Love this series. This is an excellent addition to the series. Some humor, some suspense, some surprises. I hope there will be a #10.

I have not read any of the previous Mattie Winston mysteries, which was one of the issues I had with this book. While the book starts off with a bang with Mattie and Hurley called to the scene of a murder-suicide at a no-tell motel, the book quickly devolves into many pages of exposition in which the events of seemingly ALL of the previously books are disclosed. While I know that it is necessary for a series author to give background details about the character that might have been disclosed in a previous books, there are more creative ways to do it. That said, DEAD CALM was a quick and engaging read with interesting characters and a decent plot line.

Medical examiner Mattie Winston and new husband, Detective Steve Hurley won’t have much time for celebrating. They are sent to investigate what appears to be a murder suicide and a seedy, run down hotel. But autopsy results show that the couple found dead were actually victims of a double homicide. Since the couple in question were having an affair Steve and Mattie look hard at their betrayed spouses, but it would seem there are mitigating circumstances and more than a few people who might want the couple dead. One of the reasons I like this series so much is that the characters have to deal with “real life” as well as work. Trying to solve a double murder along with caring for a young child and a rambunctious teenager makes Steve and Mattie relatable and real