David Housewright, Pretty Girl Gone

Pretty Girl Gone

David Housewright

St. Martin's, May 2006, $24.95

ISBN 0312348290

Lindsey Bauer Barrett, wife of Minnesota Governor John Barrett, asks her former boyfriend, Twin Cities private investigator Mac McKenzie, to uncover who is behind an extortion email. For Zee, as Mac calls her, he would do anything, so he agrees to uncover the identity of the person blackmailing Barrett by going public with information claiming the governor killed his high school sweetheart, a cold case.

Mac tracks the email back to Barrett's hometown Victoria, where he remains more famous as part of the legendary state basketball championship team "Victoria Seven" than the governor. However, no one wants to discuss anything but that championship season, and the residents are especially silent on the homicide. In fact, Mac's efforts to question the team members and the coach go nowhere, and everyone demands he leave town as no one wants to allow him to tarnish the reputation of their team. However, he keeps digging, only to find an elaborate ploy in the past that still impacts the present.

PRETTY GIRL GONE is a terrific Twin City private investigative tale because of the determined flawed hero who refuses to back down, even though pressure mounts on him to leave; part of the reason he doggedly continues his enquiries is the past relationship and his attraction still to the beautiful Zee. His discovery of the truth is cleverly devised because the reality will shock readers, yet clues are there to be found (albeit not by me). Fans will enjoy this strong caper, and seek David Housewright's other tales (see TIN CITY).