Mysterious Reviews, mysteries reviewed by the Hidden Staircase Mystery Books, is publishing a new review of Broken Places by Sandra Parshall. For our blog readers, we are printing it first here in advance of its publication on our website.
Broken Places by Sandra Parshall
A Rachel Goddard Mystery
Poisoned Pen Press (Hardcover)
ISBN-10: 1-59058-653-0 (1590586530)
ISBN-13: 978-1-59058-653-2 (9781590586532)
Publication Date: February 2010
List Price: $24.95
Review: Rachel Goddard's harmonious life in the mountains of Virginia hits a rough patch when her childhood friend is accused of murder in Broken Places, the third mystery in this series by Sandra Parshall.
Rachel's life seems sweet: she has a small, but thriving, veterinary practice and has fallen in love with Deputy Sheriff Tom Bridger. But she's drawn into a murder investigation when she's a witness, sort of, to the murder of Cam Taylor, editor of the local newspaper. Cam had visited Ben Hern to plead for money to save the paper, Ben being not only an old friend of Rachel but the local celebrity, a Cuban-American artist whose work is highly regarded, and the author of several comic strips and children's books. Shortly after Ben threw Cam out, Cam is dead from a gunshot. Rachel heard the shot but didn't see who fired the gun. Soon thereafter, Cam's home is destroyed by fire, killing his wife. Their daughter, Leslie, arrives in town and demands Tom Bridger arrest Ben Hern. With little evidence to support her claim, Tom refuses. But Leslie is familiar with the past between Rachel and Ben, and threatens to use her leverage to expose secrets best left buried.
The intricate mystery plot of Broken Places is carefully constructed, augmented by a cast of characters -- both good and evil, with some unexpected interpersonal relationships -- that have something to hide. But secrets aren't always kept for selfish or malicious reasons, a key element in a story that ultimately puts Rachel in danger and truly captures the reader's attention and keeps the suspense and tension level high. The narrative moves along quickly and the identity of the killer, and the reasoning behind the crimes, comes as a surprise. Broken Places is a memorable entry in a series that keeps getting better.
Special thanks to guest reviewer Betty of The Betz Review for contributing her review of Broken Places and to Poisoned Pen Press for providing an ARC of the book for this review.
Review Copyright © 2010 — Hidden Staircase Mystery Books — All Rights Reserved
If you are interested in purchasing Broken Places from Amazon.com, please click the button to the right.
Synopsis (from the publisher): Summer is deadly in the mountain community of Mason County, Virginia. Deputy Sheriff Tom Bridger and veterinarian Rachel Goddard are caught in a maelstrom of lies that stretch far into the past and suspicions that threaten the future. Cam and Meredith Taylor are murdered within hours of one another, and Rachel is dragged into the case because she heard -- but didn't see -- Cam’s murder. The Taylors arrived in Mason County as volunteers in the 1960s War on Poverty, and they stayed on, making loyal friends and bitter enemies. The victims’ daughter is Tom’s former girlfriend, Leslie. She returns home to see justice done -- and to win Tom back from Rachel. The prime suspect is newcomer Ben Hern, Rachel’s childhood friend, and she is desperate to prove him innocent. 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.
Return to Mystery Books News ...
0 comments:
Post a Comment