Ode to Julia Spencer-Fleming
I started reading the Clare Ferguson/Russ Van Alstyne after listening to a DBSA podcast. Sarah mentioned reading several in a row they were so good, so I thought sure I’ll give it a try.
The word glom doesn’t even begin to describe what I did with these books. Inhale. Inject. I was addicted instantly and as soon as I finished one I bought the next. And then I checked the last page to see how devastated she would leave me when it was over.
That’s right… I skipped to the end. I’m not proud about it, but I’ve found it’s a self-protective measure I need, to not be completely and emotionally crushed by whatever surprise Julia has planned.
Through the Evil Days is her latest release. I had to wait months for it after finishing her last (which I know is less than many fans had to wait). I saved it for a special occasion where I knew I could read it without interruption or guilt that I wasn’t doing something else… you know like writing my own book.
And as I read it I tried to break down the magic of her books. First, she’s completely readable. The prose and dialogue so real and seemingly effortless. Her characters are distinct and memorable. She’s built a town and populated it with people I feel I know well. She brings something different to each book. Real life problems that people face wrapped in a convincing mystery. I mean she legitimately manages to incorporate an Episcopalian Priest into each investigation so that we believe it every time.
But the number one thing she gives us is the emotional ride. The ups and downs of life. That moment when you realize you’re in love, only to realize in the next second that you can’t be with that person. The moment when you think it’s all going to work out, only to realize nothing ever works out perfectly.
There is usually that stunning moment at the end of the book that simply takes the breath out of you and even though I skipped to the end of her latest release it STILL took me by surprise and delivered an emotional impact that lasted for days. Yet I don’t feel manipulated. I don’t feel like these endings are designed to crush me. I feel like the endings are a result of what happened throughout the book.
So this blog post is for you Julia. I bow in awe to your craft. There have been other series where six or seven books in I get bored and move on. I can’t see that ever happening with Clare and Russ.
What about you? Any authors you want to bow to?
