What doesn't kill us....makes us stronger. When he's shot in the back, Mackenzie learnd this maxim the hard way. He lives through the surgery but is in a medical coma. While he's trying to survive, his friends and law enforcement personnel must work backwards to flush out a killer. The story flashes back and forth with Mackenzie's voice building the story into an all out man hunt. Great thriller, fast paced and full of enough twists that I gasped a couple of times. Easy 5 stars from me.

In WHAT DOESN'T KILL US, retired cop Rushmore McKenzie is shot while doing a favor (i.e. unofficial private detective work) for a friend. While he's in a coma, his friends try to figure out who tried to kill him.

Author David Housewright still incorporated McKenzie's voice -- little asides from him as well as narrative describing his actions prior to getting shot. Throughout, the book jumps from scene to scene to scene, covering a variety of perspectives.

I liked how many characters Housewright jammed in; this is book 18 in the series but was my first so everyone was new to me. Some of his style fit right with my taste (reusable coffee pods, local IPAs, recycling) while some of it didn't (use of the word "f**ktard," some of the characterization particularly the women and Black characters).

I'm not sure I'll pick up any others in this series, but I did stick with this one to the end to see how the story would unravel.

McKenzie has been shot and nearly died during surgery. He is now in an induced coma. His many many friends rally around to investigate. But what was he doing in a seedy bar in a seedy side of town in the first place?

We follow the hunt as it occurs, with the past folded in as needed, told by McKenzie himself, in the present tense as if it were happening in the present. That sounds complicated, which it isn't in practice, although it is an elaborate narrative exercise. I'm not sure I like the time tangle but it is a good story.

What Doesn't Kill Us is the 18th PI procedural mystery featuring McKenzie written by David Housewright. Released 25th May 2021 by Macmillan on their Minotaur imprint, it's 352 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately; it makes it so easy to find information with the search function.

This is a departure for this series because it's told in first person retrospective. McKenzie himself has been shot and is unconscious and in a coma for most of the book. Though it's the 18th book in the series, it works pretty well as a standalone and the author is adept enough to give enough background without overloading readers with unnecessary detail.

The plotting is well crafted with several subplots including solving McKenzie's shooting, the criminal underworld, and a well connected ultra-rich tech fortune family complete with infighting and inheritance disagreements. McKenzie is an inveterate favor-granter to his friends and this time he's gotten himself mixed up in something that's nearly gotten him killed.

The whole book felt like a visit with characters the fans of the series have been following for almost 20 years. I did appreciate that the author didn't leave the "did he die or not" plot element hanging, he resolved it from the first page, with McKenzie himself narrating. There's plenty of dramatic tension to be found throughout and I also liked that the supporting ensemble of characters get a starring role in this book.

Recommended for fans of PI procedurals. The language is R rated. There's some light sexual content, but nothing on page. There is some violence and blood.

Four and a half stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

David Housewright’s Mac McKenzie books are always a delight and #18, #whatdoesntkillus doesn’t disappoint. I never once felt like I was out of the loop because I haven’t read all the books of the series, nor did this book spend a lot of time trying to make sure you knew all the previous activity of the characters. This just felt like a great story that took place in the character’s lives and you were listening to a retelling. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for this ebook to read and review.

What Doesn’t Kill Us is the 18th installment in the P.I. Rushmore MacKenzie series and a real surprise. Early in the book, Mac is shot and spends the majority of the book in a medically induced coma while his friends and associates do the detecting. This gives us several separate investigations tracking the various threads that take them far afield while circling back with delicious synchronicity.

His best friend is police Lt. Bobby Dunston who absolutely cannot lead the investigation so he assigns his partner, a woman decidedly not fond of Mac. But there are the people he has done favors for in the past and they are returning the favor with brilliance and diligence. It is a delight to see how the disparate investigations following different trails all end up at the same place. Frankly, there is a hilarious, nearly slapstick denouement. I loved it.



I love Mac and it almost feels disloyal to love a book where he is unconscious through most of it, but I loved What Doesn’t Kill Us. It was a delight to see his friends take up for him. I loved how some of the less-than-legitimate friends were just as effective as the cops. So I love camp and I love capers and this felt like both and with Mac narrating the entire story in the past tense, there was no real sense of jeopardy to temper our enjoyment of the caper.

I received an e-galley of What Doesn’t Kill Us from the publisher through NetGalley.

What Doesn’t Kill Us at St. Martin’s Press | Macmillan
David Housewright author site
From the Grave by David Housewright review
Darkness, Sing Me a Song by David Housewright review

First Sentence: I was shot in the back at close range by a .32-caliber handgun yet did not die, at least not permanently.

Rushmore "Mac" MacKenzie is a former cop now spending his time doing unofficial private investigations for his friends, some more law-abiding than others. It all starts when his friend Deese takes a genealogy-site DNA test and learns his father is not his father. But is that what led to Mac being shot in the back? Now lying in a medically-induced coma, it is up to Mac's friends to do a favor for him to track down his would-be killer.

What a unique premise. While the solving of the crime is left up to his diverse and fascinating assortment of friends with incidents shown from their perspective, the story is told, by post coma, by Mac. This gives a somewhat out-of-body feel to the narration. The book does mention COVID-19, although it was clearly written at the very beginning of the pandemic.

Housewright has compiled a fascinating collection of characters. Many are recurring characters that add to the overall series. Some, such as Detective Shipman, are new and add a touch of vinegar to the story. That Nina, Mac's wife, confesses being jealous of Shelby, the wife of Mac's best friend, is perfectly written and exemplifies how women almost never realize their own worth or successes.

The story segues into various relevant topics are insightful and add a layer to the story beyond the basic investigation. Rather than being intrusive or slowing the pace, they add a layer of significance.

Housewright is an eminently quotable author. Whether talking about emotional pain—"It reminds me of that old Skeeter Davis song. I wake up in the morning and I wonder why everything's the same as it was."—or referencing Shakespeare to impart a facial expression—"I need you to do something for me," she said. The way Smith and Jones glanced at each other yet again somehow reminded Shipman of Shakespeare's Richard III – I am not in the giving vein today."—or a t-shirt meme—"YOU MATTER unless you multiply yourself by the speed of light squared…then you energy."—his words are relatable.

Unconventional twists are sometimes so cleverly done as to make one smile. The story of Deese and the unintended result of taking the DNA test is one that could serve as a caution. But there is also a well-done twist that circles the plot back to the motive.

"What Doesn't Kill Us" is a well-done, non-stop read. This may not be Housewright's best book, only due to the plethora of characters which can be confusing, but it is certainly an entertaining one.

WHAT DOESN'T KILL US (PI-Rushmore MacKenzie-Twin Cities-Contemp) – G+
Housewright, David
Minotaur Books, May 2021, 345 pp.

Rushmore McKinzie, a popular ex-cop and millionaire, loves to do favors for people. Equally as many people owe him favors as well. So when McKinzie is shot, the effort to find the culprit involves the cops, a private detective, and many others. It turns out that McKinzie's favor doing had troubled some very rich people. The characters in the novel are likable and the tale enjoyable.
What I didn't like was the poor structure of the novel. Scenes and characters change without notice. Sometimes there are asterisks at the end of a chapter, but most times not. It's disconcerting to be following one scenario only to suddenly realize that is has been abruptly dropped and you are now in a different one.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

law-enforcement, attempted-murder, secrets, family-dynamics, Minnesota, St Paul, procedural, friendship, crime-fiction*****

Rushmore McKenzie isn't the one doing the diligence because he has been shot in the back and is in dire straits in the ICU. But everyone from his wife to all those who worked with or love and/or owe him one are doing everything they can to trace his steps for the past few weeks to find the Why, Who, and more. McKenzie was a St Paul police detective, but now is a sometime PI and is wealthy. The investigation takes them into the world of big business, weird families, high class drug rings, and more (like learning about liver transplants). In the previous book I felt like I was missing something but this one fills in any blanks and is very real and enjoyable. World class storytelling!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

McKenzie’s Friends Solve His Almost Fatal Shooting

Former police officer and current millionaire Rushmore McKenzie sometimes works as an unofficial investigator. In this guise he’s helped solve some of the most difficult crimes in the St. Paul area. He is currently working a case. Standing outside a rather seedy bar on Rice Street he’s shot in the back. While he’s in a coma and recovering, his childhood friend, Lt. Bobby Dunston leads the police investigation into the shooting. McKenzie’s friends and frenemies from many different areas also try to find answers to the crime.

The pace is fast and there are plenty of twists in this story. McKenzie in recovery tells much of the story from his point of view. Many of his friends who are also trying to solve the crime are also given a chance to tell what’s going on from their perspective. I particularly enjoyed this split between McKenzie and his friends, who are interesting characters in their own right.

Although this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. Since the book has a great deal of action, the author doesn’t rely on backstory. All the characters are well developed so the need for backstory is limited.

If you enjoy police work with quirky characters and an engrossing plot, this is a good one.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

“I was shot in the back at close range by a 32-caliber handgun yet did not die, at least not permanently. I did not see who shot me. I did not know why I was shot.”—from What Doesn’t Kill Us

This is the story of how the friends of McKenzie investigate his shooting. McKenzie is a former policeman who is now rich. But he still does investigative favors for his friends. What was he investigating the night he was shot, and for whom? The answer involves an extremely troubled family from the rich side of Minneapolis.

The plot is twisty and moves through some uncomfortable family and workplace dynamics. But all are in the past so probably not triggering for most readers. The plot turns were done really well. My only issue was that there were some awkward narrative moments. The point-of-view is first person by McKensie, who is in a coma. So, the reader knows he will eventually awaken without brain damage spoiling a major plot point. Still, I recommend What Doesn’t Kill Us for its twisty-turny endlessly compelling tale. 4 stars!

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I was hesitant to read this because it's a well-established series that I've never read but I'm glad I was introduced to it. I was never lost in the mystery but I could sense there were many things that would've been better had I read previous books. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, another symptom of a long-running series, but in there were some very intriguing characters.

When the main character, former St. Paul police detective Rushmore McKenzie, is shot right away and in a coma, I wondered if this were a chance for the series to spin off a new lead but that wasn't the intention and most of the book is written after he's recovered. It's simply a way to swing into the seedy characters his friends and rivals will encounter while he's in a coma. It felt like a collection of detective and cop "types" all investigating for McKenzie in their own way... as if the author enjoys portraying the profession on a skill or technique level. They're all trying to find out who shot their pal and he's still wondering how his childhood friend's DNA test and the relatives he was asked to find weave into this moment.

The characters were interesting, although again... there were a lot of them. The plot had a few twists that I saw but not too early to be boring. This is a solid mystery and I'm sure a great series. Thank you Minotaur Books for giving me a sneak peak at this great new book!

Mac narrates much of this story from the perspective of what he's been told about how his friends- and frenemies- investigated his shooting. A former St Paul police officer, he now does private investigations (and favors) and one of them got him shot in the back. Why was he near the club? Well, he didn't tell anyone and he ends up in a coma. An odd couple- Lt Bobby Dunston and Thaddeus Coleman, a criminal- start off the investigation both public and private and both enlist others to help them. I'd only read a couple of the preceding novels so I'm sure some of the nuance in these characters was lost on me but they are well drawn and, unlike some in the genre, believable. Housewright makes good use of his setting (it's almost another character). There's some humor, some twists, and the storytelling is good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Fans of the series will be pleased with this installment and new readers will look for Mac again.

This is book 18 in the Twin Cities P.I. Mac McKenzie series. I didn’t realize it was part of a series when I requested it so I read it as a stand alone. I didn’t feel like I was missing vital parts of the story and I enjoyed the book but I think it would have been much better if I had read it in the order of the series. I liked the different points of view and found the suspense palpable. I will probably check out this series from the beginning because it was so well written and entertaining.

If you have never read a mystery narrated by a man in a coma, then here is your chance. This mystery was wonderful, witty and guided by the delightful Rushmore McKenzie. McKenzie (he does not like his first name) is a retired St. Paul detective. He retired immediately before he brought in a criminal that he had apprehended thereby receiving the reward…which made him a very wealthy man (that was a great story too). He is a very good man with many friends and is always doing “favors” for those in need; which is what he was doing when he was shot in the back. After surgery he is placed in a coma and tells one heck of a story. His loyal friends, both legal and not quite legal, are trying to find out who shot him and why. An amazing and unique mystery with a cast of interesting characters including his wife of four months, Nina Truhler, owner of Rickie’s Jazz Club, who just wants someone to “promise” that he will be okay. I loved the way the author wraps everything up at the end, with no questions left unanswered. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

What Doesn't Kill Us (Twin Cities P.I. Mac McKenzie 18) by David Housewright is a pretty good book. It's told in a kind of skewed first person narrative as if McKenzie is telling the story the way it was told to him after it all happened (it's nowhere near as confusing as that sounds).

Basically the book starts out with McKenzie getting shot by an unknown person (or persons) and ending up in a coma. While he is in the coma various people from his past, some of whom are not exactly friendly towards each other, work together and separately to find out what happened. A shadow investigation of McKenzie's original investigation. It has a sort of nuanced theme of how one life can touch many others and make a difference.

I've read a few others in this series over the years but I haven't read them all or followed it that closely so I wasn't familiar with all the characters who showed up to help solve the mystery. It didn't really matter too much, I was able to follow along without any issues.

I enjoyed it. I would recommend it to fans of middle-of-the-road mystery/crime fiction - meaning neither cozy nor hard-boiled and easily digestible.

It's got some four-letter words and a few sexually suggestive moments but it should be suitable for most readers. I would give it a PG-13 just for a smattering of language (not excessive but more than once or twice).

***I received a digital ARC of this title through NetGalley

You don’t really know who your friends are until you find yourself in a time of need. Do they go into hiding, or do they come to your rescue? When Rushmore McKenzie is in a coma, his friends come to his rescue. We learn more about the friends, McKenzie, and the case in this excellent storytelling style.

In David Housewright's next novel featuring the beloved Rushmore McKenzie What Doesn't Kill Us—McKenzie has been shot and lies in a coma while the police and his friends desperately try to find out what he was doing and who tried to kill him. It's been a long time since the last McKenzie book so I was so happy to see this and be able to read it. It did not disappoint. Told from differing pov's while McKenzie lies in a coma after having been shot, the story comes together nicely and flows really well. Great ending. I hope there will be more McKenzie sooner rather than later. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

What Doesn’t Kill Us by David Housewright
Rating: 5 stars

Summary: Long standing protagonist McKienze Rushmore is shot outside a bar in St. Paul and is rushed to the hospital and saved. Although he’s placed in a coma by his doctor, he walks his investigation backwards through multiple characters and a great walk through of St. Paul.

Comments: Sadly, only my second Housewright novel. I should have paid more attention to Housewright work since he practically a neighbor of mine. Great storytelling. Great St. Paul author, among others. If you like Sanford, Kent-Krueger or Matt Goldman, Housewright fits right in. Fabulous catching up I have coming in the library.

Thanks to #StMartinsPress. #NetGalley and #DavidHousewright for the opportunity to read and review the latest "McKenzie" mystery in return for a fair and honest review.
It must be said, first, that I will read almost any book by Mr Housewright - especially the McKenzie books. And this one was certainly a rollercoaster ride!
McKenzie has been shot in the back while on his way to meet a subject in his latest investigation - which involves DNA, Opioids, the Stock Market, Artificial Intelligence and other felonies too numerous to mention.
So, a number of his friends, associates, frenemies (I'm talking about you, Jean Shipman) and people for whom McKenzie has done 'favours' in the past all decide to investigate on his behalf (most known to each other, but each one taking different tacks, which eventually lead to the same conclusions, and an almost-hilarious - if not for the peril involved - final standoff.
Most of the book is written from the post-recovery viewpoint of said Rushmore McKenzie (and we do know from the beginning that he survives, so this is not a spoiler), interspersed with the perspectives of everyone who's involved in the investigations.
Most of the mystery revolves in McKenzie's friend Dave Deese discovering through a DNA test that his father was not his father, and his request to McKenzie to find his relatives. And boy, what relatives they turn out to be.
This can certainly be read as a standalone novel, but knowledge of some of McKenzie's previous escapades would definitely help in deciphering the various players and their motivations (although hints and explanations are dropped throughout).
Highly recommended.