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Mac McKenzie #22
Them Bones
A stolen dinosaur skull is at the center of a complex mystery laid at the feet of unofficial P.I. Rushmore McKenzie.
There are two things that Rushmore McKenzie hates to turn down—a request from a friend and a challenge. Both of them show up in his wife's nightclub in the person of Angela Bjork, who has come to request McKenzie's help. McKenzie, once a homicide detective, now through a series of unlikely events, is a retired millionaire. But occasionally, for friends, he will do some unofficial private detective work. Over the years, he's hunted down a stolen Stradivarius, the hoard of 1930's gangster, and recovered a stolen, apparently cursed, artifact but McKenzie never imagined a case like this. An exceedingly rare dinosaur skull has been stolen.
Angela, a doctoral candidate, was out on a dig site in Southeastern Montana, when she found a skeleton of an Ankylosaurus. And no sooner than when the skull was removed and placed on a truck then they were attacked, the truck and skull stolen. Worried that nothing is being done to find the stolen skull, she turns to McKenzie. Worth millions on the black market, the chance to recover it becomes fainter by the day. And the people behind the theft are likely willing to do anything, to anyone, to hold onto it.
There are two things that Rushmore McKenzie hates to turn down—a request from a friend and a challenge. Both of them show up in his wife's nightclub in the person of Angela Bjork, who has come to request McKenzie's help. McKenzie, once a homicide detective, now through a series of unlikely events, is a retired millionaire. But occasionally, for friends, he will do some unofficial private detective work. Over the years, he's hunted down a stolen Stradivarius, the hoard of 1930's gangster, and recovered a stolen, apparently cursed, artifact but McKenzie never imagined a case like this. An exceedingly rare dinosaur skull has been stolen.
Angela, a doctoral candidate, was out on a dig site in Southeastern Montana, when she found a skeleton of an Ankylosaurus. And no sooner than when the skull was removed and placed on a truck then they were attacked, the truck and skull stolen. Worried that nothing is being done to find the stolen skull, she turns to McKenzie. Worth millions on the black market, the chance to recover it becomes fainter by the day. And the people behind the theft are likely willing to do anything, to anyone, to hold onto it.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published June 24, 2025
65 people are currently reading
3593 people want to read
About the author
David Housewright
65 books413 followersA 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
June 19, 2025
Mystery, science, and a theft are combined in David Housewright’s
Them Bones,
the twenty-second book in the Mac McKenzie series. When Angela Bjork shows up in McKenzie’s wife Nina’s jazz nightclub and asks for his help, he can’t turn her down. Angela, a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota, was on a dig in Southeastern Montana when she found a rare dinosaur skull. Near the end of August, they have it removed, protected, and loaded on a truck when they are attacked and the skull was stolen. Worried that the police aren’t doing anything to find it, she’s come to McKenzie for help.
McKenzie was a detective with the St. Paul, Minnesota police department until events made him a millionaire and he retired. However, he continues to take on unofficial private investigations for family, friends, and others. McKenzie exudes wit, charm, and the occasional sarcastic remark while investigating crimes. He has a code of ethics that he abides by and is a good investigator and listener. He tries to make the world a better place, but sometimes his actions can be considered more gray than white.
This book starts with a somewhat slow pace as Angela recounts her story for the first 24 per cent of the novel. However, I am interested in archaeology and paleontology so I enjoyed the science part of it as well as gaining an understanding of the various characters. What follows is then interviews with the various participants on the dig and discussions with the FBI and others as well as some action and the pace increased significantly in the last quarter of the book. I found it interesting that McKenzie’s internal dialogue is shown in italics so that the reader gets insight into his questions and thoughts.
The author weaves a tale involving science, friendship, relationships, theft, and much more that pulls readers in and keeps one engaged, especially during the last half of the story. Great world-building details add to the depth of the story. The plot is solid, absorbing, and intriguing and the information on paleontology added a layer of interest to it. There are clues along the way. Will you find them? The last chapter tied up the loose ends, but was all telling versus showing.
Overall, this is an engaging mystery with some suspense that has a few twists and turns, some humor, and great worldbuilding. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in McKenzie’s next investigation. This novel works as a standalone novel, but readers will get more background and backstories if they start with book one.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and David Housewright provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for June 24, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.59 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
McKenzie was a detective with the St. Paul, Minnesota police department until events made him a millionaire and he retired. However, he continues to take on unofficial private investigations for family, friends, and others. McKenzie exudes wit, charm, and the occasional sarcastic remark while investigating crimes. He has a code of ethics that he abides by and is a good investigator and listener. He tries to make the world a better place, but sometimes his actions can be considered more gray than white.
This book starts with a somewhat slow pace as Angela recounts her story for the first 24 per cent of the novel. However, I am interested in archaeology and paleontology so I enjoyed the science part of it as well as gaining an understanding of the various characters. What follows is then interviews with the various participants on the dig and discussions with the FBI and others as well as some action and the pace increased significantly in the last quarter of the book. I found it interesting that McKenzie’s internal dialogue is shown in italics so that the reader gets insight into his questions and thoughts.
The author weaves a tale involving science, friendship, relationships, theft, and much more that pulls readers in and keeps one engaged, especially during the last half of the story. Great world-building details add to the depth of the story. The plot is solid, absorbing, and intriguing and the information on paleontology added a layer of interest to it. There are clues along the way. Will you find them? The last chapter tied up the loose ends, but was all telling versus showing.
Overall, this is an engaging mystery with some suspense that has a few twists and turns, some humor, and great worldbuilding. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in McKenzie’s next investigation. This novel works as a standalone novel, but readers will get more background and backstories if they start with book one.
St. Martin’s Press – Minotaur Books and David Housewright provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for June 24, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.59 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.
April 10, 2025
More than anything, this book reminded me of Vance’s J.P. Beaumont series.Both McKenzie and Beaumont are former law enforcement that became PIs after they were bestowed with massive amounts of wealth. They retain their law enforcement sensibilities of ‘white knights,’ as well as a multitude of formal and informal contacts to help them out (no need to pick locks or threaten to break kneecaps).
This was my first McKenzie, and it was decent. Not exciting, honestly, but also not bad. It was a mystery to pass the time. Since there are 21 books in the series, I am a little surprised I haven’t run into McKenzie before, but that’s probably because I gravitate towards the female PIs and the classics. McKenzie operates out of Minneapolis, which is unusual–PIs are supposed to be from gritty, dirty places like Chicago, Detroit and New York. Perhaps because of that, I was struck the way everyone was so nice. Midwestern nice–it’s a thing.
The story is decently told. The tone reminded me of a wry Spencer (Robert B. Parker), with far more description. Say then, earlier Spencer, less sexism, no Hawk. Dry observations, a concern for masculine identity, a few one-liners; mostly McKenzie keeps his own council and tells the rest of us what is going on later. The premise allows the reader to learn along with McKenzie:
“Professor, please explain it to me like I’m a geology major and all I know about dinosaurs is what I saw in Jurassic Park.”
McKenzie ends up reaching out to multiple law enforcement contacts to solve this unusual case of missing dinosaur bones, and some of the more enjoyable dialogue comes from those interactions, particularly Detective Jean Shipman. They give him access to all that official information without having to hack computers or similarly annoying conventions.
“I took another bite of donut while Shipman thought it over.
‘I’m listening, but just barely,’ she said.”
Overall, it was interesting with a steady enough pace to keep me entertained. There’s some wordiness that seems excessive and bothersome. McKenzie is a bit of a Mary Stu, which generally doesn’t bother me. If it was in large print, this is definitely one I’d suggest to my mom. I’d pick up a book in this series again if I was in the mood for a gentle mystery-thriller that avoided the horrific parts of the genre.
Thank you to St. Martin’s and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy. Obviously, all opinions my own. Quotes subject to change in the final printing.
This was my first McKenzie, and it was decent. Not exciting, honestly, but also not bad. It was a mystery to pass the time. Since there are 21 books in the series, I am a little surprised I haven’t run into McKenzie before, but that’s probably because I gravitate towards the female PIs and the classics. McKenzie operates out of Minneapolis, which is unusual–PIs are supposed to be from gritty, dirty places like Chicago, Detroit and New York. Perhaps because of that, I was struck the way everyone was so nice. Midwestern nice–it’s a thing.
The story is decently told. The tone reminded me of a wry Spencer (Robert B. Parker), with far more description. Say then, earlier Spencer, less sexism, no Hawk. Dry observations, a concern for masculine identity, a few one-liners; mostly McKenzie keeps his own council and tells the rest of us what is going on later. The premise allows the reader to learn along with McKenzie:
“Professor, please explain it to me like I’m a geology major and all I know about dinosaurs is what I saw in Jurassic Park.”
McKenzie ends up reaching out to multiple law enforcement contacts to solve this unusual case of missing dinosaur bones, and some of the more enjoyable dialogue comes from those interactions, particularly Detective Jean Shipman. They give him access to all that official information without having to hack computers or similarly annoying conventions.
“I took another bite of donut while Shipman thought it over.
‘I’m listening, but just barely,’ she said.”
Overall, it was interesting with a steady enough pace to keep me entertained. There’s some wordiness that seems excessive and bothersome. McKenzie is a bit of a Mary Stu, which generally doesn’t bother me. If it was in large print, this is definitely one I’d suggest to my mom. I’d pick up a book in this series again if I was in the mood for a gentle mystery-thriller that avoided the horrific parts of the genre.
Thank you to St. Martin’s and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy. Obviously, all opinions my own. Quotes subject to change in the final printing.
June 26, 2025
3.5 Stars
One Liner: This was rather interesting!
PI (and former homicide detective) Rushmore McKenzie can’t turn down a challenge or say no to a friend. So, when both occur in the form of Angela Bjork, he cannot resist.
Angela is a doctoral candidate working on a dig site in Southeastern Montana where she found the bones of a dinosaur (Ankylosaurus). Soon, they were attacked, and the skull was stolen. Worried about the lack of action, Angela turns to McKenzie for help.
The story comes in McKenzie’s first-person POV with some parts in an omnipresent third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Yo! That’s me jumping straight to the twenty-second book in a series because I got a widget for it. To be fair, the blurb said dinosaur bones. Not that I know my dinosaurs, but I loved Jurassic Park as a kid, so… yeah! *shrugs*
Though the book is a mystery/ thriller/ suspense, it seems closer to the cozy border than the hardcore stuff. Luckily, cozy is right in my zone.
The book starts with McKenzie’s first-person POV. His voice is pretty fun to read with a good dose of self-deprecating humor and some quirky one-liners. The shift to third-person POV when Angela narrates the event caught me off guard, but once I figured it out, it was easy to follow the rest.
Naturally, I missed a lot of backstory, but it wasn't hard to follow the details. I went with the flow and could get the hang of things soon enough. That said, his age is revealed after 50%, and that was a surprise. I added 8-10 years to his actual age based on the narrative style. Imagine my surprise when McKenzie is less than 50!
There’s a lot of detail about digs, dinosaur bones, the setting, etc. I liked the topic, so it was entertaining and informative. It also covers quite a few topics, like the other side of academia, the smuggling/ black market of artifacts and ‘exotic’ items, interpersonal relationships, etc.
Of course, there is some danger, but it seems like McKenzie is very good at what he does. So, essentially, this is a low-stakes thriller where danger is present but easily handled. Kinda like your Tollywood hero who can bash a dozen bulky goons without breaking into a sweat.
The pacing is a bit on the slower side. I wasn’t bored, which is a good sign. Will I go back and read the previous books? Not likely. Will I read the next book if given a copy? Yeah, I will.
Oh, like McKenzie, I learned of the word zaddy in this one. As you can guess, he was rather tickled by the term, lol.
To summarize, Them Bones is an entertaining read, I would call a borderline cozy thriller (is that even a genre?) with some intrigue, action, and drama. The lighthearted narrative may not work if you want something dark, but it does a good job if you want a nice little mystery to keep you occupied for a while.
Thank you, Ana Couto, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
One Liner: This was rather interesting!
PI (and former homicide detective) Rushmore McKenzie can’t turn down a challenge or say no to a friend. So, when both occur in the form of Angela Bjork, he cannot resist.
Angela is a doctoral candidate working on a dig site in Southeastern Montana where she found the bones of a dinosaur (Ankylosaurus). Soon, they were attacked, and the skull was stolen. Worried about the lack of action, Angela turns to McKenzie for help.
The story comes in McKenzie’s first-person POV with some parts in an omnipresent third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
Yo! That’s me jumping straight to the twenty-second book in a series because I got a widget for it. To be fair, the blurb said dinosaur bones. Not that I know my dinosaurs, but I loved Jurassic Park as a kid, so… yeah! *shrugs*
Though the book is a mystery/ thriller/ suspense, it seems closer to the cozy border than the hardcore stuff. Luckily, cozy is right in my zone.
The book starts with McKenzie’s first-person POV. His voice is pretty fun to read with a good dose of self-deprecating humor and some quirky one-liners. The shift to third-person POV when Angela narrates the event caught me off guard, but once I figured it out, it was easy to follow the rest.
Naturally, I missed a lot of backstory, but it wasn't hard to follow the details. I went with the flow and could get the hang of things soon enough. That said, his age is revealed after 50%, and that was a surprise. I added 8-10 years to his actual age based on the narrative style. Imagine my surprise when McKenzie is less than 50!
There’s a lot of detail about digs, dinosaur bones, the setting, etc. I liked the topic, so it was entertaining and informative. It also covers quite a few topics, like the other side of academia, the smuggling/ black market of artifacts and ‘exotic’ items, interpersonal relationships, etc.
Of course, there is some danger, but it seems like McKenzie is very good at what he does. So, essentially, this is a low-stakes thriller where danger is present but easily handled. Kinda like your Tollywood hero who can bash a dozen bulky goons without breaking into a sweat.
The pacing is a bit on the slower side. I wasn’t bored, which is a good sign. Will I go back and read the previous books? Not likely. Will I read the next book if given a copy? Yeah, I will.
Oh, like McKenzie, I learned of the word zaddy in this one. As you can guess, he was rather tickled by the term, lol.
To summarize, Them Bones is an entertaining read, I would call a borderline cozy thriller (is that even a genre?) with some intrigue, action, and drama. The lighthearted narrative may not work if you want something dark, but it does a good job if you want a nice little mystery to keep you occupied for a while.
Thank you, Ana Couto, NetGalley, and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley
June 24, 2025
This is a well-written, entertaining, fast paced mystery novel. It has a likable, intelligent male protagonist, engaging secondary characters, wit, a touch of humor, paleontology, twists and turns, and a satisfying conclusion. This is the twenty-second novel in this series, and it can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone. The mention of other cases which McKenzie has solved has piqued my interest in reading these stories. Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Mr. David Housewright, who provided me with an advanced reader copy of this fantastic novel. This is my honest opinion.
June 28, 2025
A stolen dinosaur skull is at the center of a complex mystery laid at the feet of unofficial Private Investigator Rushmore McKenzie. On an archeological dig in Southeastern Montana, McKenzie's friend Angela Bjork unearths an Ankylosaurus skeleton but before it can be transported to the Science Museum of Minnesota, the skull is stolen.
Do not ask me why a person would jump at the chance to read #22 in a series by an author they've never heard of! Obviously I have a problem. Maybe it's the dinosaur theme which brings back memories of when my son was a dinosaur-obsessed 4-year-old and was able to pronounce names like stegosaurus, diplodocus, triceratops, etc.
Having said all that, I enjoyed this story and didn't feel lost for not reading the first 21 books. I assume I've missed a lot of McKenzie's background and exploits but this book fared well as a standalone. There are many threads to the story and it takes place at various interesting locations so that it held my attention all the way through. McKenzie's an amusing, likeable character although at first I thought he must be a much older man, rather than the 47-year-old he is. Some of the story takes place in Canada - Toronto and Niagara Falls Ontario, both of which I've visited, as well as Regina Saskatchewan - so that was a bonus. I'd definitely read another book in this series.
Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing, via Netgalley, for inviting me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
Do not ask me why a person would jump at the chance to read #22 in a series by an author they've never heard of! Obviously I have a problem. Maybe it's the dinosaur theme which brings back memories of when my son was a dinosaur-obsessed 4-year-old and was able to pronounce names like stegosaurus, diplodocus, triceratops, etc.
Having said all that, I enjoyed this story and didn't feel lost for not reading the first 21 books. I assume I've missed a lot of McKenzie's background and exploits but this book fared well as a standalone. There are many threads to the story and it takes place at various interesting locations so that it held my attention all the way through. McKenzie's an amusing, likeable character although at first I thought he must be a much older man, rather than the 47-year-old he is. Some of the story takes place in Canada - Toronto and Niagara Falls Ontario, both of which I've visited, as well as Regina Saskatchewan - so that was a bonus. I'd definitely read another book in this series.
Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing, via Netgalley, for inviting me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: June 24, 2025
February 18, 2025
This was my first introduction to this author and I was impressed by the importance he places on setting. I could almost feel the oppressive heat, was aware of my inner drive to drink water, and more than once felt like my arms and legs were covered in sand and dirt from excavating. Providing readers with enough detail to help them visualize the setting without burdening them with unnecessary detail isn’t easy, but David Houseright has struck a perfect balance.
I was also impressed by his captivating narrative which beautifully captures the passion paleontologists have for their work and their groundbreaking discoveries. I was unaware of the ethical dilemmas and political clashes that arise when ancient relics become a coveted commodity and eagerly turned pages as battle lines were drawn over the ownership of a rare skeleton. Houseright reeled me right in with this intriguing premise and I was soon Googling plaster jacketing and trying to authenticate the ‘lick test’ for bones!
Rushmore McKenzie was a fascinating male main character and I can see why this series is so popular.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
I was also impressed by his captivating narrative which beautifully captures the passion paleontologists have for their work and their groundbreaking discoveries. I was unaware of the ethical dilemmas and political clashes that arise when ancient relics become a coveted commodity and eagerly turned pages as battle lines were drawn over the ownership of a rare skeleton. Houseright reeled me right in with this intriguing premise and I was soon Googling plaster jacketing and trying to authenticate the ‘lick test’ for bones!
Rushmore McKenzie was a fascinating male main character and I can see why this series is so popular.
I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
April 17, 2025
First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, David Housewright, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.
I was on a series binge after procuring an ARC of this latest novel, and what a ride those 21 books have been. I learned so much and let David Housewright explore the life of Mac ‘Rushmore’ McKenzie, an amateur private investigator from St. Paul, Minnesota who is always eager to help those close to him. He's had many adventures, but when Mac is asked to help locate a stolen dinosaur skull, this is certainly new. Mac pushes to all corners of the investigation and asks all the poignant questions, while trying to stay alive long enough to complete his task. Housewright spins a story like few others and shows his abilities once more.
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 as an unlicensed PI and helping those worth his while. Even though Mac has officially retired (multiple times), he lives for a challenge. He's found stolen musical instruments, rare pieces of art, and even located a lost pile of gold, but when Angela Bjork walks in to see him, the challenge bar will be set to a new level.
While out on an archeological dig site in Montana, Angela and her crew discovered the skeleton of an Ankylosaurus, a rare dinosaur find. This is a formidable find, but it has to be cleaned and registered, so the skull is loaded into a flatbed truck and sent on its way. During the drive, someone ambushes the group, steals the truck, and makes off with the skull. Angela is beside herself, not only because her find has been snatched, but she knows that the Ankylosaurus could fetch millions on the black market, should it fall into the wrong hands. Enter Mac McKenzie and his sleuthing abilities.
It's been a month and Mac is already behind the eight ball. He does whatever he can to poke around and try to locate some answers, but finds that he is stymied, not only by others on the dig, but by insurance red tape. He pushes to gather a lead or two, which takes him down one of those paths he likes to follow, communicating with others, but never fully handing over the reins. Now, Mac has an idea, but he is also sure that whomever is in possession of the Ankylosaurus skull will do whatever it takes to ensure no one survives trying to get it back. Housewright delves into new areas to deliver this great piece of work.
I wanted some context and so binge read the entire collection before tackling this book. Housewright develops a narrative that works well and keeps the story moving throughout. He addresses many of the past cases and capers throughout, which creates a sense of pulling it all together. Chapters push the story forward, while offering some key insights, again productive for series fans. Characters work well to provide flavouring for the reader. There is also a sense of remembrance, as many characters from the various books in the series who return for at least a cameo. The plot builds with each chapter and scenario, feeding into the larger themes and excites the series fan who has been patiently waiting for this book. David Housewright has me hooked and I will be waiting for more!
Kudos, Mr. Housewright, for a great addition to an already strong series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I was on a series binge after procuring an ARC of this latest novel, and what a ride those 21 books have been. I learned so much and let David Housewright explore the life of Mac ‘Rushmore’ McKenzie, an amateur private investigator from St. Paul, Minnesota who is always eager to help those close to him. He's had many adventures, but when Mac is asked to help locate a stolen dinosaur skull, this is certainly new. Mac pushes to all corners of the investigation and asks all the poignant questions, while trying to stay alive long enough to complete his task. Housewright spins a story like few others and shows his abilities once more.
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 as an unlicensed PI and helping those worth his while. Even though Mac has officially retired (multiple times), he lives for a challenge. He's found stolen musical instruments, rare pieces of art, and even located a lost pile of gold, but when Angela Bjork walks in to see him, the challenge bar will be set to a new level.
While out on an archeological dig site in Montana, Angela and her crew discovered the skeleton of an Ankylosaurus, a rare dinosaur find. This is a formidable find, but it has to be cleaned and registered, so the skull is loaded into a flatbed truck and sent on its way. During the drive, someone ambushes the group, steals the truck, and makes off with the skull. Angela is beside herself, not only because her find has been snatched, but she knows that the Ankylosaurus could fetch millions on the black market, should it fall into the wrong hands. Enter Mac McKenzie and his sleuthing abilities.
It's been a month and Mac is already behind the eight ball. He does whatever he can to poke around and try to locate some answers, but finds that he is stymied, not only by others on the dig, but by insurance red tape. He pushes to gather a lead or two, which takes him down one of those paths he likes to follow, communicating with others, but never fully handing over the reins. Now, Mac has an idea, but he is also sure that whomever is in possession of the Ankylosaurus skull will do whatever it takes to ensure no one survives trying to get it back. Housewright delves into new areas to deliver this great piece of work.
I wanted some context and so binge read the entire collection before tackling this book. Housewright develops a narrative that works well and keeps the story moving throughout. He addresses many of the past cases and capers throughout, which creates a sense of pulling it all together. Chapters push the story forward, while offering some key insights, again productive for series fans. Characters work well to provide flavouring for the reader. There is also a sense of remembrance, as many characters from the various books in the series who return for at least a cameo. The plot builds with each chapter and scenario, feeding into the larger themes and excites the series fan who has been patiently waiting for this book. David Housewright has me hooked and I will be waiting for more!
Kudos, Mr. Housewright, for a great addition to an already strong series.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
June 19, 2025
⭐⭐.5
Pre-Read Notes:
This is another time when I picked a book by its title and cover, so color me surprised that this is a dinosaur story of sorts!
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I never like when authors are preoccupied with food in their books. One detailed description of characters eating goes a long way. Also the book is primary composed of dialog. For me dialog feels like marshmallow fluff when I want the meal of a story. Something needs to carry all those characters' words, story scaffolding, if you will.
It wasn't that I didn't like the story, because I did like it. A mystery involving dinosaur bones? That's my kind of mystery, not a cozy one but a science one. But I just do not get along with the style here. I really couldn't connect, I usually can't when I find the style inaccessible.
So it was only okay for me. But I do think other readers will really enjoy it. I recommend this one to readers who love mysteries and archeology.
My Favorite Thing:
✔️ The mystery in this book surrounds the theft of an invaluable dinosaur bone. I really enjoyed this mashup, dinosaurs and mystery, like Jurassic Park meets Indiana Jones.
Thank you to the author David Housewright, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THEM BONES. All views are mine.
Pre-Read Notes:
This is another time when I picked a book by its title and cover, so color me surprised that this is a dinosaur story of sorts!
Final Review
(thoughts & recs) I never like when authors are preoccupied with food in their books. One detailed description of characters eating goes a long way. Also the book is primary composed of dialog. For me dialog feels like marshmallow fluff when I want the meal of a story. Something needs to carry all those characters' words, story scaffolding, if you will.
It wasn't that I didn't like the story, because I did like it. A mystery involving dinosaur bones? That's my kind of mystery, not a cozy one but a science one. But I just do not get along with the style here. I really couldn't connect, I usually can't when I find the style inaccessible.
So it was only okay for me. But I do think other readers will really enjoy it. I recommend this one to readers who love mysteries and archeology.
My Favorite Thing:
✔️ The mystery in this book surrounds the theft of an invaluable dinosaur bone. I really enjoyed this mashup, dinosaurs and mystery, like Jurassic Park meets Indiana Jones.
Thank you to the author David Housewright, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an accessible digital arc of THEM BONES. All views are mine.
May 31, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 24, 2025
Unofficial P.I Rushmore McKenzie is once again asked to do a favour for a friend, and soon becomes embroiled in a smuggling operation where recovered dinosaur bones are being sold to the highest bidder in David Housewright’s twenty-second novel in the McKenzie series, “Them Bones”.
Doctoral candidate Angela Bjork is working with her team at a dig site in Montana when she makes the ultimate discovery, the complete skeleton of an Ankylosaurus. Although her team is vigilant, when the skeleton is being disassembled and packed for transport to the museum, the truck transporting the dinosaur’s skull is stolen, leaving one of Angela’s team members seriously injured. Angela decides to call on McKenzie to help investigate the disappearance as, once the skull makes it to the black market, Angela feels her discovery is gone for good. But it isn’t long before McKenzie realizes that the crime is starting to look like an inside job and turns to Angela and her team for answers.
McKenzie is not your average P.I., and although he’s been around for twenty-two novels, he and I only became acquainted in Housewright’s last novel, “Man in the Water”, but it feels like I’ve known him longer than that (in a good way). Housewright’s series are the type of books that you can jump right into, regardless of the order, and you’ll be able to keep up with the plot.
I adored the archaeological component of this novel, with all of the dinosaur bones and ancient relics, but with that came an exceptionally large number of characters to keep track of, from students at the dig site, to various professors and academics involved with the dig itself and two separate universities, along with the money behind the dig and the criminal components that always seem to be lurking where the money is. So, although the premise of this one was right up my alley, I struggled keeping track of the who’s-who.
“Bones” started off slow, as McKenzie meets up with Angela in a bar and he tells her all about the dig and goes into the specific details of the relationships between the main players. This section is written strangely, as well, as Angela is telling the story but somehow, McKenzie’s thoughts are interspersed throughout without clear indications, so it’s difficult to sort out at first. But once Housewright gives us the details, the rest of the plot is smooth sailing.
“Bones” is suspenseful, engaging and often hilarious, and I’m glad Housewright brought McKenzie back for another installment.
Expected publication date: June 24, 2025
Unofficial P.I Rushmore McKenzie is once again asked to do a favour for a friend, and soon becomes embroiled in a smuggling operation where recovered dinosaur bones are being sold to the highest bidder in David Housewright’s twenty-second novel in the McKenzie series, “Them Bones”.
Doctoral candidate Angela Bjork is working with her team at a dig site in Montana when she makes the ultimate discovery, the complete skeleton of an Ankylosaurus. Although her team is vigilant, when the skeleton is being disassembled and packed for transport to the museum, the truck transporting the dinosaur’s skull is stolen, leaving one of Angela’s team members seriously injured. Angela decides to call on McKenzie to help investigate the disappearance as, once the skull makes it to the black market, Angela feels her discovery is gone for good. But it isn’t long before McKenzie realizes that the crime is starting to look like an inside job and turns to Angela and her team for answers.
McKenzie is not your average P.I., and although he’s been around for twenty-two novels, he and I only became acquainted in Housewright’s last novel, “Man in the Water”, but it feels like I’ve known him longer than that (in a good way). Housewright’s series are the type of books that you can jump right into, regardless of the order, and you’ll be able to keep up with the plot.
I adored the archaeological component of this novel, with all of the dinosaur bones and ancient relics, but with that came an exceptionally large number of characters to keep track of, from students at the dig site, to various professors and academics involved with the dig itself and two separate universities, along with the money behind the dig and the criminal components that always seem to be lurking where the money is. So, although the premise of this one was right up my alley, I struggled keeping track of the who’s-who.
“Bones” started off slow, as McKenzie meets up with Angela in a bar and he tells her all about the dig and goes into the specific details of the relationships between the main players. This section is written strangely, as well, as Angela is telling the story but somehow, McKenzie’s thoughts are interspersed throughout without clear indications, so it’s difficult to sort out at first. But once Housewright gives us the details, the rest of the plot is smooth sailing.
“Bones” is suspenseful, engaging and often hilarious, and I’m glad Housewright brought McKenzie back for another installment.
December 10, 2025
"Dem bones Dem bones Dem dry bones, Hear the word of the Lord." This was a great introduction to David Housewright's McKenzie series. Jumping into book #22 was not hard to do; the story works well as a standalone. McKenzie, once a cop, now a P.I., is asked by his friend Angela to look into the theft of a dinosaur head from the Montana site where she and several others from the University of Minnesota have been working that summer. There is no lack of possible suspects which kept me guessing to the end. I really liked McKenzie, his desire to help people, and especially his 'inner voice' which speaks to him on several occasions. Quite amusing. I'm looking forward to reading many more of these books in the series now.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this mystery via NetGalley. My apologies for taking so long to get to it though. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this mystery via NetGalley. My apologies for taking so long to get to it though. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
June 7, 2025
David Housewright’s *Them Bones*, the 22nd book in his well-established series. It is a mystery that blends science, mystery and suspense. One of the highlights for me was the inclusion of scientific facts such as the bidding war between Nicholas Cage and Leonardo Di Caprio for a Tyrannosaurus skull, and how the T-Rex Sue came to reside at the Field Museum. These details not only added authenticity but also made the reading experience more engaging, especially for someone like me who enjoys it when authors base their plots in real-world knowledge.
Despite being the 22nd installment in a long-running series, I managed to read it with no prior knowledge of Housewright’s work, and I had no trouble following the plot or connecting with the characters. It is possible that the novel can be read as a standalone. However, I couldn’t help but feel that my enjoyment was tempered by my lack of familiarity with the long-standing characters. I felt that I was missing some context on everyone's relationship and I suspect I’d have gotten more out of the book if I’d known their backstories going in.
The pacing, moved along at a steady clip with just enough “breadcrumbs”—cleverly placed clues and plot points—to keep me going. However, I did find myself wishing for more excitement and drama -- a characteristic that I often crave for in a mystery/suspense novel. While the story unfolded smoothly, it lacked the high stakes or gripping twists that might have pushed it into more thrilling territory.
In the end, *Them Bones* is a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys a clue-driven mystery with a scientific edge. Its standalone readability makes it approachable for new readers, though series fans will likely appreciate it more with their built-in context. Three stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
Despite being the 22nd installment in a long-running series, I managed to read it with no prior knowledge of Housewright’s work, and I had no trouble following the plot or connecting with the characters. It is possible that the novel can be read as a standalone. However, I couldn’t help but feel that my enjoyment was tempered by my lack of familiarity with the long-standing characters. I felt that I was missing some context on everyone's relationship and I suspect I’d have gotten more out of the book if I’d known their backstories going in.
The pacing, moved along at a steady clip with just enough “breadcrumbs”—cleverly placed clues and plot points—to keep me going. However, I did find myself wishing for more excitement and drama -- a characteristic that I often crave for in a mystery/suspense novel. While the story unfolded smoothly, it lacked the high stakes or gripping twists that might have pushed it into more thrilling territory.
In the end, *Them Bones* is a worthwhile read for anyone who enjoys a clue-driven mystery with a scientific edge. Its standalone readability makes it approachable for new readers, though series fans will likely appreciate it more with their built-in context. Three stars.
I was invited to read a DRC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. This review is my own and reflects my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 26, 2025
Jumping into a series for the first time usually brings mixed emotions for me. If I like the book, I'm happy I found it but sad that I missed those that came before (in this case, 21 of them). The happy side, though, brings another plus: the book can stand alone well enough that I "got" it without feeling left out - otherwise I'd have been frustrated.
This book is one of the happy ones. And yes, I hope to meet up with private investigator Rushmore McKenzie again (and again). This story has extra appeal to me because it involves some real science and a missing dinosaur skeleton (well, not the whole animal, just the skull). I mean, who on earth knew there's a market for dinosaur heads?
The whole caper started as a return favor; some time ago, Angela Bjork saved McKenzie from almost certain death somewhere in the desert. Now, she's working on a Ph.D. in palentology. On an archeological dig in the Great Plains of Montana - where she rescued McKenzie - she unearthed an Ankhlosaurus fossil at the center of the story. Okay, not a critter I've ever even heard of. So other than for history's sake, why is it a story? Well, because somebody - or a couple of somebodies - made off with the skull that had been placed in a truck for transport to a museum.
Besides the historical significance, some estimates place its value in the millions, so getting it back (and hopefully in the process catching the thieves) is important - especially to Angela. So, she asks McKenzie to help. He agrees, and in turn taps some of his friends and a couple of acquaintences who owe him favors to join the investigation. Some of these folks, no doubt, I'd have appreciated more had I read previous installments, but not having done so really didn't impact my enthusiasm. The rest of the book follows the attempts to locate the skull and return it to its rightful owners. It's quite an undertaking, with more than a few twists and turns (not all in the right direction). Of course, how it all turns out is for me to know and encourage other readers to find out for themselves. Well done, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to discover a new, very enjoyable series by way of a pre-release copy.
This book is one of the happy ones. And yes, I hope to meet up with private investigator Rushmore McKenzie again (and again). This story has extra appeal to me because it involves some real science and a missing dinosaur skeleton (well, not the whole animal, just the skull). I mean, who on earth knew there's a market for dinosaur heads?
The whole caper started as a return favor; some time ago, Angela Bjork saved McKenzie from almost certain death somewhere in the desert. Now, she's working on a Ph.D. in palentology. On an archeological dig in the Great Plains of Montana - where she rescued McKenzie - she unearthed an Ankhlosaurus fossil at the center of the story. Okay, not a critter I've ever even heard of. So other than for history's sake, why is it a story? Well, because somebody - or a couple of somebodies - made off with the skull that had been placed in a truck for transport to a museum.
Besides the historical significance, some estimates place its value in the millions, so getting it back (and hopefully in the process catching the thieves) is important - especially to Angela. So, she asks McKenzie to help. He agrees, and in turn taps some of his friends and a couple of acquaintences who owe him favors to join the investigation. Some of these folks, no doubt, I'd have appreciated more had I read previous installments, but not having done so really didn't impact my enthusiasm. The rest of the book follows the attempts to locate the skull and return it to its rightful owners. It's quite an undertaking, with more than a few twists and turns (not all in the right direction). Of course, how it all turns out is for me to know and encourage other readers to find out for themselves. Well done, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to discover a new, very enjoyable series by way of a pre-release copy.
November 23, 2025
What a fun series this has been. Even though the subject mater, dinosaurs, is not something I’m really interested in, the book really kept my interest, which I’m sure is because I enjoy every one of the main characters: McKenzie, Nina, Bobby, and all the friends McKenzie brings into the books. I always laugh when McKenzies inner voice talks to him.
March 23, 2025
Them Bones is part of a long-running series that centers around Rushmore McKenzie, ex-homicide detective and sometime-private investigator. I hadn't read any of the other books, and I felt like there was crucial backstory I was missing. Judging by the other reviews at this time, I'm somewhat of an outlier, but this book was not for me. The dialogue felt very unnatural, and the pacing was slow. There's a character who the author repeatedly informs you is a Black paleontologist, who spouts random Black history facts for no good reason. At one point, gunshots are heard, and it's pointed out that he's heard shots before where he comes from (of course.) A main character is shocked because there are two Black men in the room in Montana (gasp!) Sigh. This just felt really unnecessary and added nothing to the story. I could go on, but suffice it to say, this book was not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
February 8, 2025
Rushmore McKenzie was a police detective until he left the force and collected a major reward in a case. Now a millionaire, McKenzie acts as an occasional private detective as a favor to friends. In this case, McKenzie is doing a favor for a friend who once saved his life. A dinosaur skull she discovered has been stolen. McKenzie agrees to try to find the skull and the thief.
I have read all of the books in the McKenzie series and love the character. It took me a bit to get into this one because it starts with the back story of the discovery and theft of the skull. It is important to know the players in the game, but when I read a book for the main character and it takes a bit for him to go into action it slows me down. Once McKenzie is on the case, the pace picks up and I was invested in the story. As usual, Housewright gives us an enjoyable ride with McKenzie as he uses his contacts from the police and the criminal world to get the job done.
I would recommend all of the McKenzie books to anyone who loves a good mystery.
I have read all of the books in the McKenzie series and love the character. It took me a bit to get into this one because it starts with the back story of the discovery and theft of the skull. It is important to know the players in the game, but when I read a book for the main character and it takes a bit for him to go into action it slows me down. Once McKenzie is on the case, the pace picks up and I was invested in the story. As usual, Housewright gives us an enjoyable ride with McKenzie as he uses his contacts from the police and the criminal world to get the job done.
I would recommend all of the McKenzie books to anyone who loves a good mystery.
June 15, 2025
McKenzie has appeared 21 times before, but this is the first I've heard of him or read of his exploits. Therefore, I don't know if the earlier episodes dealt with conventional thriller mechanisms or if he uses his platform to illuminate as well as entertain usually. I found myself immersed in the world of paleontology, taking internet sidetrips to learn about the fascinating Ankylosaurus, whose missing skull is at the center of the mystery here. Great fun, and I intend to look up his earlier work.
May 27, 2025
Them Bones by David Housewright is a fascinating look at the world of paleontology, the intrigue that can surround it, and the crime that sullies it. Along the way, the author subtly comments on friends who become family, and on obligations and the importance of keeping ones word.
The main character of Rushmore McKenzie is a unique one, as he doesn't need to investigate cases, but does so when asked by a friend to whom he feels he owes his help. His sense of obligation draws him into a case of stolen property, in the form of a dinosaur skull, and the investigation puts him into the orbit of some interesting characters, dangerous and otherwise.
While the story is a bit slow to start, it certainly grabs the readers' attention as the case becomes more complex and the suspects more plentiful. The search for 'Them Bones' takes him across state and country boundaries, and is a tense and suspenseful journey.
I had not read work by this author before, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which while a part of a series, stands on its own nicely.
Thank you for the ARC of #ThemBones to #NetGalley.
The main character of Rushmore McKenzie is a unique one, as he doesn't need to investigate cases, but does so when asked by a friend to whom he feels he owes his help. His sense of obligation draws him into a case of stolen property, in the form of a dinosaur skull, and the investigation puts him into the orbit of some interesting characters, dangerous and otherwise.
While the story is a bit slow to start, it certainly grabs the readers' attention as the case becomes more complex and the suspects more plentiful. The search for 'Them Bones' takes him across state and country boundaries, and is a tense and suspenseful journey.
I had not read work by this author before, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book, which while a part of a series, stands on its own nicely.
Thank you for the ARC of #ThemBones to #NetGalley.
October 21, 2025
A stolen dinosaur skull is at the center of a complex mystery laid at the feet of unofficial P.I. Rushmore McKenzie.
There are two things that Rushmore McKenzie hates to turn down - a request from a friend and a challenge. Both of them show up in his wife's nightclub in the person of Angela Bjork, who has come to request McKenzie's help. McKenzie, once a homicide detective, now through a series of unlikely events, is a retired millionaire. But occasionally, for friends, he will do some unofficial private detective work. Over the years, he's hunted down a stolen Stradivarius, the hoard of 1930's gangster, and recovered a stolen, apparently cursed, artifact but McKenzie never imagined a case like this. An exceedingly rare dinosaur skull has been stolen.
McKenzie is back with his wise cracks and easy approach to life. Friends are everything to him and if he can help with a problem, he does. This is a case spanning from a Montana dig site to Minnesota to Canada as he winds his way through possible suspects and motives.
A fun read.
There are two things that Rushmore McKenzie hates to turn down - a request from a friend and a challenge. Both of them show up in his wife's nightclub in the person of Angela Bjork, who has come to request McKenzie's help. McKenzie, once a homicide detective, now through a series of unlikely events, is a retired millionaire. But occasionally, for friends, he will do some unofficial private detective work. Over the years, he's hunted down a stolen Stradivarius, the hoard of 1930's gangster, and recovered a stolen, apparently cursed, artifact but McKenzie never imagined a case like this. An exceedingly rare dinosaur skull has been stolen.
McKenzie is back with his wise cracks and easy approach to life. Friends are everything to him and if he can help with a problem, he does. This is a case spanning from a Montana dig site to Minnesota to Canada as he winds his way through possible suspects and motives.
A fun read.
April 23, 2025
This is another novel in the McKenzie series and is the first one I have read (there are 22). While it works as a stand alone novel, reading the other books in the series will provide greater context to the main character and the group around him. That said, it is an engaging read which made it a fast read for me. It revolves around dinosaur bones stolen from a dig site.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my fiction book review blog.
I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my fiction book review blog.
June 2, 2025
McKenzie Novel #22
This is my first experience reading Mr. Housewright and reading this book way into the series was not a challenge but it did pique my curiosity to see what events brought us to this point.
Rushmore McKenzie, the main character, is a former law enforcement that became PI after he was bestowed with a massive amount of wealth. He retains a multitude of formal and informal contacts to help him. He operates out of Minneapolis.
The story in a few words:
It starts with the discovery and theft of a dinosaur skull uncovered at a digging site. This mystery laid at the feet of our PI. Two things McKenzie hates, to turn down a request from a friend and a challenge. The request came from Angela Bjor, a doctoral candidate, who was at the dig site in Montana. When the group she was with was attacked and the skeleton of an Ankylosaurus worth millions was stolen, time to take action and McKenzie was called……and the excitement began sending McKenzie eventually out of state and into Canada.
Is there no honor among thieves? Evidently, not when dinosaur skulls are involved.
My thoughts
After a slow start and a lot of Paleontology talk, the plot finally keeps a decent pace when McKenzie shows up and the narrative becomes active and keeps the story smooth sailing till the end. Yes, McKenzie brought the dinosaur home and we find out who the thefts are…all ends well.
They are multiple characters some from previous stories but the lack of details on them was unnecessary to enjoy the plot, they blended in without a hitch. One hick, omitting references to sport teams and their stadiums which took too much pace and didn’t bring any thing could have been skipped. But well done is how the author is adroit in introducing red herrings to keep us guessing and teasing us to figure out who could be complicit in the theft. I especially loved the vivid sense of place: dusty sites and all.
My thanks to St-Martin Press for this ARC which I received via Netgalley
This is my first experience reading Mr. Housewright and reading this book way into the series was not a challenge but it did pique my curiosity to see what events brought us to this point.
Rushmore McKenzie, the main character, is a former law enforcement that became PI after he was bestowed with a massive amount of wealth. He retains a multitude of formal and informal contacts to help him. He operates out of Minneapolis.
The story in a few words:
It starts with the discovery and theft of a dinosaur skull uncovered at a digging site. This mystery laid at the feet of our PI. Two things McKenzie hates, to turn down a request from a friend and a challenge. The request came from Angela Bjor, a doctoral candidate, who was at the dig site in Montana. When the group she was with was attacked and the skeleton of an Ankylosaurus worth millions was stolen, time to take action and McKenzie was called……and the excitement began sending McKenzie eventually out of state and into Canada.
Is there no honor among thieves? Evidently, not when dinosaur skulls are involved.
My thoughts
After a slow start and a lot of Paleontology talk, the plot finally keeps a decent pace when McKenzie shows up and the narrative becomes active and keeps the story smooth sailing till the end. Yes, McKenzie brought the dinosaur home and we find out who the thefts are…all ends well.
They are multiple characters some from previous stories but the lack of details on them was unnecessary to enjoy the plot, they blended in without a hitch. One hick, omitting references to sport teams and their stadiums which took too much pace and didn’t bring any thing could have been skipped. But well done is how the author is adroit in introducing red herrings to keep us guessing and teasing us to figure out who could be complicit in the theft. I especially loved the vivid sense of place: dusty sites and all.
My thanks to St-Martin Press for this ARC which I received via Netgalley
August 13, 2025
Rushmore McKenzie keeps going strong in THEM BONES, the 22nd entry in David Housewright's resiliant series. There are many more references to his age, but McKenzie can still get the job done in this story about a stolen dinosaur skull.
The back story to the eventual crime is compellingly introduced by a narrative from Rushmore's old friend, Angela Bjork, first introduced in 2010's THE TAKING OF LIBBIE, SD., now all grown up and a graduate student in paleontology at the University of Minnesota. Angela relates her time at a summer research camp in Montana to McKenzie and his wife Nina in a narration that encompasses the first quarter of this novel. The story includes Angela's discovery of a significant dinosaur fossil, her relationships with colleagues and students at the camp, and then the crime itself as the skull portion of the dinosaur is stolen in a midnight raid on the camp. In culmination, Angela asks McKenzie to investigate the current whereabouts of the dinosaur because law enforcement has dropped the ball.
The back story and the first stages of the investigation are the best portions of this book. After so many novels McKenzie is now a familiar and comfortable hero. It doesn't take long to get into the flow. In THEM BONES, many familiar characters return, some as serious partners in the plotline and others (see Victoria) as context and as ways to update readers on current status. It does help to be familiar with the series as a whole.
Once Heavenly Petryk reappears, though, and the action travels to Canada, the move toward a conclusion starts to challenge believability. The action becomes too contrived and too fantastic, though in the end the villains are not surprising. In AMERICAN GRAFFITI fashion, Housewright explains what happens to the major characters after the action-packed denouement. That is a nice touch, though it seems to me that at least one character literally gets away with murder. It cannot be an easy thing to keep a character fresh through so many books. Housewright manages to do that 22 books in.
The back story to the eventual crime is compellingly introduced by a narrative from Rushmore's old friend, Angela Bjork, first introduced in 2010's THE TAKING OF LIBBIE, SD., now all grown up and a graduate student in paleontology at the University of Minnesota. Angela relates her time at a summer research camp in Montana to McKenzie and his wife Nina in a narration that encompasses the first quarter of this novel. The story includes Angela's discovery of a significant dinosaur fossil, her relationships with colleagues and students at the camp, and then the crime itself as the skull portion of the dinosaur is stolen in a midnight raid on the camp. In culmination, Angela asks McKenzie to investigate the current whereabouts of the dinosaur because law enforcement has dropped the ball.
The back story and the first stages of the investigation are the best portions of this book. After so many novels McKenzie is now a familiar and comfortable hero. It doesn't take long to get into the flow. In THEM BONES, many familiar characters return, some as serious partners in the plotline and others (see Victoria) as context and as ways to update readers on current status. It does help to be familiar with the series as a whole.
Once Heavenly Petryk reappears, though, and the action travels to Canada, the move toward a conclusion starts to challenge believability. The action becomes too contrived and too fantastic, though in the end the villains are not surprising. In AMERICAN GRAFFITI fashion, Housewright explains what happens to the major characters after the action-packed denouement. That is a nice touch, though it seems to me that at least one character literally gets away with murder. It cannot be an easy thing to keep a character fresh through so many books. Housewright manages to do that 22 books in.
May 28, 2025
Interesting read. A group of paleontology students and professors are on a dig in Montana and one of the graduate students/adjunct professors makes an amazing find and then takes another professor along with her the next day to the site where she made the discovery to show her what she found and to work on the site some more. They discover that they have found the entire skeleton of an Ankylosaurus which no one has ever found before. They are shutting down the dig site for the coming winter season and they remove the skull from the dig site and package it for transport to the University of Minnesota. They decide to wait to leave until the next morning and in the early morning hours someone comes to steal the truck that the skull is loaded on and injures one of the professors when he hears someone outside and goes to investigate. The search is then on for what happened to the bones. They are eventually found in Canada and recovered. Don’t want to spoil the book for anyone else so I won’t say anything else. Highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book for an honest review.
May 22, 2025
Good mystery, it had me guessing who was involved in the theft until almost the end. The book was intriguing from the beginning although I did think it moved a little slow up to the theft. This is the first book by David Housewright I have read and definitely am adding him to the list of authors I like.
December 2, 2025
Interesting book. If you've ever wondered about stolen dinosaur fossils and their value,.. then this book is for you. The author wraps everything up nicely in the end.
August 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Them Bones by David Housewright
What a ride! Them Bones is another stellar entry in the Rushmore McKenzie series—clever, fast-paced, and utterly addictive. This time, McKenzie is pulled into a case unlike any he’s faced before: the theft of an incredibly rare Ankylosaurus skull worth millions on the black market.
Angela Bjork, a desperate doctoral candidate, turns to McKenzie for help after her dig site in Montana is attacked and the skull disappears. As always, McKenzie can’t resist a friend in need—or a mystery with stakes this high. From dusty dig sites to shadowy black-market deals, Housewright keeps the tension high and the twists coming.
Rushmore McKenzie remains one of the most enjoyable detectives in modern crime fiction—witty, principled, and effortlessly cool. Housewright balances humor, danger, and a genuinely intriguing plot with ease. There’s something refreshing about a protagonist who doesn't have to get involved—he chooses to, because it’s the right thing to do.
If you're into character-driven mysteries with a unique premise and great pacing, you won't want to miss this one. It’s a fossil-fueled mystery with heart, brains, and bite.
Highly recommended!
Them Bones by David Housewright
What a ride! Them Bones is another stellar entry in the Rushmore McKenzie series—clever, fast-paced, and utterly addictive. This time, McKenzie is pulled into a case unlike any he’s faced before: the theft of an incredibly rare Ankylosaurus skull worth millions on the black market.
Angela Bjork, a desperate doctoral candidate, turns to McKenzie for help after her dig site in Montana is attacked and the skull disappears. As always, McKenzie can’t resist a friend in need—or a mystery with stakes this high. From dusty dig sites to shadowy black-market deals, Housewright keeps the tension high and the twists coming.
Rushmore McKenzie remains one of the most enjoyable detectives in modern crime fiction—witty, principled, and effortlessly cool. Housewright balances humor, danger, and a genuinely intriguing plot with ease. There’s something refreshing about a protagonist who doesn't have to get involved—he chooses to, because it’s the right thing to do.
If you're into character-driven mysteries with a unique premise and great pacing, you won't want to miss this one. It’s a fossil-fueled mystery with heart, brains, and bite.
Highly recommended!
August 12, 2025
This is my first David Housewright book and he captured me in the first chapter. McKenzie is left for dead in the middle of the desert, walking for days he is rescued by an angel on a white horse. McKenzie describes the experience with a cool detachment. Seven years later the angel, Angela, needs help and she comes to the one person she knows can help. Working on her doctorate she finds an important dinosaur. During the night the skull is stolen, if not found soon it will disappear forever. I received this book from GOODREADS for an honest review
December 2, 2025
Everybody knows there is a market in stolen antiquities, as evidenced by the thousands of these items that have been looted from museums over the years. However, the most ancient antiquities predate these stolen tools and artworks by millions of years. Until recently, I was unaware that a lucrative black market also existed for dinosaur bones (or, more precisely, dinosaur fossils). The plot of David Housewright’s mostly entertaining new mystery, “Them Bones,” revolves around the theft of one such fossil, a rare ankylosaurus skull, and the efforts of Housewright’s series protagonist, Rushmore McKenzie, to find and recover the skull.
Rushmore McKenzie is a retired St. Paul, MN, police detective who operates as an unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends. In “Them Bones,” that friend is Angela Bjork, a young woman who saved McKenzie’s life a few years earlier. She’s now a doctoral student in paleontology who found the ankylosaurus skull at a dig in a remote area of Montana. Unfortunately, when the skull (about the size of a washing machine) was loaded onto a pickup truck for transport to a museum in Minnesota, the truck and its load were stolen from the camp at night. Bjork enlists McKenzie’s help to recover the skull, which might be worth millions at auction on the black market.
Once McKenzie “takes” the case, “Them Bones” reads like a fascinating police procedural. Most mystery novels involve murders, so it was refreshing to encounter one that requires solving a theft instead. The book reminded me of the 70s TV series “Banacek,” in which the hero solved seemingly impossible thefts. Here, the heist itself is relatively routine, but figuring out who was responsible is more complex. McKenzie quickly surmises that someone with knowledge of the dig (mostly other students and professors) was involved and tipped off the actual thieves. He reviews the police reports from Montana (misspellings and grammatical errors abound). He interviews those present when the skull was stolen and pieces together what actually happened that night based on sometimes subtle differences in the various accounts. McKenzie also talks to some helpful FBI agents, even though the theft from private land isn’t a federal crime. He gets less help from some fences who might be involved in a sale of the skull and insurance representatives who might be on the hook for a ransom payout.
Reading “Them Bones” was an educational experience for me. I learned a great deal about the logistics of digging for dinosaur bones. (Progress is very slow to avoid damage once the fossils are located. In real life, no complete ankylosaurus skeleton has ever been found.) On a less savory note, I learned more about how thieves could convert their prize into cash. And, on an even less savory note, some characters McKenzie questions describe the cutthroat nature of academic competition for professorships (something Bjork and some of the other students at the dig seek). Sexism is present in the halls of academia. Somewhat surprisingly, the author doesn’t reveal much about the little-known ankylosaurus, aside from noting that the skull was very rare. I did my own research on that subject.
I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of “Them Bones.” Rushmore McKenzie is a likable individual (it makes gathering information easier) with a good sense of humor. The author has adopted an unusual narrative style. McKenzie narrates most of the novel as if speaking directly to the reader. However, he occasionally hears from what he calls his “inner voice,” which gives him guidance by suggesting, for example, that he should make a special note of one particular fact a witness relayed. These inner voice messages are usually only a phrase or sentence long, and they are italicized in the text. Also, when Bjork seeks McKenzie’s help, she gives him a detailed account of what took place at the dig over the months before the skull was stolen. The author conveys this information through a third-person narrative that spans the first few chapters of the book. These narrative conventions may sound complex, but readers should have little difficulty following them.
Unfortunately, about two-thirds of the way through the book, McKenzie discovers that the skull and thieves may now be in Canada. So, his recovery mission takes him to Canada, where he masquerades as a shady, fictitious character (complete with fake identification) interested in buying the skull. He winds up competing with the “real” McKenzie, who has already announced that he’s willing to buy back the skull. If that description sounds complex, it is, and it’s also confusing for readers and ultimately uninteresting.
The last part of “Them Bones” was a major letdown for me. The author introduces several new characters and plot complications, none of which were very interesting. At one point, McKenzie goes to Niagara Falls, although the only reason for his trip seems to be to note that he was standing at the same spot where the climax of the classic noir thriller “Niagara” took place. McKenzie’s companion on his Canadian sojourn is a stunningly attractive mystery woman with the intriguing name of “Heavenly.” She apparently appeared in several earlier books in this series, but those, like me, who are new to the series will have little idea of what she actually does. Her only function here is as a convenient plot device, giving McKenzie any needed information while he’s with her in Canada.
I enjoyed the first two-thirds of “Them Bones”; I did not like the last third. The author’s writing becomes flabby, less focused, and more confusing. I think he tried to turn the search for the dinosaur skull into an updated version of “The Maltese Falcon” with McKenzie in the role of Sam Spade. It didn’t work. However, most of the book was highly entertaining and informative. So, I’m giving “Them Bones” a three-star rating and a marginal recommendation. When the action stays in the United States, the book is highly enjoyable, but when it moves to Canada, much of the entertainment value stays home.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
Rushmore McKenzie is a retired St. Paul, MN, police detective who operates as an unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends. In “Them Bones,” that friend is Angela Bjork, a young woman who saved McKenzie’s life a few years earlier. She’s now a doctoral student in paleontology who found the ankylosaurus skull at a dig in a remote area of Montana. Unfortunately, when the skull (about the size of a washing machine) was loaded onto a pickup truck for transport to a museum in Minnesota, the truck and its load were stolen from the camp at night. Bjork enlists McKenzie’s help to recover the skull, which might be worth millions at auction on the black market.
Once McKenzie “takes” the case, “Them Bones” reads like a fascinating police procedural. Most mystery novels involve murders, so it was refreshing to encounter one that requires solving a theft instead. The book reminded me of the 70s TV series “Banacek,” in which the hero solved seemingly impossible thefts. Here, the heist itself is relatively routine, but figuring out who was responsible is more complex. McKenzie quickly surmises that someone with knowledge of the dig (mostly other students and professors) was involved and tipped off the actual thieves. He reviews the police reports from Montana (misspellings and grammatical errors abound). He interviews those present when the skull was stolen and pieces together what actually happened that night based on sometimes subtle differences in the various accounts. McKenzie also talks to some helpful FBI agents, even though the theft from private land isn’t a federal crime. He gets less help from some fences who might be involved in a sale of the skull and insurance representatives who might be on the hook for a ransom payout.
Reading “Them Bones” was an educational experience for me. I learned a great deal about the logistics of digging for dinosaur bones. (Progress is very slow to avoid damage once the fossils are located. In real life, no complete ankylosaurus skeleton has ever been found.) On a less savory note, I learned more about how thieves could convert their prize into cash. And, on an even less savory note, some characters McKenzie questions describe the cutthroat nature of academic competition for professorships (something Bjork and some of the other students at the dig seek). Sexism is present in the halls of academia. Somewhat surprisingly, the author doesn’t reveal much about the little-known ankylosaurus, aside from noting that the skull was very rare. I did my own research on that subject.
I really enjoyed the first two-thirds of “Them Bones.” Rushmore McKenzie is a likable individual (it makes gathering information easier) with a good sense of humor. The author has adopted an unusual narrative style. McKenzie narrates most of the novel as if speaking directly to the reader. However, he occasionally hears from what he calls his “inner voice,” which gives him guidance by suggesting, for example, that he should make a special note of one particular fact a witness relayed. These inner voice messages are usually only a phrase or sentence long, and they are italicized in the text. Also, when Bjork seeks McKenzie’s help, she gives him a detailed account of what took place at the dig over the months before the skull was stolen. The author conveys this information through a third-person narrative that spans the first few chapters of the book. These narrative conventions may sound complex, but readers should have little difficulty following them.
Unfortunately, about two-thirds of the way through the book, McKenzie discovers that the skull and thieves may now be in Canada. So, his recovery mission takes him to Canada, where he masquerades as a shady, fictitious character (complete with fake identification) interested in buying the skull. He winds up competing with the “real” McKenzie, who has already announced that he’s willing to buy back the skull. If that description sounds complex, it is, and it’s also confusing for readers and ultimately uninteresting.
The last part of “Them Bones” was a major letdown for me. The author introduces several new characters and plot complications, none of which were very interesting. At one point, McKenzie goes to Niagara Falls, although the only reason for his trip seems to be to note that he was standing at the same spot where the climax of the classic noir thriller “Niagara” took place. McKenzie’s companion on his Canadian sojourn is a stunningly attractive mystery woman with the intriguing name of “Heavenly.” She apparently appeared in several earlier books in this series, but those, like me, who are new to the series will have little idea of what she actually does. Her only function here is as a convenient plot device, giving McKenzie any needed information while he’s with her in Canada.
I enjoyed the first two-thirds of “Them Bones”; I did not like the last third. The author’s writing becomes flabby, less focused, and more confusing. I think he tried to turn the search for the dinosaur skull into an updated version of “The Maltese Falcon” with McKenzie in the role of Sam Spade. It didn’t work. However, most of the book was highly entertaining and informative. So, I’m giving “Them Bones” a three-star rating and a marginal recommendation. When the action stays in the United States, the book is highly enjoyable, but when it moves to Canada, much of the entertainment value stays home.
NOTE: The publisher graciously provided me with a copy of this book through NetGalley. However, the decision to review the book and the contents of this review are entirely my own.
July 12, 2025
So. Not sure what happened but between Nina who I've never liked to the beginning of this book, just could not get into it, so I'm just saying, nope.
May 28, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) for an advance digital copy of 'Them Bones ' by David Housewright. This popular author has won several awards, including the Edgar Award. Despite all the acclaim for his two mystery series, I was unaware of his books. I was surprised I had requested this book, not knowing it was number 22 in the McKenzie detective series. Still, I was intrigued by the mystery, paleontology, and ethical issues involved, and always interested in new dinosaur discoveries. The book was informative, exciting, and well-researched. A vivid sense of place was described. It worked as a standalone. Readers of Housewright's previous books will be familiar with recurring characters and past events, which should add to their enjoyment. The book is due to be published on June 24/2025.
Paleontology students and professors have been digging tirelessly in the sand and dirt in a remote part of Montana. It is windy and hot, but they are slow, meticulous, and careful. Their effort has paid off. They are thrilled to have uncovered the head of a rare dinosaur, the Ankylosaurus, and believe the rest of its skeleton is attached. We learn a technique that seems far-fetched. It is the taste test. They run the material over their tongue to distinguish fossilized bone from rock. A Google search even had videos that showed and explained this procedure. The excavated skull is protected by a plastic jacket to be transported by truck to the University for further cleaning, and then probably put on display in the Museum.
As winter approaches, the paleontologists will place a tarp over the site and dig for the body the following summer. There will be rivalry in the scientific community about where the dinosaur will be shown. The early part of the book is slow-paced until criminals ambush the site, shots are fired, a professor is injured, and the fabulous skull is stolen. Criminals can sell the skull on the Black Market for millions.
The pace picks up when PI Rushmore McKenzie enters the story. He had been a homicide detective in the St. Paul police department, but came into a large sum of money and retired. Finding life boring, he became an unofficial private detective, taking cases only when friends requested. His methods of investigation depend on old contacts in the police and criminal worlds. Seven years earlier, he was robbed and left in the desert to die. Without food or water, he became dehydrated, dizzy, and wandered directionless. Near death, he saw a young woman riding a white horse, and thought he was hallucinating. This was Angela Bjork who saved his life. Since then, she had studied Paleontology and was working on her PHD. She was a member of the dig when the skull was stolen, and she requested that McKenzie find it and capture the thieves. His search takes him out of state and finally to Canada.
I now want to read some of the author's previous books. Recommended for those who like adventure stories combined with mystery, detective work, science, and, of course, dinosaurs.
Paleontology students and professors have been digging tirelessly in the sand and dirt in a remote part of Montana. It is windy and hot, but they are slow, meticulous, and careful. Their effort has paid off. They are thrilled to have uncovered the head of a rare dinosaur, the Ankylosaurus, and believe the rest of its skeleton is attached. We learn a technique that seems far-fetched. It is the taste test. They run the material over their tongue to distinguish fossilized bone from rock. A Google search even had videos that showed and explained this procedure. The excavated skull is protected by a plastic jacket to be transported by truck to the University for further cleaning, and then probably put on display in the Museum.
As winter approaches, the paleontologists will place a tarp over the site and dig for the body the following summer. There will be rivalry in the scientific community about where the dinosaur will be shown. The early part of the book is slow-paced until criminals ambush the site, shots are fired, a professor is injured, and the fabulous skull is stolen. Criminals can sell the skull on the Black Market for millions.
The pace picks up when PI Rushmore McKenzie enters the story. He had been a homicide detective in the St. Paul police department, but came into a large sum of money and retired. Finding life boring, he became an unofficial private detective, taking cases only when friends requested. His methods of investigation depend on old contacts in the police and criminal worlds. Seven years earlier, he was robbed and left in the desert to die. Without food or water, he became dehydrated, dizzy, and wandered directionless. Near death, he saw a young woman riding a white horse, and thought he was hallucinating. This was Angela Bjork who saved his life. Since then, she had studied Paleontology and was working on her PHD. She was a member of the dig when the skull was stolen, and she requested that McKenzie find it and capture the thieves. His search takes him out of state and finally to Canada.
I now want to read some of the author's previous books. Recommended for those who like adventure stories combined with mystery, detective work, science, and, of course, dinosaurs.
June 22, 2025
How does a dinosaur skull go missing?
Former cop turned sort-of PI Mac McKenzie can't resist when a young woman who once saved his life comes to him looking for help. Angela Bjork is now a doctoral student who also does some teaching in her chosen field of paleontology and has been working on a dig in southeastern Montana, quite literally in the middle of nowhere. There she made an amazing discovery, the apparently intact skeleton of an Ankylosaurus which would not only make her career but also do wonders for the other professors and students working on the dig with her. When the skull was readied for transport it (and the truck it was on) disappeared, and Angela suspects it was at least in part an inside job. She wants McKenzie to look into it and hopefully both recover the skull and identify who was behind its theft. On the black market it would fetch millions of dollars so money is a likely motive, but there are plenty of professional and sexual jealousies swirling around that might factor into the matter. Deciding that the best way to flush out the guilty parties is to stage an online auction, McKenzie brings in con artist Heaven Petryk and a well known fence Louis Bergeron to help pull it off. Who amongst the scholarly group helped in organizing the heist? Will McKenzie's gambit work? With that much money at stake, there could be more to lose than some old bones.
In this, the twenty second installment in the Mac McKenzie series, author David Housewright introduces all manner of information about the field of paleontology in general as well as some pop culture facts, which I found quite interesting. Full disclaimer, this is the first book in the series that I have read, so I can both assure people that it can be read as a standalone BUT also suggest that it is more likely to be fully enjoyed by those who have read at least some of the others. There was a lot of data in the first part of the book which resulted in a slow start, but once McKenzie started digging in the pace picked up. He's a character who wields a lot of humorous asides, which brought to mind Parker's Spenser (without a Hawk), and reminded me in other ways of John Sandford's Lucas Davenport and J, A. Jance's J. P Beaumont. For me, it seemed character-wise like ground I had already visited with other characters/authors (having grown up in the Boston area I've been a huge Parker fan for decades and therefore likely prejudiced in that direction)...the novel is solidly written but not groundbreaking, a 3 -3.5 ⭐️ which I'll round up to a 4 because I enjoyed the dinosaur lore (Nicholas Cage in a bidding war with Leonardo di Caprio...who knew?). In reading other reviews, many who are fans of the series thoroughly enjoyed it, so readers should factor that in to their decision. Overall, it is a good if not great book, an enjoyable read, and I thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to Them Bones in exchange for my honest review.
Former cop turned sort-of PI Mac McKenzie can't resist when a young woman who once saved his life comes to him looking for help. Angela Bjork is now a doctoral student who also does some teaching in her chosen field of paleontology and has been working on a dig in southeastern Montana, quite literally in the middle of nowhere. There she made an amazing discovery, the apparently intact skeleton of an Ankylosaurus which would not only make her career but also do wonders for the other professors and students working on the dig with her. When the skull was readied for transport it (and the truck it was on) disappeared, and Angela suspects it was at least in part an inside job. She wants McKenzie to look into it and hopefully both recover the skull and identify who was behind its theft. On the black market it would fetch millions of dollars so money is a likely motive, but there are plenty of professional and sexual jealousies swirling around that might factor into the matter. Deciding that the best way to flush out the guilty parties is to stage an online auction, McKenzie brings in con artist Heaven Petryk and a well known fence Louis Bergeron to help pull it off. Who amongst the scholarly group helped in organizing the heist? Will McKenzie's gambit work? With that much money at stake, there could be more to lose than some old bones.
In this, the twenty second installment in the Mac McKenzie series, author David Housewright introduces all manner of information about the field of paleontology in general as well as some pop culture facts, which I found quite interesting. Full disclaimer, this is the first book in the series that I have read, so I can both assure people that it can be read as a standalone BUT also suggest that it is more likely to be fully enjoyed by those who have read at least some of the others. There was a lot of data in the first part of the book which resulted in a slow start, but once McKenzie started digging in the pace picked up. He's a character who wields a lot of humorous asides, which brought to mind Parker's Spenser (without a Hawk), and reminded me in other ways of John Sandford's Lucas Davenport and J, A. Jance's J. P Beaumont. For me, it seemed character-wise like ground I had already visited with other characters/authors (having grown up in the Boston area I've been a huge Parker fan for decades and therefore likely prejudiced in that direction)...the novel is solidly written but not groundbreaking, a 3 -3.5 ⭐️ which I'll round up to a 4 because I enjoyed the dinosaur lore (Nicholas Cage in a bidding war with Leonardo di Caprio...who knew?). In reading other reviews, many who are fans of the series thoroughly enjoyed it, so readers should factor that in to their decision. Overall, it is a good if not great book, an enjoyable read, and I thank NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for allowing me access to Them Bones in exchange for my honest review.
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