I've enjoyed every book in Julia Spencer-Fleming's Millers Kill series, but really loved this one. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough--so much so that I ended up scrapping my plans for the day once I started reading.

The mystery centers on migrant workers and a struggle for control of the illegal drug trade. But, as usual, the storyline centers on the relationship between Russ Van Alstyne, the chief of police, and Clare Fergusson, now training with the National Guard in addition to her duties as parish priest. A new addition to the force, Hadley Knox, and Kevin Flynn also play strong roles in the resolution.

Every character is vividly drawn in a bitingly accurate depiction of small town living. (Granted, murder seems a lot more common that your average small town, but it wouldn't be a mystery series otherwise.) Given the ending of the previous book, I feared a fundamental change in the characters, but needn't have worried. There's still tension a-plenty.

I highly recommend this book for mystery lovers, but would warn new readers that they should probably start with an earlier book in the series. The storyline relies heavily on knowledge of previous events. ( )

I had severe let down. I don’t know if it’s because my expectations were so high, after the other one was so good, or if I was just in a different mind space, or if I could predict where it was going as I had read the author before, but this one fell short for me. Or maybe it’s because I have read Harlan Coben, who tends to do a lot a similar things in his books, but more so.

Now with that said, I do like Russ and Clare, but am getting a bit tired of the push/pull between them. I liked that a lot of my old favorite characters were there, and well and short visits from past ones. I like Hadley and hope she sticks around. We finally got some edge of my seat moments near the end, and I like that it was a humorous ending, although I’m not sure it fit with the rest of the book. There was pay off in the end, but it felt like me to be a lot of work to get there. I’m glad I did though, otherwise I would have been very discouraged. It made it worth my time investment.

I like the dialog, internal as well as between the characters. I like that we got to see EVERYONES point of view, from the main characters, to minor characters. I think that it could have been done very well (and easier for the author) from just the two points of view of the main characters, but the fact that there was more really added layers to the story.

Will I read anymore of this series? I don’t know. I didn’t think I would read this one, and I did, so who knows? ( )

6th in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series.

Superb. Gripping from the start. Spencer-Fleming alters her usual style; the first chapter, in which Russ is seriously wounded, takes place in the present; the time frame then reverts to 6 months previously. The back story is of more than usual interest as the reader waits, tensely, to learn the developments that lead to the shooting. The situation between Clare and Russ has deteriorated badly. The Millers Kill Police Force gains its first female officer. Clare inadvertently becomes involved in the welfare of a young Latino guest worker. With the discovery of the bodies of three Latinos, the town may have its second serial killer, this one targeting Latinos.

The plot is excellent, a strong police procedural in a small town in upper New York state. The two protagonists, one an Episcopal priest with a knack for getting into trouble and the other a solid chief of police, are complex, likeable characters who continue to develop within the series. Gone, for example, is Clare’s wry, self-deprecating and Russ’ sardonic humor; it isn’t appropriate. The setting is evoked well; the writing, while not outstanding is extremely good.

But above all, Spencer-Fleming has a real talent for exciting, page-turning denouements to which she builds with skill. This book has not one but two of those, one of which manages to be funny as well, not the norm in the genre. Unfortunately for her poor readers, she has also developed a knack for truly stunning end-of-book twists that turn the ongoing story in a totally unexpected direction and which leave her poor readers, who have to wait a year or more for the next installment, hanging in air.

The series is outstanding, and this is one of the best installments within it. Highly recommended. ( )

http://www.cozylibrary.com/default.as... ( )

Russ and Clare are both struggling with their guilt feelings regarding the death of Russ' wife and Clare having killed a man to save Russ' life. Clare gets involved with illegal immigrant farm workers which inadvertently gets her caught up in a drug smuggling enterprise. The addition of a new female police officer, Hadley Knox, took some of the investigation angle away from Clare. Book ended with Clare's national guard unit being called to Iraq. ( )