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A Helping Hands Mystery #2
Night Shift
When social worker Hildy Schneider commits to an after-hours side job, she finds herself drawn into the darker side of small-town Sorenson, Wisconsin—and the twisted mind of an unnamed killer . . .
Strange things have been happening since Hildy started moonlighting with local police, but a desperate late-night call involving a former patient from Sorenson General Hospital tops the list. Although Danny Hildebrand has been tormented by hallucinations for years, he swears he’s being haunted for real by the victim of a grisly murder . . .
The rambling ghost story seems like another delusion. But after a body turns up in a neglected farmhouse crawling with secrets, Hildy and the magnetic Detective Bob Richmond rush to explain Danny’s knowledge of the incident. As the crime-solving partners unwittingly grow closer while examining a series of eerie leads, they realize that surviving past sunrise means shedding light on a criminal willing to do whatever it takes to stay in the shadows . . .
Strange things have been happening since Hildy started moonlighting with local police, but a desperate late-night call involving a former patient from Sorenson General Hospital tops the list. Although Danny Hildebrand has been tormented by hallucinations for years, he swears he’s being haunted for real by the victim of a grisly murder . . .
The rambling ghost story seems like another delusion. But after a body turns up in a neglected farmhouse crawling with secrets, Hildy and the magnetic Detective Bob Richmond rush to explain Danny’s knowledge of the incident. As the crime-solving partners unwittingly grow closer while examining a series of eerie leads, they realize that surviving past sunrise means shedding light on a criminal willing to do whatever it takes to stay in the shadows . . .
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 28, 2020
107 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Annelise Ryan
19 books1,185 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 77 reviews
May 20, 2024
This is a cozy mystery book. It is the second book in a helping hands cozy mystery series. I have read and reviewed the first book in the series too. I have to say I liked this book a lot more than the first book. The main person we follow in this book is Hildy Schneider which is a social worker that works for the local hospital and does ride a longs with the local police department. In this book Hildy has to prove a former patient named Danny did not kill someone or is part of a drug ring. I really love the ending, and I did not see it coming until it was being played out of us. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 24, 2024
Social worker Hildy Schneider has taken an after-hours job, riding along with the local police to help with social issues such as mental health disorders and homelessness. Her first call is to the home of Danny Hildebrand. He has been hearing voices for years; but now he claims that he witnessed a murder and is being haunted by the victim. Not able to make sense of his rantings, Hildy helps get Danny to the hospital and then continues her ride along.
Her next stop is at an old farmhouse for a welfare check. Arthur Fisher hasn't checked in with his family in several days. Hildy and the police find Arthur in his kitchen. He has been tortured and killed. This is out of Hildy's expertise, so she steps aside to let the police do their job. But she does find evidence that may tie the body they just found to Danny's story of witnessing a murder. Hildy learns that there were several people who may have wanted Arthur dead. But why torture him? What were they looking for?
This is the second book in the Helping Hands Mystery series. With the help of her dog, Roscoe, Hildy tries to figure out if Danny saw this murder...and is his life in danger? I liked the mystery and the characters. The story was well written, and the characters are believable. I just wish there were more books in this series. My rating: 4 Stars.
Her next stop is at an old farmhouse for a welfare check. Arthur Fisher hasn't checked in with his family in several days. Hildy and the police find Arthur in his kitchen. He has been tortured and killed. This is out of Hildy's expertise, so she steps aside to let the police do their job. But she does find evidence that may tie the body they just found to Danny's story of witnessing a murder. Hildy learns that there were several people who may have wanted Arthur dead. But why torture him? What were they looking for?
This is the second book in the Helping Hands Mystery series. With the help of her dog, Roscoe, Hildy tries to figure out if Danny saw this murder...and is his life in danger? I liked the mystery and the characters. The story was well written, and the characters are believable. I just wish there were more books in this series. My rating: 4 Stars.
October 21, 2022
NIGHT SHIFT
Annelise Ryan
I didn't enjoy this series as much as I did DEATH IN DOOR COUNTY, but it might have been the character shift. This one is about Hildy Schneider who is about to be unemployed due to cutbacks at the hospital she works at. So she takes some shifts with the police as a social worker and ends up on a call with some poor soul whose meds are messed up and he is flaking out.
Danny Hildebrand has been tormented by hallucinations for years, he swears he’s being haunted for real by the victim of a grisly murder . . . so it sounded like a great Halloween book! But there is a murder and soon it looks like Danny is involved. Hildy just can't seem to let it go and begins digging around (that is a pun) and sure enough, it gets pretty hairy.
Not a bad read, in fact, I rather liked it but I might be done with cozies for a while, I think I need more meat in my diet.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
Annelise Ryan
I didn't enjoy this series as much as I did DEATH IN DOOR COUNTY, but it might have been the character shift. This one is about Hildy Schneider who is about to be unemployed due to cutbacks at the hospital she works at. So she takes some shifts with the police as a social worker and ends up on a call with some poor soul whose meds are messed up and he is flaking out.
Danny Hildebrand has been tormented by hallucinations for years, he swears he’s being haunted for real by the victim of a grisly murder . . . so it sounded like a great Halloween book! But there is a murder and soon it looks like Danny is involved. Hildy just can't seem to let it go and begins digging around (that is a pun) and sure enough, it gets pretty hairy.
Not a bad read, in fact, I rather liked it but I might be done with cozies for a while, I think I need more meat in my diet.
4 stars
Happy Reading!
February 19, 2022
Dollycas’s Thoughts
We are back in Sorenson, Wisconsin but this time we are tagging along with Social Worker Hildy Schneider in this second book in Annelise Ryan’s spinoff series from her Mattie Winston Mysteries. Hildy is just starting her new side job working directly with the police on the night shift. Her first call involves a man she has worked with before. Danny Hildebrand has been taking medications to keep his hallucinations at bay for years. When he stops taking them properly or they are no longer working as expected he needs to go into the hospital to get him back on track. Hildy expects that is what she is walking into with the police for this disturbance call. She knows her dog Roscoe has calmed Danny in the past so she convinces the police to let her take the lead. Roscoe does his magic but soon Danny is telling Hildy he isn’t having his normal issues, he swears he is being haunted by a real murder victim.
After getting Danny checked in to the hospital Hildy and her police partner find a horrific murder scene at a rundown farmhouse when sent to do a welfare check. A quick inspection of the scene looks eerily like Danny’s hallucination right down to a particular item. Detective Bob Richmond and Hildy start to work together and even have to call in some alphabet agencies when they discover something truly scary and above their pay grade on the dead farmer’s property. Just how deep is Danny involved in all this illegal activity? Can he be the key to finding the killer? Will Hildy help solve the murder? Or will she become another victim?
Hildy Schneider is a complex leading character. Peel back her layers and you will see how her troubled past has led to her Helping Hands present. She really is an amazing character with a unique way of seeing things others don’t. Her therapy dog Roscoe is fantastic too.
Another complex character is PJ, an autistic pre-teen that lives next door to Hildy and takes Roscoe on walks while Hildy is at work. The girl is brutally honest in all the best ways.
There are several characters that crossover from the other series. The most noteworthy is Detective Bob Richmond who has changed quite a bit over the course of that series and is now pursuing a deeper relationship with Hildy. Hurley makes a cameo at the end of the book and Mattie is mentioned a couple of times in the story. All the characters are well crafted with plenty of room for growth.
The mystery ended up being much more expansive than one dead body. There was a major plan afoot and finding a dead Arthur Fletcher at his kitchen table was just part of a cover-up. I really enjoyed the way the author plotted out this story. Hildy’s keen observation skills and her willingness to really get involved with Danny and his care as she continued to piece everything together really was fun to read. One character felt off to me a few times but I kept discarding it until their behavior became more glaring. My attention still kept being diverted up until the very end.
Again, this story takes place in my home state. I love the local references and overall Wisconsin feel I get when reading books by this author.
Sadly there hasn’t been a 3rd book in this series. I really like the focus on Hildy that this series brings. She is unique and I would love to see more stories featuring her.
If you like your cozy mysteries with a bit of an edge and plenty of humor you will enjoy all the books by this author and those she writes as Allyson K. Abbott.
We are back in Sorenson, Wisconsin but this time we are tagging along with Social Worker Hildy Schneider in this second book in Annelise Ryan’s spinoff series from her Mattie Winston Mysteries. Hildy is just starting her new side job working directly with the police on the night shift. Her first call involves a man she has worked with before. Danny Hildebrand has been taking medications to keep his hallucinations at bay for years. When he stops taking them properly or they are no longer working as expected he needs to go into the hospital to get him back on track. Hildy expects that is what she is walking into with the police for this disturbance call. She knows her dog Roscoe has calmed Danny in the past so she convinces the police to let her take the lead. Roscoe does his magic but soon Danny is telling Hildy he isn’t having his normal issues, he swears he is being haunted by a real murder victim.
After getting Danny checked in to the hospital Hildy and her police partner find a horrific murder scene at a rundown farmhouse when sent to do a welfare check. A quick inspection of the scene looks eerily like Danny’s hallucination right down to a particular item. Detective Bob Richmond and Hildy start to work together and even have to call in some alphabet agencies when they discover something truly scary and above their pay grade on the dead farmer’s property. Just how deep is Danny involved in all this illegal activity? Can he be the key to finding the killer? Will Hildy help solve the murder? Or will she become another victim?
Hildy Schneider is a complex leading character. Peel back her layers and you will see how her troubled past has led to her Helping Hands present. She really is an amazing character with a unique way of seeing things others don’t. Her therapy dog Roscoe is fantastic too.
Another complex character is PJ, an autistic pre-teen that lives next door to Hildy and takes Roscoe on walks while Hildy is at work. The girl is brutally honest in all the best ways.
There are several characters that crossover from the other series. The most noteworthy is Detective Bob Richmond who has changed quite a bit over the course of that series and is now pursuing a deeper relationship with Hildy. Hurley makes a cameo at the end of the book and Mattie is mentioned a couple of times in the story. All the characters are well crafted with plenty of room for growth.
The mystery ended up being much more expansive than one dead body. There was a major plan afoot and finding a dead Arthur Fletcher at his kitchen table was just part of a cover-up. I really enjoyed the way the author plotted out this story. Hildy’s keen observation skills and her willingness to really get involved with Danny and his care as she continued to piece everything together really was fun to read. One character felt off to me a few times but I kept discarding it until their behavior became more glaring. My attention still kept being diverted up until the very end.
Again, this story takes place in my home state. I love the local references and overall Wisconsin feel I get when reading books by this author.
Sadly there hasn’t been a 3rd book in this series. I really like the focus on Hildy that this series brings. She is unique and I would love to see more stories featuring her.
If you like your cozy mysteries with a bit of an edge and plenty of humor you will enjoy all the books by this author and those she writes as Allyson K. Abbott.
June 22, 2020
Hildy Schneider, a secondary character in Ryan's other series, gets her second book now. She's a social worker who has committed to a second job on a trial program reprising along with police to help out on calls where a different type of intervention could be useful, called Helping Hands. Immediately she gets involved with a missing man with schizophrenia that may be off his meds. How the story plays out is innovative, thought provoking, and just a darned good mystery. Hildy is an unusual heroine with OCD and other issues that impact her daily life. Quite enjoyable! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 7, 2020
Annelise Ryan's second book in the "A Helping Hands Mystery" series, Night Shift, is out now in bookstores. This is a down to earth story about a wonderful character, Hildy, who has many issues. Like her patients, Hildy has emotional and mental challenges that she is working to overcome and control. She also has two jobs, bills to pay, and a jealous demanding boss. Just like everyone else, she strives to do her best professionally and personally. This ultimately makes her very human and sympathetic.
When a patient, Danny, has a crisis, Hildy is there to help and support him and his family. But before long, she realizes that something more is going on with Danny other than his typical issues. She fears his mental illness may have progressed to a strange and unusual degree, but worse that he may have become violent and not even know it. Danny's sister asks for Hildy's help.
Other characters in this book are aware of Danny's issues, and some know of Hildy's as well, they want to help, but they don't want to see a possible murderer get away with the crime. Roscoe is amazing; readers will love the beautiful animal's tenderness and compassion. Hildy's patient is a mess, and it takes all of her support and will power to get him and herself out of trouble. Bob is the love interest for Hildy, but he may move too slow for her liking. There are a few suspects, but not an overwhelming number. The evidence is clear and easy to spot. The killer may come as a surprise to some. The ending will answer the reader's questions, and clear up some issues as well as give them satisfaction on all fronts. I enjoyed Night Shift and look forward to book three.
When a patient, Danny, has a crisis, Hildy is there to help and support him and his family. But before long, she realizes that something more is going on with Danny other than his typical issues. She fears his mental illness may have progressed to a strange and unusual degree, but worse that he may have become violent and not even know it. Danny's sister asks for Hildy's help.
Other characters in this book are aware of Danny's issues, and some know of Hildy's as well, they want to help, but they don't want to see a possible murderer get away with the crime. Roscoe is amazing; readers will love the beautiful animal's tenderness and compassion. Hildy's patient is a mess, and it takes all of her support and will power to get him and herself out of trouble. Bob is the love interest for Hildy, but he may move too slow for her liking. There are a few suspects, but not an overwhelming number. The evidence is clear and easy to spot. The killer may come as a surprise to some. The ending will answer the reader's questions, and clear up some issues as well as give them satisfaction on all fronts. I enjoyed Night Shift and look forward to book three.
July 29, 2020
What I did not like about this book:
* There is a lot of excessive descriptions that go on for several chapters. First it is licking the lips. Everyone is doing it and they are doing it a lot and the author isn't shy about letting you know that they are doing it. I noticed this in the first book and it just got amped up a bit more in this book. Then it is swallowing and wiping the lips. Which also happens a lot because they eat a lot in this book [which isn't bad, but it does get extremely repetitive]. And then we start all over again. It doesn't seem like a big thing, but when you start thinking you should start counting how many times it is brought up, it might be just a bit too excessive.
* In the first book, the MC and the Cop make a deal and she goes the gym with him for 2 weeks straight every day. This book starts [with Hildy starting a second job as a counselor with the police force] and Bob [the cop] makes a comment about how she hasn't been at the gym. She responds that with her working two jobs, she isn't sure how she will be able to keep up the pace of the gym every day [which seems reasonable to me]. All a nice normal conversation. Except....it happens 3 more times in the book. So either the MC/M has a memory issue, or the author thinks we, the readers, do. And it happens with more than one topic and amongst several people. Once it was three times in that many chapters. The same conversation. Really?
* I knew who the murderer was in the 3rd chapter. And by the 5th chapter I knew the why and how. Maybe spend less time with all the repetitive descriptions and more on the plot? Maybe?
What I did like:
* The characters themselves, especially Hildy. She is a really good character that really deserves a better book than this one. The peripheral characters are also very good and would be awesome in a better book. There is so much potential here and it is just not being met IMO.
* I liked the idea of the story. It is a good one. It just was....tepid. TOO. MANY. DESCRIPTIONS. NOT enough plot and believable story.
I am not sure I would read a third one - we will have to see if one gets written.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
* There is a lot of excessive descriptions that go on for several chapters. First it is licking the lips. Everyone is doing it and they are doing it a lot and the author isn't shy about letting you know that they are doing it. I noticed this in the first book and it just got amped up a bit more in this book. Then it is swallowing and wiping the lips. Which also happens a lot because they eat a lot in this book [which isn't bad, but it does get extremely repetitive]. And then we start all over again. It doesn't seem like a big thing, but when you start thinking you should start counting how many times it is brought up, it might be just a bit too excessive.
* In the first book, the MC and the Cop make a deal and she goes the gym with him for 2 weeks straight every day. This book starts [with Hildy starting a second job as a counselor with the police force] and Bob [the cop] makes a comment about how she hasn't been at the gym. She responds that with her working two jobs, she isn't sure how she will be able to keep up the pace of the gym every day [which seems reasonable to me]. All a nice normal conversation. Except....it happens 3 more times in the book. So either the MC/M has a memory issue, or the author thinks we, the readers, do. And it happens with more than one topic and amongst several people. Once it was three times in that many chapters. The same conversation. Really?
* I knew who the murderer was in the 3rd chapter. And by the 5th chapter I knew the why and how. Maybe spend less time with all the repetitive descriptions and more on the plot? Maybe?
What I did like:
* The characters themselves, especially Hildy. She is a really good character that really deserves a better book than this one. The peripheral characters are also very good and would be awesome in a better book. There is so much potential here and it is just not being met IMO.
* I liked the idea of the story. It is a good one. It just was....tepid. TOO. MANY. DESCRIPTIONS. NOT enough plot and believable story.
I am not sure I would read a third one - we will have to see if one gets written.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 17, 2020
Night Shift is a super mystery with some interesting characters and it is a great second instalment in this entertaining series.
Hildy Schneider, a social worker, starts a moonlighting job in small-town Sorenson, Wisconsin, working with the police, supplementing her main employment at Sorenson General Hospital. On her second night, she visits a former patient, Danny Hildebrand, who has suffered from hallucinations for years. Danny believes he’s genuinely being haunted by the victim of a grisly murder he witnessed, but did nothing to prevent the killing. But when a body shows up in a neglected farmhouse with parts of the head missing, complex protagonist Hildy and Detective Bob Richmond start following the leads.
Having previously read the series opener, Needled to Death in the 'Helping Hands Mysteries' I found this one, Night Shift, equally engrossing. There were several levels to this mystery and it contained a lot of depth and grittiness for a cozy. I loved Annelise Ryan's portrayal of Hildy and I liked her for her sympathetic, sunny nature and hard-working ethos. The story was extremely satisfying with snippets of humour, and a soupçon of romance, alongside some very good twists. I'm very keen to read the next in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Hildy Schneider, a social worker, starts a moonlighting job in small-town Sorenson, Wisconsin, working with the police, supplementing her main employment at Sorenson General Hospital. On her second night, she visits a former patient, Danny Hildebrand, who has suffered from hallucinations for years. Danny believes he’s genuinely being haunted by the victim of a grisly murder he witnessed, but did nothing to prevent the killing. But when a body shows up in a neglected farmhouse with parts of the head missing, complex protagonist Hildy and Detective Bob Richmond start following the leads.
Having previously read the series opener, Needled to Death in the 'Helping Hands Mysteries' I found this one, Night Shift, equally engrossing. There were several levels to this mystery and it contained a lot of depth and grittiness for a cozy. I loved Annelise Ryan's portrayal of Hildy and I liked her for her sympathetic, sunny nature and hard-working ethos. The story was extremely satisfying with snippets of humour, and a soupçon of romance, alongside some very good twists. I'm very keen to read the next in the series!
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
September 19, 2020
Hildy is moonlighting with the local police and gets a late night call about a former patient from the hospital where she works. Danny has had hallucinations for years but this time he swears he is being haunted for real. A body turns up in a farmhouse crawl space and he is blamed. Hildy doesn’t think he did it, so she and Detective Bob set out to find who did it. They discover a total mastermind of a plan dealing drugs.
August 3, 2020
This is a cozy mystery centred on Hildy Schneider, a social worker who has taken on a new role in a joint program with police in her small town, going on ride-alongs to call outs and welfare checks. It’s actually a really interesting look at how the US police could change their modus operandi; I don’t know if it’s based on real pilot programs but I’m guessing that it could be and it makes a lot of logical sense. Hildy’s non-confrontational, problem-solving, sympathetic approach defuses situations before they can descend to violence.
Hildy herself is a character with an awful lot of baggage; raised in the foster care system she has some major personality quirks - OCD, food hoarding, a strained relationship with diet as a whole - that are nevertheless treated very matter-of-factly and in no way inhibit her being excellent at her job. Her own past (her mother’s murder is an unsolved cold case) means she has a genuine passion for helping victims get justice. When a call-out on one of her first ride-alongs with the police leads to Danny, a regular patient of hers suffering a schizophrenic break, Hildy’s efforts - and those of her canine companion, therapy dog Roscoe - calm the situation, but at a different scene later that night Hildy and her cop partner find a body in a scene that bears an uncanny resemblance to Danny’s babblings. The mystery only deepens when Hildy and Roscoe make an alarming discovery which could lead to a dangerous cell of domestic terrorists.
I really enjoyed this. Hildy’s a fascinating, raw character; honest almost to a fault, she doesn’t hide anything. Her relationship with her precocious pre-teen neighbour is really intriguing, as is her approach to her love life. She uses her wits and her life experience to adapt practically to her new job quickly. I’d have liked more Roscoe in the story (a common plaint of mine in cozy mysteries, sadly) but this was nonetheless an excellent read. I’ll give it five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
Hildy herself is a character with an awful lot of baggage; raised in the foster care system she has some major personality quirks - OCD, food hoarding, a strained relationship with diet as a whole - that are nevertheless treated very matter-of-factly and in no way inhibit her being excellent at her job. Her own past (her mother’s murder is an unsolved cold case) means she has a genuine passion for helping victims get justice. When a call-out on one of her first ride-alongs with the police leads to Danny, a regular patient of hers suffering a schizophrenic break, Hildy’s efforts - and those of her canine companion, therapy dog Roscoe - calm the situation, but at a different scene later that night Hildy and her cop partner find a body in a scene that bears an uncanny resemblance to Danny’s babblings. The mystery only deepens when Hildy and Roscoe make an alarming discovery which could lead to a dangerous cell of domestic terrorists.
I really enjoyed this. Hildy’s a fascinating, raw character; honest almost to a fault, she doesn’t hide anything. Her relationship with her precocious pre-teen neighbour is really intriguing, as is her approach to her love life. She uses her wits and her life experience to adapt practically to her new job quickly. I’d have liked more Roscoe in the story (a common plaint of mine in cozy mysteries, sadly) but this was nonetheless an excellent read. I’ll give it five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
September 10, 2020
Night Shift, the second book in Annelise Ryan’s Helping Hands mystery series is a solid mystery with compelling characters and real-life situations. The ongoing adventures of social worker Hildy Schneider and her therapy dog, Roscoe, make for an engaging and intriguing read.
In addition to serving as a social worker at the local hospital, Hildy is part of Helping Hands, a pilot program where she is allowed to ride along with a police officer to provide support services on welfare calls. On the first such call of the evening, she attends a call at the home of Danny Hildebrand, a former patient who seems to be suffering a breakdown. Danny tells Hildy and her police partner, Devo, about a murder that was witnessed by a purple spotted dinosaur. Danny’s concerns appear to be mere hallucinations until Hildy and Devo discover a man who had been murdered in his own kitchen, in full view of a purple dinosaur cookie jar. When the police target Danny as a prime suspect, Hildy becomes embroiled in a mystery that goes far beyond clearing her patient’s name.
While this book is billed as a “cozy mystery,” it departs from the traditional cozy formula. If you want a feel-good read about a sanitized killing in an idyllic small town, you should look elsewhere. Although Night Shift has many of the cozy elements (amateur sleuth, insular set of characters, etc.), it is much grittier than the typical cozy – think more like a light procedural novel. This is to its credit. Hildy is a complex character, complete with quirks (such as OCD and pocketing small food items) that are both memorable and endearing. In the context of the mystery, the book deals with both topical and social issues in a frank and intriguing manner. And, while I was able to figure out the perpetrator early on, that did not detract from the story itself.
All told, Night Shift is a bit of a departure from the traditional cozy mystery, but its realism and grit make it a compelling book in its own right.
Note: I received an ARC of Night Shift from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.
In addition to serving as a social worker at the local hospital, Hildy is part of Helping Hands, a pilot program where she is allowed to ride along with a police officer to provide support services on welfare calls. On the first such call of the evening, she attends a call at the home of Danny Hildebrand, a former patient who seems to be suffering a breakdown. Danny tells Hildy and her police partner, Devo, about a murder that was witnessed by a purple spotted dinosaur. Danny’s concerns appear to be mere hallucinations until Hildy and Devo discover a man who had been murdered in his own kitchen, in full view of a purple dinosaur cookie jar. When the police target Danny as a prime suspect, Hildy becomes embroiled in a mystery that goes far beyond clearing her patient’s name.
While this book is billed as a “cozy mystery,” it departs from the traditional cozy formula. If you want a feel-good read about a sanitized killing in an idyllic small town, you should look elsewhere. Although Night Shift has many of the cozy elements (amateur sleuth, insular set of characters, etc.), it is much grittier than the typical cozy – think more like a light procedural novel. This is to its credit. Hildy is a complex character, complete with quirks (such as OCD and pocketing small food items) that are both memorable and endearing. In the context of the mystery, the book deals with both topical and social issues in a frank and intriguing manner. And, while I was able to figure out the perpetrator early on, that did not detract from the story itself.
All told, Night Shift is a bit of a departure from the traditional cozy mystery, but its realism and grit make it a compelling book in its own right.
Note: I received an ARC of Night Shift from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.
April 22, 2020
Hildy is a fun character who takes her job as a hospital social worker very seriously.
When her second job leads her to a troubled adult who swears he saw a murder take place.
Hildy will do whatever it takes to help, including putting herself in harm’s way.
When her second job leads her to a troubled adult who swears he saw a murder take place.
Hildy will do whatever it takes to help, including putting herself in harm’s way.
April 18, 2020
Second in the series about a social worker and her dog; you need not have read the first book.
Hospital social worker Hildy has taken a second job with the police department, going on patrol calls with her therapy dog to help defuse difficult situations. On her first tour, she encounters a former patient whose schizophrenia seems to have worsened dramatically. He's talking about a killing witnessed by a spotted dinosaur. It seems bizarre until the police find a farmer with his head blown off - in front of a cookie jar in the shape of polka-dotted triceratops. How was Hildy's patient involved? And just what was the dead farmer growing?
I enjoyed this unusual, grittier take on a cozy mystery. Hildy is a sympathetic, hard-working, relatable character with a troubled backstory, a resilient outlook, a love for dogs, and a kind heart. Therapy dog Roscoe is loving, intelligent, soothing, and perceptive. Hildy has a flicker of romance with a coworker, mostly over sausage and pepper sandwiches. She is too busy for much more. She's got two jobs, a dog, a semi-dependent neighbor kid, a vengeful boss who wanted the police department gig, and oh, yes - she's got to solve the darn murder. Because that's what heroines do.
The murder plot itself seemed strained, and there was little mystery about the likely culprit. But this is an appealing series with an interesting and complex protagonist, and I look forward to the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Hospital social worker Hildy has taken a second job with the police department, going on patrol calls with her therapy dog to help defuse difficult situations. On her first tour, she encounters a former patient whose schizophrenia seems to have worsened dramatically. He's talking about a killing witnessed by a spotted dinosaur. It seems bizarre until the police find a farmer with his head blown off - in front of a cookie jar in the shape of polka-dotted triceratops. How was Hildy's patient involved? And just what was the dead farmer growing?
I enjoyed this unusual, grittier take on a cozy mystery. Hildy is a sympathetic, hard-working, relatable character with a troubled backstory, a resilient outlook, a love for dogs, and a kind heart. Therapy dog Roscoe is loving, intelligent, soothing, and perceptive. Hildy has a flicker of romance with a coworker, mostly over sausage and pepper sandwiches. She is too busy for much more. She's got two jobs, a dog, a semi-dependent neighbor kid, a vengeful boss who wanted the police department gig, and oh, yes - she's got to solve the darn murder. Because that's what heroines do.
The murder plot itself seemed strained, and there was little mystery about the likely culprit. But this is an appealing series with an interesting and complex protagonist, and I look forward to the next book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 23, 2020
The main character is really starting to grow on me in this series. With each book I like her more and more. She's honest, raw, and very flawed. The themes in this book are real, sad at times, but always interesting. The story was a little chilling, but had a lot of today's realness mixed in. I love the relationship developing between Bob and Hildy.
July 28, 2020
What a great read this second in a new series is! The author of the Mattie Winston mysteries gifts us with a remarkable team with social worker Hildy and her trained therapy dog, Roscoe, who rides with police officers four nights a week to help anyone they see on their calls with community resources when needed. Hildy is also a social worker four days a week at the hospital, at least until she finds out if the Helping Hands ride-along program will bring long-term employment. I love the Helping Hands concept, especially with the help of Roscoe, who can melt away panic or stress attacks.
It is Hildy’s second night on the job, and already the two positions are dovetailing. Their first call is at the home of a young man she has met at the hospital. Danny, a man suffering from schizophrenia, lives with his sister Allie and her fiancé. Even though he has not missed any of his meds, he is in a panic, claiming he saw the ghost of a man he said he saw killed. The ghost is angry because he didn’t stop “them” from killing him. This is the first time Danny has had visual hallucinations. They helped him get to the hospital, where Hildy spent a little time with him until the officer she was with had another call.
Called out to do a welfare check on an older farmer living alone, they found a man dead in his kitchen. At first it appeared to be a suicide, but Hildy wasn’t buying it, considering a couple things she sees inside. The next find is almost as distressing – an underground pot farm, a lab, and plants used to make chemical weapons. Possibly in preparation for a terrorist attack. And the dead farmer appears to have died just as Danny said, except he did not see a suicide. Some will try to prove him guilty. Hildy and Allie want to prove him innocent. Yet Danny can’t seem to talk about any other details.
I really enjoyed this 2nd in a new series! This tempts me to begin to read the Mattie Winston series as I appreciated this read by Annelise Ryan! I have the feeling this series will be a new favorite of mine. It did not take long for me to become invested in the characters. When Hildy’s boss tries to find a conflict of interest between her help with Danny at the hospital and her help with the police, she has to be clear what she is doing, but her heart is firmly in the right place. This fabulous mystery kept me guessing throughout, and while I did figure out one of the masterminds, I didn’t count on how thorough whodunit was in covering tracks. There were still surprises, and several moments resulting in laughter in dark places, such as meeting the daughters of the farmer. I highly recommend this to fans of the author and of well-written cozy mysteries, those working in social services positions, therapy pets, and lovable characters.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
It is Hildy’s second night on the job, and already the two positions are dovetailing. Their first call is at the home of a young man she has met at the hospital. Danny, a man suffering from schizophrenia, lives with his sister Allie and her fiancé. Even though he has not missed any of his meds, he is in a panic, claiming he saw the ghost of a man he said he saw killed. The ghost is angry because he didn’t stop “them” from killing him. This is the first time Danny has had visual hallucinations. They helped him get to the hospital, where Hildy spent a little time with him until the officer she was with had another call.
Called out to do a welfare check on an older farmer living alone, they found a man dead in his kitchen. At first it appeared to be a suicide, but Hildy wasn’t buying it, considering a couple things she sees inside. The next find is almost as distressing – an underground pot farm, a lab, and plants used to make chemical weapons. Possibly in preparation for a terrorist attack. And the dead farmer appears to have died just as Danny said, except he did not see a suicide. Some will try to prove him guilty. Hildy and Allie want to prove him innocent. Yet Danny can’t seem to talk about any other details.
I really enjoyed this 2nd in a new series! This tempts me to begin to read the Mattie Winston series as I appreciated this read by Annelise Ryan! I have the feeling this series will be a new favorite of mine. It did not take long for me to become invested in the characters. When Hildy’s boss tries to find a conflict of interest between her help with Danny at the hospital and her help with the police, she has to be clear what she is doing, but her heart is firmly in the right place. This fabulous mystery kept me guessing throughout, and while I did figure out one of the masterminds, I didn’t count on how thorough whodunit was in covering tracks. There were still surprises, and several moments resulting in laughter in dark places, such as meeting the daughters of the farmer. I highly recommend this to fans of the author and of well-written cozy mysteries, those working in social services positions, therapy pets, and lovable characters.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this novel, and this is my honest review.
July 28, 2020
Hildy already has a full-time job working as a hospital social worker in rural Sorenson, Wisconsin. She decides to take a second job to ride along with Police Officer Devonshire (Devo for short) and her therapy dog, Roscoe on the Night Shift.
Hildy is doing what all the Defund the Police protesters want— she is a mental health professional riding along with the police. She solves mental health issues by talent and skill rather than the police using force and threats of arrest to solve every problem.
Her first case on her new job is Danny, who suffers from schizophrenia. He claims to have seen a murder. Because he has done nothing to prevent the killing, he believes that the ghost of the victim is haunting him. Strangely, his sister professes to have seen the ghost too.
Later that night, Hildy and Devo come across a crime scene that eerily recalls Danny’s vision of the murder. Even down to the smallest details. But the scene is miles from Danny’s house. What did Danny really see? Could there be a real ghost? And who is the murderer? Will he come after Danny next? Or, worse, is Danny the murderer?
Hildy is a fascinating character. She had an extremely difficult childhood. Her mother was a prostitute. Her father unknown. At seven, Hildy was placed in a series of foster homes after her mother was murdered. The murderer was never found. By trying to control the uncontrollable life in which she was thrust, Hildy develops OCD. She also becomes a social worker on a mission to help others.
The therapy dog is also a nice addition to the cast of characters. And Hildy’s budding romance with Detective Bob keeps the story interesting on a personal level. There is also gentle humor among these pages.
Overall, if you feel like reading a cozy with some humor, a light romance, and an original job for the heroine look no further. Night Shift is an excellent choice! 4 stars!
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Hildy is doing what all the Defund the Police protesters want— she is a mental health professional riding along with the police. She solves mental health issues by talent and skill rather than the police using force and threats of arrest to solve every problem.
Her first case on her new job is Danny, who suffers from schizophrenia. He claims to have seen a murder. Because he has done nothing to prevent the killing, he believes that the ghost of the victim is haunting him. Strangely, his sister professes to have seen the ghost too.
Later that night, Hildy and Devo come across a crime scene that eerily recalls Danny’s vision of the murder. Even down to the smallest details. But the scene is miles from Danny’s house. What did Danny really see? Could there be a real ghost? And who is the murderer? Will he come after Danny next? Or, worse, is Danny the murderer?
Hildy is a fascinating character. She had an extremely difficult childhood. Her mother was a prostitute. Her father unknown. At seven, Hildy was placed in a series of foster homes after her mother was murdered. The murderer was never found. By trying to control the uncontrollable life in which she was thrust, Hildy develops OCD. She also becomes a social worker on a mission to help others.
The therapy dog is also a nice addition to the cast of characters. And Hildy’s budding romance with Detective Bob keeps the story interesting on a personal level. There is also gentle humor among these pages.
Overall, if you feel like reading a cozy with some humor, a light romance, and an original job for the heroine look no further. Night Shift is an excellent choice! 4 stars!
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
May 2, 2020
3.5 Stars
This was a solid cozy mystery. I have never read any Annelise Ryan and didn't realize this was not the first book in the series, however that didn't matter. The author did a really good job of providing background about the protagonist and the main secondary characters. I did enjoy this book enough that I will likely go back and pick up the first book in the series, as there was a reference to the case in the first book and it had me intrigued.
I thought the mystery in this book was very intriguing and I did find myself wanting to continue reading so that I could find out what would happen next. I did end up guessing who the culprit was, however I still enjoyed the lead up.
I really liked Hildy, our main character. I really appreciated that she is a social worker in the hospital during the day and is working part-time with the police force at night. Social workers do so much good and are very underrated, so I loved that representation. As someone working in healthcare who works a lot of evening and nightshifts, I always love reading about her working the night shift!
Another thing I really liked about this book was Danny. I really felt for him throughout the whole ordeal as he struggled to deal with his mental health while many people didn't believe him about what he was saying and doubting his innocence. I thought the mental health aspect was portrayed really well and it was nice to read.
While this wasn't the best cozy mystery I've ever read, it was a good read. I will pick up more Annelise Ryan in the future!
Thank you so much to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. Night Shift will be released on July 28th, so you have time to pick up the first one and get caught up
This was a solid cozy mystery. I have never read any Annelise Ryan and didn't realize this was not the first book in the series, however that didn't matter. The author did a really good job of providing background about the protagonist and the main secondary characters. I did enjoy this book enough that I will likely go back and pick up the first book in the series, as there was a reference to the case in the first book and it had me intrigued.
I thought the mystery in this book was very intriguing and I did find myself wanting to continue reading so that I could find out what would happen next. I did end up guessing who the culprit was, however I still enjoyed the lead up.
I really liked Hildy, our main character. I really appreciated that she is a social worker in the hospital during the day and is working part-time with the police force at night. Social workers do so much good and are very underrated, so I loved that representation. As someone working in healthcare who works a lot of evening and nightshifts, I always love reading about her working the night shift!
Another thing I really liked about this book was Danny. I really felt for him throughout the whole ordeal as he struggled to deal with his mental health while many people didn't believe him about what he was saying and doubting his innocence. I thought the mental health aspect was portrayed really well and it was nice to read.
While this wasn't the best cozy mystery I've ever read, it was a good read. I will pick up more Annelise Ryan in the future!
Thank you so much to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. Night Shift will be released on July 28th, so you have time to pick up the first one and get caught up
July 27, 2020
4.5 stars
This is the second book in the A Helping Hands mystery by Annelise Ryan.
I was quite captured by this book. Hildy had a job where she worked at the hospital as a social worker for a bit during the day and then worked with the police during the dead of the night.
Her friend’s brother who has mental problems is admitted to the ER in order to balance out his medications and he tells them about a murder that they think is all in his head. Then later, they come across a scene eerily similar to what he claimed he saw all the way down to the purple dinosaur.
Definitely an interesting read that I found engaging and interesting. I definitely want to keep following this author and maybe even pick up the first book in this series just to give myself a bit of back story.
If you want to read a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
This is the second book in the A Helping Hands mystery by Annelise Ryan.
I was quite captured by this book. Hildy had a job where she worked at the hospital as a social worker for a bit during the day and then worked with the police during the dead of the night.
Her friend’s brother who has mental problems is admitted to the ER in order to balance out his medications and he tells them about a murder that they think is all in his head. Then later, they come across a scene eerily similar to what he claimed he saw all the way down to the purple dinosaur.
Definitely an interesting read that I found engaging and interesting. I definitely want to keep following this author and maybe even pick up the first book in this series just to give myself a bit of back story.
If you want to read a good cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. You won’t be disappointed.
I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.
May 8, 2021
⏰ ⏰ ⏰ ⏰ ⏰ alarm crime
I’m here tapping my foot, glancing at my watch, waiting for the next book to come out about Hildy and Bob’s adventures.
I’m here tapping my foot, glancing at my watch, waiting for the next book to come out about Hildy and Bob’s adventures.
April 17, 2023
This is the second Helping Hands Mystery. Hildy and her Golden Retriever Roscoe pull double duty as a social worker with the local hospital and a new program with the police. In this book the crimes revolve around a local militia group and Bio weapons labs and manipulating the medications of a schizophrenic to use him for his biochemical expertise.
September 24, 2020
I really like Annelise Ryan's Sorenson, WI books. This book is the second in a spin off from the Mattie Winston series. Hildy Schneider is a social worker at the local hospital. She spends her days helping patients with resources, services and counseling. During the first book, Hildy helps solve the murder of one of the members of her grief group. This leads to her being hired on with the Sorenson PD to ride along with them and help diffuse mental health situations.
Hildy is loving it so far, but is finding that it is hard to straddle the line between her hospital job and seeing the same patients out in the community. During her first ride along, they get called to see one of her regulars. A man diagnosed with schizophrenia who is claiming to have seen a ghost. Shortly there after they are called to a supposed suicide, and Hildy starts to realize that there are too many coincidences between the calls.
I enjoy Hildy's blunt straight forward attitude and her dedication to her patients. I love seeing the relationship between Hildy and Bob Richmond grow. Bob is so awkward and I really like how Hildy doesn't sulk around because he can't take a hint, or make the first move. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
Hildy is loving it so far, but is finding that it is hard to straddle the line between her hospital job and seeing the same patients out in the community. During her first ride along, they get called to see one of her regulars. A man diagnosed with schizophrenia who is claiming to have seen a ghost. Shortly there after they are called to a supposed suicide, and Hildy starts to realize that there are too many coincidences between the calls.
I enjoy Hildy's blunt straight forward attitude and her dedication to her patients. I love seeing the relationship between Hildy and Bob Richmond grow. Bob is so awkward and I really like how Hildy doesn't sulk around because he can't take a hint, or make the first move. I am looking forward to the next one in the series.
September 10, 2020
In the first book in this series we meet Hildy Schneider, a secondary character from The Mattie Winston Mysteries, Ryan's other series. She's a social worker who has recently begun a new job with the Police. This is a trial position where she will do ride alongs where social work intervention would be beneficial. This program is called, Helping Hands.
I loved this book! It is so timely with everything going on right now and police trying to deal with Mental Health interventions when they are not trained for that. Hildy has had quite a life, being a foster child and dealing with issues that went with that. This gives her a wonderful understanding and empathy for others. When she runs into a patient she has dealt with at the hospital rambling and having a meltdown of sorts, she uses her expertise, along with her service dog to calm him down. He is an integral part of the story that involves murder, drugs, and kidnapping. I do not want to give this story away, but suffice it to say that Hildy's skills and knowledge are invaluable in solving this mystery. Hildy is a great protagonist. She is non-confrontational, adept at problem-solving, sympathetic, and passionate. She has her own issues with OCD, food hoarding and kleptomania, but is working with this. She is also trying to solve her mother's murder, which is a cold cast. Throw in a bit of romance, nothing too serious, and you have a woman who is quite realistic. Annelise Ryan has written a well plotted mystery, with great characters, a few twists, some clues and read herrings that all fit together to make an enjoyable cozy mystery. I am looking forward to more Helping Hands Mysteries. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
I loved this book! It is so timely with everything going on right now and police trying to deal with Mental Health interventions when they are not trained for that. Hildy has had quite a life, being a foster child and dealing with issues that went with that. This gives her a wonderful understanding and empathy for others. When she runs into a patient she has dealt with at the hospital rambling and having a meltdown of sorts, she uses her expertise, along with her service dog to calm him down. He is an integral part of the story that involves murder, drugs, and kidnapping. I do not want to give this story away, but suffice it to say that Hildy's skills and knowledge are invaluable in solving this mystery. Hildy is a great protagonist. She is non-confrontational, adept at problem-solving, sympathetic, and passionate. She has her own issues with OCD, food hoarding and kleptomania, but is working with this. She is also trying to solve her mother's murder, which is a cold cast. Throw in a bit of romance, nothing too serious, and you have a woman who is quite realistic. Annelise Ryan has written a well plotted mystery, with great characters, a few twists, some clues and read herrings that all fit together to make an enjoyable cozy mystery. I am looking forward to more Helping Hands Mysteries. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
September 8, 2020
I listened to the audiobook of this novel and I want to shout out to the narrator that she did an excellent job. This is the second volume in a new series, but it was the first book I read by this author. I enjoyed it and will definitely be looking up the rest of her works. While there were times I felt the descriptions went a little overboard this was a truly enjoyable cozy mystery. The mystery itself didn’t hold many surprises for me, but it was well thought out and touched upon some important issues. The main character Hildy has added a second job to our normal work as a social worker at the hospital. She is part of a new pilot program to work with the Sorensen Police Department as a ride along social worker to try to help with people where her services may be a better fit.
April 22, 2020
not an unbiased review: I live in Wisconsin, I share job history with author, daughter is a social worker.
Use of present tense very disconcerting much of the time, other than that, I loved the way the mystery played out! Complex characters that many of us could have met and interacted with, solid plot with misdirections, twists, and outright red herrings all add up to a very fine read. No spoilers here.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
Use of present tense very disconcerting much of the time, other than that, I loved the way the mystery played out! Complex characters that many of us could have met and interacted with, solid plot with misdirections, twists, and outright red herrings all add up to a very fine read. No spoilers here.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!
August 16, 2020
https://openbooksociety.com/article/n...
Night Shift
A Helping Hands Mystery #2
By Annelise Ryan
ISBN 9781496719447
Author’s website: anneliseryan.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When social worker Hildy Schneider commits to an after-hours side job, she finds herself drawn into the darker side of small-town Sorenson, Wisconsin—and the twisted mind of an unnamed killer . . .
Strange things have been happening since Hildy started moonlighting with local police, but a desperate late-night call involving a former patient from Sorenson General Hospital tops the list. Although Danny Hildebrand has been tormented by hallucinations for years, he swears he’s being haunted for real by the victim of a grisly murder . . .
The rambling ghost story seems like another delusion. But after a body turns up in a neglected farmhouse crawling with secrets, Hildy and the magnetic Detective Bob Richmond rush to explain Danny’s knowledge of the incident. As the crime-solving partners unwittingly grow closer while examining a series of eerie leads, they realize that surviving past sunrise means shedding light on a criminal willing to do whatever it takes to stay in the shadows.
Review:
This cozy captured my attention from the first page and held it throughout. I really like Helping Hands, a program where a social worker who many in the community are familiar with riding with a police officer. Many people they are called to help can benefit from community referrals, and in this case, Hildy works also at the local hospital and knows available services. She brings Roscoe, her trained therapy dog. The golden retriever has proved to help calm people under stress of illness or other circumstances. The characters are engaging and well-defined and the mystery is quite challenging.
Danny is a young man with schizophrenia. He lives with his sister and her fiancé, and usually does very well when he takes his meds that are well balanced. Hildy has known him a couple years from his emergency room visits. It is Hildy’s first week riding with a police officer, and they are called to Danny’s sister Allie’s home. He is visibly upset, ranting about someone being mad and coming for him, something about a ghost of a man he saw killed and didn’t help save him. None of it makes sense, so Allie, Danny, Hildy, and the comforting Roscoe go to the hospital in Allie’s car with Devo, the cop Hildy is working with tonight, following close behind.
When they pass the cemetery, Danny is convinced he saw the ghost. Later, Allie said she was sure she saw a specter, also! She shares the details Danny told her about seeing a man killed and a pink and purple dinosaur seeing it all. To the best of Hildy’s knowledge, nobody has been found dead in the manner Danny told Allie about.
Later that night, Devo is sent to check on the welfare of a man living alone in the county whose out of state daughter had not been able to get hold of him on their regular weekly call. Hildy is stunned to see that the means of death appears to be the same as what Danny has described, right down to the dinosaur. As if that isn’t enough, when Hildy takes Roscoe for a walk, they see a light through the floor of the open barn. After hearing someone escape from there, investigation by the officers and sheriff reveal a huge cellar full of premium grade pot growing, but very deadly plants that can be used in bioterrorism.
It is hard to imagine Danny having anything to do with this farm, as he never mentioned it to his sister. Yet he described enough of the scene to put him on the radar of the detective, Bob Richmond. Bob and Hildy had gone to dinner recently, and each had hoped to see the other again – just not in these circumstances. Hildy is convinced Danny could not have done the deed and insists on helping Bob with the investigation when not working either of her jobs.
The characters are a great mix. I liked Hildy from the beginning. She has chosen a challenging line of work that she, as a former foster child, can do better than most. Hildy is described best, and each of the others as befitting their roles. I appreciate that Hildy and Bob, despite their ages, are relatively inexperienced in relationships. It makes their dates interesting, and I like the thought of middle—age folks being able to still feel embarrassed. Bob sounds like he is trying to open his life up in many ways, including with Hildy. Danny is well-portrayed; the focus is more on his strengths than just his periodic mental health flares except in terms of the investigation.
I very much enjoyed this complex mystery that kept me guessing throughout. There were enough clues and plot twists to keep this fast-paced novel interesting. This duo of Hildy and Roscoe, and possibly Bob Richmond, gives the good guys a real boost. The lawyer Allie had for her brother was a real piece of work, especially when seeing Roscoe in the room! In some ways, the man provided comic relief in a stressful situation. The bad guy really was diabolical in the extent of deception and planning that went into the crimes. The ending brought surprises even though I had a good idea who the mastermind was, and all loose ends were tied up. And the ghost that everyone saw? I’m not telling! I highly recommend this cozy mystery!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
Night Shift
A Helping Hands Mystery #2
By Annelise Ryan
ISBN 9781496719447
Author’s website: anneliseryan.com
Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie
Synopsis:
When social worker Hildy Schneider commits to an after-hours side job, she finds herself drawn into the darker side of small-town Sorenson, Wisconsin—and the twisted mind of an unnamed killer . . .
Strange things have been happening since Hildy started moonlighting with local police, but a desperate late-night call involving a former patient from Sorenson General Hospital tops the list. Although Danny Hildebrand has been tormented by hallucinations for years, he swears he’s being haunted for real by the victim of a grisly murder . . .
The rambling ghost story seems like another delusion. But after a body turns up in a neglected farmhouse crawling with secrets, Hildy and the magnetic Detective Bob Richmond rush to explain Danny’s knowledge of the incident. As the crime-solving partners unwittingly grow closer while examining a series of eerie leads, they realize that surviving past sunrise means shedding light on a criminal willing to do whatever it takes to stay in the shadows.
Review:
This cozy captured my attention from the first page and held it throughout. I really like Helping Hands, a program where a social worker who many in the community are familiar with riding with a police officer. Many people they are called to help can benefit from community referrals, and in this case, Hildy works also at the local hospital and knows available services. She brings Roscoe, her trained therapy dog. The golden retriever has proved to help calm people under stress of illness or other circumstances. The characters are engaging and well-defined and the mystery is quite challenging.
Danny is a young man with schizophrenia. He lives with his sister and her fiancé, and usually does very well when he takes his meds that are well balanced. Hildy has known him a couple years from his emergency room visits. It is Hildy’s first week riding with a police officer, and they are called to Danny’s sister Allie’s home. He is visibly upset, ranting about someone being mad and coming for him, something about a ghost of a man he saw killed and didn’t help save him. None of it makes sense, so Allie, Danny, Hildy, and the comforting Roscoe go to the hospital in Allie’s car with Devo, the cop Hildy is working with tonight, following close behind.
When they pass the cemetery, Danny is convinced he saw the ghost. Later, Allie said she was sure she saw a specter, also! She shares the details Danny told her about seeing a man killed and a pink and purple dinosaur seeing it all. To the best of Hildy’s knowledge, nobody has been found dead in the manner Danny told Allie about.
Later that night, Devo is sent to check on the welfare of a man living alone in the county whose out of state daughter had not been able to get hold of him on their regular weekly call. Hildy is stunned to see that the means of death appears to be the same as what Danny has described, right down to the dinosaur. As if that isn’t enough, when Hildy takes Roscoe for a walk, they see a light through the floor of the open barn. After hearing someone escape from there, investigation by the officers and sheriff reveal a huge cellar full of premium grade pot growing, but very deadly plants that can be used in bioterrorism.
It is hard to imagine Danny having anything to do with this farm, as he never mentioned it to his sister. Yet he described enough of the scene to put him on the radar of the detective, Bob Richmond. Bob and Hildy had gone to dinner recently, and each had hoped to see the other again – just not in these circumstances. Hildy is convinced Danny could not have done the deed and insists on helping Bob with the investigation when not working either of her jobs.
The characters are a great mix. I liked Hildy from the beginning. She has chosen a challenging line of work that she, as a former foster child, can do better than most. Hildy is described best, and each of the others as befitting their roles. I appreciate that Hildy and Bob, despite their ages, are relatively inexperienced in relationships. It makes their dates interesting, and I like the thought of middle—age folks being able to still feel embarrassed. Bob sounds like he is trying to open his life up in many ways, including with Hildy. Danny is well-portrayed; the focus is more on his strengths than just his periodic mental health flares except in terms of the investigation.
I very much enjoyed this complex mystery that kept me guessing throughout. There were enough clues and plot twists to keep this fast-paced novel interesting. This duo of Hildy and Roscoe, and possibly Bob Richmond, gives the good guys a real boost. The lawyer Allie had for her brother was a real piece of work, especially when seeing Roscoe in the room! In some ways, the man provided comic relief in a stressful situation. The bad guy really was diabolical in the extent of deception and planning that went into the crimes. The ending brought surprises even though I had a good idea who the mastermind was, and all loose ends were tied up. And the ghost that everyone saw? I’m not telling! I highly recommend this cozy mystery!
*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*
May 28, 2021
Two books to read. One—a thought provoking theological memoir with an impending book club deadline. The other—a page turner by one of my favorite authors, Annelise Ryan. She really knows how to tell a story. My decision, given this choice, is not hard to guess. As I finished the mystery, Night Shift, I should have been wearing my “one more chapter” sweatshirt because that is what happened, all the way to a surprising and satisfying conclusion.
Whereas Ryan’s Mattie Winston Mystery Series focuses on forensics and pathology, her equally well-written Helping Hands Series is about Hildy, a social worker who is combining her job with the hospital as a social worker with a newly created position where she rides along with local enforcement officers to support both the officers and the citizens they encounter. The upside is that many of her clients overlap; the downside is that the hours are extended with the jobs back to back not really allowing for any kind of normal sleep routines. Hildy has been trained in appropriate protocol to keep her safe, and she follows it. She has three big advantages in her new job. She is smart and is good at noticing clues and making connections that others may not see. She has a trained therapy dog Roscoe who interacts well with people in crisis helping to calm them. Personal traumas as a child and her experiences in the foster care system make her an understanding advocate.
In this mystery, Hildy’s welfare check on a farmer yields unpleasant results that are just the beginning of an intricate plot. Threads include a female vet with PTSD, a schizophrenic young man who hallucinates, two adult daughters of the victim who are not very nice people, and a militia organization.
Hildy is determined, persistent, and very caring. On a personal level, she befriends a young neighbor with autism and initiates a relationship with a bachelor detective who is ready to make changes in his life. On a professional level, she is confronted by her boss at the hospital who was turned down for the law enforcement position Hildy now holds.
Annelise Ryan’s books have some of the characteristics of a cozy mystery, but they have a little edge to them in the crime scene descriptions. They also have characters with more depth to them than the typical cozy mystery. She takes great care to bring the reader along as she supplies background information from the first novel in a natural and organic way. The characters are interesting and show development. The plot is intricate and fast moving. This is a mystery you’ll be thinking about for days as you wonder what adventures lie in store for Hildy in the next book.
I would like to extend my thanks to Netgalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Whereas Ryan’s Mattie Winston Mystery Series focuses on forensics and pathology, her equally well-written Helping Hands Series is about Hildy, a social worker who is combining her job with the hospital as a social worker with a newly created position where she rides along with local enforcement officers to support both the officers and the citizens they encounter. The upside is that many of her clients overlap; the downside is that the hours are extended with the jobs back to back not really allowing for any kind of normal sleep routines. Hildy has been trained in appropriate protocol to keep her safe, and she follows it. She has three big advantages in her new job. She is smart and is good at noticing clues and making connections that others may not see. She has a trained therapy dog Roscoe who interacts well with people in crisis helping to calm them. Personal traumas as a child and her experiences in the foster care system make her an understanding advocate.
In this mystery, Hildy’s welfare check on a farmer yields unpleasant results that are just the beginning of an intricate plot. Threads include a female vet with PTSD, a schizophrenic young man who hallucinates, two adult daughters of the victim who are not very nice people, and a militia organization.
Hildy is determined, persistent, and very caring. On a personal level, she befriends a young neighbor with autism and initiates a relationship with a bachelor detective who is ready to make changes in his life. On a professional level, she is confronted by her boss at the hospital who was turned down for the law enforcement position Hildy now holds.
Annelise Ryan’s books have some of the characteristics of a cozy mystery, but they have a little edge to them in the crime scene descriptions. They also have characters with more depth to them than the typical cozy mystery. She takes great care to bring the reader along as she supplies background information from the first novel in a natural and organic way. The characters are interesting and show development. The plot is intricate and fast moving. This is a mystery you’ll be thinking about for days as you wonder what adventures lie in store for Hildy in the next book.
I would like to extend my thanks to Netgalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2020
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
‘Night Shift‘ is the second title in the ‘Helping Hands Mystery‘ series (which has a connection to the ‘Mattie Winston Mysteries‘ series). I try to read in order, that’s just my style, but if you haven’t or cannot read the connecting or the first title in the series you will not feel the least bit lost for anything relative you really should know is spelled out for you. And that is what brings me back to certain authors, making certain that I know what I need to know for right now.
I like Hildy, I really do for she’s realistic in so many ways. She has her own issues, a past that still affects her today and probably always will. She’s real in the sense that I can accept what she’s doing, how she’s acting, and even how she’s thinking things through in a way that makes sense for her. To be frank, I don’t always feel that way about mystery heroines… and it’s worth a mention when I do.
As a social worker for the local hospital, Hildy already has a full plate yet now she’s taking on a second job of riding along on certain police calls where her expertise (and that of her dog Roscoe) can be of great help. It’s on one such call that Hildy will begin to follow the trail of a murder that couldn’t possibly be as a former patient described – yet, there’s the dead body, and the dinosaur (even if it is a cookie jar).
Most of what you’ll need to know before diving into ‘Night Shift‘ can be found in the Cover Description. I was easily swept up in the mystery that Hildy and Bob are investigating. If I figured out who the culprit was before the reveal, well, that certainly didn’t spoil the rest of the story… for there was always that chance that I was wrong. Nope, not going to say if I was or wasn’t – you’ll have to do your own sleuthing.
I enjoyed stepping back into this world, and I’m already anticipating the next story to come. If you love a good Cozy Mystery that draws you in until the ending, then you’ll want to add ‘Night Shift‘ to your reading list.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
‘Night Shift‘ is the second title in the ‘Helping Hands Mystery‘ series (which has a connection to the ‘Mattie Winston Mysteries‘ series). I try to read in order, that’s just my style, but if you haven’t or cannot read the connecting or the first title in the series you will not feel the least bit lost for anything relative you really should know is spelled out for you. And that is what brings me back to certain authors, making certain that I know what I need to know for right now.
I like Hildy, I really do for she’s realistic in so many ways. She has her own issues, a past that still affects her today and probably always will. She’s real in the sense that I can accept what she’s doing, how she’s acting, and even how she’s thinking things through in a way that makes sense for her. To be frank, I don’t always feel that way about mystery heroines… and it’s worth a mention when I do.
As a social worker for the local hospital, Hildy already has a full plate yet now she’s taking on a second job of riding along on certain police calls where her expertise (and that of her dog Roscoe) can be of great help. It’s on one such call that Hildy will begin to follow the trail of a murder that couldn’t possibly be as a former patient described – yet, there’s the dead body, and the dinosaur (even if it is a cookie jar).
Most of what you’ll need to know before diving into ‘Night Shift‘ can be found in the Cover Description. I was easily swept up in the mystery that Hildy and Bob are investigating. If I figured out who the culprit was before the reveal, well, that certainly didn’t spoil the rest of the story… for there was always that chance that I was wrong. Nope, not going to say if I was or wasn’t – you’ll have to do your own sleuthing.
I enjoyed stepping back into this world, and I’m already anticipating the next story to come. If you love a good Cozy Mystery that draws you in until the ending, then you’ll want to add ‘Night Shift‘ to your reading list.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Kensington Books via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
August 2, 2020
I do appreciate humor included in a cozy novel. It's not meant to be dark and this narrative stays rather on the light side due in part to MC Hildy Schneider. She's a social worker at the hospital newly committed to a second job with the Sorenson Police Department. She is working with the police in a trial program called Helping Hands and she'll ride along with the night shift cop. This could be a good thing using golden retriever Roscoe, a trained therapy dog.
Her first night sees a homicide victim that manages to tie into one of her patients with schizophrenia who is obviously off his meds. Something is really wrong here--she knows he wouldn't have done the deed--meds or no.
The author has peppered in a variety of damaged and unusual support characters--one of my favs is PJ, the (autistic) teen who walks Roscoe. I'm still trying to make heads or tails of Detective Bob Richmond, but that's a thread that will be further explored in the next series entry. The author's sense of humor manifests with some weirdly funny analogies producing a soft chuckle or two.
The mystery is not that difficult and the perp is rather obvious early on with the motive by mid-book. The storyline is easy to follow and the characters add depth and a little fun to the narrative. My grumble is the use of an (another) damaged protagonist and there are repeats of conversations and commonly repeated descriptions.
The real conundrum is the conflict of interest between allegiance to the hospital or the police department. A situation that will surely force a resolution.
I've read this author before in one of her other series. While I tripped over the few quibbles noted above, but basically enjoyed a well-plotted and easy-paced cozy read with characters I grew to invest in. Recommended.
Read my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
Her first night sees a homicide victim that manages to tie into one of her patients with schizophrenia who is obviously off his meds. Something is really wrong here--she knows he wouldn't have done the deed--meds or no.
The author has peppered in a variety of damaged and unusual support characters--one of my favs is PJ, the (autistic) teen who walks Roscoe. I'm still trying to make heads or tails of Detective Bob Richmond, but that's a thread that will be further explored in the next series entry. The author's sense of humor manifests with some weirdly funny analogies producing a soft chuckle or two.
The mystery is not that difficult and the perp is rather obvious early on with the motive by mid-book. The storyline is easy to follow and the characters add depth and a little fun to the narrative. My grumble is the use of an (another) damaged protagonist and there are repeats of conversations and commonly repeated descriptions.
The real conundrum is the conflict of interest between allegiance to the hospital or the police department. A situation that will surely force a resolution.
I've read this author before in one of her other series. While I tripped over the few quibbles noted above, but basically enjoyed a well-plotted and easy-paced cozy read with characters I grew to invest in. Recommended.
Read my full review at https://rosepointpublishing.com/2020/...
August 23, 2020
Social Worker Hildy Schneider has picked up a part-time job after her hours are cut at the hospital. She is riding with the small-town Sorenson WI police department. The department is trying out a new program using Hildy's skills to deal with possibly mentally disturbed people on calls. On her first night, she encounters a person she knows very well. Danny Hillebrand is a schizophrenic who has been doing well on a new course of meds, but tonight he is in bad shape. He says he has seen a murder and a pink and purple dinosaur saw it too. Danny says the ghost of the victim is haunting him. After getting Danny, his sister Allie and live-in boyfriend, Joel, to the hospital to be sorted out. Hildy and her police partner go out on a wellness check. The scene is very much what Danny described. There are nefarious forces in Sorensen, involving both Danny and another of Hildy's patients.
Hildy is sympathetic, a person who cares deeply for her patients and those who she meets on her night shift. She is aided and sometimes impeded by a cast of quirky characters and her trusted therapy dog, Roscoe. She may have bitten off more than she can chew with the two jobs, but there may be a welcome resolution coming, both in her work and personal life.
This series is a spin-off of Ryan's earlier Mattie Winston series, but it could work as a standalone. The first book in the Helping Hands series is Needled to Death if you like to read in order.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy. The opinions are my own.
Hildy is sympathetic, a person who cares deeply for her patients and those who she meets on her night shift. She is aided and sometimes impeded by a cast of quirky characters and her trusted therapy dog, Roscoe. She may have bitten off more than she can chew with the two jobs, but there may be a welcome resolution coming, both in her work and personal life.
This series is a spin-off of Ryan's earlier Mattie Winston series, but it could work as a standalone. The first book in the Helping Hands series is Needled to Death if you like to read in order.
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy. The opinions are my own.
September 6, 2020
Princess Fuzzypants here: Hildy started as a guest character in another series and now that she has her own series, she is developing into such an interesting character. She is currently juggling two jobs where she continues to help patients at her hospital and a brand new one, doing the same thing but this time with a cop on patrol along with her faithful and sweet therapy doggie,
Her first night out brings her to the aid of a patient she knows from the hospital, schizophrenic Danny, who says a ghost is haunting him. Clearly his meds are all messed up but when she goes on a second call, the body of the “ghost’ is discovered and it seems Danny may be more involved that just witnessing something supernatural. Then, on a third call, she must come to the aid of another patient she has helped, a war vet with PTSD. As Hildy learns more about all three, it seems that they are linked in a very dangerous way and if Hildy and her police associates cannot solve the crimes, the results may be catastrophic.
She finds she must walk a very fine line between the two jobs as confidentiality can conflict with public safety. It is clear rules and protocol will need to be established as she moves forward. By the end of the book, she has resolved all the issues and the police are delighted with trial run. I get a feeling she is going to be more involved in her police activities moving forward. It is easy to see why they like her. It would be impossible not to like someone as compassionate, capable and considerate as Hildy.
Five purrs and two paws up.
Her first night out brings her to the aid of a patient she knows from the hospital, schizophrenic Danny, who says a ghost is haunting him. Clearly his meds are all messed up but when she goes on a second call, the body of the “ghost’ is discovered and it seems Danny may be more involved that just witnessing something supernatural. Then, on a third call, she must come to the aid of another patient she has helped, a war vet with PTSD. As Hildy learns more about all three, it seems that they are linked in a very dangerous way and if Hildy and her police associates cannot solve the crimes, the results may be catastrophic.
She finds she must walk a very fine line between the two jobs as confidentiality can conflict with public safety. It is clear rules and protocol will need to be established as she moves forward. By the end of the book, she has resolved all the issues and the police are delighted with trial run. I get a feeling she is going to be more involved in her police activities moving forward. It is easy to see why they like her. It would be impossible not to like someone as compassionate, capable and considerate as Hildy.
Five purrs and two paws up.
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