THE LAST KIND WORD is a PI Mystery. Mac McKenzie is up to his neck in trouble, but this time, it’s not his fault. He’s doing a little favor for the FBI and the ATF. The trouble this time is guns, the illegal kind that the ATF mighta lost track of. When a member of a gang of thieves is caught using said gun, McKenzie is asked to infiltrate and to the impossible.
Bottom line: THE LAST KIND WORD is for you if you like hard boiled PIs who think on their feet and stay one step ahead of everyone else. . . well, no more than a half-step behind.
Strengths of the story. In full disclosure, I am a huge Mac McKensie fan. I began with book 6, JELLY’S GOLD, which I know is totally weird for a reader, but that’s my reality. Rushmore “Mac” McKenzie is an ex-cop who hit a big payday and now is somewhere between the quick-witted Indiana Jones and a relentless avenging angel. Book 10, THE LAST KIND WORD, was an action-packed read that did not disappoint.
One strength of this story in particular is the way Housewright opened it. He drops us right in the middle of the action and lets up fend for ourselves for a few pages before enlightening us to the scheme. The set up was masterful with frenemies coming together to bait a trap.
The story itself is well crafted. Set in a small Minnesota town, there are no secrets among this close knit population. Mac has to think fast as he works to maneuver the gang of thieves to reveal their gun dealer. He didn’t expect the “gang” to be a dysfunctional family, down on their luck due to a crummy economy. He didn’t expect to like them. He didn’t expect to be planning the heist of the century.
Standing at the end and looking back, the plot is solid. The mystery is a “how they gonna catch’em”, meaning we know from the beginning who the criminal is. There are elements of conspiracy and thriller stories that drive the pace and keep you guessing on how Mac is going to straighten the mess out.
The number one thing this book is…is fun!
Where the story fell short of ideal: I didn’t find a lot to complain about with THE LAST KIND WORD. Mac is his usual, larger-than-life self. The usual supporting cast have a minor role in this one, so it works well as a stand alone or for a new reader to the series.
THE LAST KIND WORD was released from Minatour Books in 2013 and is available from AMAZON LINK and other book retailers. Check out David’s website at https://www.davidhousewright.com/
TG Wolff 