In the Bleak Midwinter: A Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery: 1 (Russ Van Alstyne and Clare Fergusson, 1) - Softcover

"Superb!" --Library Journal

"Terrific action scenes...what really distinguishes In the Bleak Midwinter, however, is the author's skillful portrayal of her protagonist's inner conflict." --Washington Post Book World

"A riveting page-turner from start to finish." --Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"Fleming hits a grand slam with In the Bleak Midwinter. The tension is constant. The dialogue is dead-on. The characters are interesting, thought provoking, and honest. The prose soars above the quality usually found in this genre. To top it all off, the story twists and turns to the last page." --Denver Rocky Mountain News

"Without ever slighting the central situation of the abandoned mother and her abandoned child, Spencer-Fleming shows admirable resourcefulness in the changes she rings on it." --Kirkus Reviews

"Compelling...many twists." --Romantic Times

"Filled with many twists and turns...[a] warm tale." --Midwest Book Review

"The prose soars...the story twists and turns to the last page." --Maine Sunday Telegram

"Julia Spencer-Fleming is already a winner, but she deserves a triple crown. In a strong, distinctive voice, she sets her characters down In the Bleak Midwinter and pits them against public murder, personal demons, and the power of nature itself." --Kathy Lynn Emerson, author of the Face Down Mysteries

"One of the most impressive "first" crime novels I've read. A priest, a cop, a baby on the doorstep, and a lot of snow combined with suspenseful results for one great book." --Charlaine Harris, author of Shakespeare's Counselor

"Don't miss this one! You'll be rooting for Clare Fergusson in this engaging and vital mystery." --April Henry, author of the Claire Montrose mysteries and Learning to Fly

It's a cold, snowy December in the upstate New York town of Millers Kill, and newly ordained Clare Fergusson is on thin ice as the first female priest of its small Episcopal church. The ancient regime running the parish covertly demands that she prove herself as a leader. However, her blunt manner, honed by years as an army pilot, is meeting with a chilly reception from some members of her congregation and Chief of Police Russ Van Alystyne, in particular, doesn't know what to make of her, or how to address "a lady priest" for that matter.

The last thing she needs is trouble, but that is exactly what she finds. When a newborn baby is abandoned on the church stairs and a young mother is brutally murdered, Clare has to pick her way through the secrets and silence that shadow that town like the ever-present Adirondack mountains. As the days dwindle down and the attraction between the avowed priest and the married police chief grows, Clare will need all her faith, tenacity, and courage to stand fast against a killer's icy heart.

In the Bleak Midwinter is one of the most outstanding Malice Domestic winners the contest has seen. The compelling atmosphere-the kind of very cold and snowy winter that is typical of upstate New York-will make you reach for another sweater. The characters are fully and believably drawn and you will feel like they are your old friends and find yourself rooting for them every step of the way.