HALLIE EPHRON: There's much excitement here at Jungle Red!
Fireworks!
Drum roll!
We're delighted to report that MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY, Julia's brand new, hot off the presse book, has earned an absolutely glowing review from The New York Times's mystery maven, Sarah Weinman.
We're madly toasting Julia, and happily sharing the news.
Here's what Ms. Weinman has to say:
Over 10 books, Spencer-Fleming has examined the joys and ills of small-town life, the limits and tests of faith, and the many ways love can prevail. In AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY (Minotaur, 308 pp., $29), her first book in five years, the longtime Millers Kill, N.Y., police chief Russ Van Alstyne has just resigned. He and his wife, the Rev. Clare Fergusson, have settled in for a quiet holiday season with their 8-month-old son. That is, until a white supremacist group descends upon the town, inciting violence at the annual lighted tractor parade, and Russ gets word from Officer Hadley Knox, the newest member of the Millers Kill police department, that her former partner has vanished after a stint infiltrating local militia groups.Goodness! It doesn't get much better than that!
It doesn’t take long for Russ and Hadley to realize that the people they care about are in the cross hairs of malevolence, and that following the procedural playbook won’t keep them alive. Fleming, in her most masterly turn yet, mixes heart-stopping action with deep empathy for her characters.
Brava Julia! Russ and Clare can bask.
Julia [and Russ and Clare] certainly deserve the accolades . . . congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Joan!
DeleteYay! I'm so happy for Julia! (Selden)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Selden!
DeleteAwesome news - and I'm not surprised at all. Congratulations, Julia!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Edith. I WAS surprised, but obviously very happily so.
DeleteCongratulations Julia!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dru Ann!
DeleteWorth waiting for! Congratulations, Julia!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see you all at Poisoned Pen. Save me a spot!
Get ready for a big hug, Karen!
DeleteCongratulations! I have this one on pre-order the audiobook and can hardly wait!
ReplyDeleteMy publisher sent me the audio file to listen to, and it's SO GOOD, Margo!
DeleteCongratulations, Julia! It just proves that good things come to those who wait -- in this case, your fans!
ReplyDeleteI'll TRY to not leave people waiting so long for the next book, Susan!
DeleteHurray.
DeleteCongrats! Nothing will equal the longest pregnancy in fiction Clare's fans have endured. I'm good with five years between books.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, this had me genuinely laughing out loud...
DeleteI just love happy news...And this is HAPPY NEWS! Hip Hip Chin Chin, Julia!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Evelyn!
DeleteFrom Gillian: I was so excited to read the column yesterday—and Julia’s was the first book mentioned! I hope my preorder comes in soon
ReplyDeleteTuesday's the big day, Gillian!
DeleteI've been eagerly waiting! Such a good review and well deserved!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Maren!
DeleteWhat a wonderful review! Thanks for sharing, Hallie!
ReplyDeleteJulia, I am looking forward to picking up my book at The Silver Unicorn and then seeing you at Wellesley Books! It will be good to be back with Clare and Russ again!
Suzette, I look forward to meeting you (again, if I'm not mistaken?) at Wellesley Books!
DeleteI am so excited to get my hands on this book, I think I may have pre-ordered it from multiple sources. Now I'm wondering how many copies are going to show up at my door.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear I’m not the only one who has done this!
DeleteSay it with me, Annette: "Books make great Christmas gifts!"
DeleteAnd birthday gifts too! Which, for me, is the day At Midnight Comes the Cry will be here. Elisabeth
DeleteCongratulations, Julia! Brava! This is great news! You know we've all been eagerly waiting to have this book in our hands. I think I ordered mine a year ago.
ReplyDeleteHere's to more accolades and much success!
Thanks so much, Judy!
DeleteTime to celebrate! I am so excited for Julia! And for us! It seems like ages ago that we had a clue that Hadley's former partner was missing. Sorry I have forgotten his name, but it will probably come to me later.
ReplyDeleteJudi, if you start today, you can probably get through most of the series by Tuesday...
DeleteCongratulations, Julia! I feel such joy for you and the appreciation your hard work has received. Go you! -- Victoria
ReplyDeleteThanks, Victoria!
DeleteCongrats Julia! Love the plot and the review gets two thumbs up as well!!
ReplyDeleteSarah Weinman is a gifted writer and critic, Anon. She has some great True Crime books, if you enjoy the genre.
DeleteWOW! #goals this is such a joy to see! Love love love, and cannot wait to read this! Congratulations! And we will hear more from Julia about this on Tuesday… Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteYou will not be able to escape me in the coming week, Hank!
DeleteHuzzah!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa!
DeleteHooray! Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteOn Tuesday I plan to take myself to my local B&N, pick up my pre-ordered copy and settle into a corner in the coffee shop across the street for an hour or two before I go home.
ReplyDeleteI’m currently reading One Was A Soldier. I love the books and find them hard to read. That’s a good thing because life is messy. Glad to know there’s another one to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to open up my Kindle on Tuesday morning! Five years is a long time but it's going to be worth it! Thank you and congratulations, Julia. Atlanta
ReplyDeleteJULIA: Congratulations!!!! Clare and Russ deserve the accolades. I was thinking of the young lady who became a vicar on one of these Midsomer Murders episodes. I imagine this tall thin actress in the role of Clare. And maybe Benedict Cumberbatch as Russ? Though I know your story is set in the USA, I think of British actors in the roles of Clare and Russ.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on this super review! Have fun with the launch this week.
ReplyDeleteFabulous!! My copies are ordered, too!! I can’t wait until next week!!
ReplyDeleteFrom Celia: so VERY HAPPY for you a HUGE CONGRATS too. I can attest to everyone that the wait is well worth the prize we will all be enjoying.
ReplyDeleteWho else will be at Wellesley on 12/04? I plan to be there along with my walker and at least one member of the family. Christmas is coming early this year.
So fab, Julia!! We are all so thrilled for you!!! My copy has been pre-ordered for ages. I had better clear the decks for a curl up on the sofa read next week!
ReplyDeleteWhoa! Tall cotton, Julia, and well deserved. I'm in a track stance waiting for AT MIDNIGHT COMES THE CRY to whisper into my Kindle.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful - I feel like I've been in withdrawal for all 5 years! A well-deserved review!
ReplyDeleteI’m very happy for you Julia ! And for me :) eagerly waiting for Tuesday *
ReplyDeleteI preordered mine and got an email saying I will get it “by” Wednesday, November 26th. I told my husband that I am planning to take a good portion of Thanksgiving weekend to do nothing but read this book. (I’m just trying to figure out how come my copy is supposedly arriving so much later than the release date. Maybe CYA by the book store?)
ReplyDeleteAnd Julia, I read the NYT Book Review yesterday and was thrilled for you at the glowing review. Congratulations! — Pat S.
Congratulations Julia! What an accomplishment, a new book and a new baby all in one fell swoop.
ReplyDeleteYou must be feeling great.
And speaking of the new baby, how are he and his new mommies doing? Inquiring minds want to know
Oh, Julia, this is such great news! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteDebRo
So proud and happy for ypu, Julia! Masterful, indeed. Woohoo!!
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you, Julia! Of course you received a glowing review! I coulda told them that, and I haven't even read da book yet!
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI read this and was so excited for you, Julia! This book is getting such rave reviews before it even hits the stores and libraries. My copy will come the day I leave to get my knee surgery the next day. At least now I have something to look forward to next week. Thank you so much for that. Congratulations!!!
WOW, Julia!
ReplyDeleteI'm not anonymous: WOW, Julia!
ReplyDeleteWow - just wow! This is Jane Behrens - I am looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday at the Poisoned Pen! Your books will be Christmas presents for the whole family - if they can resist reading them until then! I am going to read the New York Times book review right now. . .congratulations!
ReplyDeleteGreat review Julia. I can't wait for my copy!
ReplyDeleteHurrah! Splendid book! *****
ReplyDelete-- Storyteller Mary
Our long wait is over...I had complete faith in you and you did not disappoint. You had me at the first page. Thanks so much, Julia.
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