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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
If you are like me you come back to a favorite series because you feel a connection to the characters. That is no exception with the Russ Van Alstyne + Clare Fergusson and the Millers Kill Police Department series. This is book 9 in the series and we’ve waited years for it.
In this episode three identical murder cases have occurred in 1952, 1972, and 2006, at the same place, and in the same month. Russ Van Alstyne has a connection to the unsolved 1972 case and now he is police chief and facing a group of citizens that want to dissolve the police department and reallocate the funding to other areas of the city’s budget. The resolution of the unsolved cases of the past and now this new one will be critical for the Chief to keep his own job, his employees, and his department.
Meeting up with these characters feels like going home and I welcome a new case for the Millers Kill Police Department. Will they be able to preserve their future? Seems pretty obvious but it’s the journey that makes this one intriguing.
Thank you to @macmillanusa and @minotaur_books for this #advancereaderscopy
In this episode three identical murder cases have occurred in 1952, 1972, and 2006, at the same place, and in the same month. Russ Van Alstyne has a connection to the unsolved 1972 case and now he is police chief and facing a group of citizens that want to dissolve the police department and reallocate the funding to other areas of the city’s budget. The resolution of the unsolved cases of the past and now this new one will be critical for the Chief to keep his own job, his employees, and his department.
Meeting up with these characters feels like going home and I welcome a new case for the Millers Kill Police Department. Will they be able to preserve their future? Seems pretty obvious but it’s the journey that makes this one intriguing.
Thank you to @macmillanusa and @minotaur_books for this #advancereaderscopy
As always the author's writing is beautiful (even when the subject is not). I was glad to catch up with Russ and Clare and others in the Miller's Kill world. I do not normally like books that moved between timelines but I thought this was done very well. There are three separate murders: one in 1950, one in 1972 and one current day. We get to see the police chief in each time period doing the work to find out who killed the young women. It was interesting to get the backstory on the relationships between the past police chiefs and how they played into the current. I was surprised by the ending of the book and felt like we have three cliffhangers plus a possible romance for Russ's mom, Margy. I do want more of this series.
I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
First, if you're waiting for this book to come out and you haven't re-read "One was a Soldier", do that. I wish I had. You will easily fall back into the themes and plot of the book, but a refresher on all the threads that get picked up from the last book will not go amiss. Trust me.
I forgot how much I loved the writing of these books. The themes of the police work interspersed with the theological ruminations of the churchwork are finely parsed and dovetail nicely. Without spoilers, this book seems a little more focused on Russ and I found myself missing Clare. She has moments alone, where the reader is let into her interior world, but it was a lot of Russ and other characters. Not that I minded, but I think I remembered more Clare perspective? Like I said, since it had been a while, I should have refreshed myself.
There are several intertwined plots in the book and subplots. At least three romantic relationships in various stages, flashbacks to two different historical times plus the present, interior reflection of Russ, Clare, and at least one other person, and activity at the church, in the community, and in the police department- you won't necessarily need a flowchart, but the book moves quickly and the writing is as compelling as ever.
I found the main plot and its resolution satisfactory, for the most part. There is an introduction of a secondary character (Joni) whose plot resolution seemed rushed to me. Of course she isn't central enough to get significant attention at the end, but I was surprised by what happened with that story arc and left a little wanting. Of course, she may appear again.
The baby is in this book, but is definitely a plot moppet. Clare and Russ are happy with him and the struggles about caring for a child are real, but the appearances of the baby and what they do with him don't quite feel natural. Of course, they're still learning to be parents and maybe I was still learning to view them as parents.
Do read the afterward. In it, Spencer-Fleming reveals why it was so long between books. (I didn't realize it had been 6 years.) She's been through a lot and that she could continue at all is good on her.
I was thrilled to see this book coming out, glad to get an early copy, and I encourage anyone who has enjoyed this series to go ahead and pre-order or buy the book when it comes out. We all need a little pick-me-up right now.
First, if you're waiting for this book to come out and you haven't re-read "One was a Soldier", do that. I wish I had. You will easily fall back into the themes and plot of the book, but a refresher on all the threads that get picked up from the last book will not go amiss. Trust me.
I forgot how much I loved the writing of these books. The themes of the police work interspersed with the theological ruminations of the churchwork are finely parsed and dovetail nicely. Without spoilers, this book seems a little more focused on Russ and I found myself missing Clare. She has moments alone, where the reader is let into her interior world, but it was a lot of Russ and other characters. Not that I minded, but I think I remembered more Clare perspective? Like I said, since it had been a while, I should have refreshed myself.
There are several intertwined plots in the book and subplots. At least three romantic relationships in various stages, flashbacks to two different historical times plus the present, interior reflection of Russ, Clare, and at least one other person, and activity at the church, in the community, and in the police department- you won't necessarily need a flowchart, but the book moves quickly and the writing is as compelling as ever.
I found the main plot and its resolution satisfactory, for the most part. There is an introduction of a secondary character (Joni) whose plot resolution seemed rushed to me. Of course she isn't central enough to get significant attention at the end, but I was surprised by what happened with that story arc and left a little wanting. Of course, she may appear again.
The baby is in this book, but is definitely a plot moppet. Clare and Russ are happy with him and the struggles about caring for a child are real, but the appearances of the baby and what they do with him don't quite feel natural. Of course, they're still learning to be parents and maybe I was still learning to view them as parents.
Do read the afterward. In it, Spencer-Fleming reveals why it was so long between books. (I didn't realize it had been 6 years.) She's been through a lot and that she could continue at all is good on her.
I was thrilled to see this book coming out, glad to get an early copy, and I encourage anyone who has enjoyed this series to go ahead and pre-order or buy the book when it comes out. We all need a little pick-me-up right now.
I've decided to set this one aside for now because I just can't connect with the storyline. I think this would be perfect for someone looking for a slower paced story that is rich in detail and character development. Right now with the whole crazy world situation we have going on, I'm leaning towards faster-paced stories. It's definitely a case of reader, not the book! I definitely recommend giving this one a shot if you think it sounds interesting!
Thanks to Minotaur Books for a gifted copy of this!
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So it’s been awhile since I’ve read something a bit more police procedural, not my normal go to, but now thanks to [a:Julia Spencer-Fleming|33986|Julia Spencer-Fleming|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1299078474p2/33986.jpg], that might change.
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I love how she was able to masterfully weave together 3 story lines across 3 different time periods and by the end have them all connect together.
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We get a mix of the 50s, 70s, and present day with acute insights of current events, typical life dilemmas, and the evolution of small town police operations and politics. The characters get great development and the storyline; while not super fast paced, kept me thoroughly interested in the evolving plot twists.
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I did find myself trying to figure out the murders (as anyone would in a good mystery book); and had to change my theories a few times, but am proud I figured it out before it was actually revealed; however there was still a slight twist I didn’t see coming.
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I was super happy to get a real ending to all the main characters introduced throughout the book, albeit a few small details, that leads me to believe there is another Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne mystery coming at some point. (This was book 9 - but my first time reading any of them)
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So it’s been awhile since I’ve read something a bit more police procedural, not my normal go to, but now thanks to [a:Julia Spencer-Fleming|33986|Julia Spencer-Fleming|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1299078474p2/33986.jpg], that might change.
.
I love how she was able to masterfully weave together 3 story lines across 3 different time periods and by the end have them all connect together.
.
We get a mix of the 50s, 70s, and present day with acute insights of current events, typical life dilemmas, and the evolution of small town police operations and politics. The characters get great development and the storyline; while not super fast paced, kept me thoroughly interested in the evolving plot twists.
.
I did find myself trying to figure out the murders (as anyone would in a good mystery book); and had to change my theories a few times, but am proud I figured it out before it was actually revealed; however there was still a slight twist I didn’t see coming.
.
I was super happy to get a real ending to all the main characters introduced throughout the book, albeit a few small details, that leads me to believe there is another Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne mystery coming at some point. (This was book 9 - but my first time reading any of them)
This is the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last as I loved it.
It's a gripping and entertaining read, a solid mystery that kept me guessing till the end.
I loved the well crafted plot, the fleshed out and interesting characters and the setting.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's a gripping and entertaining read, a solid mystery that kept me guessing till the end.
I loved the well crafted plot, the fleshed out and interesting characters and the setting.
I can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
https://cdnbookworm.blogspot.com/2019/12/hid-from-our-eyes.html
A potential murder victim is discovered, but the case is never solved. Twenty years later a similar death is discovered, and once again the police are baffled. The third occurs over thirty years after the second, and Russ Van Alstyne is the third police chief to try to figure out what happened and if the three deaths are linked.
Author Julia Spencer-Fleming tells all three stories at once, giving readers a birds-eye view of police efforts through the decades. Many of the main characters were alive during at least two of the deaths, and we are furnished with their different perspectives. I found it interesting that the author would employ the time difference to create tension by switching from era to era, but it worked well. One never knew if a clue would surface and be deciphered many years later.
“Hid From Our Eyes” is more of a police procedural than an action book, and leans toward being an interesting study of the characters. People naturally change over the years, and it was fun to see a person’s reactions in one era contrast with an older version. Writing a book in this manner can be tricky, and the author deftly maneuvered around the potential sticky spots. I was glad to see the years posted as part of the chapter titles (1952, 1972) and just as I was questioning the ages of some of the people, Ms. Spencer-Fleming managed to inform us that “Present Time” was 2007. Thus the story was tied neatly together. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
Author Julia Spencer-Fleming tells all three stories at once, giving readers a birds-eye view of police efforts through the decades. Many of the main characters were alive during at least two of the deaths, and we are furnished with their different perspectives. I found it interesting that the author would employ the time difference to create tension by switching from era to era, but it worked well. One never knew if a clue would surface and be deciphered many years later.
“Hid From Our Eyes” is more of a police procedural than an action book, and leans toward being an interesting study of the characters. People naturally change over the years, and it was fun to see a person’s reactions in one era contrast with an older version. Writing a book in this manner can be tricky, and the author deftly maneuvered around the potential sticky spots. I was glad to see the years posted as part of the chapter titles (1952, 1972) and just as I was questioning the ages of some of the people, Ms. Spencer-Fleming managed to inform us that “Present Time” was 2007. Thus the story was tied neatly together. Five stars.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary electronic copy of this title.
my pandemic reading has been a disaster. My husband says I am like a teenager with my phone, checking, checking, checking for news. My reading muscles feel like they’ve been injured, and that any push to get past the injury will only make it worse. That translates to terrible concentration, and that means if the first page doesn’t grab me, forget about it. (A good lesson for a writer.)
That’s also why Julia Spencer Fleming’s new book HID FROM OUR EYES went right to the top of my stack. We fans waited a long time for this book and it was worth it. Number nine in the series, the book follows beloved characters Clare and Russ who are struggling to regain their balance as a couple and as individuals after the birth of their son. Three timelines are intricately woven together, with three stories of lovely young women murdered in their prime.
That’s also why Julia Spencer Fleming’s new book HID FROM OUR EYES went right to the top of my stack. We fans waited a long time for this book and it was worth it. Number nine in the series, the book follows beloved characters Clare and Russ who are struggling to regain their balance as a couple and as individuals after the birth of their son. Three timelines are intricately woven together, with three stories of lovely young women murdered in their prime.
Thoroughly enjoyable "whodunnit" in the Reverend Clare/Chief Russ series. I've been desperately waiting for this one, Big things happening for this one - Clare and Russ are new parents, and Clare is juggling her new sobriety. In the meantime a dead woman lands in the middle of a road in their police district in a crime that mirrors two other crimes, one in the 1950s and another in the 1970's that Russ was a suspect in. Meanwhile there's a vote on the ballot to disband the Miller's Kill department to save money, and Clare has a new intern. who's wealthy family may drum up support.
There was a lot going on in this one - and it bounces around across years and generations, but it was well handled. I loved getting to know the Chief before Russ, Jack, and see a hint of something with Russ' mom as well.
Above all - it seems this one ends with a cliff hanger so I'm hopeful for the next one to come! I understand the other had a painful several years of loss. I'm selfishly glad she's come back to us with this installment, and wish her all the best.
I read this thanks to Netgally, the author, and St. Martin's Press- Minotaur Books. Thanks! All opinions are my own and are as unbiased as possible.
There was a lot going on in this one - and it bounces around across years and generations, but it was well handled. I loved getting to know the Chief before Russ, Jack, and see a hint of something with Russ' mom as well.
Above all - it seems this one ends with a cliff hanger so I'm hopeful for the next one to come! I understand the other had a painful several years of loss. I'm selfishly glad she's come back to us with this installment, and wish her all the best.
I read this thanks to Netgally, the author, and St. Martin's Press- Minotaur Books. Thanks! All opinions are my own and are as unbiased as possible.