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Mattie Winston Mystery #10
Dead of Winter
A medical examiner is pulled into a case of human trafficking in this hard-boiled mystery by the USA Today –bestselling author of Dead Ringer . Before medicolegal death investigator Mattie can smooth out the unexpected chaos of her new home, new marriage, and new family, duty calls. At the local ER, a battered and bruised teenage girl has been brought in by a mysterious man who claimed she’d fallen out of a car. The staff is suspicious, but while they attend to the teenager, the unidentified man slips out. Then the girl dies, but not before informing social worker Hildy Schneider that the man had her little sister as well. Mattie’s exam reveals forensic evidence of long-term IV drug use and physical abuse, findings consistent with Hildy’s suspicion that the girl was a victim of human trafficking. They are able to confirm her identity as a teen who went missing six months ago, along with her sister—facts that are deeply unsettling to Mattie who now shares a home with her husband’s teenaged daughter. Working closely with Hildy and Sorenson homicide detectives, including her husband Steve Hurley, Mattie must delve into a dark underworld to stop the ruthless trafficking of human lives—before it's too late for another young girl . . . Praise for Annelise Ryan and her Mattie Winston series “Has it suspense, laughter, a spicy dash of romance.”— New York Times –bestselling author Tess Gerritsen “[Ryan] smoothly blends humor, distinctive characters, and authentic forensic detail.”— Publishers Weekly “The forensic details will interest Patricia Cornwell readers . . .while the often slapstick humor and the blossoming romance between Mattie and Hurley will draw Evanovich fans.”— Bookl
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2019
199 people are currently reading
509 people want to read
About the author
Annelise Ryan
19 books1,137 followersAnnelise Ryan is a pseudonym for Beth Amos, the USA Today bestselling author of 30 novels, including the Monster Hunter Mysteries featuring cryptozoologist and bookstore owner, Morgan Carter, the Mattie Winston mystery series, featuring a wryly cynical nurse-turned-coroner, and the Helping Hands Mysteries featuring social worker Hildy Schneider.
In addition, she is the author of the Mack's Bar Mystery series written as Allyson K. Abbott and five standalone paranormal thrillers written as Beth Amos.
She is a retired emergency room nurse living in Wisconsin. There are several reasons why she decided to use pseudonyms, not the least of which was that her ER patients might not have been comfortable knowing she spent her spare time thinking up clever ways to kill people.
In addition, she is the author of the Mack's Bar Mystery series written as Allyson K. Abbott and five standalone paranormal thrillers written as Beth Amos.
She is a retired emergency room nurse living in Wisconsin. There are several reasons why she decided to use pseudonyms, not the least of which was that her ER patients might not have been comfortable knowing she spent her spare time thinking up clever ways to kill people.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
February 16, 2019
This review is based about my mindset as a reviewer. If the author has a scene with the main character crapping in her pants in the CAR and staining the leather seat, with her boss in the passenger seat going - what's that smell - a scene which is not valid to the story line or the plot or the development of the character, then I am done. I. AM. SO. DONE!! I can't go beyond such a scene ever.
This is book 11 in the series involving the main character Mattie Winston. I didn't have a problem in following her life as a medical examiner in a new marriage to cop Hurley with a son Matthew.
A young girl comes to the ER and flatlines on the table. Mattie is called in for the autopsy which ultimately her boss does as she seems too busy with other parts of investigation, which I don't think are needed. But what do I know?!! The young girl was presumed to be part of human trafficking. They investigate...
I liked the initial investigation part, but post crapping, there were two non-connected subplots of an abusive boyfriend of a co-worker and another murder in a theatre. I skim read the book post the awful scene of crapping in the car. And I was not impressed with the characters or any of the investigation.
My rating is for the initial plot line, but the book made me lose my mojo for reading due the unnecessary scene. I haven't read the previous 10 in the series, and now I don't plan to. EVER!!
This is book 11 in the series involving the main character Mattie Winston. I didn't have a problem in following her life as a medical examiner in a new marriage to cop Hurley with a son Matthew.
A young girl comes to the ER and flatlines on the table. Mattie is called in for the autopsy which ultimately her boss does as she seems too busy with other parts of investigation, which I don't think are needed. But what do I know?!! The young girl was presumed to be part of human trafficking. They investigate...
I liked the initial investigation part, but post crapping, there were two non-connected subplots of an abusive boyfriend of a co-worker and another murder in a theatre. I skim read the book post the awful scene of crapping in the car. And I was not impressed with the characters or any of the investigation.
My rating is for the initial plot line, but the book made me lose my mojo for reading due the unnecessary scene. I haven't read the previous 10 in the series, and now I don't plan to. EVER!!
Read
April 8, 2019DNF at 42%
WHY this SCENE?! Ewww....
From the beginning. I haven't read the previous books and I didn't know that Dead of Winter was part of the series when I had requested it on the NetGalley. But I would say, you can read it as a stand-alone. Yes, even if I have just done it up to the 42%, I assure you, you won't miss anything: the author is a DETAILS-junkie. You not only get the full picture of the present events, but also a very detailed description of the past events that help you to understand the characters and their background.
It is not a mystery in a classical style, the main character and the protagonist is not private investigator and not police officer, but medicolegal death investigator Mattie Winston. I haven't yet read any series where the main focus was set on a forensic investigation, it is why on the one side I was very exciting to read this one, on the other side I had nothing to compare with. And the fact that it was already the book #10 in the series, wasn't also a big help. I can't talk about the whole series, but in this book the main focus is not set on the forensic investigation - a young woman that was brought to the local ER and left there by a stranger died soon after due to the severity of her injuries, everything speaks for a victim of human trafficking - but on the characters themselves. The author tells and shows us a lot of outside business hours.
It is a complicated to judge the writing style here for me. Sometimes many DETAILS are necessary, they help to build a special atmosphere and tension. But sometimes all these DETAILS are just harmful: they reduce the tension, spoil the atmosphere and brake the dynamic. As an author you have to know the damage that many insignificant to the plot details can course.
I actually found this book ok, even if many details started slowly but surely to annoy me. And then
THIS SCENE. I don't know what role her food poisoning should play in this investigation, except that the author wants to appear...humorous? Pages after pages, with the detailed glorious description of her...diarrhea, along with a smell she created sitting the whole night on the loo. As if it was not enough, we learned that on her way to the hospital the next day she caused the accident (because she wanted to get as quickly as possible to her work because of...(), and then she crapped her pants and when her mail colleague who was in the car decided to walk (yes, who wants to stay in the car with this SMELL?!), she was offended!!!
YES, believe me or not, but this woman WAS OFFENDED! And even more, she drove to her work, with her full pants, and even took the elevator. To her protection at this point, SHE HOPED and PRAYED that she wouldn't run into anyone.
Sorry. I can't read this book further.
At least I learn my boundaries. I thought I could read EVERYTHING. I don't want to read about a food poisoning THAT detailed in my life again.
***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
WHY this SCENE?! Ewww....
From the beginning. I haven't read the previous books and I didn't know that Dead of Winter was part of the series when I had requested it on the NetGalley. But I would say, you can read it as a stand-alone. Yes, even if I have just done it up to the 42%, I assure you, you won't miss anything: the author is a DETAILS-junkie. You not only get the full picture of the present events, but also a very detailed description of the past events that help you to understand the characters and their background.
It is not a mystery in a classical style, the main character and the protagonist is not private investigator and not police officer, but medicolegal death investigator Mattie Winston. I haven't yet read any series where the main focus was set on a forensic investigation, it is why on the one side I was very exciting to read this one, on the other side I had nothing to compare with. And the fact that it was already the book #10 in the series, wasn't also a big help. I can't talk about the whole series, but in this book the main focus is not set on the forensic investigation - a young woman that was brought to the local ER and left there by a stranger died soon after due to the severity of her injuries, everything speaks for a victim of human trafficking - but on the characters themselves. The author tells and shows us a lot of outside business hours.
It is a complicated to judge the writing style here for me. Sometimes many DETAILS are necessary, they help to build a special atmosphere and tension. But sometimes all these DETAILS are just harmful: they reduce the tension, spoil the atmosphere and brake the dynamic. As an author you have to know the damage that many insignificant to the plot details can course.
I actually found this book ok, even if many details started slowly but surely to annoy me. And then
THIS SCENE. I don't know what role her food poisoning should play in this investigation, except that the author wants to appear...humorous? Pages after pages, with the detailed glorious description of her...diarrhea, along with a smell she created sitting the whole night on the loo. As if it was not enough, we learned that on her way to the hospital the next day she caused the accident (because she wanted to get as quickly as possible to her work because of...(), and then she crapped her pants and when her mail colleague who was in the car decided to walk (yes, who wants to stay in the car with this SMELL?!), she was offended!!!"Really? That's how you're going to play this? You, who have smelled things ten times worse, like week-old summer decomp!"
YES, believe me or not, but this woman WAS OFFENDED! And even more, she drove to her work, with her full pants, and even took the elevator. To her protection at this point, SHE HOPED and PRAYED that she wouldn't run into anyone.
Sorry. I can't read this book further.
At least I learn my boundaries. I thought I could read EVERYTHING. I don't want to read about a food poisoning THAT detailed in my life again.
***ARC provided kindly by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.
October 20, 2021
If an author chooses to write a detective book in 1st person present tense, that book should be pretty damn tense and deal with the present. It should not spend two pages describing each and every walk-on secondary character. It should not spend the first 10% recapping the history of the previous 9 books in the series. It should not give me a narrator whose only screwed up psychological problem is what to get her husband for his birthday. That's so not the present tense I'm looking for.
Skim-read but few signs of excitement and too many TSTL vibes.
Skim-read but few signs of excitement and too many TSTL vibes.
April 1, 2019
The MC, Maddie Winston, always makes me laugh! This book is no different. There are a few different mysteries going on, one of them very heavy and heart wrenching. Sometimes things get a little far fetched, but it adds to the hilarity of it all I recommend this quick read.
January 14, 2019
This is the 10th booking this outstanding and fast-moving series. It can be read as a standalone but reading the series in order will enable you to understand the backstory. It is the dead of winter in Sorenson, Wisconsin and snow storms are impeding movement. Mattie Winston and her homicide detective husband Steve Hurley are dealing with a human trafficking ring.
Mattie and Hurley along with their two children have moved into their new house. Mattie is called to the ER as a young girl was brought into the hospital and dies there. She informed the staff that the group had her sister. Before she passed she mumbled, "lost group". Mattie and friends must work fast to save the sister. Are they in time? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
Disclosure: to Kensington Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
Mattie and Hurley along with their two children have moved into their new house. Mattie is called to the ER as a young girl was brought into the hospital and dies there. She informed the staff that the group had her sister. Before she passed she mumbled, "lost group". Mattie and friends must work fast to save the sister. Are they in time? I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND SERIES.
Disclosure: to Kensington Books for a copy through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 5, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Mattie and Hurley have moved into their new home and are settling in nicely with their children but at times Mattie feels a little overwhelmed when her work as a death investigator is added to the mix. Her latest case involves a teen who was brought into the ER battered and bruised and later dies but not before uttering “he has her too” and begging social worker, Hildy Schneider to help her little sister. Mattie’s exam is heartbreaking. It shows the teenager was a long-time victim of physical abuse and long-term IV drug use. Both Hildy and Mattie agree she was being human trafficked. Both are shocked that something like that could happen in Sorenson, Wisconsin. It just hits too close now that she is caring for Hurley’s teenage daughter. So working with Hurley, Hildy, other techs at the Medical Examiner’s office, and other local detectives Mattie takes a deep dive into human trafficking to find a little girl before it is too late.
Meanwhile, a member of Dom’s theater group falls from a catwalk to his death. A death that is quickly classified as a homicide. Add a first-class Wisconsin blizzard to the mix and things could get messy for Sorenson and Mattie.
This is such a wonderful series. With the 8th book in the series, Ms. Ryan added more serious themes but didn’t lose the humor readers expect from her. In this book that included a terrible, awful, very bad day for Mattie. I could relate on a personal level to part of it but that didn’t keep me from laughing at all her trials and tribulations. Young Matthew also tees up some hilarious things. He is at the perfect age to get into all kinds of mischief. Hurley takes just about everything in stride. Mattie is thankful that Emily, her teenage stepdaughter is able to help with Matthew and that they get along so well. It really eases up things at home and it is enabling Emily to collect a nice nest egg with the babysitting dollars she earns. All these characters grow in each subsequent book and they have true-to-life issues. They feel like neighbors that could live across the street. The hearse Mattie drives may be a little offputting at first but I am sure after a short time I would adjust.
Ms. Ryan takes on some hot-topic issues within the pages of this story. Even though it was released in 2019 the themes are even more relevant today. According to the U.S. Dept of State, there are an estimated 24.9 million victims worldwide at any given time of human trafficking, and with the repeal of Row vs. Wade illegal abortions are in the headlines again. Bringing it up close and personal to a relatively small town in Wisconsin makes people realize serious issues can happen anywhere but that there are good people trying to make a difference.
Being set during a Wisconsin winter really added to the story. The winds, cold, and snow, including a blizzard, are part of life around here. Winters have gotten milder over the years but Mother Nature is a fickle woman so we never know what to expect. In fact, one of my grandsons was born in the middle of a blizzard 10 years ago. My husband transported his parents to the hospital following a snowplow and they arrived just in time. Our older grandson was snowed in with his other set of grandparents out in the country for 3 or 4 days.
What gets me excited every time I open a book by Annelise Ryan is that I know I am going to read a great story filled with a mystery or two that grabs my attention. One that features characters that are engaging and that I have become invested in. And that I am going to laugh, probably often. She does an excellent job of blending top-notch mysteries with Mattie’s crazy everyday life.
Dead of Winter is a fantastic addition to this series. I highly recommend it and the rest of the series.
Mattie and Hurley have moved into their new home and are settling in nicely with their children but at times Mattie feels a little overwhelmed when her work as a death investigator is added to the mix. Her latest case involves a teen who was brought into the ER battered and bruised and later dies but not before uttering “he has her too” and begging social worker, Hildy Schneider to help her little sister. Mattie’s exam is heartbreaking. It shows the teenager was a long-time victim of physical abuse and long-term IV drug use. Both Hildy and Mattie agree she was being human trafficked. Both are shocked that something like that could happen in Sorenson, Wisconsin. It just hits too close now that she is caring for Hurley’s teenage daughter. So working with Hurley, Hildy, other techs at the Medical Examiner’s office, and other local detectives Mattie takes a deep dive into human trafficking to find a little girl before it is too late.
Meanwhile, a member of Dom’s theater group falls from a catwalk to his death. A death that is quickly classified as a homicide. Add a first-class Wisconsin blizzard to the mix and things could get messy for Sorenson and Mattie.
This is such a wonderful series. With the 8th book in the series, Ms. Ryan added more serious themes but didn’t lose the humor readers expect from her. In this book that included a terrible, awful, very bad day for Mattie. I could relate on a personal level to part of it but that didn’t keep me from laughing at all her trials and tribulations. Young Matthew also tees up some hilarious things. He is at the perfect age to get into all kinds of mischief. Hurley takes just about everything in stride. Mattie is thankful that Emily, her teenage stepdaughter is able to help with Matthew and that they get along so well. It really eases up things at home and it is enabling Emily to collect a nice nest egg with the babysitting dollars she earns. All these characters grow in each subsequent book and they have true-to-life issues. They feel like neighbors that could live across the street. The hearse Mattie drives may be a little offputting at first but I am sure after a short time I would adjust.
Ms. Ryan takes on some hot-topic issues within the pages of this story. Even though it was released in 2019 the themes are even more relevant today. According to the U.S. Dept of State, there are an estimated 24.9 million victims worldwide at any given time of human trafficking, and with the repeal of Row vs. Wade illegal abortions are in the headlines again. Bringing it up close and personal to a relatively small town in Wisconsin makes people realize serious issues can happen anywhere but that there are good people trying to make a difference.
Being set during a Wisconsin winter really added to the story. The winds, cold, and snow, including a blizzard, are part of life around here. Winters have gotten milder over the years but Mother Nature is a fickle woman so we never know what to expect. In fact, one of my grandsons was born in the middle of a blizzard 10 years ago. My husband transported his parents to the hospital following a snowplow and they arrived just in time. Our older grandson was snowed in with his other set of grandparents out in the country for 3 or 4 days.
What gets me excited every time I open a book by Annelise Ryan is that I know I am going to read a great story filled with a mystery or two that grabs my attention. One that features characters that are engaging and that I have become invested in. And that I am going to laugh, probably often. She does an excellent job of blending top-notch mysteries with Mattie’s crazy everyday life.
Dead of Winter is a fantastic addition to this series. I highly recommend it and the rest of the series.
February 19, 2019
Dead of Winter by Annelise Ryan is the 10th book in the Mattie Winston series, and another terrific addition. Mattie is an investigator for medical coroner in Wisconsin and Detective Steve Hurley is Mattie's husband. They live with their son, Matthew, a toddler, and Steve's teenage daughter, Emily, in their brand new home. Mattie and Steve are working two murders in this book. One is a teenage girl who was badly beaten and dropped off at the hospital. The other was was a fall in a theater. I loved this book and did not want to put it down. There is so many story lines going on, you just want to keep reading to see what happens next. I really enjoy the well developed characters, and story line. This book also has great humor, which I always enjoy. I strongly recommend this book/ series for any mystery readers.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 2, 2021
In questo libro il tema di fondo è pesante (traffico di giovani), ma i soliti tratti umoristici tipici di questa serie permettono di digerire l'argomento. Viene anche presentata la protagonista della nuova serie di questa autrice (si tratta di uno spin-off).
January 9, 2022
Dead of Winter by Annelise Ryan is the 10th book in the Mattie Winston Mystery series. Death investigator Mattie Winston is called to the E.R. when a battered teenager is dropped off and asks for help for her sister before dying setting off a search for a child trafficking ring. A fun and entertaining book although the poop jokes are starting to get a bit tired. We meet social worker Hildy Schneider in this book, who now has her own series. Mattie does a fabulous job as always although takes more risks than she should and Matthew continues to wear her down. Somehow she manages to juggle everything to a satisfying ending.
December 26, 2020
I awaken and peer out of one eye at the clock on my bedside stand, hoping for another hour or two of sleep.
Mattie Winston never disappoints! This is the tenth book in the series and each one gets better. Mattie is called to the ER after a teenage girl is dropped off with a story that she fell from a car. Mattie and social worker, Hildy Schneider, think there is more going on.
This book deals with the issue of human trafficking, a problem that seems to be more prevalent in out society today. I enjoyed the addition of Hildy as a kind and caring social worker. Mattie's life is one huge chaotic mess after another. Her misfortune that makes it necessary for her to use a crime scene clean up business for her car is laughable and oh so believable.
I love when Mattie and Hurley work together. They have a great relationship both personally and professionally. I'm surprised that Hurley doesn't have an ulcer from dealing with Mattie.
There was another murder that involved Izzy's husband, Dom, that Mattie and Hurley worked on in addition to the major case. An incident of an abusive boyfriend is also introduced.
Life is definitely not boring with Mattie around. She makes me laugh and cringe at the same time.
4.5 stars
Mattie Winston never disappoints! This is the tenth book in the series and each one gets better. Mattie is called to the ER after a teenage girl is dropped off with a story that she fell from a car. Mattie and social worker, Hildy Schneider, think there is more going on.
This book deals with the issue of human trafficking, a problem that seems to be more prevalent in out society today. I enjoyed the addition of Hildy as a kind and caring social worker. Mattie's life is one huge chaotic mess after another. Her misfortune that makes it necessary for her to use a crime scene clean up business for her car is laughable and oh so believable.
I love when Mattie and Hurley work together. They have a great relationship both personally and professionally. I'm surprised that Hurley doesn't have an ulcer from dealing with Mattie.
There was another murder that involved Izzy's husband, Dom, that Mattie and Hurley worked on in addition to the major case. An incident of an abusive boyfriend is also introduced.
Life is definitely not boring with Mattie around. She makes me laugh and cringe at the same time.
4.5 stars
March 10, 2019
Always an excellent series, the stories focused around Mattie Winston have sharpened over the years and with this one evolved slightly in tone more towards traditional mystery and less cozy. Mattie and her homicide detective husband get involved in human trafficking after the death of a young woman. Fast paced and riveting, yet full of understanding of the human need for connection. Sorenson, Wisconsin, and Maggie's circle is populated with interesting and engaging characters. This is one you don't want to miss, highly recommended!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 17, 2019
I thought, initially, that this was going to be my kind of book. Procedural, medical, mysterious. I eagerly read the first half of the book, and then got to a scene where I honestly believed I must have accidentally switched books. I will not ruin this book for you by going into a lengthy description, and I will say that the beginning of the scene was quite comical, but in my opinion, it went too far and took away from the story.
Keep in mind, that I have not read the previous books in this series, so I cannot say if this is a common thing for the author or not, but after this one, I don't have any plans to find out. Some of the characters were interesting, and I liked the way the author began the book, but it just fell apart for me by the halfway point. I finished it, but only in fits and starts.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Keep in mind, that I have not read the previous books in this series, so I cannot say if this is a common thing for the author or not, but after this one, I don't have any plans to find out. Some of the characters were interesting, and I liked the way the author began the book, but it just fell apart for me by the halfway point. I finished it, but only in fits and starts.
This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
September 23, 2020
I really started to review book two in this series, but got lost in the moment (for a week or more) shirked my duties as a team leader, and read 10 out of 12 episodes in the Mattie Winston Mysteries. So I guess is a review of the episodes so far.
A lot has happened to our heroine... a whole bunch of stuff in each episode... and the unusual 2st-person narrative leads to a 'stream-of-consciousness' storytelling style that some reviewers find unsettling. Everything is revealed, including bits of nakedness, falls into various noxious substances, and even the effects of food poisoning (i.e. stinky bouts in the bathroom and pooped pants).
Mattie and her supporting cast are very well written, as are the environs of Sorenson, Wisconsin. I highly recommend every book so far, and have already purchased the last two, and will be checking out the spin-off.
A lot has happened to our heroine... a whole bunch of stuff in each episode... and the unusual 2st-person narrative leads to a 'stream-of-consciousness' storytelling style that some reviewers find unsettling. Everything is revealed, including bits of nakedness, falls into various noxious substances, and even the effects of food poisoning (i.e. stinky bouts in the bathroom and pooped pants).
Mattie and her supporting cast are very well written, as are the environs of Sorenson, Wisconsin. I highly recommend every book so far, and have already purchased the last two, and will be checking out the spin-off.
♪┏(°.°)┛
February 1, 2019
Dead of Winter is the tenth book in a series. I have not read the series or anything by the author prior to this one. It's a gripping mystery. Mattie examines a teenage girl who just died. She realizes that the girl was a victim of human trafficking, and other girls are in danger. It's a race to save them. The story moves at a good pace and unfolds with twists and turns enough to keep you reading until the end. It's well written and executed. Mattie is believable, intelligent and engaging. The characters are richly drawn and dynamic in their interactions. Fans of the series will not be disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
April 2, 2021
This was my first book by this author and let me just echo what others have wrote....there are too many details in this book that don’t need to be. I thought they were leading to a reason why she wrote them but nope, not at all. The mysteries were solved too quickly as in “this is what happened” and there wasn’t much plot to it. Basically they were just over before they should have been. There wasn’t much story to this and it basically was a waste of my time reading it. Will I read another in the series? Nope. Don’t waste your time....unless you like books that don’t have any meat to them.
June 7, 2024
1.5-2 stars. I was so disappointed in this book. I really liked the previous ones and was looking forward to it. This was supposed to be a mystery, but there was not much of a mystery to it. The book was way too long for the short story it told. If I wanted to read a romance novel I would have chosen one.
August 14, 2020
Book ten and still each book is as good if not better than the last. Love this author! Dead of Winter features not just one mystery but three, but the two main ones still follow the same theme which helps the continuity of the story. But, the poor hearse.
September 20, 2021
This story centers around a human trafficking ring which is exposed when a young woman in brought into the local ER. Her death starts the questions being asked and the leads followed. The book was an easy read. It takes place in winter in Wisconsin.
May 23, 2019
As always, an amazing story which I couldn't put down.
May 5, 2021
Have No Fear, It’s a Tough Subject Well-Handled
Let me tell you, I was hesitant to read this one because of the A-plot focusing on child/human trafficking. I think Ms Ryan approached it well, with great compassion - because that’s completely how Mattie works. The B-plot added some needed levity with a classic style death in a playhouse, with a limited number of suspects. It was fun, and thought provoking, both plots, and it’s all topped off by the best birthday gift ever for Hurley. 😊
Let me tell you, I was hesitant to read this one because of the A-plot focusing on child/human trafficking. I think Ms Ryan approached it well, with great compassion - because that’s completely how Mattie works. The B-plot added some needed levity with a classic style death in a playhouse, with a limited number of suspects. It was fun, and thought provoking, both plots, and it’s all topped off by the best birthday gift ever for Hurley. 😊
July 11, 2019
I am enjoying this series by Annelise Ryan!
March 16, 2019
An early morning call brings Death Investigator Mattie Winston her most challenging case yet in this ten book series. A battered, nameless teenage girl has been left at the local hospital and has succumbed to her injuries. The man who left her disappeared, giving no information other than she supposedly was involved in a traffic accident. Upon examining the body, Mattie discovers many old injuries and evidence of IV drug use. The possibility of human trafficking is clear, not the norm in small Sorenson, WI. Even more troubling, the teenager indicated in her last words that her younger sister was being held. This event leads Mattie, her new husband Detective Hurley, and the Coroner's Department on a race to find the younger sister before it's too late.
I have always enjoyed the Mattie Winston series for its well-constructed mysteries, often lightened with zany humor. I am somewhat disappointed by Dead of Winter, however, as the humor was of the "bathroom" variety and occupied too much of the storyline. A secondary case of domestic abuse against an acquaintance of Mattie's plays well into the main story. There is another murder at the local theater which had no relevance and felt like padding. The Mattie Winston series is taking on a darker tone, which I don't object to. Mattie is a likable character and doesn't have to suffer all the silly mishaps, especially those that are avoidable. While this book was a disappointment, I am not ready to give up on the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.
I have always enjoyed the Mattie Winston series for its well-constructed mysteries, often lightened with zany humor. I am somewhat disappointed by Dead of Winter, however, as the humor was of the "bathroom" variety and occupied too much of the storyline. A secondary case of domestic abuse against an acquaintance of Mattie's plays well into the main story. There is another murder at the local theater which had no relevance and felt like padding. The Mattie Winston series is taking on a darker tone, which I don't object to. Mattie is a likable character and doesn't have to suffer all the silly mishaps, especially those that are avoidable. While this book was a disappointment, I am not ready to give up on the series.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance digital copy. The opinions are my own.
July 2, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. The book caught my attention from the start. Mattie Winston won my heart and as the pages flew I met new and quite out of the box characters. Funny, sad this is just a couple of steps you will take on as the chapters fly by.
Thank you Annelise Ryan for making me a new fan,
Susan Haist
Thank you Annelise Ryan for making me a new fan,
Susan Haist
January 31, 2019
Although this is the tenth book in the series, this is the first in this series (and by this author) that I have read. The only thing I feel I am missing story wise is why Mattie is still using her ex-husband's last name instead of taking her new husband's. That is a little weird to me considering her ex has obviously moved on.
As for the story - I wanted to like it. And really, it was fairly complex and well written so it had that going for it. But the amount of times I had to read about someone farting (medical condition or not), or someone pooping, or some other juvenile variation thereof just diminished this story for me. Why would you ruin an otherwise gripping and engaging story with something so childish? It served no real purpose to move the story along. I was also highly disappointed that Mattie would take her dog to a place she wanted to investigate, and leave said dog locked in the car despite the fact that it was freezing outside. I also couldn't figure out why she was calling people, and investigating instead of passing along the information to her husband, or any of the other detectives on the force considering - spoiler alert - she's not a cop!
As much as I enjoyed the way the people involved were captured, and the author's take on this very real issue, I just can't get over some of the unnecessary fodder that was included in this story. And while I am sure it will appeal to a variety of readers (especially those already familiar with this series), at this point I am undecided if I would read another from this author.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
As for the story - I wanted to like it. And really, it was fairly complex and well written so it had that going for it. But the amount of times I had to read about someone farting (medical condition or not), or someone pooping, or some other juvenile variation thereof just diminished this story for me. Why would you ruin an otherwise gripping and engaging story with something so childish? It served no real purpose to move the story along. I was also highly disappointed that Mattie would take her dog to a place she wanted to investigate, and leave said dog locked in the car despite the fact that it was freezing outside. I also couldn't figure out why she was calling people, and investigating instead of passing along the information to her husband, or any of the other detectives on the force considering - spoiler alert - she's not a cop!
As much as I enjoyed the way the people involved were captured, and the author's take on this very real issue, I just can't get over some of the unnecessary fodder that was included in this story. And while I am sure it will appeal to a variety of readers (especially those already familiar with this series), at this point I am undecided if I would read another from this author.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
August 24, 2020
Humorous escapades of a six foot tall woman who is often a klutz---but a lovable one. I enjoyed the zany rush of a blended family where both parents have high pressure jobs. For all the fun, serious issues are discussed and the love between Mattie and her husband as they work out the kinks is good to see.
August 13, 2020
A week in the life of Mattie Winston: heads to the ER where a young girl has died afteer being brought in and left by a young man, eats a tune sandwich and gets food poisoning, poops her pants on the way to work, gets shot in the arm, visits a man who does abortions, helps to deliver a baby in the back of her hearse/car, helps with an FBI set up to catch kidnappers, jumps over a wall and slides down a hill to escape someone pointing a gun at her, has to have the hearse cleaned a third time in three days when her dog is left there too long, helps reunite a father with his kidnapped daughter, reconciles with her father and celebrates her husband's birthday. Lots of action, fun to read.
April 17, 2019
I was so disappointed in this book. Maggie used to be funny and silly to read. I usually looked forward to reading about her. The author has turned her into a self righteous investigator who thinks she can do better than her husband. She takes over everything except taking care of her son because work is more important. This was my last book about her. Funny that she solves 3 murders in her tiny town before the cops can. I could predict every chapter. I think the author slept her way thru this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2020
This book was not very interesting at all. I read it as a stand alone since I had no idea that this was a series. Maybe reading the other 9 or 10 books prior to this one would have helped, but I really don't think so. Ryan set up this intriguing story about a possible human-trafficking ring and it was anything but intriguing, to say the least. It seemed to focus on nearly everything except the initial story line.
May 26, 2025
This book is going to be intense. Stopped reading the first Chapter, considered whether to go ahead given the subject matter, and did. The narrative does give some warning that this is going to be unusually grim, and that helped trust that the presentation of really tough situations would be well managed.
And it is. There's clues that suggest it was especially hard for the author to write - slips that are unusual in this series.
Two good stories and story lines in this, but it comes off like an unpleasant roller coaster, with the dire serious one and the nearly frivolous other. Would have strongly preferred this as two separate tales.
The MC becomes so obnoxious the reader starts hoping it backfires soon.
Finally ... the end comes too fast. Everything wraps up, behind the scenes, with simple 'final bits' being presented in 2-page chunks. There's a party that took zero effort because the MC's sister does all the work, just like their recent wedding. Its all anticlimactic, and too pat. It conveys the author got tired of the story, more than a naural ending.
This story involved incident after incident of scatalogical 'humor'. It is grade-school level and not cute or funny. The repeat cleanings of the scenes are also not a running joke, they're predictable and trite. (Paying someone else to do the work is not comedy.)
And it is. There's clues that suggest it was especially hard for the author to write - slips that are unusual in this series.
Two good stories and story lines in this, but it comes off like an unpleasant roller coaster, with the dire serious one and the nearly frivolous other. Would have strongly preferred this as two separate tales.
The MC becomes so obnoxious the reader starts hoping it backfires soon.
Finally ... the end comes too fast. Everything wraps up, behind the scenes, with simple 'final bits' being presented in 2-page chunks. There's a party that took zero effort because the MC's sister does all the work, just like their recent wedding. Its all anticlimactic, and too pat. It conveys the author got tired of the story, more than a naural ending.
This story involved incident after incident of scatalogical 'humor'. It is grade-school level and not cute or funny. The repeat cleanings of the scenes are also not a running joke, they're predictable and trite. (Paying someone else to do the work is not comedy.)
March 13, 2019
As snowstorm after snowstorm blows through the U.S., I am reading about similar circumstances in Wisconsin where Mattie Winston, a medico-legal death investigator and former OR and ER nurse, is involved in several cases. The primary focus of Dead of Winter by Annelise Ryan is the brutal death of a teenage girl whose little sister is also missing. In addition, Mattie has to investigate the death of the director of a local theater group which includes Dom who is her friend, the partner of her boss, and also the caregiver for her son.
The investigation of all three crimes moves along at a pace that is frustrating to those involved, especially locating the missing child who is obviously in danger. Interwoven with the professional issues is Mattie’s personal life with her husband, his teenage daughter, and their two-year old son. The little one is a challenge if left alone even briefly. Mattie juggles motherhood with a part-time job that holds full-time intensity.
I originally thought, when I read my first book (#8) in this series that the descriptions at the morgue would be too graphic for me. Because the setting is one of compassion from the coroner, the EMT’s, and the law enforcement officers, that was not the case. I appreciate the author’s ability to show how those who are tasked with solving crimes and helping victims are able to work their cases, maintain their personal relationships, and perform daily necessary tasks. Balancing all of those roles must be very difficult. Clues don’t always pan out. Sometimes even strong people get sick. Kids can misbehave at the most inopportune of times. Lovers quarrel. But the author shows how those we depend on show up and do their best regardless of the chaos in their own lives.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
The investigation of all three crimes moves along at a pace that is frustrating to those involved, especially locating the missing child who is obviously in danger. Interwoven with the professional issues is Mattie’s personal life with her husband, his teenage daughter, and their two-year old son. The little one is a challenge if left alone even briefly. Mattie juggles motherhood with a part-time job that holds full-time intensity.
I originally thought, when I read my first book (#8) in this series that the descriptions at the morgue would be too graphic for me. Because the setting is one of compassion from the coroner, the EMT’s, and the law enforcement officers, that was not the case. I appreciate the author’s ability to show how those who are tasked with solving crimes and helping victims are able to work their cases, maintain their personal relationships, and perform daily necessary tasks. Balancing all of those roles must be very difficult. Clues don’t always pan out. Sometimes even strong people get sick. Kids can misbehave at the most inopportune of times. Lovers quarrel. But the author shows how those we depend on show up and do their best regardless of the chaos in their own lives.
I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
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