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Stiff Competition
by Annelise Ryan
Stiff Competition
(A Mattie Winston Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
7th in Series
Kensington (January 26, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1617734106
E-Book ASIN: B00X2EOZKC
Synopsis
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…
My Review
Last year I have read the sixth book in this serie and could not wait to read a new adventure of Mattie
Mattie Winston is a new mother. She's almost getting used to her new and hectic life as a single mother who ends her maternity leave and must return to work. She is a deputy coroner in a small town in Wisconsin and works often with her great love and father of her son, the detective Steve Hurley. Her first day of work is very demanding, she must examine together with her boss (and close friend) Izzy, a man killed with an arrow. He was an unscrupulous property developer and may be many the possible motives. Mattie helps Steve in the investigation. They also try to run their difficult relationship. They are very much in love and they want to live together but Hurley's daughter Emily can't stand nor Mattie nor his little brother. When Emily disappears Mattie helps in searches to find her as soon as possible and not further complicate their lives.
The characters are well defined and well developed. I like the protagonist of this story, she is a very realistic character and many new mothers can easily identify with her. She loves her detective and doesn't know how to run their relationship. Hurley is very sad. He would want to live with the woman he loves and their child and be a real family but must also worry about the daughter who has recently discovered to have. Emily has just lost her mother and found herself to live together to a father who she was believed dead. It is not easy for a teenager to accept this situation, especially if she is a really rebellious.
Although it is the seventh book in the series but really does work well as a standalone, during the narration the author provides all the information necessary to understand the various situations and relationships between the characters.
This is an enjoyable story, well written in an easy-to-read style, with an engaging plot and two compelling mystery.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a riveting story.
About The Author
Annelise Ryan is the pseudonym for the author of three suspense novels and another mystery series. 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. She currently works as a registered nurse in an ER. She can be reached atwww.mattiewinston.com.
Author Links:
Webpage – www.mattiewinston.com
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Sounds like a great mystery! I adore the cover art.
RispondiEliminaLove a good mystery.
RispondiElimina