Scared Stiff

Mattie Winston Mystery #2

by Annelise Ryan

After discovering the dead body of part-time model Shannon Tolliver on Halloween night, Deputy Coroner Mattie Winston and her boss, Izzy, use their razor sharp medical skills to catch a clever killer who is trying to frame Shannon's ex-husband for the crime.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Halloween, Humor, Romance

328 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Annelise 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.

Reviews

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dollycas’s Thoughts

I now have another author in addition to Julie Mulhern that makes me laugh out loud so much my family thinks I am losing it. The first book in this series,
Working Stiff, made me laugh a lot but this one had me laughing from start to finish.

Former nurse now assistant medical examiner Mattie Winston is a hoot and a half. In this story Mattie gets called away from a blind date to a residence that has taken their Halloween decorations very seriously. Unfortunately one of the dead bodies in the yard is real, part-time model and waitress Shannon Tolliver has died surrounded by her fake tombstones and skeletons. Separated from her husband, he becomes the prime suspect. Maddie’s gut tells her he didn’t do it. She is going to use her new job to dig into the case on her own. Maddie is also called to the site of a car accident in this book. Her arrival is one of the hysterical moments I mentioned above.

The story picks up almost where the last one leaves off. Maddie has left her husband, the doctor and has taken up residence in her boss/best friend’s guest house. She gets into an accident with her car and not wanting to ask her husband for help getting a new vehicle she ends up making a very interesting choice in her mode of transportation. There is still a growing romantic tension between Maddie and Detective Steve Hurley. Their dialogues are priceless. Maddie reminds me of Lucille Ball/Ricardo (I Love Lucy). You know how Lucy would just get herself in situations where she had the best intentions where everything went wrong and that were sidesplitting funny. Maddie is just like that.

Along with all the humor there is a very well plotted mystery they brings in all kinds of secondary characters. They are all very fleshed out and unique and run the gambit of nice to crazy. The story twists and turns with odd connections that have to mean something. This was a tough one to solve and I was totally wrong. The secondary plot line almost overtakes the main one due to the characters involved and I loved the way that part of the story was wrapped up.

Murder, mayhem, romance, a Wisconsin setting, and a huge dose of humor have got me addicted to this series. I have already placed my order for book #3, Frozen Stiff, and will be getting the rest of the series too.

I loved this story but it does cross over some cozy norms by containing explicit language and some coarse and a little gross moments, but dead bodies being found and examined it not all wine and roses. So this book may not be everyone’s cup of tea. If you are a fan of Lucille Ball and Stephanie Plum these books are right up your alley

[Wanda Pedersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! This series tends more towards slapstick than I usually find desirable, but I like it anyway. I like Mattie Winston despite her impulsive decisions and her tendency to ruin and lose clothing in the course of doing her job. She ends up shirtless fairly frequently to the delight of the policemen, EMTs, and other first responders around her. Since she is the deputy coroner in her small town, this tends to get her noticed.

Mattie has a serious crush on Detective Steve Hurley, but you know the reputation of cops—taciturn and cynical. It's hard for Mattie to know whether he's interested or just an onlooker to her gaffes. Her soon-to-be ex-husband is trying to pitch reconciliation, but Mattie's pretty sure that she'll never be able to trust him again. Hurley is too tempting.

There are murders to be solved, a “new" car to be obtained, a couple of rescue critters to care for, not to mention mastering the new job. Just life for this newly single, rather klutzy deputy coroner. I have the third book cued up and ready to go.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny mystery!

Scared Stiff
By Annelise Ryan
This is book 2 in the Mattie Winston series. Full of great characters and interesting mysteries. The plot is intriguing and there is a lot of humor throughout the book! This is the first book I have read in this series but won't be the last.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one made me cringe - that car alone will have me doing so every time if she still has it through the following books. And get grossed out - talk about realism when it comes to corpses, oh geez. But then it also had me laughing out loud in places. I even had some sympathy for the villain. An all around great listen.

[Mystereity Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heh. Poor Mattie doesn't have an easy time of it, does she?

During a blind date with the OCD William-not-Bill, Mattie is called out on a dead body call. Shannon Tolliver was found dead in her front yard, amongst the Halloween decorations. When Shannon's estranged husband Erik is arrested, Mattie knows he's not the killer, so the real question is: who killed Shannon and why?

This was a great followup to the first book; thoroughly entertaining and completely engrossing, it was full of hilarious cringe moments (I laughed out loud through the whole scene when they were recovering the rich couple!) lots of intrigue and one creepy suspect (am I the only one who thought he was creepy at the get-go?) The main plot, Shannon's murder, leads Mattie far and wide in her search for suspects, uncovering quite a few and introducing a few new characters I hope to see more of (the gay bar scene? Loved it!)

Just one thing, I've got a Dropped Thread Alert! What about the gun? Erik told Mattie that he gave his gun to Shannon, who stored it in the guest bedroom. When Mattie and Hurley went to Shannon's house to see if it was there, Mattie got busy looking at her medicine cabinet, her hormones flared and she got horny with Hurley and she never checked to see if the gun was still there and it was never mentioned again. Arrgh!

Overall, an excellent second in this series and it made me excited to read more.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud wonderful! There were actually parts where I couldn't read for a few minutes because I was laughing so hard. Good mystery too. #readforkimberly

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. The main character spends too much time talking about herself and lusting after/flirting with the detective, rather than doing her job.

[Jamie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't get more than a handful of chapters in. The book seems to focus more on trying to be funny than on the mystery, with the lead character immediately treating the murder scene as nothing more than a way to show off for the hot lead detective, who later was flirting back in the murder victim's bedroom after catching the lead character rooting through the victim's mail (because nothing it hotter than a coroner wandering around a murder scene disturbing evidence). And when the hot female photographer showed up the protagonist suddenly goes all catty. The lead character was tolerable at first but as soon as the other characters were introduced there was just way too much chewing the scenery going on.
I was prepared to give it three stars, assuming that the casual attitude to murder scenes and hammy character relationships was due to the book being further into the series and giving it some leeway, but it's only book 2 so my opinion of it dropped accordingly. The scenes that aren't pushing hard for 'humor' are well written and funny, even if they seem to drag on a bit, but I've got too long of a reading list to put up with a book that laughs at it's own jokes.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Fun Read

I am addicted to Mattie Winston series. There is a lot of humor, romance and mystery skillfully woven together. Making the books great for a sunny day at the beach or a stormy day curled up before a fireplace.
It is Halloween and Mattie is on a blind date. Her plans to make Steve jealous have gone away as he hasn't turned up yet. The date is interrupted by a call to a murder scene. She meets Steve there and manages to antagonize Steve again. She disagrees with Steve again about the killer and sets out find it first. Mattie adopts a puppy who she calls Hoover. How does Rubbish accept the new addition? Mattie needs to find answers before Steve and her are no more.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scared Stiff by Annelise Ryan is the second book in the Mattie Winston Mystery series. A waitress and part time model is found shot dead amongst Halloween decorations. This book is just as fun and entertaining as the first one. Mattie is a smart investigator, although she finds herself in a lot of awkward and funny situations. She has added a stray dog Hoover to her home, in addition to Rubbish, a stray kitten whom we were introduced to in the first book. There has been little progress in her love life though. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this highly addictive series.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm giving Scared Stiff a 5 star for story, writing and author. She's a good sport to come hang and chat with us in The Parlor. Thanks, Ms. Ryan!

[Nell · Rating 2 out of 5]

**1/2 - This is the first mystery I've read by this author; though it is the second in this series. The actual mystery is pretty good but I found it difficult to relate to the characters. The author, who is a nurse, puts in a lot of scenes and/or characters unrelated to the main story line and whose purpose seemed to be an excuse to discuss body fluids in detail or the putrid state of severely decomposed bodies. The prat falls by the main character, Mattie, were also overdone. Specifically, Mattie's car accident resulting in a senile old man with urinary problems becoming her chauffer and the fall where Mattie ends up covered with maggots are both completely unnecessary. The YCCK factor was too high. I was also put off by the adolescent way she handled her physical attraction to the main detective. All of this detracted from the core mystery which turned out to have a nice twist at the end. This was a free Kindle download and I won't be reading any more. It's not what I'm looking for in a cozy mystery.

[Bobbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I liked this 2nd book even more than the first one. I love the characters and totally enjoyed the ‘cozy mystery’.

[Les · Rating 2 out of 5]

Really just a dreadful book about horrible people

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars

This second installment of the cozy Mattie Winston Mystery was, somehow, not as great as the first one, Working Stiff.  I'm not entirely sure why, but I'm half wondering if it has to do with how obsessed Mattie is with Detective Steve Hurley.  We barely got into the book before every other thought flitting through her mind had to do with either impressing Hurley, getting his attention, or running her "love rival" Allison the reporter over with a bus... or something.

Of course, those were mere portions of the book and not all of it, so I'm not entirely letting it influence my like or dislike of Scared Stiff.

Because aside from the frustrating romance parts in this book, the rest was pretty good and entertaining.  The murder mystery was done well and had me guessing, though it was pretty obvious who didn't do it; the twist it took was a bit strange, yes, but I can see it falling together properly.  The forensics aspects, with the autopsy, crime scene evidence collection, etcetera, are always awesome to see.  Even a little bit of Mattie's own investigations were pretty promising as well now that she's learned to keep her knowledge to herself--if she continued to go around telling everyone all the sordid details of each crime while trying to conduct interviews, I'm not sure how well that would pan out for her career in the medico-legal field.

The klutzy Mattie trope is still in effect, I see, although this time around, some of the antics were actually quite humorous, even if half the time it wasn't really her fault.  It's not like she intentionally fell down the hill side, causing ripped scrubs, a crotch vent, and mud on her behind.  Although her penchant for getting the murder victims'... stuff... all over her made me grimace really hard.

I still feel it would be nice to tone down the "How many ways can be embarrass Mattie Winston on the job?" trope, though.  Once or twice in one book is funny.  Every other scene can get a little old.

We get a new addition to Mattie's little refuge in the cottage behind her best friend, Izzy's house, in the form of an abandoned pup to add onto the abandoned kitten she picked up from the first book.  I'd like to focus on them a bit more too, but aside from Mattie's penchant for picking up strays, they don't seem to play a very big role in the story itself.

Finally, back to the love interest, Steve Hurley... I'm still not very enamored of him.  He doesn't stand out, and at times kind of comes off as a carbon copy male lead jackass.  I DO like that he gets so petty and jealous rather than acting like he doesn't even notice when Mattie's being seduced by other men... but at the same time, he acts like a dick.  And this also all plays into Mattie's frustratingly one-tracked focus on Hurley and what she can do to win his favor.

Anyway...

I will probably continue on with the next book in the series, but I'm not entirely in a hurry to do so.  It's entertaining and I really like Mattie.  In spite of her klutzy personality trait, she's resourceful and skilled and really knows what she's doing when it matters.

I'm hoping for a better turn for her romance, but I've noticed that the love stories in cozy mysteries aren't always that great.  Granted, they are cozy mysteries and romance isn't exactly the focus.  I've read a good one before, but I'm not too excited about how Mattie's love life is turning out so far.  It almost seems too... unnecessary, actually.

And also, again, I'm really digging Izzy as the mentor slash best friend role in Mattie's life.


***

2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
• 2016 Halloween Bingo

[Bonnie Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

A witty cozy mystery to read. You are brought into this mystery by a Halloween Party and then get a call for a dead body that brings a whole lot trouble for Mattie Winston. Not only is a friend accused of the murder but then yet again dead body's beckon again and this time Mattie has her hands full from falling into corps goop and having to take her clothes of much to the delight of all the men around and having feelings for a Very Handsome Detective that has all her feelings all jumbled up and trying to uncover what is up with the New Therapist that has a strong connection to two of the victims and also trying to stay out of the way of a very big family feud that has to do with the two dead bodies found in the trees in the woods. This is all in a days work for the Deputy Coroner Mattie Winston.

[Groucho42 · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to give this at least two stars, but I couldn't. She has a nice writing style, which almost saved it, but characters and story were too terrible so it didn't. In this one, Mattie has a pile of deaths to deal with. However, the author tries for so much comedy and fails miserably. The clumsiness of Mattie is overdone. Bjorn is a character that never should have made an appearance. The competition for love interest is overblown. The sexist brother-in-law is combined with more childish innuendo that makes it seem like a teenage boy wrote this. Then the final trope of burn scars making a woman a mass murderer killed the rating.

Maybe it's a sophomore jinx. I'll try one more and see.

[Agatha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good cozy’ish mystery BUT I do NOT like the way the author diminishes Mattie, the protagonist, with her infantile fantasies about Steve Hurley. Without that Mattie is actually very good at her job, and very good at following her instincts to solve murders and forge her way in her new career. She is reclaiming her life after the failure of her marriage only to go totally off to left field with her thoughts about Hurley. The reader is just getting wrapped up in the details of the forensics & Mattie’s thought process when she gets distracted and totally off track with Hurley. I have read the first two in the series & will try one more … hopefully the author will redeem herself in the 3rd installment.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the one with the murder victim mixed in with her Halloween display. Mattie has to go to the crime scene in her Glinda the Good Witch costume. She also trips and falls into a decomposing body and strips to her underwear in the woods to clean up. I think Ryan maybe works overtime to gross out her readers... She does get a lot of interesting information about forensic evidence into the story, too. I didn't suspect the killer to be who it was, so Ryan was also successful in her sneakiness, while playing fair with the readers. This is the book where Mattie acquires Hoover the dog. Good read.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost better than the first. Can't wait to read the next one.

[Alisha Carderella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would love this one more if it was for the annoying games the MC, Mattie, plays with her supposed love interest. The author really writes her as an idiot and it’s not cute.

[Alice Teets · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second book in the Mattie Winston series. Mattie is still trying to figure things out and find her footing after the break-up of her marriage and quitting of her job after finding her husband in a compromising position.

In this one, a dead body is found amongst Halloween decorations, and the victim's husband is arrested. However, Mattie's gut tells her that he didn't do it, so she is off searching for proof that he is innocent. Hurley, the hot detective who Mattie would like to rebound with, is content to stick with the one the have arrested, but Mattie won't let it go.

I really like this series. The characters seem realistic and likable, the stories move along quickly, and it makes me laugh. I wasn't sure of the murderer, although I wasn't completely surprised by it, and there were some interesting side stories to add to the book without being overwhelming.

I've already got #3 to read next!

[Sam Sebesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun quick who-dun-it story with plenty of humor mixed in. I feel like the author incorporated the right amount of human error to the characters, although poor Mattie seems to have more than her fair share of oops moments. The addition of Hoover was a welcome subplot as well. 🐾 I'll be looking forward to the rest of the series! Won't blow you off your feet, but will definitely keep you entertained from start to finish.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really want to love this series, and in many ways, I do. The writing is clever, the humor lands, the mystery keeps me guessing, and the author clearly knows what she’s doing. Mattie Winston, however, is an absolute train wreck, and I genuinely cannot look away. Sometimes that’s fascinating. Sometimes it's deeply uncomfortable.

What makes it such a mixed bag for me is Mattie herself. She’s funny, creative, loyal, and oddly competent… while also being intensely self-deprecating, clumsy in ways that make me wince, and prone to internal monologues that veer into uncomfortable territory. It’s hard to reconcile all of that, even though it’s clearly intentional.

That said, for what this book is trying to do, it’s extremely well executed. I’m invested enough to keep going (book three is already on deck), even if I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about Mattie as a person. Four stars: messy, compelling, and frustrating in equal measure.

[Kellene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great 2nd book in the series. I love a good mystery and love it even more if I can laugh out loud reading it. This is one of those. Add in a hottie police detective and some critters, and it turns the book into a 4 star lead in to the next in the series.

[Scott Shjefte · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the series. Good character development.

[Nicole Bannister · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scared stiff

Their was not
hing you didn't dislike.i would recommend this to anyone who likes cozy mysteries .I gave it 4 stars because I enjoyed it.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

More impossibly silly scenes even though the mystery turned sinister. Too much fun, even if the main character’s emotional maturity level hovers around 13.

[Tracey Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like the comedic writing style.

[☼♎ Carmen the Bootyshaker Temptress ☼♎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie is currently working in the MEs office since she found out that her husband was having an affair but every time there's a death Maddie seems to get caught up in it. She's just one of those people that attracts bad luck but boy there are some funny and embarrassing moments as well and there's also these stray pets that she happens to find in the dumpster and basically inherits. Well this death is no different. Maddie gets all caught up in trying to find out who murdered Shannon that she gets in trouble as well. This was another fun Maddie mystery