This is another novel in the McKenzie series and is the first one I have read (there are 22). While it works as a stand alone novel, reading the other books in the series will provide greater context to the main character and the group around him. That said, it is an engaging read which made it a fast read for me. It revolves around dinosaur bones stolen from a dig site.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my fiction book review blog.

I didn't know that Them Bones was part of a series when I started reading it. I'm not a big fan of reading books in the middle of a series, and probably wouldn't have accepted an advance copy of this book had I been aware of that. This book definitely suffers from being 22 books deep in a series - it reads like it's written by either someone that hasn't published a book before, or a book by an author that's been writing books in a series for so long, that they're committed to producing books so often to meet a contract and the people that have been reading the series for a long time will read it no matter how well it's written. It's not written well. The first quarter of the book is told as a recounting by Angela Bourjos to McKenzie of working on a dig where a dinosaur skull is stolen, but it reads mostly in the present tense, with only the periodical reference that it's actually an event in the past that's being shared. Nobody seems to care that it was stolen, which seems hard to believe, so McKenzie decides he's going to take it upon himself to solve the mystery (which apparently is something he does on a regular basis). Then follows a slapdash, evolving plan to flush the person involved in the dig into trying to put the skull up for sale so McKenzie can catch them in the act. After telling all of his suspects that there's a reward for the skull he and a former associate (that somebody who hasn't read previous books has no context for) head off to Canada to lay a plan to retrieve the skull that seems overly convoluted and silly. McKenzie employs cowboy techniques to get his hands on the skull, and it got so confusing that I really started losing interest. There are multiple characters that appear in the book that have an obvious history in the series, but little explanation in the current book. There are seem to be a lot of unnecessary references to professional sports teams and their stadiums, especially in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. I like sports and this felt unnecessary. All of this was too bad for me, because a well-written story about a stolen dinosaur skull was something that held appeal to me, and I did not get that from this book. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rushmore (Mac) McKenzie was once a homicide detective. Through a series of events he became a millionaire and retired from the St. Paul, Minnesota Police Department. He hasn't let that stop him from playing the white knight P.I. willing to help a damzel in distress. Don't make the mistake of thinking the women in this series are helpless. They're far from that. His female characters are smart, badass, and sometimes, downright dangerous.

This 21st outing in the series kicks off with the dinosaur find of a lifetime for paleontologist Angela Bjork, a dinosaur skull of an Ankylosaurus. A rare find with many from university communites interested, not to mention museums and private collectors. The skull is carefully packed onto a flat bed truck headed back to her home university in Minneapolis. Just as it's ready to leave, an ambush takes place and the truck with the skull is last seen heading down the grid road. Angela turns to her old friend Mac to find her dinosaur. Mac owes Angela as she saved his life in an earlier book.
While this book can be read as a stand alone, reading the entire series will help with with an understanding of several of the characters. Housewright excells at character development. I binge read them all earlier this year and really enjoy the thrill of having a recurring character pop up. This is an excellent series. I highly recomment this book and all the others.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and the author, David Housewright for the eARC. I cannot wait for more in the series.

My first book in this series about Mac McKenzie but it was a great stand alone mystery. #22 in series. I really enjoyed Mac as a character and found it easy to learn his back story without being overwhelmed by references dependent on previous cases.
I loved the setting - an archeological site in Montana hunting dinosaur fossils. A large important fossil is stolen from the academics working the site. One of them calls in Mac to investigate as the authorities do not seem to be trying to solve the case.
I enjoyed every step of the way as the reader follows Mac in his investigation. Really felt I was figuring it out along with him.
I also enjoyed the interaction of the academics - lots of interesting machinations there. brought out the male bias that is still in academia and the problems it creates. It seems colleagues should have more respect for one another.
I would recommend this book as a “cozy” mystery with a most stimulating twist. I learned a bit about fossils and how they are handled as well as the academic hierarchy in universities.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for ARC - now I have more to add to my TBR list

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, David Housewright, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I was on a series binge after procuring an ARC of this latest novel, and what a ride those 21 books have been. I learned so much and let David Housewright explore the life of Mac ‘Rushmore’ McKenzie, an amateur private investigator from St. Paul, Minnesota who is always eager to help those close to him. He's had many adventures, but when Mac is asked to help locate a stolen dinosaur skull, this is certainly new. Mac pushes to all corners of the investigation and asks all the poignant questions, while trying to stay alive long enough to complete his task. Housewright spins a story like few others and shows his abilities once more.

Mac ‘Rushmore’ McKenzie came into a significant amount of money years ago, which led to his abrupt retirement from the St. Paul PD. Now, he’s working as an unlicensed PI and helping those worth his while. Even though Mac has officially retired (multiple times), he lives for a challenge. He's found stolen musical instruments, rare pieces of art, and even located a lost pile of gold, but when Angela Bjork walks in to see him, the challenge bar will be set to a new level.

While out on an archeological dig site in Montana, Angela and her crew discovered the skeleton of an Ankylosaurus, a rare dinosaur find. This is a formidable find, but it has to be cleaned and registered, so the skull is loaded into a flatbed truck and sent on its way. During the drive, someone ambushes the group, steals the truck, and makes off with the skull. Angela is beside herself, not only because her find has been snatched, but she knows that the Ankylosaurus could fetch millions on the black market, should it fall into the wrong hands. Enter Mac McKenzie and his sleuthing abilities.

It's been a month and Mac is already behind the eight ball. He does whatever he can to poke around and try to locate some answers, but finds that he is stymied, not only by others on the dig, but by insurance red tape. He pushes to gather a lead or two, which takes him down one of those paths he likes to follow, communicating with others, but never fully handing over the reins. Now, Mac has an idea, but he is also sure that whomever is in possession of the Ankylosaurus skull will do whatever it takes to ensure no one survives trying to get it back. Housewright delves into new areas to deliver this great piece of work.

I wanted some context and so binge read the entire collection before tackling this book. Housewright develops a narrative that works well and keeps the story moving throughout. He addresses many of the past cases and capers throughout, which creates a sense of pulling it all together. Chapters push the story forward, while offering some key insights, again productive for series fans. Characters work well to provide flavouring for the reader. There is also a sense of remembrance, as many characters from the various books in the series who return for at least a cameo. The plot builds with each chapter and scenario, feeding into the larger themes and excites the series fan who has been patiently waiting for this book. David Housewright has me hooked and I will be waiting for more!

Kudos, Mr. Housewright, for a great addition to an already strong series.

This is an interesting mystery involving an archeological dig where dinosaur bones are discovered. Though the book starts out slowly with much technical information about the dig, it quickly picks up speed. The characters are interesting and well developed. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

While interesting, the overdetailing on the dig was a bit technical, and sometimes wordy. This could occasionally pull the reader out of the story. However, there are numerous clues to keep readers guessing. Characters are well developed and relatable. If you're looking for a quick, cozy read, this might be one to check out. It is apparently part of a series. I have not read any other books, and this one did make sense as a standalone novel.

This is the first book I have read in the series and I was quite surprised to see that is book 22 – there was no issue needing previous information, it was eluded too when needed, but not necessary for the current book.
As a former homicide detective and now a retired millionaire, who helps friends when asked. This time it is about the theft of dinosaur skull.
In general I like books which makes me research into certain topics. I enjoyed the description of places in Toronto, and the description of the ROM brought back memories from taking the kids there.
I enjoyed the story, the characters, … somethings were a bit of a stretch, but then it is fiction.

More than anything, this book reminded me of Vance’s J.P. Beaumont series.Both McKenzie and Beaumont are former law enforcement that became PIs after they were bestowed with massive amounts of wealth. They retain their law enforcement sensibilities of ‘white knights,’ as well as a multitude of formal and informal contacts to help them out (no need to pick locks or threaten to break kneecaps).

This was my first McKenzie, and it was decent. Not exciting, honestly, but also not bad. It was a mystery to pass the time. Since there are 21 books in the series, I am a little surprised I haven’t run into McKenzie before, but that’s probably because I gravitate towards the female PIs and the classics. McKenzie operates out of Minneapolis, which is unusual–PIs are supposed to be from gritty, dirty places like Chicago, Detroit and New York. Perhaps because of that, I was struck the way everyone was so nice. Midwestern nice–it’s a thing.

The story is decently told. The tone reminded me of a wry Spencer (Robert B. Parker), with far more description. Say then, earlier Spencer, less sexism, no Hawk. Dry observations, a concern for masculine identity, a few one-liners; mostly McKenzie keeps his own council and tells the rest of us what is going on later. The premise allows the reader to learn along with McKenzie:

“Professor, please explain it to me like I’m a geology major and all I know about dinosaurs is what I saw in Jurassic Park.”

McKenzie ends up reaching out to multiple law enforcement contacts to solve this unusual case of missing dinosaur bones, and some of the more enjoyable dialogue comes from those interactions, particularly Detective Jean Shipman. They give him access to all that official information without having to hack computers or similarly annoying conventions.

“I took another bite of donut while Shipman thought it over.
‘I’m listening, but just barely,’ she said.”

Overall, it was interesting with a steady enough pace to keep me entertained. There’s some wordiness that seems excessive and bothersome. McKenzie is a bit of a Mary Stu, which generally doesn’t bother me. If it was in large print, this is definitely one I’d suggest to my mom. I’d pick up a book in this series again if I was in the mood for a gentle mystery-thriller that avoided the horrific parts of the genre.


Thank you to St. Martin’s and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy. Obviously, all opinions my own. Quotes subject to change in the final edition.

David Housewright was a new author to me, although he has two series, and “Them Bones” is #22 in the one about PI Rushmore McKenzie. Since I was totally unaware of this until I’d finished the book, I can say with certainty that “Them Bones” works as a standalone.

The bones refer to the skull of a dinosaur, promptly stolen by unknown miscreants as soon as they were loaded up on a truck to leave the dig site. Professor Angela Bjork, who once saved McKenzie’s life, asks him to find the dinosaur skull. She and other students and staff had actually witnessed the thieves driving off with it.

McKenzie involves some friends in the FBI and a couple of “under the radar” sources in an effort to get any kind of lead on where the skull might be. And skills! Hoo boy, McKenzie has them. That’s not to say there isn’t a considerable amount of danger in “Them Bones.”

It was awfully hard to put this book down. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the twists– all of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review.

I like this one it was an interesting take on a mystery thriller type book but overall it was good I liked the setting and plot

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

The plot of the book was very interesting and gave a lot of information concerning archeological digs. The author did an excellent job of drawing the reader into the investigation by giving sufficient clues to keep the reader invested in the story. The characters were well defined, some likeable and some not but appropriately placed in the story
Overall, it was enjoyable, and I would recommend it for a cozy afternoon read. However, since I had not read any of the other books in this series the passages referring to previous books was confusing. It can be read as a standalone book, but you might want to read the earlier books in the series to get a more pleasant reading experience.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

The Curious Case of the Missing Dinosaur

Them Bones is the 22nd book in the series featuring Twin Cities P.I. Rushmore McKenzie. In this book, Mac is asked to consult on an intriguing case: the head of a massive, newly excavated dinosaur skull was stolen from a remote dig site—just after it had been loaded for transport to a natural science museum.

I confess I did not know anything about author David Housewright or this series before reading this novel. And while I enjoyed the book, and the character of McKenzie, I did feel like I was not in on the joke much of the time—having started the series at the end rather than the beginning. So I now plan to read earlier books in the series to catch up.

This is a new entry in the long-running McKenzie series, but the first one I'd read. I didn't find it easy to get into the story--probably because it was readily apparent to me that there was a backstory to McKenzie that I didn't understand--and it seemed to take forever to develop. Not a bad book, but just one that didn't resonant for me.

Before agreeing to read an advance copy of this book, I read the first book in the series. I liked it very much and was happy to have the opportunity to read this one. Eventually, I will read the other books in the series as well, especially since some of the previous cases are referenced in this book and sound interesting. I was able to thoroughly enjoy Them Bones despite not yet reading most of the previous books. The first quarter of the book is a detailed and interesting recounting to McKenzie, the detective, about an academic paleontology dig and the finding and eventual theft of a dinosaur skull. I enjoyed reading about the dynamics of the team of students and professors as well as learning about the dig. Once the investigation began, I liked how McKenzie used past contacts to help solve the crime. I also enjoyed seeing McKenzie's unspoken thoughts as he interviewed people. I found the book very atmospheric and liked the way Housewright brought the characters to life. I look forward to reading more of this series, and I highly recommend this book.

When i started reading this book I didn't realize it was apart of a series. With that being said it read fine as a stand alone and I didn't feel lost reading it. I really enjoyed this book. I've always been fascinated with dinosaurs, and I love a good mystery so this was a perfect match for me. I enjoyed MacKenzies humor, it made the book for me. I plan on seeking out more books from this series.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing a free eBook ARC in exchange for my review.

Sadly, this was not the book for me. IT needed a lot of editing done before it is released. This is a book about an archeology dig, and some of the details are rather long winded. IT was very difficult to keep with, and in the end I skimmed portions because it was just not enjoyable.

2 stars for it was ok.

Them Bones is another book in the McKenzie series but can be read as a stand alone book. It does start slow because he's building the mystery but it builds to a mystery with plenty of twists and turns and lots of action. I will probably read more books in the McKenzie series.
Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for my review copy of this book.

I was given a pre-publication version of this book. With luck some of it's glaring errors will be fixed, and my main criticisms would no longer be relevant. But, since it's almost April 2025 and the book is scheduled to hit booksellers' shelves in June, 2025, I'm not holding my breath. Suffice to say, in its current condition, I found the book to be unreadable, and I gave up on it.

What this book is lacking is some serious attention from an editor. I found the writing sufficiently disturbing that I gave up on the book about a quarter of the way through. Hence the single-* rating.

The story revolves around a dig for dinosaur fossils in Montana by a group from the University of Minnesota. They discover a marvelous skull from an Ankylosaurus, which will provide quite an addition to a museum, or perhaps it would provide rather a small fortune on the black market. Just as they've packed up the skull to return to the university, the skull gets stolen. Presumably the rest of the book involves hunting up the perpetrators and getting reunited with the skull.

But the problem is, we have rather a long narrative about the dig, and what led up to the theft, that is written in the 3rd-person voice of an omniscient observer. Nothing wrong with that, in principle, that's how most books are written. This book, however begins as first-person observations by the main character, McKenzie, but then morphs into the omniscient narrator, 3rd-person mode when it begins describing the dig. But, periodically, during that tale, we have weird injections of first person comments, or references to strange people who weren't on the dig.

I suspect that what is going on is that someone on the dig (perhaps Angela Bjork) is describing events to several other people with whom she is having a "sit down". But, if that is the case, then the tale of the goings on at the dig should be written in the voice of the actual person telling the story, likely Angela Bjork, rather than the omniscient narrator. If Angela is telling someone else a story, she should not be referred to in 3rd person. Eventually, I couldn't stand the jarring interruptions in voice, and set the book aside.

My guess is that this book, were I able to read it through, would garner a 3* rating, that is, the book is a decent enough read, but not special in any way.

#ThemBones #NetGalley

Love a great mystery and this was definitely a great one. It kept your interest and the characters were well written. Who doesn’t love a good mystery about dinosaur bones. I highly recommend reading this book, you won’t be disappointed.