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"It was one hell of a night to throw away a baby" is the start of the 2001 St. Martin's Press Malice Domestic award winning book. A newborn, well wrapped against the cold has been left at the door of St. Alban's Episcopal Church in the small upstate town of Miller's Kill, New York. Clare Fergusson, the new priest, just getting ready to go out for a jog, finds the small package and brings it to the hospital, where the police chief, Russ Van Alstyne, meets the new minister for the first time. A note was left asking the baby be given to a pair of lawyers who are parishioners of the church, but of course the local social services intervene. Clare, an ex-army helicopter pilot, asks to go on a ride along with Russ. Clare is originally from Virginia and is not used to December in the Adirondacks. But she wants to learn more about her new home and how she can help the townsfolk, not only the rich conservative members of her congregation. Russ is also ex-army, so he is willing to give this female priest a chance. They find the body of a young woman along a trail that the local kids sometimes use to hide and drink. This is truly a remarkable first novel. Clare is trying to show her congregation that it would be proper for them to try and help the young people of the community. Her faith is deep and she believes that God wants her to teach them to help. Van Alstyne is a much more cynical and perhaps more realistic. His god is Justice, but he can see Fergusson's point of view as valid for her. The developing closeness between the priest and the policeman warms this book. Clare is obstinate and almost gets herself killed for several reasons, including refusing to realize that winter can be dangerous. Russ begins to care for Clare, despite the fact that he is married. His wife is rather a shadowy figure. The book races to a conclusion. The characters, except for the two main ones, are somewhat shadowy. The depiction of a small town in a very cold climate is a strong part of the story. The hardcover is available. The paperback will be available in March, 2003 with the hardcover of the second in the series, A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD due out in April.
Reviewed by Barbara Franchi, December 2002
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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