Retired detective Hillary Greene is now a civilian consultant reviewing cold cases. The latest file on her desk is the unsolved murder of a model. And things are hotting up!
Murder Under The Sun is the 22nd book in the Hillary Greene series of crime novels.
The temperature is unbearable and the cold case team are feeling the heat! Imelda Phelps, a model and mother of 2, was killed in her home one afternoon and the trail to catch her killer was unsuccessful. Hillary and her team go back to basics interviewing the key witnesses and family members to look for new leads.
Hillary is a great lead character, very human and authentic. As we endure a heatwave in the UK, it felt very realistic to see the characters sweltering!
There are plenty of suspects and motives for Hillary to investigate as Imelda certainly made enemies. I was kept guessing until the end and enjoyed how Hillary unravelled the mystery and exposed the killer.
Murder Under The Sun is a very enjoyable crime novel with a brilliant lead character.

Another successful mystery solved by Hillary, this time trying of a woman who died 15 years ago in a manner that indicated it was personal. As always, you get some wry humor, Hillary quirks and a whip smart team who work together to solve the case.

#MurderUndertheSun #NetGalley

The second Faith Martin book I've read and I enjoyed it so much that I've gone back to the beginning and started reading the series. This falls pretty much into the 'cosy' crime genre and was an easy and worthwhile read. I like Hilary and her team.

Another great read in an already great series. Former Detective Hillary Greene are back on a cold case but this one is going to test her and her team. I do like Hilary and the way she works, she brings plenty of experience to her cases. This book brings me plenty of intrigue and twists and turns and was a real page turner.

Another well written book that was easy to follow but was always exciting and kept me guessing. The descriptions, the setting and the great characters brought everything to life on the page and I do like that in a good book. Looking forward to seeing what both the author and 'Hilary Greens' brings to us next.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

If you enjoy a good cold case mystery with a smart, seasoned detective at the helm, Murder under the Sun is a solid pick. Faith Martin brings back her ever-capable DI Hillary Greene, who’s now working with the cold case team and proving that time doesn’t erase the truth — it just buries it deeper.

This installment sees Hillary digging into a long-forgotten case that was never quite solved, and as always, she brings her signature mix of intuition, experience, and quiet determination. Martin’s writing is smooth and unpretentious, making this a really enjoyable, easy read. It’s less about high-octane thrills and more about solid detective work, character insight, and piecing together a puzzle that’s been gathering dust for years.

What I love about Hillary is that she’s not flashy — she’s thoughtful, methodical, and doesn’t let anything slide. She also brings a sense of calm to the chaos, and it’s nice to follow a detective who’s confident without being arrogant. The supporting characters add to the charm, and the cold case unit dynamic gives the book a unique angle compared to your usual police procedural.

While the mystery isn’t full of jaw-dropping twists, it’s cleverly constructed and satisfying to unravel. Perfect for fans of traditional British crime fiction, especially if you like your murder mysteries with a bit of warmth and a lot of heart.

Faith Martin delivers another well-written mystery featuring retired DI Hillary Greene. The attention to detail of location, characters, plot, and even the weather, all make for a page turning book.

Here is my review for Murder Under The Sun by Faith Martin

I found this fifteen year old murder that was never solved to be such an intriguing read that I got hooked from the start of the book. I was drawn into the twists and turns that ex detective Hillary Greene and her cold case team were throwing up from their new investigation into the old case. They were re-interviewing any available witnesses and their suspicions were growing on possible suspects. I thought this was a terrific read and really enjoyed it. I have always enjoyed cold cases for some reason. The story was superbly written and extremely well plotted. I really liked the characters of the cold case team and thought they worked well together as a team. The other characters were well detailed and very interesting, they knew how to keep secrets! The synopsis was really intriguing and I certainly wasn’t disappointed with the story, I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough. I liked the author’s writing style and found it easy to read. This is book twenty-two in the series but it can be as a standalone. I found it easy to follow the characters as enough details were in the book to help with the backstory where required. I would like to read more of this series in the future.

Blurb :

Former Detective Hillary Greene and her cold case team are sweltering in their stuffy basement office on the hottest day of the year when they are handed an impossible case.

Fifteen years ago, Imelda Phelps was battered to death in the hallway of her home. The brutal crime shocked the residents of the pretty market town of Chipping Norton. The killer was never caught.

The motive for the murder remains a mystery. Could the happily married mother-of-two’s stunning good looks have played a part in her death?

Everyone will have to take a hard look in the mirror — and not everyone will like what they see. If Hillary is to crack the case, she must keep an open mind. But one thing is crystal-clear: this crime was personal. It’s up to Hillary and her team to work out which of Imelda’s family and friends is hiding a deadly secret.

A secret lover. A humiliated husband. A vengeful ex-business partner. A resentful daughter. The list of suspects grows . . .

Suddenly an unexpected lead throws the case wide open. And then a second body turns up.

This cold case is now red hot . . .

Murder Under the Sun by Faith Martin.
Detective Hilary Greene book 22.
I did enjoy this book. I must admit I've only read a couple in this series. But I will be having a look at the first book. I did love the cover and blurb of this book. I love cold cases. I did like Hilary, Gareth and Claire. I did have a theory with who the killer was. But I was wrong. I was very surprised who the murderer was. Im looking forward to the next book.

Stuck in the basement, former detective Hillary Green and her team are tackling another cold case. This time it is the death of Imelda Philips who was battered to death in her own home. When an unexpected lead opens the case up, followed by another body, it down to the team to establish if these two cases are linked and whether with he new evidence it can now be solved.
A well written book with good pace and enough intriguing detail to give realism to the plot, particularly the ending.

Murder Under the Sun by Faith Martin was a book, once you have read the first few pages you will be hooked. Faith has a way of writing that will draw you into any of her books and this one was no different, especially as it is book 22 in the DI Hillary Greene series. Confession I have only read book 18 which was Hillary's Back! which I loved.
This one was no different. It was brilliant, full of twists and turns throughout, if you love British police procedurals books this is a series for you. I really enjoyed this book and I had no problem getting into the Faith's latest DI Hillary Greene book.
Superb book and I highly recommend all of Faith Martin's books.

It’s interesting to read a book set in England in which the weather is stiflingly hot - usually writers play on the cold, wet weather. This adds an interesting new angle to this otherwise thoroughly English-feeling book. I loved the way the author wove humour into the story, including the dialogue between the characters, it’s a nice, well paced read with a good balance of the mystery to intrigue you while also enjoying the “cosy” aspects of the book, including the wonderful characters,

The summer in England was excessively hot, with the heatwave not letting up, and former Detective Hillary Greene and her two offsiders, Claire and Gareth, sweltered in their basement offices. The day they were handed another cold case to work was no different, but they wanted to find justice for Imelda Phelps after she'd died fifteen years ago, with no one being convicted of her murder. Their superintendent, Rollo Sale, instructed Hillary to do her best, come to him if she needed, and stick to her 9-5 hours (he knew her well!)

As the investigation deepened, with both Claire and Gareth alternating days of being on the road with Hillary, or researching the past, the weather continued to harass the Brits. Humidity, heat and the constant high temperatures drained everyone. But Hillary was determined. Would this be the first case she was unable to break? It was definitely heading that way...

Murder Under the Sun is the 22nd in the Hillary Greene series by Faith Martin and I loved it! I'm so glad the series has continued, even though Hillary is now a civilian consultant. Her methods haven't changed, just her status; her determination and grit continues. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley & Joffe Books for my digital ARC to read and review.

It's an unbearably hot summer in Britain, and cold case detective Hillary Greene and her team are looking into the murder of a model. They try to interview the original detective, but she seems to have dementia, so they start looking at the victim's family and former business partner. Then when one of these individuals is murdered, Hillary is warned not to combine the current case with the cold case since a hotshot cop who is not a team player wants to handle it. This can be read as a standalone, but if you're read any of the previous books, you know Hillary chafes at this restriction. Recommended for fans of British police procedurals. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I normally don't read British crime fiction, as they are usually very slow, but this author is an exception. This is great storytelling with a bit of humour, as well as great characters and an interesting plot.

Murder under the sun
During a relentless brutal heat wave, ex-DI, now civilian consultant, Hillary Greene and her quirky small cold-case team are tasked with investigating a so far unsolved murder from 15 years ago. The going is especially tough since the victim‘s family is reluctant to cooperate…Set in Oxfordshire, this twisty cleverly plotted story kept me on the edge of my seat from page one. Highly recommended!


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Hillary Greene and her cold case team are sweltering in their stuffy basement office on the hottest day of the year when they are handed an impossible case. Fifteen years ago, Imelda Phelps was battered to death in the hallway of her home. The brutal crime shocked the residents of the pretty market town of Chipping Norton. The killer was never caught. If Hillary is to crack the case, she must keep an open mind. But one thing is this crime was personal. It’s up to Hillary and her team to work out which of Imelda’s family and friends is hiding a deadly secret.
The twenty second outing for Hillary & I’m still loving the series. It could be read on it’s own. A well written entertaining & intriguing book. The pace is good, the characters well portrayed & I was left guessing. I’ve grown to love Hillary with all her quirks but she’s a great role model to younger members of her team. Roll on book twenty three
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

First time I have read anything from this author and I enjoyed Imelda Phelps character. In the CRT unit being a former DI.. It was paced well with a good storyline. Plenty of suspense throughout. I would definitely read the next offering. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

The latest in the longline of Hillary Greene novels is significantly better than its immediate predecessor. In Murder Under the Sun, Hillary is back on home ground in Kidlington and attempting to solve another cold murder. I enjoyed the investigation elements of the book and it held my attention easily. I do wish that Hillary's character was better developed though; that she had some kind of life outwith work. And I have to confess to being fed up with her wretched car. It's the only thing she shows any emotion towards but, given that it's been around since the beginning of the series, it's really time to get rid of it.

Another awesome book in this series. This plot had some nice twists and turns. There were lots of suspects and lots of motives, finding the right one was not an easy task. I love the characters and how they go about the job. Looking forward to seeing what Hillary and her small crew get involved in next.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Former DI Hillary Greene is now a civilian consultant to the department and works with a small team (based in the basement of the station house) and together they work to bring cold cases (murder) to justice. Investigating a fifteen-year-old murder has a lot of challenges and it's only made worse by the endless unrelenting heat and humidity, not to mention the flaws in the original investigation. To top it all off, someone who was a person of interest then has been murdered now and the DI in charge is convinced that he is always right in everything. Excellent story!
As usual, the story does stand-alone quite nicely.
Not an unbiased review as I really enjoy the Hillary Greene series! Pub Date Jun 12, 2025
I requested and received a free temporary uncorrected proof copy from Joffe Books via NetGalley.
#MurderUndertheSun by #FaithMartin #DIHillaryGreeneBk22 @joffebooks #NetGalley
#crimethriller #suspense #coldcase #familydrama #murder #relationships #twisty