2006 Minnesota Book Award Nominee

"McKenzie, that latter-day Galahad promoted by a fat inheritance from the St. Paul Police Department to freelance knight-errantry (A Hard Ticket Home, 2004), goes to bat for two friends. Harm a hair of a McKenzie intimate, and you're in harm's way to stay.

"Consider the case of sweet old Mr. Mosley, a Marine buddy of Mac's father, casually murdered by lowlifes unaware of the McKenzie credo. Or the case of lovely Susie Tillman, wife of Mac's lawyer, beaten and raped by a pair of brain-dead Neanderthals.

"Is there a connection between the crimes? That matters less to McKenzie than the sense of outrage he feels on behalf of the victims. Before he can mount Operation Payback, however, he suddenly finds that the FBI has issued a Search Information Alert on him, avowing an interest in terrorist activities the feds know perfectly well are nonexistent.

"Though forced underground, McKenzie in due time collects an eye for each friend's eye, identifies a viper in the FBI's midst and rescues a gorgeous damsel in distress. If along the way he generates some serious enmity-hey, that's why Galahad wore iron suits. A bright second appearance..."
--Kirkus Reviews

OTHER REVIEWS

"Channeling Raymond Chandler with tongue-in-cheek humor, Housewright delivers plenty of action, a pinch of romance and more than a few surprises." —Publisher's Weekly

"This is a novel about going after the right guy for the wrong reasons, and the wrong guy for the right reasons. It's got twists and double-crosses, exciting car chases and gun battles, leavened by plenty of laughs -- a noirish novel with emphasis on the ish."
-- Boston Globe

"Housewright hits his stride in this second outing for good-hearted Minnesota tough guy Rushmore McKenzie... The smooth, straightforward action comes off without a hitch, lightly seasoned with a dash of introspection from a wry, self-assured hero who is a true pal to those in need and who charms ladies and librarians alike... This series may be seriously habit-forming. It's also a welcome selection for libraries where Robert Parker is popular, which is to say everywhere."
--Booklist

"Some lovely cadenced writing... along with smart narrative moves and bits of unfocused excess. Housewright is at his best when he stays closest to home. It's clear he's a Minnesotan in his bones, so his depiction of everything from beekeeping to the byways of Hilltop embeds us in a location where quiet indiscretions and desires highlight daily life... The author thickens the broth with big-city crime (New York City gang wars), national issues (terrorism and a frenzied FBI agent) and more than a showoff's worth of country-western music name-dropping. The result is an amiable and appealing novel..."
-- Washington Post

"TIN CITY is a nicely crafted combination of procedural and character-driven crime story... It's fun for readers to share McKenzie's travels."
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press

"Housewright is one of a crop of Minnesota crime writers whose new books draw on the state's personality quirks and beloved landmarks to flavor spine-tingling prose. Readers beware: It's not all snow cones and mini-doughnuts. Even as you smile with familiarity, you'll be looking over your shoulder… Mac is a likable protagonist. He's normal in a refreshing way that is rare among today's angst-ridden heroes. Wistful about the past but not haunted by it, he's gentle, humorous and a little vague about where his life is heading. He's the kind of guy his married friends worry about, and yet he's more than equal to the task when things get rough. He should wear well as this series continues."
-- Minneapolis Star Tribune