Customer Reviews

All Mortal Flesh: A Rev. Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Or, perhaps I should quote Russ and say, "Christ on a crutch!" I just finished "All Mortal Flesh," and I am torn between joy at the prize of another Clare/Russ novel and mourning over what I read. This powerhouse fifth entry in the series about the feisty female Episcopal priest and the married police chief of Miller's Kill unreels developments galore for the star-crossed duo. The earlier books revolved around tragedies befalling other denizens of this small upstate New York town. Clare and Russ got involved by virtue of their professions and untangled the murderous mysteries. But those misadventures didn't directly dive-bomb our very human heroes. "All Mortal Flesh" does. It *is* about them; it strikes at them -- and their sympathetic readers -- mercilessly.

The first half of the novel delivers one tremendous jolt and another nearly as high on the shock Richter scale, but then advances as pretty straightforward procedural narrative -- making one wonder why another 150 pages might be necessary. Never fear. Suddenly, after a beautifully emotional scene in which Russ and Clare call upon the healing impetus of forgiveness, everything turns on its axis and the story is off and running again at full tilt. I shall not give any plot switchbacks away, but suffice it to say that as one nears the last pages, there is a certain expectation of how the book will conclude and where that might leave priest and chief. However, it never does to assume, especially with the consummately talented Spencer-Fleming choreographing the action. I felt drained and grieved after reading the final pages. I can only hope that we have not seen the last of Clare Fergussen and Russ Van Alstyne.

It was wonderful to visit with the many familiar faces we've come to know, including the MK police officers, the church assistant, Russ's mom, Father Aberforth, and others. The new woman deacon and woman state police investigator added zing and zest, as did the reporter, Ben Beagle (love that name). And, as always, Spencer-Fleming peppers the pages with humor now and then, adding just the right light seasoning. Still, "All Mortal Flesh" is no comedy. Not. At. All. We are starkly reminded that sometimes the vagaries of life and death blow away the best intentions of the best-intentioned and honorable people.

Read it.

All Mortal Flesh raises Spencer-Fleming's series to a new level. The plot moves quickly, the pacing is brilliant, characters are 3-dimensional and the environment comes alive. Nearly every page introduces a new element of conflict. Nothing goes right for the main characters. Plot twists aqre surprising but logical and the author plays fair. If you read very carefully, the outcome will not be a total surprise: she plants hints all along the way. At the end, we're left sharing the strong emotions of the main characters.

Clare, returning from a weeklong retreat in the woods,gets an urgent message: Russ's wife is dead and he is a logical suspect. She's already under scrutiny from her bishop, who sends a new deacon to provide a combination of parish resource, baby-sitter and spy. All characters -- especially the women -- have contradictions and quirks that move the story along.

I particularly admire the way Spencer-Fleming presents the agony of Clare and Russ: two people who seem born to be soulmates but separated by Russ's marriage and Clare's priestly role.

I'd like to see more of Clare's background incorporated into her everyday life. Ten years as an Army helicopter pilot would be wonderful preparation for counseling and especially for leadership. At the same time, as other readers have noted, she doesn't seem much of a reader (although we get brief references to Purcell and Elgar music - perfect for an Anglican pastor!). Episcopalians tend to like fairly intellectual clergy. When I've visited Episcopal churches, sermons are filled with references to all sorts of books, articles and ideas, seemingly targeted to parishioners with graduate degrees. It's traditionally an upscale denomination. Would an action-oriented former Army pilot fit in? How did she get past the discernment committee, which is mentioned here in another context?

Then again, given the shortage of priests, I wonder if Clare's conduct would really evoke such strong scrutiny, unless the parishioners objected. It would be interesting to get some review comments from Episcopal clergy and/or active members.

For the ordinary reader, Spencer-Fleming has earned her stripes as a breakout author. This book could be a model in a mystery writing course. I'll be eager to see the next one.

"In the Bleak Midwinter" thoroughly hooked me on the series. Luckily, I found this book after the fifth volume was out, because I have literally devoured all five books in about a week.

Julia Spencer-Fleming creates compelling characters in Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne and Anglican Priest, Reverand Clare Fergusson. The pair fall in love in the first book, hopelessly in love--since Russ has been married to a very beautiful woman for the past 25 years.

In this fifth (and hopefully not last) book, Clare and Russ have vowed to stay apart. Clare is under disciplinary action from her archdiocese and gossip in their small NY town is running rampant.

They might have kept that oath to stay apart, save that Linda Van Alstyne's wife is found butchered in their home and of course the Chief is the prime suspect. Clare has to come to help and emotions run wild both wanting to be together and suffering from guilt because of the death.

This description makes the book seem like a romance novel. It's really not---while the characters relationship is key to the plot, the mystery stands above all else and is supported by a strong foundation of secondary plots and characters.

Other reviewers are right. Bring a box of tissue with you when you read this book. It will break your heart.

My daughter and I stumbled upon Ms. Spencer-Fleming's first book ("In The Bleak Midwinter") when we were looking for a good summer read. Since then I have "not-so-patiently" waited for each installment in her Clare Fergusson/ Russ Van Alstyne series. Per-ordering them before they were published and tearing open the package once they finally arrived. I have to say that I was not disappointed with Ms. Spencer-Fleming's last installment ("All Mortal Flesh"). It was probably her best thus far. I couldn't put it down, and was on the edge of my seat and left guessing right until the last page. I have already gotten my sister hooked on the series, and tell all of my friends about it. I would recommend that anyone who hasn't read any of Ms. Spencer-Fleming's novels do so. And although each book can stand on its own, do youself a favor and start at the beginning. My only regret is the book's ending. I was looking forward to/hoping for something else. I am already looking forward to Ms. Spencer-Fleming's next book. But, if it keeps going in the direction that the end of "All Mortal Flesh" leads me to believe that it will I may not be as anxious to read her next book.

I haven't wept so much while reading a book, ever.

Julia Spencer-Fleming has done it again: written a book that is both a compelling read and with characters that are so real that it is hard to remember they are fictional. I sit and stand in awe of her ability as a writer.

This book is hard to categorize. Its two main characters are: a) the Rev. Clare Fergusson, an Episcopalian priest in a small town in upstate New York. That being said, it could be categorized as an "amateur sleuth" novel. But b) the other character is Russ Van Alystyne, police chief in this same small town. That being said, it could be categorized as a "police procedural" novel. However, the two are very much in love with each other, even though she is single and he is married. Would that make it a "Romantic Suspense" novel? And this time, evidence shows that Russ' wife has been murdered. How does a police chief whose spouse has been murdered avoid being considered a suspect? That would make it a mystery from the perspective of the "wrongly accused." Add to that the fact that Russ is in love with his wife as much as he is with the Rev. Clare. And that his wife is not evil, but just as good as the Rev. Clare. And the fact that Russ and Clare themselves each are human beings who do their best to live moral lives--and each is forced to do something they never would have chosen to do had not circumstances given them no other choice. This brings us into the realm of mythological plotting.

Then, add in the theological overtones of how each character is living out the role of awareness, proclamation, arrest, and crucifixion--each within the realm of their own respective callings--a fact lifted up by the presence of the hymn that gave rise to the title. "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" is a hymn for Holy Week--a hymn that calls to mind Christ's sacrifice, even though he was without sin. That hymn brought this book very close to my own life and faith. I recognize, from the perspective of a pastor, what it means to try to live within one's calling and still be allowed to be human. And how institutions, both church and secular, almost have to dehumanize their leaders for the sake of maintaining a healthy institution. Yes, I wept. I was weeping by the time I got to chapter 6, and couldn't read the rest of the book without a hanky in hand.

This is the fifth book in the series that Julia Spencer-Fleming started with "In the Bleak Midwinter." All five have hymns as the impetus for titles. So far, Ms. Spencer-Fleming has brought us from awareness to proclamation to arrest and crucifixion. I can only hope that the next book or two in this series will bring us full circle to resurrection--and that it might be entitled "...Risen Today."

Please, Ms. Spencer-Fleming. Write another book. I was grief stricken at the end of All Mortal Flesh. The book tore my heart. Which is a rare event for me. I would dearly love to read that Russ and Clare find some way back to each other. Write fast.

First of all, if you have NOT read the four earlier books, I would recommend that you read them first. As a mystery, this stands on its own. But the Clare/Russ story begins to build from the first book.

I found the first book as an electronic download from my library. Now I am buying them to keep at home. In interviews the author has said that there will be at least one more book for these characters -- keep writing, Julia!

As mysteries, these are superb, but despite some original hesitation on my part (helicopter pilot turned priest?), it was the characters that grabbed my attention so totally that I read the last 4 books in a week.

I will let other readers tell the synopsis of the book because they are better at it than I am.

I just want to say that if you are planning on reading this book (and you SHOULD!!), do yourself a favor and read the other 4 first so you can get the "full wollop" from this emotional gut wrenching story.

Spencer-Fleming pulls out all the stops in this one. It was fantastic. I read it in two sittings (would have been one but unfortunately I started it on a work night).

DO NOT MISS THIS BOOK!!!

There are a fair number of mystery series with clergy of some persuasion playing the role of detective. It's easy to see why this would appeal to a writer interested in exploring the whys of a whodunit. The latitude to explore on moral and spiritual issues is greater allowing for a more complex narrative. Making the cleric in question both a woman and a former army helicopter pilot increases the opportunities for complexity. Add to this Julia Spencer-Fleming choice of locale - small town upstate New York - and you have a canvas for a broad social commentary in her All Mortal Flesh.

This is my first venture into the Clare Fergusson - Russ Van Alstyne series and in retrospect it probably isn't a good place to start for the simple reason that the relationship between the two leads comes to a crisis point. The difficulty is that not having read any of the previous books I didn't care about whether Russ and Clare would give each other up forever and nothing in the book changed that. Another difficulty is that the situation calls for the two leads to act at their least rationale which can undermine the confidence other characters seem to automatically place in them.

What Spencer-Fleming does especially well is create a believable, palpable locale, her town of Miller's Kill and the people in it feel real. Spencer-Fleming does deliver one genuine plot twist along the way. She does over play things on occasion, like St. Alban's new deacon who might as well stroll into scenes wearing a witches' hat by the end of the book for all the subtlety she's given. The final exposition was a bit of an eye-roller for me - I could see it a mile away, as I good the identity of the murderer. It was a little hard to believe that an intelligent woman like Clare couldn't add it up on her own either but then she was distracted. It might sound like I didn't like this book and the bare bones of the plot in the hands of a lesser writer might have me giving this less than the very respectable 3 stars I did. What made this book stick with me is the community Spencer-Fleming created. By the end of the book I knew what it would feel like to walk down the Main Street of Miller's Kill. That's a genuine accomplishment.

As a stand-alone book, this book leaves more than a little to be desired. As an entry in a series, it is probably quite solid. Julia Spencer-Fleming's undeniable writing talent has me headed back for more - this time starting at the beginning.

The human foibles that Julia Spencer-Fleming so beautifully portrays are what keep me waiting for her next books. Yes, Clare does some really dumb things - like tearing off into untenable situations without thinking. I have a friend like that. Drives me nuts. I can identify. Yes, Russ does some equally dumb things - like spouting off when he should keep his mouth shut, or keeping his mouth shut when he should be sharing what he's thinking. I've known men like tht. Drives me nuts. I can identify.

That said, ALL MORTAL FLESH is a winner - but only if one reads the first books in the series (in proper order). I doubt anyone could appreciate the tumbled roller-coaster plotting of this book without a firm knowledge of just who we're dealing with here.

Mystery writers (myself included) know that there is value to producing a mystery series in which each book can be read as a "stand-alone." One of the problems with this is the need for presenting background information that to a committed fan seems repetitious at best and boring at worst. Spencer-Fleming has graduated into the realm of a writer who trusts her readers to know these characters. ALL MORTAL FLESH avoids too much backstory and gets us right into the action. And there's even a cat in this one.

It kept me up till the wee hours. It was worth it!