While RIGHT BEHIND HER may be the fourth installment in the mystery series featuring Bree Taggert, a former Philadelphia homicide detective turned county sheriff, author Melinda Leigh masterfully manages to give readers the backstory in a manner that is natural and part of each new book. We learn about the death of Bree's sister, Erin, and that Bree has taken over caring for her niece and nephew with the help of her now-retired former police partner, Dana. They live in a farmhouse with a barn for the horses that Erin rescued from a kill pen. And now Bree has a rescue of her own, a chubby mix named Ladybug, which is a nod to Leigh's own beloved rescue of the same name.

Bree isn't sure she can raise two children, but she’ll give it her best shot. She also may not think she can succeed as the county sheriff because of the political brown-nosing she would need to do, but her honesty and determination to get the job done have earned her the loyalty of almost all of her deputies. It's also difficult being a female sheriff in rural upstate New York and having to ask the wealthy white men on the county board for money to update her department. Their K9 unit, consisting of Matt Flynn and Brody, were injured several years ago, and both retired. But Matt is working with one of his sister’s rescues, Greta, to turn her into a K9 if they can raise the money for her training.

"Leigh's experienced writing is apparent in her ability to create a plot that enthralls, characters we care about, and authentic dialogue. While each book works extremely well as a stand-alone mystery, you will want to know more."

In the first chapter, Leigh takes us back 30 years as we witness a gruesome, premeditated murder involving torture. We don't know who the perpetrator is or the identity of the victim, but the whole situation is disturbing. In the present, Bree and her brother, Adam, visit the house where they lived until their father killed their mother and then shot himself. Eight-year-old Bree had taken her four-year-old sister and baby brother and hid with them under the porch that cold winter night. Sadly, the two younger children were raised by their grandparents, while Bree was sent to live with another relative in Philadelphia. She felt detached from her siblings, but now, living in Grey's Hollow, she has felt closer to them.

Bree is also growing closer to Matt, who is doing consulting work for the sheriff's department, which is sorely understaffed. She is reluctant to enter into a relationship since she has so much going on at work and with her family, but Matt is rock solid and patient. He's not going anywhere. And he's played a huge role in helping Bree get over her pathological fear of dogs, which dates back to when one of her father's dogs viciously attacked her when she was five.

As they encounter a dog running toward them, Matt explains to Bree that you know a dog is friendly because "[i]ts eyes are soft, and its body posture isn't stiff. The tail is wagging in a loose and relaxed way." He also gives her excellent advice about what not to do when meeting a strange dog: "First of all, don't stare directly at its eyes. Dogs perceive staring as a threat. If the dog is aggressive, it won't like it." He goes on to say that most dogs bite out of fear, not aggression; signs of fear are licking the lips, shaking and averted eyes. Leigh is a knowledgeable dog lover, and it comes through on these pages.

Bree and Adam are visiting their family farm, which Adam bought for the sake of nostalgia, even though he was only a baby when their family was torn apart. He is an extremely successful artist and was supporting Erin and her family before her death. While there, they realize that someone is in the barn; when the trespasser throws rocks at Bree and runs, she chases him down and arrests him. It turns out that he's the brother of a wealthy investor who also sits on the county board, and he’s addicted to opioids.

While searching the area, the remains of two bodies are discovered, leading Bree and the department to investigate the identity of the corpses and the killer who is responsible. Since the bodies have been there a long time, 30 years to be exact, the investigation is difficult. Bree knows that her father was certainly capable of murder, so she wonders if this double homicide will be pinned on him. After aggressive questioning and the uncovering of new evidence, those who may have been involved disappear. But when one of Bree's family members is threatened, she will stop at nothing to track down the evildoer.

Leigh's experienced writing is apparent in her ability to create a plot that enthralls, characters we care about, and authentic dialogue. While each book works extremely well as a stand-alone mystery, you will want to know more. How did Bree end up in Randolph County and Grey's Hollow, and what was she up to before this? How did her relationship with Matt develop to where it is now? I strongly advise that you pick up the first book, CROSS HER HEART, and work your way through this outstanding series.