Bücher von David Housewright

Once a police detective in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rushmore McKenzie became an unlikely millionaire and an occasional unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends. But this time, he finds himself in dire need of working on his own behalf. His dear friend and first love Shelby Dunston attends a public reading by a psychic medium with the hope of connecting with her grandfather one final time. Instead, she hears McKenzie's name spoken by the psychic in connection with a huge sum of stolen-and missing-money. Caught in a world of psychic mediums, with a man from his past with a stake in the future, and more than one party willing to go to great and deadly lengths to get involved, McKenzie must figure out just how much he's willing to believe-like his life depends on it-before everything takes a much darker turn. Praise for From the Grave: "Fun, fast-moving... A psychic medium channels a dark presence who calls for McKenzie's death before it will reveal the location of a large sum of money... McKenzie is soon caught up in the world of psychics, not so reality TV, and very real physical threats by those seeking the lost treasure. The appealing McKenzie and his cohorts engage in amusing banter as they attempt to locate the pilfered cash before someone sends Mac off to the great beyond. Housewright leaves it tantalizingly ambiguous whether Leland's spirit is real. Readers will be entertained either way." -Publishers Weekly "This witty and wonderful St. Paul author has been entertaining readers with the Rushmore 'Mac' McKenzie crime-solving series since 2004. Yet after 17 episodes, we still can't get enough of this St. Paul cop-turned-private eye and the rich characters that surround him... Readers will delight in the antics and dialogue in this crime mystery. Housewright stays above grisly details that other writers thrive on, making him a relaxing and thoroughly entertaining read without the heaviness of a dark plot... If you're a Housewright first-timer, you can pick up nearly any installment in the series and feel right at home." -Minneapolis Star Tribune "The colorful characters follow the unpredictable plot in a chilly Minnesota setting that's so evocative we can practically see our breath in the air. Another of Housewright's strengths is how vividly he paints the picture of St. Paul, making it just as compelling and murky a locale as New York City or L.A. If you've never met McKenzie before, From the Grave is a stellar starting point in the series. Sure, there are allusions to previous cases. And there are plenty of tidbits that reward longtime readers. But this installment, like the others, stands perfectly well on its own merits and would appeal to fans of paranormal mysteries, noir, and plucky P.I.s. It's a fast-paced read with an unexpectedly happy ending, and should absolutely be added to your quarantine read pile." -Criminal Element "Series fans will have a great time here, as Housewright offers readers a new side of the usually superconfident McKenzie, showing a man with all the answers forced to examine not just clues but also his own vulnerability." -Booklist

Louise Wykoff is arguably the most recognizable woman living in Minnesota, known for her presence in over one hundred paintings by the late and brilliant Randolph McInnis. Louise, known better as "That Wykoff Woman," was just a young apprentice when her intimate representation and the fact of the McInnis's marriage caused rumors to fly-and Louise to hide away for decades. All of McInnis's paintings are in museums or known private collections, until Louise confesses to having three more that no one has ever heard of-and now they've been stolen. Rushmore McKenzie, an occasional unlicensed private investigator, agrees to look into the theft. As he investigates, following clues that appear far too straightforward, he finds himself on the wrong side of the bars wondering if the trail might be deeper and darker than he's been led to believe. Hours away from St. Paul, deep in the nature of Grand Marais, the truth seems murkier-and deadlier-than usual. Praise for Dead Man's Mistress: "Edgar winner Housewright's enjoyable 16th novel.... Cursed with a Midwestern charm to match his nonstop patter, McKenzie is an appealing hero who comfortably operates within the hardboiled detective tradition." -Publishers Weekly "Smooth, professional work whose mounting complications... are kept under admirable control right up to the double-barreled denouement." -Kirkus Reviews "The drama is unending, with not-so-clean and not-so-smart small-town deputies investigating a local man's suicide (or it is murder?), a rich family battling for rights to the stolen artwork, and the dogged film crew intent on capitalizing on the scandalous story. It's all painted against a backdrop of greed and deceit-in short, all of the quirky antagonists and character flaws that Housewright has so much fun exploiting for his audience. If Housewright is an acquired taste, I acquired it after the first chapter of my first McKenzie novel..." -Minneapolis Star Tribune "If you are an inspiring writer, then I suggest you read David Housewright's novels. He's one of the best authors in the mystery genre... It is very fast paced. Somehow, the author condenses a four-hundred-page novel into only three-hundred pages without affecting the reader's suspension of disbelief... With its baffling mystery, intriguing plot, human drama, and unique setting, Dead Man's Mistress is highly recommended for seasoned fans as well as for new ones." -Gumshoe Review "This is a nifty little caper... Dead Man's Mistress has lots of snappy dialog in the tried and true gumshoe tradition... it has a nicely realized sense of place... I liked McKenzie, and as I was reading, I kept trying to recall who he reminded me of. Then I remembered: Robert B. Parker's Spenser, of blessed memory." -Books to the Ceiling

Once a police detective in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rushmore McKenzie has become an unlikely millionaire and an occasional unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends. The favor, this time, is for a friend of a friend-Erin Peterson, a local business person and owner of a growing food company called Salsa Girl. Someone seems to have a beef with her: the outside locks on her factory having been systematically filled with superglue. But for some reason, Erin doesn't want to report this harassment to the police. As a favor to his poker buddy and hockey teammate Ian, McKenzie agrees to stop by and chat with Erin. At first Erin denies there's anything going on and then, when the harassment escalates and threatens her business, she also asks for McKenzie's help. The further McKenzie digs into the situation, the more complicated-and deadly-it becomes. And somewhere, in the middle of it all, is Erin, playing all sides against the middle, leading McKenzie to wonder if you ever really know who your friends are. Praise for Like To Die: "This is the fifteenth in the series, and it's just as fresh as the first. Housewright makes telling a cracking-good mystery look effortless, and that means fans are in store for another thoroughly enjoyable read." -Booklist "A fast-moving, dialogue-driven tale so effortlessly and irresistibly spun..." -Kirkus Reviews "In this intriguing 15th novel... McKenzie proves an able protector of life, limb, and the deep dark secrets that...people want hidden in an entry sure to please old and new fans alike." -Publisher's Weekly "Although this series has been described as noir, and Mac certainly gets beat up and shot periodically, there's a wry vibe in these novels that offers humor along with a firecracker plot... Teaser: This story opens with six pages of guy talk during a poker game that is one of the funniest scenes you'll read this season." -St. Paul Pioneer Press "There's so much fun to be had in a David Housewright novel... Few think 'Minnesota' when they hear the phrase 'neo-noir,' yet by the last chapter with McKenzie, you're a believer... Like To Die is satisfyingly twisty, meaty, and action-packed. Housewright takes just enough time to set his scenes-amps up the tension to just the right level-before bringing down the hammer. And, by the final page, all of the threads have been unknotted and tied into a gratifying bow." -Criminal Element "Award-winning Twin Cities author David Housewright delivers another charmer in his latest McKenzie light-crime franchise with Like To Die... As is his signature, Housewright strikes a tone that is light on crime and grit but loaded with lighthearted exploits and peppered with local references to keep us connected. A pleasure to read." -Minneapolis Star Tribune

Once a police detective in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rushmore McKenzie has become not only an unlikely millionaire, but an occasional unlicensed private investigator, doing favors for friends and people in need. When his stepdaughter Erica asks him for just such a favor, McKenzie doesn't have it in him to refuse. Even though it sounds like a very bad idea right from the start. The father of Malcolm Harris, a college friend of Erica's, was found murdered a year ago in a park in New Brighton, a town just outside the Twin Cities. With no real clues and all the obvious suspects with concrete alibis, the case has long since gone cold. As McKenzie begins poking around, he soon discovers another unsolved murder that's tangentially related to this one. And all connections seem to lead back to a group of friends the victim was close with. But all McKenzie has is a series of odd, even suspicious, coincidences until someone decides to make it all that more serious and personal. Praise for What the Dead Leave Behind: "Unlicensed PI Rushmore 'Mac' McKenzie tackles perhaps his most complex case yet in Edgar-winner Housewright's witty 14th Minnesota-based mystery...Housewright is such a pro at plot and character development that it's nearly impossible to put this entry down." -Publishers Weekly "It's a distinct pleasure to follow McKenzie as he uncovers layer upon layer of corporate corruption, from sexual harassment to industrial espionage, while every second woman in the cast comes on to him. The hero emerges with his virtue intact and a brace of new heads for his trophy wall. The surprising number of malefactors at the company isn't a strength of the tale, but they're all well worth your cathartic scorn." -Kirkus Reviews

A stolen gem with a tragic history, a curse and a million dollar ransom is Mac McKenzie's latest case, in David Housewright's Curse of the Jade LilySeveral years ago, Rushmore McKenzie became an unexpected millionaire and set about doing not much of anything. Now, showing up at his doorstep is the insurance company that paid the settlement that made him rich-and they want a favor. Someone has stolen a very expensive gem from a local art museum and is willing to ransom it back. The only condition is that McKenzie has to be the go between. And this is no ordinary gem-it is a jade with a history going back to the Qing Dynasty and a reputed curse that stories claim has ruined or killed everyone who has ever owned it. McKenzie agrees to help but what starts out as a simple ransom quickly becomes complicated. Suddenly other parties-including the State Department and a mysterious woman named Heavenly-start showing up, wanting McKenzie to turn over the gem to them. When the murdered body of on of the thieves turns up in a snow drift, it looks like the cursed Jade Lily has claimed its latest victim. And there may well be more to follow...

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. <br><br>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. <br><br>Praise for UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN #15: <br><br>"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 <i>Unidentified Woman #15</i> 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." -<i>St. Paul Pioneer Press</i> <br><br>"Housewright''s prose style is reminiscent of Donald E. Westlake''s: 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." -<i>Booklist</i> <br><br>"Take a well-written noir and mix it with humor and readers will anticipate this 12th series outing (after <i>The Devil May Care</i>), 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." -<i>Library Journal</i> <br><br>"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." -<i>Minneapolis StarTribune</i>

Daring thieves steal the 200-year-old Jade Lily from a Minneapolis art museum and then offer to sell it back for one-third of its insured value—$1,300,000. But there’s a catch. They demand that unlicensed P. I. Rushmore McKenzie act as go-between. McKenzie reluctantly agrees partly out of curiosity—why did the thieves pick him to deliver the ransom?—and partly because he feels he owes a favor to the insurance company that made him a millionaire years earlier.But when McKenzie makes contact with the thieves, he is bound, gagged and tossed in the back of a speeding van. It turns out there is a wide circle of misbegotten scoundrels who want the Lily for themselves, including a Bosnian thug, the U. S. State Department, a crooked cop, and a fortune hunter out of McKenzie’s past. The game soon turns dark and violent and as the bodies start piling up, McKenzie comes to believe the truth of the Jade Lily’s curse—terrible death follows anyone who touches it.Praise for CURSE OF THE JADE LILY:“McKenzie, who navigates a treacherous path just to stay (barely) alive, not only delivers a Nick Charles-like ending but metes out poetic justice to a fair number of participants.” —Publishers Weekly, stared review“Like the other entries in this entertaining series, the book is a contemporary mystery with overtones from the era of classic hard-boiled detectives: the Jade Lily itself, with its perhaps not so mythical curse; the first-person narration; the wonderfully named femme fatale, Heavenly Petryk. Rushmore is a likable series hero, a guy who’d rather be doing not much of anything but who won’t back down from a fight. The book works as a stand-alone, too, so readers unfamiliar with the series can jump right in.” —Booklist“The latest McKenzie mystery is a wonderful thriller... Filled with humor and a strong cast...this is a fast-paced winner...” —The Mystery Gazette“Housewright’s wit is every bit as sharp as (Robert B.) Parker’s, and as I read along, I was chuckling to myself over bits of dialogue and acerbic observations on McKenzie’s part... (It) has the snap and crackle of great storytelling. I can’t think of a better way to spend a couple of evenings than curled up with a new David Housewright novel. Check it out for yourself” —Killer Books

Rushmore McKenzie is a former cop, current millionaire, and an occasional unlicensed P.I. who does favors for friends. Yet he has reservations when the daughter of his girlfriend Nina Truhler asks him to help her father, Nina’s ex-husband Jason Truhler, a man in serious trouble.En route to a Canadian blues festival on Highway 61, he met a girl, blacked out, and awoke hours later in a strange motel room with the girl’s murdered body on the floor. Slipping away unnoticed and heading home, he thought he got away with it—until he started getting texts with photos of the body and demands for blackmail money he couldn’t afford to pay.McKenzie soon discovers that Truhler was set up in a modified honey trap. But Truhler’s version of events wasn’t exactly the truth, either. And McKenzie soon finds himself trapped in the middle of a very serious game involving teenage prostitution with some of the most powerful men in the state on one side and some of the deadliest on the other.Praise for HIGHWAY 61:“Rushmore McKenzie agrees to help Jason Truhler, the ex-husband of his lover, Nina Truhler, in Housewright’s solid eighth novel featuring the Twin Cities ex-cop who occasionally does ‘favors’ for friends. Jason appears to be the victim of a variation on the badger game when he attended the Thunder Bay Blues Festival in Ontario. He woke the next morning in a cheap hotel room, naked, with a dead girl on the floor, lots of blood, and no memory—now he’s being blackmailed for murder. Trying to unravel the scam leads McKenzie into a morass involving an Internet sex ring, drug dealers, a pair of thugs called Big Joe and Little Joe Stippel, arsonists called Backdraft and Bug, and some of the Twin Cities’ most powerful people. The tenacious McKenzie bounces between cops, bad guys, and movers and shakers with a tenuous hold on legalities but a good grasp on ethics.” —Publisher’s Weekly“In his latest favor (see The Taking of Libbie, SD), Rushmore McKenzie is at his best as he muses over the outcome of good intentions in a caper that is too close to home. The story line is fast-paced as the hero figures out the motel game, but unprepared for the truth about Truhler. Instead of case closed, McKenzie finds deadly felons with ugly intent and even more lethal powerhouses with uglier intent targeting him. Readers will think twice before venturing on Highway 61.” —Mystery Gazette“As the title would suggest, this novel proves to be one of author David Housewright’s most fast-paced endeavors. The author consistently creates top-grade, expertly written mysteries. There’s much to like about the delectably smart-alecky Rushmore McKenzie and his insider’s take on The Cities. He’s the kind of guy whom many women would like to date, and whom many men would like to have as a friend. After all, he’s big on the favors.” —Shine from Yahoo

Frank “Jelly” Nash was dead. And since the notorious bank robber was shot in the head in 1933 during a daring escape attempt, he was deader than most. So why was he sending letters and emails to Rushmore McKenzie, asking the retired cop, unexpected millionaire, and unlicensed P.I. for help?To answer the question, McKenzie joins forces with Ivy, a beautiful woman from his past—and her boyfriend—in a frantic search for $8 million in gold that Jelly stole just before his death. But they aren’t the only ones looking. So are a couple of two-bit thugs, a woman named Heavenly, a local big-wig with much to hide, and an odd assortment of ne’er-do-wells.The search delves deeply into St. Paul, Minnesota’s colorful and infamous past as the treasure-seekers scurry for clues. In the early 20th century, St. Paul was an open city—a place where gangsters could come and stay unmolested by the local authorities as long as they committed no crimes within the city limits. John Dillinger, Bugsy Siegel, Ma Barker’s murderous brood, Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, Machine Gun Kelly, Pretty Boy Floyd, notorious gunman Vern Miller, and yes, Frank Nash, were often spotted frequenting the city’s clubs and casinos, and their activities are carefully examined as the rivals dual each other.The treasure hunt turns unexpectedly deadly when the boyfriend is shot dead outside of Ivy’s apartment. Suddenly, McKenzie is looking for more than a legendary stash from seventy-five years ago, he’s looking for a stone killer and the long-hidden truth behind Jelly’s gold.Praise for JELLY’S GOLD:“In Edgar-winner Housewright’s enjoyable sixth novel to feature Rushmore McKenzie readers get a dual treat as the likable PI deals with a parade of present-day sharpies and gold hunters, while Housewright retells the story of the wholesale corruption that for decades made St. Paul a playground for a who’s who of gangsters, including John Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and others who hobnobbed with St. Paul’s upper crust.” —Publishers Weekly“Housewright not only writes a compelling historical mystery here, but also engages in reconstructive history, using contemporary accounts to trace Nash’s movements in 1933. He also employs a nifty device to bring the history into the novel, careening between McKenzie and other seekers of the prize and Nash’s own words cast into fictional form. Readers will learn a great deal of fascinating information, including the fact that Nash’s nickname Jelly stands for his favorite safecracking device, nitroglycerin. Top notch.” —Booklist, starred review“A clever entertainment driven by an amiable protagonist—Housewright’s best in quite a while.” —Kirkus Reviews“If you haven’t discovered Housewright, you’re in for a real treat—this is a real gem from one of America’s best crime novelists.” —Lansing State Journal

Homicide cop Bobby Dunston's daughter has been kidnapped, taken in broad daylight on a city street in the middle of September. The kidnappers demand a million dollars and force Dunston to get the ransom from his friend Rushmore McKenzie. It soon becomes apparent to both of them that one of the kidnappers is childhood pal Scottie, a once aspiring drummer now gone astray, and that the kidnapping is payback for "crimes" they committed in their past.Of course McKenzie, a former cop and now unlicensed P.I., handles the ransom drop-off and the child is returned safely. But Scottie is soon brutally murdered (maybe that's Mac's fault and maybe it isn't) and someone takes out an open contract on McKenzie, using his own money to pay for it. Dodging attempts on his life from assassins of all shapes and sizes, McKenzie now has precious little time to uncover the mastermind behind it all if he's going to survive.Praise for MADMAN ON A DRUM:"Hate, revenge and old-fashioned greed propel Edgar-winner Housewright's stellar fifth mystery to feature former St. Paul, Minn., cop Rushmore McKenzie. Housewright's chivalric noir hero never fails to charm, whether mourning a St. Paul that's lost much of its colorful, if shady, past or busting a bestial dogfight entrepreneur out in the chilly countryside. Against a realistic Minnesota backdrop, this homage to Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer raises cutting questions about crime and punishment and today's price of friendship and loyalty. Of course, McKenzie knows it's all about money, but Housewright makes it so fresh and real it hurts." -Publishers Weekly, starred review"Housewright returns with another noir-tinged mystery starring St. Paul detective Rushmore McKenzie. Lots of narrative momentum and exciting scenes." -Booklist"McKenzie's subtle humor keeps the tension from boiling over, but don't expect any breaks in the action." -Minnesota Monthly

McKenzie has a lot of old girlfriends. But only one went on to marry the current governor of the state of Minnesota. And only one is calling him with a desperate request to meet in secret. The First Lady is carrying an email that contains a nasty rumor about her husband, and the truth is buried decades deep in a small town's history.Of course McKenzie always has plenty of time on his hands and is in the business of handling such matters for his friends. So he heads straight into the governor's past, planning to poke around and see if he can stir up a little information. Before long, someone starts poking him back, and it's clear that he has stirred up nothing but trouble. McKenzie is soon shifting through a complex web of interlocking secrets and lies, some decades-old, and some rooted violently in the present day.Praise for PRETTY GIRL GONE:"Housewright's unapologetically flawed hero charms, while the clean plot lines, palpable Minnesota winter and understated humor make this a good, satisfying read." -Publishers Weekly"This is the third McKenzie mystery, and it's turning into quite an interesting series: solid premise, tight plotting, and this time more depth in character development, as Housewright explores McKenzie's emotional side." -Booklist"Pretty Girl Gone is an incredible addition to 'Cold Case' mysteries, joining the likes of recent books by Michael Connelly, KJ Erickson, Mary Logue, and Reed Farrell Coleman. Housewright artfully portrays the hopelessness of a group of men who's defining moment happened when they were teenager's; of pitiful lives spent chasing a memory soured by tragedy and deceit... McKenzie is an entertaining and engaging character, and in this, the 3rd novel in the series (following A Hard Ticket Home and Tin City), appears all too human... Pretty Girl Gone is a complex, thoroughly enjoyable addition to what is becoming one of our favorite mystery series." -CrimeSpree Magazine"(Housewright is one) of Minnesota's most dependable practitioners of the craft... McKenzie is good company...with a wry sense of humor, often aimed at himself, and a quick, accurate take on people and places. While certainly not an errant knight in the tradition of Raymond Chandler and Robert B. Parker, he's a good man who's wise enough to know that he will disappoint himself." -Minneapolis Star Tribune

Ten remarkably diverse short stories filled with scheming characters, unexpected twists, and writing that'll sneak up on you from the Edgar Award winning crime novelist. "A good short story is like a punch from a prize fighter-it comes at you fast, delivers an impact, and leaves you stunned. There's no one in our business who does this better than David Housewright. In great story after great story, he proves himself a master of the art of short fiction. This is a collection that should be on every reader's bookshelf." -William Kent Krueger, NY Times Bestselling Author of the Cork O'Connor series A reformed newspaper reporter and ad man, David Housewright has published 16 crime novels including PENANCE (winner 1996 Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America), and PRACTICE TO DECEIVE, JELLY'S GOLD, and CURSE OF THE JADE LILY-all winners of the Minnesota Book Award. He was elected President of the Private Eye Writers of America in 2014.