Rushmore McKenzie might just be my favorite literary P.I. I definitely look forward to a McKenzie book more than any other mystery detective … and I like Longmire and Cork O’Connor and Will Trent and …!

McKenzie is approached by Angela Bjork, an old friend, with a request – help her find her missing dinosaur head.

Angela was working in the Southeast corner of Montana excavating for dinosaur bones on private land, but on behalf of a university. She and her team made an extraordinarily unique discovery, finding not only the skull of an Ankylosaurus, but a complete skeleton! Such a find is so rare that the skeleton could be worth upwards of $6-million.

Transporting something like this could only be done in pieces and the team carefully prepared and bundled the skull first for transportation to the University of Minnesota, but the moment the bundle was put on the truck the group was attacked and the truck hijacked and now the skull is gone.

McKenzie recognizes that this has to be an inside job but since some time has passed and the local police didn’t do the best job of looking for the criminals, finding the hijackers and getting the Anylosaurus skull returned is going to be a challenge.

The owner of the land (and technically the owner of the dinosaur) wants it returned at any cost, and is even willing to pay a ransom for it. He’s in ill health and wants to see it returned before he passes away.

This is just the kind of task a Robin Hood like McKenzie lives for.

This was a lot of fun. Unlike some McKenzie novels, where McKenzie’s life seems to be in imminent danger at every turn, this story had a much lighter tone.

The story has a couple of parts to it – figuring out who might have taken the skull, especially knowing it almost had to be an inside job (how else would anyone have known the exact moment it was on the truck?); where is the skull now; how to get in touch with the thieves; how to get it returned.

Like a number of McKenzie novels, this is very direct. We go from point ‘A’ to point ‘B’ to point ‘C’ without any side trips. There are no McGuffins here. the closest we come is discovering that nearly everyone at the dig site when the skull was stolen might have a motive.

The directness of the story makes this a quick and enjoyable read. This is prime beach material so get out your sunscreen, your beach chair, and a copy of Them Bones and enjoy.

Looking for a good book? Them Bones by David Housewright is the 22nd(?) book in the Mac McKenzie series. It’s fast, fun, and a very enjoyable read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

3 stars-this book was really good! A dinosaur skull is stolen and McKenzie is after the thieves in a page-turner of a mystery. The plot is basic with McKenzie helping a friend that turns into a full-on SITUATION! Housewright keeps it moving with lots of little details and characters that make it come alive; and who doesn't enjoy a stolen dinosaur skull caper? The writing style is sparse so you don't have to wade through fluff to get to the good parts. #netgalley

I truly enjoyed this book from David Housewright, although I was shocked to learn it was number 22 in the series. I'm the type of person who likes to read a series in order, but I do not have time to go back and read 21 books! So, I winged it and while there were clearly some things I didn't know, the author did a good job of letting me in on any relevant past. I'm going to be honest, what made me agree to read this book, is I love history and Jurassic Park and mysteries. This seemed to be a trifecta for me. This book was well-written, interesting, and Mac is a very likeable character. I read it quickly and I would definitely read the next in the series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Some series you can pick up any of the books and know what's going on even if you haven't read any of the other books. For me and THEM BONES that wasn't the case.

I just wasn't sure who the characters were, and what their past meant to the present story.

I fully blame myself for picking a book while not having read any of the others. I think the writing and pacing were fine.

The premise involving dinosaur bones and adventure was unique and interesting.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy of THEM BONES to review.

I rate THEM BONES three out of five stars.

This mystery got off to a slow start for me. The lengthy beginning section about digging for dinosaur bones was informative in that area but did not draw me into the plot. I like a novel that captures me with a soon happening murder or some other compelling action.

McKenzie ultimately comes in and I like the sly humor and sharp tongue that came along. But even this part of the mystery progresses slowly. There are many suspects since there are so many people involved in the dig.

This is the first novel I have read by this author. While I ultimately liked it, I did not find it a compelling read. It is part of a series but I felt it read well enough on its own.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent review.

THEM BONES – Twin Cities P.I. Mac McKenzie Series (Book 22) - by David Housewright

‘There are two things that Rushmore McKenzie hates to turn down—a request from a friend and a challenge. Both of them show up in his wife's nightclub in the person of Angela Bjork, who has come to request McKenzie's help.’

‘Angela, a doctoral candidate, was out on a dig site in Southeastern Montana when she found a skeleton of an Ankylosaurus. And no sooner than when the skull was removed and placed on a truck then they were attacked, the truck and skull stolen.’

That Was A Fun Ride!

I love the characters, the whodunit storyline, and especially McKenzie and his ring tone—a song from one of my favorite movies—which made me laugh every time it went off.

Highly Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books, for providing me with an eBook ARC of THEM BONES at the request of an honest review.

I have a new favorite P.I. - where have I been and how have I not discovered Rushmore McKenzie and the Mac Mackenzie Series - after all, there have only been 21 installments before Them Bones. Loved the banter, the inner thoughts and asides, the great quotes from none other than Henry Wadsworth Longfellow among others. The plot, multiple settings, dialogue and character development - all great.

A mystery that held my attention, imparted information touching on a favorite subject, and had me grinning and smirking - a perfect combination. My only complaint was that at various points I had some issues with following the speaker. Not being familiar with the author, nor the series, I read this as a standalone without problem. My interest has been piqued and I plan to explore some of the previous installments.

Many thanks to Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for a copy.

When Angela Bjork comes to see Rushmore McKenzie and his wife Nina, it's to ask a favor. On her recent archeological dig on private land for the University of Minnesota, the group discovered the skull and bones of a rare Ankylosaurus. But as they prepared to ship it off to the university, the skull was stolen. McKenzie was indebted to Angela and decided to help. On meeting with the rich land owner, Andrew Cooke authorized McKenzie to find the skull and facilitate, in any way, to retrieve it. As McKenzie goes about questioning everyone who was involved with the dig, he tells everyone that Cooke will pay for its return, no questions asked. This led him to some who would like to own the skull for themselves and so McKenzie goes undercover, with the help of an old acquaintance. They have plans to find out who stoled it and get it back.
An interesting thriller that delves into the hunt for fossils and the trafficking of them to the highest bidders.
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this e-galley of "Them Bones".

The novel starts with the back story of the discovery and theft of the skull. After saving McKenzie’s life, Angela Bjork has a request. She’d like him to track down the Ankylosaurus skull valued at $6 million that was taken from a dig she was working near Powderville, Montana, before it had even been completely cleaned. Dr. Nicholas Larsen, the University of Minnesota professor who’s one of the project’s leaders, suspects that whoever carried off the skull in a stolen truck was getting inside information from one of the participants. Instead of questioning the project’s participants, McKenzie confers with Andrew Cooke, the wealthy (dying) owner of the site who’s determined to recover the skull even if he has to pay for it, and partners with con artist Heavenly Elizabeth Petryk, with FBI’s disavowed help to recover it by using high-profile fence Louis Bergeron—who says he knows who has the skull—to promise the thieves a ransom they have no intention of paying. McKenzie’s masquerade as Heavenly’s bodyguard grants him admission to a five-minute online auction for the ancient prize at the risk of some serious repercussions if anyone finds out who he really is.

The beginning of the novel started out slow. It was slow long enough that I almost gave up reading the book. Once the character McKenzie became involved in the mystery of the missing skull, the narrative picked up. The actual mystery, who was the inside man that helped the thieves steal the skull, is compelling. There is a good deal of subterfuge in the novel and the final reveal is surprising.

A stolen dinosaur skull is at the center of a complex mystery laid at the feet of unofficial P.I. Rushmore McKenzie. Mysterious story.

This story started off quite interesting with how McKenzie and Angie, the woman who was about to ask for his help, met. I enjoyed the story of the missing Dinosaur bones, and how McKenzie went about meticulously figuring out who the culprit could be. I loved the dynamic between not only him and his wife but also the people he has tangled with in the past, which at times had me laughing out loud. There were certain parts, especially in the middle, that I felt did drag a bit in the pacing, but it definitely picked back up again once we got closer to the end,
This is the first book I've read in this series, and while I feel like I would have enjoyed the others, and I may go back and read them, and probably would have gotten a bit more out of some character interactions, I didn't need to have read them to enjoy this one.

Interesting characters, especially McKenzie. I haven't read any of the other books in this series, but I will have to do so now. Really enjoyed this mystery. When someone helps McKenzie, he doesn't forget it. So, when Angela came to him with a problem, he is more than happy to help her. Afterall, she once saved his life. While on a dig in Montana, Angela discovered a dinosaur skeleton, but the skull was stolen before they could get it back to the university. She has asked McKenzie to find it. As he searches, he involves others in the search, and it takes them into Canada. Once he finds the skull, he then has to find the thief. Can he do it?

Angela Bjork rescued Rushmore Mackenzie from almost certain death in the desert and ever since then he has been paying her back. Now she’s come to him asking for a favor. She wants him to find a stolen ankylosaurus skull. Should be a piece of cake for the former cop turned private investigator.
Rushmore Mackenzie is a great character. He’s super smart, has a wicked sense of humor, a devoted husband and loyal friend. He’s also a zazzy, and he’s quite pleased about that. If you don’t know what that is you can find out by reading this entertaining novel. The plot never stumbles and the book is informative. My suspicions were confirmed as to the criminal behind the theft, but the story is done in such a way that you’re left guessing until the very end. A great read for fans of cozies. 4.5 stars

Despite the fact that I haven't read another book in this series, I enjoyed this story and didn't feel lost for not reading the first 21 books. I assume I've missed a lot of McKenzie's background and exploits but this book fared well as a standalone. There are many threads to the story and it takes place at various interesting locations so that it held my attention all the way through. McKenzie's an amusing, likeable character although at first I thought he must be a much older man, rather than the 47-year-old he is. Some of the story takes place in Canada - Toronto and Niagara Falls Ontario, both of which I've visited, as well as Regina Saskatchewan - so that was a bonus. I'd definitely read another book in this series.

Thank you to St. Martin's Publishing, via Netgalley, for inviting me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: June 24, 2025

Them Bones by prolific PI author David Housewright comes highly recommended. This is PI Rushmore McKenzie's 22nd outing, making this series one of the longest-lasting ones in the field. Seven years ago, McKenzie was stranded and eventually rescued by Angela Bjork, a doctoral student at the University of Minnesota. She joined an archaeological dig and found a dinosaur skull, and eventually, that skull was scheduled to be transferred back to the university for additional research. Unfortunately, the next day, after the camp had been attacked, the skull was missing. Angela contacts Rushmore McKenzie, P.I., and we watch him use his skills to find out who has the skull, why it was taken, and where it is. Suspects abound, and that's where the fun begins. The author writes a fantastic novel, and this one is no exception. Readers can follow along easily and enjoy learning about paleontology along the way. If the reader has not read any other books by the writer, no worries. Them Bones can undoubtedly be read as a standalone, and when the reader has more time, they can go back and investigate the writer's long backlist.

Them Bones by David Housewright features McKenzie, a man who used to be a cop and is now a private investigator (?) of sorts. He does favors and this favor is for a young woman named Angela Bjork who is in the running for a professorship in paleontology and has been on a dig for fossils. During a walk one day near the dig, she tripped over a rock that turned out to be the skull of an ankylosaurus. The story of ascertaining that fact is entertaining in itself. By the time the dig comes to an end, the entire head had been revealed, then carefully encased in plaster, and through the used of a crane, crated it and lifted it into the bed of a pickup truck. The body had not yet been recovered so they just dug a huge rectangle of rock around it and lifted it onto the back of a much larger truck. As they slept that night, someone stole the pickup and the dinosaur head with it, injuring one person and creating a lot of confusion. Soon after, Angela approaches Mckenzie, for whom she had done a favor once, which is another story, but highlights are included here. It’s a good one.

This is a case of a complicated inside job. There are people who would pay for the head and keep it for their own amusement. There are few enough of them that it couldn’t be displayed publicly. Mckenzie calls upon his numerous contact, both inside and outside of the law, to track the head down. Plenty happens on that journey, again, both inside and outside of the law. Truly entertaining book with a great lead character: Mckenzie. Without the law on his side, he typically has right on his side. He is clever and quick. Courageous. He has a lovely wife, Nina, who knows him so well, she usually just rolls her eyes. This is an intriguing tale of the hunt for dinosaur bones as well as the hunt for justice.

I was invited to read Them Bones by St Martin’s Press. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #StMartinsPress #DavidHousewright #ThemBones

Who's got the bones? The mystery was interesting. There were a lot of characters and it took me a while to keep them straight. There were endless suspects. The pacing to narrow it down was good, though there were parts that seemed a little slow. I haven't read anything by this author before and felt like I was missing out on some nuances in the relationships between characters because of this. I found the end to be a satisfying conclusion to the mystery. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Them Bones by David Housewright was a phenomenal story!
The characters are well developed and I thought the ending was excellent.
This book contains everything you will need to have an evening full of murder, suspense, thrills, twists and turns. The pace is perfectly planned and will keep you engrossed and entertained from page one until the end.
The pages will fly past you as you lose yourself in the engrossing story.

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I haven’t read any of the previous books in this series.
I thought this was a slow moving mystery. I’m going to be the odd person and say I didn’t really care for any of the characters or the book. Perhaps I would have liked it more if I had read the previous ones.

Jumping into a series for the first time usually brings mixed emotions for me. If I like the book, I'm happy I found it but sad that I missed those that came before (in this case, 21 of them). The happy side, though, brings another plus: the book can stand alone well enough that I "got" it without feeling left out - otherwise I'd have been frustrated.

This book is one of the happy ones. And yes, I hope to meet up with private investigator Rushmore McKenzie again (and again). This story has extra appeal to me because it involves some real science and a missing dinosaur skeleton (well, not the whole animal, just the skull). I mean, who on earth knew there's a market for dinosaur heads?

The whole caper started as a return favor; some time ago, Angela Bjork saved McKenzie from almost certain death somewhere in the desert. Now, she's working on a Ph.D. in palentology. On an archeological dig in the Great Plains of Montana - where she rescued McKenzie - she unearthed an Ankhlosaurus fossil at the center of the story. Okay, not a critter I've ever even heard of. So other than for history's sake, why is it a story? Well, because somebody - or a couple of somebodies - made off with the skull that had been placed in a truck for transport to a museum.

Besides the historical significance, some estimates place its value in the millions, so getting it back (and hopefully in the process catching the thieves) is important - especially to Angela. So, she asks McKenzie to help. He agrees, and in turn taps some of his friends and a couple of acquaintences who owe him favors to join the investigation. Some of these folks, no doubt, I'd have appreciated more had I read previous installments, but not having done so really didn't impact my enthusiasm. The rest of the book follows the attempts to locate the skull and return it to its rightful owners. It's quite an undertaking, with more than a few twists and turns (not all in the right direction). Of course, how it all turns out is for me to know and encourage other readers to find out for themselves. Well done, and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to discover a new, very enjoyable series by way of a pre-release copy.