Customer Reviews

A Hard Ticket Home (Mac McKenzie Mysteries)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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As others have mentioned, this author should get more press and marketing than he does. His stories are different in such a good way. His characterizations are real, his sense of humor is tops and his stories have diversity. I would also like to thank Amazon for introducing me to this author. I liked the Holland Taylor stories and would like to see him trade off between the two. I would recommend reading just one of his books and you will be hooked...

I have been impressed with David Housewright's writing since his debut novel, Penance, appeared some years ago. From what I've heard elsewhere, I was one of the few who liked it, but that sort of thing has never bothered me in the past. He had one character there, an ex-cop named Holland Taylor, and he's started a second character here, another ex-cop named Rushmore "Mac" Mackenzie. Mac's a regular sort of guy, except that while a cop he managed to find an embezzler everyone else was looking for, and collect the reward for being the guy who tracked the fugitive down. This led to his being on the outs with his police department, so he quit. Now he occasionally helps people in trouble, though of course he's not a licensed investigator or anything.

In the current book, he's hired to find a woman who ran away from her parents just after she turned 18. They haven't seen her since, and her younger sister has developed leukemia. Neither of the parents are acceptable donors, but a daughter might be, so off Mac goes, looking for her. Soon, people are shooting at him, women coming on to him, and the dead bodies and confusing plot twists are piling up.

This is a very good mystery, perhaps Housewright's best. The plot's logical and everything connects. The suspects are all believable, the crimes are things that at least could happen, and the solution to everything is satisfying. I would recommend this book.

I have just 'discovered' this author and am thouroughly hooked.

His writing style is wry and amsuing and the main character Mac is interesting. The characters are easy to follow and I like the thought processes and humor that is thrown in. Very clever.

I am really enjoying this author and can't wait to find more of his books.

This was my first Housewrite book, it will not be my last. The action starts on page one of the prologue an doesn't end until the final page of the book. Murder, mayhem, beautiful women and a virtuous hero make for some very satisfying reading. Much more in depth than a Parker novel but with a character every bit as enjoyable. If you haven't discovered Housewrite, this is the first book in the Mckenzie series so a great starting point.

After almost a dozen years on the St. Paul Police force, Rushmore McKenzie knows he has no chance of promotion ever since he made a righteous killing using a gun that was not standard police issue. When he finds an embezzler and the money he stole, he quits the force. This makes him eligible to take the insurance company reward for the return of the money. He is now a wealthy unlicensed private eye taking cases that interest him.

Richard and Molly Carlson ask him to find their daughter Jamie who left years ago and never returned. Their younger daughter Stacy is dying of leukemia and her only hope is a bone marrow transplant. After a thorough search he locates Jamie who tells him she will get in touch with him after she tells her husband about the family he never knew she had. When he doesn't hear from her, he goes to her home only to find her murdered. Her husband and son are missing, but Jamie's parents want him to locate their grandson who might be a match for Stacy. The investigation turns deadlier when eight men connected to the case are murdered, some by McKenzie's hand.

The case off as a missing person's case but turns into a conspiracy linking a business group with a low profile gang armed with East European weapons. David Housewright has written an exciting, action packed crime thriller in which it is difficult to tell the good people from the bad. A HOT TICKET HOME is a dark urban thriller that will have readers wondering what lurks behind the masks certain people wear to cover the evil that resides within.

Harriet Klausner

I loved the Holland Taylor books and a few years ago, I emailed David Housewright, wondering when the next would appear in print. I don't remember his exact response, but the gist was that his former publisher had lost interest in the series, and other publishers were reluctant to take on a series started by another house. This is an Edgar Award winning series! Oh, well...the plot summary of the fourth Holland Taylor book soon disappeared from his website, and now we have Rushmore Mackenzie, a new hero and a new publisher. Mac is a bit less hard bitten than Holland Taylor, perhaps, a little more optimistic in his outlook, a bit more vulnerable, but pretty much the same. Smart, determined and ready to give his all to right wrongs and pursue justice. There's always room for one more true blue American hero! An excellent debut.

Having lately bemoaned the lack of strong, ethical-but-not-perfect protagonists, I've found one in McKenzie. When an embezzler offers him half the money, he chooses to quit the Force, turn the crook in and collect the reward money; he becomes angry at his best friend thinking of having an affair, and he berates himself in alphabetic order "Ass. Bastard. Creep..." This is a fast-moving book with excellent descriptions and dialogue, although a little weak on the secondary characters. But I was late for work because of not being able to put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed this and have ordered all this other books.

recommending this book and author! Loved the book and found a new literary hero (and new author). I highly recommend this book to any and all who love a terrific plot line, great characters and a can't-wait-to-turn-the-pages read...I definitely will be reading ALL this author's titles and am just starting the first of his Holland Taylor books-can't wait to jump in!!!

If you enjoyed this book, you might also look into Lee Child's books, Harlan Coben, Tess Gerritsen, J.A. Jance (J.P.Beaumont titles), Chris Grabenstein.

The story is quick and filled with menacing characters. The end has an overly long explanation of what went on, but you will enjoy.

Just finished 'A Hard Ticket Home' and it was wonderful, as David's books always are. Good story, excellent dialogue. A page turner to the end. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a good story and great writing!!