The Hidden Assassins

by: Robert Wilson

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In The Bleak Midwinter

In The Bleak Midwinter is the first of three published novels (to date) by Julia Spencer-Fleming, remarkable for the creation of her protagonist, Clare Fergusson, who happens to be an Episcopal priest with a military background flying helicopters. The priest's alliance with the already-married Russ VanAlstyne, local chief of police for the small town of Millers Kill in northern New York state provides a romantic stand-off in all three of Ms. Spencer-Fleming's books so far. The titles are obviously taken from well-known hymns – apt in each case.

Although I personally hold myself separate from any organized faith (both Eastern and Western) I still believe firmly in God as a Spirit, and easily acknowledge those who still need a religion where beliefs are already neatly laid out. So rather than criticize Julia Spencer-Fleming's apparent Episcopal convictions (liberally sprinkled throughout her writing) instead I applaud her skill with the written word, her plotting, and her very real success in creating an unusual protagonist with an even more unusual romantic attachment!

In The Bleak Midwinter begins with the abandonment of a baby on the steps of St. Albans, the Episcopal church where Clare Fergusson has become the recent priest. A note, requesting that the child be given to the Burns - two parishioners who are desperate for a baby of their own - is found in the container, along with the baby's name. Cody is a boy. However, the mother of the child was obviously unaware that abandoned babies must go to the Department of Human Services and into foster care before they can be legally adopted by anyone.

When Clare notifies the police and the baby is taken to the hospital for examination, she meets Chief Russ VanAlstyne for the first time. They decide that the mother was most likely a teenager with some connection to the church, since otherwise there was no way she would know about the Burns' wish to adopt a child. Then a teenage girl is found dead by the creek.

The dead girl is identified as Katie McWhorter by Alyson Fowler, a self-centered girl of about the same age and daughter of one of the prominent families in Clare's church. When the body is examined, there's no question that Katie was the mother of the abandoned baby. There's also no question of the fact that she was murdered. Now all that remains is to discover why – and why she gave up her child.

Darrell McWhorter and his enormously fat wife Brenda are notified of Katie's murder as well as Kristen, Katie's sister, who finally admits that Darrell had molested her and perhaps Katie as well. Darrell is then naturally a major suspect – until he's also found dead. Wes Fowler, brother to Alyson, and Ethan Stoner, both sons from families on the opposite sides of the social scale (and both boyfriends of the late Katie McWhorter) are also suspects.

Clare is lured to a rural location miles from any habitation, her car wrecked and herself nearly killed by a man in a snowmobile suit, then rescued by Russ. When Clare realizes who the murderer must be, she sets off alone to save Cody, who is certain to be his next victim.

This is the only time I disagreed with the author. No woman – especially not one who was created as intelligent as Clare, with a military background – would set out on her own to confront a killer without backup, which was readily available. Even a cold-blooded, skilled killing machine developed in warfare wouldn't pass up assistance at such a time. And although Clare left messages with the hope that he would follow, she still was barely able to save the baby from drowning or herself from freezing to death. The end of the book finds everything satisfactorily accomplished, of course, except that Clare and Russ must acknowledge the fact of Russ' marriage.

Julia Spencer-Fleming is a gifted writer worth praising and worth reading. Unless you're of an
ecclesiastical bent of course, you can overlook the frequent biblical or Christian-based insertions and enjoy the story for what it is – a delightful tale of mystery and murder with the sub-plotted interplay of equally interesting characterizations. I would happily recommend this book as well as Ms. Spencer-Fleming's subsequent work to anyone!

Alan Paul Curtis

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