Sandra Parshall

First Line: I drive slowly past a familiar house where strangers now live.

Until the rainy night when a Basset Hound named Maude is hit by a car, veterinarian Rachel Goddard was happy with her work at an animal hospital in McLean, Virginia. As Maude's owner rushes the dog to the hospital, Rachel finds herself trying to comfort the woman's terrified three-year-old daughter. Rachel is reminded of her own sister as a very young child, and the entire episode triggers flashbacks that make her feel show more as though she's losing her mind. Even the animal hospital's new head doctor, Luke Campbell, can't take her mind off these visions, and Rachel begins to search for answers-- against the express wishes of her controlling mother and her sister.

I read this book while snowed in in a small Yorkshire farm cottage while my husband and I were on vacation. Even though I was not happy about being unable to head out to our next destination, I found that Sandra Parshall's first Rachel Goddard mystery took my mind off the delay-- which was a very welcome turn of events.

This is a book in which you'll soon know the identity of the "villain." Parshall's Mommy Dearest is a memorable one indeed. What makes the pages turn is your need to find out exactly what Rachel's mother did and why she did it. As you get a bit deeper in the story, you may wonder why on earth Rachel let her mother control almost every aspect of her life, but never underestimate the persistence of a very young child who's faced abandonment to cling to what's familiar.

Luke Campbell does provide romantic interest throughout the book, but he's also there for Rachel to realize that she's not losing her mind and that she does have a future worth fighting for.

As I read The Heat of the Moon, I thought it was a standalone novel, but soon learned that it's the first book in a series centered on Rachel. I'm glad. I came to like Rachel very much, and I am definitely looking forward to reading more about her now that she can put the past behind her. show less

Sandra Parshall has crafted a finely tuned and fast-paced mystery that I found difficult to put down. There's a lot going on in Poisoned Ground-- from Rachel trying to get used to being part of a couple, to showing how veterinarians can be called in to care for the pets of deceased owners, to how the promise of jobs can transform normally sane people into something a little less than human, to-- last but not least-- how sheer stubbornness can lead to justice. All these factors as well as a show more fine cast of characters make this a very satisfying read.

As more information slowly comes to light, the investigation starts changing directions, and I really enjoyed trying to figure things out. However, in many ways I felt that the best part of the book showed how the promise of paychecks can rip an entire county in two. Parshall does an excellent job of showing all sides of the conflict while fully engaging the reader's emotions.

Rachel Goddard has grown and matured since the first book in this series (the Agatha Award-winning The Heat of the Moon), and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what's in store for her next. show less

After enjoying Sandra Parshall's BROKEN PLACES earlier in the year, I realized I'd skipped the second book in her series.
DISTURBING THE DEAD finds veterinarian Rachel Goddard rebuilding her
life in a small town in southern Virginia, having left a lot of trauma
behind along with an overly-controlling boyfriend. Sheriff's deputy
Tom Bridger is also dealing with a tragic past, and he's beginning to
fall in love with Rachel. The discovery of a long-buried body on a
local mountain begins to solve the show more mystery that plagued Bridger's late
father, but still more mystery is to come. This is a richly-textured
story with great characters and a realistic setting (I come from
Northeast Appalachia, myself, so I should know!) I also liked the
Melungeon aspect -- don't think I've read much about them since Manly
Wade Wellman's books. I'll be eagerly awaiting the continuation of
this series or whatever else Sandra Parshall wants to write. show less

This is a mystery that can be read as a stand-alone and many times when a novel can be read as a stand-alone, readers do not go back and read the earlier novels or continue with the series. As a frequent writer of reviews I have often shared when a novel can be freely read with absolute pleasure as a stand-alone. I can't say that about Sandra Parshall's Rachel Goddard Mystery series. Why? Let me count the ways!

Sandra Parshall's writing is not to be missed. She knows how to captivate with a show more mystery series that is more psychological thriller as the series begins. Each novel builds on Rachel's character, her work as a veterinarian, and all of the characters with which she interacts.

I love trying to solve a mystery. With twists and turns, I haven't guessed correctly yet. Love that! It's the type of writing that one can't wait to breeze through and yet the closer that one gets to the end, wishing it all wouldn't end just yet. show less