Through the Evil Days

A Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mystery, Book 8

By: Julia Spencer-Fleming

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Now a New York Times bestselling author, Julia Spencer-Fleming rises to the accolade with a powerful, and emotionally charged novel fans have been yearning for.

On a frigid January night, Chief of Police Russ Van Alstyne and Reverend Clare Fergusson are called to the scene of a raging fire, that quickly becomes a double homicide and kidnapping. Which is the very last thing Russ needs...Currently he's struggling with the prospect of impending fatherhood. And his new wife is not at all happy with his proposal for their long-delayed honeymoon: a week in an unelectrified ice-fishing cabin. The vestry of St. Alban's Church has called for the bishop to investigate Clare's "unpriestly" pregnancy. She has one week to find out if she will be scolded, censured, or suspended from her duties. Officer Hadley Knox is having a miserable January as well. Her on-again-off-again lover, Kevin Flynn, has seven days to weigh an offer from the Syracuse Police Department that might take him half a state away.

As the days and hours tick by, Russ and Clare fight personal and professional battles they've never encountered. In the course of this one tumultuous week the lives of the Millers-Kill residents listeners have come to love and cherish change forever. Listeners have waited years for Through The Evil Days and Julia Spencer-Fleming delivers with the exquisite skill and craftsmanship that have made her such a success.

©2013 Julia Spencer-Fleming (P)2013 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Narrator Toren expertly propels the nonstop action of the story.” —AudioFile Magazine

A Long Wait Only to be Disappointed!

It was such a long wait for this book in the series that perhaps my expectations were too great. I found it to be slow and difficult to hold my interest. There were numerous story lines and most were left hanging. I'm hoping JSF will not take as long to complete the next book in the series because I really do enjoy Claire and Russ and all the characters in this series.

A BIG Dissapointment

The plots were sloppy, way to much drama. It was hard to continue listening. If this was the first book in this series I was listening to I wouldn't even have bothered completing it. I hope the next is better or I will drop this series.

Exciting Chases and Ploy Twists

I liked the way the plot moved the relationships of the series regulars forward while fulfilling all the requirements for a top notch police thriller. Spencer-Fleming is a plotmaster and superb writer. However, I was surprised by the number and nature of the sex scenes. The same narrator has performed previous books in this series. I panned her performance of the last book. She's improved somewhat with this one but her rendition of the heroine is jarringly bad...Mae West meets Scarlett O'Hara.

Losing Interest in Series

I've listened to all of the books offered on Audible and have grown increasingly discouraged with the series. The last two books in particular just aren't up to the same quality I experienced with the earlier books.

The characters just aren't likable any more...Clare, who had a serious drinking and drug problem in the last book (which her cop husband didn't notice) was whiny and secretive and in this book Russ is just being mean and condescending.

One of my issues is with the narration...the narrator is good, but too many characters are speaking with the same slow drawl. Most people don't speak that slowly.

It was a good series and I enjoyed the earlier books, but I have to admit I'm glad I'm glad I'm done with it.

Julia Spencer Fleming is on a Roll!

This series has been a little uneven for me; but Julia Spencer Fleming really hit her stride with her last novel, 'One Good Soldier', and she continues it with this one. A fast-moving, suspenseful plot (that sometimes goes a little over-the-top) and some satisfying exploration of my favorite relationships make for a real page-turner. Can't wait for the next one!

Pure Gold

The entire series excellently written and brilliantly narrated by Suzanne Toren. Outstanding characters created by Ms Flemiing with unbelievable chemistry between the two main characters. Can hardly wait for the next in the series and keep them coming👍👍👍

Very good

I liked the whole book and I would recommend it to everyone. It was well worth the time I took to listen.

Action, Suspense, Bad Weather!

Behind the main story of this book, a real controversy of current politics looms: in times of stretched budgets, does a small town/city really need its own police force? It seems the debate will continue in this series, as that particular question is not resolved here. But it adds another note of timely reality to the Fergusson/Van Alstyne novels.

"Through the Evil Days" also adds a darn good thriller to a fine series. There's lots of action and suspense, a real terror of an ice storm, and innocents aplenty in peril. For my taste, there's one or two too many "top this" twists and turns, but the story certainly moves quickly and holds the readers' interest.

Clare and Russ have proven to be a likable, believable characters who complement each other. Their marriage has not brought boredom or total peace of mind to the relationship. I like their feisty individuality and their differences. This volume also throws a great deal of light on the secondary romantic relationship of the series, and this relationship is every bit as interesting and complicated as the one between Clare and Ross. I marvel that Spencer-Fleming is so good at developing these romances while still maintaining a religious/philosophic element and first-class suspense in the series. I will definitely be back for the next adventure!

The narrator is a different issue. Although I like her basic reading voice very much, I find her extreme attempt to change tone for different characters a bit disconcerting. She tries too hard: those overly gruff male and sickeningly sweet female voices are distracting to a point nearing the absurd. There's plenty of drama in the book. I'd prefer a little less overdone narration.

Eagerly awaiting the next book in the series

the author's recurring themes of heroism, unconditional love and redemption are in full force. Suzanne Toren's narration is fluid, allowing for easy transition between characters, frequently before the conversing characters are named. Happily, several plot lines need to be resolved, giving me hope that there will be a book 9? Soon? Please?

Left Hanging

Would you listen to Through the Evil Days again? Why?

Suzanne Toren, the narrator makes you lose yourself in the story with her thoroughly professional performance. Each character comes to life as the story unfolds. Even so, I would not listen to this story again because the end is so unsatisfactory. Two of the characters that Spencer-Fleming makes the reader care about are smashed, metaphorically-speaking, at the very end of the book. I was left flattened with no sequel in sight!

What does Suzanne Toren bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Because of Suzanne Toren's narration, as well as fully developed characters via excellent writing on Spencer-Fleming's part, Russ and Claire are living breathing people. Each is clearly distinct as are the other characters in the story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I barely stopped listening, except to be polite to my husband once the story got into full swing. Whew! Sp-Fleming plots one amazing twist after another!

Any additional comments?

I've read all of the Russ/Clare series and listened to most of them as well. Clare is such a complicated and sympathetic part of the story that I have been drawn back to the series and continue to enjoy the books. It surely takes some time to produce such well-written books, but, darn it! hurry up with Book 9!