I would like to thank Netgalley and Joffe Books for an advance copy of Murder by Fire, the tenth police procedural to feature DI Hillary Greene of Thames Valley Police.

David Merchant, a religious author and publisher, is murdered in his home then burned along with his most treasured possessions on a bonfire in his garden. Due to his rigid morals and habit of voicing them he was not a popular figure but even so Hillary and the team have a hard job uncovering the perpetrator.

I thoroughly enjoyed Murder by Fire. Like all the novels in the series it is an undemanding but gripping read as the reader tries to work out whodunnit. Over the course of the series I have been able to guess a fair few of the killers but this one had me beat and I loved the clever, surprising solution when it came. The novel had me gripped from start to finish as I followed all the twists.

The novel is not only about the murder enquiry but follows the lives of the detectives as well and as Ms Martin is not content to rest on her laurels with good characterisation she constantly moves them forward, sometimes in surprising ways. I find their lives and the twists and turns in them as compulsive as the main plot. Hillary is still dealing with the aftermath of Mel Mallow's death and his wife Janine's subsequent actions. It causes her to take a long, hard look at herself. In the meantime new recruit, Mark Chang, is seen by a new gang as an opportunity and they bring pressure to bear on him. There are changes afoot for the other team members as well. It's all very intriguing.

Murder by Fire is a good read which I have no hesitation in recommending.

DI Hillary Greene and her team are investigating the murder of David Merchant. He has been bludgeoned to death and his body put on a bonfire made from his possessions. David was a very pious man with no real friends and no obvious enemies. DI Greene's usual razor-sharp focus on her murder investigation is seriously compromised as an investigation continues regarding her and Janine Mallow's prior actions(from Murder in the Garden).Her team isn't helping much either. Her boss is transferring to a different location, one member resigns, one is getting married and will most likely leave and her newest recruit is being pursued by a gang. DI Greene's world is rapidly falling apart and she isn't quite sure how to proceed.
There was a very good twist regarding David Merchant's killer and this was another quick and enjoyable read. This is the tenth book in Faith Martin's series and it could be read as a standalone. For me, however, I gain a bit more insight into the characters after each book, so I wouldn't hesitate in recommending reading the books in order. It appears that additional books are coming and I am curious to see what DI Greene does next.
Thank you, Faith Martin, Joffe Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC to read and review.

Excellent book, enjoyed it very much, especially as it continued with the same characters from previous books! Having read those, couldn't wait to read the next book in the series. Very good mystery, murder book, keeps you guessing to the end!

Thank you Netgalley and Joffe Books for the eARC.
In this, the 10th in the DI Hillary Greene series, the uncompromisingly moral Christian author and publisher David Merchant's body is found burning in his backyard. As Hillary and the team comb the house for clues, they realize Merchant was killed by a poker before being tossed onto the fire.
Not much liked (expecting others around him to uphold the same values he has), there isn't really anyone who had reason to kill him and Hillary is getting frustrated. At the same time, a valued member of the team is leaving to travel the world with his lover, her new recruit is being blackmailed by a gang, her boss is leaving, a coworker is trying to get rid of her and another coworker is marrying into a titled family, which will put her on the fast track of her career. Everything is conspiring against her peace of mind, to the point where she feels she's failing her coworkers. And for the super loyal Hillary, that's a life changing no-no.
The ending was quite a shocker...loved it! This is such a good series, definitely one of my favorites, and I was happy to note there are quite a few more coming. Although this book could be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading the series in order, you won't regret it.

MURDER BY FIRE (DI HILLARY GREENE, BK 10) by FAITH MARTIN

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “A NARROW POINT OF VIEW.”

In this, the 10th book of the series featuring DI Greene and her team, she's called out to investigate a murder. A not so nice guy has been bludgeoned to death and his body laid on top of a fire started with his large library of books.

She's struggling with this case. David Merchant was a publisher and devout Christian who judged the moral of most people around him. Although the neighbors, co-workers all admit to not liking the man, no one seems to have a real motive to kill him.

With all this playing on her mind, her team is falling apart. One of the team is being targeted by a brutal gang. Another of her team has to decide between being a detective or following his lover to a different country. Her supervisor who has a thing for her has admitted defeat and has asked for a transfer. Hillary isn't quite sure what she thinks of that.

Hillary’s under massive pressure and will she finally crack? And if she does, where will she go from here? She's going to have to make a life-altering decision soon.

This is a well-written novel, as I've come to expect from this author. It's exciting, full of little twists and turns that keep the reader guessing... and a surprise ending that you never see coming. This has become a favorite series for me. I highly recommend starting at the very beginning. Hillary Greene is an exceptional character and it's been a fun adventure seeing her grown and mature.

Many thanks to the author / Joffe Books / Netgalley for the advance digital copy of this crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

4.5 STARS