Definitely the best of this series so far, and not just because there was a lot less foul language in it.

When a fellow American is accused of killing the most popular patisserie owner in France, Jules just knows she has to help.Belinda wasn’t a character I took to at all; and many of the plot details too, seemed a bit strange/unconvincing—for instance, why Belinda would decide to investigate a case simply because she found a body, rather than leave it to the police didn’t make much sense—agreed it was a person she knew, and a matter she was interested in, but even if she had started taking an interest because of her brother’s possible involvement, I’d have been more convinced, but that comes after. Martin builds the tempo and the tension very well indeed, with two separate crimes under investigation and a major dose of internal police politics. Noticing that Tipper doesn’t seem to have invested any of the money Belinda gave him in the pub’s décor, she heads in to confront him, only to find him dead—murdered. I have wondered at times whether the author was English or not, as a few other American-related terms occasionally do show up.

DI Greene tells it like it is and doesn’t pull any punches and her no nonsense attitude earns her the respect of her colleagues. Born in Oxford, Faith 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. In Murder in the Village, the first in the Belinda Penshurst series of mysteries, we meet Belinda Penshurt, who is a little over forty and living in her family home—the village manor/castle—in the village of Little Challham. An enjoyable and entertaining plot making for an engaging, relaxing read providing some much needed escapism.A mix of thatched and old stone and slate cottages, it is home to local families and rich 'incomers' alike. A man running for the Conservative Party slot for Parliament has been found in his kitchen, his head bashed in. When an old high school friend is murdered on the Côte d’Azur while auditioning for the hit TV travel show “Americans See Europe,” Maggie is forced to break away from village life and new motherhood to find the killer. Together with Flora, his fellow sleuth, they pack their suitcases, dreaming of fragrant lavender fields and freshly baked pain au chocolat.

We discover the reason Jerome Raleigh transferred from the Metropolitan Police and the constant thread of Hillary Greene's late husband's criminal past is taken that little bit further. The book can be read as a standalone, but I suggest reading the series from the beginning, so you get DI Hillary Greene's back story and hopefully like her as much as I do.She was born and brought up in Canton and since she is now stuck firmly in her past, it is a lovely book I can read to her and see her joy as we talk about places she remembers going as a child. The book has plenty of twists and turns, a great pace for the plot and it is a gripping story - 5stars from me for this one and looking forward to book 5! At the same time, a major police operation is in the works – to get, once and for all, Oxford’s local crime boss. We also meet Harry who is retired from the police force of which the pair join forces after one of the local residents is murdered. She is cleared; but is denied Ronnie’s pension and was forced out of her home by Ronnie during the divorce.

Raleigh is something of a high-flyer from the Met, but there is something about him that just doesn't sit right with DI Greene. As the author very kindly states at the very beginning of the story, no dogs were harmed, and can confirm that this is definitely the case.I want to thank NetGalley and Joffe Books for forwarding to me a copy of this great book to read and enjoy. Imogen, Adam and Harley the stray dog form an unlikely partnership as they try to untangle a knot of secrets, solve a murder mystery, and bring a killer to justice. While she recovers, she begins to think of all the anomalies that arose during the operation – things that happened that shouldn’t have.