David Housewright has put out another great mystery for McKenzie to get himself involved in. Nina, McKenzie's wife spies a dead man in the river while they were at the marina. On a very cold Minnesota day. This opens the door for McKenzie to try not to get involved, but that never works out.

Lawsuits are flying, many large money insurance policies are in play and nothing seems to fit together. Then, another death, connected or not?

I love this McKenzie series because the stories just flow and bit by bit, we start to see little advances in his investigation. The author manages to get you almost to the very end before it all comes together. Great humor also. Loved it!

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC!

A captivating mystery novel featuring Rushmore McKenzie, a former police officer turned unofficial private investigator. We begin with McKenzie's wife, Nina, discovering the body of E.J. Woods, an Army veteran, in a lake during their first boat outing of the season. The initial claims by the dock owner and insurance companies suggest suicide, but circumstances and motivations surrounding E.J.'s death are suspicious, prompting his daughter, Naveah, to believe he was murdered.

McKenzie becomes embroiled in the case at Naveah's request, diving into a complex investigation that reveals unsettling details about E.J.'s past and the community's secretive dynamics. As he navigates through uncooperative locals, allegations of PTSD, and the haunting impact the case has on his wife, McKenzie uncovers layers of deceit that challenge the official narrative of suicide. The plot thickens with legal battles and personal stakes rising, pushing McKenzie to seek justice amid growing danger and resistance from various quarters. The novel is well-crafted with a blend of mystery and drama, enriched by the gritty and nuanced exploration of its characters and the social undercurrents of their community.

“Man in the Water” (Twin Cities P.I. Mac McKenzie #21) by David Housewright ⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2. Genre: Noir Fiction/Police Procedural. Location: The Twin Cities area, Minnesota, USA. Time: present.

THE SERIES: Ex-St. Paul cop Rushmore (Mac) McKenzie has time and money. But Mac is bored. So now he’s an unofficial private investigator, surrounded by complicated crimes, including murder. Mac’s not bored anymore!

THIS BOOK: On the season’s 1st boat day, Mac’s wife Nina Truhler finds the body of 62 year old Army veteran E.J. Woods in the St Croix River a few miles north of Stillwater. The dock owner and insurance companies claim it was suicide. But Woods had no obvious reason to kill himself, and his widow Bizzy is acting suspiciously. Neveah, the victim’s daughter, is convinced it was murder, and asks Mac to investigate. Mac finds uncooperative boaters full of petty squabbles, PTSD allegations, and no reason for Woods to be in the water. Meanwhile, the legal fight over cause of death becomes increasingly nasty.

Author Housewright’s main character McKenzie may be retired from the cop shop, but this is definitely a police procedural novel. Housewright clearly likes details. He lists court transcripts, and describes lots of historical data. For example, he spends 5 pages sharing the history of Ft Snelling and quoting the entire “The Last Duty Call” from the Ft Snelling Memorial Rifle Squad website. While many authors unfortunately still use racial cues by adding color descriptors only for people of color (the black man), he notably avoids this stereotype by describing the Caucasian race in color as well: (the man was “white and round”.)

If you like long-term series where characters grow over time, lots of Twin City details, a main character with friends and a healthy relationship, and police procedures, pick up this book! It’s 3.5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️

A slow-burning but satisfying crime thriller with a gem of an investigator—former police officer Rushmore McKenzie. His character drives the story. His perspective, especially his thought process throughout the book as he pieces together the mystery behind EJ Woods' death, is so intriguing. This book is well into a series, and I dove in, hoping I'd be able to follow it. I had no issues whatsoever, and I don't feel like the rest of the series has been spoiled for me at all.

Rushmore McKenzie, where have you been all my life? When I got this book, I had no idea that it was a series, and Man in the Water was the 21st and last installment. So now, I finally met McKenzie and really like him.
A retired Twin Cities cop, McKenzie is planning a relaxing weekend with his wife on his friends’ boat on the river. Arriving at the marina, they have an encounter with a woman who is asking them for help with finding her husband. It doesn’t take long until they find him, dead in the water. Soon after, the new widow is suing the insurance companies who refuse to pay out the dead husband’s life insurances and claim he committed suicide. The widow is convinced that it was an accident, and his daughter has yet another idea. She solicits McKenzie’s help to find out what really happened to her late father. Only a few weeks later, she changes her mind.
I really liked that the story is told in the first person POV. McKenzie is quite a character. He is cynical with a sense of humor. Was he not so likable, I’d probably call him annoying. He doesn’t take no for an answer and only listens to his ‘inner voice’ (which is hilarious by the way).
This book is a fast paced thriller which even picks up speed at the very end. The writing style is fluid and entertaining. I will definitely look for the previous installments of the series and can’t wait to read more about Rushmore McKenzie! A solid 4* read for me.
I would like to thank Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read the advance copy in exchange for my honest review and personal opinion.

I enjoy stories that have military and police officer mentions because I can relate to those characters as a military and blue line family myself. I didn’t realize this was part of a series! It works as a stand alone.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 25, 2024
David Housewright brings back Rushmore McKenzie, now a retired police officer, in his newest McKenzie police novel, “Man in the Water”. “Water” is the twenty-first novel in this substantial police investigation series but I can tell you from personal experience, it is not necessary to read any of the other twenty novels if you want to take the chance with this one.
McKenzie and his wife are visiting friends at a local marina when a woman comes up to them, begging for help in finding her husband. After a brief search, McKenzie’s wife, Nina, comes across a dead man in the water. McKenzie does his best to stay out of the investigation and enjoy retired life but the man’s daughter, Neveah, reaches out to him and begs him to help her find out how her father died. Neveah is convinced her father was murdered but no one else seems to believe her. With the insurance agencies and the police officers investigating, no one is trying to determine why someone would kill E.J. Woods- except for McKenzie.
Housewright’s McKenzie is a, now retired, police officer who, like many of his ilk in this genre, can’t leave the job behind. E.J. Woods and his friends are all retired veterans, some suffering from PTSD, which endears the murder victim to the reader almost immediately, becoming invested in the outcome of McKenzie’s investigation.
I am sure that many of McKenzie’s characters have shown up in previous novels before, and I know that his personal history on the job and with his wife, Nina, have been discussed in further detail, but I found that I needed none of that information to make this novel enjoyable and engaging.
Police procedurals are a genre on their own for good reason, and they are pretty similar in many ways, so it’s very important that authors create a character that is unique and memorable, to separate them from the herd. McKenzie fits many stereotypes of fictional policemen, yet he has a genuine and honest side to him that earns respect and makes him stand out.
As mentioned, I am new to both Housewright and to Rushmore McKenzie himself, but the fact that I was able to jump right into this series without immediately falling behind and feeling lost speaks to Housewright’s talent. I will definitely read more from the author (and from this series), if I get the chance.

I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. I was so disappointed to turn the last page and I immediately wanted more. I can’t wait to see what's next from this author.

Retired police officer, Rushmore McKenzie, and his wife are off to visit friends at the local marina when a pretty blonde, underdressed for the cold, runs to them begging for help to find her husband. And her husband, EJ Woods, turns out to be the man in the water. Unclear if it's an accident (who are we kidding!), or something more sinister, McKenzie is pulled into the storyline and begins investigating at the request of the deceased's daughter Neveah.

I enjoyed the police and military aspects of the story - so many characters served in either the armed forces or police work. I didn't even realize it's part of a series until after I'd finished - so you can totally read it stand alone. Although now I'm intrigued and want to check out more from David Housewright!


Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and David Housewright for the eARC.

I tried to push through with this one but had to DNF at 40%. There was just nothing holding my attention.
Maybe that's my fault- I thought this would be a thrilling murder mystery and it turned out to be neither. What it was was an investigation into a seemingly straightforward drowning and a insurance fraud case. I think the main character McKenzie was meant to have a dry, sarcastic sense of humour but to me it just read a total lack of personality
Giving it a two star because it was well written and researched.

Man in the Water by David Housewright
Pub date: 25 Jun 2024
• Slow burn murder mystery
• Investigation into a drowning and insurance fraud case
• Author has a dry, sarcastic sense of humor
• If you're looking for a thriller this is not it
• A cozy read, but not a stand out in the field
• Well written and researched

Leave it to me to chose a book that's like the 21st in a series 🙄

Honestly though, I didn't feel like I was missing too much which was nice. I'm all for murder mysteries as you know but this one was a little different. It was more of a procedural type story. The reveals werent as impactful because the hints were dropped throughout the story. I guess it felt kind of like a scavenger hunt! I think this is a series that I'd read as a pallette cleanser in between heavy books! The writing is clean and crisp and I love Mckenzie's sass and sarcasm! I will definitely be looking into the rest of the series to get some of the references that were mentioned!

This is bad to say, but this is the first book I have read from David Housewright. IT WAS A PLEASURE THOUGH!

Even though I picked up well into this series. I was able to follow along the story line. Consider it a stand alone maybe as well. It was a fun read and definitely a cozy beach/lake mystery if you will.

The Mckenzie's show up at a lake, a woman is in distraught who cant seem to locate her husband....Well guess who finds him....The Mckenzies...DEAD! Murder mystery activate. Story starts from there. Its a cozy read definitely, but its definitely nothing different from murder mysteries I have read.

Thank You Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc.

Rushmore McKenzie has retired from police work, although, he still seems to find enough mysteries to keep him occupied. While visiting friends, they are approached by a woman who is looking for her husband. What they find leads to more questions, and as McKenzie begins to investigate, someone is determined to keep him from finding the answers that he is seeking.

This was a really good read. I enjoyed it. The first part of the book moves a bit slowly, but once it picks up, it really picks up. A great mystery for the weekend! Read this one in one sitting. I was excited to find that this was part of a series, and have already bought the first book so that I can go back and start the series fresh.

This book hooked me with its title and cover. I have not read the other books in this series, but it doesn’t make the story hard to follow at all. It reads like a standalone. I can’t wait to dive in to the other books in this series.

The book was obviously very well researched and it was well written. The main character, Rushmore McKenzie, leads you through the investigation and I liked that perspective a lot. It gives the reader an insight into the inner workings of his mind as an investigator. You see him trying to solve the case through his interactions with other people and his inner monologues. It was like you were his partner, trying to help him solve the case.

And keeping in the spirit of the mystery drama, there is always a twist! I didn’t see this ending coming (and I can figure out endings 70% of the time). I thought I was following the case (I had my suspects and everything) but David Housewright threw me for a loop and I loved that.

The only problem I had with the book (and it’s not really a problem) is that it was very slow paced. I found myself pushing through the story in multiple places, but I’m glad I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Book #21 of the adventures of Rushmore McKenzie. I have not read any of the other books in this series and was a bit worried. In the end al was fine an I realized that I did not need to read the other books. Rushmore McKenzie and his wife Nina end up in the midst of a mystery. Nina finds the body of an army veteran in the lake. The authorities are claiming it was a suicide and Mac’s wife does not and neither does Rushmore. His daughter ask Mac to invESTIGATE. There are so many ups and in this investigation. I am amazed that MAC was able to find out who the real I killer is. Will this death be the only or will there be more. This was a good book to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Man In The Water", the latest McKenzie book from David Housewright. I have read a number of the books in this series, and enjoyed every one of them.
This time, McKenzie and his wife, Nina, inadvertently end up in the middle of a mystery - die EJ Woods die of a misadventure, suicide or murder? There are conflicting thoughts from his family, friends and acquaintances.
When McKenzie and Nina encounter Elizabeth "Bizzy" Woods at a local marina - where they are visiting friends who have a boat docked there - she tells them that she cannot find her husband; unfortunately, he's located shortly thereafter in the water, really most sincerely dead.
When it comes to light that EJ had purchased multiple insurance policies, with double indemnity attached to each, the insurance agencies claim that the death was suicide and are refusing to pay. The dead man's wife refuses to believe that it was suicide and launches a lawsuit agains the marina, alleging unsafe conditions. The dead man's daughter believes that her father was murdered, and wants McKenzie to investigate, thus launching us into a multi-pronged investigation with many red herrings and possible conspiracies.
Was the death related to his business? Did anyone else know that he was in therapy for PTSD (his buddies at the VFW certainly did).
It's a rollercoaster ride for McKenzie as he tries to untangle all of the relationships and clues, leading to the final solution (and keeping us all on tenterhooks at the same time).
I particularly enjoy McKenzie's internal monologues as he navigates the ups and downs of the case.
Can certainly be read as a standalone novel - there is certainly enough backstory that you won't feel at sea - but the entire series is worth investing your time.

This book has a very simple premise but works really well. A body is found early in the book and the rest of the book is spent following McKenzie trying to uncover what happened. The author writes very well, incorporating humour and sarcasam as appropriate as well as explaining things just enough to leave them up for interpretation, which I love as it really makes you think and feel accomplished that you understood it without the author having to spell it out for you. Kind of like a club only few people will belong to. The ending was a perfect way to finish off the book, I have no complaints about the story line or ending.

The only criticism I may add is, near the beginning of the book, something was brought up that I feel like should have been investigated more, or at least revisited again at another time later in the book. The way it was brought about made it seem important, and then essentially the main character was too lazy to check it out, and then it was never mentioned again. Even though there was good potential of it having results on the investigation.

However, character building and plot development was perfect overall and I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

2⭐️

I tried to push through with this one but had to DNF at 40%. There was just nothing holding my attention.
Maybe that's my fault- I thought this would be a thrilling murder mystery and it turned out to be neither. What it <i>was</i> was an investigation into a seemingly straightforward drowning and a insurance fraud case. I think the main character McKenzie was meant to have a dry, sarcastic sense of humour but to me it just read a total lack of personality

Giving it a two star because it was well written and researched.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When his wife finds the body of an Army veteran in the lake, it is inevitable that former cop, now unofficial P.I. Rushmore McKenzie will get immersed in a complicated case of possible murder.!
It all starts with a body in the water! McKenzie wife finds the dead army vet on what should be the first day of boat season! As the investigation starts the dead mans insurance companies say he killed himself and that the doc where it happened is at fault as his widow is claiming also! Things just don't add up and the mans daughter hires McKenzie to help prove her fathers murder! This was definitely a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! The storyline was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!