Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Heat of the Moon | 2006 | Sandra Parshall | Buy |
| 2 | Disturbing the Dead | 2007 | Sandra Parshall | Buy |
| 3 | Broken Places | 2010 | Sandra Parshall | Buy |
| 4 | Under the Dog Star | 2011 | Sandra Parshall | Buy |
| 5 | Bleeding Through | 2012 | Sandra Parshall | Buy |
| 6 | Poisoned Ground | 2014 | Sandra Parshall | Buy |
The Rachel Goddard Mystery series by Sandra Parshall begins with The Heat of the Moon, which won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel. The series is set in Mason County, a fictional community in the mountains of Virginia, where veterinarian Rachel Goddard keeps getting pulled into criminal cases alongside local deputy Tom Bridger. The first book opens with Rachel confronting disturbing secrets about her own family, setting the tone for a series that blends psychological suspense with small-town mystery.
Later entries shift focus to the community around Rachel, tackling subjects like land disputes, illegal dogfighting, and old grudges that turn violent. Parshall writes mysteries that are darker than typical cozy fare, with real stakes and characters who carry emotional weight from book to book. The series rewards readers who follow Rachel and Tom’s relationship as it develops over the course of all six novels.