Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries

Clare Fergusson, Saint Alban's new priest, fits like a square peg in the conservative Episcopal parish at Miller's Kill, New York. She is not just a "lady" but also a tough ex-army chopper pilot-and nobody's fool. Then a newborn infant left at the church door brings her together with the town's police chief, Russ Van Alstyne, who is also ex-army and a cynical good shepherd for the stray sheep of his hometown. Their search for the baby's mother quickly leads them into the secrets that shadow Miller's Kill like the ever-present Adirondacks. What they discover is a world of trouble, an attraction to each other-and murder. "Fleming hits a grand slam with In the Bleak Midwinter. The tension is constant. The dialogue is dead-on. The characters are interesting, thought provoking, and honest. The prose soars above the quality usually found in this genre. To top it all off, the story twists and turns to the last page." "Terrific action scenes…What really distinguishes In the Bleak Midwinter, however, is the author's skillful portrayal of her protagonist's inner conflict." "A riveting page-turner from start to finish…A fast-paced plot keeps the guess work going until the very end. Along the way, there is an exceptionally spine-chilling confrontation. The vivid setting descriptions will bring plenty of shivers, but the real strength of this stellar first is the focus on the mystery, which will delight traditional fans."

Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks, Miller's Kill, New York is about as safe as it gets. That's why Episcopal minister Clare Fergusson is shocked when the Fourth of July weekend brings a rash of vicious assaults to the scenic town. Even Clare's good friend, police chief Russ Van Alstyne, is shaken by the brutality of the crimes-especially when it appears that the victims were chosen because they are gay. But when a third assault of an out-of-town developer ends in murder, Clare and Russ wonder if the recent crime wave is connected to the victim's controversial plan to open an upscale spa in Miller's Kill. But not all things in the tiny town are what they seem-and soon, Clare and Russ are left to fight their unspoken attraction to one another even as they uncover a labyrinthine conspiracy that threatens to turn deadly for them both … "The plot is complicated, and the ethical issues are even thornier. Wisely, Spencer-Fleming treats them with the same delicacy she extends to Clare's forbidden love." "Despite the brutal crimes, this is a quiet and civilized story just right for those who enjoy a modern take on the old-fashioned whodunit." "Exciting…keeps the pages turning…Clare's army background and a plot framed by church rituals add interest to the series." "Even more action, more plot-twists, and more unconsummated romance than in Clare and Russ's notable debut." "Riveting…Not just fans of ecclesiastical mysteries will have reason to rejoice."

Hot on the heels of her multi-award-winning debut, In the Bleak Midwinter, Julia Spencer-Fleming delivers the latest captivating mystery in her acclaimed series. When the local doctor disappears from the small town of Millers Kill, New York, it doesn't take long for the gossip-mongers to start insinuating foul play. Amid escalating suspicions that he was "disposed of" due to his ongoing fight to prevent authorities from cutting his clinic's funding, Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson and police chief Russ van Alstyne are enlisted to investigate. Neither could have bargained for what they discover, however, as they pursue an investigation that takes them deep into the past-to the Jazz Age, Prohibition, and the Great Depression-and to a series of sordid and horrifying secrets one family will risk everything to keep hidden. "One of the great pleasures in a mystery reviewer's life is watching a promising series take root and blossom into something strong and unusual. Out of the Deep I Cry...is a perfect example." "The author expertly portrays the power of grief, guilt, greed, and love and their effect on good people in a story as chilling as the month of March in Millers Kill. A subtle sense of humor further enhances this poignant and provocative mystery." "Well-written dialogue…The end is riveting and rewarding." "Early spring in the Adirondacks is vividly described in this third installment in the series, and both the main and secondary characters are well developed. Church practice, police procedures, army tactics, and the vaccination of children frame the central mystery as the plot jumps from past to present. A comfortable mix of police procedural and village cozy."

In the small Adirondack town of Millers Kill, an old lumberman sits in the dark with his gun across his knees. Not far away, an unemployed logger sleeps off his bender from the night before. The owner of the town's last paper mill tosses in his bed. And a young woman, one of three heirs to the 250,000-acre Great Camp, wakes alone in darkness, bound and gagged. Chief of police Russ Van Alstyne wants nothing more than a quiet day of hunting in the mountains on his fiftieth birthday. His wife needs to have the town's new luxury resort ready for its gala opening night. The reverend Clare Fergusson expects to spend the day getting St. Alban's Church ready for the bishop's annual visit. Her long-distance suitor from New York expects some answers about their relationship during his weekend in town. In Millers Kill, where everyone knows everyone and all are part of an interconnected web of blood or acquaintance, one person's troubles have a way of ensnaring others. What begins as a simple case of a woman lost in the woods leads to a tangle of revenge, blackmail, assault, kidnapping, and murder. As the hours tick by, Russ and Clare struggle to make sense of their town's plunge into chaos-and their own chaotic emotions. Something terrible waits in the ice-rimed mountains cradling Millers Kill. Something that won't be content with just one death-or two. In To Darkness and to Death, Julia Spencer-Fleming continues her moving story of the way a small town, as well as a great city, can harbor evil, and the struggle of two honest people to deal with the ever-present threat of their feelings for one another. "Spencer-Fleming writes with grace and clarity about the environmental ideal of turning tracts of developed land back to their natural wilderness state. But she shows even more sensitivity in depicting the human cost." "A rich and fulfilling story…time spent with these characters is to be cherished." "Disparate elements fuse with elegant plotting…Spencer Fleming parcels out the excitement until the stunning conclusion. She also continues her sensitive handling of the tension between Clare and the very married chief of police she's fallen in love with." "Spencer-Fleming has brought alive the people and environs of Millers Kill in another riveting mystery." "Quite a departure for Episcopalian priest Clare Ferguson and the man who loves her, police chief Russ Van Alstyne: a Rube Goldberg plot that crams all manner of secrets and crimes into the most hectic twenty-one hours in Millers Kill's history.…The results show that God has both endless compassion for mortal screw-ups-and a terrific sense of humor." "Suzanne Toren takes advantage of every opportunity to individualize these characters…The pace goes from slow burn to a truly explosive climax; Toren's narration does likewise." "Spencer-Fleming makes effective use of her vividly realized Adirondack setting, and she keeps the story moving at a good clip…The fourth installment in a satisfying series." "Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne make a fresh and unusual detective partnership, and I always welcome Clare's impetuous but wise take on the world around her."