Barry Loveday

Jacquie Walton, writing under the pen name Faith Martin, is an English author recognized for her popular detective series featuring DI Hillary Greene. She also utilizes the pseudonyms Maxine Barry for romance novels and Joyce Cato for standalone mysteries and the Jenny Starling series. Walton's work has achieved significant readership, particularly on Kindle Unlimited in the UK.

Born in Oxford, Walton initially worked as a secretary at Somerville College for six years, supporting her parents after a serious accident. This period allowed her to take a year off to pursue writing once her parents received compensation. She now resides in a village in Oxfordshire. Her writing career began with romance novels as Maxine Barry, with her first book, 'Stolen Fire,' published in 1993. She penned thirteen additional romance titles for Scarlet and Heartline imprints.

The DI Hillary Greene series, set in Oxfordshire's towns and villages, has become her most recognized work. The character, DI Hillary Greene, operates from Thames Valley Police headquarters in Kidlington and resides on a narrowboat. Many of the early books in this series featured the word 'narrow' in their original titles. The series gained renewed success when Blackstar Crime republished 'A Narrow Escape' in 2008, followed by other titles. Joffe Books later reissued these books with updated titles, often including the word 'murder.' Walton also writes the Ryder and Loveday series, featuring Probationary WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder, which is set in Oxford city.

Jacquie Walton employs multiple pen names to distinguish her diverse literary output. Under the pseudonym Faith Martin, she is renowned for her detective fiction, most notably the series centered on Detective Inspector Hillary Greene. This series is primarily set in the picturesque towns and villages of Oxfordshire, diverging from the urban focus of Inspector Morse by exploring crime in the surrounding rural areas. Walton also writes romance novels as Maxine Barry, beginning her career in this genre with 'Stolen Fire' in 1993 and publishing thirteen subsequent titles. Additionally, she authors standalone detective novels and the Jenny Starling murder mysteries under the name Joyce Cato. Another series, featuring Probationary WPC Trudy Loveday and coroner Clement Ryder, is set within Oxford city itself.

Walton's writing career gained significant traction, particularly with her DI Hillary Greene series. Initially published, these books saw a resurgence in popularity in 2008 when Blackstar Crime republished 'A Narrow Escape,' leading to further success with titles like 'On the Straight and Narrow.' Subsequently, Joffe Books reissued the 'Narrow' series under new titles, many of which incorporate the word 'murder.' This strategic re-titling and republication contributed to the series' widespread recognition. Beyond traditional publishing, Walton has been recognized as one of the most-read authors on Kindle Unlimited in the UK during a recent decade, indicating a strong contemporary readership.

Born in Oxford, Jacquie Walton's path to authorship included a period working as a secretary at Somerville College for six years. This employment was undertaken to support her parents following a significant motor vehicle accident that left them injured. Once her parents received compensation for their injuries, Walton was afforded the opportunity to take a year's leave from her secretarial role, dedicating this time to her writing pursuits. This foundational period allowed her to establish her literary career, which began with the romance novels published under the Maxine Barry pen name before she moved on to her more widely known detective fiction.