Rating: 
Summary: warning: this one will likely keep you up late....
Review: Julia Spencer-Fleming has caused me some serious insomnia over the past week, during which I stayed up way too late reading first "In the Bleak Midwinter" followed immediately by "A Fountain Filled with Blood." It has been many a moon since I've encountered characters as interesting as those that people the pages of JSF's books, to say nothing of her nicely polished prose and well-developed plots. The books' greatest strength is the unique (almost-but-not-quite implausible) background of the female protagonist, a former Army helicopter pilot turned Anglican priest assigned to a tiny parish in the Adirondacks. JSF has a good eye for detail - I've done a fair amount of hiking in those mountains and she neatly captures the rocky paths, oppressive humidity, and relentless mosquitoes. I can't speak for the accuracy of her description of flying a helicopter, but in any event the read makes for a wild ride. The attraction between Reverend Clare and the town's police chief is also deftly handled. More, please - and soon!
Rating:
Summary: warning: this one will likely keep you up late....
Review: Julia Spencer-Fleming has caused me some serious insomnia over the past week, during which I stayed up way too late reading first "In the Bleak Midwinter" followed immediately by "A Fountain Filled with Blood." It has been many a moon since I've encountered characters as interesting as those that people the pages of JSF's books, to say nothing of her nicely polished prose and well-developed plots. The books' greatest strength is the unique (almost-but-not-quite implausible) background of the female protagonist, a former Army helicopter pilot turned Anglican priest assigned to a tiny parish in the Adirondacks. JSF has a good eye for detail - I've done a fair amount of hiking in those mountains and she neatly captures the rocky paths, oppressive humidity, and relentless mosquitoes. I can't speak for the accuracy of her description of flying a helicopter, but in any event the read makes for a wild ride. The attraction between Reverend Clare and the town's police chief is also deftly handled. More, please - and soon!
Rating: 
Summary: Better than Bleak; Great Characters
Review: Julia Spencer-Fleming hooked me with In the Bleak Midwinter because I enjoyed her protagonist, the Rev. Clare Ferguson. I found Fountain an even better read, with well drawn characters. The romantic tension is nicely balanced, never impeding plot movement nor oversimplifying human emotion. The plot itself left something to be desired but I don't read Spencer-Fleming for plot; she has other gifts to offer.
Rating:
Summary: Better than the first
Review: Many times an author's second book is not quite as good as the first one, but this one is better. Fleming seems to be settling into her setting and characters, and does a fine job of maintaining the tension between the protagonists. This is an adult romance that seems entirely believable. Russ is drawn to Clare's vitality and intelligence, but is also a responsible husband in love with his wife. The helicopter incident is well done with what seems to be knowledgeable detail. The bigotry of a ordinarily decent people is handled well. The writer does not beat the drum, but lets us know her stance. (I really dislike writers with an agenda.) I wait for the next one with impatience.
Rating:
Summary: murders within crimes
Review: Once again Julia Spencer-Fleming gives us a fine mystery to unravel as well as the development of two thoroughly modern heroes who work well together while avoiding the inevitable -- their burgeoning affection for each other.Rebeccasreads recommends A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD as a satisfying read.
Rating:
Summary: I liked this second book better than the first
Review: Spencer-Fleming is, I think, one of those writers who will get better as she continues, not one of the writers who has one good book and then it's all downhill from there. This book had few of the problems that bothered me with the first. The "detective" of this series is Claire Fergusson, former Navy helicopter pilot turned Episcopal priest and living in a resort area in upstate New York. Claire is a brave, gutsy priest -- perhaps too much -- who doesn't back down. She can't help but get involved in a series of attacks when she herself discovers one of the third person to be attacked -- and he's dead. Since all the victims are gay, the murder appears to be a hate crime, but perhaps not -- perhaps there's another explanation for this similarity. Maybe it has something to do with a resort that's being built in the community. Claire is ably abetted in her detective work by the Chief of Police (Russ Van Alstyne), with whom there is considerable sexual tension. He is, after all, married, and she is, after all, an Episcopal priest. This time around, they are making more of an effort to stay out of too much proximity with each other and any compromising situations. You can't help but wish she's find someone more available and wonder why the author set up such an apparently hopeless situation to begin with (maybe something unfortunate will befall the Chief's wife?). The plot moves right along -- hardly a dull page in this book -- and although I wasn't particularly surprised at the outcome, it was an entertaining trip to get there. Spencer-FLeming describes location very well, so well that you could imagine being there, but some of the helicopter stuff was a bit too involved for my taste. I look forward to reading the third book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: I liked this second book better than the first
Review: Spencer-Fleming is, I think, one of those writers who will get better as she continues, not one of the writers who has one good book and then it's all downhill from there. This book had few of the problems that bothered me with the first. The "detective" of this series is Claire Fergusson, former Navy helicopter pilot turned Episcopal priest and living in a resort area in upstate New York. Claire is a brave, gutsy priest -- perhaps too much -- who doesn't back down. She can't help but get involved in a series of attacks when she herself discovers one of the third person to be attacked -- and he's dead. Since all the victims are gay, the murder appears to be a hate crime, but perhaps not -- perhaps there's another explanation for this similarity. Maybe it has something to do with a resort that's being built in the community. Claire is ably abetted in her detective work by the Chief of Police (Russ Van Alstyne), with whom there is considerable sexual tension. He is, after all, married, and she is, after all, an Episcopal priest. This time around, they are making more of an effort to stay out of too much proximity with each other and any compromising situations. You can't help but wish she's find someone more available and wonder why the author set up such an apparently hopeless situation to begin with (maybe something unfortunate will befall the Chief's wife?). The plot moves right along -- hardly a dull page in this book -- and although I wasn't particularly surprised at the outcome, it was an entertaining trip to get there. Spencer-FLeming describes location very well, so well that you could imagine being there, but some of the helicopter stuff was a bit too involved for my taste. I look forward to reading the third book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!
Review: There are not enough words to express how wonderful this book is. It was hard to put down. Julia is an excellent writer and I can't wait to see what's next for Rev. Clare Fergusson.
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