When his wife finds the body of an Army veteran in a marina on the St. Croix River, it is inevitable that former cop, now unofficial P.I. Rushmore McKenzie will get enmeshed in a complicated case of murder.

It all starts with the body in the water. On what should be the first boat day of the season, Rushmore McKenzie’s wife Nina Truhler finds the dead body of an Army vet.

The dock owner and the insurance companies claim that it was suicide, despite the deceased, E.J. Woods, having no obvious reason to kill himself. His widow and her attorney claim it was an accident and takes them to court. Meanwhile, the victim’s daughter is convinced her father was murdered. Further complicating the situation are uncooperative boaters, allegations of PTSD, and the simple fact that there was no reason for E.J. to be anywhere near the river much less in it.

McKenzie, once a homicide detective in St. Paul, Minnesota, is, through a series of unlikely events, a retired millionaire and a man of leisure. Upon rare occasion, he puts his skills to use as a sort of unlicensed private investigator. This counts as one of those occasions.

McKenzie’s investigation unearths not only the petty squabbles surrounding the river and its dock, but details of her father’s past that his daughter, Naveah, is perhaps better off not knowing. With Nina haunted by dreams of the body and the legal fight over cause of death becoming increasingly nasty, McKenzie may be the only one interested in finding justice for E.J.— and uncovering the truth before another person dies.

REVIEWS

“Housewright’s style is smooth and McKenzie’s smart-alecky nature is endearing and, every so often, outright funny. The mystery (provides) enough excitement to keep the pages turning, but what makes Man in the Water appealing are the vibrant Minnesota setting and the characters (especially Bizzy and a woman McKenzie meets in a VFW bar).”

—Mystery Scene

“Housewright’s sense of place in this 21st McKenzie novel is great, as usual… Even the most astute reader will not guess the motive behind the deaths…”

—St. Paul Pioneer Press

“The character of McKenzie is well-written, snide, funny and a real pleasure to read. Fans of this series will enjoy this one a lot.”

—Red Carpet Crash

“I was genuinely surprised to discover that Man in the Water is the twenty-first book in the McKenzie series. It reads as fresh and accessible as if it were only a few books in. Sure there’s a fairly wide-ranging cast, but David Housewright makes it easy for readers to identify who’s who and understand their significance in our main characters’ lives. This engrossing entry is an excellent jumping-on point for anyone new to the series, and will certainly more than satisfy any established fans.”

—Criminal Element