Books On Board
series Reading Order

Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne Books in Order

10 Books
2002 – 2020 Published
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Reading order

The Recommended Reading Order

For the best experience, you should read the Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne series in strict publication order. Because Julia Spencer-Fleming writes this series with a highly serialized character arc, reading the books out of order will spoil major developments in the central characters' personal lives, careers, and slow-burn relationship.

The recommended reading path includes all ten full-length novels and the essential bridge novella:

  1. In the Bleak Midwinter (2002)
  2. A Fountain Filled with Blood (2003)
  3. Out of the Deep I Cry (2004)
  4. To Darkness and to Death (2005)
  5. All Mortal Flesh (2006)
  6. I Shall Not Want (2008)
  7. Letters to a Soldier (2011) – Novella (Book 6.5)
  8. One Was a Soldier (2011)
  9. Through the Evil Days (2013)
  10. Hid from Our Eyes (2020)
  11. At Midnight Comes the Cry (2025)

Chronological Progression & reading Caveats

The chronological order of the series matches the publication order exactly, with the minor addition of the epistolary novella Letters to a Soldier. Released to bridge the gap between I Shall Not Want and One Was a Soldier, this short booklet collects the letters exchanged between Clare and Russ while Clare is deployed in Iraq. It is highly recommended to read this before starting book seven, as it provides critical emotional development and context for their relationship as they face the aftermath of war.

Because the plot lines are deeply rooted in the changing seasons of upstate New York and the characters' aging process, skipping books will make the overarching narrative difficult to follow. For instance, the transition from Clare's early days as a newly appointed Episcopal priest to her military deployment and subsequent return is a continuous journey that forms the backbone of the series.

The World of Millers Kill

The entire series is set in the fictional town of Millers Kill, New York, located in the rugged Adirondack Mountains. The harsh weather, tight-knit community, and local economic struggles serve as a backdrop to the complex mysteries. Julia Spencer-Fleming's debut novel, In the Bleak Midwinter, won multiple prestigious awards, including the Agatha, Anthony, Macavity, and Barry Awards, establishing the series as a landmark in modern crime fiction. The mix of traditional police procedural elements with Clare's unique background as a former Army helicopter pilot brings a fresh perspective to each investigation.

Frequently Asked

QWhere is the best place to start the Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne series?

You should start with the first novel, In the Bleak Midwinter (2002). The series features continuous character growth and relationship progression that makes reading in order essential.

QCan the books be read as standalones?

While each book features a self-contained mystery that is resolved by the end, the overarching relationship between Clare and Russ, as well as their career developments, are highly serialized. It is best not to read them out of order.

QWhat is the correct order for the novella Letters to a Soldier?

Letters to a Soldier should be read between book six, I Shall Not Want, and book seven, One Was a Soldier. It serves as book 6.5 in the sequence.

QIs Millers Kill a real town?

No, Millers Kill is a fictional town created by Julia Spencer-Fleming, though it is based on real towns and communities in the Adirondack region of upstate New York.

QWhat is the latest book in the series?

The tenth novel in the series, titled At Midnight Comes the Cry, was published on November 18, 2025.

QWhat awards did the first book in the series win?

The debut novel, In the Bleak Midwinter, won the Agatha Award, Anthony Award, Macavity Award, Barry Award, and the Dilys Award for best first novel.