How to Start Reading Beth Amos's Work
Author Beth Amos writes under three distinct names, each representing a different subgenre. To get the most out of her writing, your starting point should depend on the kind of mystery or thriller you enjoy most:
- For Quirky Medical Mysteries with Forensic Detail: Start with her Mattie Winston Mysteries series (written as Annelise Ryan), beginning with Working Stiff.
- For Cryptids and Legends: Dive into the Monster Hunter Mysteries (also written as Annelise Ryan), starting with A Death in Door County.
- For Cozy Mysteries with a Sensory Twist: Pick up the Mack's Bar Mysteries (written as Allyson K. Abbott), beginning with Murder on the Rocks.
- For Classic Paranormal Suspense & Thrillers: Try her standalone novels published under her real name, Beth Amos, starting with Cold White Fury or Second Sight.
The Sorenson Universe: Mattie Winston & Helping Hands
Written under the pseudonym Annelise Ryan, the Mattie Winston series is Amos's most popular and longest-running project. Drawing on her real-life experience as an ER nurse, Amos details the life of Mattie Winston, a nurse who transitions into a deputy coroner in the small town of Sorenson, Wisconsin. Because the character's personal relationships, career, and romantic life develop significantly over the course of the books, they must be read in publication order.
Sharing this same Sorenson universe is the spin-off series, the Helping Hands Mysteries. This spin-off stars Hildy Schneider, Sorenson General Hospital's social worker, and her therapy dog, Roscoe. To avoid spoilers regarding character arcs and town dynamics, it is recommended to read the Helping Hands books alongside the late-stage Mattie Winston novels.
Mattie Winston & Helping Hands Recommended Reading Order
- Working Stiff (2009)
- Scared Stiff (2010)
- Frozen Stiff (2011)
- Lucky Stiff (2013)
- Board Stiff (2014)
- Stiff Penalty (2015)
- Stiff Competition (2016)
- Dead in the Water (2017)
- Dead Calm (2018)
- Dead of Winter (2020)
- Needled to Death (Helping Hands Book 1) (2019)
- Night Shift (Helping Hands Book 2) (2020)
- Dead Ringer (2020)
- Dead Even (2021)
Monster Hunter Mystery Series (As Annelise Ryan)
Stepping away from traditional medical procedures, Amos uses the Annelise Ryan pen name for a series of mysteries involving cryptozoology. The series follows Morgan Carter, a bookstore owner and cryptozoologist, who travels around Wisconsin and beyond with her dog, Newt, solving murders linked to legendary monsters. These books should be read in order of release to keep track of character dynamics and ongoing investigations.
Monster Hunter Mysteries in Order
- A Death in Door County (2022)
- Death in the Dark Woods (2023)
- Beast of the North Woods (2025)
- Monster in the Moonlight (2026)
Mack's Bar Mystery Series (As Allyson K. Abbott)
Writing as Allyson K. Abbott, the author delivers a cozy series set in a Milwaukee pub. The protagonist, Mack Dalton, has synesthesia—a neurological condition that causes her senses to cross over, allowing her to associate colors, tastes, and textures with sounds and numbers. Mack uses this unique ability to solve crimes occurring around her bar. Each book includes fun drink recipes at the back. These are best read in order to follow Mack's personal relationships.
Mack's Bar Mysteries in Order
- Murder on the Rocks (2013)
- Murder with a Twist (2014)
- In the Drink (2015)
- Shots in the Dark (2016)
- A Toast to Murder (2017)
- Last Call (2018)
Beth Amos Standalone Novels
Writing under her birth name, Beth Amos crafts standalone suspense and medical thrillers, often incorporating paranormal or high-concept medical phenomena. Since these stories are completely independent of one another, they can be read in any order.
Beth Amos Standalones in Order of Publication
- Cold White Fury (1996)
- Eyes of Night (1997)
- Second Sight (1998)
- Nick of Time (2013)
- The Face of Death (2013)
What to Know Before You Start
While the Mattie Winston and Mack's Bar books are classified as cozy mysteries, readers should be aware that Amos's medical and nursing background shines through. Unlike traditional cozies, which keep violence off-screen, these books feature authentic forensic details and realistic descriptions of autopsies and injuries. They also carry a slightly darker sense of humor and more mature content than standard cozies, making them perfect for fans who want a middle ground between cozy elements and gritty police procedurals.