Melinda Leigh consistently features fascinating female protagonists in her novels, and Bree Taggert, in the eponymous series, is the perfect example of that. She struggles with work life balance just as some of us do, and she cares deeply about both her job and her family. And for Taggert, the “caring for family” part is an accomplishment because she never thought she’d have a family. In “On Her Watch,” the eighth murder mystery in this series, Taggert continues caring for her niece and nephew after the murder of their mother, Taggert’s sister. She had moved to upstate New York to care for the kids and is now the sheriff, working to be seen, heard, and considered to be the woman in charge.

As we know, it takes a village to raise a child, and Taggert is very lucky with her village. Her former partner from her days as a Philadelphia homicide detective, Dana, has retired and lives with them, helping with child care and baking and just being a good friend. Matt, a former K9 handler with the local sheriff’s department is not only a love interest for Taggert but also a consultant with the department, so they work together.

Now there’s a serial killer on the loose. The discovery of three dead females in a deserted forest, with another body appearing almost right on Taggert’s doorstep, and the disappearance of yet another woman mean that Taggert and the whole sheriff’s department are racing against the clock to discover who the killer is and stop him before more corpses pile up. In addition to the police work, we witness Taggert’s relationship with Matt and how that has progressed since the first book in the series. Incidentally, while this novel works perfectly well as a stand alone read, there’s so much more that can be gleaned from reading the previous novels, learning about the backstory of the characters and their relationships, that reading the earlier entries is the smart thing to do to fully appreciate the series and the stories.

“On Her Watch” is certainly a novel that you’ll want to try to read in one sitting because Leigh perfectly captures the urgency of the serial killer situation and the desperation that Taggert and the others feel to find the murderer so people can feel safe. When the killer targets Taggert’s home, she is even more motivated to find the perpetrator and bring that person to justice. And along the way, we are treated to the rescue animals that Leigh makes a part of each novel, including Taggert’s own (and Leigh’s own) Ladybug. Matt’s K9, retired along with him, begins to take second stage as Greta, a black Shepherd rescue, is the sheriff department’s new star K9. And it’s beautiful to read about her in action.

The Bree Taggert series is filled with novels that are well-plotted and replete with likable characters (and some who are not-so-likable). But more importantly, they center on a woman who has risen to overcome many life challenges that would fell a person with less drive and heart. After a childhood that was a nightmare, Bree Taggert reminds us that people are resilient. That sometimes the best way to meet hostility and anger is with kindness and charm. And that while we all might have regrets about the past, it’s best — for all of us just as it is for Bree — to focus on the future and simply do the best we can.

This review was first posted on Bookreporter.com.