Part of Series

Mattie Winston Mystery

Series · 12 books

By Annelise Ryan

A coroner-turned-sleuth investigates a puzzling scene at a seamy motel in this hard-boiled mystery by the USA Today –bestselling author of Dead Ringer . As deputy medical examiner and homicide detective respectively, newlyweds Mattie Winston and Steve Hurley are dispatched to a grisly crime scene at the Grizzly Motel, a seedy joint for illicit liaisons on the outskirts of Sorenson, Wisconsin. A man and woman are found dead next to each other in bed in what initially appears to be a grim but straightforward murder-suicide. An affair gone sour? But as the forensic evidence is gathered and autopsies are performed, Mattie and Hurley realize the scene has been staged. They have a double murder on their hands. The spurned spouses of both victims top the list of suspects, but as more is revealed, the case becomes increasingly complex. Dividing their time and resources between the crime and an ongoing investigation involving Mattie's father, plus caring for their kids, the two are stretched to their limits. After another victim turns up dead, there’s no room for error as they stage a scene of their own to back the killer into a corner . . . Praise for Annelise Ryan and her Mattie Winston series “The forensic details will interest Patricia Cornwell readers . . .while the often slapstick humor and the blossoming romance between Mattie and Hurley will draw Evanovich fans.”— Booklist “A puzzler of a mystery . . .. A smart and saucy heroine in Mattie Winston . . .. What a thrill ride!”— New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay “Ryan smoothly blends humor, distinctive characters, and authentic forensic detail.”— Publishers Weekly

Avg Rating

4.18

Number of Ratings

1,064

5 STARS

42%

4 STARS

38%

3 STARS

16%

2 STARS

1 STARS

goodreads

Author

Annelise Ryan

Author · 18 books

Annelise Ryan is the USA Today bestselling author of the Monster Hunter Mysteries featuring cryptozoologist and bookstore owner, Morgan Carter, and the Mattie Winston mystery series, featuring a wryly cynical nurse-turned-coroner. She has always believed laughter really is the best medicine, and with the Mattie Winston series she hoped to "medicate" the masses. She also believes in a good scare every once in a while, hence the Monster Hunter mysteries, the first of which, A Death in Door County, came out in September of 2022. The second in that series, Death in the Dark Woods, comes out in December 2023. Annelise Ryan is a pseudonym for author Beth Amos. There were several reasons why she decided to use a pseudonym, 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. She is also the author of the Mack's Bar Mystery series written as Allyson K. Abbott. Ryan is a retired emergency room RN living in Wisconsin.