Introduction

Faith Martin’s Hillary Greene series has captivated readers with its unique narrowboat detective and authentic village mysteries. As a fellow author writing about narrowboat life and village secrets, I’m sure that fans of one series will absolutely love the other.

The Narrowboat Connection

Both Hillary Greene and Lucy Harford have chosen narrowboat life, though for different reasons. Hillary lives on a narrowboat while dealing with career challenges, while Lucy has embraced the waterways as a full-time lifestyle choice after her police career ended. Both characters understand the unique freedom and community that canal life offers.

Professional Backgrounds

Hillary Greene is an active DI with Thames Valley Police, while Lucy Harford is a former police constable who’s traded her badge for paintbrushes. Both bring professional investigative skills to their amateur detective work, though Lucy’s artist’s eye adds a unique perspective to observation and deduction.

Village Mystery Tradition

Both series excel at capturing authentic English village life, with its complex relationships, hidden grudges, and carefully guarded secrets. Faith Martin’s Oxfordshire settings and my fictional villages share that essential quality of communities where everyone knows everyone else’s business—except the secrets that matter most.

What Makes Each Series Unique

• Hillary Greene: Active police procedural with ongoing career challenges
• Lucy Harford: Pure amateur detective with artist’s lifestyle and perspective
• Both: Authentic narrowboat life and village mystery atmosphere

Reading Recommendations

If you love Hillary Greene’s methodical approach and village insights, start with Scarecrow Secrets to meet Lucy Harford. Both series can be read alongside each other, offering different perspectives on narrowboat detective fiction.