Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne

Julia Spencer-Fleming

In the small town of Millers Kill, the death of a young Army specialist is ruled a suicide—but newly ordained Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson refuses to accept that conclusion. Her questions bring her into uneasy partnership with police chief Russ Van Alstyne, a married man whose professional judgment and personal loyalties are increasingly tested as the investigation deepens. Set against the lingering wounds of war, the case explores faith, trauma, duty, and the moral complexities of a community struggling to heal. This acclaimed debut launches a compelling mystery series with a richly drawn setting and an unforgettable investigative partnership.

Julia Spencer-Fleming

When the beaten body of a resort developer is discovered hidden in a Millers Kill park, Reverend Clare Fergusson and police chief Russ van Alstyne are drawn into a murder investigation that exposes the town’s deepest divisions. As suspicion falls across a community strained by prejudice, ambition, and the prospect of change, Clare and Russ must navigate personal tensions alongside a case that grows increasingly dangerous. Set against the stark beauty of the Adirondacks, this atmospheric mystery explores intolerance, loyalty, justice, and the uneasy compromises of small-town life. The novel’s vividly drawn characters and thoughtful, understated style give its suspense a mature emotional depth.

Julia Spencer-Fleming

When the physician of Millers Kill’s free clinic disappears, suspicion quickly falls on a volatile single mother with a possible grudge—but Reverend Clare Fergusson is not convinced the case is so simple. As Clare and Sheriff Russ Van Alstyne investigate, they uncover a decades-old mystery dating back to the town’s Prohibition-era struggles and a trail of secrets that still threatens the present. Set against the vividly rendered early spring landscape of the Adirondacks, the novel blends police procedural tension with small-town intimacy, exploring buried history, loyalty, and the complicated attraction between its two investigators. Richly atmospheric and finely drawn, it is a deeply textured installment in an acclaimed mystery series.

Julia Spencer-Fleming

When young heiress and environmental activist Millie van der Hoeven disappears in the Adirondack wilderness, the search quickly becomes far more dangerous than a case of a woman lost in the woods. As her family’s historic estate, Haudenosaunee, stands on the verge of being sold to a nature conservancy, buried resentments and competing interests emerge—and the investigation turns toward revenge, blackmail, assault, kidnapping, and murder. Working against time and the unforgiving landscape, the investigators must uncover the secrets binding the van der Hoeven family and the community around them. Set against the stark beauty of the Adirondacks, this atmospheric mystery explores greed, legacy, environmental stewardship, and the destructive power of long-held grudges.

Julia Spencer-Fleming

When a woman is found murdered in the Van Alstynes’ kitchen, investigators are quick to blame her disaffected husband—and believe the case is virtually closed. But in the close-knit Adirondack community, Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson and police chief Russ Van Alstyne uncover tensions and secrets that challenge the easy verdict. As their deepening bond collides with questions of loyalty, duty, and desire, they must confront the dangerous consequences of judging both a crime and the human heart too quickly. A compelling installment in a critically acclaimed mystery series, the novel combines atmospheric suspense with richly drawn characters and moral complexity.

Julia Spencer-Fleming

In Millers Kill, the lingering wounds of the Iraq War surface when a young Army specialist dies under circumstances the police quickly rule a suicide. Reverend Clare Fergusson rejects the official verdict, drawing her into a dangerous investigation that strains her already complicated bond with Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne. As the case leads through the town’s military community, local farms, and vulnerable migrant workers, Clare and Russ confront questions of loyalty, trauma, faith, and justice. Combining atmospheric small-town suspense with emotionally nuanced character drama, the novel deepens the acclaimed series’ exploration of love and moral conviction.

Julia Spencer-Fleming

When Army veterans Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne join a therapy group to confront the lasting scars of war, their fragile relationship faces a new and deadly test. After one of the veterans is found dead, Russ suspects suicide, but Clare believes the evidence points to murder—and begins an investigation that threatens to expose painful secrets within the group. Set against themes of trauma, loyalty, faith, and the difficult work of rebuilding trust, this gripping installment combines a deeply personal mystery with the emotional tension of a complicated romance. Julia Spencer-Fleming’s evocative storytelling brings psychological depth and suspense to the Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne series.

Julia Spencer-Fleming

During one perilous week in Millers Kill, New York, police chief Russ Van Alstyne and Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson confront a series of crimes that strike at the heart of their close-knit community. When a child is kidnapped and a veteran is found dead, Russ and Clare are drawn into separate investigations that challenge their fragile relationship and force them to reckon with the lasting scars of war. As the cases deepen, questions of loyalty, faith, trauma, and justice emerge against the backdrop of a dangerous winter storm. Tense, atmospheric, and emotionally layered, the novel combines a gripping small-town mystery with the evolving story of two compelling partners struggling to find their way back to one another.