In the Bleak Midwinter (The Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries #1) in Pick-a-Shelf

Oct 05, 2011 Kathy rated it it was amazing

Shelves: bouchercon-2013-authors, mystery, favorite-covers, series

I am an avaricious consumer of mystery series, but there are so many stand-alone books that I want and need to read right now that yet another delectable series is an unwise choice. Well, too late. I read the first in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne, In the Bleak Midwinter, and once again, I'm hooked. Julia Spencer-Fleming is another Bouchercon 2013 author that I wanted to sample before the September gathering, and I duped myself into believing that I could indeed eat just one. I will begin I am an avaricious consumer of mystery series, but there are so many stand-alone books that I want and need to read right now that yet another delectable series is an unwise choice. Well, too late. I read the first in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne, In the Bleak Midwinter, and once again, I'm hooked. Julia Spencer-Fleming is another Bouchercon 2013 author that I wanted to sample before the September gathering, and I duped myself into believing that I could indeed eat just one. I will begin #2 today.

This series, set in the shadows of the Adirondack mountains in the small town of Millers Kill, features ex-Amy helicopter pilot, newly ordained Episcopalian priest Clare Fergusson and ex-Army, present-day police chief Russ Van Alstyne. Clare is the first female priest at the Episcopal church in Millers Kill, and is quite different than her conventional predecessor. When only after a month on the job, she discovers a newborn baby abandoned outside the church, Clare quickly becomes involved in the search for its parents and the subsequent murder of the baby's mother. As rapid as her involvement in the resolution to these mysteries and ones to follow, her friendship with Russ Van Alstyne, the chief of police, takes the fast trak to closeness and trusted confidant. Of course, the chief is married, which creates a stumbling block to a more intimate relationship. In solving not one, but two murders, Clare and Russ come to rely on one another's intelligence and intuition, moving in sync as two partners with different skills that mirror in a complimentary efficiency.

It's always so satisfying to encounter yet another author whose manipulation of the language results in a spine-tingling tale. Julia Spencer-Fleming is extraordinarily gifted in her skill of description, including settiing, action, and characters. I was truly amazed at the detail of description in those areas, and it made the story so complete. There is no fuzzy, half-hearted imagery in Ms. Spencer-Fleming's writing. The reader is treated to complete disclosure of what a place looks like, what a character's physical and emotional make-up is, and what the action would look like if you were there. The twists and turns of the plot are page-turning pleasures. Now, on to the next adventure/mystery of the Clare and Russ team. Again, my reading pile groans with the weight of of books waiting. ...more

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Feb 08, 2009 Christa rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: library

Read in Febuary 2009, again in June 2009, in January 2011, January 2015, and January 2019. A great start to one of my top two or three favorite series!

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