'Well, he’s dead', Doc Partridge said flatly, making a note of the time […] death occurred due to a blow or blows to the head.

Looking for a brilliant best-selling murder mystery with a feisty female detective? Then meet DI Hillary Greene, a policewoman struggling to save her career and catch criminals. 

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?   

This crime mystery will have you gripped from start to finish.   

Murder in the Village is the fourth in a series of crime thrillers set in Oxfordshire.   

The location: the picturesque village of Lower Heyford, set in North Oxfordshire's Cherwell Valley, nestles close to the Cotswolds, an area of outstanding natural beauty. Farming country, the village has been in existence in one form or another for over a thousand years, providing a natural 'ford' for oxen over the river since medieval times. A mix of thatched and old stone and slate cottages, it is home to local families and rich 'incomers' alike. It's proximity by train to both London and Birmingham make it a very desirable place to live indeed, and both the Oxford canal and the river Cherwell run close to it, making it haven for walkers, boaters and wildlife.  

The detectives: DI Hillary Greene An attractive woman in her 40s, Hillary Greene is a police officer of many years’ experience, and came up through the ranks. Consequently, she knows how the system works, and is fiercely loyal to the force without being blinkered to its faults. She is a long-standing friend of her immediate superior officer, 'Mellow' Mallow and enjoys a rather enigmatic relationship with the steely Superintendent Marcus Donleavy. Popular with the rank and file for her no-nonsense attitude and competence. DCI Philip 'Mellow' Mallow Mel appreciates Hillary's first-rate ability to solve her cases, and isn't happy about her harassment by the officers from York. Known for his sartorial elegance and laid-back manners, he has a sharp mind, and an eye for the ladies. A good friend and ally for Hillary in her recent tribulations, he's determined to keep his best investigator focused on the problems at hand.  

Please note: this is a revised edition of a book first published as By a Narrow Majority. 

Discover your next favourite mystery series now, because once you start, you won’t want to stop. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Colin Dexter or Ruth Rendell.  

Faith Martin has been writing for over 25 years, in four genres and under four pen names. She was born in Oxford and sets most of her crime novels within sight of the city of dreaming spires.