADOW
BOOK 8: MURDER IN THE MANSION
BOOK 9: MURDER IN THE GARDEN
BOOK 10: MURDER BY FIRE
BOOK 11: MURDER AT WORK
BOOK 12: MURDER NEVER RETIRES
BOOK 13: MURDER OF A LOVER
BOOK 14: MURDER NEVER MISSES
BOOK 15: MURDER AT MIDNIGHT
BOOK 16: MURDER IN MIND
BOOK 17: HILLARY’S FINAL CASE
Book 18: HILLARY’S BACK!

Join the Joffe Books mailing list to be the first to hear about Faith Martin’s new series coming soon.

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Fiction, Procedural, British Literature, Contemporary, Ebooks

218 pages, Paperback

First published February 14, 2020

About the author

Faith 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.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eighteen months since Hillary's last case, and with new team members - Claire and Gareth - by her side, she tackled a new cold case. The murder of Andrew Feeley - a man that was one of life's losers - was a challenge for Hillary, with them all wondering why they bothered. Everyone had disliked and feared Andy, from his partner to his step father, and everyone in between, and no one had been particularly sorry to see him dead. But Hillary's job saw her searching for the answers, as she always did. Would she discover the killer? Or would this be one case she couldn't solve?

Hillary's Back! is the 18th in the DI Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin and was another excellent, fast paced and intriguing read. I'm loving this series, and recommend it highly, although starting at the beginning would benefit :)

[Alan Cotterell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Hillary’s Back, the eighteenth novel to feature former DI turned cold case Civilian Consultant Hillary Greene of the Thames Valley Police.

Hillary is back after her second retirement investigating cold cases with Gareth Proctor, a former soldier injured in action and former DS Claire. Gareth gets thrown in the deep end as they are assigned a new case,,. To investigate the murder of Andrew Feeley who was stabbed to death in 2012.

Hillary’s Back, was good, but not as good as I had expected. This might be because I’ve moved on and it’s more of the same, or it might be because it seemed to have lost the lighthearted banters. This book is mainly told from Hillary and Gareth’s points of view Hillary seems a shadow of her former self as she is grieving. She’s still has her usual sharpness, but lacks her sunny disposition.
Hillary’s Back is an pleasant read and an nice easy way to occupy yourself on a stormy afternoon.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

DI Greene #18

Hillary is still grieving after the loss of her partner. She's back solving cold cases. She has new team members. The case this is Andrew Feeley. He had been stabbed near his home in the woods. He wasnt a nice man. He was violent towards women, a car thief and a drug dealer.

I'm so happy that Hillary is back. I'm hoping as she has a new team, this is just the start and not the end. This is another gripping read by the author. There is a long list of suspects, a mixed bunch of characters and lots of red herrings. This is an engaging whodunnit.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author Faith Martin for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Merged review:

DI Greene #18

Hillary is still grieving after the loss of her partner. She's back loving cold cases. She has new team members. The case this time is Andrew Feely. He had been stabbed near his home in the woods. He wasnt a nice man. He was violent towards women, a car thief and a drug dealer.

I'm so happy that Hillary is back. I'm hoping as she has a new team, this is just the start and not the end. This is another gripping read by the author. There is a long list of suspects, a mixed bunch of characters nd lots of red herrings. This is an engaging whodunnit.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Joffe Books and the author HillarynGreene for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hillary's Back! and back with a bang in the eighteenth instalment in the series featuring former DI turned Civilian Consultant Hillary Greene. A year and a half after Hillary’s other half sadly passed she is back to working cold cases for Thames Valley Police as she feels it'll help distract her from her thoughts. Her new team is comprised of ex-DS Claire Woolley and Gareth Proctor, a former soldier who was severely injured and somewhat maimed by an IED during his service. The case they are investigating is that of twenty-one-year-old Andrew Feeley who was brutally stabbed to death during the sweltering summer of 2012. From the outset, the team know this is going to be an uphill battle as the deceased had many, many enemies from his escapades as a drug dealer as well as being a pimp. As he’s universally hated, it’s very much a case of who wouldn’t want to see this guy dead rather than who would.

I never expected another Hillary novel so I was pleasantly surprised and it was just as well crafted as the rest of this excellent series. I’d say that the best way to describe the genre would be a cross between a cosy mystery and police procedural. Each instalment can be read on its own without any issue but be warned it’s an addictive set of books that are difficult to tear yourself away from. There is drama, an endless suspect list, a great team dynamic despite them being newly formed, and plenty of misdirection/red herrings to throw you off the scent. It’s thoroughly gripping with a believable and well-developed cast of characters and a realistic plotline. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but it was steeped in melancholy and was really quite poignant. I hope we see more of Hillary but I am well aware that a series, unfortunately, cannot go on forever. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Joffe Books for an ARC.

[Linda Strong · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year and a half after a personal tragedy, former DI Hillary Greene is back working cold cases. She has lost her old team, but Claire remains, and her newbie is Gareth Proctor. He is a former soldier, discharged due to the severe injuries he received overseas. He has a few scars, one of his hands looks mangled, and he walks with a cane. But his mind is in perfect shape and Hillary looks forward to training him.

Andrew Feeley was stabbed to death in 2012 and left in the woods. Unfortunately, there are lots of suspects with motives, as Andrew was not liked much at all. Known to be a small time drug dealer, there are a lot of parents who hated him for getting their kids hooked on drugs. He was also a bully, which he picked up from the stepdad he hated. Even his own mother is suspect.

After going back over the case and talking to family and friends, she and her team feel that this killing was personal vs a drug deal gone wrong.

And then, there's what Hillary finds in the garden around his former home.

I am so delighted that Hillary has returned, although I was sad of her personal tragedy. I have read this series from the first and each one just seems to get better and better. I have really enjoyed how much Hillary has changed since her first outing. I do hope the series continues as Hillary is a terrific character. The series is well written with plots that lead to unpredictable endings.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Books n All Book Promotions / Netgalley for the digital copy of this crime fiction/mystery. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Readers of the long-running Detective Hillary Greene might have felt as I did, that we might have seen the end of Hillary Greene. Well, as the cover and the title clearly state, she's back!

It is now eighteen months later, and Hillary is hard at work after suffering a devastating personal tragedy. Finding a good, but difficult, cold case in her role as civilian consultant in the Crime Review Team just might be enough of a distraction for now.

Her team has shrunk. She has a new boss, and the other members of her old team are no longer there. She is now working with Claire, another former detective, and a new guy, former solder Gareth Proctor. Unlike Hillary and Claire, police work is new to Gareth. He has suffered scarring wounds while in the military, but is hoping this new job will work for him.

Hillary is handed the cold case of the murder of Andrew Feeley. Andrew was a drug dealer, a pimp and a violent man - although only twenty-one years old at the time of his death. His body was found in the woods, dead from a stab wound to the chest. Hillary and her team know that finding his killer will not be easy as he was not well-liked.

Nonetheless, they go forward, and start interviewing people, including his mother, ex-girlfriend and others. Before long, Hillary realizes that just about everyone that they interviewed had a reason to kill Andrew, and thus the suspect list is long. Hillary, however, can read between the lines as no one else can. It is always said of Hillary that she had a solve rate of second to none. So, despite the fact that just about anyone interviewed could be the killer, Hillary's sixth sense is quite sharp.

I loved this book by Faith Martin for more than one reason. For one thing, Hillary's Back! That is plenty enough for me as I was able to read several prior books in this series and I just love the intrepid detective. Also, the book is fast-moving, with good background information - on Hillary and her team - but also on the suspects in Andrews death. I love Faith Martin and enjoy every book that I read from her, and this book definitely ranks high on my list. I truly hope that this is a new wave for Hillary and that she will be back yet again.

Many thanks to Joffe Books, Books 'n' All Promotions and to NetGalley for this ARC for review.

[Nadishka Aloysius · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shouldn't have bumped off Stephen Crayle for no reason other than the shock element. Somehow, the new team just doesn't have the same chemistry...

[Jannelies (living between hope and fear) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why o why... did Faith Martin had to write a new book with Hillary in the leading role and then start it like this? I'm a big fan of this series and this newest book doesn't disappointed as such, but I hoped Faith Martin's fantasy would reach further than this...
I don't want to write a review full of spoilers so I'll just say that I hope this second series with Hillary will be as successfull as the first. I will just have to live with certain disappointments.

Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a 3.5 star read.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Hillary’s Back, the eighteenth novel to feature former DI turned cold case Civilian Consultant Hillary Greene of the Thames Valley Police.

After her second retirement Hillary is back investigating cold cases with “new boy” Gareth Proctor and former DS Claire Woolley. It is a baptism of fire for Gareth as they have been assigned a new case, Andrew Feeley who was stabbed to death in 2012.

I enjoyed Hillary’s Back but not as much as I expected to, maybe because I’ve moved on and it’s more of the same or because it doesn’t seem as lighthearted as the previous offerings. Andrew Feeley was killed in the woods beside his village home by a single stab wound which means there are no forensics, CCTV or any of the usual science to help them and they will have to rely on Hillary’s forte, interviewing. The solution and how she arrives at it are ingenious but the journey to that point seems repetitive and is easy to put down. Yes, we get it, Andrew Feeley was not a pleasant young man and his entrepreneurial skills were all illegal.

The novel is mostly told from Hillary and Gareth’s points of view with the odd paragraph from other characters, mostly designed to arouse suspicion in the reader. I think they work but I had an inkling from the start of who it was but not why. Hillary is a bit of a shadow of her former self as she is grieving. She’s still as sharp as a tack but not as sunny. Gareth Proctor is a disabled ex-serviceman who is struggling with his disabilities and low self esteem. I like the way he is drawn.

Hillary’s Back is an acceptable read and an easy way to pass a few hours.

[Tony Hisgett · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having decided to return to writing Hilary Greene books I was quite surprised that the big change the author made was to kill off Hilary’s lover Steven Crayle. Hilary’s also has a whole new staff, including a disabled ex-soldier.
However she is still investigating cold case murders, although I was a bit surprised at the case they were given.
Interestingly it was the ex-soldier who questioned why they were investigating the murder of a criminal, when there were many more deserving cases. Hilary then got on her sanctimonious high horse with ”it’s not up to us to be judge and jury”. Unfortunately the investigation of a cold case isn’t particular interesting when you don’t care about the victim.
The investigation was OK, but even when Hilary solved the case I didn’t really care and I was left wondering why the author had returned to writing these books if she hadn’t anything new to bring to the series.

[Janet Newport · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this arc.

I've read all previous Hillary Greene books and was sad in 2018 when Hillary's Final Case was published as it felt like I'd be losing touch with an old friend afterwards. So I was thrilled to receive this arc. It felt like coming home to a nice warm and dry house in the evening. And it was... maybe not as warm as it usually is, but warm enough.

Hillary is back from her second retirement and back to reviewing cold cases with her team. She's still grieving the death of her partner and to some readers it seems to have slowed her down, but it just added to her overall humanity to me. She may not be enjoying her life as much as she used to... understandably, but she's working on it while working the cold cases to get her balance back. I do hope the series continues form here.

Another cold case... a murder of a 21 year old drug dealer who very obviously needed killing. While it was difficult to work up any sympathy for the victim, Hillary and team managed to resolve the case. This was perhaps a more character driven story than some of her previous, more action driven books, and overall a sadder story, it was a great comeback read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this cleverly written story and I couldn't wait to find out what the team would uncover and who had committed the crime, and why?!
I enjoyed hearing about 'new boy', Gareth; although my heart really went out to him and I felt that the author wrote about him and his experiences very well and with great care and sensitivity.
Hillary is back and she is more than pleased to be back! She needs something to help keep herself occupied and what better way than by doing something which she enjoys and in which she excels at.
After 18 months, Hilary is back in her 'stationery cupboard' office!
Hillary, along with Claire Woolley and new boy Gareth Proctor - who make up the (CRT) Crime Review Team - set out on the assigned case which involved Andrew Feeley, a 21 year old male, who met an unfortunate end, (for him, not so for others) in the woods close to his home, during the long hot summer of 2012.
A list of suspects is drawn up and the team have their work cut out, trying to find new information and a motive. The villagers, however, aren't giving much away at all.
I didn't even have my suspicions and so I was even more intrigued. The victim wasn't someone who I would have liked, but still, his killer/s need to be caught.
I like the authors descriptive writing; I could picture myself at many of the scenes and I could really visualize the characters. I like this in a book, although not too much, otherwise I become bored. I also want a read that has a well thought out story, is well-balanced and has exciting plots that really bring out my emotions, and that is what this author gave me!
I loved the ending, it was brilliant! I never expected who it was to be the killing type, so I was very surprised, but it all made perfect sense to me. I felt a bit sad and even more so as I thought of the terrible things that really do happen to some people. Hillary was totally on the ball and was equally professional and compassionate.
I would award this book more stars if I could - I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it.
Thank you very much to Joffe books via NetGalley.

[Books 'n' All Promotions · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review will be posted as part of the Blog Tour

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the death of her partner Steven Crayle, Hillary is back working in the cold cases unit along with two new recruits, a retired police officer and an ex soldier who was wounded in Afghanistan. This story is about a young man who was notorious for drug dealing, car thefts and being violent towards the more vulnerable in society. He had been found stabbed in the local woods and there had never been enough proof to prosecute anyone. That being said, the locals' attitude was one of 'good riddance'. Not even his family appeared to miss him! So off Hillary goes on her usual methodical way to get justice for the dead man.....and needless to say she does!
It is a good story (as always from Faith) however for me personally, there is a melancholic feel to the book, which is justified after Steven's death. Maybe it is meant to read as such. That is the reason I have given it 4*.
Thanks to Joffe Books for the ARC to review.

[Maddie Hoy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unexpected and unwelcome changes

My excitement at Hillary Greene's return was dashed within a few pages. An author has every right to take their characters in whichever direction they choose but I cannot understand why this author wants Hillary to have no personal happiness. This had an impact on my being able to get into the story. Quite disappointed.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and 1 / 2 stars

Jimmy, beset by an ongoing back problem, has retired. Now joining the team is Gareth Proctor, a former soldier who was badly injured by an IED. The team has been reduced to three by constant budget cutting that the police administration seem to keep demanding. Claire Wolley is the third person on the team. She has been “retired” from the police force at the rank of sergeant. She mostly worked in rape, sex crimes and domestic abuse.

Hillary is returning to work once more following the death of her former boss and lover. She has been away from the force for eighteen months. Yes, she still has “Puff the Tragic Wagon.” (I love the name of her little car.)

The new case is one of young Andrew Feeley who was stabbed to death by s single blow to his chest. He was a local ne'er-do well who dealt drugs and was a general terror in the neighborhood. There were many, many who might have wished him dead back in 2012.

Hillary and Gareth set about interviewing Andrew's mother who is underwhelmed about them re-investigating Andrew's murder. They also attempt to interview another neighbor who is much more crafty than her appearance would grant. Claire and Hillary go out in the afternoon to do more interviews. Hillary continues to trade off partners to get the “new man” some experience.

After numerous interviews with witnesses and suspects, Hillary has one of her “Ah ha!” moments. She plays a hunch.

This book was a welcome addition to the Hillary Greene series for I had believed that the books had ended. I truly enjoyed her return. I like this series the best of all the ones that Faith Martin writes. It is written in her usual competent style with one event following another. I liked the addition of Gareth to the team and Claire is a feisty and reliable team member. I appreciate that some things like living on her narrowboat and driving the same old car haven't changed. Yet, Hillary has changed subtly due to the many tragedies she has suffered. More please, Ms. Martin.

I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this wonderful book for me to read, enjoy and review.

[Christa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed having another DI Hillary Greene book to read, and thought the mystery aspect of the novel was good. I felt very bad about the events that had gone on recently and were going on in Hillary's personal life. It was good to have her team back, even though there were some changes in faces.

[Carol Schaal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good series for mystery lovers. Hillary is relatable and the crimes she solves are puzzling, in a good way.
This series works best if you read the books in order, as you can follow Hillary through some major changes in her life.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Faith Martin's series featuring Hillary Greene has been a good one, and I thought it had ended. The attention getting title of this 18th in the series caught my eye and I was rewarded for it. It was another satisfying account of a thorough investigation that leads to the solution of a cold case murder. Hillary also takes on a new member of the team, a young man injured in his duties in Afghanistan. It is set up nicely with good characterizations, so I await the next in this series featuring a now civilian Hillary and her mad intuitive skills at finding the truth.

Kindle Unlimited

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a Hillary Greene fan since the moment I had the good fortune to pick up a copy of the second book in the series, what seems like years ago, but it isn't. I have read, reviewed and loved every single book in the series. I thought that the previous book was actually the last one of the series, so to find out that there was another instalment of the series in the offing was a most welcome surprise. Once I found out that 'Hillary's Back' was due for imminent release, I couldn't wait to get hold of a copy. Well ladies and gentlemen, 'Hillary's Back' was released on 14th February 2020 and it is another corker in the series. I thoroughly enjoyed every single second of 'Hillary's Back' but more about that in a bit.
What can I say about Hillary Greene? Well for a start off she is a legend. She was a Detective Inspector but she retired after a long career. The retirement didn't last that long because she soon went back to work as a civilian investigator on the cold case review team. Even though technically she isn't a police officer anymore, she is still regarded by her former colleagues as being a DI. Hillary is tough when she has to be, she is methodical, tenacious, tough, determined, stubborn, she takes no crap from anybody and she kicks bottoms as and when necessary. When this story takes place, Hillary is only working with one other former police officer and a new civilian contractor/ consultant called Gareth Proctor. Gareth was in the army but he was wounded and invalided out. Gareth is trying to carve out a new life for himself and Hillary is keeping a watchful eye over him. Hillary is a bit more vulnerable in this book because she is still grieving for her former love and boss, who sadly died of a heart attack in a previous book. You can guarantee that when Hillary receives a case, she is a bit like a dog with a bone in that she will not hesitate to investigate until every investigative avenue has been fully investigated and until her own curiosity has been satisfied.
It didn't take me long at all to get into this book. In fact I was drawn to the book by the synopsis alone and Faith's great storytelling just drew me in. To say that reading 'Hillary's Back' was addictive reading has to be the understatement of the year. I picked the book up during a boring bus journey and I became so absorbed in the story that I almost forgot which stop to get off at. I read the book over the course of a couple of days. If I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book and looking forward to getting back to reading the book. I found any excuse that I could to avoid having to put the book down for any great length of time. As a result of my addiction to this book, I finished it far quicker than I had wanted to or expected to.
'Hillary's Back' is superbly written but then I think that to be true of all of Faith's books. She certainly knows how to grab your attention from the start and subtly draw you into the story. Once she has you in her grip, she won't let you go. She describes her characters so well that they seem to spring to life, leap off the page and they seem just as real as you and I. Through Faith's fabulous, vivid and realistic descriptions I really did feel as though I was part of the story myself and that I was part of the investigative team.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading 'Hillary's Back'. I definitely recommend this book, this series and this author to other readers. I look forward to reading much more of Faith's work in the future. Here's hoping that we don't have too long to wait for her next book. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

[Alyson Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hillary is back, much to the delight of her legions of fans! It is more than a year on from the last story and she is very much battered and bruised but is still managing to keep her head above water. After suffering a personal tragedy Hillary needs her work with the Thames Valley Crime Review Team in Oxford more than ever. Boss Supt Rolland Sale is still in charge but gone now is retired ex-sergeant Jimmy and goth girl Wendy, replaced by Claire Woolley, an ex copper with many years experience in rape and domestic violence cases. Claire can be a both a mother to all and also a very shrewd judge of the witnesses and suspects they come across. And beginning his time working for Hillary at the start of the story is Gareth Proctor, a former soldier invalided out of the army and looking for a new challenge. I found the author dealt with his situation and the issues he was facing quite sensitively, and it was interesting as he made the change from a rigid to a more fluid way of looking at things. The team is given a cold case of murder, that of 21 year old Andrew Feeley. He was a small time drug dealer, pimp, thief and all round thug that met his maker in the local woods by a single stab wound. There were suspects a plenty at the time as he was generally disliked and feared by most people in his local village (and that included most of his family) so no one was overly upset when the crime was never solved. All the old suspects are interviewed once more and the general feeling seems to be that nobody could care less who killed him as long as he was dead, so Hillary really seems to have her work cut out this time. Especially as some people know far more than they are letting on, and seem determined to protect each other from the truth coming out. There's a good plot here with lots of clues and red herrings. The author keeps up the reader's interest right to the end with an unexpected solution to the case. What's more, someone around Hillary seems to have their own agenda on the go, and true to form with this series there is one item left hanging over ready to be explored in the next story. And I am already looking forward to that next book!! 5*

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this whole series. Retired DI Hillary Green is back at work on a cold case. She has Claire and a new guy, Gareth who is an ex-soldier injured in the Middle East. He is ready to learn what Hillary has to teach him. This case is one where the victim was not liked by anyone it seems. He was killed in 2012 and everyone who knew him has tried to forget him. There are lots of possibilities but finding the right one is the name of the game.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written engaging police procedural investigating a cold case. Hilary's work is her main focus after a personal loss, and this shows a different aspect of her character. The suspects are numerous, and the investigation detailed with surprising results. If you are a fan of this detective, it is an engaging return.

I received a copy of this book from Joffe Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Jude Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As good as ever

Omg didn't realize how much I had missed Hillary Green. This was as good as all the rest. Just hope she's back for good. Please Faith can we have more Hillary.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the only one of the Hillary Greene series that I knew who did it. Maybe I read the last 4 books too close together. I had no sympathy with any of the characters. Except Hillary. That whole file should have been dumped in the “bin”. Hope there are more Hillary books. I’ll read some of her other series though now.

[BJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great murder mystery, angsty with the h grieving the loss of her lover. She takes no pleasure from the situations but offers the cast of victims the peace of knowing what happened. It's written to a formula and makes great reading.

[Elizabeth Ducie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering the previous book was called, Hillary's Final Case, I can only assume that Faith Martin changed her mind and decided to bring Ex-DI Hillary Greene back to work. She has a new side-kick, with an interesting back story, and the case has all the usual twists and turns. But there were some inconsistencies in the timeline which suggest inadequate editing. And what a cruel way to bring Hillary back. Readable, but definitely not my favourite in the series.

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay, I just plowed through the entire DI Hillary Green series by Faith Martin, 18 books in all! I almost never read a long series beginning to end (maybe I got to “O” in that alphabet series?). So, obviously, I enjoy Faith Martin’s writing. Good Grippers, my mother would have called them. Despite the heroine’s description (height, eye color, etc.) tending to morph, I hung in there and enjoyed this series. However, this final book in the series felt odd. The premise is that Green’s paramour has died about 18 months before this book begins. The event is referred to, but we are allowed no more insight into what Green has been going through than any outsider. It’s as though grief is a humdrum experience quite aside from the mystery at hand. Is Martin restarting the series and future stories will explore this issue further? The fact that another plot line involving one of her new assistants is left hanging suggests that there are more books to come, but still... It all felt rather incomplete.

[Lizzie Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hillary’s Back and I am absolutely thrilled that she is. In the 17th book in the Series A Narrow Trajectory, published in 2016, and reissued by Joffe Books in August 2019, under the title Hillary’s Final Case, Hillary said goodbye to Thames Valley Police HQ and set off for a different life. I am not going to tell you why or where in case you are new to the series and it might constitute a spoiler.

In the time that she has been away things have moved on and her boss is now Superintendent Sale aka Rollo to Hillary. She is no longer DI Green, but a police consultant. Domiciled down in the bowels of the building, Hillary is heading up the CRT (Crime Review Team) clearing up cold cases. She has two assistants, Claire Woolley, who worked for 25 years in the domestic violence and rape unit, and a new recruit, former soldier, Garath Proctor. On a personal note Hilary is back on her narrow boat the Mollern and still driving Puff the Tragic Wagon, her rusting Volkswagen, who is getting more temperamental every day.

Her first case on her return is the murder of Andrew Feeley, twenty-one-year-old who was stabbed to death in the summer of 2012, in the woods surrounding the village of Tackley. As Hillary and her team familiarise themselves with the original case, one thing becomes very clear, Andrew was a drug dealer, a pimp, and a bully, and extremely unpopular. The more they investigate the more they realise that many people would have wanted Andrew dead. But giving his criminal activities, was his death drug related?

Initially, it seems the original investigating officer has done a fair job, and all the people they re-interview tell the same story. Nothing new is coming to light, but Hillary’s approach is different, so can she solve this murder. And how will our new recruit fit in? Clearly, he has something on his mind and Hilary has already picked up on it.

I was so delighted to have a new Hillary Greene mystery, that I read it in one sitting, couldn’t put it down. Whilst we have a complete story, I am heartened that the author has also left a tantalising hook that has me hoping their will be more of Hillary Greene. Oh! I do hope so. I am already eager to know what happens next. Highly recommended.
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Reviewer: Lizzie Sirett