Night Shift
Strange things have been happening since Hildy started moonlighting with local police, but a desperate late-night call involving a former patient from Sorenson General Hospital tops the list. Although Danny Hildebrand has been tormented by hallucinations for years, he swears he’s being haunted for real by the victim of a grisly murder.
The rambling ghost story seems like another delusion. But after a body turns up in a neglected farmhouse crawling with secrets, Hildy and the magnetic Detective Bob Richmond rush to explain Danny’s knowledge of the incident. As the crime-solving partners unwittingly grow closer while examining a series of eerie leads, they realize that surviving past sunrise means shedding light on a criminal willing to do whatever it takes to stay in the shadows.
Series: A Helping Hands Mystery – Book #2
Author: Annelise Ryan
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Amateur Sleuth
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 368
Rating: 
Annelise Ryan’s second book in the “A Helping Hands Mystery” series, Night Shift, is out now in bookstores. This is a down to earth story about a wonderful character, Hildy, who has many issues. Like her patients, Hildy has emotional and mental challenges that she is working to overcome and control. She also has two jobs, bills to pay, and a jealous demanding boss. Just like everyone else, she strives to do her best professionally and personally. This ultimately makes her very human and sympathetic.
When a patient, Danny, has a crisis, Hildy is there to help and support him and his family. But before long, she realizes that something more is going on with Danny other than his typical issues. She fears his mental illness may have progressed to a strange and unusual degree, but worse that he may have become violent and not even know it. Danny’s sister asks for Hildy’s help.
Other characters in this book are aware of Danny’s issues, and some know of Hildy’s as well, they want to help, but they don’t want to see a possible murderer get away with the crime. Roscoe is amazing; readers will love the beautiful animal’s tenderness and compassion. Hildy’s patient is a mess, and it takes all of her support and will power to get him and herself out of trouble. Bob is the love interest for Hildy, but he may move too slow for her liking. There are a few suspects, but not an overwhelming number. The evidence is clear and easy to spot. The killer may come as a surprise to some. The ending will answer the reader’s questions and clear up some issues as well as give them satisfaction on all fronts. I enjoyed Night Shift and look forward to book three.
Other cozies that I recommend are J. C. Eaton’s private detective series “Sophie Kimball Mystery” or Victoria Laurie’s charming series “Cat Cooper Mysteries”.
About the Author:
Annelise Ryan is the creator of Mattie Winston and a pseudonym for the author of five previous murder mystery books. 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 is a registered nurse whose past work experience has included everything from birth (obstetrics) to death (hospice). She currently works in an ER and enjoys several side hobbies, including competitive Scrabble, scuba diving, working with stained glass, and gardening.
Contact Annelise: Author.Annelise.Ryan@gmail.com
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