A Fountain Filled with Blood is the second book in the Clare Fergusson and Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries. I’ve now finished three of this 10-book series, and I’m eager for more. In this story, more is revealed of the protagonists compelling histories, both having had combat army experiences, both currently being in jobs of responsibility in the public sector. She is an Episcopal priest and he is a police chief in a small town in upstate New York. He’s married, she is not. A big land development is beginning, but it may be disturbing a prior dump site for toxic chemicals. Contaminated water has been found and towns people are up in arms. But, a new development would mean jobs. There’s a big community protest while some small-brained lunatics are running around bumping off gay men. Then, the drug trade has made its way to this remote area, bringing vicious people to the territory.
As the plot carefully unfolded and the reader grows even more attached to Clare and Russ, there’s a rescue scene which is as nail biting as any that I’ve ever read. A man falls into a nearly inaccessible ravine and is unconscious. Clare and Russ, although short-handed, go to the rescue. She flies helicopters and grabs one that’s available. After military disasters involving helicopters, Russ has a phobia about those aircraft, but fearfully goes along to help Clare. After a death-defying act of getting the injured man into the helicopter, they discovered that it has been sabotaged. It crashes, and of course that sets off a fire from the sparks. It only gets better.
The sexual tension between Clare and Russ continues to evolve, and after the first two books, we've yet to hear a word from Russ' wife. I thought that near the end of the book as the author drew some subplots to a conclusion that the story line suffered, but that was only in the last few pages. I plan to read more.
No comments:
Post a Comment