What do readers think of Through the Evil Days by Julia Spencer-Fleming? Write your own review.

I have read all the books in Fleming's Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series, but this effort is by far the most compelling. With every twist and turn, the story plows forward to its thrilling and unexpected end. Of all the books, this has the best "nail-biting" factor, leaving the reader to wonder just when will the characters re-connect and how will they answer the puzzle laid out before them in the first pages. Even the conclusion is not a conclusion . . . a cliff-hanger of sorts as favorite characters wrestle with life issues and monumental decisions. A must-read if you are a fan of this series.

I would have rated this book higher if it had not been for all the other storylines going on with most of the main characters. This seemed to bog down the pace at times. The book did keep my interest, though I was very disappointed with the ending which left many unanswered questions. I am assuming that the author will follow up with another book about Clare and Russ since this seems to be a series.

There are many plot-driven thrillers out there; what sets this one apart are the interesting characters and the interplay between them. A police chief, newly married to a younger Episcopal priest who is pregnant, and also happens to be a combat veteran makes for some exciting family drama. Other subplots swirl around the main plot of kidnapping and murder.

I have not read any other books in this series, but even so, the author gives enough background information about the characters to make a first-time reader comfortable. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes mysteries that are police procedural, that deal with contemporary issues, and whose characters are not without fault.

It took me a little while to get all the characters straight, but once I did - I was hooked! This is a book that you cannot put down. The cliff hangers at the end of each chapter make you want to read faster. It was a good diversion during the hot weather this summer. I look forward to this author's next book to see what happens in the lives of these characters. My only criticism is at times it seemed a bit drawn out, that is why I only rated it a 4.

I've read and enjoyed the entire series of books set in Millers Kill featuring Rev Clare Fergusson and Chief Russ Van Alstyne. I love these characters and the case solving companionship shared by them. In a new twist both Clare and Russ find themselves in trouble they never expected. The somewhat inappropriate attraction between the two characters has been replaced with early marriage and unexpected baby anxieties. It's definitely worth a read if you like these characters but I wouldn't recommend starting the series with this book because there are lots of back story issues carried forward for many of the main characters.

This is one of my favorite mystery series to recommend to fellow readers. I'm only sorry I now have such a long wait until the next installment.

An enjoyable read, this book is the latest in a series set in the Adirondacks. While I've not read the earlier books - and this would undoubtedly have been beneficial - the author provides enough background in this character-driven murder mystery for new readers to grasp the underlying tension/issues between and among the protagonists. The various subplots were woven together fairly seamlessly (likely more so for those who've read the entire series), and the ending has left me impatiently waiting for the next book. Until that's available, I'll have the pleasure of catching up on the earlier books in the series.

I have to admit that I have very ambivalent feelings about this book. While I did keep reading and felt some involvement with the characters, I found the plot overly convoluted, with almost too many characters and sub plots. I found Kevin and Hadley to be a much more sympathetic and believable " couple" than Clare and Russ,despite their secondary role in the novel. It also seemed to me, as someone familiar with upstate New York winters,rather unbelievable that the protagonists could have made all those long treks on foot during a major days-long ice storm. They seemed super-human at times. Far more believable were the traffic accidents and the way the weather complicated the police work.

Where the author excels, however, is in getting the reader to feel the terror and bewilderment that Mikayla feels as her stay among the kidnappers is prolonged. Ms. Spencer-Fleming obviously has empathy and compassion for children, but not so much for adults. She also did a good job portraying the evil among the drug dealers and Hadley's ex-husband. But I must say I was not left with the desire to read any more Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne novels. This one had a good premise that got bogged down in subplots and a surfeit of characters. It was at times difficult to keep track of who was who and why they mattered. Overall, while readable, the novel suffered from overly ambitious plotting with too many insufficiently developed or insufficiently sympathetic characters.

If I could give ½ stars, I might rate this book 3 ½ but not a 4. Through the Evil Days is a continuation of a mystery series that I have not read. Unlike many series stories, I was either annoyed or felt disadvantaged because I did not know the nuances from the prior books. Through the Evil Days relied heavily on the earlier books to provide the character development. Without that point of reference, I found the main characters to be flat. Oscar, the dog, was my favorite character. I also yearned for greater description of the scenery, although highway conditions were vividly discussed. Lastly, without being a spoiler, I did not think that the stage was properly set for the final snow scene. Nonetheless, the book held my interest and was a generally fast-paced read.