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Madman on a Drum: A McKenzie Novel (Twin Cities P.I. Mac McKenzie Novels) |  | Author: David Housewright
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
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Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 609004
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.6 x 1.2
ISBN: 0312370814
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780312370817
ASIN: 0312370814
Publication Date: May 13, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Homicide cop Bobby Dunston's daughter has been kidnapped, taken in broad daylight on a city street in the middle of September. The kidnappers demand a million dollars and force Dunston to get the ransom from his friend McKenzie. It soon becomes apparent to the two of them that one of the kidnappers is childhood pal Scottie, a once aspiring drummer now gone astray, and that the kidnapping is payback for "crimes" committed in their past. McKenzie, former cop and now unlicensed P.I., handles the ransom drop-off and the child is returned safely. But Scottie is found dead - brutally murdered - and someone has taken out an open contract on McKenzie, using his own money to pay for it. Dodging attempts on his life from assassins of all shapes and sizes, McKenzie now has precious little time to uncover the mastermind behind it all if he's going to survive.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
 ok... but disappointing October 8, 2009
Lois Lane (St. Louis Park, MN United States)
If you live in the twin cities and like local authors, this book is a nice addition to a collection... however, if you know cops and like to sink into a good story, don't bother.
 Solid Entry October 4, 2009
JoeV (Arlington Hts, IL)
This is the fifth entry in the Rushmore McKenzie series. Our hero is a retired St. Paul (MN) cop who is independently wealthy and a part-time, unlicensed PI - He's does people "favors". This case hits close to home when the daughter of McKenzie's best friend is kidnapped. The plot thickens when the kidnapper demands McKenzie's involvement - both financially and personally.
This, and the other books in the series, are good solid mysteries, reminiscent of the Lucas Davenport series by John Sanford, but with a little more meat on the bones, i.e. plotting and character development.
Recommended reading if you enjoy this genre.
 Best McKenzie yet! August 7, 2008
L. J. Roberts (Oakland, CA)
First Sentence: They kidnapped Bobby Dunston's daughter in the middle of a bright September afternoon off a city street that I had traveled safely maybe a thousand times when I was a kid.
Former St. Paul cop Rushmore McKenzie returned from the force in order to receive a $1M finders fee on embezzled funds. His friend, and investment manager, has increased his wealth five-fold. The daughter of his best friends, and of his heart, has been kidnapped.
The kidnapper is asking for $1M saying they can get it from McKenzie. Finding the kidnapper is not the end of the case, but the beginning of greater threat on the life of McKenzie and those to whom he is close.
For me, Housewright should be in the ranks of Rankin, Connelly, Craig, Parker and others. In some ways, I like his protagonists more than some of the others.
McKenzie is macho, yet flawed. His sense of humor lightens the story and can get the character into trouble. I was particularly taken with McKenzie's explanation as to why he still puts his life at risk and helps people.
Housewright is skilled at including local flavor and history to his locations, explanations of the Minnesota justice system and a myriad of other details that are fascinating and instructive without ever intruding on or slowing down the plot, action and suspense of the story.
The story was gripping; one of those I started at 3 p.m. and finished at 1 a.m. because I couldn't stop until I was done. The suspense built with each new twist. The violence can be brutal, but so are the bad guys. It was Housewright's best book yet; an excellent read
Contract Killing July 28, 2008
Ted Feit (Long Beach, NY USA)
The past comes back to haunt. That is the essence of the plot of this second McKenzie novel, full of murder and mayhem and a thrill a page. It begins with the kidnapping of McKenzie's godchild, the daughter of his closest friends. A ransom of $1 million is demanded, and he not only supplies the cash but delivers it in exchange for the return of the 10-year-old girl.
The question is: Is McKenzie really the target, and why. Does the motivation for the crime lie in his past, someone he arrested while he was a cop? Or some other reason? Meanwhile, the reader is treated to all kinds of background on Minneapolis and St. Paul history, urban development, history and the like.
The author states that the novel is an homage to the late Mickey Spillane. Judging from the McKenzie character and the violence, it comes close--but no cigar. But it is a rousing read, fun and excitement all the way. Exciting chases, gun battles, twists and double-crosses adorn the pages. Recommended.
McKenzie Keeps Getting Better July 8, 2008
TMStyles (California)
"Madman On A Drum" is David Housewright's 5th Rushmore McKenzie novel and they just get better and better. 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.
This time, his friend in need is his lifelong buddy and chief of the homicide unit of the St. Paul Police Department, Bobby Dunston. Bobby's eldest daughter, Victoria, has been kidnapped off the streets of St.Paul in broad daylight. Soon, the Dunston family receives a ransom request for one million dollars that they can only secure from McKenzie who is more than glad to offer it since the Dunston family is his adopted family--he cares as much for the kidnapped Victoria as her own parents.
Bobby and McKenzie sense that they know the kidnapper from the phone calls but that is on hold as McKenzie must deliver the ransom money personally in exchange for Victoria's life. A hair raising yet intriguing car chase ensues across the Twin Cities as McKenzie is ordered hither and yon by the mysterious kidnapper via cell phone(s) in a suspenseful cat and mouth game to isolate McKenzie from any assistance from police or electronic surveillance.
After securing Victoria's release, things get murkier as the action accelerates. One of the kidnappers is found dead and suddenly a $50,000 contract (using his own money) is issued for McKenzie's death. As he and the police scramble to track down the kidnapper, McKenzie is forced to dodge and elude would be assassins and hit men from all walks of life who are seeking the quick payoff. As McKenzie closes in on the mastermind behind both the kidnapping and the contract hit, loyal McKenzie readers will be caught gasping.
I am not a Minnesotan yet 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 just seems to get better to this reader with each outing. 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 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 "Madman On A Drum" is a good stand alone for the new reader to explore.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 12
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