Customer Reviews

Jelly's Gold: A McKenzie Novel (Twin Cities P.I. Mac McKenzie Novels)

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4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
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I am at a loss as to why this author does not get more press than he gets. I have read all of his novels and they contain everything a good mystery could possibly contain. In this novel, he gives us a delightful history of the Twin Cities along with a story that holds your focus until the end. There must be something his publisher or book stores could do to enlighten the public about this terrific author (no, I'm not a relative.)

"Jelly's Gold" is David Housewright's 6th Rushmore McKenzie novel, a series that I have followed with relish. McKenzie is the flawed former police officer who once resigned from the force to collect several million dollars in reward money and has used that money to become an unlicensed PI who does "favors" for friends in trouble.

In this outing, McKenzie is intrigued when old acquaintance, Ivy Flynn (see Tin City, now a grad student, enlists his aid in helping her and her boyfriend, Josh Berglund, find $8 million dollars in hidden gold bullion. The gold was the result of a bank robbery by real time gangster, Frank "Jelly" Nash, in 1933 and was never located after Nash was killed in the infamous Kansas City Massacre. Soon, McKenzie is competing with others for the gold including assorted thugs representing different interests, dignitaries whose ancestors associated with Nash, a fascinating woman named "Heavenly" and former paramours and lovers of the college students (Ivy and Josh), all of whom want a share of the fortune. McKenzie becomes mired in double crosses, triple crosses, history lessons, death and violence, and even brief confrontations with his PD friends, including Lieutenant Bobby Dunston.

Housewright employs a risky literary device to tell a story within a story about the St. Paul, Minnesota of the 1920's-30's. In those years, St. Paul was a wide open city that welcomed infamous criminals as long as they obeyed the local rules of the "O'Connor System" named for a local "fixer." Many recognizable names from Alvin Karpis to Verne Miller to John Dillinger to the Barker brothers are mentioned in historical "flashbacks" that are necessary to link the St. Paul of the '30's and the disappearance of "Jelly's Gold" to the St. Paul of today and the search for that gold.

I have written before how well I feel I know the Twin Cities from the wonderful descriptions Housewright employs as his novels unfold. His characterizations are also spot on as he builds character and dialogue that are believable and real to the reader. McKenzie is a protagonist who has limitless potential. He has a conscience yet also a temper that can get him into trouble. He cares deeply about others yet has no problem resorting to violence when appropriate. He is a cool thinker who uses well thought out police work to find answers and even when he makes mistakes, he recovers in time to restore your faith in him.

I did feel that this effort was not as gripping or engrossing as previous installments in the McKenzie series. I was never deeply invested in the characters or the plot, perhaps because there were so many minor characters and the plot jumped frequently between the 1930's and today. I can, however, recommend Housewright to any reader of noir and thriller genres. His efforts include humor, violence, strong love interests, double crosses, heady doses of the Twin Cities and environs, and good old fashioned enjoyable plotting. Rushmore McKenzie is an outstanding character in a great series and "Jelly's Gold" is a good stand alone for the new reader to explore.

Rushmore "Mac" McKenzie retired from the St. Paul police department, but unexpected wealth allows him not to work to supplement his pension. He does investigative jobs as a private investigator for friends or if a case sounds interesting.

Graduate students Ivy Flynn (see TIN CITY) and her boyfriend Josh Berglund peak Mac's interest with the information they found on a 1933 bank heist of gold bars perpetuated by Frank "Jelly" Nash, who died soon afterward in the infamous Kansas City Massacre; the loot was never recovered and thought to be hidden somewhere in the Twin Cities. As the two students and Mac follow clues, they are aware others seek the gold too; some dishonest and some lethal.

The latest Twin Cities P.I. Mac McKenzie investigation (see DEAD BOYFRIENDS and MADMAN ON A DRUM) is a fabulous thriller with a super historical subplot that interweaves with the present Mac adventure. The Depression Era comes alive through a rogue's gallery of infamous criminals including Frank "Jelly" Nash, a real person, as David Housewright paints a picture of corrupt city encouraging the notorious to "vacation" in town. Mac's present day inquiry holds up quite well as he and his two youthful partners follow clues uncovered in archives and interviews while dodging some modern era goons. JELLY'S GOLD is an excellent Twin Cities investigation.

Harriet Klausner

I think Housewright is a very talented writer who develops stories with believable plot lines and strong characterization. He knows how to write captivating dialogue and paces his novels extremely well. And, this was his award winning book. Oddly enough, while it was a good book, it really didn't hold my interest as much as some of his other works and I've read them all. I think it was all the historical perspective that dampened the book somewhat for me although it was necessary to the story. You won't be disappointed in the book and it's an enjoyable read.

An interesting tale is told, but the mystery is no great shakes. Less the usual expected from this author. Maybe better the next time.

This is the sixth adventure of Rushmore McKenzie. "Mac" is a retired St. Paul, Minnesota cop, now an unlicensed PI, who is financially independent after collecting a multi-million dollar reward for tracking down an embezzler. Because of his healthy bank account Mac has the luxury of picking and choosing his cases, which usually means "helping out" his friends. Mac is a likeable protagonist, the stories and mysteries engaging and all in all this is a very good series.

In Jelly's Gold we find our hero, enlisted by a young female friend, on a 70+ year treasure hunt. Legend has it that Frank "Jelly" Nash, a renowned bank robber from the 1920s and early `30s, allegedly stole 32 gold bars and then hid them. When Jelly was killed on June 17th, 1933 in the Kansas City Massacre, he took the secret of his hidden treasure with him. Mac takes up the case and soon finds that he and his young lady friend are not alone in their search for Jelly's Gold and the situation becomes both complicated and deadly.

The author does a very good job blending the book's present with St. Paul's past - the city was both corrupt and an oasis for gangsters during Nash's time - while Mac digs through newspaper accounts and historical documents in his search. There's a good set of current day competitive gold seeking characters and the author's portrayal of the infamous personalities from the past is also well done.

On the down side there is some sloppiness in Jelly's Gold not evident in the previous entries. Mac can be a little too cute here, particularly when dealing with women; and when he has a sarcastic observation, these McKenzie moments not only italicized, but labeled "inner thought". There is also a character named "Heavenly", a young attractive woman of questionable scruples, who becomes flat, tiresome and predictable by the middle of the book. Hopefully these are not harbingers for future Mac adventures.

That being said, Jelly's Gold is still a good read, particularly if you are interested in crime history and I'd further recommend the other McKenzie books, as well as the author's earlier Holland Taylor series.

Mr. housewright is an awesome writer. I just cannot put down his books once I start one. The endings always take me by surprise, he is really a great writer.

First Sentence: Frank Nash was dead.

Rushmore McKenzie was a policeman in St. Paul, Minnesota until an unexpected event caused him to resign the force and become a millionaire. Now, he's an unlicensed PI doing "favors" when something interests him.

In the 1930s, St. Paul was a save haven for the gangsters of the time in a city where the authorities were almost more crooked than the bad guys. Frank "Jelly" Nash was suspected of masterminding the $8 million theft of gold bars in 1933. Nash was killed in the Kansas City Massacre and the gold was never found.

Graduate students Ivy Flynn and Josh Berglund believe the gold is in St. Paul and want McKenzie to help them find it. Unfortunately, they aren't the only ones looking and when Josh is murdered, the hunt goes from an interesting quest to a deadly hunt.

Housewright is one of those writers who is just such a pleasure to read. His opening captures you from the first page.

He creates great, fully-dimensional characters and wonderful dialogue. There is violence, but appropriate to they story and never feels gratuitous. In this book, I found the history fascinating. He brings to life a period talked about by people of the generation between my parents and grandparents but he also makes setting relevant to today by including the collapse of the I-35 bridge.

The story is well paced, with plenty of action and suspense and a great twist at the end.

Housewright is one of our many under-recognized authors. Go read him!

JELLY'S GOLD (PI-Rushmore McKenzie-St. Paul, MN-Cont) - VG
Housewright, David - 6th in series
Minotaur Books, 2009, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9780312370824