Julia Spencer-Fleming Books In Order
Book links take you to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn money from qualifying purchases.Publication Order of Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries Books
| In the Bleak Midwinter | (2002) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| A Fountain Filled with Blood | (2003) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Out of the Deep I Cry | (2004) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| To Darkness and to Death | (2005) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| All Mortal Flesh | (2006) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| I Shall Not Want | (2008) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Letters to a Soldier | (2009) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| One Was a Soldier | (2011) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Through the Evil Days | (2013) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
| Hid from Our Eyes | (2020) | Description / Buy at Amazon |
She studied history and acting at Ithaca College, receiving her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maine School of Law. Currently, she resides outside of Portland Maine with her husband and children as well as two dogs.
The first novel that Julia Spencer-Fleming wrote is called ‘In the Bleak Midwinter’, and this is the first novel in this mystery series. Clare Fergusson, St. Alban’s new priest, barely fits in at the old-fashioned Episcopal parish. She’s not only a lady, she’s also a hardened ex-army chopper pilot and wise as an owl. When a newborn is left at her church door, she’s brought together with police boss Russ Van Alstyne.
This town police chief is also ex military and a skeptical good shepherd of the lost sheep in his hometown. As the priest and the cop start to look for the newborn’s mother, their search leads them to the secrets shadowing Millers Kill, just like the enduring Adirondacks Mountains.
They discover a world full of trouble, a mutual attraction for one another, and murder. The baby’s mother has been killed, and as the two investigators work the case, they come to rely upon each other’s intuition and intelligence. The police chief is married, which is going to complicate the fledgling relationship between him and the priest.
This first novel won Julia Spencer-Fleming an Agatha Award, a Dilys Award, and a Macavity award. These awards came courtesy of her excellent writing, and she is great at manipulating language. The result is a spine-tingling story told in a highly entertaining fashion.
The author is great at describing the setting, characters and action, and the reader gets fully immersed in the story. You won’t find any fuzzy, half-hearted symbolism in her writing. As a reader, you will be treated to a comprehensive revelation of a character’s emotional and physical make-up, what the place looks like and how the action would appear if you happened to be there.
Clare is made out to be a smart and efficient war veteran but she also shows some signs of being a crazy meddler without impulse control. For instance, she blurts out things that she should keep secret and repeatedly dashes off into danger.
She’s also a pompous and self-righteous character. On the other hand, Russ is an almost competent police boss. For unknown reasons, he allows Clare to assume the lead role in the murder investigations. The romance between the two of them is hard to fathom, him being a married person and all.
Playing with fire cannot begin to describe what the two people are doing and if you want to find out what happens next, grab a copy of this book. The second book in this series is called ‘A Fountain Filled with Blood’. Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks, Millers Kill, in New York is about as safe as it gets.
This is the reason why Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson get’s shocked to discover a series of vicious attacks happening in her scenic town during the weekend of Independence Day celebrations. Even Clare’s close friend, police boss Russ Van Alstyne is equally shaken by these brutal crimes, especially when you consider that the victims appear to have been chosen because of being gay.
A third assault happens to a developer from out of town, and this time it ends up being a murder. So Russ and Clare start to debate whether this recent crime wave can be linked to a controversial plan by the victim to establish a high-end spa in Millers Kill.
But everything in this tiny town is not what it appears to be-and soon a network of conspiracy threatens to turn fatal for Russ and Clare even as they’re trying to overcome their attraction to one another. Clare thinks that these crimes are interlinked but Russ doesn’t think so.
His theory is that there are no copycat crimes, and by refusing to act on Clare’s theory, tension begins to build between them. So when a third person is murdered, Clare decides to take matters into her own hands and starts her own investigations.
There are serious issues that need to be addresses, chief of which is the gay bashing incidents as well as the water supply in the town being contaminated. As a reader, there’s one thing that might strike you as odd concerning Clare’s character.
Here’s a woman who used to be in the army, where there are rules and a chain of command. Information is given on a need-to-know basis and discipline is required. She then decides to become a priest, and this is a calling that requires confidentiality among other things.
But then she blabbers information even when she is expressly told not to do so. She is also infatuated with a married guy while her job entails counseling couples among other things. She also interferes with police investigations even though she’s supposed to be a priest and a law-abiding citizen. An odd couple is what you might think about the young military-trained Episcopal priest and a married veteran police but they’re sincere in the feelings towards each other.
Forbidden romance is always a popular theme in many romance and mystery novels, and this series doesn’t disappoint. Strong female characters are always welcome, and the author has also done a good job of creating twists and turns, resulting in tension and the reader is none the wiser about whodunit. The interesting bit about these murder mystery novels is that when a crime happens, there’s always a person from out of town who takes the blame.
Unbeknownst to the small town folks, the killer may be that innocent-looking next door neighbor. The good news is that Julia Spencer-Fleming has written many more books in this series and readers can look forward to reading more mysteries and discovering what happens next with the priest and the cop.
Book Series In Order » Authors »
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Ive reAd all Fergusson-Van Alstyne books through THROUGH THE EVIL DAYS and am starting HID FROM OUR EYES. I absolutely love this series and am hesitant to read this last one!! I read tere is another in the making and certainly hopeso. It’s a let-down to think of completing the series!
Dear Julia – Archer Mayor – a wonderful author, recomended your books to me and i went to the library and i now own all 9 thanks to my very thoughtful daughter. I am waiting for #10. i am very sorry for the loss of your husband – i am also a widow – life isn’t easy without your best friend…but it does go on. happy new year.
Will we find out where Kevin is? I have sincerely loved this series.
I have just completed reading the series. i’m looking for the new title, but cannot find At Midnight Comes the Cry. What is the release date? Will we find out where Kevin is? Will Clare finally kick the drugs?
When I begin her books, I simply can’t stop reading until I finally fall asleep-then, after a bit read again🙋♀️💪I do read fast, and she definitely encourages that because her writing is so descriptive and visual! During 2020, the pandemic, I stayed isolated over a year, and during that time , I read every one from start to finish in order 3 times😂I always enjoyed her stories, Claire,Russ, now Ethan-next mystery is where is Flynn?
Am just starting this series and LOVE IT! A friend
D gave me “Out of the Deep I Cry” so that’s where I started. Love her writing style and there are no give always in who did the awful deed.
Looking forward to the other 8. Maybe more independent books? Have been an avid reader all my life. Love Gerri g something that I love.
Thank you
I absolutely love this series! As a Southern Episcopalian and former Senior Varden ,I have lived it all! Please tell me you are writing #10!
Blessings
I hope these messages get too Julia. Was so happy to see book #9 come out, I’d almost given up hope of any more. I read the first book in the series shortly after it was released. The title grabbed me because it’s one of my absolute favorite Christmas hymns. Just had to buy it and was an avid reader of all ensuing books. I’m so very sorry for the losses you have endured these last few years Julia.
Best Wishes,
Joan Redman
I love this series. This was the first mystery series i found when I went shopping for a good book to read years ago. I am eager to read the next one.
Absolutely love this series lFerguson-Van Allstyne.” I’ve read them all. I want more. Please. Is there another book in the works?
I am so sorry for the serious losses you suffered these recent years. I just finished reading the last book about Claire and Ross, and now Ethan. You have to continue this serious. We have to have closure on Hayley and Flynn and how Claire and Russ’s lives change Please do bring them back into our lives.
I tried to write a message to Ms. Spencer Fleming when I read about her recent losses, but it was returned. My deepest sympathies to Julia, and I look forward to reading more of her work.
This has been a terrific series to read. I have the last book to read, which I’m going to relish because there isn’t another. I hope Julia Spencer Fleming has a book in the pipeline! I’ll be looking for it for sure. These stories get better and more complex, the farther you read in the series. Very enjoyable.
I’m so excited! I just finished the 9th one and I thought—this can’t end like this! When do you think the 10th one will be out?
Is there a 10th book in the series ? Please let me know. Thanks !
Not at this time
I am missing a lot of these…didn’t even know that she had continued in this series after they got together.