The Heat of the Moon

A Rachel Goddard Mystery, Book 1

By: Sandra Parshall

Narrated by: Tavia Gilbert

Young veterinarian Rachel Goddard’s world begins to crumble when a client rushes into the animal hospital with a dog struck by a car during a thunderstorm. The woman’s terrified child, drenched with rain, loses sight of her mother in the flurry of activity and screams, “Mommy! I want Mommy!” Instantly Rachel is hurled back in time to a day in her own childhood when her baby sister, Michelle, uttered the same cry while thunder crashed and rain poured down on them. The unearthed memory feels like a fragment of a nightmare, and Rachel doesn’t understand its meaning or the anguish it stirs up in her.

When she seeks answers, she learns nothing from Michelle or from Judith, their loving but manipulative mother. Judith is a psychologist who is only too happy to have her adult daughters still living in her elegant Tudor house outside Washington, DC. But their apparently serene home is a house of secrets where Judith’s unspoken rules forbid questions about the family history or the daughters’ long-dead father. As more baffling memories surface, Rachel begins to suspect that nothing about her family is what it seems.

Fighting her mother’s attempts to control her, Rachel embarks on a quest that takes her not only deep into her own memory but also halfway across the country. The truth she uncovers will shatter her world and force her to make an unthinkable choice.

Sandra Parshall, a former newspaper reporter, is the author of the Rachel Goddard mysteries, the first of which won the Agatha Award in 2006.

©2012 Sandra Parshall (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc

Unpleasant to listen to.

I'm unusually sensitive to stories, fictions and nonfiction. This made me uncomfortable and anxious knowing where the story was headed. Wish I hadn't purchased it.

This is not to warn off other readers/listeners. It is suspenseful and leaves one wondering what comes next. I thought it was creepy, but often felt frustrated and impatient with the daughters' inability to grasp, or even suspect, the obvious.

Good Read

The story pulls you in. Twists & turns, love, deceit, mind control. Kidnapping, unfaithfulness, accident 's, awakening. All this is told in this story and hard to put down as all unravels.

Engaging

This book was very engaging and pulled me in and made me want to find out what happens and care about what happened. I didn’t feel satisfied at the end. The performance was very good. Story line was very good. I just didn’t like the resolution.

Enjoyable!

Not tense or bloody, just good story with excellent narration. Easy listen. This is my first Sandra Marshall book. There will be more.

Intriguing

What made the experience of listening to The Heat of the Moon the most enjoyable?

I was not expecting the twists and turns of this novel. It was a story that grabbed me and tossed me around with Rachel's discoveries. Psychological thriller that is a read that I couldn't put down.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

The plot thickened, sorry bad cliche,but true, and continued to unfold and surprise.

What does Tavia Gilbert bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Always find the audible version makes me seem more a part of the book.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Psychological thriller with a twist.

Any additional comments?

Looking forward to remaining books in the series. This was an Audible deal of the Day..what a great find-a new series.

Pleasant Surprise!

What did you love best about The Heat of the Moon?

It was a well written story about an adult family with problems that were highly unusual, but plausible.

What did you like best about this story?

I can't say I liked the family dynamics, but they were understandable in the end.

Have you listened to any of Tavia Gilbert’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No; she does an excellent job.

Any additional comments?

I think I have just found another author to enjoy.

Outstanding Story

Excellently told with the perfect narrator. Wish I could share it with my daughter or granddaughters.

And, I Think Just I Got Hooked On This Series

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes - I like audiobooks where you know there is a secret to be uncovered, and this one definitely had me hooked. It was hard to stop listening because I was so hooked and really wanted to know what was going on!

An interesting read

This book starts like a shallow romance novel. It picks up speed in the middle and pulls you in. It wasn't my favorite audio book, but still it is a solid story. Give it a chance.

Great Book, Terrible Narrator

I almost stopped listening because the voice of the narrator was like nails on chalkboard. If I wanted to listen to a screechy, high pitched teen voice, I'd have my niece read to me. Ugh!