Murder in the Parish

 

MURDER IN THE PARISH By Faith Martin- Crime 

I am so very happy- Hillary is back! (One of a series but happily stands alone). How do I explain? Hillary was a DI who is now retired but working on cold cases with a small team reporting to serving officers. She is a wonderful character that shines through the pages- a testament to Faith’s writing. I love “ Puff the tragic wagon” and the reminder of POETS day  (if you know, you know) and although a serious subject this is written in a light hearted style which puts the reader both at ease and very quickly into the frame of things, making it a relaxing, highly entertaining read. 

This time the case is of a young Reverend who was killed possibly with a spade in the doorway of his church thirty years ago. It appears he was popular- rather too popular in some quarters but kept himself aloof to this. There was some controversy over land which the church wanted to buy but seemingly nothing worth killing over. Who would want him dead and why? There are threatening letters and blackmail going on and Hillary has her own health to consider in the midst of all this.

Another cracker of a read from an author I would happily give 10 stars to if I could. I’ve thoroughly  enjoyed every one of the books in this series and each time I really don’t want to finish the book- I wish it would keep going. A treasure of a read and I can’t wait for the next. 

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MURDER IN THE PARISH (Detective Hillary Greene #20) by Faith Martin

ONE OF THE WORLD’S FAVOURITE DETECTIVES RETURNS. SIX MILLION BOOKS READ. A BRAND-NEW MYSTERY FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR SET IN THE STUNNING OXFORDSHIRE COUNTRYSIDE. Former Detective Hillary Greene and her cold case team are handed an impossible case. Thirty years ago, two days before Christmas, the much-loved Reverend Keith Coltrane was hit over the head and left to die inside his own church. The killer was never caught. This shocking crime took place in the pretty Oxfordshire village of Lower Barton. Everyone knows everyone else in this peaceful little community. Who would have wanted to harm the young Reverend, who was handsome and popular — especially with the ladies of the village? No one has a bad word to say about him — apart from his younger sister. Now, Hillary and her team of misfits are ready to find out the truth. They uncover old secrets, jealousies and long-standing feuds in the village. Secrets someone will kill to keep hidden. Hillary is also hiding something — but she’s finding it harder and harder to keep her own secret. It’s up to Hillary to uncover the shocking truth in this coldest of cold cases — before old crimes turn to new murder. Perfect for fans of Betty Rowlands, Agatha Christie, L.J. Ross, J.R. Ellis, M.C. Beaton, or Clare Chase. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BESTSELLING SERIES: “So glad Hillary is back — absolutely loved the other books in the series and really enjoyed this one too.” Nerys “Would give more than 5 stars if I could.” Barbara “The plotting is perfect, as always, with plenty of twists and red herrings.” Amanda “Once I started reading her newest cold case, I was once again hooked.” Renee “I love Faith Martin and enjoy every book that I read from her, and this book definitely ranks high on my list.” Robin THE DETECTIVE DI Hillary Greene: An attractive, single woman in her fifties, 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! Book 19: MURDER NOW AND THEN

Book 20: MURDER IN THE PARISH

FAITH MARTIN OVER 2 MILLION BOOKS SOLD AND 400 MILLION PAGES READ ON KINDLE UNLIMITED! Faith Martin was born in Oxford, and has spent all her life within twenty miles of the university city, even working at Somerville College for six years before turning to writing full-time.  Faith has been writing for nearly 30 years under four different pen names and has had nearly 50 books published so far. She began writing romantic thrillers as Maxine Barry, which Joffe Books are in the process of re-releasing as brand new eBooks. Then she turned to crime, and as Joyce Cato wrote classic-style whodunits, since she’s always admired the golden-age crime novelists.  But it was when she created her fictional DI Hillary Greene, and began writing under the name of Faith Martin, that she finally began to become more widely known.  Her latest literary characters WPC Trudy Loveday, and city coroner, Dr Clement Ryder, take readers back to the 1960’s and the city of Oxford. Having lived within a few miles of the city of dreaming spires for all her life, both the city and the countryside/wildlife often feature in her novels. Although she has never lived on a narrow boat (unlike DI Hillary Greene!) the Oxford canal, the river Cherwell, and the flora and fauna of a farming landscape have always played a big part in her life – and often sneak their way onto the pages of her books. Her hobbies include walking her now ageing dog, wildlife-watching, reading and (reluctantly) gardening.