Today I am hosting a Guest Review by Elaine Tomasso of HILLARY’S BACK the brand new addition to the besteselling Hillary Greene series:
Hillary’s Back (Hillary Greene #18) AMAZON GOODREADS
Author – Faith Martin
Publisher – Joffe Books crime thrillers and mystery
Genre – Crime Fiction
Publication Date – 14th February 2020
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.
Review by Sarah Lizziebeth
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.
Read Elaine’s review on Goodreads here
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.
Perfect for fans of Betty Rowlands, Agatha Christie, LJ Ross, TE Kinsey, J.R. Ellis, Helen Cox, M.C. Beaton, or Clare Chase.
What readers are saying about Hillary’s Back!
“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 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!
Author Bio
Faith Martin was born in Oxford, and has spent all her life within twenty miles of the university city, even working at Somerville College for five years before turning to writing full-time. The author of the popular DI Hillary Greene novels, she also writes more classic-style ‘whodunits’ under the pen name Joyce Cato, but began her writing career as Maxine Barry, winning an award for penning romance novels! A popular writer for over 25 years, she has had nearly 50 novels published so far. Her hobbies include walking her now ageing dog, wildlife-watching, reading and (reluctantly) gardening.
Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100019047572005
Twitter: @faithmartin_nov
