This was a procedural set in small town New York with three separate deaths, one in 1952, one in 1972 and one in the present. Each death had a different Sheriff investigating and each unsolved. The present Sheriff’s clues lead him back to each of the other deaths in which a young woman was found, well dressed with no shoes, purse, underwear or personal belongings, dead and obviously placed where she was found. The novel goes from period to period and investigation to investigation. The climax is unexpected and well fitting. The ending was also surprising and is actually the beginning of the next chapter in this series. Or at least I hope so. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur for an ARC for an honest review.

If you are reading this in 2020, it’s been a long time since we’ve had a new Rev. Clare book. Hid From Our Eyes starts up about 10 months after Through the Evil Days. If you don’t remember where we left Rev. Clare and police chief Russ Van Alstyne, have no fear, Spencer-Fleming adroitly reminds us of what has happened, so no need to go back and reread the previous book. In fact, this also means you can read Hid From Our Eyes without having read any of the previous books!

On to the story itself. There are 3 dead girls separated by time,* but not space. All were murdered under nearly identical circumstances, but 20-30 years apart. The book follows the investigations through 3 time lines: 1952, 1972, and present day. It’s a good mystery, with some nice twists and turns. The writing is as terrific as ever, the characters as likable as ever. We get movement in the lives of the supporting players: Hadley Knox, & Kevin Flynn, Marge Van Alstyne, and of course Russ & Clare.

I was happy with the mystery, happy with the updates on everyone, and happy with the book. I hope it does not take the JSF another 6 years for the next installment!

*For those math nerds, that sets present day in Miller’s Kill at 2002.

Welcome back, to Clare and Russ. This is mystery is a little different from Ms. Spencer-Fleming previous mysteries. This one spans several years, beginning with a Jane Doe death, with a repeat of another just like the first but 30 years later, then the latest one just like the previous murders. The second one Russ had been a person of interest as he had just gotten back from Vietnam. The third murder happens when he is chief-of=police. This is a very interesting and intriguing mystery. With the help of Russ' old chief, they work on the crime to solve not only the latest murder, but they close the other open cases. I usually can figure out the solutions, but this time it was a step-by-step leading to the murderer.
As always, Ms. Spencer-Fleming writes a mystery story that is very hard to put down. Her characters are well-developed and believable. The story line is also well-developed leading to a satisfactory conclusion. I highly recommend this mystery novel.

I'm so happy to be back in Millers Kill following the ups and downs of Clare and Russ, friends and family. Hid From Our Eyes explores some of Russ's backstory: his lack of direction following his tour in Vietnam, his anger, and his being a person of interest in a mysterious death. This story follows the efforts of three MKPD police chiefs trying to solve three different but similar deaths over the years. The answer is stunning and heartbreaking for those involved. As always, I was left wanting more.

I was just thinking of Julia Spencer-Fleming, wondering if she might write another book and ... there it was! Nearly up to snuff, too. I only wish she'd made more of Clare's baby-care issues and, if the addiction is really an issue, that, too. Both seemed just added in, which cost me a star. Otherwise, a fine job!

I got this as an ARC with the understanding that I would read it and review.

Several years after her last novel, Julia Spencer-Fleming is back with another Clare Ferguson mystery. I have missed this series, and Hid from Our Eyes did not disappoint. Spencer-Fleming has created another compelling story with complex characters and a good whodunnit.

I didn't realize how much I missed Clare and Russ until I read this! It's been 6 years.

What I love the most is how human these two are. As an episcopal priest, Clare has demons and weaknesses which all humans do. I love how Julia lets us know about these.

The book is told in 3 time periods. 1952, 1972 and current day. In all of these periods, a woman's body is found in a party dress, no shoes, no purse on a rural road. The continuity of the police force during this time is a really nice touch. The changes in forensics also is documented showing in how each respective death, they find out a little bit more.

There wasn't a lot of clues as to whodunnit until the end. I found the history in the series to be very compelling.

And I love Margy.

4 stars

There's a movement afoot to disband the Millers Kill Police Department and turn the protection of the small town over to the State Troopers. This is a potential disaster for Police Chief Russ Van Alstyne and his deputies.

But that's not the only problem in this small community. Twenty years earlier, in 1952, a woman's body clothed in a party dress was found on the road by Russ. He became the chief suspect. And twenty years before that, a similar murder occurred.

Thus this book gives the reader the opportunity to experience the police department over several years as the story switches back and forth.

Along with his wife – and her a new mother – Russ sets out to solve this latest case. The experiences of the past keep intruding. However, he is determined to solve these crimes.

This is a great addition to the Russ Van Alstyne/Reverend Clare Fergusson series. It is well written and plotted. One event follows another in a linear and logical fashion. While, I have not read the entire series, I have thoroughly enjoyed the books that I have read.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for forwarding to me a copy of this very good book for me to read, enjoy and review.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book.

I was so, so excited to see this new entry in the Clare Fergusson series. And Spencer-Fleming does not disappoint.

This entry is set up in a different manner from the others: the storylines fluctuate between three timelines. We move back and forth from the present, where Russ is investigating the puzzling murder of a young woman, to the previous police chief who, when Russ was a young man, investigated a similar murder. And a third timeline goes back to an even earlier similar murder with another chief of police. All three timelines are connected by a small collection of characters in different stages of their lives and it works surprisingly well.

The ending of this one shows potential for changes on the horizon--and some old demons that might be re-surfacing. I am already looking forward to the 10th installment so I hope Spencer-Fleming plans to continue this wonderful series!

I was a little nervous jumping into Hid from Our Eyes because I have not read the prior novels in the Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series, but I had absolutely no issues jumping in! That being said, I will definitely be reading the first 8 installments because I am 100% on the hook now!

I really enjoy a well thought out mystery novel and Julia Spencer-Fleming has truly delivered in Hid from Our Eyes! The pacing was perfect and I guarantee you will be as surprised as I was with the well timed twists and turns! I can see why this series has such a strong following and I am officially part of that following now! I am looking forward to reading my way through this entire series!

I have been waiting so long for this book! I adore this series and its complex plotting and characterizations. I will say this isn't my favorite in the series, as I don't love all the jumping back and forth between three different decades, although the confusing murders and the altogether creepy and horrible reason for the them made for a satisfying mystery. And I know I'm connected to the characters in a strong way when I find myself whispering fiercely, "Don't do it, Clare!" or "Come on, Hayley, just say it!" These characters feel like real people, and I'm sad that I'm through reading this already and will likely have an extended wait for the next title.

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed other titles in this series, and this was also very good. Three separate but definitely copycat or serial murders over a fifty-year period challenge the Millers Kill Police Department even as they in the present face a budgetary threat to their very existence. The narrative weaves back and forth from 1952, to 1972 and to the present revealing the eerie identical circumstances of the murders of young women, the efforts to solve these cases and potential suspects. Russ Van Alstyne and his wife, the Reverand Clare Fergusson are great characters that draw the reader into their lives and community. Recommended.

After waiting long years for this installment, I was thrilled to be reunited with Clare, Russ, and the rest of Millers Kill. This is a series I recommend frequently to patrons -- not only those who are fond of small-town mysteries, but also those who appreciate finely drawn, compelling characters. Looking forward to seeing this on the shelves in the spring -- I know I'll be encouraging curious folks to go back and start at the beginning. Many thanks for the review copy -- I inhaled it in two days!

I have followed this series from the beginning and have enjoyed following the evolution of Clare and Russ over the years. This story involves a series of crimes going back years with ties to the present. Russ and his usual crew, including his wife Clare, come together to solve these decades old crimes. It has been a long time between books and I hope we don't have to wait as long for the next adventures of Clare and Russ. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Well worth waiting for! Julia Spencer-Fleming does not disappoint with the latest entry in the Fergusson/Van Alstyne series. The story centres on three mysteries, all similar, all at the same time of the year, but decades apart. As well, Russ's job may be in danger as the city looks at closing the local police station. I was left with several questions, which leads me to hope for another book in the future!

Not only is the dead girl in the fancy dress impossible to identify; the medical examiner can't determine a cause of death.
Make that three medical examiners, Every 20 years the body of a girl has been found in the middle of nowhere. This third time, she is Chief Russ Van Alstyne's case.
People who haven't read Julia Spencer-Fleming will have no trouble plunging into this intricate, involving mystery. Readers who have followed the writer's series pairing the chief with Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson will be ecstatic to read the first mystery in the series in six years.

It has been 7 years between this book and the previous one. I was happy to see a new title in this series and to get to catch up with the characters after such a long gap. This book does have a cliff hanger ending and I hope we do not have to wait 7 more years for another book to let us know how it ends

As always, a pleasure to read! Julia Spencer-Fleming consistently writes believable characters, their flaws making them all the more interesting. Although her story lines are less than mundane, they maintain enough believability to keep you engaged. And engaged I was! I finished this in a day.

Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Outstanding book. After waiting for six years to find out the next chapter of the story of newlyweds and new parents, Rev. Clare Fergusson and Chief Russ Van Alstyne, we have a doozy of a story. Three murders, one in 1952, one in 1972 and one in present day have the same M.O. , the same type of victim and many of the same characters. Intertwined with the murders, we see the lives of new parents coping with work, childcare and social obligations. This book is chock full of wonderful writing and wonderful moments.

Well the wait was worth it, but hopefully the next book will not be as long as we are left on a real cliff hanger. Well done Julia.