All Mortal Flesh

A Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery

By: Julia Spencer-Fleming

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Police Chief Russ van Alstyne doesn't expect any gossip in the town about his carefully contained feelings for the Reverend Clare Fergusson. So he certainly doesn't expect to be the prime suspect when his wife is found murdered in their own home. To the state police, it's an open-and-shut-case of a disaffected husband, silencing first his wife, then the investigation he controls.

But nothing is as it seems in the small Adirondack town of Millers Kill, where betrayal twists old friendships and evil waits inside white-clapboard farmhouses. Russ and Clare struggle against the reach of the law, the authority of the church, and their own guilty hearts in All Mortal Flesh.

©2006 Julia Spencer-Fleming (P)2010 BBC Audio

Critic reviews

"Fans, once they start reading, will hang Do Not Disturb signs on their doors." ( Publishers Weekly)

Fabulous series, great writing

I love the complexity of the people in this series. The relationship between Russ and Clare gets especially complicated in this one. The tension between the two of them is paralleled by the tension between each and his or her employers. And that's without the drama of the murder and chasing down suspects and Clare getting herself in peril yet again. I also like the writing: The language and imagery are both varied and sophisticated which makes for a satisfying and stimulating read.

Reader almost ruined it

.. because of over emphasizing every line of dialogue. It became really irritating because nothing was said in a normal tone, making regular sentences all sounding over dramatic. But the story is good.

I love finding a new author

I really enjoyed this book. It is the first of this authors books that I have read. I believe I will go back to the beginning of the series and start there. But I’m not sure I can resist jumping ahead when her new one comes out which won’t be too much longer.

A Must-Read in the Series

While I'm more of a crime or detective mystery reader, the series' premise of an Episcopal priest who falls in love with the married police chief while investigating crimes in their small community has been an intriguing storyline to watch develop. I didn't like this story as much as the first books in the series; but it seems to be one that you must read before moving on to the others. And, I will be reading the others.

The best one in the series yet -- but it is no 5!

Would you listen to All Mortal Flesh again? Why?

Probably not -- I rarely read books twice or listen to them twice.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Claire -- I am an Episcopalian so it's neat to have a main character from my church and tradition. Plus she's a strong female character which is always refreshing

Any additional comments?

This is book no. 5 in the series not book no. 4 which is what the Audible information says! Please fix this Audible. It's VERY important to read these books in order and as far as I know they are not all available as audiobooks on Audible. I had to read a couple in regular print form. Please do them all as audiobooks and number them correctly!