What do the years 1952, 1972, and the present day have in common? There were three murders in the town of Millers Kill. ThreeΒ youngΒ girlsΒ were found on the side of the road, all dressed up, but no one can figure out what caused their deaths. Three different police chiefsΒ have spent years trying to find out who and why someone would kill them.Β
Russ, the current police chief, was a suspect in the 1972 murder because he had just gotten out of the service and was a little reckless, but there was nothing to connect him. Russ is married to Claire who is the minister at the local church. Claire has her own problems. She used to drink a lot, but now has a young son who she hopes is not affectedΒ by her drinking.Β Russ also is dealing with the fact that they want to close the police station and let another town take it over.Β Β Β Β
Russ is trying his hardest to find out who killed the young girl, and trying to find a connection to the other cases.Β The only thing that connects them is that all were killedΒ when theΒ carnival was in town.Β Could someone who worked there have something to do with this? While trying to solve this crime, Russ has to do all he can that will keep the police station open.Β One nightΒ Russ and ClaireΒ have toΒ attend a fundraiser to help keep the station open. While there, the new CEO of a big company, commitsΒ suicide. No one knows the reason whyΒ when he hadΒ a great careerΒ ahead of him.Β What does the owner of the companyΒ LangevoortΒ has to do with any ofΒ this?Β Β Β
Russ also is dealing with two of hisΒ officers who have issues of their own. Hadley is in the middle of a bitter divorce settlement with her ex. The other, Kevin, has been under cover at the carnival. Russ is trying to get to the bottom ofΒ this along with the murders.Β Β Β Β
I really enjoyed this HID FROM OUR EYES. Julia Spencer-Fleming writes a great mystery.Β Fleming's way of having the storyline go back and forth between the years puts everything into perspective. There are several backstories, but they all work together so you donβt get confused. I also liked the way that Fleming shows how Claire gets though her day, trying to stay away from drugs and drinking.Β
HID FROM OUR EYES ends with a storyline that isn't solved, so I hope there will be another book to figure that out. Pick this sone up, you will love it.Β
1952. Millers Kill Police Chief Harry McNeil is called to a crime scene where a woman in a party dress has been murdered with no obvious cause of death.
1972. Millers Kill Police Chief Jack Liddle is called to a murder scene of a woman that's very similar to one he worked as a trooper in the 50s. The only difference is this time, they have a suspect. Young Vietnam War veteran Russ van Alstyne found the body while riding his motorcycle and is quickly pegged as the prime focus of the investigation.
Present-day. Millers Kill Police Chief Russ van Alstyne gets a 911 call that a young woman has been found dead in a party dress, the same MO as the crime he was accused of in the 70s. The pressure is on for Russ to solve the murder before he's removed from the case.
Russ will enlist the help of his police squad and Reverend Clare Fergusson, who is already juggling the tasks of being a new mother to her and Russ's baby and running St. Alban's Church, to finally solve these crimes.
Readers have waited years for this newest book and Julia Spencer-Fleming delivers with the exquisite skill and craftsmanship that have made her such a success.
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