So this book has been sitting on my kindle since 2018 and I'm kicking myself that it took so long for me to get around to reading it.

Trudy Loveday is a probationary WPC trying to navigate the world of being a policewoman in 1960. Most officers around her are of the opinion women shouldn't be on the police force, let alone chasing down muggers. In an attempt to keep her out of trouble, her boss assigns her to help coroner Dr Clement Ryder re-investigate the five-year-old death of a young woman. When the case becomes linked to the modern case of poison pen letters, it's up to Trudy and Ryder to get to the bottom of things.

This was a super strong start to a series, in fact one of the best I've read in ages.

I really liked Trudy. As frustrating as it was to have everyone around her saying that she shouldn't be a police officer, she's still determined to make it work even if that means she's stuck with the filing and making tea. She's also smart but not overconfident and often doubts her own abilities.
Ryder, on the other hand, was extremely cocky, a bit of a know it all type, and has no problem putting others in their place. He's not without problems, which softens the rest of his personality a bit.

Together the pair make a good duo, balancing each other's flaws out. Their back and forth was so enjoyable to read!

There were a fair few viewpoints throughout the story, which I wasn't the biggest fan of. On a couple of occasions, I got a little confused at whose point of view the scene was being told from. Hopefully, as the series goes on, this won't happen quite as often.

If this book is anything to go by, I think I will enjoy the rest of the series.

Got to love Faith Martin for her no frills, comfortable delivery of a thoroughly enjoyable novel.
Not too deep, this is an easy read but still a quality one for fans of Midsomer Murders or Rosemary & Thyme. (Showing my age there!)
A great excuse to cosy up on the sofa and immerse yourself in the pages.
Many thanks.

A gripping and entertaining crime novel set in 1960s Oxford. I enjoyed the historical setting and was swept along by Martin's writing.

I couldn't get on with this book and gave up after a few chapters. I loved Morse books but this wasn't what I thought it would be.

Faith Martin, of the fabulously addictive Hillary Green series, has started a new one! Fans will love this new series, which features a young female WPC in 1960. Trudy is very young, doesn't want the traditional life of marriage and motherhood - just yet - and is trying out a new career in the police force. Unfortunately, no one takes her seriously - not her family nor her colleagues. An unusual opportunity comes with a sharp, aging coroner who gets her assigned to his cold case. Martin continues her streak of excellent writing, good action, and realistic characters. This story has every mark of a winning series. The reader is left with a thirst for more Trudy adventures! Bravo! This is a winner!

For everyone who has seen my blog in the past would know I am a massive fan of DI Hilary Greene so jumped at the chance of reading Faith’s new series as I was hoping it would be as good as these ones.

Unlike the Hilary Greene series of books this one is set in the 1960’s before forensics and DNA evidence existed and when female officers were called WPC’s and looked down on so I knew this book would be different in that way but still expected the same writing style.

The book itself does start off very slow, but that is to be expected as we are slowly introduced to all the characters and learning their back stories and how they interact with each other.

This book starts off with WPC Loveday being transferred to the ‘care’ of a coroner who needs someone to help him investigate a murder as he doesn’t have the authority to do so. After this they workj through everything methodically and without current day technology to find out what happened and who the murderer was.

The story is very well written and researched for the era with Trudy being ignored and treated as if she is a second class citizen and being treated as if she isn’t very clever, but then showing everyone what she can do and impressing Ryder along the way.

I think this book could have done with some more humour in it like in the Hilary Greene books, and the chemistry wasn’t there between the two main characters for most of the book but I’m sure this will come in the next one as they learn more about each other

Overall this is a good start to the series, although quite slow in places. I prefer the Hilary Greene series, but will still keep an eye out for more from these two in the future.

Excellent story line which was gripping from start to finish. Great characters. I would highly recommend this book.

O good.... a new series by one of my favourite mystery authors! This series features a fresh young police woman - Trudy Loveday who is teamed up with a coroner - Clement Ryder. This at the request of her superior officer, more in an effort to keep her out of the way, than to help the coroner look into a suspicious death in the past. Can she prove her worth as the old case intersects with a new one?

A Fatal Obsession by Faith Martin is a fabulous police retro novel set in 1960. The book is evocative of a bygone age where crimes were solved by legwork, questions and a healthy dose of suspicion.
A Fatal Obsession is a 'thinking man's' novel. Being set in Oxford conjured up familiar landscapes for me. As a fan of the television series Morse and WPC56, I found the novel to be reminiscent of a blend of both.
An unlikely pairing of a young WPC and an aging coroner ensured the reader was entertained as the young woman learnt about crime solving from the master.
Modern murder collided with a cold case and kept the reader intrigued as we journeyed from parlors to stately homes. The reader found that secrets resided behind locked doors, requiring digging to unearth them.
Due to comprehensive descriptions, the characters were easily to picture and well drawn. The narrative held my attention as I tried to piece together all the clues. In an age of male dominance and female stereotyping, the fresh faced WPC was a breath of fresh air.
Any television producers out there? I think A Fatal Obsession would make a marvelous ITV series that has the legs to run for years and years.
Gripping, original and new. I loved it.
I received this book for free from Net Galley. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

If you took a young Jane Tennison and a grumpy Judge John Deed and threw them in a police procedural together, then you would get the equivalent of Ryder and Loveday. Trudy is one of the first WPCs on the force, which means having to endure constant put-downs, sexism and just an overall attitude of not being wanted.

The majority of her male colleagues think women are too weak and stupid to be able to work as a police officer. More often than not she finds herself delegated to the role of tea and coffee lady, and never receives any recognition for the actual police work she does.

Trudy jumps at the chance to work with Clement Ryder, a coroner with a keen nose for liars and hidden crimes. When a man, with a reputation to lose, receives threats that turn into actual crimes it reawakens the interest Clement had in an old case. He uses Trudy to do his digging, and she ends up creating a rockslide.

Martin writes a pithy plot with characters readers will want to revisit. I particularly enjoyed the way Martin highlights the daily chauvinism and major obstacles Trudy has to overcome to be taken seriously, and to be seen as equal member of the police force.

In the 21st century it’s hard for women who are lucky enough not to have the same obstacles, to be able to fathom how difficult it must have been over half a century ago for women entering male dominated careers. Not that there isn’t still a level of inequality or sexism in our day and age, but it’s nothing compared to then. Women like Trudy paved the path for others to walk upon.

The author keeps it simple, and yet simultaneously intriguing with a flair of a popular television police procedural. It’s about good old footwork, questioning and overlooked evidence. Where Ryder and Loveday are concerned it’s all about the niggle of doubt, the flicker of suspicion, and of course the ability to prove your theory. No matter how outlandish it may seem.

Oxford 1960 and probationary WPC Trudy Loveday is disillusioned with the role of women in the police force. But then coroner Dr. Clement Ryder wants to re-investigate an old case from five years ago. DI Jennings assigns Trudy to help Dr Ryder.
An enjoyable, interesting well-written story with its complex characters. Making a very good start to this first in a new series.

I have been a fan of Faith Martin’s books since I was invited to take part in the blog tour for ‘Murder At The University’, which features the lovely Detective Inspector Hilary Greene and which is printed by Joffe books. Anyway when I heard that she was releasing the first book in a new series, I just knew that it was a book I had to read and the sooner the better. I was not to be disappointed as I absolutely flipping well loved it but more about that in a bit.
Probationer WPC Trudy Loveday is the main character in this book. She absolutely loves her role in the police force and is keen to move up the ladder so to speak. Trudy is desperate to impress her superiors and show that despite her young age, she can be an effective police officer. It can’t be easy to be a female in a man’s world and have to endure all the naff jobs and be subjected to harassment of one way shape or form.’. Trudy puts up with all this and more. Certain behaviours of the men in the police station reminded me a bit of DCI Gene Hunt from the television series ‘Life On Mars. Even when she makes an arrest, the credit goes to somebody else, which must be so frustrating when you put all the work in. Trudy is one feisty, determined, young lady who often places herself in dangerous situations to make an arrest without thinking of the threat to her own safety. She is one police officer who really does try to do everything she can to protect the public. Trudy is also very curious and nosy at times. She has a very good gut instinct and if something doesn’t sit right with her then she doesn’t settle until she has fully exhausted all lines of enquiry. Trudy is asked to work with the local coroner to reinvestigate a closed case. She is thrilled to be trusted with such a job and resolves to do her very best.
It took me a little while to get into this book because I had to get used to a whole new set of characters and the author uses a different writing style to that of her Hilary Greene series. However once I got into this book, boy oh boy the time and the pages of the book flew past in a blur. I became addicted to this book because I just had to know how Trudy got on and how the investigation progressed. I smugly thought that I had figured out who had committed the crime and why but how wrong was I? It turned out that the perpetrator was somebody else entirely. This book certainly kept me guessing. At times there were more skeletons tumbling out of the closet than I could keep up with, which I loved because basically I am a nosy parker, who loves to gossip. There were many twists and turns to this book- some of which I honestly didn’t see coming. Just when you thought that the story had settled down then along would come another twist in the tale. For me, this book started with a bang and had a beginning that I won’t be forgetting in a hurry. After the beginning, the book kept up a steady pace, which was fine. There are a few sub plots which feed seamlessly into the main story.
In conclusion I have to say that I really loved reading the introduction to what I am sure will become another best selling series. At the moment the series featuring Hilary Greene is my favourite of the two but the series featuring Probationary WPC Trudy Loveday is not far behind. I loved the characters, I loved the story and I can honestly say that there was not one thing about the book that I didn’t enjoy. I would definitely recommend this book, this author and this series to other readers. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series and fortunately I don’t have too long to wait because the next book in the series is called ‘A Fatal Mistake’ and it is due to be released on 1st October 2018. The score on the Ginger Book Geek is a well deserved 5* out of 5*.

This is the first in a new series by Faith Martin. Based in the 1960 in Oxford. Clemont Ryder a coroner wants someone to help him with interesting cases he finds. WPC Trudy Loveday is new and very enthusiastic. Her superiors assign her to Dr Ryder to get her out of the way.
this is the first one and very interesting. there was world building of course because it was a first novel. I am looking forward to reading the series as they are publicized Worth a read. Thank you, Net Galley!

How many purse-snatchings and flashing cases must WPC Trudy Loveday attend before her worth is noted? She is an eager, young constable who knows that she has a lot more to offer. She may be a probationary female officer in 1960 in the British police at a time when a women's worth is highly underrated, but the intuitive Trudy feels she has much to prove to her male counterparts.

She is quite surprised when she is assigned to work alongside the local coroner, Dr. Clement Ryder, on an ongoing murder case. Talk about luck! Trudy sets off to prove herself well. As other murders happen, Dr. Ryder tends to believe that they are connected, and it doesn't take long for Trudy to believe that he is correct. Will the unlikely pair be able to unravel clues fast enough before another murder is committed?

A Fatal Obsession is book one in a new series by Faith Martin. How fun to read a police procedural story when today's modern method for crime-solving were nonexistent. What a terrific little read, with a few twists and turns. I rather enjoyed the partnership between Trudy and the curmudgeonly Dr. Ryder. The author has written the successful Hillary Greene series, so it was exciting to be in on the ground floor of something new.

Many thanks to HQ Digital and to NetGalley for this ARC to review.

Date of publication: June 11, 2018

As a fan of the Hillary Greene series, I was keen to try this first instalment of this new series. I wasn't disappointed but the cast and 1960s setting will take some getting used to. However, will definitely read more.

This was my first book by Faith Martin, and the start of a new series featuring Trudy Loveday. I enjoyed the characters and especially Trudy's enthusiasm and and the setting is my very favorite place, Oxford. The mystery was engaging, though a tiny bit predictable. That would not stop me, however, from eagerly reading the next in this promising series when it is published. Recommended!

Book Description
Oxford, 1960. There's a murderer on the loose and two unlikely heroes are poised to solve the case.
Meet Probationary WPC Trudy Loveday – smart, enthusiastic and always underestimated.
In the hope of getting her out of the way, Trudy’s senior officer assigns her to help coroner Clement Ryder as he re-opens the case of a young woman's death. She can't believe her luck – she is actually going to be working on a real murder case.
My Thoughts
I am a fan of Faith Martin's Murder series and have followed DI Hillary Greene on her many adventures. I was intrigued to see that she is beginning a new series and excited to read A Fatal Obsession. The bar is always set so high for me when an author has written a great series and I wondered if she could create another compelling character. For me, this was a definite yes as I flipped pages as quickly as I have while reading the Murder series books, anxious to know how everything would come together.
I don't know if Faith Martin plans to continue writing her Murder series books, but I do know that A Fatal Obsession was a very good read, and while the books are very different, her engaging writing style was still quite evident. Probationary WPC Trudy Love is a delightful character in many ways. She is smart, determined and though young, eager to learn and advance in her career. Trudy is surrounded by male colleagues who for the most part either barely tolerate her or give her trivial assignments that fail to challenge her or assist her in growing within the department. When her supervisor assigns her to work with one of the coroners, Clement Ryder, he has no idea that he has just inadvertently provided her a mentor. Ryder believes the verdict in an investigation 5 years ago was wrong and that a new murder case is connected to this prior one. Can this duo put all the pieces together before someone else dies? No spoilers here, you will want to read A Fatal Obsession and find out whodunit and why.
I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more as they are released. Thank you, Faith Martin, HQ Digital and NetGalley for the complimentary digital ARC.

I am a huge fan of Faith Martin’s DI Hilary Greene books. Therefore, I was thrilled to receive an ARC of the first of Faith’s new series featuring WPC Trudy Loveday and Coroner Clement Ryder. Although A Fatal Obsession is a decent read I was a little disappointed. I did not connect with the characters at first; although I did warm to them at the end. However, I did enjoy the 60’s setting and I would like to read more to see how the characters and storylines develop. A promising start and I look forward to the next in the series.
I would like to thank Netgalley and HQ Digital for the advance copy.

A female rookie cob in 1960s Oxford assists a coroner working on a cold case of the accidental death of a young, manic-depressive girl, while her colleagues investigate the murder of an ex-boyfriend of the dead 21year old. Both cases are not related to each other – or so it seems.
While the base story was an interesting one, I had problems to connect with the protagonists and their sidekicks. The coroner fighting his angst of having Parkinson, the rookie cob (and she is only 19) dealing with her angst about being accepted by her much more experienced and (it’s the sixties!) male colleagues and superiors.
There was quite a bit of unnecessary filler, mainly angst issues, but also descriptions of surroundings. While the characters of the main protagonists were fleshed out quite a bit (even if they still felt superficial), some side characters were thoroughly neglected. Like a colleague who was described as a vain beau and mentioned quite often, but I don’t think he ever had anything to say.
The plot came together nice if not a bit farfetched and with some inconsistencies in the time line.

To sum it up:
A good read, and I would recommend it to certain friends who have a more cultured and serene taste than I do.

4 stars

Trudy Loveday is a young (almost twenty), probationary PC. Her immediate boss is DI Jennings. She is chasing a bag snatcher down the street as the book opens in 1960’s London.

A murder has occurred and DI Jennings is very busy. He doesn’t want to be distracted by pathologist Doctor Ryder’s request to review the evidence in a cold case. The death was of Gisela Fleet-Wright and it happened five years earlier. He solves his problem by assigning his newest recruit WPC Trudy Loveday to assist Dr. Ryder in his investigation.

At first put off by Dr. Ryder’s curmudgeonly manner, the two quickly begin to get along. Trudy is very excited to actually work on her first real murder case.

This book was good and so completely different from Ms. Martin’s Hillary Green series. To begin with, it was set in the 1960’s when forensic techniques were unheard of and cops had to rely on witness statements and their own ability to tell who was lying and who was not. This reader had to keep reminding herself that there were no cell phones and the like to rely on. I didn’t like this book as much as I like Ms. Martin’s DI Hillary Greene series. Perhaps in time they will improve as WPC Trudy Loveday finds her feet. It had Ms. Martin’s trademark twists in it and there were surprises. A good entry, and I will be anticipating the next in the series to see if WPC Trudy attains her feet.

I want to thank NetGalley and HQ Digital for forwarding to me a copy of this good book to read, enjoy and review.