Pretty Girl Gone

March 6, 2006
In Edgar-winner Housewright's engaging third mystery to feature Twin Cities sleuth Mac McKenzie (after 2005's Tin City
), an old girlfriend who's now the wife of Minnesota governor John Barrett seeks Mac's help in finding the source of a threatening e-mail accusing the governor of the long-unsolved murder of his high school sweetheart. Following the e-mail trail, Mac heads to Victoria, Barrett's hometown, where the governor was one of the still legendary "Victoria Seven" championship basketball team. The picture-perfect town quickly turns sinister as Mac attempts to interview the remaining team members and retired coach, who keeps a shrine to his former glory in his stately home. The chemistry between Mac and police chief Danny Mallinger brings out Mac's inner cad, further obscuring his mission. When Mac digs too close to the truth, he discovers a grisly staged suicide that brings the tragedy of the past smack into the present. Housewright's unapologetically flawed hero charms, while the clean plot lines, palpable Minnesota winter and understated humor make this a good, satisfying read.

April 1, 2006
Rushmore McKenzie ("A Hard Ticket Home") finds that helping his old girlfriend, who just happens to be the First Lady of Minnesota, is not an easy task. Years ago, the cheerleader girlfriend of John Allen Barrett was murdered just before their high school graduation, and everyone in the small town of Victoria suspected that Barrett, now governor, killed her. Having received an email accusing her husband of this crime and believing him to be innocent, Lindsey Barrett asks McKenzie to investigate. But someone does not want the past dug up, and it looks as if more is going on in rural Minnesota than meets the eye. McKenzie somehow manages to stay one pace ahead of those who are trying to stop him in any way that they can. Housewright presents McB-Kenzie as a slightly flawed individual who does favors for his friends without the real knowledge and tools of the sleuthing trade. A good read despite this minor annoyance. Housewright lives in St. Paul.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

April 1, 2006
Mac McKenzie, the ex-cop who quit the force so he could collect a big reward (and who now helps people in distress), isn't sure he wants to take this particular case--perhaps because it involves a governor of Minnesota and the governor's wife, who also happens to be Mac's old girlfriend. But it's too intriguing to pass up: the governor is being accused of murdering his high-school sweetheart. This is the third Mac 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 Mac's emotional side.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)