This book hooked me with its title and cover. I have not read the other books in this series, but it doesn’t make the story hard to follow at all. It reads like a standalone. I can’t wait to dive in to the other books in this series.

The book was obviously very well researched and it was well written. The main character, Rushmore McKenzie, leads you through the investigation and I liked that perspective a lot. It gives the reader an insight into the inner workings of his mind as an investigator. You see him trying to solve the case through his interactions with other people and his inner monologues. It was like you were his partner, trying to help him solve the case.

And keeping in the spirit of the mystery drama, there is always a twist! I didn’t see this ending coming (and I can figure out endings 70% of the time). I thought I was following the case (I had my suspects and everything) but David Housewright threw me for a loop and I loved that.

The only problem I had with the book (and it’s not really a problem) is that it was very slow paced. I found myself pushing through the story in multiple places, but I’m glad I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Book #21 of the adventures of Rushmore McKenzie. I have not read any of the other books in this series and was a bit worried. In the end al was fine an I realized that I did not need to read the other books. Rushmore McKenzie and his wife Nina end up in the midst of a mystery. Nina finds the body of an army veteran in the lake. The authorities are claiming it was a suicide and Mac’s wife does not and neither does Rushmore. His daughter ask Mac to invESTIGATE. There are so many ups and in this investigation. I am amazed that MAC was able to find out who the real I killer is. Will this death be the only or will there be more. This was a good book to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "Man In The Water", the latest McKenzie book from David Housewright. I have read a number of the books in this series, and enjoyed every one of them.
This time, McKenzie and his wife, Nina, inadvertently end up in the middle of a mystery - die EJ Woods die of a misadventure, suicide or murder? There are conflicting thoughts from his family, friends and acquaintances.
When McKenzie and Nina encounter Elizabeth "Bizzy" Woods at a local marina - where they are visiting friends who have a boat docked there - she tells them that she cannot find her husband; unfortunately, he's located shortly thereafter in the water, really most sincerely dead.
When it comes to light that EJ had purchased multiple insurance policies, with double indemnity attached to each, the insurance agencies claim that the death was suicide and are refusing to pay. The dead man's wife refuses to believe that it was suicide and launches a lawsuit agains the marina, alleging unsafe conditions. The dead man's daughter believes that her father was murdered, and wants McKenzie to investigate, thus launching us into a multi-pronged investigation with many red herrings and possible conspiracies.
Was the death related to his business? Did anyone else know that he was in therapy for PTSD (his buddies at the VFW certainly did).
It's a rollercoaster ride for McKenzie as he tries to untangle all of the relationships and clues, leading to the final solution (and keeping us all on tenterhooks at the same time).
I particularly enjoy McKenzie's internal monologues as he navigates the ups and downs of the case.
Can certainly be read as a standalone novel - there is certainly enough backstory that you won't feel at sea - but the entire series is worth investing your time.

This book has a very simple premise but works really well. A body is found early in the book and the rest of the book is spent following McKenzie trying to uncover what happened. The author writes very well, incorporating humour and sarcasam as appropriate as well as explaining things just enough to leave them up for interpretation, which I love as it really makes you think and feel accomplished that you understood it without the author having to spell it out for you. Kind of like a club only few people will belong to. The ending was a perfect way to finish off the book, I have no complaints about the story line or ending.

The only criticism I may add is, near the beginning of the book, something was brought up that I feel like should have been investigated more, or at least revisited again at another time later in the book. The way it was brought about made it seem important, and then essentially the main character was too lazy to check it out, and then it was never mentioned again. Even though there was good potential of it having results on the investigation.

However, character building and plot development was perfect overall and I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

2⭐️

I tried to push through with this one but had to DNF at 40%. There was just nothing holding my attention.
Maybe that's my fault- I thought this would be a thrilling murder mystery and it turned out to be neither. What it <i>was</i> was an investigation into a seemingly straightforward drowning and a insurance fraud case. I think the main character McKenzie was meant to have a dry, sarcastic sense of humour but to me it just read a total lack of personality

Giving it a two star because it was well written and researched.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When his wife finds the body of an Army veteran in the lake, it is inevitable that former cop, now unofficial P.I. Rushmore McKenzie will get immersed in a complicated case of possible murder.!
It all starts with a body in the water! McKenzie wife finds the dead army vet on what should be the first day of boat season! As the investigation starts the dead mans insurance companies say he killed himself and that the doc where it happened is at fault as his widow is claiming also! Things just don't add up and the mans daughter hires McKenzie to help prove her fathers murder! This was definitely a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one! The storyline was very interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

The only thing better than learning there is a new McKenzie novel is reading it. David Housewright simply doesn't disappoint. Man in the Water is another winning addition to this sensational series which began in 2004. Once again, Housewright showcases his ability to hook the reader from the very first page. A book that begins with a scream from McKenzie's wife ends with the sound of applause from the reader. It's another engaging adventure with the wit and charm we've come to expect. It is perfectly paced and treats the reader to a rousing conclusion. I couldn't put it down. It's simply that good. Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, & NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on June 25, 2024.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Nina is shocked to find a body in the water. She's not sure what happened. Nina tries to do some digging to find out more about the man. A good read.

It's a toss-up: McKemzie or Rushmore? Both characters keep the book moving and their interplay is a dynamic that adds a spark to a well-designed and continually moving episode of a special series.

This was a really good continuation!!! I was at the edge of my seat!!!! I’m still screaming from everything that’s has happened.

Picked this book up on a whim because I liked its cover and to test out NetGalley, so this is the first book I've read by David Housewright. I'm glad to see it's part of a series of books following the adventures of Rushmore McKenzie, and look forward to seeing what other trouble he's found himself in.

Going into the book unfamiliar with the series, I got a little worried early on that I had guessed what was happening, and it was going to be somewhat of a military buddy trope, but luckily that wasn't it at all. Keeping it vague to avoid spoilers, I'll just say I did not guess the ending and enjoyed the book the whole way through.

I've also always wanted to visit the Twin Cities and the book did a good job of making me want to visit more (despite all the murder).

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read Man in the Water by David Housewright. Man, i love the Rushmore McKenzie novels, and they just keep getting better and better. Keep 'em coming!