Hid From Our Eyes by Julia Spencer-Fleming is the ninth book in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne traditional mystery series. Publisher: Minotaur Books, coming April 7, 2020.
New York Times bestseller Julia Spencer-Fleming returns to her beloved Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series with new crimes that span decades in Hid from Our Eyes.
1952. Millers Kill Police Chief Harry McNeil is called to a crime scene where a woman in a party dress has been murdered with no obvious cause of death.
1972. Millers Kill Police Chief Jack Liddle is called to a murder scene of a woman that’s very similar to one he worked as a trooper in the 50s. The only difference is this time, they have a suspect. Young Vietnam War veteran Russ van Alstyne found the body while riding his motorcycle and is quickly pegged as the prime focus of the investigation.
Present-day. Millers Kill Police Chief Russ van Alstyne gets a 911 call that a young woman has been found dead in a party dress, the same MO as the crime he was accused of in the 70s. The pressure is on for Russ to solve the murder before he’s removed from the case.
Russ will enlist the help of his police squad and Reverend Clare Fergusson, who is already juggling the tasks of being a new mother to her and Russ’s baby and running St. Alban’s Church, to finally solve these crimes.
Readers have waited years for this newest book and Julia Spencer-Fleming delivers with the exquisite skill and craftsmanship that have made her such a success.
Dru’s Musing:
All I can say is how did I not read any of the first eight books in this series. This is a well-written and fast-paced drama that spanned decades but it’s the present day that tells the story that had me completely immersed in all facets as the author intended. A tightly woven and multi-arc mystery where the tone set the stage to how well this story was going to be told. Baring no expense, this story takes hold where the suspect list is small with little clues but it is the details that kept me riveted to the drama unfolding. The art of planting red herrings. . .Julia is perfect at that because the more I read, the more the directions changed and when it all came together, the one missing piece, created a finished puzzle. But wait, there was more. And that ending. . . yeah, I can’t wait to see where that leads to.
What an awesome story and now I have to go to the back-list and see how the main protagonists came to be at this place in time. This was an excellent and brilliant read and I can’t wait to read the next exciting adventures with Clare and Russ in this engagingly terrific series.
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FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
The first book in this series won every big award. Good to see she is still at the t of her game.
Can’t wait!
Waited six years for this book and I am 85 and know I will love it as much as I did the first one. Hope she is busy writing the next one.
Love this series!