Does this series need to read in order?  Or do they each stand alone?

I just acquired 5 of them but not sure if I should look for the 1st one 1st or just read on.

Help.

Yes Denise Swanson

Do you mean Scumble River by Denise Swanson?  If so, it does help to read them in order. 

Pretty much any series you're going to want to read in order. There are a few exceptions--for example, some of the classics like Agatha Christie's Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. Those are more plot-driven than character-driven, whereas most modern "mysteries" focus on the characters so the books progress more from book to book as the characters get older, relationships develop, etc. The mysteries themselves almost seem secondary to "a visit with friends" which is how you come to think of the characters.

So while I feel comfortable just picking up any old Agatha Christie or John D. MacDonald or Sir Arthur Conan Doyle book, for any series written after about 1985, I would definitely read in order.

Cheryl

I'd definately read them in order.  As Cheryl says they do develop. 

I'm reading that series right now and it is better if read in order mostly because as the others said, story lines develop between the personal relationships and there are mentions of previous book events.