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Mattie Winston Mystery #1
Working Stiff
When Mattie Winston catches her husband Dr. David Winston receiving some very special loving care from R.N. Karen Owenby, she quits her job and moves out. Mattie's best friend Izzy offers her a place to stay and suggests she'd be a natural as deputy coroner. Now, instead of taking patients' pulses, Mattie's weighing their hearts and livers.
But Mattie's first homicide call turns out to be for none other than Nurse Karen, and even though she saw her ex in a heated argument with the newly deceased the night before, she refuses to believe David could be a killer. Keeping mum about what she saw, Mattie is also left speechless by the sight of hunky Detective Steve Hurley. . .
From learning the ropes on her new job to sorting out her feelings about her ex and dealing with her growing attraction to Detective Hurley, Mattie's in deep water and in danger of sinking quickly, especially when she places herself dead center in the path of a desperate--yet determined--killer. . .
Praise for Annelise Ryan and Working Stiff
"Sassy, sexy, and suspenseful, Annelise Ryan knocks 'em dead in her wry and original Working Stiff." --Carolyn Hart, author of Dare to Die
"Make way for Mattie Winston, the funniest deputy coroner to cut up a corpse since, well, ever." --Laura Levine, author of Killer Cruise
"Ryan brings her professional expertise to her crisp debut." --Publishers Weekly
But Mattie's first homicide call turns out to be for none other than Nurse Karen, and even though she saw her ex in a heated argument with the newly deceased the night before, she refuses to believe David could be a killer. Keeping mum about what she saw, Mattie is also left speechless by the sight of hunky Detective Steve Hurley. . .
From learning the ropes on her new job to sorting out her feelings about her ex and dealing with her growing attraction to Detective Hurley, Mattie's in deep water and in danger of sinking quickly, especially when she places herself dead center in the path of a desperate--yet determined--killer. . .
Praise for Annelise Ryan and Working Stiff
"Sassy, sexy, and suspenseful, Annelise Ryan knocks 'em dead in her wry and original Working Stiff." --Carolyn Hart, author of Dare to Die
"Make way for Mattie Winston, the funniest deputy coroner to cut up a corpse since, well, ever." --Laura Levine, author of Killer Cruise
"Ryan brings her professional expertise to her crisp debut." --Publishers Weekly
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2009
629 people are currently reading
2735 people want to read
About the author
Annelise Ryan
19 books1,171 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 418 reviews
June 2, 2015
Story? Good...pretty good writing and an okay plot. Liked the main character and her job/detective work made sense and worked well in the story.
Things I didn't like? Too much sexual innuendo and euphemisms. I'm not 16...adults (at least the ones I know) aren't generally that crass.
And she kept referring to being gay as 'a lifestyle.' Why? It's not like 'an active lifestyle' or the 'Atkins lifestyle.' It's just who they are. That's just a pet peeve of mine.
Will a read the second? Probably.
Things I didn't like? Too much sexual innuendo and euphemisms. I'm not 16...adults (at least the ones I know) aren't generally that crass.
And she kept referring to being gay as 'a lifestyle.' Why? It's not like 'an active lifestyle' or the 'Atkins lifestyle.' It's just who they are. That's just a pet peeve of mine.
Will a read the second? Probably.
November 4, 2017
Dollycas’s Thoughts
I am late to the party on this series and am kicking myself.
Dr. David Winston cheated on his wife R.N. Mattie Winston and she has moved out of their house and quit her job. She caught him and R.N. Karen Owenby getting very cozy with each other in an operating room. An operating room she worked in with her husband. Her friend Izzy offers her a roof over her head and a job as his new deputy coroner. It will take some getting used to, dead patients instead live ones, but she is determined to make it on her own.
Nervous about her first homicide, which Izzy pulled her out of bed for, she is positively floored when the body is none other than R.N. Karen Owenby. The woman messing around with her husband and the woman she saw him have an argument with not too many hours ago. She also meets Detective Steve Hurley, who is a definite distraction for Mattie.
So she has 2 men on her mind, David couldn’t have killed Karen, could he? and the handsome detective she would like to get to know better. She also is meeting her new coworkers and her new job. She may be in the killer’s sights too, hopefully she won’t end up being the next stiff in the morgue.
I loved this story and I loved Mattie. Her life gets turned upside down, but she picks herself up, dusts herself off and gets on with her life. With a little help from her friends she carries on, even overstepping the requirements of her new job to do a little sleuthing on her own. Izzy and his partner play key roles and they are wonderfully written. I could almost feel the heat between Mattie and Steve burning up the pages. This is going to be an interesting relationship.
The plot was complex with clever twists. I followed each clue right along with Mattie and figured it out mere moments before she did.
The dialogue between the characters was so realistic and the situations were as well. I enjoy that this series is set not too far from where I reside. The local references warmed by heart.
What I did not expect were the laugh out loud funny moments, there were quite a few. I even had my own “spit – take”. Do not read this story and drink at the same time. Luckily my Kindle survived the experience.
I may have come late to this series but I hope to catch up quickly. I can’t wait to dive into Scared Stiff. It is set at Halloween, so I should have read it last month, but I sure am not going to wait for next year 🙂 You may be seeing my review next week.
I am late to the party on this series and am kicking myself.
Dr. David Winston cheated on his wife R.N. Mattie Winston and she has moved out of their house and quit her job. She caught him and R.N. Karen Owenby getting very cozy with each other in an operating room. An operating room she worked in with her husband. Her friend Izzy offers her a roof over her head and a job as his new deputy coroner. It will take some getting used to, dead patients instead live ones, but she is determined to make it on her own.
Nervous about her first homicide, which Izzy pulled her out of bed for, she is positively floored when the body is none other than R.N. Karen Owenby. The woman messing around with her husband and the woman she saw him have an argument with not too many hours ago. She also meets Detective Steve Hurley, who is a definite distraction for Mattie.
So she has 2 men on her mind, David couldn’t have killed Karen, could he? and the handsome detective she would like to get to know better. She also is meeting her new coworkers and her new job. She may be in the killer’s sights too, hopefully she won’t end up being the next stiff in the morgue.
I loved this story and I loved Mattie. Her life gets turned upside down, but she picks herself up, dusts herself off and gets on with her life. With a little help from her friends she carries on, even overstepping the requirements of her new job to do a little sleuthing on her own. Izzy and his partner play key roles and they are wonderfully written. I could almost feel the heat between Mattie and Steve burning up the pages. This is going to be an interesting relationship.
The plot was complex with clever twists. I followed each clue right along with Mattie and figured it out mere moments before she did.
The dialogue between the characters was so realistic and the situations were as well. I enjoy that this series is set not too far from where I reside. The local references warmed by heart.
What I did not expect were the laugh out loud funny moments, there were quite a few. I even had my own “spit – take”. Do not read this story and drink at the same time. Luckily my Kindle survived the experience.
I may have come late to this series but I hope to catch up quickly. I can’t wait to dive into Scared Stiff. It is set at Halloween, so I should have read it last month, but I sure am not going to wait for next year 🙂 You may be seeing my review next week.
April 30, 2024
I really like this author's more recent series, the Monster Hunter Mysteries, which inspired me to search out her back catalogue. I quite enjoyed this book too, surprising myself a bit. I'm coming to terms with my new taste for cozy mysteries but my understanding of humour is still sketchy. I often find it annoying rather than an asset. As a result, some of Mattie's antics grated on me a bit. She knew better than to withhold information during a murder investigation for instance.
I felt that Mattie was generally portrayed as an intelligent and capable woman, so I could forgive her frequently acting like a hormonal idiot over detective Steve Hurley. I hope she gets her divorce from David promptly and becomes a free agent.
Mattie is doing quite well for herself, actually, having impetuously quit her nursing job when she discovered her surgeon husband in flagrante delicto with another nurse. (Why did she quit? It seems to me that her husband and the other nurse are to blame and she has no need to be embarrassed.) Somewhat reluctantly she takes the position of deputy coroner and begins to develop a new expertise. Her nursing training is a definite asset and her interest in learning is obvious.
If I didn't have an enormous stack of library books right now, I'd be snagging book two immediately. It will have to wait until I've thinned the herd a bit, but book two has been moved up the queue smartly.
I felt that Mattie was generally portrayed as an intelligent and capable woman, so I could forgive her frequently acting like a hormonal idiot over detective Steve Hurley. I hope she gets her divorce from David promptly and becomes a free agent.
Mattie is doing quite well for herself, actually, having impetuously quit her nursing job when she discovered her surgeon husband in flagrante delicto with another nurse. (Why did she quit? It seems to me that her husband and the other nurse are to blame and she has no need to be embarrassed.) Somewhat reluctantly she takes the position of deputy coroner and begins to develop a new expertise. Her nursing training is a definite asset and her interest in learning is obvious.
If I didn't have an enormous stack of library books right now, I'd be snagging book two immediately. It will have to wait until I've thinned the herd a bit, but book two has been moved up the queue smartly.
February 26, 2015
There have been very few times that I have not been able to finish a book. I pride myself on finishing what I start. But this one...I ended up quickly scanning 3/4 of the way through. It was just so insane, and not in a good way.
SPOILER ALERT...
I knew I was going to have problems right off the bat. There is no way - none - that a police detective would allow a murder suspect's wife be involved in any part of the investigation. But here is Mattie, the murder suspect's wife, investigating the murder, talking to suspects, following up leads, even performing an autopsy on a victim related to the case. Seriously? Do some research.
And then the hot-cold, hot-cold relationship between Mattie and Steve is ridiculous. Mattie's cat was much more believable that this couple.
I just don't think a lot of thought went into the police procedure of this book. I would have understood it more if Mattie was asked to stay away until a suspect was finally arrested, and she decided to secretly investigate on her own.
Anyway...I just felt it was a waste of time.
SPOILER ALERT...
I knew I was going to have problems right off the bat. There is no way - none - that a police detective would allow a murder suspect's wife be involved in any part of the investigation. But here is Mattie, the murder suspect's wife, investigating the murder, talking to suspects, following up leads, even performing an autopsy on a victim related to the case. Seriously? Do some research.
And then the hot-cold, hot-cold relationship between Mattie and Steve is ridiculous. Mattie's cat was much more believable that this couple.
I just don't think a lot of thought went into the police procedure of this book. I would have understood it more if Mattie was asked to stay away until a suspect was finally arrested, and she decided to secretly investigate on her own.
Anyway...I just felt it was a waste of time.
June 17, 2016
An excellent debut cozy. Though, there are many elements in this mystery that you wouldn't normally find in a cozy.
I really enjoyed this one. A good mystery with many elements. Quirky characters. Good relationships. A real page-turner.
I really enjoyed this one. A good mystery with many elements. Quirky characters. Good relationships. A real page-turner.
November 23, 2019
2.5 stars rounded down.
I think this might be classified as a cozy mystery. I found the clumsy mishaps of the lead character more eye rolling and irritating then cute and funny. The mystery plot was OK. The non-relationship with Hurley came off kind of high schoolish and immature. In fact the lead character comes of like a high schooler and immature too many times during the book. This is really emphasized with the 1st POV.
Although I had thought of trying to continue this series, I looked at some reviews, skimmed the next book and it looks like too much of what irritated me is repeated.
I think this might be classified as a cozy mystery. I found the clumsy mishaps of the lead character more eye rolling and irritating then cute and funny. The mystery plot was OK. The non-relationship with Hurley came off kind of high schoolish and immature. In fact the lead character comes of like a high schooler and immature too many times during the book. This is really emphasized with the 1st POV.
Although I had thought of trying to continue this series, I looked at some reviews, skimmed the next book and it looks like too much of what irritated me is repeated.
November 27, 2021
An enjoyable cozy mystery. Main character is likeable and funny the situations she gets herself in. I will continue with this series.
April 5, 2018
I don't know why it took so long for me to hear about this series, but I'm happy I found it! Laugh out loud funny and suspenseful, it was impossible to put down. In fact, I started this on audiobook and it motivated me to get out for my daily walk, but switched to the Kindle copy because it was so good, I just couldn't wait any longer to finish it!
Mattie is equal parts hapless and unflappable, with a positive attitude that I really enjoyed and appreciated. Despite the setbacks of her failed marriage, her cheating husband accused of murder and quitting her job, she took it all in stride and kept going, no dwelling on a pity party for our Mattie. The other great characters made the book even more enjoyable, from the hairdresser at the funeral home to Joey the superhero to Izzy and Dom, I loved every one of them (well, except the reporter. Why does there always have to be an annoying reporter? Ugh.) The smoldering on/off romance was amusing and a tad overdone, but I enjoyed it anyway. I really liked the forensics trivia tucked in there (I'm a sucker for that stuff) and the well-crafted plot had plenty of surprise twists and turned up suspect after suspect, ending with a bittersweet unexpected revelation at the end. I didn't pick up on who the murderer was until just before the exciting (and slightly hilarious) ending. Altogether, this was an excellent start to a series and I'm already well into the second book. Outstanding!
Mattie is equal parts hapless and unflappable, with a positive attitude that I really enjoyed and appreciated. Despite the setbacks of her failed marriage, her cheating husband accused of murder and quitting her job, she took it all in stride and kept going, no dwelling on a pity party for our Mattie. The other great characters made the book even more enjoyable, from the hairdresser at the funeral home to Joey the superhero to Izzy and Dom, I loved every one of them (well, except the reporter. Why does there always have to be an annoying reporter? Ugh.) The smoldering on/off romance was amusing and a tad overdone, but I enjoyed it anyway. I really liked the forensics trivia tucked in there (I'm a sucker for that stuff) and the well-crafted plot had plenty of surprise twists and turned up suspect after suspect, ending with a bittersweet unexpected revelation at the end. I didn't pick up on who the murderer was until just before the exciting (and slightly hilarious) ending. Altogether, this was an excellent start to a series and I'm already well into the second book. Outstanding!
March 21, 2015
Meh....it was just okay. Certainly not as good as some of the reviews here led me to believe it would be. I didn't find it really that humorous although you could tell that Ryan thought she was being clever but really she was just trying too hard. There are just too many quirky characters in this town and it all becomes rather cliche. Overall I found it a rather amateurish foray. Shifting tense, overuse of the same words (sartorial?? who uses that these days and to use it multiple times?), no actual chemistry between the main characters despite a kiss out of nowhere and I really mean out of nowhere - so far out of left field, it really didn't make sense. I won't be bothering with the rest of the series.
January 27, 2021
I let this one sit on my TBR pile far too long. I really enjoyed this start to a new cozy mystery series that centers around Mattie. Mattie was a nurse at the hospital until she catches her doctor husband cheating on her and she lives him and her job. She starts over in the coroner’s office and her road to mastering her new job is full of funny moments. The mystery was pretty good and full of some interesting twists. Mattie’s first late night call is for the murder of the woman her husband was cheating on her with. As an interesting twist to the cozy genre Mattie has some legitimate work related cause to be investigating as it is part of her job with the coroner’s office. Can’t wait to read more about Mattie’s exploits with the dead.
August 25, 2024
2009 cozy mystery debut with a gaggle of quirky characters that the genre brings with it. I had set this aside to finish another book and picked it up last night and breezed through it despite some of the negatives. There was quite a bit of humor that I appreciated as well.
Mattie Winston has just separated from her cheater surgeon husband, quit her nursing position at the hospital, moved out of her lovely home and into a small cottage almost next door that belongs to longtime friend and coroner, Izzy. Izzy has also given her a job as a deputy coroner, learning on the job of course. I admire Mattie for her professional smarts, and resilience; I don't like the way she is portrayed in potentially romantic situations. She acts and thinks like a girl in HS with a crush, despite having just separated & filed for a divorce from husband (David) of seven years after catching him in the act with another nurse- Karen Owensby.
Mattie is eager to learn the ropes and with her first homicide scene the victim is none other than Karen and her she and her husband appear to be suspects! So how is she allowed to continue working on this investigation? The story itself becomes complicated and interesting; I liked it. But some other drawbacks in the writing was some inconsistencies in the time period, although the year is never explicit. She also uses a lot of analogies, funny for the most part but when a chapter is stuffed with one right after another, I find it detracting. And last drawback for me that there were too many penis jokes and innuendos (back to the HS behavior in my mind).
Will I read the next one, probably. I'd like to see if the writing gets better. Oh P.S., the author is a nurse as well, that's a plus for me.
Mattie Winston has just separated from her cheater surgeon husband, quit her nursing position at the hospital, moved out of her lovely home and into a small cottage almost next door that belongs to longtime friend and coroner, Izzy. Izzy has also given her a job as a deputy coroner, learning on the job of course. I admire Mattie for her professional smarts, and resilience; I don't like the way she is portrayed in potentially romantic situations. She acts and thinks like a girl in HS with a crush, despite having just separated & filed for a divorce from husband (David) of seven years after catching him in the act with another nurse- Karen Owensby.
Mattie is eager to learn the ropes and with her first homicide scene the victim is none other than Karen and her she and her husband appear to be suspects! So how is she allowed to continue working on this investigation? The story itself becomes complicated and interesting; I liked it. But some other drawbacks in the writing was some inconsistencies in the time period, although the year is never explicit. She also uses a lot of analogies, funny for the most part but when a chapter is stuffed with one right after another, I find it detracting. And last drawback for me that there were too many penis jokes and innuendos (back to the HS behavior in my mind).
Will I read the next one, probably. I'd like to see if the writing gets better. Oh P.S., the author is a nurse as well, that's a plus for me.
September 8, 2020
You know a book and its characters really worked for you when you want to ignore the other books you've lined up for the week to go right into next book in a series. I almost did that in the early hours of the morning after I finished this one.
The mc has a grim new job as Assistant Medical Examiner, not really my first choice for a protagonist's occupation, but the author did a very good job mixing in some humor and light romance to balance things out. The denouement totally surprised me, making for a satisfying ending. As an aside, I wouldn't tag this a cozy mystery for those who only read within that subgenre.
The mc has a grim new job as Assistant Medical Examiner, not really my first choice for a protagonist's occupation, but the author did a very good job mixing in some humor and light romance to balance things out. The denouement totally surprised me, making for a satisfying ending. As an aside, I wouldn't tag this a cozy mystery for those who only read within that subgenre.
January 3, 2018
Couldn't finish the 2nd chapter. I like cozy mysteries, and I like funny books, but this was a joke, with Our Heroine being TSTL (too stupid to live).
September 9, 2018
Right from the beginning the book kept my interest. If it wasn't for the family I would have finished the book a lot sooner. Mattie was a smart even though she had her oops moments which were funny but she just managed to get into things even without meaning to. I understand that some people may think that she rushed into a relationship but hey if your husband is a jerk like hers you'll understand and she did feel guilty at times and also start to soften to him but then the person she saw at times and heard of made her think twice about him. I have to say Hurley is a pain but he was a good man even when he knew things and had some fun with Mattie. I really enjoyed the twist to this book and will continue the series since not only was it a great cozy mystery but the characters are just a lot of twisty people as well and we can't leave Izzy, he is fun as well.
February 3, 2016
Mattie and Steve Meet
In the first book of the Mattie Winston series Mattie finds her husband with another woman. She responds to the betrayal and hurt by quitting her job and life for awhile. She accepts the job of deputy corner is dismayed when she recognized the victim is her husband's lover. She meets homicide detective Steve Hurley and sparks fly between them. Steve feels her husband is the killer and Mattie is sure he is not. Mattie is determined to prove him wrong. The characters are developed and descriptions are tip top. Mattie adopts a kitten she calls Rubbish. There are funny scenes. With all changes I, was surprised by the killer.
In the first book of the Mattie Winston series Mattie finds her husband with another woman. She responds to the betrayal and hurt by quitting her job and life for awhile. She accepts the job of deputy corner is dismayed when she recognized the victim is her husband's lover. She meets homicide detective Steve Hurley and sparks fly between them. Steve feels her husband is the killer and Mattie is sure he is not. Mattie is determined to prove him wrong. The characters are developed and descriptions are tip top. Mattie adopts a kitten she calls Rubbish. There are funny scenes. With all changes I, was surprised by the killer.
December 28, 2018
I have mixed feelings about this book. It's getting 2.5 -stars. I like the storyline, characters & mystery, but the MC actions kept driving me nuts. She kept incerting herself way to much into things. It's almost as if she's being nosey. Her thoughts were always on Dectective Hurley & how hot he was & kept thinking of sexual things they could do together.
It doesn't read cozy mystery to me. More focus should of been on the crimes than the sexual innuendos. I kept feeling like everytime someone look at someone else they were sizing them up.
It doesn't read cozy mystery to me. More focus should of been on the crimes than the sexual innuendos. I kept feeling like everytime someone look at someone else they were sizing them up.
March 2, 2019
This first Mattie Winston mystery was filled with interesting characters and an enjoyable storyline. Mattie's marriage to surgeon David Winston is ending, and needing to work somewhere other than the hospital where he is, she takes a job as a deputy coroner.
In a strange twist, one of the first local deaths after she starts her new job is that of the woman her husband was unfaithful to her with. Mattie is sure her ex couldn't be a murderer. Or is she really sure? Maddie faces lost of twists and turns as she tries to puzzle out who killed her husband's other woman. Soon, this isn't the only murder in town, and Maddie is in the path of a killer.
Great first book of the series! I'm looking forward to reading the other books and getting more of Maddie, Detective Hurley, Izzy, and the other great characters.
In a strange twist, one of the first local deaths after she starts her new job is that of the woman her husband was unfaithful to her with. Mattie is sure her ex couldn't be a murderer. Or is she really sure? Maddie faces lost of twists and turns as she tries to puzzle out who killed her husband's other woman. Soon, this isn't the only murder in town, and Maddie is in the path of a killer.
Great first book of the series! I'm looking forward to reading the other books and getting more of Maddie, Detective Hurley, Izzy, and the other great characters.
July 22, 2016
Update 23/07/16:
Ahh, this makes me sad. I remembered loving this book back when I read it 4 years ago, so I picked up the audiobook version this time, figuring it'd let me "reread" it with a fresh perspective.
Turns out it was a terrible idea, because the narrator's raspy voice and inability to differentiate her reading of prose versus dialogue made listening to it an absolute chore.
Listening to an audiobook also forces you to listen to everything VERY closely, with no option to read quickly past the boring parts. Only now do I realize just how much telling there was, rather than showing - the book is like a never ending monologue by Mattie, reciting in great detail every moment of her day, the physical attributes, manner and quirks of everyone in her town, etc. It's just not very interesting.
On top of that, I noted in my original review that her way of poking around and asking questions is more believable than that of most amateur cozy mystery sleuths, because of her job and wide network of acquaintances. That stands true, but what I DIDN'T note was just how stupid her behavior was. Mattie didn't really need to stick her nose into it - her personal angle was weak and her job at the ME's office certainly didn't require her to do the job of a homicide detective, particularly when the detective in charge was actually very competent. She had a way of thinking to herself how stupid it would be to do something... and then she'd go ahead and do it anyway.
It annoys me to have to change my mind so significantly about a book I previously enjoyed, but that won't stop me from lowering my rating to 3 stars.
Original review:
This book is so much fun! This had been recommended to me many times, but I remained cautiously optimistic and was rewarded with a bucketload of laughs. Mattie is a crack-up without being a total crackhead; she’s funny and gets into hilarious situations, but she’s not stupid and forever tripping over her own feet, either. I love the supporting characters – Izzy and his partner Dom, Arnie, and of course the hunky Detective Steve Hurley. There aren’t too many developments between him and Mattie aside from an obvious attraction, but that’s fair enough, considering Mattie’s newly (sort of) divorced status. I actually prefer it when relationships move in small steps rather than big leaps, anyway. The latter always strikes me as risky and unlikely to last.
The book begins a little after Mattie catches her philandering husband, David, with another nurse at the hospital where they work. Thankfully Mattie doesn’t spend too much time agonizing over it, or at least not during moments of narration, so we don’t have to read endless angsting. The mistress’ subsequent murder and Mattie’s change of occupations from nurse to deputy coroner puts events into motion. The investigation of Karen Owenby’s murder is interesting and well-developed, but what’s even more interesting is Mattie’s new job and what it entails. What she learns as a coroner and her previous years of experience as a nurse means that Mattie’s set of connections makes her detecting believable – because she knows so many patients from her old job, the fact that she might call on them with questions is that much more reasonable. I’ve always been startled at cozy mystery protagonists randomly knocking on doors and calling up people; in real life, who on earth would actually respond to strangers’ enquiries so cooperatively?
Working Stiff has fun and likeable characters, and the murder mystery is well done. Getting a brief insight into the job of a coroner is interesting, as well, and having a protagonist that is actually professionally qualified to do things related to the investigation is refreshing. It’s a shame it took me so long to get my hands on a copy of this book, because I could have discovered the series that much sooner if it was more popular.
Ahh, this makes me sad. I remembered loving this book back when I read it 4 years ago, so I picked up the audiobook version this time, figuring it'd let me "reread" it with a fresh perspective.
Turns out it was a terrible idea, because the narrator's raspy voice and inability to differentiate her reading of prose versus dialogue made listening to it an absolute chore.
Listening to an audiobook also forces you to listen to everything VERY closely, with no option to read quickly past the boring parts. Only now do I realize just how much telling there was, rather than showing - the book is like a never ending monologue by Mattie, reciting in great detail every moment of her day, the physical attributes, manner and quirks of everyone in her town, etc. It's just not very interesting.
On top of that, I noted in my original review that her way of poking around and asking questions is more believable than that of most amateur cozy mystery sleuths, because of her job and wide network of acquaintances. That stands true, but what I DIDN'T note was just how stupid her behavior was. Mattie didn't really need to stick her nose into it - her personal angle was weak and her job at the ME's office certainly didn't require her to do the job of a homicide detective, particularly when the detective in charge was actually very competent. She had a way of thinking to herself how stupid it would be to do something... and then she'd go ahead and do it anyway.
It annoys me to have to change my mind so significantly about a book I previously enjoyed, but that won't stop me from lowering my rating to 3 stars.
Original review:
This book is so much fun! This had been recommended to me many times, but I remained cautiously optimistic and was rewarded with a bucketload of laughs. Mattie is a crack-up without being a total crackhead; she’s funny and gets into hilarious situations, but she’s not stupid and forever tripping over her own feet, either. I love the supporting characters – Izzy and his partner Dom, Arnie, and of course the hunky Detective Steve Hurley. There aren’t too many developments between him and Mattie aside from an obvious attraction, but that’s fair enough, considering Mattie’s newly (sort of) divorced status. I actually prefer it when relationships move in small steps rather than big leaps, anyway. The latter always strikes me as risky and unlikely to last.
The book begins a little after Mattie catches her philandering husband, David, with another nurse at the hospital where they work. Thankfully Mattie doesn’t spend too much time agonizing over it, or at least not during moments of narration, so we don’t have to read endless angsting. The mistress’ subsequent murder and Mattie’s change of occupations from nurse to deputy coroner puts events into motion. The investigation of Karen Owenby’s murder is interesting and well-developed, but what’s even more interesting is Mattie’s new job and what it entails. What she learns as a coroner and her previous years of experience as a nurse means that Mattie’s set of connections makes her detecting believable – because she knows so many patients from her old job, the fact that she might call on them with questions is that much more reasonable. I’ve always been startled at cozy mystery protagonists randomly knocking on doors and calling up people; in real life, who on earth would actually respond to strangers’ enquiries so cooperatively?
Working Stiff has fun and likeable characters, and the murder mystery is well done. Getting a brief insight into the job of a coroner is interesting, as well, and having a protagonist that is actually professionally qualified to do things related to the investigation is refreshing. It’s a shame it took me so long to get my hands on a copy of this book, because I could have discovered the series that much sooner if it was more popular.
January 21, 2022
My path to this book is complicated. I was recommended the second book in the series by Amazon; I tried it and thought $2 bucks sure
Then I discovered this was Free with Kindle Unlimited and decided to read it first and having read it I really regretted that 2 dollars I laid out for book 2
I believe some where the author and books are compared to Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum
Well they are both women … and they are both fictional characters
It reminds me of a fake movie review “shot on film Just Like Gone with the Wind”
This book was published in 2009 or 10 but it feels like something that laid around in a drawer for a decade plus before the author managed to get it published. Much of the book; especially its treatment of LGBTQ characters is frighteningly dated which makes me curious as to the editor
The main character is an unlikeable RN who would be unbelievable in a book set in the 1980s let alone 2009. She is in the process of divorcing her cheating husband but allowed him to put all their shared assets in his name
Leaving her job after his humiliating treatment she joins the coroner’s office and is so dreadful at her job it’s embarrassing to the rest of women
An ongoing theme in these books is her having to get naked or down to her granny panties regularly in public
The supporting characters are all caricatures. In the Plum books her cousin Vinnie is a pervert but only by reputation
In this series Mattie’s brother-in-law is a sexual predator passed off as an idiot. Every word he speaks is a #MeToo moment. And he’s so ridiculous it is like the Pythons early 70s sketch Nudge nudge wink wink
The fact that Mattie’s sister puts up with his behavior in front of her 12 year old daughter would have me on the phone to CPS
There’s tons more wrong with this book it’s just dreadful
Then I discovered this was Free with Kindle Unlimited and decided to read it first and having read it I really regretted that 2 dollars I laid out for book 2
I believe some where the author and books are compared to Janet Evanovich and Stephanie Plum
Well they are both women … and they are both fictional characters
It reminds me of a fake movie review “shot on film Just Like Gone with the Wind”
This book was published in 2009 or 10 but it feels like something that laid around in a drawer for a decade plus before the author managed to get it published. Much of the book; especially its treatment of LGBTQ characters is frighteningly dated which makes me curious as to the editor
The main character is an unlikeable RN who would be unbelievable in a book set in the 1980s let alone 2009. She is in the process of divorcing her cheating husband but allowed him to put all their shared assets in his name
Leaving her job after his humiliating treatment she joins the coroner’s office and is so dreadful at her job it’s embarrassing to the rest of women
An ongoing theme in these books is her having to get naked or down to her granny panties regularly in public
The supporting characters are all caricatures. In the Plum books her cousin Vinnie is a pervert but only by reputation
In this series Mattie’s brother-in-law is a sexual predator passed off as an idiot. Every word he speaks is a #MeToo moment. And he’s so ridiculous it is like the Pythons early 70s sketch Nudge nudge wink wink
The fact that Mattie’s sister puts up with his behavior in front of her 12 year old daughter would have me on the phone to CPS
There’s tons more wrong with this book it’s just dreadful
April 9, 2015
Thoughly good book! Maddie Winston is an enjoyable and zany main character. Some may call her foul or the writing a little crude mouthed, I think it added to Maddie's likability. I liked the supporting characters too. I'm looking forward to the next book!
August 25, 2018
Mattie Winston’s life has taken an unexpected turn. First she caught her husband, Dr. David Winston, having an intimate moment with a nurse. Then after leaving the marital home, she also leaves her nursing job to avoid the two people who destroyed her marriage. Now to support herself, Mattie has accepted a job from her best friend Izzy, working as a deputy coroner while living in a guest house in his backyard. It is a little awkward that Izzy lives next door to David.
When Mattie is called to her first homicide scene she is more than a little shocked to find that Karen, the nurse who was seeing her husband, is the victim. She begins to wonder if the perpetrator could be David. While spying on the couple the night before, Mattie had seen the two in a heated argument. Mattie also meets the new local detective, Steve Hurley. She never imagined that the handsome detective would soon have her panties in his hands (You have to read the book to find out how this happened within minutes of meeting each other.)
Getting used to her new position is made challenging by her suspicions of David, her need to find the killer, and her attraction to the detective on the case.
I enjoyed this book very much. It contains some quirky characters that provide some laugh-out-loud moments. The main characters are well-developed, and I found Mattie’s conflicting feelings for her husband refreshing. The setting is easy to picture, and the plot moves at a nice pace. I barely put the book down once I started reading it. This is a book I definitely recommend.
August 25, 2018
Mattie actually works!
This is one of the few cozys where the main character actually works and doesn't flit in and out of the job.
Mattie Winston has had a bad break-up with her cheating husband. She leaves the house and since they work together, she quits her job as an OR nurse and is talked into becoming an assistant coroner.
In a small town how much work other than the usual would she have to do?
Pretty soon people start dropping like flies and Mattie's soon to be ex is top suspect.
I enjoyed this first book of the series, a lot of humor, and Mattie isn't your typical 5' 2"
Blonde,blue eye, perfect figured MC.
On the down side. I figured out the murderer about 3/4 of the way through the book. Oh well, on to the next book in the series.
This is a keeper for me.
This is one of the few cozys where the main character actually works and doesn't flit in and out of the job.
Mattie Winston has had a bad break-up with her cheating husband. She leaves the house and since they work together, she quits her job as an OR nurse and is talked into becoming an assistant coroner.
In a small town how much work other than the usual would she have to do?
Pretty soon people start dropping like flies and Mattie's soon to be ex is top suspect.
I enjoyed this first book of the series, a lot of humor, and Mattie isn't your typical 5' 2"
Blonde,blue eye, perfect figured MC.
On the down side. I figured out the murderer about 3/4 of the way through the book. Oh well, on to the next book in the series.
This is a keeper for me.
October 4, 2022
After reading the first few chapters of Working Stiff I realized I had already read it!
What I had liked: Izzy and Dom - everyone should be lucky enough to have such good, supportive friends.
What I did not like: Pretty much all of the other characters in the story!
Mattie was often foolish and none too bright - I HATE that in a main character!
Instead of being able to root for Mattie to eventually prevail, the reader is left to simply wish total defeat upon Dr. David Winston. Not truly a victory for the wronged woman - betrayed spouse, Mattie.
I have book two: Scared Stiff and am hoping for a more enjoyable reading experience.
What I had liked: Izzy and Dom - everyone should be lucky enough to have such good, supportive friends.
What I did not like: Pretty much all of the other characters in the story!
Mattie was often foolish and none too bright - I HATE that in a main character!
Instead of being able to root for Mattie to eventually prevail, the reader is left to simply wish total defeat upon Dr. David Winston. Not truly a victory for the wronged woman - betrayed spouse, Mattie.
I have book two: Scared Stiff and am hoping for a more enjoyable reading experience.
January 22, 2019
Definitely going to read more of this series.
December 26, 2021
I started at book #5 in this series and recently learned that the first few books were now available on audiobook. I thought it was a good time to find out more about Mattie's beginnings as Deputy Coroner. I have to say, I didn't like her nearly as much as I do in the latter books in this series. The mystery was still quite good, who killed RN, not really an RN, Karen Owenby. Mattie is recently separated from her husband after catching him in a compromising position with Nurse, Owenby. Mattie was a nurse, but quit her job so she would not have to work with him anymore, and her BFF, Izzy, the local coroner offers her a job. Not only is she just starting out, she is investigating her soon to be ex-husband for murder.
I enjoyed this story and I like Mattie. Her life gets turned upside down, but she picks herself up, dusts herself off and gets on with her life. Izzy and his partner play key roles and they are great characters. I enjoyed the dialogue between these characters. Mattie goes above and beyond her job description by doing some sleuthing of her own, which has her bumping into Detective Steve Hurley, on more than one occasion. There was definitely something smoldering between those two and I am looking forward to seeing how this relationship develops. The plot was complex with clever twists, and I only figured out who the culprit was a few moments before the reveal. I am ready to listen to the next book in this series to watch Mattie's development. Jorjena Marie narrated this book and did a very good job. Her male voices are not too bad and I enjoyed the voice she gave to Mattie. Her expression and tone definitely added emotion to the story.
I enjoyed this story and I like Mattie. Her life gets turned upside down, but she picks herself up, dusts herself off and gets on with her life. Izzy and his partner play key roles and they are great characters. I enjoyed the dialogue between these characters. Mattie goes above and beyond her job description by doing some sleuthing of her own, which has her bumping into Detective Steve Hurley, on more than one occasion. There was definitely something smoldering between those two and I am looking forward to seeing how this relationship develops. The plot was complex with clever twists, and I only figured out who the culprit was a few moments before the reveal. I am ready to listen to the next book in this series to watch Mattie's development. Jorjena Marie narrated this book and did a very good job. Her male voices are not too bad and I enjoyed the voice she gave to Mattie. Her expression and tone definitely added emotion to the story.
August 28, 2018
3.5 stars
This was a fun first book to a series. The sleuth is a newly minted assistant medical examiner and I loved the uniqueness. It's also clear that the author has a lot of medical knowledge or has done her research. It was also interested to follow a character who had a little bit of credibility to her snooping since she could claim it's part of her job. I really liked Mattie as a main character and her friends Izzy and Dom were really fun. I didn't love the detective, but mostly because I couldn't get a read on him. Sometime he's sweet sometimes he angry or oblivious. But I think he will make a good love interest in the future for Mattie. I did guess the culprit before Mattie. I am looking forward to reading more from this series (and I recommend not reading it during lunch!)
This was a fun first book to a series. The sleuth is a newly minted assistant medical examiner and I loved the uniqueness. It's also clear that the author has a lot of medical knowledge or has done her research. It was also interested to follow a character who had a little bit of credibility to her snooping since she could claim it's part of her job. I really liked Mattie as a main character and her friends Izzy and Dom were really fun. I didn't love the detective, but mostly because I couldn't get a read on him. Sometime he's sweet sometimes he angry or oblivious. But I think he will make a good love interest in the future for Mattie. I did guess the culprit before Mattie. I am looking forward to reading more from this series (and I recommend not reading it during lunch!)
December 9, 2020
I have enjoyed this series so much as a worked through the later books in the series. I decided I needed to try the books at the beginning. It has been fun reading how these favorite characters came together and how their relationships developed.
October 14, 2025
For a title written in 2009, this had far too many terrible stereotypes in it.
Also, the fact that one of the character's is gay (the main character's boss) & from what I can tell, the main character is going to have a future relationship with a cop who used the word "she-male" to describe a trans person at a gay bar was pretty disappointing (to put it mildly)
I thought it was great they several gay characters until I noticed how badly they were portrayed.
Skip this one.
Also, the fact that one of the character's is gay (the main character's boss) & from what I can tell, the main character is going to have a future relationship with a cop who used the word "she-male" to describe a trans person at a gay bar was pretty disappointing (to put it mildly)
I thought it was great they several gay characters until I noticed how badly they were portrayed.
Skip this one.
October 5, 2024
Mattie Winston is like if Bridget Jones lived in Wisconsin and solved mysteries. This book is…not a very good mystery story, and there are some things that don’t age super well…but it’s very fun! I will be reading the sequel!
February 18, 2019
I gave WORKING STIFF 2 stars because I like the premise of the story; it had a lot of potential. What a shame that after I read nineteen chapters, I abandoned the book for two reasons.
1) Mattie is a grown woman who never matured emotionally beyond junior high. I could only take so much of her raging hormones before I began to gag. The end of chapter nineteen (pg. 171): "I suspect that when it comes to Hurley, my hormones are like a cockroach. Even a nuclear holocaust won't keep them down." To quote a teenaged girl, EUW!
2) Annelise Ryan constantly killed the momentum and flow of the story by too much blah blah blah between lines of dialogue. She is not alone because I've read well-known authors who commit this same egregious sin. She'd write a line or two of conversation and then interrupt her characters. I can't tell you how frustrating that is when trying to read a conversation. Please, do not interrupt the characters. Let them speak! I have yet to read an author who is more interesting than their characters.
WORKING STIFF might have survived one of those problems, but not both of them.
1) Mattie is a grown woman who never matured emotionally beyond junior high. I could only take so much of her raging hormones before I began to gag. The end of chapter nineteen (pg. 171): "I suspect that when it comes to Hurley, my hormones are like a cockroach. Even a nuclear holocaust won't keep them down." To quote a teenaged girl, EUW!
2) Annelise Ryan constantly killed the momentum and flow of the story by too much blah blah blah between lines of dialogue. She is not alone because I've read well-known authors who commit this same egregious sin. She'd write a line or two of conversation and then interrupt her characters. I can't tell you how frustrating that is when trying to read a conversation. Please, do not interrupt the characters. Let them speak! I have yet to read an author who is more interesting than their characters.
WORKING STIFF might have survived one of those problems, but not both of them.
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