I Shall Not Want

Episcopal priest Clare Fergusson and police chief Russ Van Alstyne investigate the deaths of migrant workers in their small town of Millers Kill, New York. The case intersects with human trafficking, drug smuggling, and tensions around immigration in their rural community. Officer Hadley Knox, new to the Millers Kill Police Department, partners with deputy chief Kevin Flynn to patrol the Mexican migrant community while navigating her own challenges as a single mother. The dual investigations expose fault lines between the town's established residents and its newer immigrant population. Clare balances her duties as priest with her unofficial role helping the police, even as her complicated relationship with Russ creates personal and professional conflicts. The investigation forces both Clare and Russ to confront their own prejudices and assumptions about their changing community. The novel explores themes of belonging, justice, and moral responsibility through the lens of a small town grappling with demographic and social change. Through its parallel storylines, it examines how communities either adapt to or resist transformation.

Readers view this as one of the stronger entries in the Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series, rating it consistently 4+ stars across platforms. Readers praised: - The evolution and depth of Clare and Russ's relationship - Integration of migrant worker issues into the mystery plot - Supporting character development, especially Officer Hadley Knox - Balance of personal drama and crime investigation Common criticisms: - Multiple plotlines make the story hard to follow at first - Spanish dialogue without translation - Less church/ministry focus compared to earlier books Ratings: Goodreads: 4.15/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (300+ ratings) Sample reader comments: "The personal relationships feel real and messy, not sanitized." - Goodreads reviewer "Too many subplots competing for attention." - Amazon reader "Best handling of their relationship so far." - LibraryThing review

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In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming An Episcopal priest and police chief work together to solve crimes in a small New England town while wrestling with their own spiritual and personal conflicts.

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny A murder at a remote monastery forces Chief Inspector Gamache to untangle the intersection of faith, music, and human darkness.

The Body in the Library by Agatha Christie Miss Marple investigates a murder that brings together members of both village society and church community to reveal hidden connections and motives.

A Great Deliverance by Elizabeth George Inspector Lynley and Sergeant Havers navigate class divisions and church politics while solving a murder in a Yorkshire village.

🔹 "I Shall Not Want" is the sixth book in Spencer-Fleming's Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne mystery series, which takes place in the fictional town of Millers Kill, New York. 🔹 Author Julia Spencer-Fleming worked as a lawyer before becoming a writer and draws on her legal background to add authenticity to her crime narratives. 🔹 The book's title comes from Psalm 23, reflecting the protagonist Clare Fergusson's role as an Episcopal priest, while also serving as a double meaning related to the murder mystery plot. 🔹 The series combines three distinct genres: mystery, romance, and clerical fiction, breaking traditional genre boundaries in mystery writing. 🔹 Spencer-Fleming won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel for "In the Bleak Midwinter," the first book in this series, and has gone on to win multiple other prestigious mystery writing awards.