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McRyan Mystery #2
Deadly Stillwater
An abduction is just the beginning in a case of betrayal and revenge that will ultimately strike at the soul of the St. Paul Police Department.
The ruggedly handsome Mac McRyan, a fourth-generation cop, is faced with a complicated brazen daytime kidnapping, a media storm surrounding the case, and political scrutiny. It is a case of betrayal and revenge that will ultimately strike at the soul of the St. Paul Police Department.
From the searing streets of St. Paul to the murky waters of the St. Croix River, DEADLY STILLWATER is a book you won't be able to put down until its last gripping minute.
The ruggedly handsome Mac McRyan, a fourth-generation cop, is faced with a complicated brazen daytime kidnapping, a media storm surrounding the case, and political scrutiny. It is a case of betrayal and revenge that will ultimately strike at the soul of the St. Paul Police Department.
From the searing streets of St. Paul to the murky waters of the St. Croix River, DEADLY STILLWATER is a book you won't be able to put down until its last gripping minute.
378 pages, ebook
First published October 20, 2009
9975 people are currently reading
6503 people want to read
About the author
Roger Stelljes
43 books761 followersNew York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the McRyan Mystery Series and the Tori Hunter - Manchester Bay Mystery Series. The two crime series with over 3+ million downloads and 200,000+ reviews and ratings. Get the heart-stopping, action-packed thrillers that fans of John Sandford, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, James Patterson and Karin Slaughter will be hooked on by one of the best new authors in crime fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,128 reviews
November 6, 2011
I received this free ebook "Deadly Stillwater", through Goodreads Giveaway through the author,Roger Stelljes. He delivers an action packed, thriller that is the second book in the McRyan Mystery Series. Mac McRyan, a fourth-generation cop, is faced with a complicated daytime kidnapping, a media storm surrounding the case, and political scrutiny. It is a case of betrayal and revenge that will ultimately strike at the soul of the St. Paul Police Department. From the searing streets of St. Paul to the icy shores of Lake Superior to the murky waters of the St. Croix River, "Deadly Stillwater" is a non-stop rush you won't be able to put down until its last thrilling minute.This book was well written and kept me glued to the chair.A definately enjoyable read.
May 29, 2017
Deadly Stillwater is book two in the McRyan Mystery Series by Roger Stelljes. One Sunday afternoon a young girl was kidnapped from her place of work which started Michael Mckenzie McRyan, Richard Lich, Pat Riley and Bobby Rockford into an investigation that they thought was a straightforward kidnapping for money. However, this was not the case, and the readers of Deadly Stillwater will follow the twist and turns of the investigation which ended with a surprising twist.
I enjoy fast moving stories with multi-twist and turns, and Deadly Stillwater provides me with this. Deadly Stillwater is the third book I have read in the McRyan Mystery Series, and I am falling more in love with Michael Mac McRyan and the other characters. I like the way Roger Stelljes portrays his characters and how he intertwines the main characters together. Also, Roger Stelljes does provide romantic situations between his characters, but it does not distract from the main plot it enhances it.
Deadly Stillwater is a fast moving crime mystery that keeps the reader's clue to their chairs. Readers of Deadly Stillwater will see the importance of mind mapping a problem. Deadly Stillwater highlights the importance of corporation from all branches of law enforcement.
I recommend this book.
I enjoy fast moving stories with multi-twist and turns, and Deadly Stillwater provides me with this. Deadly Stillwater is the third book I have read in the McRyan Mystery Series, and I am falling more in love with Michael Mac McRyan and the other characters. I like the way Roger Stelljes portrays his characters and how he intertwines the main characters together. Also, Roger Stelljes does provide romantic situations between his characters, but it does not distract from the main plot it enhances it.
Deadly Stillwater is a fast moving crime mystery that keeps the reader's clue to their chairs. Readers of Deadly Stillwater will see the importance of mind mapping a problem. Deadly Stillwater highlights the importance of corporation from all branches of law enforcement.
I recommend this book.
March 27, 2019
Deadly Stillwater by Roger Stelljes is the third book in the Mac McRyan Mystery Series with over 4,200 reviews.
I read this book because the kindle version was free and had 4,200 reviews. I was not disappointed.
Kidnapping, law enforcement mole, Police, Sheriffs, FBI, DEA, boat chase on the river, twists and turns with the climax on the 4th of July-a very good read.
With great characters and lots of dead ends the book smoothly keeps pulling you along.
It started with a kidnapping, and then another kidnapping and it kept my interest from there. Most of the book is about the investigation. The two young women’s lives are at risk (one is a diabetic), and the police trying to figure out the real reason the kidnappings occurred.
I took this from BM Perrin’s review, I liked what he said: “I found the suspense in this story to be outstanding. In part, this is due to the heinous nature of the crime. But even so, the author did an admirable job of keeping my stomach in a knot, as the finale approached relentlessly. The pacing was excellent. There are really no downtimes, although there is some seemingly unnecessary repetition of ideas.”
I strongly recommend the book and I plan to read more of his books.
I read this book because the kindle version was free and had 4,200 reviews. I was not disappointed.
Kidnapping, law enforcement mole, Police, Sheriffs, FBI, DEA, boat chase on the river, twists and turns with the climax on the 4th of July-a very good read.
With great characters and lots of dead ends the book smoothly keeps pulling you along.
It started with a kidnapping, and then another kidnapping and it kept my interest from there. Most of the book is about the investigation. The two young women’s lives are at risk (one is a diabetic), and the police trying to figure out the real reason the kidnappings occurred.
I took this from BM Perrin’s review, I liked what he said: “I found the suspense in this story to be outstanding. In part, this is due to the heinous nature of the crime. But even so, the author did an admirable job of keeping my stomach in a knot, as the finale approached relentlessly. The pacing was excellent. There are really no downtimes, although there is some seemingly unnecessary repetition of ideas.”
I strongly recommend the book and I plan to read more of his books.
July 10, 2013
This is just crap: totally disposable trash. We're in thrillers here, so nobody expects great literature - but there is such a thing as good bad art, whereas this ... ?!
I have to admit that I don't know if the characters are interesting, the action exciting, the denouement thrilling. Because when I read the following (at 1%) I junked the whole thing: "He rolled his athletic six-foot-one frame out of the Explorer. Ruggedly handsome, Mac had short blond hair, icy blue eyes, and a taut face with a dimple the size of the Grand Canyon on his scarred chin. A former captain of the University of Minnesota hockey team, he was still at his 190-pound playing weight and worked hard daily to keep it that way. Sliding on his Oakley sunglasses, ..."
I think this is what they mean when they call something 'beyond parody'.
No: life's just too short for this rubbish.
I have to admit that I don't know if the characters are interesting, the action exciting, the denouement thrilling. Because when I read the following (at 1%) I junked the whole thing: "He rolled his athletic six-foot-one frame out of the Explorer. Ruggedly handsome, Mac had short blond hair, icy blue eyes, and a taut face with a dimple the size of the Grand Canyon on his scarred chin. A former captain of the University of Minnesota hockey team, he was still at his 190-pound playing weight and worked hard daily to keep it that way. Sliding on his Oakley sunglasses, ..."
I think this is what they mean when they call something 'beyond parody'.
No: life's just too short for this rubbish.
September 11, 2019
2.5 stars rounded up
One from the depths of my kindle & sadly, not my cup of tea.
One from the depths of my kindle & sadly, not my cup of tea.
March 24, 2013
This book was free on Amazon, it sounded like my sort of thing so I gave it a try. Glad I did. A fast moving plot that kept me guessing. Great descriptions and characters.
One small criticism. A type 1 diabetic would NEVER forget her insulin. Nor would she be likely to survive for two days without it. My niece is type one and requires insulin four times a day! She could have taken her insulin on the day of her abduction and still be in extreme danger.
Apart from that, great stuff. I shall look out for more of this author's books and this time I'll even pay for them!
One small criticism. A type 1 diabetic would NEVER forget her insulin. Nor would she be likely to survive for two days without it. My niece is type one and requires insulin four times a day! She could have taken her insulin on the day of her abduction and still be in extreme danger.
Apart from that, great stuff. I shall look out for more of this author's books and this time I'll even pay for them!
July 9, 2017
Not a bad book, as such, just not my cup of tea.
I just didn't care. About any of it. Didn't empathize with the victims or particularly like any of the 'heroes'. Not a fan of the dialogue or the style of writing either. Wasn't gripped by the story, was just 'meh, whatever'.
(I'm finding this with quite a few books I've read lately, so maybe it's just my current mood ...)
I just didn't care. About any of it. Didn't empathize with the victims or particularly like any of the 'heroes'. Not a fan of the dialogue or the style of writing either. Wasn't gripped by the story, was just 'meh, whatever'.
(I'm finding this with quite a few books I've read lately, so maybe it's just my current mood ...)
January 20, 2025
Nope, Nope, Nope!! Boring 💤😦😴
May 7, 2012
I didn't realize until I had completed this book that it was the second in a series. And, I had not read the first book but that had absolutely no bearing on this read at all. I found this to be an edgy page-turning psychological story. The author had just the right amount of twists and turns to keep this intriguing.
August 29, 2015
A double kidnapping will catch your attention, but the language and over use of a few phrases will dull the finish. Not great character development. But a nice plot when the bad guys were always ahead of the police.
Cops do not paw through years of lawyer files even if the lawyer's child is kidnapped.
Cops do not paw through years of lawyer files even if the lawyer's child is kidnapped.
February 20, 2015
Deadly Stillwater marks the return of Michael McKenzie McRyan, known as “Mac” to his police colleagues and pals. The daughter of a famous and wealthy local attorney is kidnapped in broad daylight as she leaves her job at a café in downtown Stillwater, MN. Witnesses have very little information to give the police, and so far, there is no ransom demand. The next day, another young woman is taken; this time, it’s the daughter of the chief of police. Are the abductions connected? If so, how? After the vehicle connected to the first case is found destroyed in neighboring Wisconsin, the FBI is contacted, and Agent John Burton is the man in charge. Unlike most cases involving the Feds, Burton promises to cooperate and involve local officials as much as possible. Really?
From the onset, the reader knows both sides of the case, for the most part. There are four kidnappers; brains of the operation is a man named Smith, who spent 15 years in prison. Then there are the brawny accomplices, David and Dean, plus the beautiful Monica, who provides some crucial information, such as tipping off the guys when Shannon, the first victim, was leaving the café. What we don’t know until much later is what motivates them. However, their planning and execution are amazing, even admirable. It’s as if they know exactly what the police will do and are doing. Do you suppose…?
Having read Stelljes’ first book, The St. Paul Conspiracy, perhaps a year or two ago, I was familiar with his cop characters. Mac is a fourth-generation Irish cop with a law degree. He also has money, but police work is in his blood. The other guys on his team, Riley, Rockford, and Lich, are all rather stereotypes who do the typical guy banter while in the squad room, but they are an effective team, and Stelljes seems to have a good working knowledge of police procedure. There is a lot of dialogue in this novel, perhaps a bit too much for my taste, but for the most part, it felt realistic enough. I did feel that at this stage, book 2, there could be more development of the main characters, as they seem rather one-dimensional.
The plot, however, kept me engaged. I liked the way the bad guys were staying a jump ahead of the cops, changing clothes, changing locations, and frustrating the heck out of them. The part where tempers flared between the mayor and Mac seemed plausible, and the fact that it was a holiday made information more difficult to obtain and hence, things were more tense. The information about Shannon Hisle being a Type 1 diabetic is a good detail; it adds a greater sense of drama and urgency. I am not sure, though, whether someone with Type 1 diabetes would not have her insulin with her at all times.
The pacing is fast, and though there doesn’t seem to be a question of whether the daughters will be found or the bad guys caught, there is plenty of blood-pumping action as Mac and the guys race against the clock to solve the mysteries of the crimes. Even after they know who is responsible, they must find them and stop them. There are plenty of secrets, which I won’t give away, but all in all, it’s a pretty good story. It’s extra fun for Minnesotans who are familiar with the Twin Cities and Stillwater area. Mac McRyan has a promising future.
3 of 5 stars
From the onset, the reader knows both sides of the case, for the most part. There are four kidnappers; brains of the operation is a man named Smith, who spent 15 years in prison. Then there are the brawny accomplices, David and Dean, plus the beautiful Monica, who provides some crucial information, such as tipping off the guys when Shannon, the first victim, was leaving the café. What we don’t know until much later is what motivates them. However, their planning and execution are amazing, even admirable. It’s as if they know exactly what the police will do and are doing. Do you suppose…?
Having read Stelljes’ first book, The St. Paul Conspiracy, perhaps a year or two ago, I was familiar with his cop characters. Mac is a fourth-generation Irish cop with a law degree. He also has money, but police work is in his blood. The other guys on his team, Riley, Rockford, and Lich, are all rather stereotypes who do the typical guy banter while in the squad room, but they are an effective team, and Stelljes seems to have a good working knowledge of police procedure. There is a lot of dialogue in this novel, perhaps a bit too much for my taste, but for the most part, it felt realistic enough. I did feel that at this stage, book 2, there could be more development of the main characters, as they seem rather one-dimensional.
The plot, however, kept me engaged. I liked the way the bad guys were staying a jump ahead of the cops, changing clothes, changing locations, and frustrating the heck out of them. The part where tempers flared between the mayor and Mac seemed plausible, and the fact that it was a holiday made information more difficult to obtain and hence, things were more tense. The information about Shannon Hisle being a Type 1 diabetic is a good detail; it adds a greater sense of drama and urgency. I am not sure, though, whether someone with Type 1 diabetes would not have her insulin with her at all times.
The pacing is fast, and though there doesn’t seem to be a question of whether the daughters will be found or the bad guys caught, there is plenty of blood-pumping action as Mac and the guys race against the clock to solve the mysteries of the crimes. Even after they know who is responsible, they must find them and stop them. There are plenty of secrets, which I won’t give away, but all in all, it’s a pretty good story. It’s extra fun for Minnesotans who are familiar with the Twin Cities and Stillwater area. Mac McRyan has a promising future.
3 of 5 stars
November 1, 2013
WOW! WOW! WOW! THIS ONE HAD ME TALKING OUT LOUD, ON THE EDGE OF MY RECLINER, KINDA' READ. I ENJOYED ALL IN THIS SERIES BUT THIS STORYLINE "GOOD-GUGA-MOOGA", I LOVED IT, LOVED IT. MAC AND HIS "TWO-LIVE-CREW" WAS REALLY SOMETHING ELSE{he really had to work to solve this one). I MEAN I THOUGHT THEY WERE NEVER GONNA CATCH THE BAD GUY'S AND THEY WERE REALLY CHILLINGLY BAD. THEY WERE RUNNING OUT OF TIME, LIVES WERE AT STAKE, MY HEART WAS POUNDING, I WAS SCREAMING, "MAC, PLEASE HURRY UP"! OMG! I KNOW MY DAUGHTER WAS LOOKING AT ME LIKE I WAS CRAZY (at the time I was). I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT ONE, I HAVE IT WAITING ON MY BOOK SHELF, YES INDEEDY I DO. ;>
March 26, 2013
A couple of girls have been kidnapped and Mac and the gang is after the kidnappers.
From the start, the dialogue seems funny to me, not funny as in 'entertaining' but as in 'unrealistic'.
The plot from the start is predictable and gets worse as it goes on culminating in a boring chase, which in all honesty, I can't be bothered to read.
The characters, I find, are run-of-the--mill cops making the story a regular bad guy, good guy thing.
Don't waste your time. You can find something better.
From the start, the dialogue seems funny to me, not funny as in 'entertaining' but as in 'unrealistic'.
The plot from the start is predictable and gets worse as it goes on culminating in a boring chase, which in all honesty, I can't be bothered to read.
The characters, I find, are run-of-the--mill cops making the story a regular bad guy, good guy thing.
Don't waste your time. You can find something better.
October 24, 2012
Very good and fast read. My only problem was all the errors kept distracting me from the story because I'd look at each error - spelling, grammar or typos and think ... whoever edited this doesn't know how to edit and doesn't pay attention to detail. The lack of good editing continued to distract me throughout. I'm not sure if this is because I am reading it as an ebook and that the original book doesn't have these errors. For example, the most recent error to catch my eye is, "The old man look disappointed." I caught this error only one quarter through the text and at that point had already caught over 6 of these silly errors. Also economy in language would've made a big difference, for example, "... Lick said with a smile,..." could just be, 'Lick smiled,' to identify the speaker.
I liked the way Stelljes built his characters and found them very believable. There were very few spots where I thought the text should be changed. All in all a good quick read and fast paced action. I very much liked his style and familiarity with police procedure and technique in his characters. I love mysteries. This book has excellent timing and pacing, which I really appreciated and enjoyed. I am planning to read St. Paul Conspiracy too.
I liked the way Stelljes built his characters and found them very believable. There were very few spots where I thought the text should be changed. All in all a good quick read and fast paced action. I very much liked his style and familiarity with police procedure and technique in his characters. I love mysteries. This book has excellent timing and pacing, which I really appreciated and enjoyed. I am planning to read St. Paul Conspiracy too.
August 18, 2023
This wasn’t a terrible story. It had some really suspenseful parts but I just wasn’t loving it
April 2, 2013
3.5-4 stars
My only "nit" with this book is that the previous 2 books have been really clean - no real language or detailed sex scenes to speak of. But this book has both - not graphic sex scenes, but at least one where we get more than a fade-to-black with Mac and Sally. My question is WHY? Why now? Was the author under some pressure to put more "grit" into the series? 'Cuz it comes across as a rather half-hearted and unnecessary attempt at "grit", IMO.
Putting that aside, this book is fast moving. I spend from 3rd grade to graduating from high school in Minnesota - smaller communities, about 1 hour north of the Twin Cities. So it cracked me up that this book is almost like a tour of Minnesota - the crooks travel far-and-wide throughout MN and even into Wisconsin, trying to stay one step ahead of Mac Ryan and his crew.
Lyman Hisle's daughter and Chief Flannigan's daughter have been kidnapped - both in very controlled, planned ways. Hisle is the really connected defense attorney we met in book 1. He's well-liked by the cops, though, because for every scum he defends, he also lends a hand on cop-related defense cases. Hisle is well-liked and well-respected... and very rich.
Mac and his crew can't quite figure out what the deal is, though, because the kidnappers talk about money, but no real ransom demands. There's something else going on here. When the investigation crosses into Wisconsin, because the bad guys used a pay phone there to make one of their calls, the FBI becomes involved. Tensions are a bit high, 'cuz the FBI doesn't always play well.
The mayor is determined to keep Flannigan and "his boys" on a leash. He wants the FBI in charge, which is fine, except Burton, the SAIC, seems to be dragging his feet to Mac. But Mac and his boys were part of a highly-publicized and criticized take-down just a few weeks before, and there were allegations of police brutality when it was all captured on video.
It's a twisted, puzzling case... and while I knew who the insider was right away, I didn't know why - the connection. But these bad guys aren't your average bad guys. Prepared, controlled, planned... they don't leave much to chance and know how not to leave any clues or trace behind. It's almost a miracle that Mac and his guys figure it out.
But can they rescue the girls AND Hisle and the Chief?
==============
Other than the change in language and the one sex scene, not much has changed. Which is a good thing. Mac is a solid character - maybe too much of a hero... too good at his job, but hey, he's the one you want solving your case!
Sally and Mac are still together. While they practically live together, there's no real talk of marriage. Both seem to be burned, yet, by their failed first marriages. Sally's OK, but somehow she's not floating my boat. She's got some fire and flare, but... dunno. Maybe the sex scene was a way to make her more interesting?
Other than his cop relatives, not much about Mac's family. A brief mention of one of his 3 sisters at the beginning. But by now, I'd think we'd have a bit more insight into Mac's mom and his family, including the extended family. I guess Mac is all business? Other than Sally, we don't have real glimpses into Mac's life beyond his business contacts and friends he brings in to help him solve cases. By now, I'd think we'd have a more well-rounded picture of Mac. Is his job really his life? That's kinda sad, and it doesn't seem like who Mac is.
BUT, this is a good, keep-you-guessing book. It's gritty, harsh, realistic (as a book can be), and just plain tough.
Good book! On to the last book currently available in the series...
My only "nit" with this book is that the previous 2 books have been really clean - no real language or detailed sex scenes to speak of. But this book has both - not graphic sex scenes, but at least one where we get more than a fade-to-black with Mac and Sally. My question is WHY? Why now? Was the author under some pressure to put more "grit" into the series? 'Cuz it comes across as a rather half-hearted and unnecessary attempt at "grit", IMO.
Putting that aside, this book is fast moving. I spend from 3rd grade to graduating from high school in Minnesota - smaller communities, about 1 hour north of the Twin Cities. So it cracked me up that this book is almost like a tour of Minnesota - the crooks travel far-and-wide throughout MN and even into Wisconsin, trying to stay one step ahead of Mac Ryan and his crew.
Lyman Hisle's daughter and Chief Flannigan's daughter have been kidnapped - both in very controlled, planned ways. Hisle is the really connected defense attorney we met in book 1. He's well-liked by the cops, though, because for every scum he defends, he also lends a hand on cop-related defense cases. Hisle is well-liked and well-respected... and very rich.
Mac and his crew can't quite figure out what the deal is, though, because the kidnappers talk about money, but no real ransom demands. There's something else going on here. When the investigation crosses into Wisconsin, because the bad guys used a pay phone there to make one of their calls, the FBI becomes involved. Tensions are a bit high, 'cuz the FBI doesn't always play well.
The mayor is determined to keep Flannigan and "his boys" on a leash. He wants the FBI in charge, which is fine, except Burton, the SAIC, seems to be dragging his feet to Mac. But Mac and his boys were part of a highly-publicized and criticized take-down just a few weeks before, and there were allegations of police brutality when it was all captured on video.
It's a twisted, puzzling case... and while I knew who the insider was right away, I didn't know why - the connection. But these bad guys aren't your average bad guys. Prepared, controlled, planned... they don't leave much to chance and know how not to leave any clues or trace behind. It's almost a miracle that Mac and his guys figure it out.
But can they rescue the girls AND Hisle and the Chief?
==============
Other than the change in language and the one sex scene, not much has changed. Which is a good thing. Mac is a solid character - maybe too much of a hero... too good at his job, but hey, he's the one you want solving your case!
Sally and Mac are still together. While they practically live together, there's no real talk of marriage. Both seem to be burned, yet, by their failed first marriages. Sally's OK, but somehow she's not floating my boat. She's got some fire and flare, but... dunno. Maybe the sex scene was a way to make her more interesting?
Other than his cop relatives, not much about Mac's family. A brief mention of one of his 3 sisters at the beginning. But by now, I'd think we'd have a bit more insight into Mac's mom and his family, including the extended family. I guess Mac is all business? Other than Sally, we don't have real glimpses into Mac's life beyond his business contacts and friends he brings in to help him solve cases. By now, I'd think we'd have a more well-rounded picture of Mac. Is his job really his life? That's kinda sad, and it doesn't seem like who Mac is.
BUT, this is a good, keep-you-guessing book. It's gritty, harsh, realistic (as a book can be), and just plain tough.
Good book! On to the last book currently available in the series...
January 23, 2015
This was a pretty good book.
Characters were great -- I loved the good guys and hated the bad guys.
Some excellent twists and turns in it too.
I understood the characters' motivations and the words flowed off the pages and into me very easily. The book never bogged down and was fun to read.
I recommend it -- rather highly
I will most likely read something else by this author and for sure in the series.
Try it, you'll like it!
Characters were great -- I loved the good guys and hated the bad guys.
Some excellent twists and turns in it too.
I understood the characters' motivations and the words flowed off the pages and into me very easily. The book never bogged down and was fun to read.
I recommend it -- rather highly
I will most likely read something else by this author and for sure in the series.
Try it, you'll like it!
April 22, 2012
Well writen, fast paced, excelent read! Grabs you right off and keeps getting better.... I love it when a book has that twist you don't see coming! And this book delivered! If your wanting a good detective thriller book to read this is the one!
September 19, 2015
I found this to be a real page turner, with enough suspense to keep me trying to look ahead in my mind to solve case. The details are well done.
I would recommend this mystery to anyone who enjoys a good well written mystery especially one with plenty of local scenery.
I would recommend this mystery to anyone who enjoys a good well written mystery especially one with plenty of local scenery.
August 29, 2020
I just loved reading this thriller. Excellent.
November 27, 2014
4-Stars! A Good Book and a Good Series
“Deadly Stillwater” is the third book of what is currently a five-book series of police, action-adventure mysteries set in St. Paul, Minnesota. No doubt, there will be more to come. Although series books are very much in vogue these days; I usually dislike them, because they all-too-often cheat the reader. I feel a story should be distinct and complete from cover to cover and not simply a teaser to get the reader to buy yet another book. By and large, Roger Stelljes’ suspense novels featuring ‘Mac’ McRyan and a cast of quirky St. Paul homicide detectives don’t do that. They are self-contained and you really don’t need to read them in sequence. While they are nominally cop stories, they are much more action-adventure than police procedurals and fun reads. Think Mitch Rapp with a badge, shooting first and asking questions later. Because this series is set in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, they will always draw comparison to John Sandford’s highly successful “Prey” books. I think Stelljes’ books have considerably more action and running around (the characters are always running or racing somewhere), while Sandford’s have better suspense and character development, but both series are good reads. Roger Stelljes’ books are on Kindle, and you can frequently find them in the Kindle Countdown Sales. Pick one up, they are great for the beach or a long airplane ride.
William F. Brown is the author of 5 suspense novels with over 300 Five-Star Reviews: The Undertaker, Amongst My Enemies, Thursday at Noon, Winner Take All, and now Aim True, My Brothers. They are all available on Kindle and now on Audible Audio Books. You read about them at billbrownwritesnovels.wordpress.com
“Deadly Stillwater” is the third book of what is currently a five-book series of police, action-adventure mysteries set in St. Paul, Minnesota. No doubt, there will be more to come. Although series books are very much in vogue these days; I usually dislike them, because they all-too-often cheat the reader. I feel a story should be distinct and complete from cover to cover and not simply a teaser to get the reader to buy yet another book. By and large, Roger Stelljes’ suspense novels featuring ‘Mac’ McRyan and a cast of quirky St. Paul homicide detectives don’t do that. They are self-contained and you really don’t need to read them in sequence. While they are nominally cop stories, they are much more action-adventure than police procedurals and fun reads. Think Mitch Rapp with a badge, shooting first and asking questions later. Because this series is set in the Twin Cities of Minnesota, they will always draw comparison to John Sandford’s highly successful “Prey” books. I think Stelljes’ books have considerably more action and running around (the characters are always running or racing somewhere), while Sandford’s have better suspense and character development, but both series are good reads. Roger Stelljes’ books are on Kindle, and you can frequently find them in the Kindle Countdown Sales. Pick one up, they are great for the beach or a long airplane ride.
William F. Brown is the author of 5 suspense novels with over 300 Five-Star Reviews: The Undertaker, Amongst My Enemies, Thursday at Noon, Winner Take All, and now Aim True, My Brothers. They are all available on Kindle and now on Audible Audio Books. You read about them at billbrownwritesnovels.wordpress.com
June 17, 2016
This book by Stelljes is a full blown mystery, it is not your light cream puff story. The characters grow as the story continues and you get to know them, for better and for ill. The story or plot has plenty of twists and turns to keep you happily reading until the end. It is a mystery I enjoyed
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and "Tell Me About the United Methodist Church"
J. Robert Ewbank author "John Wesley, Natural Man, and the Isms" "Wesley's Wars" "To Whom It May Concern" and "Tell Me About the United Methodist Church"
March 20, 2017
I’d had this book sitting in my Nook library for some time now and I don’t know why I never read it – but I’m sure glad I decided to give it a whirl. There is nothing better than a good crime/murder mystery and this story would make a great movie. It had a bit of everything -- good cop/bad cop, reformed prisoner/unreformed ex-prisoners, revenge, kidnapping, shootouts, clues/fake clues and more.
The story starts with a prominent attorney’s daughter being kidnapped while leaving work. The following day the chief of police’s daughter is kidnapped. And then the fun begins. When it is discovered that the kidnappers may have crossed state lines with the girls, the FBI is called in and desperate manhunt begins. A ransom request is imminent, the girls have been buried alive with nothing but an air vent, one of them a diabetic and desperately in need of her insulin, and the seconds are ticking off the clock faster than anyone can count.
This was a well written crime mystery – my first by this author. While I did figure out who the bad guy was, it was still a captivating and intriguing story and well worth the read.
The story starts with a prominent attorney’s daughter being kidnapped while leaving work. The following day the chief of police’s daughter is kidnapped. And then the fun begins. When it is discovered that the kidnappers may have crossed state lines with the girls, the FBI is called in and desperate manhunt begins. A ransom request is imminent, the girls have been buried alive with nothing but an air vent, one of them a diabetic and desperately in need of her insulin, and the seconds are ticking off the clock faster than anyone can count.
This was a well written crime mystery – my first by this author. While I did figure out who the bad guy was, it was still a captivating and intriguing story and well worth the read.
January 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, of course I usually do enjoy books by authors from my home state. In this book the action involves a team of detectives in St Paul. The main detective is McRyan. At 33 he is the youngest on the team of four, but he's the brilliant one of the four. Two young woman are kidnapped, one being a daughter of a wealthy, prominent St Paul attorney and the second is the daughter of the St Paul police chief. With no clues as to why the girls were kidnapped and who the kidnappers are, McRyan and the boys, as they are known as, have a seemingly impossible job ahead of them- find the girls.
It was fun traveling around the state with them, to places I know very well. Plenty of nonstop excitement throughout the book.
I definitely recommend this book to my friends. I noticed this book is the second book in the series, so I've got some catching up to do.
It was fun traveling around the state with them, to places I know very well. Plenty of nonstop excitement throughout the book.
I definitely recommend this book to my friends. I noticed this book is the second book in the series, so I've got some catching up to do.
January 6, 2019
Should 3-1/2 stars
I liked the book because it is set in St. Paul and the surrounding area, always enjoy the local settings. Editing could have been tighter, got a bit long in spots. It was a rather complicated plot that skipped around quite a bit but was easy to follow. All in all, a quick read that kept my interest.
As of January 6, 2019, the Nook version of this book is still free, can't go wrong at that price!
I liked the book because it is set in St. Paul and the surrounding area, always enjoy the local settings. Editing could have been tighter, got a bit long in spots. It was a rather complicated plot that skipped around quite a bit but was easy to follow. All in all, a quick read that kept my interest.
As of January 6, 2019, the Nook version of this book is still free, can't go wrong at that price!
May 5, 2018
Not bad for a freebie. Once I got past the beginning where I was told how handsome the main protagonist was and nearly barfed on the amount of cheese, there was a decent story in there - quite gripping at times.
Unfortunately I found myself skimming on more than one occasion which generally means there was to much description in a part of the book I wanted to be faster paced.
A few more books down the line I will possibly rejoin the series in the hope that they've improved.
Unfortunately I found myself skimming on more than one occasion which generally means there was to much description in a part of the book I wanted to be faster paced.
A few more books down the line I will possibly rejoin the series in the hope that they've improved.
May 21, 2024
Good plotline and characters
I enjoyed the twists in the plot line, this being my first "McRyan Mystery " it was hard to keep up with who the characters were. But I really liked the characters and the plot line
I enjoyed the twists in the plot line, this being my first "McRyan Mystery " it was hard to keep up with who the characters were. But I really liked the characters and the plot line
April 15, 2017
I barely could wait to read what was to happen next
The characters were real. I could relate to both sides. I felt the hate fear and relief of the characters
The characters were real. I could relate to both sides. I felt the hate fear and relief of the characters
July 8, 2017
That was a great crime/mystery read. Suspenseful. Easy to read. Fast-paced. I'd read another. (Also fun that it was set in the Twin Cities area with mentions of Osseo, Stillwater, St. Paul, etc.)
Want to read
February 10, 2020TheFussyLibrarian
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