To Darkness and to Death

The Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries, Book 4

By: Julia Spencer-Fleming

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

In the small Adirondack town of Millers Kill, an old lumberman sits in the dark with his gun across his knees. Not far away, an unemployed logger sleeps off his bender from the night before. The owner of the town's last paper mill tosses in his bed. And a young woman, one of three heirs to the 250,000-acre Great Camp, wakes alone in darkness, bound and gagged.

Chief of police Russ Van Alstyne wants nothing more than a quiet day of hunting in the mountains on his 50th birthday. His wife needs to have the town's new luxury resort ready for its gala opening night. The Reverend Clare Fergusson expects to spend the day getting St. Alban's Church ready for the bishop's annual visit. Her long-distance suitor from New York expects some answers about their relationship during his weekend in town.

In Millers Kill, where everyone knows everyone and all are part of an interconnected web of blood or acquaintance, one person's troubles have a way of ensnaring others. What begins as a simple case of a woman lost in the woods leads to a tangle of revenge, blackmail, assault, kidnapping, and murder. As the hours tick by, Russ and Clare struggle to make sense of their town's plunge into chaos - and their own chaotic emotions.

Something terrible waits in the ice-rimed mountains cradling Millers Kill. Something that won't be content with just one death - or two.

In To Darkness and to Death, Julia Spencer-Fleming continues her moving story of the way a small town, as well as a great city, can harbor evil, and the struggle of two honest people to deal with the ever-present threat of their feelings for one another.

©2005 Julia Spencer-Fleming (P)2015 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Geez

I was wondering when all the idiocies would stop! I couldn’t believe the idiots ideas that almost happened! Kept me going until the end for sure!

Not the best…

I usually like mysteries and Julia Spencer-Fleming is one of my new favorite authors. This book, however, felt a little too contrived and confusing to keep up with. The story was less than believable as, to me, there were too many characters making too many ridiculous choices.

Voices

Suzanne depicts the characters voices extremely well and her ability to change from one to another in rapid succession is outstanding!

Fabulous series

While waiting impatiently for the next in series following Through The Evil Days, which we were left hanging😥this book came out in between Out of the Depths I Cry and All Mortal Flesh, it filled in nicely situations that had been briefly mentioned, adding to the torment experienced by Claire and Russ. Still waiting for next book. Excellent writing and great characters, and of course performed remarkably by Suzanne Torn. Many thanks👍❤️

Love this series! Perfect Narrator!

It’s nice to have a series anchored by such interesting realistic people. Folks with a past and ethics that are challenging. I’m not religious, so I don’t have vast sympathy with the strictures of the episcopal church, but I find it interesting to think about the challenges of a female priest.