This Wisconsin nurse has turned her medical knowledge into the position of a medicolegal investigator with the coroner’s office. As her husband, police detective Steve Hurley, is in law enforcement, they find themselves being called out from time to time to the same scene. And that’s what happens in this episode of the series.
The victim in this case is a local successful real estate agent, found with a broken pool cue through his chest. His family dynamic is a strained one, and as the investigation proceeds, opens into a complex and well-plotted narrative.

Mattie Winston has sustained a lot of changes in her life including the son she now shares with hubby police detective Steve Hurley, his daughter, and their new house. The strain of the household has landed on Mattie, so they are interviewing possible candidates to help clean the house (a big load off), while dealing with three-year old Matthew’s unique personality as well as the household animals.

Most of the support characters are well developed and lend to the vision of a real collage of persons intricately involved. Steve is a great character and Mattie is learning how to better handle her own volatile reactions to their interpersonal relationship.

Sprinkled liberally throughout are some humorous observations and one-liners. It’s a well paced novel, the characters are engaging and thoroughly entertaining.

Love this series. This book is a great addition. Just as I was thinking it wasn't as humorous as the previous ones I started reading the next chapter and was laughing throughout. While one could certainly start with this one, as it is a stand alone mystery, reading them in order will bring even greater enjoyment.

I loved my first experience with Mattie Winston, and immediately added the earlier books in the series to my to-be-read list. This series blends humor with realistic detail perfectly. I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to Kensington Books for access to a digital arc via NetGalley and for introducing me to a new series!

I don't think I would refer to 'Dead Even' as light-hearted as one reviewer did, however the main characters are thoroughly likeable for me. Mattie and Hurley have real-life family management problems that are relatable, but are kept in perspective with their important work. The loyalty each has for the other is completely engaging while admittedly they are very different in personality and nature. This mystery is engaging with many dark twists. I enjoyed everything about the book and highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is excellent writing, with great characters that we really get to know as their lives are entwined in all the action. Very good structure and easy to read story.

“Dead Even,” book 12 in the Mattie Winston Mystery series, will have you questioning how well you really know someone and trying to bring to mind the proverbial expression…'it never rains, but it pours!'

Wisconsin nurse turned medicolegal investigator with the local coroner’s office, Mattie Winston, and her hunky husband, police homicide detective, Steve Hurley, are enjoying a rare night off together when they are both called to assist on a murder. Local real estate agent, Montgomery Dixon, has been found with a pool cue through his heart. As the investigation progresses, there’s a sizeable list of people who want Monty dead. It doesn’t take the team too long to narrow down the list and zero in on the real culprit. However, it puts Maddie and her toddler’s life in danger. Mattie puts it all on the line to outsmart the killer.

This cozy mystery is part of a series, but can stand alone. I love the author’s cast of characters and the attention she’s put in to crafting them. They are believable and realistic in their actions; the new wife who can’t find her way out of the kitchen but can work her way around men, the son from the first marriage who has his eye on his father’s money as well as money belonging to others, and a twin brother who can’t get anyone to take his advice! It’s refreshing to see career focused characters who struggle as real human beings with balancing their home and work life. Here we get a realistic view of marriage with its ups and downs and the potential to last if there are two committed people. I loved how they had to wait for a sitter to arrive before the other could leave for work and how a housekeeper helps to de-escalate stress at home. The plot is fast paced and Ryan orchestrates the twists and turns with just the precise timing you’d expect from an accomplished writer. Watch for it come March 30th.

Thanks to Annelise Ryan, Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first Mattie Ryan book but it will not be my last. I was hooked from the first few pages. I liked the characters as there were strong relationships but also the little quirks that can be a bit irritating as well. I also appreciated that the book showed that marriages can have bumps but most things can be worked through.

The mystery was well-done and even though I was sure that I knew the murderer, I had to keep really to make sure that I was right. However, that didn't spoil the end of the book for me at all.

I will adding the older ones in the series to my 'To Be Read' pile and looking forward to the next one in the series!

As a fan of this series, I think Dead Even is an awesome addition to the series.
Mattie Winston is a medicolegal investigator, working with the local coroner’s office.
Mattie is called out to attend to a body, and when her husband, detective Steve Hurley arrives at the scene, Mattie knows this won’t be a simple open and shut case.

I enjoy this series and am a long time fan of Mattie. She has a strong personality, but she has a tender side that we see in this book.
I’m looking forward to reading more in this series.

Ohh, I forgot I didn't like this author or this series. I am sorry that I requested this book. Last book by this author that I will read.

Medicolegal investigator Mattie Winston is back in the newest book in the series. Married to a police detective, she feels a bit overwhelmed when they are both called out to a murder scene at night on their weekend off. With a toddler, a teenager, housework that never gets done, and emotional baggage from being left behind several times in her life, Mattie and Hurley nevertheless get on with trying to figure out which of the suspects is the killer. In addition, it seems to have been a popular weekend to die in their little are of Wisconsin.
I’ve been following this series since the beginning and enjoy the author’s portrayal of Mattie, she’s pen about her feelings and relationships, and there is always subtle humor. Please read the series form the beginning so you meet the characters and see how things change in their lives, it will absolutely add even more enjoyment to your reading this one. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for and advance copy.

Life is a crazy ride for Mattie most days, but it seems to have reached a new level. Between her and Hurley's job, 2 kids, and big house, there is never a moment to breath, much less have any alone time for the working couple. Seeing a marriage counselor has helped, and now the possibility of a part-time housekeeper seems like an easy way to lower the heat. Only, Hurley is not so convinced. Now, they are caught up in a double murder and investigation uncovers a possible series of murders all surrounding a questionable financial planner. Having figured out the real culprit, Mattie's life is in danger along with her son's. Will she be able to outsmart the murderer? What will life hold next for Mattie and Hurley?

This is a first for me from this author and certainly not my last. It’s a great easy to read cozy mystery. It’s extremely well written so not having read the other books in the series I quickly caught on to the characters and their backstories. The plot and mystery itself was fun and written so well that kept me guessing until the very end. A lot of twists and turns and good writing makes this a worthwhile read, highly recommend!

In her previous career as a nurse, Mattie Winston's job was to keep death at bay. Now, as a medicolegal investigator, she's required to study death intimately--to figure out causes and timing, and help deduce whether it was natural or suspicious. This is such a great series and I really like Mattie. I was kept guessing until the end. I wouldn't compare this to the Patricia Cornwell series at all.Even though the careers can be compared, the storylines and personalities are totally different. This also reads very well as a standalone but I highly recommend reading the whole series since it is so good. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Mattie Winston is a medicolegal investigator, she investigates cases of mysterious death. Monty Dixon’s death is definitely suspicious; the realtor was found dead in his home with a pool cue through his heart. High on the list of suspects are Monty’s wife, son, and twin brother, all of whom had shady, nefarious reasons for wanting Monty dead. Together with her husband, homicide detective, Steve Hurley, Mattie must parse through the clues to find the real killer. A fun, light hearted cozy mystery