Letters to a Soldier

The Rev. Clare Fergusson & Russ Van Alstyne Mysteries #6.5

by Julia Spencer-Fleming

In LETTERS TO A SOLDIER, Julia Spencer-Fleming provides new content--letters exchanged between the main characters in I Shall Not Want and One Was a Soldier. Along with the letters, there is also a special note from Julia Spencer-Fleming and a sneak peak of ONE WAS A SOLDIER.

Julia Spencer-Fleming burst onto the mystery scene with her debut, In the Bleak Midwinter, garnering almost every award imaginable. Since then, her Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series has taken suspense and heart-tugging to the next level, making for truly satisfying reading. The newest installment, ONE WAS A SOLDIER, is available April 2011.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Short Stories, Novella, Romance, Military Fiction, Audiobook

32 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 15, 2011

About the author

Wednesday, September 7

Work-In-Progress Wednesday at my Reader Space. We're up to the fifth part of the second chapter of my eighth book, which has some numerological meaning, I'm sure. http://bit.ly/p2QwJa

Reviews

[Cyndi · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite authors ever!! I adore these characters and feel like they are friends. In this novella Julia Spencer-Fleming has captured the feelings of war and the separations involved in relationships. I know this because I experienced it on both sides, as the one left behind and the one who left. This book is beautifully romantic and heartfelt.

[Anne OK · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short reprieve from the yearning for Book 9 "Hid From Our Eyes" that seems lost in space somewhere. Come on, Julia Spencer-Fleming -- it's been four years since the 8th book that left us hanging with so many desires suspending in wonderment in "Through Evil Days."

I've searched high and low and in every nook and cranny trying to locate any little tidbit of info that I might soon get a glimpse of Clare and Russ again. Please at least post an update.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

...I think I miss Clare and Russ, that's what I think. Reading these few letters and the first chapter of "One Was a Soldier" again has left me in a bad place. The next book about Millers Kill isn't scheduled to come out until sometime in the fall (oh please, please, please) and I'm not sure I'm up to the wait. Last week I read all of Julia Spencer-Fleming's work in progress chapters on the new book and my Russ-and-Clare addiction is now once again in full-force. I don't know what it is about this fictional couple that has bonded them to my heart, but there they are. If the next book doesn't come out when scheduled, I swear I'm going to hunt somebody down and demand answers.

[Abibliofob · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered that there is a new book on the way in this series and at the same time I saw that I forgotten about this one. Letters to a Soldier is just a short story to tie in with One Was a Soldier by Julia Spencer-Fleming. It is a series like nothing else but it is set in a small town community and that makes it my kind of book.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like most times I’m presented with a novella or short story, I’m left wanting more. What was here though was nice and a good bridge to the next book.

[Mary Birk · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite series, and I loved this (very short) set of letters for the opportunity to keep in touch with the characters between books. I just wish Julia's new book would come out soon!

[Mary Alice]

Not much to this book, which appeared while anxious Clare Fergusson/Russ VanAlstyne fans were waiting for the publication of "One Was a Soldier". The only reason it's fun is that it serves as a delectable sample of that book, which is excellent.

Glad it was free.

[Kristin]

I read (and am reviewing) only the Letters to a Soldier part of this book. It was paired (at least in the Kindle edition we have) with a preview of One Was a Soldier. Since I already own that book (and intend to start re-reading it in a couple of days), I didn't read that preview.

And these were… letters. They were fun glimpses into the correspondence between residents of Millers Kill and their military loved ones, but… this feels more like it belonged at the beginning or end of one of the novels and that the only reason to release it separately was for promotional reasons. Which is to say, I enjoyed reading it, but it didn't feel like "a book" to me. As a result, I'm not giving it a star-review.

[Joan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A special eBook containing correspondence and designed to fill a gap between “I Shall Not Want” and “One Was a Soldier,” the next book in the series. [Readers should be sure to finish “I Shall Not Want” before reading “Letters to a Soldier” or they may find themselves a bit confused.]

The letters are a perfect fit with the previous stories Millers Kill stories in this brilliant series; here they reveal the worry and love felt for deployed family and friends. At the same time, the letters provide readers with some insight into the relationships between the characters. AND, there’s a preview of “One Was a Soldier.” All in all, it’s a perfect way to spend an afternoon.

Highly recommended.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm so glad this was a free Kindle book because there was barely any substance to it. There were a few letters sent from one of the characters in Millers Kill to one of the characters deployed in Iraq (maybe 2 full pages), and the rest of the pages were taken up by a preview of the first chapter of the next book.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointed

Not that I didn't enjoy these small insight into the characters thoughts I was expecting more. I was hoping for back and forth between Russ and Claire. What it was, very short letter (one) from a few townspeople to each other. Most of this was a preview into the next book. I was so looking forward to the R & C letters .

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clare's unit has been called up and she's currently serving in Iraq. This is a free Kindle book (very short story) with a few letters from soldiers, including Clare. It is an introduction to the next book in the series.

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really what I expected. Basically a preview of the next book but it was free. Very short...only a few pages.

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected more, although I thoroughly enjoyed what there was!

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic examination of the complexity of relationship, with plot to move it along. I love this couple.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clare returns from her deployment in Iraq. A fun, quick read

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting short read and preamble to this author's series. I liked it and it was free! Will be exploring this series

[Russ Skinner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much content.

[Dichotomy Girl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was expecting a short story, but this was really just a few pages. Though it says 32 pages, most of that is the "Sneak Peak" at the next book.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this on Kindle for free, it is a short but interesting lead up to One Was A Soldier.

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

short and sweet

[Joyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty short - just five or so letters. Then the rest was a preview of the next book which I skipped because I'd read the book just a year ago.

[Paulette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I expected.

[Ann Rodgers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of the Rev. Clare Fergusson-Russ Van Alstyne series. It's a long wait between books, and since I am currently working on a (non-fiction) book myself I have almost no time to read for pleasure. So I was thrilled to discover this tiny volume on GoodReads. It's very short -- time spent reading is measured in minutes rather than hours. But if you have reached as far as "I Shall Not Want" and "One Was a Soldier," these letters will be meaningful and will shed further light on the characters. They will mean little or nothing if you have not reached that far -- and this series is one in which the books must be read in order.

[Janingle40]

I have read the entire series. The first book's title intrigued me because it is the title of one of my favorite Christmas hymns. Once I started reading, I was intrigued by the Rev. Clare Fergusson, an Episcopal priest who had also served in the army and was good at solving mysteries and putting herself in harm's way to do it. Then there was sexual tension developing with the police chief, Russ Van Alstyne - and the little town in upstate New York is a great backdrop for all the drama...these books make for a wonderful reading experience.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was incredibly sweet and good. The detail was super--typos in the email, etc. The comment about Will's mom taking the bumper sticker out of the trash brought a lump to my throat as I pictured what preceeded that.

I just wish there had been more. Be forwarned--there are only, maybe 5 letters. The remainder is a preview of the book it supports. Yes, it was free, so it's not like I was ripped off, but these characters are so very dear I really wish there had been more.

[Jan C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a real short (free) teaser for the new book, One Was a Soldier: A Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne Mystery.

I guess I'll have to go ahead and get the real book now. As if there was any doubt that I was going to anyway.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this ages ago, but somehow neglected to rate or review it. I enjoyed these letters that bridge the gap between the 6th and 7th books in this series. They made me miss Russ and Clare a little bit less. I just wish Julia Spencer-Fleming would write faster--there is too long a wait between her books for devoted readers like me!

[Donadee's Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never read anything from this author before but she is on my list now. i really enjoyed this very short take on her novel. The detail she adds got me on page one. As someone we all know says "I'll be back."

4/26/12

[Dee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a free nook book, and it was ok. I was expecting a book full of letters exchanged between people. There was a handful of letters and a preview to the book One Was a Soldier. The preview had a ton of grammar issues and typos. I wasn't impressed.