Hettie J. reviewed One was a Soldier (Rev. Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne, Bk 7) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I love this whole series, and this one was no less wonderful than the others!
Stephanie S. (punkinema) -
Helpful Score: 2
I had been waiting patiently (or not) for this next book in the series. It was well worth the wait! The author has drawn us immediately into the intense relationship of Russ and Clare and amid that intensity, a conspiracy of murder, theft, fraud and broken lives are stories told. I love it!
Mary J. (txbob) reviewed One was a Soldier (Rev. Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne, Bk 7) on + 6 more book reviews
Loved the book! All the books in the series are good. Can't wait for the next one!
Judy B. (jdyinva) -
Love this series; love this book. Highly recommended.
Virginia (ginyab) reviewed One was a Soldier (Rev. Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne, Bk 7) on + 4 more book reviews
I fell into this series by accident last year and read them all!. Perhaps because I visit Washington County, NY often - it's even sweeter to me.
I waited so long for this story to come out, and throughout the book I waited for disappointment, and there was none!{I even dreaded reading it too quickly)
This was a remarkable book, dealing with compelling issues, but still remaining true to the characters & community, with a satisfying mystery.
I so recommend reading the series in order, the dialogue and character development and description of the area are well worth it.
These stories are not compelling over the top drama, with glamorous agents and fantastic situations. They are a familiar reminder that all isn't as it appears, and a celebration of what we all do to get through life.
I can not wait for the next installment!
I waited so long for this story to come out, and throughout the book I waited for disappointment, and there was none!{I even dreaded reading it too quickly)
This was a remarkable book, dealing with compelling issues, but still remaining true to the characters & community, with a satisfying mystery.
I so recommend reading the series in order, the dialogue and character development and description of the area are well worth it.
These stories are not compelling over the top drama, with glamorous agents and fantastic situations. They are a familiar reminder that all isn't as it appears, and a celebration of what we all do to get through life.
I can not wait for the next installment!
Kayleen (jegka) reviewed One was a Soldier (Rev. Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne, Bk 7) on + 162 more book reviews
This was worth the long wait. It stayed true to the characters and town as it had developed in the first six stories and proceded nicely. At times it read like a public service announcement on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but it was still a great story. I love Russ. He makes such a believable, approachable leading man!
I hope don't have to wait a year and a half for the next one!
I hope don't have to wait a year and a half for the next one!
Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed One was a Soldier (Rev. Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne, Bk 7) on + 1031 more book reviews
As with the previous, it's a pretty fast read. I liked how the surviving members of the veteran's support group turned into amateur investigators, and I liked how the group leader was continually working to regain control of the group from Clare. It was easy to sympathize with Clare's struggles and her insistence that the other veteran did not commit suicide, and I liked how Spencer-Fleming ended that part of the plot. I also thought that Clare was more thoughtful in how she handled things this time, instead of impulsively leaping into the middle of a situation that was guaranteed to devolve around her. But there's not a lot about her duties as the priest - shouldn't she be busier? And the last paragraph! I didn't like that for a couple reasons. This is a re-read for me, although I didn't remember it at all, and that bit was startling.
Cathy C. (cathyskye) -
This seventh book in a wonderful series is quieter and much more personal than the rest have been, but it deals with some very serious subject matter. First and foremost is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Each of the five vets attending the group therapy sessions suffers from it, and each one's symptoms are different. Throughout the series, the Reverend Clare Fergusson has been a rock, someone others look up to in times of need. To have her suffer from PTSD and to show her coping with it in very inappropriate ways brings home how serious the disorder is. Readers have already grown to care deeply about Clare, so their sympathy and understanding is more or less guaranteed. By their very proximity, the other four veterans are brought in under the umbrella of understanding that has been extended to Clare.
The lives of the characters also progress in this book, including my favorite, Hadley Knox. Hadley's been thrown into an occupation that she thinks she is very ill-qualified for, but she's determined to do the best that she can for her children, and being a police officer brings in the money that she needs. What she can't see (and we can) is that she's better qualified than she thinks, and I always enjoy the scenes in which she appears.
With all this talk of PTSD and characters' personal lives, you might think that the mystery isn't up to the author's usual high standards. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are our favorite characters' lives moving forward, One Was a Soldier also has a first-rate investigation that kept me guessing throughout. One more book, and I'll be current... unless Spencer-Fleming manages to get one step ahead of me!
The lives of the characters also progress in this book, including my favorite, Hadley Knox. Hadley's been thrown into an occupation that she thinks she is very ill-qualified for, but she's determined to do the best that she can for her children, and being a police officer brings in the money that she needs. What she can't see (and we can) is that she's better qualified than she thinks, and I always enjoy the scenes in which she appears.
With all this talk of PTSD and characters' personal lives, you might think that the mystery isn't up to the author's usual high standards. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are our favorite characters' lives moving forward, One Was a Soldier also has a first-rate investigation that kept me guessing throughout. One more book, and I'll be current... unless Spencer-Fleming manages to get one step ahead of me!
Richard G. (ralegh) -
I have been a devoted fan of Julia Spencer-Fleming since I first discovered her books. This is perhaps her best so far, with the pressures facing veterans after returning from conflict thoughtfully and realistically expressed. So if you are a fan, this one definitely doesn't disappoint.
Gail L. reviewed One was a Soldier (Rev. Clare Fergusson / Russ Van Alstyne, Bk 7) on + 272 more book reviews
Loved every bit of it! A great human interest story. The characters come across so real! You did it again Julia Spencer-Fleming. Keep 'em coming please!
