To Darkness & To Death

Julia Spencer-Fleming's debut In the Bleak Midwinter reached unprecedented heights in the mystery world, receiving the Agatha for Best First Mystery as well as the Malice Domestic, the Anthony, the Dilys, the Barry and the Macavity Awards, making Spencer-Fleming the first author to win all six awards for a first novel. Now, Spencer-Fleming delivers her most chilling novel yet...

A BEAUTIFUL HEIRESS IS MISSING ...

Millicent van der Hoeven has decided to sell her family's Adirondack estate to a nature conservancy. But on the day of the land transfer, her brother frantically calls the police. Millie has disappeared in the cold November forest...

AND THE DEEP WOODS HIDE A SECRET

Reverend Clare Fergusson gets an early morning phone call to join the Millers Kill search and rescue operation. As a former Army helicopter pilot trained in survival skills, she can't refuse the request--even though it's the day of the bishop's annual visit. Worse for Clare, the search operation will link her up with Russ Van Alstyne, the very married local police chief who is her greatest temptation. Now, as Clare and Russ race time to find Millie van der Hoeven, they soon discover the secrets of someone who is desperate to stop the sale...and a deadly madness waiting to destroy them all.

"Spencer-Fleming writes with grace and clarity about the environmental ideal of turning tracts of developed land back to their natural wilderness state. But she shows even more sensitivity in depicting the human cost."

--The New York Times Book Review

"Another riveting mystery."

--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne make a fresh and unusual detective partnership, and I always welcome Clare's impetuous but wise take on the world around her."--Sara Paretsky, author of the V. I. Warshawski novels

"Add harrowing tension

“Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne make a fresh and unusual detective partnership, and I always welcome Clares impetuous but wise take on the world around her.”—Sara Paretsky, author of the V. I. Warshawski novels

“Add harrowing tension à la TVs 24 to Julia Spencer-Flemings always lyrical prose and beautifully drawn characters, and you have one of the years must-reads! Spencer-Fleming has topped an already shining series with this fourth outing.”—Deborah Crombie, award-winning author of Dreaming of the Bones and In a Dark House

"A Rube Goldberg plot that crams all manner of secrets and crimes into the most hectic 21 hours in Millers Kill's history...the results show that God has both endless compassion for mortal screw-ups—and a terrific sense of humor."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A rich and fulfilling story...time spent with these characters is to be cherished."—Chicago Sun-Times

"Disparate elements fuse with elegant plotting...Spencer Fleming parcels out the excitement until the stunning conclusion. She also continues her sensitive handling of the tension between Clare and the very married chief of police she's fallen in love with."—Rocky Mountain News (

Episcopalian priest Clare Fergusson and married police chief Russ Van Alstyne have more to contend with than their mutual attraction when they are reunited to investigate the strange disappearance of a woman in their small upstate New York town, a mystery tied to the proposed sale of one of the last great Adirondack summer mansions. Reprint.

Millicent van der Hoeven has decided to sell her family's Adirondack estate to a nature conservancy. But on the day of the land transfer, her brother frantically calls the police. Millie has disappeared in the cold November forest… Reverend Clare Fergusson gets an early morning phone call to join the Millers Kill search and rescue operation. As a former Army helicopter pilot trained in survival skills, she can't refuse the request—even though it's the day of the bishop's annual visit. Worse for Clare, the search operation will link her up with Russ Van Alstyne, the very married local police chief who is her greatest temptation. Now, as Clare and Russ race time to find Millie van der Hoeven, they soon discover the secrets of someone who is desperate to stop the sale...and a deadly madness waiting to destroy them all. To Darkness and to Death is a stunning mystery from award-winning author Julia Spencer-Fleming.

Millicent van der Hoeven has decided to sell her family's Adirondack estate to a nature conservancy. But on the day of the land transfer, her brother frantically calls the police. Millie has disappeared in the cold November forest… Reverend Clare Fergusson gets an early morning phone call to join the Millers Kill search and rescue operation. As a former Army helicopter pilot trained in survival skills, she can't refuse the request—even though it's the day of the bishop's annual visit. Worse for Clare, the search operation will link her up with Russ Van Alstyne, the very married local police chief who is her greatest temptation. Now, as Clare and Russ race time to find Millie van der Hoeven, they soon discover the secrets of someone who is desperate to stop the sale...and a deadly madness waiting to destroy them all. To Darkness and to Death is a stunning mystery from award-winning author Julia Spencer-Fleming.

JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING 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.