Something Wicked

In David Housewright's 19th hard-boiled mystery

Something Wicked

, Rushmore McKenzie, who promised to retire after his last nearly-fatal case, gets talked into doing an old friend a favor involving a castle, a family fighting over an inheritance, and at least one mysterious death.

Rushmore McKenzie was a detective with the St. Paul, Minnesota PD until unlikely events made him first a millionaire and then a retiree. Since then, he's been an occasional unofficial private investigator-looking into things for friends and friends of friends-until his most recent case put him into a coma and nearly into a coffin. Now, at the insistence of his better half Nina Truhler, he is again retired.

That is, until a friend of Nina finds herself in dire straits and in desperate need of a favor. Jenness Crawford's grandmother owned the family castle-a nineteenth century castle that has been operating as a hotel and resort for over a hundred years. Since her grandmother's death, the heirs have been squabbling over what to do with it. Some want to keep it in the family and continue running as a hotel. Some want to sell it and reap the millions a developer will pay for it. And Jenness is convinced that someone-probably in the latter group-killed her grandmother. A conclusion with which the police do not agree. Now McKenzie finds himself back in action, trapped in a castle filled with feuding relatives with conflicting agendas, long serving retainers, and a possible murderer. And if McKenzie makes one wrong move, it could be lights out.

Critical Acclaim for

Something Wicked

:

"You have to like a series in which the latest book is just as good as the first book and all the books in between. We're nineteen titles into this series, and there's no sign that Housewright is running out of stories or of the energy to tell them." -

Booklist

"So many inviting suspects that it really doesn't matter which of them is guilty." -

Kirkus Reviews

"Edgar winner Housewright's entertaining 19th novel... Housewright vividly depicts the lakeside castle and the surrounding area while nicely integrating the pandemic into the plot, addressing some of the catastrophic effects it has had on restaurants and hotels. As usual, the main draw is McKenzie, with his dry sense of humor, keen intelligence, and moral code. New and established fans will be pleased." -

Publishers Weekly

"The author weaves a tale involving friends, family, romance, action, death, racism, inheritance, social justice, and divisiveness that pulls readers in and keeps one hooked from beginning to end... The writing flows so well the pages flew by... This engaging novel unleashes wit, suspense, romance, and mystery that make it a twisty read that keeps readers hooked." -

Mystery & Suspense Magazine

"A mystery that includes two dead people can't exactly be called a fun read. But there is something easy and quippy about

Something Wicked

that makes this a perfect dock/patio/porch summer read." -

St. Paul Pioneer Press