Pretty Girl Gone

"Mac" McKenzie, the former police officer who resigned his position so he could collect a reward that made him instantly wealthy, returns in his role of private investigator who "does favors" for those in need. In "Pretty Girl Gone", Mac's old girlfriend, Lindsay Barrett, enlists his help to track down the origin of an extortion email that threatens to destroy her current husband, John Barrett, who happens to be the Minnesota Governor. Someone is claiming Governor Barrett killed his high school sweetheart while he was a member of the legendary "Victoria Seven" basketball team that miraculously won the Minnesota state championship just days after her mysterious death. Although harboring misgivings about Lindsay's honesty as well as the assignment itself, Mac agrees to look into things by going to Victoria, site of the email's origin as well as the home of the former "Victoria Seven". Before leaving however, there are complicating threats from a group of wealthy businessmen who may or may not be interested in protecting Governor Barrett's best interests as well as Mac's health. Several secondary characters enter the storyline as a result including a mysterious "investigator" who turns up at inopportune times throughout Mac's investigation. Who is he and what is his agenda? Mac's experiences in Victoria become gripping reading. As he wends his way through interviewing everyone in town who remembers the death (and championship) 30 years before, he is met with hostility, resentment, and silence. Indeed, most of the "7" are reluctant to cooperate and are downright violent in dealing with Mac. Before Mac even catches his breath, there are attempts on his life and deaths around him. What is going on? Mac's sole ally, and a questionable one at times, is Danny Mallinger, a somewhat naïve female interim police chief. Mallinger and Mac develop a hot chemistry that sometimes distracts them and certainly tweaks Mac's conscience. As Housewright brings all the threads of the story to a climax, the tension builds incredibly--pages can't be turned fast enough. The payoff is not too obvious so an element of mystery will remain until the end for many readers. Who knows why one book or author calls to us and another turns us off. I truly enjoyed this novel and Housewright's styling. I appreciated Housewright's ability to develop mood through use of the weather and landscapes of Minnnesota. His character development is clearly a strength in this novel as the reader comes to easily like or hate characters as they appear and develop. And as mentioned above, the author builds suspense and feeds the mysteries in the course of the book until the reader is riveted to the page and seemingly cannot get enough. I highly recommend this effort.

David Housewright, where have you been all my life? Seriously, this book was awesome from start to finish. I'm not a great big fan of the PI novel, but what Housewright has done with the character of Mac McKenzie is top notch. There's humor and humility. Emotion and realism. Mac isn't particularly tough, but he holds his own because he operates by the code that self-survival is of the utmost... he fights when he has to but he'll avoid a scrape if it's not necessary. In some ways, this character reminded me of Columbo. Just a side note... I had an e-mail conversation with my mom today. She said she just read something that made her want to read everything by the author. I had the same experience with this one. Look out Housewright. I coming after your catalog.

Lindsay Barrett asks Minnesota PI, Rushmore "Mac" McKenzie to investigate a rumor that her husband killed his High School girlfriend back in the days when he was part of a small-town basketball team legend, the Victoria Seven. The investigation has to be hush-hush since Lindsay, who happens to be an old flame's of Mac's, is First Lady of the state of Minnesota, and her husband, Governor John Barrett has aspirations of a Senate seat. Mac travels back to small town Victoria where secrets have remained buried for over thirty years. PRETTY GIRL GONE is an engaging page-turner. Stories of this type can sometimes lag, but the plot moved along at a crisp pace. Mac is a multi-faceted character, and while I did not enjoy all his traits, he did have several redeeming qualities. There are a few misguided turns in the story, but that does not detract from the overall story. I look forward to the next Rushmore McKenzie novel. 4 1/2 stars

David Housewright is now on my list of "buy in hardcover the second it is published." His writing is great, the characters are very well developed and the plot is always interesting. Buy it - you'll like it!

Lindsey Bauer Barrett, wife of Minnesota Governor John Barrett, asks her former boyfriend, Twin Cities private investigator Mac McKenzie, to uncover who is behind an extortion email. For Zee as Mac calls her, he would do anything so he agrees to uncover the identity of the person blackmailing Barrett by going public with information claiming the governor killed his high school sweetheart, a cold case. Mac tracks the email back to Barrett's hometown Victoria where he remains more famous as part of the legendary state basketball championship team "Victoria Seven" than the governor. However, no one wants to discuss anything but that championship season and the residents are especially silent on the homicide. In fact, Mac's efforts to question the team members and the coach go nowhere and everyone demands he leave town as no one wants to allow him to tarnish the reputation of their team. However, he keeps digging only to find an elaborate ploy in the past that still impacts the present. PRETTY GIRL GONE is a terrific Twin City private investigative tale because of the determined flawed hero who refuses to back down though pressure mounts on him to leave; part of the reason he doggedly continues his inquiries is the past relationship and his attraction still to the beautiful Zee. His discovery of the truth is cleverly devised because the reality will shock readers yet clues are there to be found (albeit not by me). Fans will enjoy this strong caper and seek David Housewright's other tales (see TIN CITY). Harriet Klausner