Synopses & Reviews
One horrible murder. Two people destined for love or tragedy. Emotions explode in the novel Julia Spencer-Fleming's readers have been clamoring for.
Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne's first encounter with Clare Fergusson was in the hospital emergency room on a freezing December night. A newborn infant had been abandoned on the town's Episcopal church steps. If Russ had known that the church had a new priest, he certainly would never have guessed that it would be a woman. Not a woman like Clare. That night in the hospital was the beginning of an attraction so fierce, so forbidden, that the only thing that could keep them safe from compromising their every belief was distance---but in a small town like Millers Kill, distance is hard to find.
Russ Van Alstyne figures his wife kicking him out of their house is nobody's business but his own. Until a neighbor pays a friendly visit to Linda Van Alstyne and finds the woman's body, gruesomely butchered, on the kitchen floor. To the state police, it's an open-and-shut case of a disaffected husband, silencing first his wife, then the murder investigation he controls. To the townspeople, it's proof that the whispered gossip about the police chief and the priest was true. To the powers-that-be in the church hierarchy, it's a chance to control their wayward cleric once and for all.
Obsession. Lies. Nothing is as it seems in Millers Kill, where betrayal twists old friendships and evil waits inside quaint white clapboard farmhouses.
Review
"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
Review
"While this setup might sound conventional, Spencer-Flemings handling of it is far from mechanical.... In a story as unpredictable as its characters, the resolution takes this series in a direction that should give the good bishop heart palpitations." Marilyn Stasio, The New York Times
Review
"Anthony-winner Spencer-Fleming's fifth mystery, her most captivating yet... Fans, once they start reading, will hang Do Not Disturb signs on their doors." Publishers Weekly
Review
"The fifth installment of this underrated series tops even the pyrotechnics of To Darkness and to Death (2005) even as it leaves you wondering whether it'll be the last we'll hear of Russ and Clare." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
One horrible murder. Two people destined for love or tragedy. Emotions explode in the novel Julia Spencer-Fleming's readers have been clamoring for.Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne's first encounter with Clare Fergusson was in the hospital emergency room on a freezing December night. A newborn infant had been abandoned on the town's Episcopal church steps. If Russ had known that the church had a new priest, he certainly would never have guessed that it would be a woman. Not a woman like Clare. That night in the hospital was the beginning of an attraction so fierce, so forbidden, that the only thing that could keep them safe from compromising their every belief was distance but in a small town like Millers Kill, distance is hard to find.
Russ Van Alstyne figures his wife kicking him out of their house is nobody's business but his own. Until a neighbor pays a friendly visit to Linda Van Alstyne and finds the woman's body, gruesomely butchered, on the kitchen floor. To the state police, it's an open-and-shut case of a disaffected husband, silencing first his wife, then the murder investigation he controls. To the townspeople, it's proof that the whispered gossip about the police chief and the priest was true. To the powers-that-be in the church hierarchy, it's a chance to control their wayward cleric once and for all.
Obsession. Lies. Nothing is as it seems in Millers Kill, where betrayal twists old friendships and evil waits inside quaint white clapboard farmhouses.
Synopsis
Obsession. Lies. Two souls destined for love—or death. Emotions explode in the latest novel from multiple award-winning author Julia Spencer-Fleming. “Intricately plotted…packs plenty of surprises.”—Boston GlobePolice Chief Russ Van Alstynes first encounter with Clare Fergusson was in an emergency room on a freezing December night. A newborn had been left on the steps of the towns Episcopal church, where Clare just happened to be its new priest. That night in the hospital was the beginning of an attraction so fierce, so forbidden, that both Russ and Clare risked compromising all of their ethics and beliefs…
“Captivating.”—Publishers Weekly
In the small community of Millers Kill, gossip spreads like wildfire. So when Russs wife kicks him out of the house, he figures its nobodys business but his own—until a neighbor stops by and finds Mrs. Van Alstynes butchered corpse on the kitchen floor. To the townspeople and church folk, the murder is proof that the whispered rumors about the police chief and the priest were true. But nothing is as it seems in Millers Kill, where betrayal twists old friendships—and evil waits inside quaint white clapboard farmhouses…
“A dizzying roller coaster of a ride.”—Denver Post
Synopsis
Police Chief Russ Van Alstynes first encounter with Clare Fergusson was in an emergency room on a freezing December night. A newborn had been left on the steps of the towns Episcopal church, where Clare just happened to be its new priest. That night in the hospital was the beginning of an attraction so fierce, so forbidden, that both Russ and Clare risked compromising all of their ethics and beliefs…
In the small community of Millers Kill, gossip spreads like wildfire. So when Russs wife kicks him out of the house, he figures its nobodys business but his own—until a neighbor stops by and finds Mrs. Van Alstynes butchered corpse on the kitchen floor. To the townspeople and church folk, the murder is proof that the whispered rumors about the police chief and the priest were true. But nothing is as it seems in Millers Kill, where betrayal twists old friendships—and evil waits inside quaint white clapboard farmhouses…
Synopsis
One horrible murder. Two people destined for love or tragedy. Emotions explode in Millers Kill, where nothing is as it seems . . . and betrayal twists old friendships and evil waits inside quaint farmhouses.
Russ Van Alstyne figures his wife kicking him out of their house is nobodys business but his own. Until a neighbor pays a friendly visit to Linda Van Alstyne and finds the womans body, gruesomely butchered, on the kitchen floor. To the state police, its an open-and-shut case of a disaffected husband silencing his wife and putting a stop to the murder investigation he controls. To the townspeople, its proof that the whispered gossip about the police chief and the priest was true. To the powers-that-be in the church hierarchy, its a chance to control their wayward cleric once and for all. Russ and Clare must struggle against the reach of the law, the authority of the church, and their own guilty hearts.
About the Author
Julia Spencer-Fleming is the winner of the Malice Domestic, Dilys, Barry, Agatha, Anthony, and Macavity Awards. She was born at Plattsburgh Air Force Base and spent most of her childhood on the move as an army brat. She studied acting and history at Ithaca College and received her J.D. from the University of Maine School of Law. She lives in a 185-year-old farmhouse outside of Portland, Maine, with three children, two dogs, and one husband.
Reading Group Guide
All Mortal FleshJulia Spencer-Fleming
October 2006
Reading Group Guide
1. Imagine ALL MORTAL FLESH as the basis for a screenplay. Choose a scene and discuss how you, as the director, would want to film it.
2. Her relationship with Russ aside, is Clare as skilled at resolving her own inner conflicts as she is at dealing with those of others? Are there any relationships in particular that you think she mismanages? Why?
3. Conventional wisdom in present day society often suggests, in one form or another, that “there is more sorrow in not following your heart,” often paraphrased as “if it feels good, do it…” What do you think?
4. Do you think the life that Clare lives is appealing?
5. Why do you think the author entitled her book ALL MORTAL FLESH?
6. Do you have a favorite character - or one you love to hate - in the story [other than Clare and Russ]?
7. Did the book leave you wanting to learn more about any character? Who?
8. What do Aaron and Quinn have to say about the pitfalls of parenting in todays society? From the parental perspective, what steps might have succeeded in avoiding their fates?
9. What do Aaron and Quinn have to say about the pros and cons of being raised in a small town? Is our societys increased focus on huge schools and the internet resulting in a similar phenomenon of isolation and boredom in suburbs as well as cities? Think Columbine. Think the Dartmouth murders.
10. Does it take a village to properly raise a child? And if so, what happened here?
11. What do you think of Russ, combat and law enforcement veteran (and grown man), seeking shelter, literally, with his mother in time of need? Does this ring true from a mothers perspective? From a mature mans perspective? What does this say about his emotional maturity level? Would you choose a similar path in time of emotional need?
12. What are the defining events in Clare and Russs lives, or have they not occurred yet?
13. What do you think of the role of Deacon Elizabeth? Of her personally? Does she ring true as a character? A human being?
14. The primary murderous act in ALL MORTAL FLESH is, ultimately, a purely random act of violence, the effects of which alter so many lives irrevocably. What does this say about the randomness of violence in American society? Is it a comment on a society that differs markedly, in its level of murder rates, from most other societies in this world? If so, how?
15. Was the ending largely fated to happen, or could Linda, Russ, or Clare have taken steps that might have prevented their respective catastrophes? If so, what? When?