Looking for a brilliant murder mystery with a feisty female detective?MEET DI HILLARY GREENE, A POLICE WOMAN WITH A THIRST FOR JUSTICE AND A CAREER ON THE ROCKSA pretty French student is found dead in her room at an exclusive Oxford college. Everyone thinks it is another tragic case of accidental drug overdose.But Detective Hillary Greene has a nose for the truth. She quickly discovers that the … for the truth. She quickly discovers that the student was involved in some very unusual activities.
With a shocking cause of death found, the case becomes a high-profile murder investigation.
Adding to the pressure, Hillary’s nemesis is transferred to work with her at the station.
Can Hillary keep her cool and get justice for the unfortunate student?
This is a crime mystery full of well-observed characters, which will have you gripped from start to finish.
MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY is the second in a series of page-turning crime thrillers set in Oxfordshire.
Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Colin Dexter, or Ruth Rendell.
What readers are saying about MURDER AT THE UNIVERSITY
“Really enjoying this series and love Hillary and her team.” Nerys
“I like Hillary and her team and love the Oxford setting.” Hannelore Cheney
“I’ve got to say, Faith Martin is becoming one of my favourite authors. . . Move over Inspector Morse, make way for D.I. Greene.” Carole Gourlay
“An excellent plot, a well told story and an enjoyable read” Nerys
THE LOCATION
Oxford is a city of two halves — town and gown. In the town, you have Cornmarket street full of shops and shoppers that could be found in any city in the country. But Oxford’s ‘dreaming spires’ are the real draw for the tourists, romantics and those with intellectual aspirations to wear the gowns of students and dons. In centuries-old quads, croquet can still be played on lawns as smooth as velvet. Here, ‘New’ College’s walls are actually over 500 years old, and Cotswold stone gleams in even the wateriest of winter sunlight. A city of bicycles, with undergraduates (and fellows) flapping about in faded, black gowns; the Martyrs’ Memorial, and fabled inns where the likes of J.R.R Tolkien sat and wrote about a Hobbit who lived in a hole in the ground. Everywhere you turn, you see history staring back at you. And of course there has always been murder!
THE DETECTIVE
DI Hillary Greene
An attractive woman in her forties, 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.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A REVISED EDITION OF A BOOK FIRST PUBLISHED AS “ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW.”
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! (NEW)
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The second DI Hilary Greene novel starts with the mysterious death of a French university student in Oxford. It takes a while to uncover the secret life she was leading, giving the investigation new impetus.
Meanwhile, Hilary has her own battles to fight, thanks to her husband’s corruption, which has cast a shadow over her career and blighted her life since his death. An animal rights charity is suing her, determined to take the marital home from her. And then there’s her non-existent love life and the attentions of two fellow officers.
The author cleverly weaves the personal lives of Hilary and her colleagues into the murder investigation, which has repercussions in several areas, leading to a good crop of suspects and motives. The pace is gentle, the characters well drawn and engaging, and there’s a delicious sense of fun about Hilary that adds another dimension to the story.
The characters and relationships feel more rounded in this second outing, providing this cosy mystery/police procedural with a solid, entertaining backbone.
Well written. It was hard to put book down. I enjoyed the police lingo and antics.
A really good (British) …”who done it ? “
I really enjoy mysteries and this book did not disappoint at all. I liked way the author writes. I would definitely read other mysteries written by this author.
I loved this whole series and would recommend this whole series. This series is quite addictive, you will probably catch yourself binge reading.
England, law-enforcement, murder-investigation
I’ve read later books in this series and I can honestly tell you that they are are absolutely impressive as stand-alones. I decided to go back to the beginning so I could see how the DI Greene grew and developed her native skills and I am glad that I did. She is gifted with several rare talents: (un)common sense, and acute observation. This is a very tricky assignment full of misdirection, plot twists, and red herrings, but it is so worth it!
Gemma Dawson gives a fine audio interpretation as narrator.
Enjoyed it
Well written, engaging
Love the entire series by Faith Martin. Hillary Greene is a memorable character. I couldn’t wait to read the next in the series. Well written and entertaining, humor included. Great mysteries!!! Makes you want to take a trip on a narrow boat.
I enjoyed the intrigue in having the protagonist, DI Greene, and her squad follow all the logical leads in this case. One thing I would suggest: have an American (like me) determine what English vocabulary we need in the glossary. It was inconvenient to have to search meanings for critical words, but maddening to not find the in the glossary.
Rather interesting plot with atypical characters for a miser mystery. I liked the lead detective and the way the plot unfolded.
i love Faith Martin
Loved it! Read them all in order.
It was a well-constructed novel with a fallible, likable detective and an interesting group of assistants and victim.
“Murder at the University” by Faith Martin takes readers to St. Anselm’s college, a small college that is part of the Oxford University complex in England and to a room in which a student lies dead. Detective Inspector Hillary Greene is sent to the College and finds French student Eva Gerainte fully dressed, lying on her bed in her room. She had been enrolled at the college for a one year course to improve her English. Her bookshelves are filled with books about fashions and fabrics. Her closet reveals very expensive designer clothing. Her drawers contain expensive lingerie and perfumes. Although Hillary thinks at first that the girl has died from a drug overdose because of a single small red dot on her arm, she learns from the girl in the next room that Eva always took very good care of her body and would never touch drugs. Hillary then finds out from the college secretary that the girl was a scholarship student. Further investigation reveals that her parents, who lived in France, did not have a vast amount of money, Eva was a student who was getting good grades and was always on time to her classes. Besides going to her classes, Eva spent a great deal of time in the music room although she did not play a musical instrument. Readers follow DI Greene in her quest to find out who and what killed Eva and where she got the money to buy all of the costly things that were in her room. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about how Hillary assembled the clues related to Eva’s life and death, especially what she found out more about the men who were listed in a book the police found hidden in Eva’s room. I am sure that readers who enjoy searching for clues along with the police and then solving a fascinating mystery would like this book as much as I did.
Flows well and good twists to the story. Very interesting characters. I’ll look for other books by this writer.
Looking for more by this author.
Very interesting characters.
Beautifully written cozy suspense novel. I can’t read enough Faith Martin novels. All grab you from the beginning and never disappoint.
I never saw it coming! There was so much else going on that I lost track of the possibilities. Well written and original despite being at the same venue as so many other stories – Oxford. Great read.
Oxford setting highlights the underbelly of a college escort service