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Leslie D. (Le Roy, NY)
"Evil Days" provides good reading days
One of the strengths of Julia Spencer-Fleming's series is that she never writes the same book twice. That also means that some of the enjoyable scenes of previous books, like the banter with Harlene in the police department and with Clare and her church secretary are minimal, because the action is set away from the town of Millers Kill and is moved into the Adirondack wilds.
Vestry meetings bookend this story, since the Reverend Clare Fergusson is under a bishop's review for "conduct unbecoming a priest" due to her pregnancy out of wedlock. Her recent marriage to Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne is strained because
…more of his conflicting feelings over fatherhood and her recurring battle fatigue. Their honeymoon at a remote lakeside cabin is a way for them to sort things out, but their trip is the beginning of a brutal winter storm, and a complex police investigation back in Millers Kill involving a kidnapping, murder of federal agents, a drug ring, and witness intimidation.
The action ends up involving Clare and Russ in their mountain retreat, and it becomes a suspenseful story of survival. This is an engrossing and complicated police procedural introducing a fun, new character (Oscar the German Shepherd) and developing the relationship between Kevin Flynn and Hadley Knox from previous books. Cue the title, though, and know that this is about serious issues in communities and in personal relationships.
The mystery ends on one of the author's signature cliffhangers. It's good to know that the series continues! (less)I have read every book in this series. The protagonists are real people with dilemmas that make them emotionally human. Clare has a heart for her parish and God is honored. There' s a wealth of adventure in this book and it creates characters one cares about all the way to the last page. Julia, you left too much time between books.
Dorothy M. (Maynard, MA)
This is a true page turner
Through the Evil Days is the 8th book in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series and, unlike some series that get a bit tired, this one just continues to accelerate. Set in the apocryphal Appalachian town of Miller's Kill, it follows the lives of Clare - an Episcopal priest - and Russ - the Chief of police - and the people around them. This one finds both Clare and Russ facing personal challenges while they attempt to deal with a complicated case facing the local police force. Because the plot begins on the first page and just builds from there, it isn't possible to discuss it without interjecting
…more spoilers. However I can tell you that this is one of those books that grab you and make you ignore the rest of the world until you have finished it. My only caveat is that I think this series benefits greatly from being read sequentially. So if it is new to you, you should begin reading now so you'll be ready for this one when it publishes in November. Start with In the Bleak Midwinter. (less)Good mystery, good story, great characters, but I was disappointed in the ending between Hadley and Murphy.
Dawnymae
Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming
This book is the 8th in the Clare and Russ series. I have not read any of the previous novels, but intend to give it a try. Clare is a priest who is pregnant, her husband Russ is the Police Chief of Miller-Kill. Because of the timing of the baby, Clare has a week to resign or face possible consequences for actions unbecoming of a priest. I found this issue unbelievable in these times, yet refreshing too in that actions can have consequences. There is a farmhouse fire, and a young child Mikayla has been kidnapped. As they try to solve the mystery, Clare’s predicament adds to the suspense. Throw in Hadley and
…more Kevin’s romance, a drug dealer and the ice-storm of the century and you have a first class mystery! Well done. (less)This is a well-written, thoughtfully plotted, suspenseful story with finely nuanced characters and natural sounding dialog.
The author excels when it comes to interpersonal conflict. The scenes between two officers, Kevin Flynn and Hadley Knox, were especially well done.
With many issues to work through, the story's central crime—an act of arson aimed at covering up a double murder—almost recedes into the background. While the couple's complex relationship was engaging, the very pregnant Clare's active involvement in getting the bad guys strains credulity.
A tightly crafted story puts the reader right in the
…more middle of a multi-layered mystery, exploration and insight into personal relationships, life-changing reveals and decisions. The story teems with suspense and offers enough twists and turns along the way to keep the reader eager to read more. (less)I am an avid fan of Julia Spencer-Fleming's books and was so excited to be picked to review the ARC. While the book is good, I felt it was a bit draggy in places and that the relationship between Claire and Russ seemed somewhat forced at times.The writing is literary quality, as always, but it just wasn't as riveting as her other books.
Fran T. (San Diego, CA)
God will give strength and bear thee through the evil days
I have read all of Spencer-Fleming's previous novels about Clare and Russ and, for the most part, have enjoyed them a great deal. Thus, I had high hopes for this novel. In some ways, my hopes were met; in other ways, not so much. The plot was engrossing and held my interest. The suspense level was kept high and the denouement was very satisfactory and quite surprising. That said, I found some difficulties and weaknesses, as well. Other reviewers have touched on these also --i.e, constant jumping from one scene to another, dragging out Clare's and Russ's attempts to escape from the locale of their "cabin in the
…more woods". They had so many difficulties in attempting to get back to civilization that it almost became, for me, absurd.
I was also disappointed that there was less of the spiritual in this book. For me, one of the strengths of her previous novels was the manner in which Spencer-Fleming incorporated Clare's faith and her interactions with her parish. In this novel, her interactions with the vestry are only bookends to the central story.
All of this being said, I still enjoyed the story and sympathized with the characters which is why I
gave the book a 4-- if it had been possible to give it a 3.5, I would have done so, but I decided to err on the generous side. (less)
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