If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, then, it's an absolute gem that deserves every one of its five stars. With its charming small-town setting, and during characters, and intriguing whodunit, this book is the perfect blend of suspense and comfort. The author’s storytelling prowess shines through as they skillfully weave together clues, red herrings, and surprising twists, keeping readers engaged and guessing until the satisfying reveal period from the delightful amateur sleuth to the quirky supporting cast, each character feels like a beloved friend, adding depth and warmth to the narrative. With its cozy atmosphere clever plot and satisfying resolution, the book title, is a must-read for anyone seeking A delightful escape into the world of cozy mysteries.

Loved this cozy mystery - Needled to Death. The fun storyline and well-crafted characters made this an enjoyable read.

Synopsis:
As a colleague of deputy coroner Mattie Winston, social worker Clothilde “Hildy” Schneider is no stranger to unsolved murders at Sorenson General Hospital. Except for this time, it’s up to her to crack the case . . .

Motivated by her own difficult past, Hildy has an unparalleled commitment to supporting troubled clients through grief and addiction in Sorenson, Wisconsin. But when a distraught group therapy member reveals disturbing details about her late son’s potential murder, Hildy goes from dedicated mental health professional to in-over-her-head amateur sleuth . . .

This is such a funny cozy mystery. Hildy, social worker, is such a great character and I love her dog. When a participant in her group therapy reveals details about her sons murder, Hildy tries to solve the mystery. Great characters in this story and I'm glad that this has turned into a series.

I really loved this first book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end.

Cute start to a new cozy series. I liked Hildy and her therapy dog Roscoe. The Wisconsin setting hits all the marks for a cozy mystery and Hildy is pretty funny.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love Annelise Ryan's Mattie Winston series, so maybe that was my problem. This just didn't measure up to what I expect from this author.

Hildy is a social worker with a tough background - her mother was a hooker who was murdered, and she never knew her father or who her father even is. She works at the hospital, but when a member of her grief group asks for help proving that her son didn't die of an overdose, she agrees to help. This puts her in contact with the police department and two potential love interests.

The mystery was pretty good, but I just did not click with Hildy. This was probably a 3.5, rounded up to a 4, if I'm honest.

Synopsis:

As a colleague of deputy coroner Mattie Winston, social worker Clothilde "Hildy" Schneider is no stranger to unsolved murders at Sorenson General Hospital. Except this time, it's up to her to crack the case . . .

Motivated by her own difficult past, Hildy has an unparalleled commitment to supporting troubled clients through grief and addiction in Sorenson, Wisconsin. But when a distraught group therapy member reveals disturbing details about her late son's potential murder, Hildy goes from dedicated mental health professional to in-over-her-head amateur sleuth . . .

Alongside her loyal therapy Golden Retriever, Hildy stumbles through incriminating clues--and an unlikely partnership with Detective Bob Richmond, the irresistibly headstrong cop who shares her passion for helping others. With signs of foul play surfacing all over town, can Hildy and Detective Richmond pinpoint the deadly traits of a sharp-witted killer before another seat gets filled at grief therapy?

Praise for Annelise Ryan and her Mattie Winston series

"The funniest deputy coroner to cut up a corpse since, well, ever!"
--Laura Levine, author of Killer Cruise

"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 (Goodreads)

Review:

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning.

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Hildy is hardworking, fair and sympathetic, Her own life has been rough and she wants others to get through their own troubled past like she did. So when a woman at Hildy’s grief therapy group insists that her son did not kill himself but instead was murdered, Hildy wants to help the woman prove it. But it will not be easy.

The mystery was solid and well thought out. There were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider and it was not easily solved.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. The fact that Hildy is a social worker should provide a lot of murderous possibilities.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This is the first book in a new series that spun off of the Mattie Winston Mysteries that I enjoy. Hildy is a therapist who runs a bereavement group as well as working at the local hospital. At one of her group meeting, a bereaved mother tells the group that she doesn't believe her son committed suicide, but that someone killed him. Hildy offers to help her find out what happened, but it might not be what the mother wants to hear. Hildy contacts her friend Mattie at the coronor's office and gets the idea that Mattie believes there is more to his death as well. Hildy asks Mattie to contact the local detective on her behalf and Hildy's investigation begins.

I really enjoyed the characters in this story. Hildy is great. She has a lot of background history that comes to play in this story and helps her in her investigation, but you will have to read it to find out what it is. Her neighbour, 11 year old PJ, who walks her dog and does odd jobs is great. A bit different, again you will need to meet her to understand, but she gives the story a great human piece. Bob Richmond, the local detective she works with is another wonderful part of the story. Whether he is really allowing Hidly to coerce him into working together or he wants to work with her will be up to you to decide. The mystery is quite complex and requires a lot of leg work, a lot of interviews and research to move forward. Of course, Hildy is the one to discover a lead to solve the whole thing, but puts herself in danger, accidentally, while following it. I liked the ending and was quite surprised with the motive and culprit. I will definitely read more in this series.

I am a fan of the Mattie Winston series, so inwas excited to see a new series. I enjoyed the main character but feel thatbshe still needs a bit of development. It is also interesting to see characters from the Mattie series in a different light.

Needled to Death

by Annelise Ryan

Welcome to the first book in The Helping Hands Mystery Series by Annelise Ryan. This series and its premier tale, Needled to Death, share some characters with Ryan’s Mattie Winston Mystery Series. As is true in the real world, people in a fairly closed community, like those who deal with crime and its victims, such as evidence technicians, detectives, and those in the Medical Examiner’s office, frequently have intersecting spheres. Experience with that series is not necessary to enjoy this one.

In Needled to Death, the main character is Hildy Schneider, a social worker for the hospital. Hilda is a flawed protagonist if ever there was one, and you will quickly come to love her, quirks and all. A product of the foster care system since a young age, she has been passed through more homes and psychiatrists than most people can count. Hildy, however, has emerged strong, but vulnerable, with an insatiable curiosity and a desire to help others.

A woman in Hildy’s grief support group at the hospital is convinced her son was murdered, and Hildy agrees to try to get the police to reopen the case. Hildy manages to get involved in the investigation as well as with the investigators on a personal level. There are a lot of interesting characters including P.J., a neighbor girl with Asperger’s, and Rosco, Hildy’s golden retriever whom she sometimes uses with clients as a therapy dog. Hildy goes from no social life to attracting the interest of two men who admire her smarts and spunk.

Author Ryan has a talent in her writing style that makes it hard to put this book down. I really needed to stop reading to attend to another task. Unfortunately for the other project, I would end a chapter, peek at the next, and off I went into the plot again. It was at least five chapters later before I managed to get tough and close the book. Another feature I like about this book is the humor scattered throughout. The ending of one chapter (no spoilers here) was a surprise that was laugh out loud funny. With a great plot and characters with interesting backgrounds, Needled to Death skyrockets for me, and I can hardly wait for the next book in the series to make an appearance!

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #1 in the Helping Hands Mystery Series, but Annelise Ryan’s third series.

Publication: July 30, 2019—Kensington Books

Memorable Lines:

These glimpses of family life both warm and depress me. It’s a life I’ve never had or experienced, and I feel the lack of it at times. I try not to dwell in the land of self-pity too much, though, and if I do linger there overly long, Roscoe seems to sense it, and he’ll nudge me out of my depression.

I hate being so paranoid, someone who always suspects the motives of others as nefarious, but my experience, both in the foster system and as a social worker, bears it out. I’ve been lied to, ripped off, and manipulated by some of the best.

I loved books and the stories I read. They provided me with an escape, with adventures I might not otherwise have, and with characters whose lives I could step into and borrow for a time to replace my own.

I really enjoyed the start to this new series! Hildy was a really interesting character. I like learning about her childhood in the foster system. Plus I have a soft spot for golden retrievers, so it was easy to fall for Roscoe. If you like cozies, you should definitely give this one a try!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book, which I voluntarily chose to review.

I enjoyed this. I’ve read other books by this author and was excited to start this series. It’s so good. It was a quick read for me finishing in about 2 days. I would recommend it.

A really good and funny mystery. The mystery was interesting and I found the characters engaging especially the golden retriever.

Needled to Death by Annelise Ryan is about social worker, Clothilde “Hildy” Schneider who is a friend of deputy coroner Mattie Winston. When a member of her group therapy reveals details of her late son’s potential murder, Hildy goes from dedicated mental health professional to in over her head amateur sleuth. The plot is slow moving and at times unrealistic. The characters were not well developed. Dating two men at the same time did nothing to add to the story but I did like Roscoe the dog. Good surprise ending tho. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me an advanced reader’s copy for review.

Hildy Schneider, a licensed Social Worker, runs over a grief support group at the hospital where she works. During one of her meetings, grieving mother Sharon Cochran, whose son has recently died of what law enforcement has decided is an accidental overdose, expresses her concerns that her son’s death was not an accidental overdose and that law enforcement has wrongly determined the case is closed. Sharon is convinced her son did not “shoot himself up” with drugs because he had no history of using or abusing drugs, did not fit the “pattern” of a “druggie”, and thought he was involved in something mysterious, and probably illegal, before his death. During the meeting, Sharon convinces Hildy to try to figure out what exactly happened with her son and why. Thus, Hildy goes off into a somewhat involved investigation, prodding the detective in charge while insisting on working with him to find answers. This newly re-opened investigation leads to conversations, many of which are the proverbial red herrings, as well as some interesting events and interviews/interrogations of Sharon’s son’s friends and associates. During the investigation, Hildy and Detective, Bob Richmond, find they are attracted to each other, and a budding relationship begins. However, Hildy is not one to be sidetracked as she looks into and pushes Bob to look into the son’ friends and actions in the days just before his death. The big question in everyone’s mind is whether this death was accidental, what Sharon’s son was actually involved in just before his death, and how or if that led to his death.

I have not read any other books by this author, but based on some of the reviews I read, it is apparently a spin-off of another series of books. Nevertheless, this book can be read as a stand-alone, and there is no reference to or long discussion of other story lines or plots. There are just a few mentions of other crimes Hildy was involved in, but nothing that will make the reader wish he/she had read any other books. Hildy is a strong woman, with a history of life in the foster care system. Obviously, she has learned from this past, and is quite adept at using what she learned to push for what she wants now. Almost from the start, I admired Hildy. There were also several mentions of problems short people encounter (Hildy is rather short), which I found interesting (I am the opposite, taller than most, and had not even thought of the problems short people might have). I liked the budding relationship between Bob and Hildy, even though it never did go very far in this book. It probably will n subsequent books. I found the young characters, PJ and Sophie, interesting and a good way to lighten up and add diversion to the book. I am not sure about someone coming into a grief meeting and being allowed to take it over, as Sharon did. I wonder if another moderator would have allowed that, but I am not faulting Hildy for her actions. As was usually the case with her, she went with her gut feeling, and it did provide a good way to get into the mystery. All in all, I enjoyed this book, and I think readers of cozy mysteries will also. I received this form NetGalley to read and review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: It is satisfying when an author you enjoy takes supporting characters from a series you like and “spins” them off into a new series and it is as good as the original. I am happy to report this is what happened here. If, like me, you have enjoyed the Mattie Winston books, this will please you as well. Social worker, Hildy, who has a colourful past and a curiosity to see justice done joins forces with cop Bob as the two of them dig deeper into what looked like an accidental overdose of a college student. Once they realize there are things that don’t add up, they look deeper. There are some very nasty things happening, things that include murder.
Both Hildy and Bob are intriguing characters. They are flawed and fascinating and I enjoy the way HIldy interacts with everyone from her great dog, Roscoe, to the young girl next door who walks him. She has risen like a Phoenix from a horrible youth in the Foster system to become a fascinating woman. I hope we see a lot more of her.
Five purrs and two paws up.

For me, this was just an okay cosy mystery. While I liked the therapy dog, PJ the dogsitter and that Hildy had a background in the foster care system (which made her a bit more human), I just felt that the plot and story were a bit unbelievable at times. Some of the examples include how Hildy got into the computer and the reason why Toby got killed.

When a woman comes to social worker Hildy’s grief support group claiming her son’s suicide was really a murder, Hildy, having lost her own mother to an unsolved murder, is determined to get to the bottom of the truth. She gives the police enough evidence to re-open the case, then tags along with Detective Bob Richmond and helps piece together the pieces of the puzzle.

This was the first book I’ve ready by this author, and I really enjoyed it. I thought the mystery was engaging, and I liked that I wasn’t sure why Toby wound up dead until it was revealed. There’s plenty of humor mixed into the story, along with a budding love triangle between Hildy, Bob, and Jonas, who is an evidence technician with the police department.

I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store next for Hildy and her friends.

This book was given to me at no cost by the publisher and Net Galley in return for an unbiased review. I am a fan of Annelise Ryan’s Mattie Winston series, and have read every one. Needled to Death is a spin-off of the most recent Mattie Winston mystery, Dead of Winter. I was less than impressed with the writing in Needled to Death. It was very amateurish. I am surprised it was written by an accomplished mystery writer like Anneline Ryan. I am stunned that her editor let this slide by without major changes.

This book was written in first person, present tense and I got very tired of hearing every thought that went through Hildy’s brain. I really didn’t want to know how she manipulated all of the other characters. The dialogue was stilted and the circumstances of the mystery were very hard to believe. I could buy that this social worker wanted to help a client discover the events surrounding her son’s death, but what police detective would allow her to look through evidence and come up with contradictions that would cause the police to reopen the case? The way she reasoned out how to bypass the fingerprint security on the victim’s computer was off the charts unbelievable. The outcome of the mystery was also implausible.

The characters were shallow and not particularly likeable, especially the protagonist. The romances in the book were just weird. Hildy was constantly thinking about how the men in the story would be as suitors. She asked one character out and accepted a date with another character, who worked with the first man, while she was on a date with the first man.

I won’t read any more of this series, but I am looking forward to the next installment of the Mattie Winston books.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Still dealing with my own grief for a loved one I was a little nervous about reading this book but I really wanted to support the author from my home state. An author whose own books have brightened some of my dark days I decided to push ahead knowing that if it got to be too much I could always stop. I am so glad I started reading because a few uncomfortable moments at the beginning of the story were clearly outweighed by the rest of the story.

Clothilde “Hildy” Schneider works as a social worker at the Sorenson General Hospital. She also leads a grief and addiction support group at the hospital. It is there she meets Sharon Cochran, a mom who lost her son to what the police have ruled a suicide. Sharon doesn’t believe her son took his own life and she begs Hildy and the support group to help her prove it. She feels her son was murdered and no one is paying attention.

First, Hildy checks in with the Medical Examiner’s office and finds some inconsistencies. She then visits Sharon’s home and finds some interesting drawings and the young man’s computer. Armed with both she confronts Detective Bob Richmond in hopes he will share information and reopen the case. He realizes she may be onto something and agrees to work with her to find out what really happened to Toby Cochran.

I immediately liked Hildy and her open heart. She has great instincts and she doesn’t back down. She also has a wonderful golden retriever named Roscoe, who works as a comfort animal when needed. We also meet Hildy’s neighbor P.J., a very adult 11-year-old who walks Roscoe several times a day and even gives Hildy relationship advice and fashion tips. The author also sets up a prospective love triangle with Hildy, Detective Richmond, and evidence technician Jonas Kriedeman. Jonas is raising his 7-year-old daughter on his own. She is also very smart and independent for her young age.

But I really identified with Sharon Cochran. I could feel her pain. No matter how your child died the grief is with you the rest of your life. Life is never normal again. Ms. Ryan portrayed that very well in this character.

All the recurring characters are complex and I am excited to see them evolve as this series continues. Deputy Coroner Mattie Winston from the author’s other series does make a cameo appearance but this series stands completely on its own.

I really enjoyed the way Bob and Hildy worked together and the premise of this series means it is not just a one-time thing. This murder investigation was not an easy solve and had some truly surprising moments that had me holding my breath. My focus was in the right ballpark but I struck out putting everything together until it was clearly spelled out for me.

The icing on the cake was that this series takes place in my home state not too far from where I live. I loved recognizing all the landmarks as we followed along with Hildy and Bob as they chased down clues.

The Helping Hands Mystery series is off to a champion start! Needled to Death was a Perfect Escape and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!