The day has already begun for a young woman who awakes to find herself bound and gagged in an unknown place. She has vague memories of the previous night when she dined with her brother at the family estate deep in the Adirondack woods.

The Reverend Clare Fergusson is awakened by the head of the local search and rescue team who knows of Clare’s experience as a military pilot and needs her to search for the missing woman. Clare has mixed feelings about the call as her bishop is expected later that day for an official visit and she hesitates to leave the preparations to her volunteers but the search is a priority.

As the day progresses the list of horrors grows. Kidnapping, assault, theft, arson along with the human sins of jealousy, rage, pride, avarice and lust are just some of the items on that day’s “to do” list. The new hotel will provide much needed jobs for the locals who have watched lumber contracts go overseas causing the timber and paper industries to collapse prompting hostility in several arenas. The wealthiest family in the area is turning over its vast timberlands to a land trust arousing even more ill will.

Then there is the personal trauma of Russ and Clare who are very attracted to one another but are bound by their vows of marriage and ordination. They must work together and try to set aside their personal feelings as they try to resolve the many problems the day holds. As the daylight wanes the evil continues, culminating in an inferno of flames, passions and death. Fleming divides the day according to the Anglican daily office which is a nice touch.

Despite being a well written, tension filled work I felt as if I were missing something as it was apparent that previous books had laid the foundations for many of the relationships in this one. Clare’s past life as a military pilot is probable but it seems rather extreme and unnecessary in developing her character. I can name three each of chef and antique dealer sleuths as well as quilters, knitters, innkeepers, archivists and even a clown who solve mysteries. There are at least a dozen clerical detectives who solve crimes over several centuries so why does Fleming need such a background for Clare? We already have a former professional football player, a journalist, a crusader and an artist so I suppose there is room for Clare, too.

--Jane Davis