Them Bones is part of an ongoing series but can be read as a standalone which is what I just did. Solid mystery with minimal thrills but with wisecracks and humorous sections. A quick read good for solid entertainment.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

When I started reading Them Bones, I was unaware that it was part of a series. I figured that out pretty quickly, though. I did enjoy it, but I'm not sure if I will go back for more... I felt like I was reading one of the Spenser novels. It has that same feel to it. The thing is, once upon a time, I truly enjoyed Spenser. Now, not so much.
Was it well done? Yes, I would say so. Would I read another book in the series? I'm not sure. It's just not my style at this stage of my life. But if you're looking for something with a sort of Spenser feel to it, definitely give it a try.

My thanks to the author, the publisher and of course, Netgalley, for the opportunity to read this ebook.

Them Bones draws you in slowly but surely to the intriguing mystery that surrounds dinosaur bones.

Rushmore McKenzie is asked by a friend to investigate the whereabouts of missing dinosaur skull.

McKenzie is quickly on the case and draws in from his sources to figure out what exactly happened.

This is my first book in the McKenzie novels. I have no idea how I missed this series but I will certainly binge read them. My point being was I had no trouble following the book though I no doubt would have appreciated it more had I read the series.

McKenzie is witty , determined and how I would love to have him on my side.

I loved the part about the ROM in Toronto (being from Ontario).

Them Bones is very well written and descriptive and I felt like I was there right along side McKenzie trying to solve the whereabouts of the precious skull.

I am excited to read more of this series and hope to catch up soon.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the privilege of reading and reviewing and introducing me to the McKenzie novels.

Rushmore McKenzie is approached by a young woman who saved his life a few years ago when he was stranded in the desert. She is asking for help in finding out who would steal the skull of a dinosaur that she excavated in Montana. Angela feels the police are not paying enough attention to the theft. As McKenzie investigates, he is caught up in the secret world of dinosaur theft for hire. Rich people want to own their own dinosaurs and will do anything to possess one. With McKenzie's links in the underworld, he travels to Canada and uncovers a conspiracy to hold an auction for the skull. But not if McKenzie has anything to say about it! This long-running series is always a good read.

This book had an interesting plot but the details about the dig distracted me. There was plenty of suspense. Altho the book is part of a series it can stand on its own. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This is another novel in the McKenzie series and is the first one I have read (there are 22). While it works as a stand alone novel, reading the other books in the series will provide greater context to the main character and the group around him. That said, it is an engaging read which made it a fast read for me. It revolves around dinosaur bones stolen from a dig site.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Goodreads, Net Galley, Amazon, Facebook and my fiction book review blog.

I didn't know that Them Bones was part of a series when I started reading it. I'm not a big fan of reading books in the middle of a series, and probably wouldn't have accepted an advance copy of this book had I been aware of that. This book definitely suffers from being 22 books deep in a series - it reads like it's written by either someone that hasn't published a book before, or a book by an author that's been writing books in a series for so long, that they're committed to producing books so often to meet a contract and the people that have been reading the series for a long time will read it no matter how well it's written. It's not written well. The first quarter of the book is told as a recounting by Angela Bourjos to McKenzie of working on a dig where a dinosaur skull is stolen, but it reads mostly in the present tense, with only the periodical reference that it's actually an event in the past that's being shared. Nobody seems to care that it was stolen, which seems hard to believe, so McKenzie decides he's going to take it upon himself to solve the mystery (which apparently is something he does on a regular basis). Then follows a slapdash, evolving plan to flush the person involved in the dig into trying to put the skull up for sale so McKenzie can catch them in the act. After telling all of his suspects that there's a reward for the skull he and a former associate (that somebody who hasn't read previous books has no context for) head off to Canada to lay a plan to retrieve the skull that seems overly convoluted and silly. McKenzie employs cowboy techniques to get his hands on the skull, and it got so confusing that I really started losing interest. There are multiple characters that appear in the book that have an obvious history in the series, but little explanation in the current book. There are seem to be a lot of unnecessary references to professional sports teams and their stadiums, especially in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area. I like sports and this felt unnecessary. All of this was too bad for me, because a well-written story about a stolen dinosaur skull was something that held appeal to me, and I did not get that from this book. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rushmore (Mac) McKenzie was once a homicide detective. Through a series of events he became a millionaire and retired from the St. Paul, Minnesota Police Department. He hasn't let that stop him from playing the white knight P.I. willing to help a damzel in distress. Don't make the mistake of thinking the women in this series are helpless. They're far from that. His female characters are smart, badass, and sometimes, downright dangerous.

This 21st outing in the series kicks off with the dinosaur find of a lifetime for paleontologist Angela Bjork, a dinosaur skull of an Ankylosaurus. A rare find with many from university communites interested, not to mention museums and private collectors. The skull is carefully packed onto a flat bed truck headed back to her home university in Minneapolis. Just as it's ready to leave, an ambush takes place and the truck with the skull is last seen heading down the grid road. Angela turns to her old friend Mac to find her dinosaur. Mac owes Angela as she saved his life in an earlier book.
While this book can be read as a stand alone, reading the entire series will help with with an understanding of several of the characters. Housewright excells at character development. I binge read them all earlier this year and really enjoy the thrill of having a recurring character pop up. This is an excellent series. I highly recomment this book and all the others.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and the author, David Housewright for the eARC. I cannot wait for more in the series.

My first book in this series about Mac McKenzie but it was a great stand alone mystery. #22 in series. I really enjoyed Mac as a character and found it easy to learn his back story without being overwhelmed by references dependent on previous cases.
I loved the setting - an archeological site in Montana hunting dinosaur fossils. A large important fossil is stolen from the academics working the site. One of them calls in Mac to investigate as the authorities do not seem to be trying to solve the case.
I enjoyed every step of the way as the reader follows Mac in his investigation. Really felt I was figuring it out along with him.
I also enjoyed the interaction of the academics - lots of interesting machinations there. brought out the male bias that is still in academia and the problems it creates. It seems colleagues should have more respect for one another.
I would recommend this book as a “cozy” mystery with a most stimulating twist. I learned a bit about fossils and how they are handled as well as the academic hierarchy in universities.
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for ARC - now I have more to add to my TBR list

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, David Housewright, St. Martin's Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

I was on a series binge after procuring an ARC of this latest novel, and what a ride those 21 books have been. I learned so much and let David Housewright explore the life of Mac ‘Rushmore’ McKenzie, an amateur private investigator from St. Paul, Minnesota who is always eager to help those close to him. He's had many adventures, but when Mac is asked to help locate a stolen dinosaur skull, this is certainly new. Mac pushes to all corners of the investigation and asks all the poignant questions, while trying to stay alive long enough to complete his task. Housewright spins a story like few others and shows his abilities once more.

Mac ‘Rushmore’ McKenzie came into a significant amount of money years ago, which led to his abrupt retirement from the St. Paul PD. Now, he’s working as an unlicensed PI and helping those worth his while. Even though Mac has officially retired (multiple times), he lives for a challenge. He's found stolen musical instruments, rare pieces of art, and even located a lost pile of gold, but when Angela Bjork walks in to see him, the challenge bar will be set to a new level.

While out on an archeological dig site in Montana, Angela and her crew discovered the skeleton of an Ankylosaurus, a rare dinosaur find. This is a formidable find, but it has to be cleaned and registered, so the skull is loaded into a flatbed truck and sent on its way. During the drive, someone ambushes the group, steals the truck, and makes off with the skull. Angela is beside herself, not only because her find has been snatched, but she knows that the Ankylosaurus could fetch millions on the black market, should it fall into the wrong hands. Enter Mac McKenzie and his sleuthing abilities.

It's been a month and Mac is already behind the eight ball. He does whatever he can to poke around and try to locate some answers, but finds that he is stymied, not only by others on the dig, but by insurance red tape. He pushes to gather a lead or two, which takes him down one of those paths he likes to follow, communicating with others, but never fully handing over the reins. Now, Mac has an idea, but he is also sure that whomever is in possession of the Ankylosaurus skull will do whatever it takes to ensure no one survives trying to get it back. Housewright delves into new areas to deliver this great piece of work.

I wanted some context and so binge read the entire collection before tackling this book. Housewright develops a narrative that works well and keeps the story moving throughout. He addresses many of the past cases and capers throughout, which creates a sense of pulling it all together. Chapters push the story forward, while offering some key insights, again productive for series fans. Characters work well to provide flavouring for the reader. There is also a sense of remembrance, as many characters from the various books in the series who return for at least a cameo. The plot builds with each chapter and scenario, feeding into the larger themes and excites the series fan who has been patiently waiting for this book. David Housewright has me hooked and I will be waiting for more!

Kudos, Mr. Housewright, for a great addition to an already strong series.

This is an interesting mystery involving an archeological dig where dinosaur bones are discovered. Though the book starts out slowly with much technical information about the dig, it quickly picks up speed. The characters are interesting and well developed. I enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book and chose to write a voluntary, unbiased review.

While interesting, the overdetailing on the dig was a bit technical, and sometimes wordy. This could occasionally pull the reader out of the story. However, there are numerous clues to keep readers guessing. Characters are well developed and relatable. If you're looking for a quick, cozy read, this might be one to check out. It is apparently part of a series. I have not read any other books, and this one did make sense as a standalone novel.

This is the first book I have read in the series and I was quite surprised to see that is book 22 – there was no issue needing previous information, it was eluded too when needed, but not necessary for the current book.
As a former homicide detective and now a retired millionaire, who helps friends when asked. This time it is about the theft of dinosaur skull.
In general I like books which makes me research into certain topics. I enjoyed the description of places in Toronto, and the description of the ROM brought back memories from taking the kids there.
I enjoyed the story, the characters, … somethings were a bit of a stretch, but then it is fiction.

More than anything, this book reminded me of Vance’s J.P. Beaumont series.Both McKenzie and Beaumont are former law enforcement that became PIs after they were bestowed with massive amounts of wealth. They retain their law enforcement sensibilities of ‘white knights,’ as well as a multitude of formal and informal contacts to help them out (no need to pick locks or threaten to break kneecaps).

This was my first McKenzie, and it was decent. Not exciting, honestly, but also not bad. It was a mystery to pass the time. Since there are 21 books in the series, I am a little surprised I haven’t run into McKenzie before, but that’s probably because I gravitate towards the female PIs and the classics. McKenzie operates out of Minneapolis, which is unusual–PIs are supposed to be from gritty, dirty places like Chicago, Detroit and New York. Perhaps because of that, I was struck the way everyone was so nice. Midwestern nice–it’s a thing.

The story is decently told. The tone reminded me of a wry Spencer (Robert B. Parker), with far more description. Say then, earlier Spencer, less sexism, no Hawk. Dry observations, a concern for masculine identity, a few one-liners; mostly McKenzie keeps his own council and tells the rest of us what is going on later. The premise allows the reader to learn along with McKenzie:

“Professor, please explain it to me like I’m a geology major and all I know about dinosaurs is what I saw in Jurassic Park.”

McKenzie ends up reaching out to multiple law enforcement contacts to solve this unusual case of missing dinosaur bones, and some of the more enjoyable dialogue comes from those interactions, particularly Detective Jean Shipman. They give him access to all that official information without having to hack computers or similarly annoying conventions.

“I took another bite of donut while Shipman thought it over.
‘I’m listening, but just barely,’ she said.”

Overall, it was interesting with a steady enough pace to keep me entertained. There’s some wordiness that seems excessive and bothersome. McKenzie is a bit of a Mary Stu, which generally doesn’t bother me. If it was in large print, this is definitely one I’d suggest to my mom. I’d pick up a book in this series again if I was in the mood for a gentle mystery-thriller that avoided the horrific parts of the genre.


Thank you to St. Martin’s and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy. Obviously, all opinions my own. Quotes subject to change in the final edition.

David Housewright was a new author to me, although he has two series, and “Them Bones” is #22 in the one about PI Rushmore McKenzie. Since I was totally unaware of this until I’d finished the book, I can say with certainty that “Them Bones” works as a standalone.

The bones refer to the skull of a dinosaur, promptly stolen by unknown miscreants as soon as they were loaded up on a truck to leave the dig site. Professor Angela Bjork, who once saved McKenzie’s life, asks him to find the dinosaur skull. She and other students and staff had actually witnessed the thieves driving off with it.

McKenzie involves some friends in the FBI and a couple of “under the radar” sources in an effort to get any kind of lead on where the skull might be. And skills! Hoo boy, McKenzie has them. That’s not to say there isn’t a considerable amount of danger in “Them Bones.”

It was awfully hard to put this book down. I enjoyed the plot, the characters, the twists– all of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. This is my honest review.

I like this one it was an interesting take on a mystery thriller type book but overall it was good I liked the setting and plot

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

The plot of the book was very interesting and gave a lot of information concerning archeological digs. The author did an excellent job of drawing the reader into the investigation by giving sufficient clues to keep the reader invested in the story. The characters were well defined, some likeable and some not but appropriately placed in the story
Overall, it was enjoyable, and I would recommend it for a cozy afternoon read. However, since I had not read any of the other books in this series the passages referring to previous books was confusing. It can be read as a standalone book, but you might want to read the earlier books in the series to get a more pleasant reading experience.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

The Curious Case of the Missing Dinosaur

Them Bones is the 22nd book in the series featuring Twin Cities P.I. Rushmore McKenzie. In this book, Mac is asked to consult on an intriguing case: the head of a massive, newly excavated dinosaur skull was stolen from a remote dig site—just after it had been loaded for transport to a natural science museum.

I confess I did not know anything about author David Housewright or this series before reading this novel. And while I enjoyed the book, and the character of McKenzie, I did feel like I was not in on the joke much of the time—having started the series at the end rather than the beginning. So I now plan to read earlier books in the series to catch up.

This is a new entry in the long-running McKenzie series, but the first one I'd read. I didn't find it easy to get into the story--probably because it was readily apparent to me that there was a backstory to McKenzie that I didn't understand--and it seemed to take forever to develop. Not a bad book, but just one that didn't resonant for me.

Before agreeing to read an advance copy of this book, I read the first book in the series. I liked it very much and was happy to have the opportunity to read this one. Eventually, I will read the other books in the series as well, especially since some of the previous cases are referenced in this book and sound interesting. I was able to thoroughly enjoy Them Bones despite not yet reading most of the previous books. The first quarter of the book is a detailed and interesting recounting to McKenzie, the detective, about an academic paleontology dig and the finding and eventual theft of a dinosaur skull. I enjoyed reading about the dynamics of the team of students and professors as well as learning about the dig. Once the investigation began, I liked how McKenzie used past contacts to help solve the crime. I also enjoyed seeing McKenzie's unspoken thoughts as he interviewed people. I found the book very atmospheric and liked the way Housewright brought the characters to life. I look forward to reading more of this series, and I highly recommend this book.