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Mackenzie August #1-3
Mackenzie August, Books 1-3
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.
Meet Mack August.
He doesn’t fit in—a gritty, wise-cracking, world-weary homicide detective from the mean streets of Los Angeles. Now transplanted to Roanoke, a smaller city in Virginia, and striking it out on his own.
BOOK ONE - August Origins
The first client at Mack's new office is a stunner, a knockout in designer khakis.
She’s also the sheriff. Seems trouble has followed Mackenzie from the West Coast and Sheriff Stackhouse needs his help…
BOOK TWO - The Second Secret
Meet Veronica Summers.
She's a femme fatale in Jimmy Choo heels--a local attorney needing the services of a private investigator.
She's come to the right place. Mackenzie August is hired to sniff out a traitorous informant hiding in an underworld operation. It's an assignment he should turn down--if only someone other than Ronnie Summers had asked, maybe he could have...
BOOK THREE - Flawed Players
Meet Dr. Everett Owens--a respected anesthesiologist bringing his tale of woe to the door of professional sleuth Mackenzie August. Roanoke City's premiere residents are being burglarized and Everetts' been framed for the crime.
Meet Mack August.
He doesn’t fit in—a gritty, wise-cracking, world-weary homicide detective from the mean streets of Los Angeles. Now transplanted to Roanoke, a smaller city in Virginia, and striking it out on his own.
BOOK ONE - August Origins
The first client at Mack's new office is a stunner, a knockout in designer khakis.
She’s also the sheriff. Seems trouble has followed Mackenzie from the West Coast and Sheriff Stackhouse needs his help…
BOOK TWO - The Second Secret
Meet Veronica Summers.
She's a femme fatale in Jimmy Choo heels--a local attorney needing the services of a private investigator.
She's come to the right place. Mackenzie August is hired to sniff out a traitorous informant hiding in an underworld operation. It's an assignment he should turn down--if only someone other than Ronnie Summers had asked, maybe he could have...
BOOK THREE - Flawed Players
Meet Dr. Everett Owens--a respected anesthesiologist bringing his tale of woe to the door of professional sleuth Mackenzie August. Roanoke City's premiere residents are being burglarized and Everetts' been framed for the crime.
653 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2021
About the author
Alan Lee
39 books299 followersYour favorite mystery author for the next twenty years.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 23, 2019
I read the first book, bought the box set and read each of those, too - joined Kindle unlimited so I could read them all - weighing the costs of subscription vs. ownership.
Mackenzie August is a brilliant conflicted Private Investigator. His personal ethics wins him friends and enemies and makes enemies friends...while he's being shot at, tortured, and escaping near death at every turn. He's a card and a card shark. He's humor is sometimes sarcastic and sometimes sophisticated, but always funny. I read passages out loud to my husband
He values friendships and makes every person he meets at least think about life goals and what the loss of them would mean.
Oh, and he's the father of a toddler (well not quite toddling to Mac's chagrin) whom Mac loves devotedly.
Mackenzie August is a brilliant conflicted Private Investigator. His personal ethics wins him friends and enemies and makes enemies friends...while he's being shot at, tortured, and escaping near death at every turn. He's a card and a card shark. He's humor is sometimes sarcastic and sometimes sophisticated, but always funny. I read passages out loud to my husband
He values friendships and makes every person he meets at least think about life goals and what the loss of them would mean.
Oh, and he's the father of a toddler (well not quite toddling to Mac's chagrin) whom Mac loves devotedly.
January 10, 2022
Still Good stories
These are still good stories but the last book lost me in all of the technical grammar. Not only am I a prolific reader but I read the dictionary as a child for fun. I have to say that some of these words I have never seen before. Thank goodness for the dictionary on Kindle. In that context I would also say to the author stop using the same phrasing. The ‘I’m hilarious’ comment gets really old. Ronnie is a damaged individual and I can’t see how she goes on with a life that has any level of normalcy. Hopefully I’m wrong about that but the quasi relationship between Mack and Ronnie is getting really old for me as well.
These are still good stories but the last book lost me in all of the technical grammar. Not only am I a prolific reader but I read the dictionary as a child for fun. I have to say that some of these words I have never seen before. Thank goodness for the dictionary on Kindle. In that context I would also say to the author stop using the same phrasing. The ‘I’m hilarious’ comment gets really old. Ronnie is a damaged individual and I can’t see how she goes on with a life that has any level of normalcy. Hopefully I’m wrong about that but the quasi relationship between Mack and Ronnie is getting really old for me as well.
October 13, 2024
Mackenzie August: the First Collection was fun
4.5 stars.
A fun read! Like Spenser, if he’d gotten dizzy from a tilt-a-whirl.
I would have given five stars, but this collection needs a copy editor in a bunch of places. Also, the set up of book one doesn’t quite match the rewritten free book, The Last Teacher (which is a prequel novel). And, as a nitpick… I train and coach mma, if you don’t have a ground game, it’s hard to be considered a mma fighter. A few have tried it (and even done well - for a time) though eventually they get caught by the very thing they can’t do (or do well).
YMMV 🤷♂️
4.5 stars.
A fun read! Like Spenser, if he’d gotten dizzy from a tilt-a-whirl.
I would have given five stars, but this collection needs a copy editor in a bunch of places. Also, the set up of book one doesn’t quite match the rewritten free book, The Last Teacher (which is a prequel novel). And, as a nitpick… I train and coach mma, if you don’t have a ground game, it’s hard to be considered a mma fighter. A few have tried it (and even done well - for a time) though eventually they get caught by the very thing they can’t do (or do well).
YMMV 🤷♂️
August 12, 2020
Great stories
Have really enjoyed these 3 books about Mack MacKenzie, little Kix, Manny and all the drama they manage to get involved in. I’m a little worried as Kix is managing to stay quite the baby with the passage of time, aging very little. That’s something many of us parents wanted to happen in real life anyway. Don’t know why I question it in a novel.
Have enjoyed reading this earlier part of Manny’s life after reading his own saga. I think you will also love these men and their connections.
Have really enjoyed these 3 books about Mack MacKenzie, little Kix, Manny and all the drama they manage to get involved in. I’m a little worried as Kix is managing to stay quite the baby with the passage of time, aging very little. That’s something many of us parents wanted to happen in real life anyway. Don’t know why I question it in a novel.
Have enjoyed reading this earlier part of Manny’s life after reading his own saga. I think you will also love these men and their connections.
May 15, 2021
IF YOU ENJOYED SPENCER, YOU WILL LOVE AUGUST!
At long last, this genre is brilliantly illuminated once again. Robert Parker is one of my favorite authors, and I have really been somewhat despondent since he passed away. Enter upon the scene, Alan Lee, a truly great Parker-esque author. Lee spins a good tale, full of main character intelligence, wit, humorous quick banter, loylty and yes, full of basically great personal character; and a non-PC PI; On who doesn't whine and shrink from the need to kill someone, or break their things when necessary.
Kudos to the author!
At long last, this genre is brilliantly illuminated once again. Robert Parker is one of my favorite authors, and I have really been somewhat despondent since he passed away. Enter upon the scene, Alan Lee, a truly great Parker-esque author. Lee spins a good tale, full of main character intelligence, wit, humorous quick banter, loylty and yes, full of basically great personal character; and a non-PC PI; On who doesn't whine and shrink from the need to kill someone, or break their things when necessary.
Kudos to the author!
October 28, 2024
Fabulous!!
I started reading the first book of three in a set. I soon realized there was a prequel, so found it, read it, and went back to first book. I have now finished the set of three and will aggressively find the rest of the books this man has written and read them. Wonderful books, part mystery, part humor and thoroughly wonderful!! Would give them ten stars if I could.😁😍
I started reading the first book of three in a set. I soon realized there was a prequel, so found it, read it, and went back to first book. I have now finished the set of three and will aggressively find the rest of the books this man has written and read them. Wonderful books, part mystery, part humor and thoroughly wonderful!! Would give them ten stars if I could.😁😍
January 7, 2020
Disappointing and tedious.
I have enjoyed several books of the tale of Mack his family, friends and enemies. I usually feel like I am "in on the joke" by the authors verbiage which I find to be accurate and amusing. But this book was too long, in my opinion, and I skipped many redundant pages. I guess I wanted less banter and more story.
I have enjoyed several books of the tale of Mack his family, friends and enemies. I usually feel like I am "in on the joke" by the authors verbiage which I find to be accurate and amusing. But this book was too long, in my opinion, and I skipped many redundant pages. I guess I wanted less banter and more story.
July 11, 2018
Great Read
Read the whole box in one and a half days.loved it. Can’t wait for more. Great entertainment.Terrific characters.Dashell Hammit Raymond Chandler eat your heart out.Sorry ! Should not speak ill of the greats.Carry on quickly quirky humor and all
Read the whole box in one and a half days.loved it. Can’t wait for more. Great entertainment.Terrific characters.Dashell Hammit Raymond Chandler eat your heart out.Sorry ! Should not speak ill of the greats.Carry on quickly quirky humor and all
August 22, 2019
An interesting serious but comic relief murder mystery
Love the writing style. Serious topics done with a sense of humour that makes it palatable. Heading to download the next in the series.
Love the writing style. Serious topics done with a sense of humour that makes it palatable. Heading to download the next in the series.
January 24, 2020
Mackenzie August
Really enjoy this series. The August Max character is witty and has me laughing out loud. Reminds me of one of my favorite authors Robert B Parker and that’s a huge compliment.
Really enjoy this series. The August Max character is witty and has me laughing out loud. Reminds me of one of my favorite authors Robert B Parker and that’s a huge compliment.
March 9, 2020
Terrific Series
I really enjoyed this series and can recommend them enthusiastically. The main character is funny and the dialogue is sharp and witty. These books do ned a little polishing. There are some missing words and typos that annoy and knock the reader out of the story.
I really enjoyed this series and can recommend them enthusiastically. The main character is funny and the dialogue is sharp and witty. These books do ned a little polishing. There are some missing words and typos that annoy and knock the reader out of the story.
July 10, 2018
I liked it, apt comparison to Mylon Bolitar. I read them straight through, but I think you would enjoy them more if you took a break between each book.
April 26, 2019
Good boxset
Great series. Can't wait to see if Mackenzie and Ronnie get together in the next book. I love the Manny character.
Great series. Can't wait to see if Mackenzie and Ronnie get together in the next book. I love the Manny character.
October 25, 2019
Mackenzie series 1-3
Very good series. If enjoyed it a lot. Even though I had to get my thesaurus a few times. But it was great writing.
Very good series. If enjoyed it a lot. Even though I had to get my thesaurus a few times. But it was great writing.
November 17, 2019
I enjoyed these books. Would read more
June 14, 2020
Great read
I really enjoy the characters and look forward to reading more of his work. Thank you Alan I really enjoyed your work.
I really enjoy the characters and look forward to reading more of his work. Thank you Alan I really enjoyed your work.
November 10, 2020
An addictive series. Once finished this reader compulsively goes to the next as some issues carry over. Entertaining and witty!
June 9, 2022
Full of likable characters.
July 8, 2022
fun reads
These are fun reads as I have read all of Robert B Parker books and this character has a little bit of Spenser in him that makes for an enjoyable read!!
These are fun reads as I have read all of Robert B Parker books and this character has a little bit of Spenser in him that makes for an enjoyable read!!
January 14, 2024
Fun reading
I loved the dialogue! My vocabulary increased….dictionary by my side.
Look forward to reading more of his works. Recommend his books.
I loved the dialogue! My vocabulary increased….dictionary by my side.
Look forward to reading more of his works. Recommend his books.
March 5, 2024
Awesome read
I just read this collection and I really like it. It was humorous at times and full of action. The pacing is perfect and I couldn't wait to read the next page!
I just read this collection and I really like it. It was humorous at times and full of action. The pacing is perfect and I couldn't wait to read the next page!
July 27, 2026
At first wasn't sure if I liked this series due to some of the extreme violence. However the characters grew on me.
September 14, 2020
Best set of books a must read
I had a hard t time putting the books down. It had great character and plot development. I loved the humorous comments through out the stories .
I had a hard t time putting the books down. It had great character and plot development. I loved the humorous comments through out the stories .
April 22, 2024
Fabulous first book. So good in fact, I bought the 1st & 2nd boxsets. That's a first for me!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews