In A Hard Wind by David Housewright

Retired policeman and sometimes detective McKenzie is back in David Housewright's new book, In A Hard Wind. Having only discovered the McKenzie books last year, I was blown away by how good this book is!

Doing a favor for a friend of a friend of a friend, McKenzie agrees to look into the case of J. C. Carrell, accused of killing developer Charles Sainsbury and burying him in her backyard. Charle's company had apparently purchased neighborhood land from J. C.'s close friend and neighbor, Carson Vaneps who is suffering from Alzheimer's. The land is affectionately known as "The Circle" complete with a gazebo and firepit where a book club of neighborhood women, "The Plot Whores", regularly gather. J. C. was witnessed threatening to kill Charles and was spotted late on the night of his disappearance coming down the hill with a shovel. 

McKenzie talks to a local police sergeant he is acquainted with as well as questioning all the neighbors. Solving the mystery of whether or not the mostly beloved J. C. committed the crime turns out to be just the beginning of the real mystery. It's at this point that the book takes a real twist and leads McKenzie down some truly unexpected roads!

McKenzie is a charming and intelligent character, but it's truly J.C. and the neighborhood women who are the stars of this show. Fascinating and complicated characters and relationships that range from sisterly to maternal to mentoring. McKenzie's intuition and detecting skills lead him on a wide chase and every stone he kicks over leads to another jaw-dropping mystery. Readers will follow along in amazement all the way to a powerful and unanticipated conclusion. This will certainly wind up as one of the best books of the year and deservedly so. 

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher.