Broken Places

A Rachel Goddard Mystery

By: Sandra Parshall

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Two residents of Mason County, Virginia, Cam and Meredith Taylor, are murdered within hours of one another. Deputy Sheriff Tom Bridger is called in, along with his girlfriend, veterinarian Rachel Goddard, because she heard—but didn't see—Cam’s murder.

The daughter of the victims is Leslie, Tom’s former girlfriend. Leslie returns home to see justice done—and, frankly, to win Tom back from Rachel. The prime suspect is Ben Hern, who happens to be Rachel’s childhood friend, and Rachel is desperate to prove him innocent. Meanwhile, Leslie pushes for Hern's arrest and launches a campaign of intimidation against Rachel. With the killer targeting Rachel and the community clamoring for an arrest, Tom and Rachel must decide who they can trust.

©2010 Sandra Parshall (P)2010 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Excellent….A suspenseful tale distinguished by its sharp prose.” ( Publishers Weekly)

“Grips readers from the opening page with a suspenseful plot that will leave them breathless.” ( Library Journal)

Predictable, But Fun

I'm steadily working my way through this series, mostly because the narrator Tavia Gilbert is brilliant and it makes for a nice relaxing bed time listen. Three books in and I rather like that between each book time has elapsed, and Rachel's circumstances change. We aren't a constant fly on the wall for her, but rather a friend popping in every few months to check to see all is well. (Maybe, a poor choice of words as Rachel has the worst luck...). Broken Places wasn't a great 'whodunnit' - I'd worked out the twist almost the moment the second body was found. It was, however, enjoyable and has left me curious as to what happens next to Rachel and the people she interacts with. Worth a credit? Probably not so much, but it is worth buying the book to get the audio book at a reduced price imo.

Good Story

Loved this story. My first time ready Sandra Parshall.

Great series can't wait for next one

A new favorite author. She keeps you guessing in the mystery, a little romance thrown in with twists and turns that you never guess were coming.

Good, but not Stellar

Parshall's characters are well developed and the story line has twists and draw the reader in. However, unlike her earlier books much of the conclusion could be guessed early on.

Magnet for Murder

While the story was well written, to enjoy the story I would have needed to believe that Rachel was the world's biggest magnet for cold blooded killers. Since she was actually a veterinarian in a small mountain town, it seemed totally implausible to me.