"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…"
—Dick Adler, copyright 2004, Chicago Tribune.
Early praise for Julia's latest… All Mortal Flesh
My latest hardcover (ISBN: 0-312-31264-4), will be a Minotaur lead title in October.
Easily the best yet in an already amazing series … subtle, intense, tough, tender, intelligent - a definite must-read and an automatic book of the year.
— New York Times bestselling author Lee Child
Spencer-Fleming does it again! Taut prose, brilliant pacing and two of the most interesting characters around make ALL MORTAL FLESH all the mystery you could desire. Like Tami Hoag's breakout novel, NIGHT SINS, this book is bound to bring award-winning author Spencer-Fleming the attention she so richly deserves.
— New York Times bestselling author Lisa Gardner
ALL MORTAL FLESH has hooked me once again on the world of Miller's Kill. Spencer-Fleming's novel is richly peopled and carefully crafted to provide one shock after another. How can something so dark be so delicious?
— New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen
What the Critics are saying about...
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Romantic Times Book Club Magazine (July 2005 - 4 Stars)
 A star is assigned to books of unusual merit, as determined by the editors of Romantic Times.
Add harrowing tension a la TV's "24" to Julia Spencer-Fleming's always lyrical prose and beautifully drawn characters, and you have one of the year's must reads! Spencer-Fleming has topped an already shining series with this fourth outing.
— Deborah Crombie, award-winning author of Dreaming of the Bones and In a Dark House
Clare Fergusson and Russ van Alystyne make a fresh and unusual detective partnership I always welcome Clare's impetuous but wise take on the world around her.
— Sara Paretsky, author of the V.I. Warshawski novels
An heiress goes missing in the upstate New York town of Millers Kill. Millie van der Howeven never returns from her evening walk in the woods, and Episcopalian minister Clare Fergusson joins the search-and-rescue team looking for her.
Instead, they find another woman, Becky Castle, brutally beaten and left for dead in the forest. At the crux of these crimes is the impending sale of van der Hoeven land, which will no longer be used for logging after it is turned over to an environmental conservancy, putting many locals out of work.
Before it's all over, the seemingly mundane existence of this small New York town will be thoroughly altered. As police chief Russ Van Alstyne and Clare, his unrequited love interest, try to solve the mystery, the friendship of these solid, down-to-earth characters moves closer to romance, and the intrigue continues to build, revealing a riveting, well-plotted criminal adventure. Sheri Melnick
Publishers Weekly (May 30, 2005 Starred Review)
A star is assigned to books of unusual merit, determined by the editors of Publisher's Weekly.
Set during a single day, Agatha-winner Spencer-Fleming’s explosive fourth mystery (after 2004’s Out of the Deep I Cry) takes Rev. Clare Fergusson and Millers Kill, N.Y., police chief Russ Van Alstyne far from the tranquility offered by the Anglican services of morning prayer, Order for Noonday and Evensong. A phone call at 5:15 on a cold November morning leads Clare - ex-army helicopter pilot and rector of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church - to join the local search and rescue team to look for the missing sister of recluse Eugene van der Hoeven, head of the 250,000 acre Haudenosaunee estate. On a day when she should be at St. Alban’s preparing for the bishop’s annual visit, Clare finds herself involved with Russ in an investigation involving brutal beatings, kidnapping and murder. As the day unfolds, Clare and Russ are compelled to examine their own relationship when the diocesan deacon arrives early to discuss a “serious matter” with Clare. Given her seminary training and her army background, it’s not surprising that Clare with all that comes her way with energy, expertise, sensitivity and humor. Spencer-Fleming has brought alive the people and environs of Millers Kill in another riveting mystery.
Kirkus Review (May 15, 2005)
A star is assigned to books of unusual merit, determined by the editors of Kirkus Reviews.
Quite a departure for Episcopalian priest Clare Ferguson and the man who loves her, police chief Russ Van Alstyne (Out of the Deep I Cry, 2004, etc.): a Rube Goldberg plot that crams all manner of secrets and crimes into the most hectic 21 hours in Millers Kill's history.
Foreign-based behemoth Global Wood Products has arranged with the Adirondack Conservancy Corporation to purchase Haudenosaunee, the van der Hoeven's family's spread inside the Adirondack State Forest, and turn most of it over to the Conservancy's care while retaining an option to repurchase tracts it wants to log. GWP gets a tax break and ACC the chance to return much of the land to its natural state, but local logger Ed Castle and paper manufacturer Shaun Reid are headed for extinction. This explosive situation is touched off by the disappearance of Millicent van der Hoeven, who's visiting her reclusive brother Eugene to sign the transfer documents. But Millie's kidnapping is only the beginning of a fantastically intricate plot. Before midnight, there'll be a murderous assault, three accidental deaths, two accidental rescues, half a dozen impromptu criminal schemes and acts of heroism by intersecting citizens who had no idea what they were in for when the sun rose, and a long-awaited meeting between Clare and Linda Van Alstyne, Russ's wife.
The results show that God has both endless compassion for mortal screw-ups—and a terrific sense of humor.
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The New York Times Book Review
"you forget what a small town this is," the police chief of Millers Kill tells the new rector in Out of the Deep I Cry (Thomas Dunne/St. Martin's Minotaur, $23.95), the third and most densely textured mystery in a series by Julia Spencer-Fleming that brings new airs and graces to the traditional small-town mystery. For starters, the attraction between the Rev. Clare Fergusson, the rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, and Russ Van Alstyne, the town's very married top cop, is allowed to develop in a romantic but surprisingly mature way. The rich heritage of this Adirondack Mountain region also gives depth and complexity to the crimes that the well-matched pair must solve together. Here, the disappearance of the doctor who manages the local clinic dovetails with a family tragedy that dates back to the Depression era but was never put to rest. So, yes, this is a very small town, but under Spencer-Fleming's grave touch it becomes a world that you want to visit and hate to leave. Marilyn Stasio, copyright 2004, The New York Times Book Review
Romantic Times
The complex third installment of Spencer-Fleming's series featuring ex-Army helicopter pilot Reverend Clare Fergusson and Millers' Kill police chief Russ Van Alstyne further showcases the author's deft hand at balancing emotion and intrigue. When the town clinic's sole doctor disappears amid threats from a desperate mother and decreased funding for his clinic, Clare and Russ investigate. The case leads in unexpected directions. Suddenly a cold case from 50 years ago is unexpectedly hot again - as is the delicate but intense attraction between Clare and the married Russ. Spencer-Fleming skillfully blends several plotlines, sensitively portraying how even small-town clinics can come under fire from activists (though the topic here is vaccines, not abortions, thankfully), delving into the harsh realities of the Prohibition era and exploring the forbidden passion between her leads. When it comes to amateur sleuth series, this is one of the best. Tara Gelsomino, copyright 2004, Romantic Times. "Top Pick" 4 1/2 stars.
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Publisher's Weekly gives Fountain a starred review! Read brand new reviews by the New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, The January Magazine, Romantic Times Magazine. The Portland Phoenix et.al.
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Read reviews of the book singled out by the members of the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association as the mystery they most enjoyed selling during 2002. See reviews by Publisher's Weekly (Starred Review!), Kirkus, the New York Times Book Review, Chicago Tribune, Maine Sunday Telegram, The Drood Review, et.al.
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Book Club Selections
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"It's not giving away too much in Julia Spencer-Fleming's A Fountain Filled With Blood to note that it is okay again for crime fiction to include gay villans. For a while, the backlash against the bad old days when the only gays in mysteries were violent dementos and pathetic wretches was severe. The old Big Lie was erased by 25 years of gay and lesbian heros or at least likable comic sidekicks. In Spencer-Fleming's story of murder and intrigue over toxic pollution and development efforts in the upper Hudson Valley, there are gay good and bad guys, uninsistantly reflecting real life.
This is the second installment of Spencer-Fleming's series featuring Episcopalian priest Clare Fergusson. She's a quietly gutsy former military chaplain and chopper pilot who, unmarried at 35 and not crazy about it, has an aching crush on the local police chief, Russ Van Alstyne. While committed to his marriage, the chief goes weak-kneed despite himself whenever he is around Fergusson.
The tension between the two is interesting to watch, although maybe Van Alstyne's reticence owes a little less to his marriage vows than to Fergusson's habit of sermonizing at him. She is always right-- about hate crimes, on environmental matters, about the investigation of a developer's murder and a series of violent gay-bashings. In the back of his mind, something may be telling Van Alstyne that being around Fergusson more than a few hours a day could take a toll."
- Richard Lipez, copyright 2003, The Washington Post
"At one point...Russ comments that Clare has "a little shine," like the Holy Spirit; so, too, might Spencer-Fleming. Her series is already very, very good. If she can maintain its present high standards of plotting and characterizations, it might one day be considered among the very best in the mystery field."
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- Sarah Weinman, copyright 2003, The January Magazine
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» Read the review in full
"This unique and riveting book is a thrill ride complete with romantic tension. As the mystery twists, slowly unfolding into a neat package, readers will already be eagerly anticipating the next installment in this well-crafted series. Four and a half stars."
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- Sheri Melnick, copyright 2003, Romantic Times Magazine
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» Read the review in full
"...in part two of the Priest and the Cop, these two interesting adults try to cope with their dilemma in interesting adult ways that make for good reading. Spencer-Flemings' thoughtful take on moral issues beyond the mystery stalwart "though shalt not kill" gives her latest book much of its appeal."
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- Jane Dickenson, The Rocky Mountain News. copyright 2003, The E.W, Scripps Co.
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» Read the review in full
"She's such a good storyteller, the absence of skin and bone is scarcely noticeable amid her deft handling of tension, action, and humor."
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- Al Diamon, copyright 2003, The Portland Phoenix
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» Read the review in full
"This is Spencer-Fleming's second Rev. Clare Fergusson mystery, and it's so entertaining, I may just have to forgive her for having a hyphenated name."
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- Cyndy Cunningham, copyright 2003, The Lawton Constitution
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» Read the review in full
"Spencer-Fleming is at her best with action scenes --- most interesting in that she portrays them vividly yet without gratuitous violence. She writes so well that she doesn't need blood and gore to get our attention. In the latter half of the book, there is an extended episode in which Clare uses her helicopter pilot skills, honed during the Gulf War, that will have you breathless as you await the outcome, unable to guess what it will be."
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- Ava Dianne Day, copyright 2003, Bookreporter.com
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» Read the review in full
"...exceptionally well written, even better than the first book, which I didn't think would be possible."
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-Robyn Glazer, copyright 2003, I Love a Mystery Newsletter
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» Read the review in full
"Spencer-Fleming is no cozy writer when is comes to action scenes (there's a helicopter crash that has to be read to be believed), nor does she look away from gruesome violence (the title comes true). The exploration of Clare and Russ' feelings for one another could come straight from a literary novel, but since this is a mystery, we're lucky enough as readers to get a good plot and a memorable setting thrown in."
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- Robin Agnew, Aunt Agatha's
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» Read the review in full
In this debut novel, a riveting page-turner from start to finish, born-and-bred Virginian Clare Ferguson, newly ordained priest of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in the small upstate town of Millers Kill, is faced with not only an early December snowstorm and the bitter cold of her first Northern winter but also a conservative vestry, who apparently expended all their daring on hiring her, a female priest. When a baby is left on the church doorstep with a note designating that he be given to two of her parishioners, Clare calls in police chief Russ Van Alstyne. The foundling case quickly becomes an investigation into murder that will shatter the lives of members of her congregation, challenge her own feelings and faith and threaten her life. With her background as an army helicopter pilot, Clare is not a typical priest. Smart, courageous and tough, she is also caring, kindhearted and blessed with a refreshing personality. Likewise, the other characters are equally well developed and believable, except for a young pediatrician, who speaks more like a hip teenager than a professional. It is a cast readers will hope to meet again, while a fast-paced plot keeps the guesswork 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." - Publisher's Weekly Starred Review, 2/11/02
"This first novel, winner of St. Martin's Malice Domestic Award for 2001, introduces an unusual investigative partnership and a probable new series. Russ Van Alstyne, police chief of Millers Kill, and Clare Fergusson, new-to-town Episcopal priest, first meet when she reports a baby abandoned at the church. The two later discover the body of the baby's young mother. As the investigation progresses, Clare runs into opposition from staid church members, two of whom will do anything to adopt the child. With superb skill, exact detail, and precise diction, this highlights credible personal conflicts. For all collections." -Library Journal, 2/1/02
"What really distinguishes In the Bleak Midwinter, however, is the author's skillful portrayal of her protagonist's inner conflict. As a result the book includes some terrific action scenes as well as some quieter moments.This depth makes it a good choice for readers who love mysteries that address contemporary issues while avoiding violence and sex."cKaty Munger, Washington Post Book World, 3/31/02
"Very professional (first novel)...a very promising job it is... original situations and an engaging tale." - Eugene Weber, Los Angeles Times Book Review, 5/19/02
"(Its) sense of community claustrophobia gives... (the book) so much paranoid power. Spencer-Fleming is smart enough to leave space for our imaginations to fill." - Dick Adler, Chicago Tribune 22 , 4/14/02
"This duo is smart and funny." - Jane Dickinson, Rocky Mountain News, 5/03/02
"Julia Spencer-Fleming hits a grand slam with her first murder mystery, 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 off, the story twists and turns to the last page. The conclusion is a dramatic standoff that will keep a reader from going to bed."- John Robinson, Maine Sunday Telegram, 3/3/02
"Spencer-Fleming makes [her characters] believable and engaging; when the action starts it wipes away the air of cozy drawing rooms with scenes that would do credit to the best high-tension thriller." - Al Diamon, Casco Bay Weekly, 3/7/02
"There's nothing cozy about Russ Van Alstyne except for his obvious admiration for the woman whose landed in the middle of his murder investigation. And even Clare Fergusson isn't exactly what you'd expect from a country priest. Without slighting the central situation of the abandoned mother and her abandoned child, Spencer-Fleming shows admirable resourcefulness in the changes she rings on it." Kirkus, 2/14/02
"Julia Spencer-Fleming's first book is a thoroughly engrossing read: the author writes in an already-mature voice about three-dimensional characters; [she] also gets the milieu of Miller's Kill just right. Assuming there are more Miller's Kill mysteries to come, it should be well worth the wait to see how this partnership develops." - Helen M. Francini, The Drood Review, Jan/Feb. 2002
"A welcome return to the traditional mystery as well as an atmospheric upstate New York thriller drawn on a small-town canvas. Recounting the plot will not convey the surprising combination of unlikely elements that grace this sure-footed and elegantly paced first outing." - Partners and Crime Partners's Picks, March
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March Book Club Selection, Murder By The Book, Denver, Colorado
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First Mystery Book Club Selection, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, Arizona
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First Book Club Selection-Mysterious Books, New York, New York
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Partners' Pick-Partners and Crime, New York, New York
Read reviews of In the Bleak Midwinter by the New York Times and the Washington Post. and the Washington Post
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"Julia Spencer-Fleming is already a winner, but she deserves a triple crown. In a strong, distinctive voice, she sets her characters down In the Bleak Midwinter and pits them against public murder, personal demons, and the power of nature itself."
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--Kathy Lynn Emerson, author of Face Down Across the Western Sea and Face Down Under the Wych Elm
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"This is *one good book*. It's got a baby on the doorstep, a heck of a lot of snow, a police chief, and an Episcopal priest who happens to be a woman. It made me cold just to read it. It's not especially cozy, but it's not hardboiled, either. I highly recommend it."
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--Charlaine Harris, author of Living Dead in Dallas and Shakespeare's Counselor
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"Don't miss this one! You'll be rooting for Clare Fergusson in this engaging and vital mystery. The icy setting and string of murders will chill you, but the fast pace will keep you turning the pages. If you're looking for something a little different, look no further than In the Bleak Midwinter."
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--April Henry, author of Circles of Confusion, Square in the Face, and Heart-Shaped Box
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Early praise for Julia's latest… "To Darkness and to Death rates Kirkus Starred Review!