Sandra Parshall is a well-known American author, best recognized for her Rachel Goddard Mystery series. She was born in South Carolina and developed her writing skills in her hometown paper as a weekly columnist before becoming a novelist. Parshall's roots in South Carolina, as well as her experience in West Virginia and Baltimore, MD, have significantly influenced her writing.
Parshall has written several novels in the Rachel Goddard Mystery series, including "The Heat of the Moon," which won the Agatha Award for Best First Novel in 2006. Other books in the series include "Disturbing the Dead," "Broken Places," "Under the Dog Star," and "Bleeding Through." Her work is often described as a blend of thriller, suspense, and mystery genres, with a darker tone. Parshall's husband is also a journalist, and they live together in the Washington, DC, area with two cats.
In addition to her fiction writing, Parshall is actively involved in the literary community. She is a past member of the national board of Sisters in Crime and a member of Mystery Writers of America. Parshall also interviews other writers for the The Big Thrill, newsletter of International Thriller Writers, and reviews crime fiction for the Washington Independent Review of Books.
Parshall's latest Rachel Goddard novel, "Poisoned Ground" (March 2014), is a gripping story about the repercussions of a huge corporation invading a small mountain community with the intention of building a sprawling resort for the wealthy. The book explores the tensions that arise when people refuse to sell their land, leading to a small-scale civil war. Parshall's writing is known for its complexity and depth, and "Poisoned Ground" is no exception. The novel delves into the motivations of the characters and the consequences of their actions, making it a compelling read for fans of the mystery genre.