Thank you to critic Oline Cogdill for sharing her review of At Midnight Comes the Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming. Although The Poisoned Pen is out of signed copies of the book, you can still order a copy through the Webstore for delivery after the holidays. https://bit.ly/3Y1cgnw. Cogdill’s review originally appeared in the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Welcome back, Clare and Russ
‘At Midnight Comes the Cry: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery’ by Julia Spencer-Fleming; Minotaur; 320 pages; $29
Community — and all the various ways in which people interact — has always been the heart of the multi-award winning series about Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne, as Julia Spencer-Fleming shows in her sumptuous and insightful novel, “At Midnight Comes the Cry.”
It’s been five years since Spencer-Fleming’s last novel about this married couple — “Hid from Our Eyes”(2020) — and the author doesn’t miss a beat in exploring those who call the small town of Millers Kill, New York, home.In “At Midnight Comes the Cry,” Clare and Russ are about to spend their first Christmas as parents with their 8-month-old son, Ethan. They and other residents of this upstate N.Y. town have gathered to watch the annual Greenwich Tractor Parade and attend an open house in a 200-year-old Victorian house. But the festive occasion is marred when a driver, unknown to the residents, unfurls a banner that reads: “Keep America’s Christmas white.” The residents have long known white supremacists live in surrounding areas, but this hits hard.
Danger lurks when a search begins for Kevin Flynn, a former police officer in Millers Kill who has been missing from his new position in the Syracuse Police Department. Kevin had been undercover, working to ferret out a militia group operating in the Adirondacks, but hasn’t checked in with his supervisor in two months.
The search for Kevin and the investigation into the outlying communities involve Russ, who recently left his position as chief of police. Russ now must adjust to civilian life and to the limitations of being without the badge. As a civilian, Clare has a different approach with her skills. A former Blackhawk pilot, Clare is now an Episcopalian priest and in the National Guard.
Spencer-Fleming pulls together a strong, believable plot that moves briskly, despite its several subplots. The author also delivers individual looks at her large cast of characters, keeping each distinctive. Her mix of religion and adventure, professional and domestic life enhance “At Midnight Comes the Cry.”
A return to Clare and Russ and the denizens of Millers Kill is most welcome. Longtime readers will savor “At Midnight Comes the Cry,” and be eager for future outings.
You might also enjoy the YouTube video of Julia Spencer-Fleming at The Poisoned Pen with author Rhys Bowen.