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Read All Mortal Flesh (2006)

All Mortal Flesh (2006)

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Rating
4.19 of 5 Votes: 1
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ISBN
0312312644 (ISBN13: 9780312312640)
Language
English
Publisher
minotaur books

All Mortal Flesh (2006) - Plot & Excerpts

The opening pages of All Mortal Flesh, the fifth in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mysteries, finds Rev Clare on retreat. If I were her adviser this is exactly what I would have suggested after reading the prior book in the series. If you've been following my reviews you'll recall that though there's a part of me that craves the tension between the characters there's another part of me that just wants to say grow up. There's definitely a lot of vacillating this outing about this very issue. To Darkness And To Death ended with Russ stating that he was going to tell his wife of many years that he was in love with Clare. It should surprise no one, especially Russ that she has booted him out of their home. Though they are seeing a marriage counselor it is still up in the air where their marriage is headed. Now take a look at the priest. She knows its wrong but she is having difficulty giving Russ up. She's feeling guilty on many levels. She really has nothing against Linda but... Many in her congregation know what's going on and the circle beyond this, community members, and certainly almost everyone in the police department are speculating about the affair, consummated or not. And yet some secrets do remain."It is a cliche that there are no secrets in a small town. It is also false."This short opening quickly turns into a mess. To tell you more would require lots of spoilers. I'd prefer you read for yourself. Let's just say the proverbial sh*t hits the fan in so many ways that you wonder if anything can end well. Some of the plot line was easy to guess, other parts surprised me. Though I did find some things a bit over the top or improbable, these elements did not ruin the story. Spencer-Fleming explains Russ's take on the seriousness of events this way"There are moments in life that are between the blow and the pain, between the phone ringing and the answer, between the misstep and the fall. One that comes to everyone is a moment, or three, or five, between sleeping and waking, when the past has not yet been re-created out of memory and the present has made no impression. It is a moment of great mercy; disorienting, like all brushes with grace, but a gift nonetheless."I love how the title opens the book:Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence --Liturgy of St. James, para. by Gerard MoultrieThe Hymnal, 1982, The Church Publishing CompanyYou can read it all here http://www.hymnary.org/text/let_all_m....The dedication to booksellers everywhere was an especially nice gesture. Considering all I've said and how much I believe in my own marriage vows, you'll probably be a bit surprised that yes, I did really like this entry to the series. I honestly can't wait to see what happens next.

This mystery has as many unexpected twists as a car with bald tires driving into a New England nor’easter snow storm. Hang on to the edge of your seat and this author will take the wheel. In full disclosure, this mystery novel is one of an eight-book series. You can dive into the middle of the series with this book and completely enjoy the characters, the plot and the dynamic writing. If you want to start at the beginning of the series, you’re looking for “In the Bleak Midwinter.”The mystery series takes place in the fictional New England small town of Millers Kill in uptown New York. The main characters were an interesting surprise to me. Clare Fergusson is a faith-filled Episcopalian minister who has retained the skills she learned with her background as a tough, army chopper pilot. Russ Van Alstyne is the town’s police chief, and a veteran as well. They met in Miller’s Kill, and have a strong romantic tension.But we are all made of mortal flesh, and in this mystery our heroes are confronted by a horrific murder, mayhem, lies and secrets. But then again, are there really any secrets in such a small town? Supporting characters are so interesting, and believably well-written. Who would have thought that such a small town could be home to so many possible suspects? Keep reading, because the clues are all there to be discovered and analyzed by the reader.As if murder is not enough tension, there is the star-crossed romantics’ dilemma that Russ is a married man, long married to Linda. And yet one more thing, each of our heroes is wrestling with difficult career struggles. Oh, and by the way, they are each included in the list of suspects in this murder and appear to have the means, motive, and opportunity to murder the victim. Yes, solving this murder is not only part of their jobs, but also personal. How will it all resolve, and does destiny play any role in the outcome for our driven characters?Julia Spencer-Fleming is a multi-award-winning writer, including the Agatha Award for a mystery writer. She has spent most of her life living in a similar small town as the one she’s skillfully brought to life on the page. She says life in upstate New York and Maine has given her an affinity for wintery murder and mayhem. “You realize how snow and ice can rule your life. The weather, like any well-written villain, is both fascinating and deadly.”Thereby hangs a tale . . . .

What do You think about All Mortal Flesh (2006)?

Oh god. Train wreck has happened. Oh God. How is Spencer-Fleming going to get out of this one? Can she? Please oh please oh please it could go so wrong so many ways. Please let there be some hope for Clare and Russ.::sob::I read this in one day. Couldn't put it down. Again, some of the plotting stretches the imagination, but the tension between Clare and Russ, the vivid community of Millers Kill, and the excellent tension-breaking humor that JSF pens makes it all worthwhile. (Tanget: Why on god's green earth would anyone want to live in Millers Kill anymore? Every season some new tragedy surrounding a gristly murder occurs. If I lived there, I would have hightailed it out of there not long past book 3. It's like living in the worst, crime-ridden area of the worst, crime-ridden city in the world!)
—Abby

Oh gosh. These books. I CAN'T HANDLE THIS.(view spoiler)[I just want to scream IT'S NOT FAIR IT'S NOT FAIR. For ANY of these poor people! UGH. I'd accidentally read spoilers, so I knew Linda wasn't murdered. I was upset about being spoiled, but, really, I think I would've figured it out because they DIDN'T confirm the identity.AND THEN THE END AND I JUST!!! It was all coming to a head and now they just--it was all taken away and I CAN'T IT'S ALL SO TERRIBLE.(Well-done, though, I think. When I figured out what was happening, I was ready to call it a plot contrivance, but no. It just felt like a brutal thing that could happen in real life AND IT'S NOT FAIR. They didn't get to figure it all out on their own! It's just . . . AHHHHHHH.) (hide spoiler)]
—Katie

It's hard to write a review on this one without giving anything away. I enjoyed it; it was good. If you're not reading the series, and you like mysteries, you should read it, but start with #1 (which was the weakest book, in my opinion, but you need to get to know the characters so the rest of the books make sense). My standard for an excellent mystery is always PD James, so I very rarely give 5 stars on a mystery. Louis Penny and Deborah Crombie are my other two current favorites. I still think their mysteries may be better than Spencer-Flemings, but I really enjoy the characters in these books.
—Elizabeth

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