Murder on the Cricket Green (The Martha Miller Mysteries #4), by Catherine Coles

Publication Feb. 2026

It's May, 1948, and everyone seems to have a secret...or many. Westlehan Village is excited to be hosting its first cricket match since the end of the war. As one of the organizers, Martha Miller is focused on making the event a success. That is, until her missing husband Stan shows up at her door after simply vanishing about two years before. Small villages being what they are, Martha had been a target for gossip ever since, some local wags theorizing that Stan's body would eventually be found buried in her garden. But, nope. There he is. Very alive. Alive and well and wanting to talk to her. Seems he's in for a few surprises, too, such as discovering that the money he'd been sending Martha regularly via the local solicitor hadn't been delivered. In fact, Martha had no clue whether he was dead or alive. Unfortunately for Stan, he's really dead not long afterward. His death does little to clear the way for Martha's growing friendship with Luke, the local vicar. You'll learn more about the complications Stan's disappearance created for them and, oh, boy, how times have changed.  

But, romance aside, who'd kill the  recently returned Stan? True, he had a couple run-ins with locals, including that shady solicitor, but might the secrets of his last two years hold a clue or two as to the guilty party? Could the two gentleman he arrives with, Ted and his pharmacist brother be involved? DI Ben Robinson, about to marry Martha's sister, warns Martha away from the case, of course. Martha, also of course, begins to look into things herself, which, predictably, leads her to trouble. Secrets kept can be dangerous. 

No more teasers. Seriously, if you enjoy small town mysteries where the gossip flows quickly but things move a bit more slowly, you'll love this one. Seriously, the characters are likable, even Stan, go figure, and, hey, I can't forget sweet Lizzy the dog. The overall feel is warm and inviting, so don't hesitate to pay a visit to Martha and Westleham Village. Thanks #BoldwoodBooks for introducing me to Martha, Luke, and the rest and giving me this early peek at a major twist in the story.