Curse of the Jade Lily

Starred review from April 23, 2012
The theft of a fabulous sculpture, the Jade Lily, from the City of Lakes Art Museum propels Housewright’s excellent ninth mystery featuring Twin Cities PI Rushmore McKenzie (after 2011’s Highway 61). The “artnappers” are willing to sell the Lily back to the museum for $1.3 million, a third of its insured value, and specify McKenzie to deliver the ransom. McKenzie soon discovers that the museum isn’t alone in wanting the sculpture. Other claimants who want McKenzie to acquire the Lily for them include gorgeous Heavenly Petryk (last seen in 2009’s Jelly’s Gold); a U.S. State Department official, partnered with a blustery representative of the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina; and a corrupt cop. All have different but effective means of applying pressure. 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. Agent: Alison Pickard, Alison J. Picard Agency.

May 1, 2012

PI Rushmore McKenzie returns in his ninth adventure (after Highway 61), investigating a stolen gem's path. Problem is, the gem may be cursed.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2012
Rushmore McKenzie, the Minnesota cop turned millionaire turned unofficial private eye, isn't keen to do a favor for an insurance company. But since this particular favor involves the same people who were responsible for Rushmore becoming a millionaire, he feels guilted into acting as the go-between straddling some art thieves and the insurance company. Naturally, the seemingly simple job (give the thieves their ransom; collect the stolen Jade Lily sculpture) turns complicated and then murderous. 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)