Pretty Girl Gone

by: David Housewright

Published by: St. Martins

Reviewed by Kathy Perschmann

Rushmore "Mac" McKenzie, retired St. Paul police officer and sometimes P.I., returns in Pretty Girl Gone (A Hard Ticket Home and Tin City are the first two Mac McKenzie books).

McKenzie no longer needs to work due to a large reward he received--and then his savvy investments. He is asked for help by an ex-girlfriend, Lindsey, who happens to be married to the Governor of Minnesota, Jack Barrett, a likeable and seemingly honest self-made man.

Governor Barrett grew up on a farm in rural Victoria, Minnesota, where he made history as the captain of the "Victoria Seven," a small-town basketball team that went on to win the State Championship. In the midst of the championship games, a pretty young cheerleader was found murdered, dumped on the side of the road. The murdered girl was Jack's high school sweetheart, and they had been seen arguing that night.

Lindsey gets an e-mail threatening that Jack should not run for Senate or his past as a murderer will be exposed. She needs to know who sent that email. Mac's investigation in Victoria leads him to all sorts of conclusions, and he discovers more secrets than he needs to know about those years. He also gets involved in uncovering a meth operation and dealing with racists.

Mac is the sort of person you would want on your side in a tough situation.

Armchair Interviews says: This novel is overflowing with snow, icy roads, twists and turns, several terrifying shoot-outs, deceptions and lies.