In In the Bleak Midwinter , Julia Spencer-Fleming's Malice Domestic–winning first mystery, Reverend Clare Fergusson was quickly introduced to a more eventful life than she had expected after moving to the small town of Millers Kill in upstate New York. But the Episcopal priest and former Army Air Force chopper pilot proved to her flock and to police chief Russ Van Alstyne that she could cope with the unexpected, even when it was as dire as murder. In A Fountain Filled With Blood , this new adventure for the two ill-matched friends (who are gamely resisting something beyond friendship) shows that a small town can hold just as much evil as the Wicked City. “[Spencer-Fleming] pulls it off again.” ― Chicago Tribune “Spencer-Fleming's second cozy-cum-thriller to feature the Reverend Clare Fergusson...is every bit as riveting as her first...with eloquent exposition and natural dialogue, the precisely constructed plot moves effortlessly to its dramatic conclusion.” ― Publishers Weekly (starred review) “The plot is complicated, and the ethical issues are even thornier. Wisely, Spencer-Fleming treats them with the same delicacy she extends to Clare's forbidden love.” ― The New York Times “Despite the brutal crimes, this is a quiet and civilized story just right for those who enjoy a modern take on the old-fashioned whodunit.” ― Rocky Mountain News “Serious issues...add depth to the story. An exciting mountain rescue keeps the pages turning as the pace picks up at the end.” ― Booklist “Even more action, more plot-twists, and more unconsummated romance than in Clare and Russ's notable debut.” ― Kirkus Reviews Small Town Murder...Big Time Trouble... Nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks, Miller's Kill, New York is about as safe as it gets. That's why Episcopal minister Clare Fergusson is shocked when the July Fourth weekend brings a rash of vicious assaults to the scenic town. Even Clare's good friend, police chief Russ Van Alstyne, is shaken by the brutality of the crimes-especially when it appears that the victims were chosen because they are gay. But when a third assault of an out-of-town developer ends in murder, Clare and Russ wonder if the recent crime wave is connected to the victim's controversial plan to open an upscale spa in Miller's Kill. But not all things in the tiny town are what they seem-and soon, Clare and Russ are left to fight their unspoken attraction to one another even as they uncover a labyrinthine conspiracy that threatens to turn deadly for them both... "[Spencer-Fleming] pulls it off again." -Chicago Tribune "Spencer-Fleming's second cozy-cum-thriller to feature the Reverend Clare Fergusson...is every bit as riveting as her first...with eloquent exposition and natural dialogue, the precisely constructed plot moves effortlessly to its dramatic conclusion." -Publishers Weekly (starred review) JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING is the New York Times bestselling author of One Was a Soldier , and an Agatha, Anthony, Dilys, Barry, Macavity, and Gumshoe Award winner. She studied acting and history at Ithaca College and received her J.D. at the University of Maine School of Law. Her books have been shortlisted for the Edgar, Nero Wolfe, and Romantic Times RC awards. Julia lives in a 190-year-old farmhouse in southern Maine. A Fountain Filled with Blood A Novel By Julia Spencer-Fleming Minotaur Books Copyright © 2012 Julia Spencer-Fleming All right reserved. ISBN: 9781250007827 A FOUNTAIN FILLED WITH BLOOD (Chapter 1) The yahoos came by just after the dinner party broke up. A few young punks--three or four, picked out as streaks of white in the cab and bed of an unremarkable-looking pickup. Emil Dvorak was tucking a bottle of wine under his arm and reaching to shake his hosts' hands when he heard the horn haloowing down the Five Mile Road like a redneck hunting cry, and the truck flashed into view of the inn's floodlights. "Faggots!" several voices screamed. "Burn in hell!" More obscene slurs were swallowed up in the night as the truck continued past. From their run in the back, the inn's dogs began barking in response, high-pitched and excited. "Goddamn it," Ron Handler said. "Did you see the license plate this time?" Stephen Obrowski asked. His partner shook his head. "Too fast. Too dark." "Has this happened before?" Emil shifted the bottle under his other arm. The inn's outdoor spotlight left him feeling suddenly exposed, his car brilliantly illuminated, his hosts' faces clearly visible, as his must have been. His hand, he noticed, was damp. "Have you reported it?" "It started a couple of weeks ago," Steve said. "Probably kids let out of high school." "Released from county jail, more likely," Ron said. "We've told the police. The inn's on the random-patrol list now." "Not that that helps," Ron said. "The cops have better things to do than catch gay-bashers out cruising for a good time. The only reason we got a few drive-bys in a patrol car is that the inn is bringing in t