Book Review: In the Bleak Midwinter

Reviewed By: Ruth Jordan - RAM

In the Bleak Midwinter     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Julia Spencer-Fleming
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Religious Fiction   Woman Main Character
Series: Clare Ferguson # 1
Thomas Dunne/St. Martin’s Minotaur; 2002

I love finding new authors. I mean, we only have like 6000 books in this house. That said I’ve got to highly recommend this book to everyone. That’s a pretty broad referral given the many different sub- genres in mysteryland. It’s also a recommendation I’ll stand behind.

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER introduces us to Clare Fergusson, former Army pilot and now an Episcopal Priest. Clare has been assigned the Parrish of Miller’s Kill in Upstate New York. After a get-acquainted reception Clare decides to go for a run and stumbles across a newborn swathed in blankets upon the church steps. Sound too cozy? Nope, you’d be missing out. Ms. Spence-Fleming has created a blend of regional/femme/small town police- procedural/amateur detective fiction that takes us on a mostly pleasant, sometimes dangerous and often cold journey to find out who the baby is, how she’s connected to the people of the town and Clare’s congregation and why there are dead bodies piling up. Likeable characters, good chase scenes and a well crafted whydunnit all add to the thorough enjoyment awaiting everyone who picks up this novel. Why she even has two, count em two, kick ass administrative assistants. And on that note I’ll sign off for now.

Ruth Jordan - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Ruth Jordan - RAM