Rating: 
Summary: A Bit Slow!
Review: After the author's first work, I was really looking forward to this book. I was mildly disappointed at the pacing. In a nutshell the story revolves around apparent hate crimes against gays, culminating in the murder of a gay developer. Claire and Russ try to find out who is behind the crimes. The plot, as well as their relationship, drug throughout the book.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent Follow-Up to "Bleak Midwinter"
Review: As both "Publishers Weekly" and "Booklist" indicate, "A Fountain Filled With Blood" is a compelling and exciting follow-up to the author's debut novel, "In a Bleak Midwinter." In this book, Clare Fergusson, an Episcopal priest, and Russ Van Alstyne, the local police chief, must deal with such serious issues as gay-bashing and environmental protection vs. community development to solve the murder of a local developer. The book has realistic characters, a great sense of setting, and some page-turning action. Highly recommended. And when you are finished with the book and want more of Clare and Russ, go back and reread "In the Bleak Midwinter" and see things that you didn't catch the first time around. Can't wait until the next installment.
Rating:
Summary: great amateur sleuth-police procedural
Review: Clare Fergusson was a US Army Captain helicopter pilot when she got the calling to serve God. She resigned her commission, went into seminary school and graduated to become an Episcopalian Minister in the small Adirondack town of Miller's Kill. She and Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne have kept their distance from each other for over a year because they don't want their mutual attraction to each other to be revealed to his wife.When two gay men are brutally attacked and a third one is killed Claire finds herself in the middle of the investigation despite Russ' efforts to keep her out of it and safe. Although she takes reckless chances, she discovers some important evidence that leads them to the ringleader of the conspiracy plot. However, Russ and Clare almost lose their lives in a sabotaged helicopter when they try to save a man who is near death even though he played a part in the conspiracy. Julia Spencer-Fleming follows up her award winning IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER with a great amateur sleuth-police procedural. The protagonists make a good team and their attraction to one another is handled with delicacy and good taste. There are so many red herrings interwoven in the plot that readers won't know why these crimes have been committed until the very last page. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: Fountain Filled with Disappointment
Review: Deeply disappointing; the mystery was almost an afterthought, with romance - and a rather trite one, at that - taking center stage. The climax strained credulity to its limits, then pressed on a bit further. And Clare has the least demanding (work-related) schedule of any spiritual leader I've encountered! Too bad; there were some passages that were well-written; would that those had proven more numerous, and the ideas within them more thoroughly explored/developed.
Rating:
Summary: A traditional mystery that is quite likely to entertain many
Review: Despite its title, which was taken from an old hymn by the English poet Thomas Cowper, A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD is neither grisly nor especially violent. This book, the second in a series by new author Julia Spencer-Fleming, is a traditional mystery that is unlikely to offend anyone and quite likely to entertain many. Clare Fergusson is a former Army helicopter pilot, now an Episcopal priest in the small upstate New York town of Millers Kill. In her late 30s and unmarried, she has in general a healthy, no-nonsense attitude toward life and a particular calling toward her religion, which is also now her livelihood. Her faith is strong but unobtrusive --- there's no proselytizing here. Rather, the author uses the occasional inclusion of a prayer or a bit of ritual to add atmosphere while also providing insight into Clare's character. Here, as in the first book in the series, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER, Clare partners up with Sheriff Russ Van Alstyne to solve a crime into whose path she, literally, stumbles. It seems someone around Millers Kill doesn't like gay men. Two are badly beaten in a manner that suggests a hate crime and then one more is found dead; he's the body Clare stumbles into. There happens to be a connection between the dead man and a young couple whose marriage she is to perform in a couple of weeks, which gives Clare opportunity to learn some things Russ and his deputies might not. Because of her military training and a healthy dose of curiosity --- of the sort that amateur detectives must have or these books would never go anywhere --- Clare doesn't hesitate to learn all she can, though at some cost to herself. The small-town setting will feel familiar to a large number of readers, regardless of the specific upper New York State locale; there is a sort of comforting togetherness going on. There's a Fourth of July celebration in the park and a town meeting where a new development is opposed on environmental grounds. There's a big old Victorian house on the edge of town that has been turned into a bed and breakfast and is run by a pair of openly gay men who are life-partners. There are summer tourists with their stiff, new city-bought leisure clothes, necessary to the fragile economy but getting in the way. Even the nature of the crimes and their impact on the community seem familiar, especially when Clare proposes to her vestry that their church should show support for the victims of a crime that the older, uptight vestry members would rather pretend had no connection to sexuality. An interestingly different thread of tension runs through the entire book, in the form of a strong sexual attraction between the priest and the sheriff, who not only is a very married man but also loves his wife --- and they both know it. These two characters are extremely well drawn, real people in a very personal conundrum. Spencer-Fleming is at her best with action scenes --- most interesting in that she portrays them vividly yet without gratuitous violence. She writes so well that she doesn't need blood and gore to get our attention. In the latter half of the book, there is an extended episode in which Clare uses her helicopter pilot skills, honed during the Gulf War, that will have you breathless as you await the outcome, unable to guess what it will be. For readers who prefer conventional mysteries --- and for anyone who might like a change of pace from the tougher, darker thrillers --- A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD would be a good choice. Especially since, if you like it, the author's previous novel, IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER, is now out in paperback. --- Reviewed by Ava Dianne Day
Rating:
Summary: One of the best mysterie/suspense novels I have ever read!
Review: I am a tough to please reader and have been reading a lot more mystery/suspense books in the last two years. I like reading about female cops, detectives ect.. I wasn't sure if I would like these mysteries when they were recommended to me. A female Episcopalian priest as the lead character? What? Well, Clare Ferguson is one of the best heroines that I have been privledged to read in a very long time. I love the relationship between Clare and everyone she comes into contact with. She is a very modern priest. She is smart, witty, strong and interesting. Who knew? This author gives Clare and Detective Russ a lot to grapple with. Death, murder and a budding, albeit "off-limits" relationship since Russ is married. This is one series that I can highly recommend to everyone. I wish there was more than one book a year. I have lent these "Clare Ferguson" books out to several friends and family and every person is hooked. Bravo Ms. Spencer-Fleming...keep them coming.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT!
Review: I loved In The Bleak Midwinter, her first book, and this one's even better. A must read!!
Rating:
Summary: Even better than the first book!
Review: I was so anxious to read the next book in this series and I was NOT dissapointed! The characters continue on in this exciting and fresh story. I have everyone in my town reading these books. I can't wait for the next one!
Rating: 
Summary: Better than the first
Review: Julia has produced another winner. Her mysteries keep me guessing until the very end. This is the key to good mystery writing. Julia does a great job designing and coloring her characters. Her sleuth, who is an intelligent,articulate, though not always tactful, woman, is refreshing. Keep up the good work Julia.
Larry
Rating:
Summary: A Fountain Filled With Blood
Review: Julia has produced another winner. Her mysteries keep me guessing until the very end. This is the key to good mystery writing. Julia does a great job designing and coloring her characters. Her sleuth, who is an intelligent,articulate, though not always tactful, woman, is refreshing. Keep up the good work Julia.
Larry
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