Stiff Competition

Annelise Ryan

Feb 2016 · A Mattie Winston Mystery Book 7 · Kensington Cozies

About this ebook

A coroner must find a killer out to make a point in this hard-boiled mystery by the USA Today–bestselling author of Dead Even.

Every fall, hunting season in Sorenson, Wisconsin, leads to some accidental injuries. Deputy coroner Mattie Winston just hopes the hunters don’t bring any more business to her office. But somebody seems to have declared open season on land developers. One real estate developer who’s recently come to town has been found dead in the woods with an arrow through his neck. Now it’s up to Mattie to get to the bottom of the killing. That might be easier if she wasn’t also hunting for Detective Hurley’s teenage daughter, Emily, who has suddenly disappeared. With a homicidal William Tell out on the loose, Mattie is desperate to find Emily before the killer notches another arrow . . .

“[Ryan] presents subtle but nonstop humor throughout her books.”—Kings River Life Magazine

Praise for Annelise Ryan and her Mattie Winston series

 

“Ryan shows growing skill at mixing humor with CSI-style crime.”—Publishers Weekly

“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

Ratings and reviews

Stiff Competition by Annelise Ryan is the seventh book in the Mattie Winston Mysteries. Stiff Competition picks up eight weeks after the last book in the series. Mattie Winston has had her baby (named Matthew Hurley) and it is her first day back at work. She is called out to a crime scene in the woods. Lars Sanderson, the real estate developer, is the victim. There are many suspects because many people were not happy with Lars business practices (he was building strip malls and cheap condos) and his womanizing ways. Mattie will be busy trying to solve the case and adapt to being a single mother. Mattie and her boyfriend (and baby daddy) Steve Hurley have not been able to move into together because of Emily! Emily is the daughter Steve did not know he had until recently. Emily is fifteen and a handful. She resents Mattie and is making life as difficult as possible for Steve and Mattie. Then Emily disappears. Matt wonders if Emily went back to Milwaukee where she used to live with her mother. Mattie searches Sorenson (Wisconsin) for Emily. Mattie has a feeling that there is more to Emily’s disappearance than an upset teenage girl. Will they be able to find Emily in time? I enjoyed Stiff Competition much more than the previous book in the series (which I only gave 3 out of 5 stars). I thought I would give the series another chance, and I am glad that I did. The book starts out a little slow (with a lot of whining), but it gets much better. The murder mystery (as well as Emily’s disappearance) are easy to solve, but there are some good clues to follow. I did feel that Emily’s disappearance dominated the book. The murder of Lars Sanderson took a back seat in the novel. I really feel bad for Steve Hurley. Hurley, once again, played a small role. I hope he plays a bigger part in the next book (and that Mattie is less hormonal). Overall, Stiff Competition was a good cozy mystery. I give Stiff Competition 4 out of 5 stars. I received a complimentary copy of Stiff Competition from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Love the character cast, the growing romance, and the twisty author mind! Fun mystery that will make yuo rethink a walk in the woods and who you walk with!

Loved it and can't wait for the next one!! :)

About the author

Annelise Ryan is the pseudonym for the author of the Mattie Winston Mysteries and the Mac's Bar Mysteries (written as Allyson K. Abbott). She has written more than 200 published articles, worked as a book reviewer for Barnes & Noble, and is an active member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. Annelise currently works as a registered nurse in an ER. She can be reached at www.mattiewinston.com. Her books have garnered numerous accolades, most recently she has been honored by the Wisconsin Library Association.