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Mac McKenzie #12
Unidentified Woman #15
During one of the first heavy snows of the winter, on the interstate outside the Twin Cities, Rushmore McKenzie is trapped behind an erratically-driven truck. Then a figure appears on the truck bed and a body is rolled out onto the road, right in front of McKenzie’s car. McKenzie avoids hitting the body, a bound woman who is barely alive, but his sudden braking in the middle of the highway starts a chain of accidents, resulting in a thirty-seven car pile-up. By the time the police arrive, and the EMTs and ambulances have taken care of the immediate injuries, the truck is long gone.
The injured woman awakens with no memories—not of the accident, not of anything—and is now referred to by the police as Unidentified Woman #15. With few leads, the detective in charge, McKenzie’s former partner and old friend Bobby Dunston, turns to McKenzie for a favor. Not that a favor is required, because when you dump a person in front of McKenzie’s moving car, he tends to take that personally.
Praise for UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #15:
“Housewright, winner of the prestigious national Edgar Award and three Minnesota Book Awards, strikes a perfect balance between fast-paced excitement as McKenzie chases the bad guys and his commitment to bar-owner Nina as they try to work out the nuances of their relationship since moving in together. All previous McKenzie thrillers earned high praise from critics, including several starred reviews, but in Unidentified Woman #15 McKenzie comes alive as never before. It’s as though Housewright got a surge of energy that lets us into Mac’s mind so we know him even more intimately. And with a 12th book in a series, that’s a fine thing.” — St. Paul Pioneer Press
“Housewright’s prose style is reminiscent of Donald E. Westlake’ smoothly flowing, graceful, but never calling attention to itself. Rushmore is an amiable series lead... A strong addition to an always-reliable series, and a crime novel that will appeal both to readers looking for complex characters and satisfying style and to those interested mainly in story.” — Booklist
“Take a well-written noir and mix it with humor and readers will anticipate this 12th series outing (after The Devil May Care ), especially if they appreciate mysteries with a strong sense of place and an appealing sleuth who is still figuring out what to do with himself after leaving the police force. A solid choice for fans of Steve Hamilton, Dennis Lehane, or James Lee Burke.” — Library Journal
“Unidentified woman #15 has no memory when she regains consciousness, but she believes the world is exactly the kind of ‘place where sooner or later’ someone rolls ‘you off the back of a speeding pickup truck.’ And here’s why I love McKenzie so much. Although he sees the world in a cynical way, he still tilts at windmills and fires stones from his slingshot. Housewright’s novels render the Twin Cities in familiar detail while helping us see things differently.” — Minneapolis StarTribune
The injured woman awakens with no memories—not of the accident, not of anything—and is now referred to by the police as Unidentified Woman #15. With few leads, the detective in charge, McKenzie’s former partner and old friend Bobby Dunston, turns to McKenzie for a favor. Not that a favor is required, because when you dump a person in front of McKenzie’s moving car, he tends to take that personally.
Praise for UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #15:
“Housewright, winner of the prestigious national Edgar Award and three Minnesota Book Awards, strikes a perfect balance between fast-paced excitement as McKenzie chases the bad guys and his commitment to bar-owner Nina as they try to work out the nuances of their relationship since moving in together. All previous McKenzie thrillers earned high praise from critics, including several starred reviews, but in Unidentified Woman #15 McKenzie comes alive as never before. It’s as though Housewright got a surge of energy that lets us into Mac’s mind so we know him even more intimately. And with a 12th book in a series, that’s a fine thing.” — St. Paul Pioneer Press
“Housewright’s prose style is reminiscent of Donald E. Westlake’ smoothly flowing, graceful, but never calling attention to itself. Rushmore is an amiable series lead... A strong addition to an always-reliable series, and a crime novel that will appeal both to readers looking for complex characters and satisfying style and to those interested mainly in story.” — Booklist
“Take a well-written noir and mix it with humor and readers will anticipate this 12th series outing (after The Devil May Care ), especially if they appreciate mysteries with a strong sense of place and an appealing sleuth who is still figuring out what to do with himself after leaving the police force. A solid choice for fans of Steve Hamilton, Dennis Lehane, or James Lee Burke.” — Library Journal
“Unidentified woman #15 has no memory when she regains consciousness, but she believes the world is exactly the kind of ‘place where sooner or later’ someone rolls ‘you off the back of a speeding pickup truck.’ And here’s why I love McKenzie so much. Although he sees the world in a cynical way, he still tilts at windmills and fires stones from his slingshot. Housewright’s novels render the Twin Cities in familiar detail while helping us see things differently.” — Minneapolis StarTribune
302 pages, Paperback
First published June 2, 2015
About the author
David Housewright
62 books443 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 70 reviews
April 10, 2025
I am on a series binge of David Housewright’s Mac McKenzie collection, of which this is the twelfth 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. When a snowstorm leads Mac to discover an injured woman on the road, he helps to piece her life back together. While this might seem honourable, Mac is soon pulled into the middle of a dangerous plot that could cost him a great deal. David Housewright pens a great story for all!
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 he deems worth his while. While out driving in a snowstorm, Mac tries to maneuver on the interstate outside St. Paul, which proves more difficult than it sounds. When the truck he is trailing begins driving erratically, Mac takes notice. Out of the blue, a man in the truck bed tosses a body onto the road, leaving Mac to swerve as he stops to help. He locates a woman, clinging to life, while causing a massive, multi-car pile-up. When the authorities arrive, they begin trying to hash out what happened, but the truck is long gone, leaving this anonymous woman and Mac to put the pieces together.
When the woman wakes up weeks later in the hospital, she has no memory of the event or who she might be, Called 'Unidentified Woman #15' by the authorities, Mac begins to try making sense of what he saw and the life this woman led before that snowy night. Working a few leads, Mac reaches out to some of his contacts in the St. Paul PD for a favour, hoping that this might help piece the mystery together. Slowly, something comes to light and Mac is able to work with the woman to recover her life and allow her to get a sense of what happened.
While he keeps working leads, Mac is soon involved in a violent altercation, which leaves him to wonder if his investigating might be opening up pathways that some would rather keep closed. As the woman's past begins to come into focus, Mac learns that what he witnessed that night on the interstate might be part of a larger and more nefarious plot. Housewright offers up a great tale that is sure to keep series fans engaged until the final page turn.
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 finds new ways to impress with his narrative, housing a great story and ever-evolving ideas. The reader cannot help but enjoy the progression of this piece. Characters remain gritty and entertaining for the reader, which helps add to the storytelling. The plot moves along and peppers in surprises, where needed, to keep things from getting too predictable!
Kudos, Mr. Housewright, for a new angle in a series that never wanes.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
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 he deems worth his while. While out driving in a snowstorm, Mac tries to maneuver on the interstate outside St. Paul, which proves more difficult than it sounds. When the truck he is trailing begins driving erratically, Mac takes notice. Out of the blue, a man in the truck bed tosses a body onto the road, leaving Mac to swerve as he stops to help. He locates a woman, clinging to life, while causing a massive, multi-car pile-up. When the authorities arrive, they begin trying to hash out what happened, but the truck is long gone, leaving this anonymous woman and Mac to put the pieces together.
When the woman wakes up weeks later in the hospital, she has no memory of the event or who she might be, Called 'Unidentified Woman #15' by the authorities, Mac begins to try making sense of what he saw and the life this woman led before that snowy night. Working a few leads, Mac reaches out to some of his contacts in the St. Paul PD for a favour, hoping that this might help piece the mystery together. Slowly, something comes to light and Mac is able to work with the woman to recover her life and allow her to get a sense of what happened.
While he keeps working leads, Mac is soon involved in a violent altercation, which leaves him to wonder if his investigating might be opening up pathways that some would rather keep closed. As the woman's past begins to come into focus, Mac learns that what he witnessed that night on the interstate might be part of a larger and more nefarious plot. Housewright offers up a great tale that is sure to keep series fans engaged until the final page turn.
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 finds new ways to impress with his narrative, housing a great story and ever-evolving ideas. The reader cannot help but enjoy the progression of this piece. Characters remain gritty and entertaining for the reader, which helps add to the storytelling. The plot moves along and peppers in surprises, where needed, to keep things from getting too predictable!
Kudos, Mr. Housewright, for a new angle in a series that never wanes.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
May 16, 2026
When Moses came down from the mountain – this isn’t very well known, but it’s true – he actually had two tablets. We’re familiar with the one forbidding murder, coveting thy neighbor’s ass, failing to honor the mother and father etc., but tucked into his back pocket was a smaller tablet stating:
1. Novelists shall not use dreams to advance the plot
2. Novelists shall not use amnesia as a plot point, particularly mystery writers
This is the first book I’ve read by David Housewright, after his craft was praised by my GR friend carol. He did not commit the first sin and gets off on the second on a technicality. Meaning, despite a fundamentally ridiculous plot, I was grinning like a chimpanzee through great portions of this book.
The Midwest has been holding out on us. McKenzie was the star of about fifteen novels but I’d never heard of him. Here we get a rare glimpse of the well-hidden seamy underbelly of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and the author is socially aware enough to have anticipated George Floyd by several years. As McKenzie’s Black friend Herzog explains,
3.5 stars, rounded up because I hadn't met this author before.
1. Novelists shall not use dreams to advance the plot
2. Novelists shall not use amnesia as a plot point, particularly mystery writers
This is the first book I’ve read by David Housewright, after his craft was praised by my GR friend carol. He did not commit the first sin and gets off on the second on a technicality. Meaning, despite a fundamentally ridiculous plot, I was grinning like a chimpanzee through great portions of this book.
The Midwest has been holding out on us. McKenzie was the star of about fifteen novels but I’d never heard of him. Here we get a rare glimpse of the well-hidden seamy underbelly of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and the author is socially aware enough to have anticipated George Floyd by several years. As McKenzie’s Black friend Herzog explains,
”You okay, McKenzie, but you don’t know nuthin’ about being a brother. High school graduation rates for blacks is the lowest in the country. Only six percent of the population in Minnesota is African American, except in the prisons where it’s like thirty-three percent.”And later:
”Call the cops?” Herzog thought the suggestion was amusing. “That’s not how it works where I come from.”Social commentary aside, this was just fun all the way through. Do any of you remember Travis McGee? So, take a Travis McGee novel, cut out all the annoying parts, and you’re halfway to a McKenzie story.
“I thought we came from the same place.”
“C’mon, McKenzie. We may be living in the same city in the same state in the same country, but no way we come from the same place."
3.5 stars, rounded up because I hadn't met this author before.
March 28, 2018
Just a good old detective story, no sex, very little foul language and not violent. McKenzie is a nice guy who means well, he reminds me of Spenser. I always enjoy revisiting a locale where I have lived. The best lines in the book are as follows - “The Boss. What kinda self-important asshole goes around calling hisself the Boss?” I flashed on Donald Trump, but let it slide - And that was written before the moron became president!
July 21, 2021
I've now read most of this series, and I think this is one of the best installments. As one other reviewer remarked, a perfect blend of "snarky and sweet." But this one also had not just a shocking opening, puzzling mysteries at a number of levels, and vividly drawn characters; it also had some unusually clever plotting that worked very well. And written in 2015, long before our (I live in Minneapolis) present eruptions of violence and protest, it has a large Black man ("the largest man I had ever seen in person") who tells the detective what it's like to be Black in Minnesota: "You okay, McKenzie, but you know nuthin' 'bout being a brother. Walk with me down the street some day and you'll hear the sound of locks clicking shut in every car I pass. People say Minnesota loaded with liberals; ain't no racism up here. C'mon. High school graduation rates for blacks is the lowest in the country. Cities got the highest economic gap between blacks and whites of all the big towns. Only six percent of the population in Minnesota is African American, except in Minnesota's prisons it's like thirty-seven percent. Think it's all a coincidence? Minnesota Nice--fuck that."
November 13, 2015
The series about Rushmore McKenzie, ex-cop and full-time troubleshooter, continues to improve. The twelfth book in the series starts when McKenzie and his girlfriend, Nina Truhler, are driving home across the city in a snow storm and a woman's body is rolled off a moving pickup truck in front of them. McKenzie barely misses hitting the injured woman, and gets both Nina and the woman off the thruway just before his stopped car triggers a massive multi-car pileup. The victim of what was clearly meant to be murder is badly injured, and suffers from some form of amnesia throughout her hospital stay. McKenzie's pal, Bobby Dunston, head of the St. Paul major crimes squad, talks McKenzie and Nina into sheltering the woman while she completes her recovery and recovers her memory.
But has she really lost her memory, and does she know why she was the target of such a grisly crime? Both McKenzie and Bobby have doubts about her unwillingness or inability to remember, but it is clear that she really was a target, and may still be one. It soon becomes clear that the men who tried to kill her may still be searching for her. It is also clear that she is shamming about her memory loss. So Mckenzie sets out to find out who she is, why she was targeted, and who is doing the targeting. He does it in his usual way: clever and determined, but also bullheaded and rash to the point of recklessness. How he finds the answers to these questions, and to more, makes for an engrossing read, even if Mckenzie remains just as simultaneously attractive and maddening a character as one could imagine. Nina and Bobby don't have a lot of control over Mckenzie's recklessness, and Nina even becomes party to it, but their unwillingness to see the woman they've taken in as a criminal drives their actions. McKenzie's hostile relationship with Bobby detective sidekick is both funny and revealing about the childishness of both of them.
Mckenzie has the advantage of being rich. he can be pretty smart, but his judgment is frequently as impaired just as it is good. Like many p.i.s and amateur sleuths, he's good at walking into bad situations without learning anything from them. That's an irritating trait, but his bravery makes up for a lot of it. Housewright uses the Minneapolis and, especially, St. Paul settings to good advantage, and he mixes in a lot of local color along the way. And there's just a chance that he has let Mckenzie learn something this time that may temper some of his behavior in the future.
But has she really lost her memory, and does she know why she was the target of such a grisly crime? Both McKenzie and Bobby have doubts about her unwillingness or inability to remember, but it is clear that she really was a target, and may still be one. It soon becomes clear that the men who tried to kill her may still be searching for her. It is also clear that she is shamming about her memory loss. So Mckenzie sets out to find out who she is, why she was targeted, and who is doing the targeting. He does it in his usual way: clever and determined, but also bullheaded and rash to the point of recklessness. How he finds the answers to these questions, and to more, makes for an engrossing read, even if Mckenzie remains just as simultaneously attractive and maddening a character as one could imagine. Nina and Bobby don't have a lot of control over Mckenzie's recklessness, and Nina even becomes party to it, but their unwillingness to see the woman they've taken in as a criminal drives their actions. McKenzie's hostile relationship with Bobby detective sidekick is both funny and revealing about the childishness of both of them.
Mckenzie has the advantage of being rich. he can be pretty smart, but his judgment is frequently as impaired just as it is good. Like many p.i.s and amateur sleuths, he's good at walking into bad situations without learning anything from them. That's an irritating trait, but his bravery makes up for a lot of it. Housewright uses the Minneapolis and, especially, St. Paul settings to good advantage, and he mixes in a lot of local color along the way. And there's just a chance that he has let Mckenzie learn something this time that may temper some of his behavior in the future.
April 29, 2017
I have read almost all of the Mac MacKenzie series, and generally found them entertaining; yet, #15 was the most disappointing. A gripping set up evolves into a mess of small town, small time, shoplifting/yard sale thieves morphing into gun toting killers.
#15 demanded way too much willing suspension of disbelief.
#15 demanded way too much willing suspension of disbelief.
August 27, 2026
Another enjoyable installment of this series. Nina gets in on the action with some undercover work, which is kind of fun because of how into she gets.
Nina and McKenzie now live in a condo, having finally moved in together. I am honestly a little bit sad that McKenzie left the fountain and pond his dad had made for him in the backyard of his house. And does this mean no more Margo? She was a fun side character in some of the books.
McKenzie kind of annoyed me a few times in this one (I guess he often does at some point or another in most of the books though!!). I can see why some Leo’s get annoyed with him as much as they do. Though I still can’t remember if there was a specific incident that made Shipman and him be so at odds and almost hostile with each other at times. I am slightly tempted to go back and re-listen to some of the books to see if I did miss something, but that would be time consuming. If I knew the exact book it happened in, then I actually might. Back to my annoyance. He really does things on his own terms quite often. Sometimes things would probably go a lot smoother, be done possibly quicker, though warrants and such can take time to get, but withholding information that the police could be so valuable to the police….drives me up the wall sometimes. I am surprised Bobby hasn’t completely ripped him a new one yet when they involve his investigations. And his little lecture at the very end, because he withholds information, yes he is no longer an officer or in any position of authority, seemed a smidge bit hypocritical.
Read the blurb for a summary of the book since I did not supply that. It’s hit or miss with me if I do.
Again some very funny internal thoughts and/or interactions. I think that is part of the appeal of this series. Even if I don’t particularly like the actual story all that much, I know I am going to get a few laughs out of the book. I wish I had been writing down some of the funny one liners to use on people!
Rating and review posted: 8/27/26
Quick addition a few minutes later: I have noticed more and more that the reader seems to have gotten a little more into his reading of the books. it has grown on me.
Nina and McKenzie now live in a condo, having finally moved in together. I am honestly a little bit sad that McKenzie left the fountain and pond his dad had made for him in the backyard of his house. And does this mean no more Margo? She was a fun side character in some of the books.
McKenzie kind of annoyed me a few times in this one (I guess he often does at some point or another in most of the books though!!). I can see why some Leo’s get annoyed with him as much as they do. Though I still can’t remember if there was a specific incident that made Shipman and him be so at odds and almost hostile with each other at times. I am slightly tempted to go back and re-listen to some of the books to see if I did miss something, but that would be time consuming. If I knew the exact book it happened in, then I actually might. Back to my annoyance. He really does things on his own terms quite often. Sometimes things would probably go a lot smoother, be done possibly quicker, though warrants and such can take time to get, but withholding information that the police could be so valuable to the police….drives me up the wall sometimes. I am surprised Bobby hasn’t completely ripped him a new one yet when they involve his investigations. And his little lecture at the very end, because he withholds information, yes he is no longer an officer or in any position of authority, seemed a smidge bit hypocritical.
Read the blurb for a summary of the book since I did not supply that. It’s hit or miss with me if I do.
Again some very funny internal thoughts and/or interactions. I think that is part of the appeal of this series. Even if I don’t particularly like the actual story all that much, I know I am going to get a few laughs out of the book. I wish I had been writing down some of the funny one liners to use on people!
Rating and review posted: 8/27/26
Quick addition a few minutes later: I have noticed more and more that the reader seems to have gotten a little more into his reading of the books. it has grown on me.
June 3, 2015
First Sentence: It was snowing heavily when they rolled the girl off the back of the pickup onto the freeway.
Driving in a blizzard is always hazardous, but Rushmore McKenzie and his partner Nina didn’t expect to have a naked, bound woman dumped out of a pickup in front of their car. Although he rescues her, it does result in a massive pile-up. Taken to the hospital, the woman is suffering from amnesia and given the sobriquet of “unidentified woman #15” by the police. McKenzie’s former partner and friend ask for help identifying her. When she steals money and five guns from him, it’s clear she may not be such a victim after all.
Housewright has a style that captures you from the start. His descriptions put you on the scene and in the middle of the action. His voice and expressions are a perfect reflection of an ex-cop. However, one also can appreciate his quoting Sherlock Holmes.
Housewright creates a strong sense of place…”Beyond that, it was like any other middle-class suburb you’ve ever driven through, houses with all the personality of paper cups set in orderly rows.”…by providing both enough information, and sometimes history, that you have a real sense of the location, but not so much as to slow down the flow of the story. However, it is also interesting to learn about the types of amnesia and how they differ, as well as about styles of shoplifting. For those who believe in “buy American,” it’s nice to see McKenzie uses Chicago Cutlery knives.
McKenzie is an appealing protagonist with an interesting internal dialogue…”as far as I was concerned, anyone who carried a concealed weapon who wasn’t involved in some manner of law enforcement or security was an asshole. There were no exceptions—myself included.” There is a wonderful relationship between him and Nina providing both excellent dialogue and details of mouth-watering food…”Dinner was pan-seared scallops with a bean and pancetta ragù…”
“Unidentified Woman #15” is a fast-paced, exciting read with plenty of action and some great characters. It is your perfect weekend/travel book.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #15 (Lic Invest-Rushmore McKenzie – Twin Cities-Contemp) – VG
Housewright, David – 12th in series
Minotaur Books – June 2015
Driving in a blizzard is always hazardous, but Rushmore McKenzie and his partner Nina didn’t expect to have a naked, bound woman dumped out of a pickup in front of their car. Although he rescues her, it does result in a massive pile-up. Taken to the hospital, the woman is suffering from amnesia and given the sobriquet of “unidentified woman #15” by the police. McKenzie’s former partner and friend ask for help identifying her. When she steals money and five guns from him, it’s clear she may not be such a victim after all.
Housewright has a style that captures you from the start. His descriptions put you on the scene and in the middle of the action. His voice and expressions are a perfect reflection of an ex-cop. However, one also can appreciate his quoting Sherlock Holmes.
Housewright creates a strong sense of place…”Beyond that, it was like any other middle-class suburb you’ve ever driven through, houses with all the personality of paper cups set in orderly rows.”…by providing both enough information, and sometimes history, that you have a real sense of the location, but not so much as to slow down the flow of the story. However, it is also interesting to learn about the types of amnesia and how they differ, as well as about styles of shoplifting. For those who believe in “buy American,” it’s nice to see McKenzie uses Chicago Cutlery knives.
McKenzie is an appealing protagonist with an interesting internal dialogue…”as far as I was concerned, anyone who carried a concealed weapon who wasn’t involved in some manner of law enforcement or security was an asshole. There were no exceptions—myself included.” There is a wonderful relationship between him and Nina providing both excellent dialogue and details of mouth-watering food…”Dinner was pan-seared scallops with a bean and pancetta ragù…”
“Unidentified Woman #15” is a fast-paced, exciting read with plenty of action and some great characters. It is your perfect weekend/travel book.
UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #15 (Lic Invest-Rushmore McKenzie – Twin Cities-Contemp) – VG
Housewright, David – 12th in series
Minotaur Books – June 2015
August 19, 2017
I can not believe you let Nina talk you into moving to.....Minneapolis! Shame on you, a Saint Paul boy, hehehe...:)
I will miss you guys until the next book, please keep bringing Herzy back he makes me laugh.
I will miss you guys until the next book, please keep bringing Herzy back he makes me laugh.
December 23, 2023
This book had lots of twists and turns and of course it was all a big mess to be unraveled, and it was. A good read.
January 21, 2020
Starts with a bang—many bangs—on a freeway and keeps going, albeit at a slower pace.
I really wanted to like this book, because I’m looking for new-to-me crime fiction set in the US. The characters are well-imagined and likable—including several culprits. The protagonist, Rushmore McKenzie, is a retired cop with an independent girlfriend, who’s a successful businesswoman. McKenzie is wealthy, but no eye-roll needed, because seems like he earned his million-plus honestly.
The storyline is unique and seems complex, at first, but as the story progresses, it becomes more predictable, as do the more interesting, secondary characters. I’m a crime fiction fan and a box-ticker, so I prefer having to work to find clues and thinking on who the villains are.
This book has a lot of filler, some interesting; others, not so much. Good descriptions of historical buildings, especially Art Deco architecture. There are a lot of references to old movies, old actors, older songs and singers. Like a few tertiary characters, I often had no clue and had to Wiki names. But I did know “Mirkwood” of books and movies, plus some Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes.
I’m open to reading a few more books in this series.
I really wanted to like this book, because I’m looking for new-to-me crime fiction set in the US. The characters are well-imagined and likable—including several culprits. The protagonist, Rushmore McKenzie, is a retired cop with an independent girlfriend, who’s a successful businesswoman. McKenzie is wealthy, but no eye-roll needed, because seems like he earned his million-plus honestly.
The storyline is unique and seems complex, at first, but as the story progresses, it becomes more predictable, as do the more interesting, secondary characters. I’m a crime fiction fan and a box-ticker, so I prefer having to work to find clues and thinking on who the villains are.
This book has a lot of filler, some interesting; others, not so much. Good descriptions of historical buildings, especially Art Deco architecture. There are a lot of references to old movies, old actors, older songs and singers. Like a few tertiary characters, I often had no clue and had to Wiki names. But I did know “Mirkwood” of books and movies, plus some Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes.
I’m open to reading a few more books in this series.
June 6, 2022
One of the main reasons that I like David Housewright's mystery series is that they are set here in the Twin Cities and I love being able to picture exactly where events are happening. This particular entry, however, was one of my least favorite of the Rushmore McKenzie series. Frankly the entire stolen property yard sale storyline bored me to tears. There were far to many characters to keep straight for me. Even at the end I was not certain who was murdered, who was a murderer, or who was innocent. Cannot recommend. Kristi & Abby Tabby
July 22, 2024
This was just okay. I put it down a lot. Maybe it would be better if I’d read the whole series. But I haven’t. I didn’t enjoy the descriptions of various MN places and roads and where the protagonist went. That was dull. The villains didn’t seem well defined and got confusing, probably because I just wasn’t all that interested. Still, I finished it and wanted to know the solution.
October 19, 2015
A Minnesota Travis McGee. A decent read, but I doubt if I'll look for others by this writer. I got tired of him talking to his "inner voice".
December 12, 2019
This time, McKenzie is asked a favor by his life-long friend, Bobby Dunston, St. Paul Police. Unidentified Woman #15 is a young woman thrown off a pickup truck in front of McKenzie and Nina as a snow late winter snowstorm takes hold of the Twin Cities. When he sees the body pushed off the back of the truck, there is only so much the snow will allow him to do. He manages to stop the car inches from hitting the woman but they are stopped on the interstate at night. Nina takes refuge off the road as McKenzie pulls the woman off, too, just before a chain-reaction begins with his car at the front of it.
In a state of amnesia, but healed after six weeks, the only option seems to be to release her from the hospital but the amnesia is a problem. Bobby asks McKenzie if he can look after her in his new condo where he now lives with Nina, which is very secure and safe. The problem is no one knows why someone tried to kill her and if they will try again.
When she runs away, taking McKenzie's handguns and $5,000 of cash, the situation becomes another case for him. More shooting, more death, more mystery than just a missing woman. It's McKenzie at his smart ass, annoying best.
In a state of amnesia, but healed after six weeks, the only option seems to be to release her from the hospital but the amnesia is a problem. Bobby asks McKenzie if he can look after her in his new condo where he now lives with Nina, which is very secure and safe. The problem is no one knows why someone tried to kill her and if they will try again.
When she runs away, taking McKenzie's handguns and $5,000 of cash, the situation becomes another case for him. More shooting, more death, more mystery than just a missing woman. It's McKenzie at his smart ass, annoying best.
February 24, 2021
McKenzie & Nina are driving on a snowy road when a Dodge Ram pick-up truck passes him; the man in the back of the truck, lowers the tailgate and rolls a woman (bound and wrapped in a blanket) off the back of the bed directly in front of McKenzie. McKenzie swerves to miss her, goes off the side of the road & crashes. He gets out to tend to the woman & Nina calls 911.
The young woman is taken to ER, after she stabilizes, McKenzie & Nina take her back to their home as she can no longer remember who she is, where she is from, or what happened.... But then, she sneaks into McKenzie's hidden room, takes several firearms, & $5,000 in cash and disappears.
Then young men turn up dead: one stabbed with one of McKenzie's guns in his car, others shot as if by sniper. Add into this, McKenzie's & Nina's surveillance of garage sales at homes for sale of high end stolen goods....
I liked the story, the book was fast paced, it held my attention; I read it in one day. I like McKenzie, Nina & Dunston (McKenzie's former co-worker & cop). Nice thing about McKenzie is he's not a tough, he's a caring human being with warmth.
The young woman is taken to ER, after she stabilizes, McKenzie & Nina take her back to their home as she can no longer remember who she is, where she is from, or what happened.... But then, she sneaks into McKenzie's hidden room, takes several firearms, & $5,000 in cash and disappears.
Then young men turn up dead: one stabbed with one of McKenzie's guns in his car, others shot as if by sniper. Add into this, McKenzie's & Nina's surveillance of garage sales at homes for sale of high end stolen goods....
I liked the story, the book was fast paced, it held my attention; I read it in one day. I like McKenzie, Nina & Dunston (McKenzie's former co-worker & cop). Nice thing about McKenzie is he's not a tough, he's a caring human being with warmth.
December 6, 2025
This one started out crazy and just kinda stayed there. I felt for McKenzie and how the book opened, can't imagine being in that situation. I thought he and Nina did a great job of staying calm despite all the calamity that was going on around them. Later I thought the two did good with the favor Bobby asked of them too. Even when McKenzie started to think something was off, he still tried to protect what was sent to him.
Once we got to the end and it was all exposed, you realized how crazy things were. So many things were exposed, yet it was still easy to understand why McKenzie was pissed. I hope he can do something to get that one person that pissed him off.
On a side now, how great was Nina when she accompanied McKenzie while he was trying to figure things out. She gets off on that stuff as much as he does, sadly she got to see the bad parts this time. I don't think that will stop her love of the adventure though.
Once we got to the end and it was all exposed, you realized how crazy things were. So many things were exposed, yet it was still easy to understand why McKenzie was pissed. I hope he can do something to get that one person that pissed him off.
On a side now, how great was Nina when she accompanied McKenzie while he was trying to figure things out. She gets off on that stuff as much as he does, sadly she got to see the bad parts this time. I don't think that will stop her love of the adventure though.
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August 3, 2026This is one of my favorite series. Rushmore "Mac" McKenzie, is a retired St. Paul police detective, now independently wealthy (how he became wealthy is outlined cleverly in book #1) who now does "favors for friends", which somehow put him in more danger than his past profession. Mac is a bit snarky but he also has a kind heart and is fiercely loyal to his friends.
Trouble finds him immediately as the book opens with McKenzie and his girlfriend Nina on a highway during a blizzard (Housewright depicts the Minnesota winters perfectly in his books). There are other cars on the road, the lines are obscured by snow, and suddenly some asshole in a pickup cuts in front of Mac. He slows down, puts some space between him and the truck, and pretends to be listening to Nina. Suddenly the tailgate on the pickup drops down and a man rolls a body out onto the road. Mac brakes hard ... and here we go on another mystery to solve.
Trouble finds him immediately as the book opens with McKenzie and his girlfriend Nina on a highway during a blizzard (Housewright depicts the Minnesota winters perfectly in his books). There are other cars on the road, the lines are obscured by snow, and suddenly some asshole in a pickup cuts in front of Mac. He slows down, puts some space between him and the truck, and pretends to be listening to Nina. Suddenly the tailgate on the pickup drops down and a man rolls a body out onto the road. Mac brakes hard ... and here we go on another mystery to solve.
November 25, 2021
McKenzie Does It Again
I lived in the Twin Cities for 30 years before moving to Florida in 2021. I began reading David Housewright's books several years ago. I love all the references to Minnesota in general like winter weather, and to Minneapolis/Saint Paul landmarks. It is not just the setting I like about Housewright's books, but also the ex-cop thriller, the humor, and the turn-of-phrase of a really good writer. This was DH's 12th book — I look forward to many more to come.
I lived in the Twin Cities for 30 years before moving to Florida in 2021. I began reading David Housewright's books several years ago. I love all the references to Minnesota in general like winter weather, and to Minneapolis/Saint Paul landmarks. It is not just the setting I like about Housewright's books, but also the ex-cop thriller, the humor, and the turn-of-phrase of a really good writer. This was DH's 12th book — I look forward to many more to come.
October 22, 2024
*4.25 stars.
"As far as I was concerned, anyone who carried a concealed weapon who wasn't involved in some manner of law enforcement or security was an asshole. There were no exceptions--myself included"(85).
"Probably I should have been conciliatory, should have found a way to defuse the situation. I might have, too. Except he said, 'Is this dumb fuck from Minneapolis giving you trouble?' and I lost all interest in diplomacy" (91). *What really gets to him is the fact that he's from Saint Paul.
"As far as I was concerned, anyone who carried a concealed weapon who wasn't involved in some manner of law enforcement or security was an asshole. There were no exceptions--myself included"(85).
"Probably I should have been conciliatory, should have found a way to defuse the situation. I might have, too. Except he said, 'Is this dumb fuck from Minneapolis giving you trouble?' and I lost all interest in diplomacy" (91). *What really gets to him is the fact that he's from Saint Paul.
July 15, 2019
David Housewright hit all the right notes (snarky to "sweet") in this installment. The riveting opening sequence presents the mystery to be sussed out. The Minnesota winter cold plays an important element. Nina becomes more involved in daily and detecting events. And, small town kids dream about the big city after high school graduation as part of their evolution into adulthood. Some evolve better than others.
February 9, 2023
This was a fast past read about a woman rolled off the back of a pick up truck onto the interstate highway directly in front of McKenzie and Nina's car. The story centers on the woman with anmesia and the backstory to her attempted murder. The writing is descriptive of the Minnosota weather, environment and the violent murders along the way as McKenzie assists the police to solve the numerous crimes.
December 18, 2024
Overexplaining local culture in order to compensate for lack of depth in storyline does not equate a good book. There was potential that was sorely lost as the book went on. Depicting Puerto Rican's with accents by substituting "ju" instead of "you" is an uneducated and racist take. The inconsistent change in tenses and incapability to express the main character's feelings without breaking the fourth wall is lazy and made this book hard to finish.
I wish I could rate it 0/5.
I wish I could rate it 0/5.
March 27, 2020
What I like about David Housewright’s stories is that they just take off from the first sentence: “It was snowing heavily when they rolled the girl off the back of the pickup truck onto the freeway.” The plot gets a bit complicated with a large cast of characters, but it keeps you guessing until the end. I enjoy McKenzie’s personality and Housewright’s subtitle humor. This is a great series.
May 5, 2021
My first book read by this author. I picked it up because I’m a Minnesota native, and I love reading books that include places I’ve been/can visit. I couldn’t put this book down. Every time I tried to predict where it was going it would take a different turn. I enjoyed it. Will look forward to reading others by this author!
May 10, 2017
This book was great fun to read in part because of the many references to real places and personalities that populate the Minnesota/Twin Cities scene.
Good mystery, plot not obvious, amusing character banter.
I highly recommend it, especially to Minnesotans!
Good mystery, plot not obvious, amusing character banter.
I highly recommend it, especially to Minnesotans!
October 1, 2023
David Housewright’s books just keep getting better. This one, about an unidentified woman who someone tried to kill, comes into McKenzie’s life and makes a profound effect on him and Nina. When she disappears he is determined to find out where she is and why she disappeared.
July 11, 2017
This was my first Mckenzie novel, it won't be my last. Great characters.
August 22, 2017
Very good. Good story and good writing--as usual.
December 6, 2017
Housewright is fast becoming my favourite mystery writer.
His stories are compelling to read, at least to me, and have lots of twists in the plot.
His stories are compelling to read, at least to me, and have lots of twists in the plot.
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