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Mattie Winston Mystery #11
Dead Ringer
A new murder victim with an old M.O. puts Mattie Winston on the trail of a killer who gives a grim new meaning to flower power . . .
Spring is beginning to brighten Sorenson, Wisconsin, for Mattie and Steve Hurley and their family. While their son Matthew may be in his terrible twos and Steve's daughter Emily a moody teenager, the kids bring light to their lives when their work is dark by its nature—Steve is a homicide detective and Mattie is a medicolegal death investigator, aka medical examiner. They deal in corpses.
The latest corpse, a Jane Doe, was clearly an addict, but drugs didn't kill her, at least not directly. She's been stabbed multiple times in a pattern that is disturbingly familiar to Mattie. When she discovers flower petals from yellow carnations stuffed into the stab wounds, she recognizes a very specific M.O.—belonging to a convicted serial killer who's currently serving a life sentence.
The details of the flower petals were never made public in the last case, so it can't be a copycat crime. It looks like the wrong man is in prison, and the murderer is still at large. Now it's up to Mattie and Steve to get the case reopened—and catch the real carnation killer . . .
Spring is beginning to brighten Sorenson, Wisconsin, for Mattie and Steve Hurley and their family. While their son Matthew may be in his terrible twos and Steve's daughter Emily a moody teenager, the kids bring light to their lives when their work is dark by its nature—Steve is a homicide detective and Mattie is a medicolegal death investigator, aka medical examiner. They deal in corpses.
The latest corpse, a Jane Doe, was clearly an addict, but drugs didn't kill her, at least not directly. She's been stabbed multiple times in a pattern that is disturbingly familiar to Mattie. When she discovers flower petals from yellow carnations stuffed into the stab wounds, she recognizes a very specific M.O.—belonging to a convicted serial killer who's currently serving a life sentence.
The details of the flower petals were never made public in the last case, so it can't be a copycat crime. It looks like the wrong man is in prison, and the murderer is still at large. Now it's up to Mattie and Steve to get the case reopened—and catch the real carnation killer . . .
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 25, 2020
216 people are currently reading
798 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 73 reviews
January 15, 2020
Mattie Winston is a deputy coroner for the medical examiner's office in small-town Sorenson, Wisconsin. She has a two-year-old son with her husband Detective Steve Hurley and a teenaged stepdaughter. In this installment, a Jane Doe has been stabbed multiple times and flower petals from yellow carnations are stuffed into the stab wounds. Mattie immediately recognizes the M.O. as belonging to a convicted serial killer who's currently serving a life sentence. As Mattie digs deeper into the case, it becomes more and more obvious that the wrong person is in jail and the real killer is still out there. With the help of her boss Izzy and her husband, she is determined to bring the real murderer to justice.
I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging and well-written eleventh installment in the Mattie Winston Mysteries. Mattie is a smart and realistic character. Her body insecurities and relationship problems are very relatable. This is the first book that I have read in this series and I didn't have any problems following her life. I enjoyed her character and found the supporting characters to be interesting and fleshed out. The murder mystery had me on the edge of my seat. It was a bit heavier than your average cozy but very cleverly plotted with plenty of twists and turns. I will definitely be reading the next book.
I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging and well-written eleventh installment in the Mattie Winston Mysteries. Mattie is a smart and realistic character. Her body insecurities and relationship problems are very relatable. This is the first book that I have read in this series and I didn't have any problems following her life. I enjoyed her character and found the supporting characters to be interesting and fleshed out. The murder mystery had me on the edge of my seat. It was a bit heavier than your average cozy but very cleverly plotted with plenty of twists and turns. I will definitely be reading the next book.
I received an ARC of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
November 26, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Homicide Detective Steve Hurley and his new wife Medicolegal Death Investigator Mattie Winston have a new case involving a Jane Doe. During the autopsy, Mattie realizes the wounds and what is stuffed in them are familiar, a Dead Ringer for another case. She had recently been at a conference where a colleague from Eau Claire described the M.O. of a serial killer that he helped send to prison. A key piece of evidence was never publicized so unless that was somehow leaked there is no way this death could be the work of a copycat. While Mattie and Hurley work to solve their case they also dig deeper into the case upstate. Knowing that the wrong man could be behind bars pushes them to tie the cases together to catch the real killer.
I continue to be drawn in by these characters. They are so genuine and have real-life issues everyone can identify with. Mattie is a strong woman and Hurley is a strong man but each has their insecurities. They both excel at their occupations because they are driven to find the truth but at home, they question certain parts of their lives. They are getting settled in their new home and are raising a teenage daughter and a toddler son and at times worry if they are giving the children everything they need especially with their recent news. Jealousy also rears its ugly head within these pages adding more tension to their chaotic lives. Ms. Ryan has let her characters evolve realistically from Matthew’s terrible twos to Emily’s dating. Mattie and Hurley’s relationship isn’t all sunshine and roses, it has some bumps in the road. Izzy and Dom are dealing with a new baby and Izzy’s mother. Other relationships are developing between the secondary characters too. All the characters have become like old friends that I love to visit.
The mystery that Steve and Mattie have on their hands is very compelling. Ms. Ryan plotted this one out so well. The interaction between police departments is tense with the coroner’s offices do their best to work together. Mattie is like a dog with a bone and goes to great lengths to follow every clue. Again, she finds herself in hot water and that brought me right to the edge of my seat. When all was revealed I was a bit shocked but it made sense and the clues were all there, I was just so caught up in the story I failed to put them all together.
I love the way the author tours the state of Wisconsin. This time linking Sorenson and Portage with Eau Claire. Traveling up and down the highway and recognizing familiar places with the characters in this series is always a good time even when trying to solve a murder.
Dead Ringer is the 11th book in this series and the author has kept the characters fresh and wrapped them in yet another complicated mystery. It was another Perfect Escape for me and knowing there is just one more book in this series I really didn’t want this book to end.
Homicide Detective Steve Hurley and his new wife Medicolegal Death Investigator Mattie Winston have a new case involving a Jane Doe. During the autopsy, Mattie realizes the wounds and what is stuffed in them are familiar, a Dead Ringer for another case. She had recently been at a conference where a colleague from Eau Claire described the M.O. of a serial killer that he helped send to prison. A key piece of evidence was never publicized so unless that was somehow leaked there is no way this death could be the work of a copycat. While Mattie and Hurley work to solve their case they also dig deeper into the case upstate. Knowing that the wrong man could be behind bars pushes them to tie the cases together to catch the real killer.
I continue to be drawn in by these characters. They are so genuine and have real-life issues everyone can identify with. Mattie is a strong woman and Hurley is a strong man but each has their insecurities. They both excel at their occupations because they are driven to find the truth but at home, they question certain parts of their lives. They are getting settled in their new home and are raising a teenage daughter and a toddler son and at times worry if they are giving the children everything they need especially with their recent news. Jealousy also rears its ugly head within these pages adding more tension to their chaotic lives. Ms. Ryan has let her characters evolve realistically from Matthew’s terrible twos to Emily’s dating. Mattie and Hurley’s relationship isn’t all sunshine and roses, it has some bumps in the road. Izzy and Dom are dealing with a new baby and Izzy’s mother. Other relationships are developing between the secondary characters too. All the characters have become like old friends that I love to visit.
The mystery that Steve and Mattie have on their hands is very compelling. Ms. Ryan plotted this one out so well. The interaction between police departments is tense with the coroner’s offices do their best to work together. Mattie is like a dog with a bone and goes to great lengths to follow every clue. Again, she finds herself in hot water and that brought me right to the edge of my seat. When all was revealed I was a bit shocked but it made sense and the clues were all there, I was just so caught up in the story I failed to put them all together.
I love the way the author tours the state of Wisconsin. This time linking Sorenson and Portage with Eau Claire. Traveling up and down the highway and recognizing familiar places with the characters in this series is always a good time even when trying to solve a murder.
Dead Ringer is the 11th book in this series and the author has kept the characters fresh and wrapped them in yet another complicated mystery. It was another Perfect Escape for me and knowing there is just one more book in this series I really didn’t want this book to end.
January 18, 2021
The dead woman in front of me is a stranger.
A Jane Doe stirs a memory for Mattie which instigates looking into the possibility that a convicted killer is innocent.
I love so much about this series! Mattie and Hurley are one of my favorite couples. There is a lot of miscommunication between the two of them that had me worried for a bit. Of course, it all works out in the end.
Mattie resonates with me. As an OR nurse, I completely understand her mindset and her actions. She does tend to get in a bit more trouble than she should but it is always for the better good.
I was concerned about Mattie's self doubt that followed throughout the storyline. Every few pages I would announce out loud that she needed to talk to Hurley. Hurley needed to step up as well and talk rather than going the route he did.
The mystery was very well done. I went down the same road Mattie did while looking for the true culprit. The ending was hard. I didn't quite expect that.
I really like the secondary characters. Dom and Izzy are among my favorites. Christopher is starting to grow on me.
This is an excellent series that I highly recommend.
A Jane Doe stirs a memory for Mattie which instigates looking into the possibility that a convicted killer is innocent.
I love so much about this series! Mattie and Hurley are one of my favorite couples. There is a lot of miscommunication between the two of them that had me worried for a bit. Of course, it all works out in the end.
Mattie resonates with me. As an OR nurse, I completely understand her mindset and her actions. She does tend to get in a bit more trouble than she should but it is always for the better good.
I was concerned about Mattie's self doubt that followed throughout the storyline. Every few pages I would announce out loud that she needed to talk to Hurley. Hurley needed to step up as well and talk rather than going the route he did.
The mystery was very well done. I went down the same road Mattie did while looking for the true culprit. The ending was hard. I didn't quite expect that.
I really like the secondary characters. Dom and Izzy are among my favorites. Christopher is starting to grow on me.
This is an excellent series that I highly recommend.
March 3, 2020
Mattie Winston is a medicolegal investigator (assistant coroner) in small town Sorenson, Wisconsin and along with her husband, Detective Steve Hurley, often work together on cases. They have Matthew, a toddler and Steve's teenage daughter Emily. They've recently bought a new home and are trying to meld their chaotic schedules when there is a new homicide found by the side of the road.
The female victim has a MO that Mattie remembers from a conversation at a convention and when the details look to be the same becomes aware the wrong man may be in prison.
Mattie is a wife and mother and loves her job but realizes she is pregnant (again) and the hormones are beginning to go wild. And here is where the plot tends to go off the rails. The hormones are jerking her. She and hubby had decided to try for another child, but now that it's happening may not what she really wanted and it's out of her hands.
Ignoring the angst and Steve's obviously touchy reaction to her colleague contact, she proceeds to continue her investigation, handing off Matthew to the sitters (so convenient) or to Steve and makes some questionable decisions (alienating both hubby and the reader).
The forensics were interesting and that is what I expected, rather than the dissolution into a domestic drama. This is my first experience with the author and the series, so I suspect Mattie has been developed in previous issues. There are a number of support characters, but I couldn't fully engage with any.
The conclusion reels everyone back after a harrowing climax and one in which I was somewhat dismayed. I suspected one of the slightly more zealous support characters, but then it flips entirely.
I received this digital download ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Not exactly a cozy and a bit torn between medical thriller and domestic drama, but the mystery parts, forensics, and medical explanations were appreciated.
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
The female victim has a MO that Mattie remembers from a conversation at a convention and when the details look to be the same becomes aware the wrong man may be in prison.
Mattie is a wife and mother and loves her job but realizes she is pregnant (again) and the hormones are beginning to go wild. And here is where the plot tends to go off the rails. The hormones are jerking her. She and hubby had decided to try for another child, but now that it's happening may not what she really wanted and it's out of her hands.
Ignoring the angst and Steve's obviously touchy reaction to her colleague contact, she proceeds to continue her investigation, handing off Matthew to the sitters (so convenient) or to Steve and makes some questionable decisions (alienating both hubby and the reader).
The forensics were interesting and that is what I expected, rather than the dissolution into a domestic drama. This is my first experience with the author and the series, so I suspect Mattie has been developed in previous issues. There are a number of support characters, but I couldn't fully engage with any.
The conclusion reels everyone back after a harrowing climax and one in which I was somewhat dismayed. I suspected one of the slightly more zealous support characters, but then it flips entirely.
I received this digital download ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Not exactly a cozy and a bit torn between medical thriller and domestic drama, but the mystery parts, forensics, and medical explanations were appreciated.
See my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
February 19, 2020
Mattie Winston is a medicolegal death investigator who is called out to assist when a woman is found dead along a country road. Together with her husband homicides detective Steve Hurley they have to figure out who the woman is and what happened to her. There are five stab wounds in the woman's torso and they make an intriguing discovery. In the wound over her heart they find flower petals from yellow carnations. What is the meaning of this and why does it sounds similar to another case where a guy was arrested and jailed for killing woman in the exact same way?
On top of this they also have to solve some personal issues.
I found it a quick read although I sometimes struggled a bit with the flow. The ending could have been padded a bit more for me as well.
Thank you to Netgally and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
On top of this they also have to solve some personal issues.
I found it a quick read although I sometimes struggled a bit with the flow. The ending could have been padded a bit more for me as well.
Thank you to Netgally and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion
March 19, 2020
I really enjoyed being back in Mattie Winston's world. This is one of my favorite cozy series. I thought the mystery storyline in this one was very good. It sure kept me guessing, and had me intrigued all the way through.
In this installment, Mattie notices similarities between a murder victim brought into their lab and multiple murders from a couple of years ago in a nearby city. A man was convicted of the previous murders, but now Mattie and Steve believe that man may have been innocent. In order to prove he isn't the killer, they have to solve the recent murder.
I enjoyed Mattie, Steve, and the rest of the characters we've grown to know over the series. I like the way that Matthew's character is starting to add to the story now that he's a toddler. I normally really enjoy the dynamic between Mattie and Steve in both their professional and personal lives, and I really missed that, with the strife between them in this one. I liked the way everything turned out and hope they are back to their normal dynamic next time.
In this installment, Mattie notices similarities between a murder victim brought into their lab and multiple murders from a couple of years ago in a nearby city. A man was convicted of the previous murders, but now Mattie and Steve believe that man may have been innocent. In order to prove he isn't the killer, they have to solve the recent murder.
I enjoyed Mattie, Steve, and the rest of the characters we've grown to know over the series. I like the way that Matthew's character is starting to add to the story now that he's a toddler. I normally really enjoy the dynamic between Mattie and Steve in both their professional and personal lives, and I really missed that, with the strife between them in this one. I liked the way everything turned out and hope they are back to their normal dynamic next time.
February 26, 2020
Dead Ringer by Annelise Ryan is the 11th book in the Mattie Winston series, and another terrific addition. Mattie is an investigator for medical coroner in Wisconsin and her husband Detective Steve Hurley is a homicide detective and they work cases together. They live with their son, Matthew, a toddler, and Steve's teenage daughter, Emily, in their brand new home. In this addition, Mattie and Steve are trying to find out if their latest murder is a copy cat killing, or if they have the wrong man in prison. 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 have read the latest six books, but I am so into this series, I have been reading all the books in order, the last week, with one to go. I strongly recommend this book/ series for any mystery readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 9, 2020
A fresh corpse bearing an unusual pattern of stab wounds with flower petals leads Mattie Winston to question whether there is a copycat killer or someone wrongly committed for the original crimes. Along the way in this tightly plotted mystery, we meet up again Maggie's family, co-workers and friends all of whom are distinctive and worthy of repeat visits. I love this series so much that I jumped the ARC to the top of my already overflowing TBR. Eleven books in and the mystery is just as strong and the characters evolve and grow in each outing. Highly recommended! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2022
Mi è sempre piaciuto questa serie, ma stavolta do il massimo dei voti perché ho sospettato di tutti fuorché della persona giusta. Il finale è in parte un po' triste per un paio di cose... non dico altro per non fare spoiler.
October 14, 2020
Another dead body has been found in Sorenson, Wisconsin, which means that Mattie and her husband, Steve Hurley, have a new case to solve.
The body of a Jane Doe, a drug addict, was found on the side of the road. However, the drugs did not kill her. She was stabbed multiple times in a specific pattern. When the autopsy reveals flower petals in one of the wounds, Mattie recognizes this M.O. as belonging to a serial killer who is currently in prison.
Is the wrong man in prison and the real murderer still at large? Or is this a copycat crime? When Mattie and Steve look into the closed case, they are met with contempt and derision by the investigators. It is up to them to reopen the case and catch a killer.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, you will enjoy this new installment of the Mattie Winston series. I enjoyed reading this book for its intrigue, humor and its placement in Wisconsin.
Robin W. / Marathon County Public Library
The body of a Jane Doe, a drug addict, was found on the side of the road. However, the drugs did not kill her. She was stabbed multiple times in a specific pattern. When the autopsy reveals flower petals in one of the wounds, Mattie recognizes this M.O. as belonging to a serial killer who is currently in prison.
Is the wrong man in prison and the real murderer still at large? Or is this a copycat crime? When Mattie and Steve look into the closed case, they are met with contempt and derision by the investigators. It is up to them to reopen the case and catch a killer.
If you are a fan of cozy mysteries, you will enjoy this new installment of the Mattie Winston series. I enjoyed reading this book for its intrigue, humor and its placement in Wisconsin.
Robin W. / Marathon County Public Library
February 25, 2020
This is a series that I started mid-way through and had no problems picking it up. I did go back and read a couple of the first books as well. Having said all of that, I believe that this book is more transitional and it would be helpful to read some of the earlier books first. You can read it stand-alone but some of the nuances of the relationships might be better understood with a background of the storyline.
Mattie is medicolegal death investigator (medical examiner) who assists the forensic pathologist in figuring out cause of death. In her case, she is also responsible for assisting the police with forensic evidence found at the scene if a crime has been committed.
Mattie teams up often with her husband, Steve, who is a homicide detective. In this story, she doesn’t work with him as much as previous books. She is more or less out there on her own and it proves to be a serious issue.
There are personal things going on that take her mind off her job. Because of that, she misses clues and puts herself in danger.
The crime she is investigating brings in a police force and crew from another city and those individuals are less than happy that she is getting involved. How she works around that and what it means for her safety is a major part of this story.
As I said, there are personal issues going on and while they don’t involve the crime, they still take a good portion of the book to resolve. It is because of this, that I suggest reading earlier books. The mystery, in and of itself, is completely contained in this story and is a great whodunnit with lost of twists, turns and red herrings.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
Mattie is medicolegal death investigator (medical examiner) who assists the forensic pathologist in figuring out cause of death. In her case, she is also responsible for assisting the police with forensic evidence found at the scene if a crime has been committed.
Mattie teams up often with her husband, Steve, who is a homicide detective. In this story, she doesn’t work with him as much as previous books. She is more or less out there on her own and it proves to be a serious issue.
There are personal things going on that take her mind off her job. Because of that, she misses clues and puts herself in danger.
The crime she is investigating brings in a police force and crew from another city and those individuals are less than happy that she is getting involved. How she works around that and what it means for her safety is a major part of this story.
As I said, there are personal issues going on and while they don’t involve the crime, they still take a good portion of the book to resolve. It is because of this, that I suggest reading earlier books. The mystery, in and of itself, is completely contained in this story and is a great whodunnit with lost of twists, turns and red herrings.
I was provided a digital advance reader copy of this book by the publisher via Netgalley.
November 6, 2020
Mattie Winston Hurley is a mother, wife and sleuth who happens to be a medicolegal death investigator - or medical examiner. Along with her husband, homicide detective Steve Hurley, they've seen the worst of human nature. However, this case is surprising to them too - a serial killer on the loose - who is supposed to be sitting in a jail cell. Was the wrong person convicted? Mattie has to figure the mystery out before she becomes a victim.
I've always liked the character of Mattie. She's easy to relate too (except for her job) as a person and mother. Blunt, kind, loyal and smart, she has solved the toughest of crimes with compassion for the victims & survivors. This book has Mattie facing personal and case challenges that begin to take their toll. While the mystery is creepy, the book has humor and love throughout.
I'm always ready for a case with Mattie!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
I've always liked the character of Mattie. She's easy to relate too (except for her job) as a person and mother. Blunt, kind, loyal and smart, she has solved the toughest of crimes with compassion for the victims & survivors. This book has Mattie facing personal and case challenges that begin to take their toll. While the mystery is creepy, the book has humor and love throughout.
I'm always ready for a case with Mattie!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
September 29, 2022
Dead Ringer by Annelise Ryan is the 11th book in the Mattie Winston Mystery series. During an autopsy, death investigator Mattie Winston recognizes a link to previous serial murders for which a culprit had been caught and convicted. It was nice to catch up with Mattie and her chaoticlife, made more so with finding out she is pregnant again and being overwhelmed with juggling work and family life. An interesting and complex mystery with mattie being relentless in her pursuit of the killer. I enjoyed learing about the meanings of flowers and other forensic details strewn throughout the book. A superb addition to a great series.
February 22, 2024
3.5 stars
April 22, 2020
Maddie Winston and Steve Hurley are realistic characters with realistic problems, both personal and professional. BUT, when a married couple work together in a high stress environment, you can count on small irritations to grow. Annelise Ryan has built a small town community around these two central characters, turned them loose and watched them grow. Although DEAD RINGER is easily read as a stand alone, this series has yet to disappoint and always delivers an entertaining reading experience. Maddie and Steve have enough family problems that it makes you appreciate your family. I hesitated before I started this series because I am already following so many more but I'm very glad I gave in.
April 24, 2020
I love these characters, love these books! Love this series!
May 27, 2025
Something feels off about this installment of the series. The first chapters seem trite. They offer a very extended recap of the previous books, where just a simple reference or two should be adequate if the story is good enough to stand on its own. And the background reveals all sorts of holes.
The story takes quite some time to ramp up, even though the deaths start right away. It comes across as another day at the office, as more background ... where it should feel more pressing than that.
This quicly becomes a 'force-read' story. The frequent peeks of MMC's controlling behavior come out in force here, the inability of the MC to deal with them come to a head. Its unpleasant to read on its own, and its not handled well in the book.
Then this mixes in various political messes and wrongly-convicted issues. Its a bed-pan hodge-podge of modern themes, and misses the humor that made this a good series. And...what? An entire facility was built, for assessing deaths, including murdered people, and the design didn't control all modes of access? Then, even after an enraged person breaks in and attacks staff, they still don't 'plug' the hole? Not likely - after even one incident, the liability to the state shoots up like a rocket. Now, that little sub-scene doesn't become significant, so what was the point of highlighting the incompetence again?
Its reasonable to deviate in the story crafting from 'typical' or 'common' but two wrong convictions in three books makes it look like that's a normal occurrence. Is that the intended message? The team take way too long to start theorizing and investigating the reasons it might not be a copy-cat but be delayed, be the same perp in another location. It does highlight that asking the RIGHT questions is the key to solving puzzles, but it also makes the team look slow and incompetent when they don't.
Final straws for this reader about the book. End up being trite, predictable. MMC gets away completely with his abusive behavior because "I love him so much!" MC just pops around to the hotel room of a single man, no backup, no check-in, at night. Seems the author is trying to get the Reader to call for the series to kill off the MC.
Seems the author wrote too many 'corners' in this series - a crazy mother, a reappearing 'not a villain after all' father, an abusive husband The reader has to wonder if the author even realizes how many toxic relationships have developed in this series that directly touch on the MC? The 'white knight' setup for the 'big ending' is also completely off. Which is exactly why the author presents zero details about how it came about. SKIP this one.
The story takes quite some time to ramp up, even though the deaths start right away. It comes across as another day at the office, as more background ... where it should feel more pressing than that.
This quicly becomes a 'force-read' story. The frequent peeks of MMC's controlling behavior come out in force here, the inability of the MC to deal with them come to a head. Its unpleasant to read on its own, and its not handled well in the book.
Then this mixes in various political messes and wrongly-convicted issues. Its a bed-pan hodge-podge of modern themes, and misses the humor that made this a good series. And...what? An entire facility was built, for assessing deaths, including murdered people, and the design didn't control all modes of access? Then, even after an enraged person breaks in and attacks staff, they still don't 'plug' the hole? Not likely - after even one incident, the liability to the state shoots up like a rocket. Now, that little sub-scene doesn't become significant, so what was the point of highlighting the incompetence again?
Its reasonable to deviate in the story crafting from 'typical' or 'common' but two wrong convictions in three books makes it look like that's a normal occurrence. Is that the intended message? The team take way too long to start theorizing and investigating the reasons it might not be a copy-cat but be delayed, be the same perp in another location. It does highlight that asking the RIGHT questions is the key to solving puzzles, but it also makes the team look slow and incompetent when they don't.
Final straws for this reader about the book. End up being trite, predictable. MMC gets away completely with his abusive behavior because "I love him so much!" MC just pops around to the hotel room of a single man, no backup, no check-in, at night. Seems the author is trying to get the Reader to call for the series to kill off the MC.
Seems the author wrote too many 'corners' in this series - a crazy mother, a reappearing 'not a villain after all' father, an abusive husband The reader has to wonder if the author even realizes how many toxic relationships have developed in this series that directly touch on the MC? The 'white knight' setup for the 'big ending' is also completely off. Which is exactly why the author presents zero details about how it came about. SKIP this one.
February 23, 2020
This is a cozy with an edge. Mattie balances her home life with a two year old and a teenager and her police detective husband. Her job as a deputy coroner is the dark side of her life. In their latest case they have to catch a killer thought to have already been put in prison. When a Jane Doe is found stabbed to death, one aspect of her death rocks the previous case. A clue of yellow carnation petals, never made public, sends them back to the beginning. If this new killing wasn't committed by a copy cat killer then there has been a serious miscarriage of justice.
With eleven books in this series I can say that not one of them was disappointing. Every single one engaged me from the start and gave me a well written puzzle to try and solve. The characters of Mattie and her husband Steve Hurley continue to evolve as a real couple does. Nothing cardboard about them. I look forward to not only the mystery but finding out how things are going for them and the various people in their lives. Those are, for this reader, things that make a great mystery series.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
With eleven books in this series I can say that not one of them was disappointing. Every single one engaged me from the start and gave me a well written puzzle to try and solve. The characters of Mattie and her husband Steve Hurley continue to evolve as a real couple does. Nothing cardboard about them. I look forward to not only the mystery but finding out how things are going for them and the various people in their lives. Those are, for this reader, things that make a great mystery series.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 31, 2020
I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Mattie is back at it, trying to solve murders in her role as a medicolegal investigator while being a wife and mother. This time, a local bad girl is discovered dead, and details from her murder are very similar to a serial killer’s previous kills. The only problem is that someone has already been arrested and convicted for those crimes.
Mattie is having a crisis of self, feeling under appreciated at home and overwhelmed, even more so since she is pregnant with her second child.
I like this series, but I did not really like Mattie in this book. She wasn’t happy with anything at home, including her pregnancy, even though she had said she wanted another biological child, but she doesn’t talk to her husband about her doubts and fears and sometimes seems to forget that she is married. The mystery was good, and the personal problems dealt with by the end of the book, but it was definitely not my favorite in the series.
Mattie is back at it, trying to solve murders in her role as a medicolegal investigator while being a wife and mother. This time, a local bad girl is discovered dead, and details from her murder are very similar to a serial killer’s previous kills. The only problem is that someone has already been arrested and convicted for those crimes.
Mattie is having a crisis of self, feeling under appreciated at home and overwhelmed, even more so since she is pregnant with her second child.
I like this series, but I did not really like Mattie in this book. She wasn’t happy with anything at home, including her pregnancy, even though she had said she wanted another biological child, but she doesn’t talk to her husband about her doubts and fears and sometimes seems to forget that she is married. The mystery was good, and the personal problems dealt with by the end of the book, but it was definitely not my favorite in the series.
April 29, 2020
As a fan of the Mattie Winston series, it is always exciting to embark on a new book, and this one didn't disappoint. The murder of a local woman who was a drug addict bears a strange similarity to a series of murders in another town. The problem is that the supposed murder is in prison and could not be responsible for the latest victim. This launches Mattie and Hurley into an investigation with twists and turns as they both seek the perpetrator of the latest murder and also prove that the man convicted as a serial murderer is innocent. Those involved in the investigation of the earlier murders and convicting the man are less than cooperative in the process. Somebody is hiding something. Who? And is this person the real murderer? Behind the case, Mattie and Hurley are also struggling with balancing work, children, and their relationship. Can they weather a storm of jealousy and unsuspected surprises? As always, the next book is anxiously awaited.
February 17, 2020
Mattie, a medical examiner, gets a surprise when a Jane Doe is on her table- the woman was stabbed in an unusual pattern and the petals of yellow carnations stuffed in her wounds. Creepily, this resembles the method of a serial killer who is already in prison but it's likely he wasn't the real killer. Mattie and her husband Steve, a detective, find themselves deep in a mystery that they very much need to solve. Sorenson, Wisconsin is usually a pretty placid place (well, except for the murders) . The relationship between Mattie and Steve is so well done and I suspect more than a few will recognize the struggles they face with a toddler and a teen, as well as their happy times. This is as readable for the family aspects of the story as it is for the mystery, which, thankfully, is not as gruesome as most involving serial killers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read and I'm looking forward to the next one.
February 22, 2020
I was surprised to find out this was the eleventh book in the Mattie Winston series.
This book read well as a stand-alone. That I checked out Kindle books to see what was published earlier shows that I greatly enjoyed the story .
In the mix we have a couple who are both a bit of work alcoholics. A two year old with a vivid imagination in dress code and a teenager. Already a demanding situation for any parent, include a new pregnancy and Mattie starts to question her own abilities as a mother. On top of it having aided in convicting an innocent person and feeling very guilty about her mistake she is unstoppable in trying to find proof to free another man out of prison.
Trusting the wrong person gets her close to been killed. The book has a lot of twist and turns. You really get to know the various characters.
This book read well as a stand-alone. That I checked out Kindle books to see what was published earlier shows that I greatly enjoyed the story .
In the mix we have a couple who are both a bit of work alcoholics. A two year old with a vivid imagination in dress code and a teenager. Already a demanding situation for any parent, include a new pregnancy and Mattie starts to question her own abilities as a mother. On top of it having aided in convicting an innocent person and feeling very guilty about her mistake she is unstoppable in trying to find proof to free another man out of prison.
Trusting the wrong person gets her close to been killed. The book has a lot of twist and turns. You really get to know the various characters.
February 26, 2020
Mattie and Steve Hurley with their son Matthew and Steve's daughter Emily a teenager, Steve is a homicide detective and Mattie is a medicolegal death investigator, aka medical examiner.
The latest corpse, a Jane Doe, was an addict, but drugs didn't kill her, at least not directly. She's been stabbed in a pattern that is familiar to Mattie. When she discovers flower petals from yellow carnations stuffed in the stab wounds, she recognizes the pattern belonging to a convicted serial killer who's currently serving a life sentence.
The details of the flower petals were never made public so it can't be a copycat crime. It looks like the wrong man is in prison, and the murderer is still at large. Now it's up to Mattie and Steve to get the case reopened—and catch the real carnation killer
The latest corpse, a Jane Doe, was an addict, but drugs didn't kill her, at least not directly. She's been stabbed in a pattern that is familiar to Mattie. When she discovers flower petals from yellow carnations stuffed in the stab wounds, she recognizes the pattern belonging to a convicted serial killer who's currently serving a life sentence.
The details of the flower petals were never made public so it can't be a copycat crime. It looks like the wrong man is in prison, and the murderer is still at large. Now it's up to Mattie and Steve to get the case reopened—and catch the real carnation killer
February 29, 2020
The Mattie Winston series is one of the best written, interesting, and humorous series I have had the pleasure of reading! Top notch in every respect from plot to characters to unexpected happenings! It is, of course, best read in written order. However, if it's been awhile since you have read the preceding book, the author is careful to remind readers of key things from past books. Medical terms and necessary language is artfully explained without the stilted feeling of forced lecture used by many authors. The story line is smooth, easy to follow, and has great pacing. This is a series that should and does appeal to a wide spectrum of readers. I have loved the series, and am sorry to see it ending. Mattie is like a good friend, you never want your time together to end!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review Dead Ringer!
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Net Galley for allowing me to read and review Dead Ringer!
February 6, 2020
Fantastic book!! So intriguing that I didn't want to put it down!! Mattie and Izzy are conducting an autopsy of a young woman when Mattie realizes something about the stabbing pattern of the victim. It matches that of a convicted serial killer who was accused of killing 4 women who were all around the same age and hair color. The stabbing pattern was an upside down triangle with flower petals in the wound over the heart. Now Mattie and Hurley have to figure out if they have a copycat killer or if the wrong man was convicted. This story was terrific and left me not wanting to stop reading. I can't wait to see what's next for Mattie and Hurley as this book just left me wanting more!! Highly recommend this fantastic and delightful series!!
January 13, 2020
I came to this series somewhere in the middle I guess! Mattie (medical examiner) and Steve (homicide detective) are enjoying springtime in Wisconsin, and looking forward to having a new baby to add to their family of Matthew, 2, and Emily 14. They get to work together often on various murder cases, but this newest one has them worried. A clue came up in the autopsy that Mattie remembered from a man named Todd, another medical examiner, who was talking about a strange case he had. This clue relates to four cases of murder of tall, blonde women and the killer is currently in jail for his crimes - do they have the wrong man??
November 22, 2020
This is the 4th book that I have read in this series. It is actually the 11th book but I did not start the series from the beginning. I have really enjoyed the character of Mattie Winston a Sorenson Wisconsin medicolegal death investigator AKA-medical examiner. Along with her homicide detective husband Steve Hurley, Mattie becomes involved investigating a presumed 'copycat' murder with the presence of flower petals in one of the wounds. The compelling factor being that this evidence found in the original victims was never presented in the trial of the currently convicted killer. This is a great series!
January 14, 2020
Mattie Winston is a delightful character, who will make you laugh and feel good about yourself.
Investigating mysterious deaths comes natural to Mattie, so when she discovers the possibility that the wrong person may be charged with murder, she follows her gut and refuses to back down.
On top of this, Mattie reveals surprising news as she struggles with personal demons, which makes things tense between her and police detective hubby Hurley.
Fans of this series will be excited to read this latest addition to the series.
Investigating mysterious deaths comes natural to Mattie, so when she discovers the possibility that the wrong person may be charged with murder, she follows her gut and refuses to back down.
On top of this, Mattie reveals surprising news as she struggles with personal demons, which makes things tense between her and police detective hubby Hurley.
Fans of this series will be excited to read this latest addition to the series.
February 13, 2020
An excellent cozy mystery, engrossing and entertaining.
It's an excellent story that made me smile and kept me interested, the cast of characters is fleshed out and likable, the mystery solid.
It's the first story I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It's an excellent story that made me smile and kept me interested, the cast of characters is fleshed out and likable, the mystery solid.
It's the first story I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
February 24, 2020
This a good book about a serial killer very strong storyline it kept my attention throughout. The detectives were very well written characters that are working to figure out the murders and find the killer before he can strike again.Really engaged with them would read more from this author great twist at the end.!
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