The Taking of Libbie, SD

Mac McKenzie #7

by David Housewright

In David Housewright's The Taking of Libbie, SD, a grifter cons an entire town using Mac McKenzie's name, leaving the real McKenzie facing an angry town with nothing left to lose.Rushmore McKenzie is a retired cop, an unexpected millionaire, and an occasional unlicensed private investigator. So, it isn't the biggest surprise in the world when he's attacked and kidnapped from his home—McKenzie has more than a few enemies out there with a grudge against him. But it is a surprise when it turns out his kidnapping is a case of mistaken identity. McKenzie was taken to the small plains town of Libbie, South Dakota which just lost pretty much everything it had to a con man using McKenzie's name. Using a scam involving a new shopping mall, the grifter apparently stole all the money electronically from the bank then disappeared, leaving behind a devastated town full of people with many reasons to hate him. To that list of enemies, he's just added McKenzie who is now determined to help the devastated townspeople, as well as catch and punish the weasel besmirching his reputation.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Thriller, Audiobook, Detective

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 8, 2010

About the author

A past president of the Private Eye Writers of America, David Housewright has published 28 crimes novels including In A Hard Wind (June 2023 St. Martin’s Minotaur) and has contributed short stories to 15 anthologies and other publications. He has earned an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America, a Shamus nomination from the PWA, and three Minnesota Books Awards. A reformed newspaper reporter and ad man, he has also taught writing courses at the University of Minnesota and Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. His name and face were recently added to “Minnesota Writers on the Map” by the Minnesota Historical Society and Friends of the St. Paul Public Library.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am on a series binge of David Housewright’s Mac McKenzie collection, of which this is the seventh book. Housewright explores the life of Mac ‘Rushmore’ McKenzie, an amateur private investigator from St. Paul, Minnesota who is always eager to help those close to him. The engaging series keeps Mac busy, especially when his name is besmirched in a small South Dakota town. A race for truth and to capture a scam artist will keep Mac busy for the foreseeable future.

Mac ‘Rushmore’ McKenzie came into a significant amount of money years ago, which led to his abrupt retirement from the St. Paul PD. Now, he’s working an an unlicensed PI and helping those he deems worth his while. Mac is rudely awoken and subsequently kidnapped from his home one morning before dawn. While he is panicking in the trunk of the vehicle, Mac tries to decipher who he might have upset enough to bring this about. 

It is only when the car stops and Mac is removed from the vehicle that things begin to make sense.
In the small community of Libbie, South Dakota, Mac is marched to those in authority. Soon thereafter, a case of mistaken identity is confirmed, though someone has been trying to use his name and general appearance to stir up trouble in Libbie. A scam artist not only took ‘Mac McKenzie’ as his mokiker, but stole a large sum of money from the townspeople, which explains their ire. Mac has some skin in the game and is determined to catch this guy pretending to be him and who scammed so many unsuspecting people in Libbie, South Dakota.

Working every angle, Mac speaks to locals to gets some additional information about the grifter and what he did. It is an investigation unlike anything he’s ever done, but Mac feels a fire in his belly and hopes to inch closer before anyone else can be taken for granted. Mac makes some headway with the help of others, using contacts to help Libbie and clear his name. What follows is a race for answers and trying to save a Midwestern community. Housewright stirs up some drama in his highly popular series.

While I have the latest novel in the series as an ARC, I wanted some context and so am binge reading the entire collection. Housewright constructs a narrative foundation that supports the story, while flavouring things with some unique perspectives. He provides his protagonist with much to do in a small community, adding more development opportunities for Mac McKenzie to shine. Characters are edgy and offer a sense of rawness that makes this series even more enjoyable. The plot leaves much for the reader to explore, mixing action with surprises at just the right moments. I keep finding myself impressed with this series, which has never waned in its delivery.

Kudos, Mr. Housewright, for a great chase to discover truth!

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Okay, just Wow. I wasn't expecting a lot from this book but I decided to try it because there aren't that many books set in South Dakota and even fewer of them are mysteries. Housewright has a reputation for writing more "thriller" type books than traditional or cozy mysteries which are my preferred mystery type. Always nice to find the stereotype isn't really true, at least for this book. Yes, there are several bodies and several fights but it wasn't graphic and I ended up loving the book.

The book opens with Rushmore McKenzie of St. Paul, MN being kidnapped and taken to Libbie, SD. From that point things start getting weird and McKenzie has to figure it all out.

Housewright nails the demographics and attitudes of small towns, those that are struggling to survive while the children and young adults all move to the cities.

Great story, very good at background and I liked the characters. Fun stuff.

Now, I have to go back and read the earlier books in the series. Yes, I broke one of my rules, I read a series out of order, and I knew I was doing it -- but like I said, I wasn't sure I would like the book. Housewright sure fooled me.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started out getting your attention and keeping it throughout. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. Will read more by this author.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Housewright is the third most dependable mystery authors after John Sandford and Lee Child. Unlike Child's wandering Jack Reacher, Housewright's McKenzie is rooted in the same Minnesota territory as Sandford's Lucas Davenport.

Housewright writes with a bit more humor than both Sandford and Child but his stories are no less compelling. With a large bank account and a penchant for kitchen gadgets, McKenzie is drawn to trouble in the spirit of helping those who can't necessarily help themselves. He pays the price, of course, but he always comes out okay in the end.

The Taking of Libbie, SD, finds McKenzie pounding the small streets of small town South Dakota looking to right the wrongs done to an entire town. This smaller setting is perfect for McKenzie and Housewright but it's fraught with peril that McKenzie deftly handles.

Housewright isn't a household name but deserves to be included with Sandford and Child. Give this one a shot.

[Rhonda Gilliland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read on Facebook Isn't Once upon a time better than the end? I read this book in 2 days and I couldn't wait til the end. My eyes were red and bugging out by the time I finished. Every book with McKenzie gets better, and Yes, I'm reading them in order. Only House can have you on the edge of your seat about a small town in S.D. The character's were fantastic and I love the twist on how there are so many beautiful women here. I love these stories because I always learn so much, historical and everything else. I now don't say it's my favorite, because it always seems that it's the one I'm reading at the time.

[Ronalee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoying this series.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love David Housewright, and I'm unable to put any of his books down (give it a try yourself). In this one main character Mac MacKenzie is kidnapped in the first chapter and dragged to Libbie, S.D., where someone else using his name has tried to defraud the town. Despite his anger at being kidnapped (and who can blame him) white knight Mac still decides to help the town fathers of Libbie what happened to his namesake, who he calls the "Imposter". As usual all the sidebar characters are as vividly drawn as the first one. Finding all of Housewright's books may be diffisult, but well worth the effort. This one bears a passing resemblance to Hammett's RED HARVEST, though the body count isn't as high.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Housewright sent McKenzie off in a new direction--literally. And, that opening would have been the closing in any other mystery. Nice twist. Housewright's knowledge and sensitivity about the dying small towns of Middle America echoed my own knowledge based on Iowa small towns. The desperation can make townspeople susceptible to shysters and flim-flam men (Heard about those??) and their big plans to save the way of life in the small burbs scattered throughout the territory. Again, the author's knowledge and sensitivity was especially poignant and dangerous in his stranding of McKenzie in the "inland desert" of the upper plains, its plants and animals, its endless vistas without landmarks. Out here we're trying to find some landmarks to hang onto and sustain life.

[Fran · Rating 3 out of 5]

Someone gave me this book because it has SD in the title and mostly takes place in a small South Dakota town. It is a Mike Hammer kind of mystery/crime thriller with the main male character leering at every female character (but, thankfully, not acting on those thoughts), and the author providing his inner dialogue (or voice, as he annoyingly repeats). For this kind of story and writing, the book read quickly with several beyond belief capers and scrapes and piling up even more in the last few chapters for a wild finish. Overall the depiction of small town, rural western SD wasn't horrible, but someone that had been shot in the Faith area would not be transported to a hospital in Aberdeen, and I also don't know of any Pierre Area radio stations that broadcast that far, either.

[Adam Haan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In South Dakota, people mean what they say and say what they mean. That can be refreshing at times. The corruption of a small fictional town – Libbie – and an elaborate case of identity fraud is the story behind this great book by David Housewright. The main character is kidnapped from St. Paul and brought to Libbie. But the people of that small town have never before met anyone like Rushmore McKinzie. This retired cop, now a millionaire, has smarts, a short temper and intense resolve. This is one of those books you could rip through during a rainy weekend. I’ve never read this author before but now I’ll add him to my list of great mystery writers from Minnesota.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is taking off great! mckinzie is kidnapped out of his bed at home and taken to libbie sd. it was a case of mistaken id, some one cheated the town using his name. he has to investigate to find out who did it it.

he met a lot of pretty women in the town but was not tempted to cheat on nina his girlfriend. a few good people got killed, one house caught on fire due to the town bully, he got revenge and the bully was put away as were other bad guys

the guy that was the 'imposter' was hit and killed by a car, the driver is in prison now

the 2 that kidnapped him were only told never to come to the state again, i thought for sure he would do more to them...

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Housewright, being from Minnesota, knows a thing or two about South Dakota. He creates a believable fictitious SD town in the form of Libbie, populates it with believable types, and puts Rushmore McKenzie into more than one life-threatening sotuation. McKenzie is one of those wise-cracking private investigator/ex-cop types, but he grows on you throughout the seven novels in which he appears. Housewright also makes some astute observations about the future of the small towns on the Great Plains, ones rooted in a sad reality.

[Su · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is certainly no book for the ages, but it is an enjoyable quirky mystery that takes place in an even quirkier South Dakota prairie town. The writer uses a lighthanded approach to his story and although it incorportates kidnapping, murder, revenge and remorse it never seems violent or overdone. It was a pleasant surprise to discover the author was a Minnesotan and he mentions many of the state's familiar landmarks. He evens throws in a small reference to our neighboring town of Fulda here in southwest Minnesota. Probably their only claim to fame!

[Papalodge · Rating 4 out of 5]

McKenzie is an enjoyable funny character, his inner voice is often funnier. "How do you know it's morning?" The sun is rising... "How do you know it isn't setting?"
Most of the characters are not whom they seem to be. Not that they are all liars.
Spoiler alert - page 230.

[Fred Limberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of this guy. I thought he reached a bit with this book, taking such an interest in the goings on in the town, but that's just the way his character, Mac Mckenzie is. A very enjoyable waste of time, which is what a well written thriller should be.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Housewright continues to entertain and delight with this seventh offering in his Rushmore McKenzie series set in the Twin Cities.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Always fun to read a book with familiar references.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read one of Housewright's books, I am wowed once again by his skill. He really should be a household name. If you haven't read him, it's time you started.

[Kevin Bokay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good quick read. Detective novel. Author from Minnesota.

[Kathleen Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it, it wasn't Grapes of Wrath but a nice enjoyable quick read, it's nice to recognize the locations

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doug-Rushmore McKenzie, a retired Mpls. cop, is kidnapped and taken to Libbie, SD. However, the kidnapping is a case of mistaken identity. The con man using McKenzie's name scammed the town.

[Nolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

By now, many, perhaps even most of us, have dealt with one form of identity theft or another. But what if the identity theft is far worse than what many of us experience?

Two thugs yank Rushmore (Mac) McKenzie out of bed early one morning, lock him in a trunk, and drive him across state lines to Libbie, South Dakota where he finds himself facing angry people. They believe he has fiscally raped the town’s private citizens as well as its public coffers. He’s not there long before he is in some nasty fights, and the locals face the reality that a man claiming to be Rushmore McKenzie isn’t the guy the thugs brought from the twin cities. McKenzie insists he’ll find out who the imposter is and bring the guy to justice if he’s alive.

This is highly entertaining and suspenseful. Women brazenly offer themselves to McKenzie on a regular basis in town, but his heart remains true to Nina who owns a bar in Minneapolis and loves the same kind of music Mac loves.

There’s a scene in which Mac nearly loses his life, and the author’s descriptions of the vastness of the prairie are beyond merely vivid. Those pages will long stay with me in memory, and I recommend this to you so you can experience that scene if for no other reason.

I enjoyed this on a leisurely Thursday evening of reading, and I’m convinced you don’t need to have read the previous books in the series to relish this. Granted, it helps a little both because you better know Mac McKenzie and because those are solidly good books. But it’s not strictly necessary.

[Kimberly Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow... The book begins with McKenzie's door being broken down, him being tazered, dumped in the trunk of a car by 2 thugs & him waking up in Libbie S.D. with a group of people trying to figure out who he is & why he is not the Rushmore "Rush" McKenzie that they know.

The Rush that they know scammed the town into believing he was going to build a mall just outside of town with their $$$$ and disappearing along with their investment.

The town is dying the women are beautiful, & the men are assholes.

When the Sheriff realizes that McKenzie is not the man who was using his name or scammed the town, the Sheriff asks McKenzie to help recover the lost money.

Now here's the thing, there had to have been an insider helping... who else knew the password to the escrow account?

There is the town bully who likes to set peoples property on fire, but who is bested by McKenzie, but doesn't learn his lesson..

There are all the beautiful lonely women in the town who all look for love in all the wrong places.

There are the men who run the town who all seem to be assholes, with the exception of the City & County Sheriff.

Then there is the fire & the double murder... as well as McKenzie again being drugged, stripped, beaten, & dropped off nearly naked in the middle of the plains of Montana.

Lots of action, no lack of assholes & once again McKenzie saves everyone's bacon.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third in this series I’ve read, and I’m starting to sense a common thread. They each have a general theme about midwestern life, each different and each well researched. One involved the gangster haven of 1930s St Paul, one dealt with starting a new business in the food industry, and this one accurately depicted the slow death spiral of small towns on the prairie. It also starts with a bang as the hero is abruptly kidnapped on the first page. There are several murders, one of which I definitely did not see coming, and a plot so complicated that when I was satisfied with the finish, the author reminded me that there was still an important mystery to solve, one I had forgotten. As usual with this series, believable characters, humor, some snappy dialogue, and some serious (not gratuitous) violence.

[Dick Aichinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

McKenzie is kidnapped from his bed. He is thrown into the trunk of a car wearing only the boxers he was sleeping in. After one transfer to another car, he is driven a very long way. How far? He would have no idea until he reached the destination, if he survived the ride in the hot trunk without water or the ability to stretch his large frame.

After determining the wrong man was kidnapped, his insistence for answers reveals a very strange case indeed. Reluctantly, and only to repair his reputation, he agrees to assist in the case. And, again, if her survives.

As in other McKenzie stories, this one has enough twists and potential suspects to keep you reading and guessing.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a historical incident ... Which is probably why there are so many named characters, which is why I sometimes lost track of who was doing or had done what ... But I do enjoy reading Housewright's stories. He has a sly sense of humor and a clear way of describing action. There's a scene in this book where somebody is lost on the prairie for a couple of days that eloquently describes the beauty of day passing into night and harrowingly describes the body's and mind's slow deceleration under stress.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Rushmore McKenzie story (the 7th) starts out with a bang (literally) and never stops. I read it in two days.

McKenzie ends up in Libbie, SD in a case of mistaken identity. A grifter using McKenzie's name scams the town into believing he's going to build an outlet mall there - then he takes their money and runs. McKenzie feels obligated to find the con man and clear his good name. I loved the small town setting and the characters (self-important mayor, asshole sherrif, cheating spouses, town bully, bored teens) and not knowing who to trust. What fun!

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

With how this one started out, I had no doubt that McKenzie would find out a way to figure out what was going on in Libbie. First there was the use of his name, then there was how he arrived in Libbie. No way was that going to go unavenged. For a small town, Libbie was filled with lots of morally dubious people. It was fun to see McKenzie expose all of their secrets and provide his own payback for those that wronged him along the way. I especially like the last act at the town meeting, it was classic McKenzie.

[M. Sprouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful series. This one is a tenacious mystery. McKenzie is kidnapped and taken to Libbie, SD where an imposter had taken his idenjusttity and the town's money. The whodunit is good, but just a little overdone. At the end the mystery is just a little hard to believe. Still the novel moves at a good pace, and is generally well written. McKenzie is a likeable character, but seems a little full of himself in this one.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

My least favorite in this series. I was surprised that McKenzie torched Miller's house and car. And, although Miller had it coming, in spades, I just didn't think McKenzie would step so far out of bounds. Also, when McKenzie found himself in the desert and wondered why he could not see any track marks, indicating a way out for him, why didn't the author explain the lack of track marks? Did they dump him out of a plane?