Out of the Deep I Cry: A Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery (Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries) (Hardcover)

by Julia Spencer-Fleming (Author) "Russ Van Alstyne had just gotten a tug on his line when he saw the old lady get up from between the headstones she had..." (more)
Key Phrases: vestry members, dive team, Debba Clow, Millers Kill, Allan Rouse (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In Agatha winner Spencer-Fleming's triumphant third novel (after 2003's A Fountain Filled with Blood), Clare Fergusson, Anglican priest and ex-army helicopter pilot, and Sheriff Russ Van Alstyne investigate the hidden secrets, past and present, of a prominent Millers Kill, N.Y., familyâ€"and must also face the hidden secrets of their own hearts. When the roof of St. Alban's Episcopal Church springs a leak that threatens to destroy a beautiful stained-glass window, Clare calls an emergency vestry meeting only to discover that paying for the repairs is more complicated than she expected. Mrs. Marshall, a wealthy parishioner, agrees to donate the money, though it will mean the withdrawal of funds from the town health clinic. Shortly after hearing the news, Dr. Rouse, the clinic's respected director, disappears under baffling circumstances. Since her first outing, In the Bleak Midwinter (2002), Clare has grown in complexity, as shown in a number of exquisitely described scenes between her and Russ in the church. The season of Lent serves as a most fitting backdrop, starting with Ash Wednesday and culminating in the Great Easter Vigil. The author expertly portrays the power of grief, guilt, greed and love and their effect on good people in a story as chilling as the month of March in Millers Kill. A subtle sense of humor further enhances this poignant and provocative mystery.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
In Millers Kill, New York, Episcopal priest and former army helicopter pilot Clare Fergusson has a problem. The roof of St. Alban's Episcopal Church is leaking badly, and the budget can't cover the extensive repairs necessary. Clare is relieved when vestry member Mrs. Marshall offers to liquidate the Ketchem Trust to pay for the repairs, but it turns out that interest earned from the trust must goes to the local free clinic for the working poor. Then the clinic's doctor disappears, and Clare investigates, along with Millers Kill's married police chief Russ Van Alstyne, with whom Clare shares a strong mutual attraction. Early spring in the Adirondacks is vividly described in this third installment in the series, and both the main and secondary characters are well developed. Church practice, police procedures, army tactics, and the vaccination of children frame the central mystery as the plot jumps from past to present. A comfortable mix of police procedural and village cozy. Sue O'Brien
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Minotaur; 1 edition (April 26, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312312628
• ISBN-13: 978-0312312626
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #712,935 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

• This is item 3 in The Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful series featuring a compelling female protagonist, July 23, 2004

By	David Montgomery "Book Critic" (davidjmontgomery.com) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Julia Spencer-Fleming's Out of the Deep I Cry is the third book featuring the Rev. Clare Fergusson, an Episcopal priest, and her good friend, Chief of Police Russ Van Alstyne.

As with the first two books in the series (all three named after hymns), Out of the Deep contains an absorbing plot, with all the necessary touches of intrigue and suspense. This is the author's best story yet, a contemporary mystery with roots in the past, presented with the flair and polish of the finest artisan.

Even better than the plots, though, are the wonderful characters Spencer-Fleming creates. The relationship between her two main players, especially, is so touching and authentic that the ending is enough to make even the hardest heart melt.

Reviewed by David Montgomery, Chicago Sun-Times

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complex, fascinating and hard to put down, September 30, 2006

By	R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Out of the Deep I Cry (A Rev. Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery) (Mass Market Paperback)

Spencer-Fleming's writing amazes me. She manages to skillfully weave the mystery in with the humdrum details of her character's life to create a rich, real novel that keeps you turning pages.

Rev. Clare Fergusson's church is in trouble. The ceiling's literally fallen in and there's no money anywhere to fix it. Just as the Rev turns to a board member Lacey Marshall to turn over part of a trust that was being used by the town's free clinic to the church for urgent repairs, the clinic's physician disappears under suspicious circumstances.

This whole situation is so similar to the disappearance of the father of Mrs. Marshall's. Both mysteries weave together and echo each other in eerie ways. I suggest you allot time to finish this book, because you are not going to want to wait to see the ending. So far, every book in this series has been great. I'm very much looking forward to the next.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of Series, April 5, 2004

By A Customer

In her third book Spencer-Fleming develops characters you really know and care about. The tension between the priest and policeman is defined and the reader can feel their personal tension. Secondary characters are also expanded meaningfully. There is more than one plot taking place in different time periods, but all is masterfully woven together. A very unique and interesting page turner.