David Housewright Books in Order: Mac McKenzie, Holland Taylor & More
Housewright writes crime fiction set largely in Minnesota, featuring private investigators, murder cases, corruption and complicated human motives. As of October 2026, the Mac McKenzie series has 23 books, while the Holland Taylor series includes six novels, with Girl in a Dumpster the latest installment listed in that series.
The good news for new readers is that you don’t need to read every David Housewright novel to get started. The two main series have their own lead characters, so you can choose the one that sounds more interesting and follow its publication order.
David Housewright Books at a Glance
| Series or category | Books |
| Mac McKenzie | 23 |
| Holland Taylor | 6 |
| Standalone novels | 2 |
| Latest Mac McKenzie novel | Fear the Reaper (2026) |
| Latest Holland Taylor novel | Girl in a Dumpster (2025) |
These counts cover the two main series and the standalone novels listed in the author’s commonly used bibliography. Housewright has also contributed stories to multi-author crime anthologies.
1. Mac McKenzie Books in Order
23 books · 2004–2026 · Private-eye mystery
The Mac McKenzie series follows Rushmore “Mac” McKenzie, a former St. Paul police detective who becomes wealthy and starts investigating cases on his own terms. He often helps people without charging them, taking on murders, missing-person cases, thefts and other mysteries that can lead him into dangerous situations.
1. A Hard Ticket Home (2004)
This first novel introduces Mac McKenzie, a former police detective who has the money and freedom to choose which cases he investigates. It establishes his independent approach to justice and introduces the Minnesota setting that becomes central to the series.
2. Tin City (2005)
Mac returns for another mystery rooted in the people and places of Minnesota. The story develops his character as an investigator who relies on police experience, personal connections and his own judgment rather than following official procedures.
3. Pretty Girl Gone (2006)
The third novel continues Mac’s work as an unofficial private investigator. It adds another case to the series while maintaining the mix of crime, personal complications and dry humor that distinguishes Housewright’s mysteries.
4. Dead Boyfriends (2007)
In Dead Boyfriends, Mac becomes involved in another case involving troubling circumstances and questions that need answering. The novel continues the series’ focus on uncovering the truth behind crimes and the relationships surrounding them.
5. Madman on a Drum (2008)
Mac takes on another mystery that tests his investigative instincts and ability to understand people. As in the earlier books, the case provides a window into the complicated motives and hidden tensions behind apparently straightforward events.
6. Jelly’s Gold (2009)
Jelly’s Gold is the sixth Mac McKenzie novel and one of Housewright’s award-winning books. It combines the series’ crime-solving approach with another mystery that draws Mac into the lives and secrets of the people involved.
7. The Taking of Libbie, SD (2010)
The title points to a case that takes Mac beyond the familiar Twin Cities setting. The novel continues his investigations into criminal behavior, while giving readers another example of how his informal methods differ from conventional police work.
8. Highway 61 (2011)
The eighth book continues Mac’s adventures in the Minnesota crime-fiction world. The story keeps the emphasis on investigation, character and the unexpected complications that can arise when Mac agrees to help someone.
9. Curse of the Jade Lily (2012)
Mac encounters another mystery in which the apparent explanation may not be the whole truth. The book continues the series’ blend of private-eye storytelling, local atmosphere and hidden motives.
10. The Last Kind Word (2013)
In this installment, Mac takes on another case that calls for patience, observation and a willingness to question the accepted story. The novel adds to the continuing picture of Mac as an investigator guided by his own moral code.
11. The Devil May Care (2014)
Mac returns to a world where criminal cases rarely remain simple for long. The novel builds on the series’ familiar strengths: a resourceful investigator, complicated people and a mystery that requires looking beyond first impressions.
12. Unidentified Woman #15 (2015)
The twelfth novel places an unidentified woman at the center of its mystery. The case gives Mac another puzzle to unravel, with the investigation focused on discovering who the woman is and what happened.
13. Stealing the Countess (2016)
Mac investigates a case involving a valuable object and the people connected to it. The story continues Housewright’s interest in how greed, deception and personal motives can turn a seemingly straightforward problem into a much larger mystery.
14. What the Dead Leave Behind (2017)
The title suggests the importance of clues and unanswered questions left by the dead. Mac must examine the circumstances surrounding the case and work toward a fuller understanding of the people involved.
15. Like to Die (2018)
Mac becomes involved in another dangerous mystery in this fifteenth installment. The novel continues the series’ crime-focused storytelling while exploring the risks that come with investigating people who may have something serious to hide.
16. Dead Man’s Mistress (2019)
Dead Man’s Mistress adds another murder mystery to Mac’s growing list of cases. As he investigates, the story draws on the series’ recurring themes of personal relationships, secrets and the difference between appearances and reality.
17. From the Grave (2020)
Mac faces another case in which the past has a part to play in the present. The novel continues the series’ emphasis on investigating unanswered questions and discovering what people have tried to keep hidden.
18. What Doesn’t Kill Us (2021)
The eighteenth book brings Mac into another complicated situation where resilience and clear thinking matter. It continues his story as a private investigator who chooses cases because he wants to help, not because he needs a fee.
19. Something Wicked (2022)
Mac’s next investigation takes him into another unsettling mystery. The book maintains the series’ balance of crime, suspense and the moral questions that emerge when people take justice into their own hands.
20. In a Hard Wind (2023)
Mac returns in the twentieth installment with another case to investigate. The novel continues the series’ familiar Midwestern setting and its interest in how personal history and local connections can shape a crime.
21. Man in the Water (2024)
The discovery or presence of a man in the water provides the central mystery suggested by this title. Mac must use his investigative experience to work through the questions surrounding the case and determine what really happened.
22. Them Bones (2025)
A stolen dinosaur skull lies at the center of Them Bones, drawing Mac into a complex mystery. The unusual object gives Housewright a fresh premise for a private-eye story while keeping Mac’s investigative skills at the forefront.
23. Fear the Reaper (2026)
In the latest Mac McKenzie novel, a man wielding an AR-15 is stopped at a small-town winery, and Mac must find out who the shooter was targeting. The danger may not be over, and the investigation raises the possibility that either Mac or someone else could be attacked next.
Recommended reading order: A Hard Ticket Home → Tin City → Pretty Girl Gone → Dead Boyfriends → Madman on a Drum → Jelly’s Gold → The Taking of Libbie, SD → Highway 61 → Curse of the Jade Lily → The Last Kind Word → The Devil May Care → Unidentified Woman #15 → Stealing the Countess → What the Dead Leave Behind → Like to Die → Dead Man’s Mistress → From the Grave → What Doesn’t Kill Us → Something Wicked → In a Hard Wind → Man in the Water → Them Bones → Fear the Reaper.
2. Holland Taylor Books in Order
6 books · 1995–2025 · Private-eye mystery
The Holland Taylor series follows another Minnesota investigator, a former police officer turned private eye. These novels began before the Mac McKenzie series and include Housewright’s award-winning debut.
1. Penance (1995)
Penance introduces Holland Taylor, a former police officer who becomes involved in a murder case with political implications. As he investigates, the trail leads toward an ambitious gubernatorial candidate and a web of blackmail, secrets and further killings.
This was Housewright’s debut novel and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1996.
2. Practice to Deceive (1997)
Holland Taylor returns for another investigation in which appearances and the truth do not necessarily match. The novel continues to establish his voice as a cynical, experienced investigator who knows that people rarely reveal everything they know.
3. Dearly Departed (1999)
The third book brings Holland back into the world of crime and complicated human relationships. It continues the original trilogy’s focus on the consequences of past actions and the difficult questions that arise during an investigation.
4. Darkness, Sing Me a Song (2018)
After a long gap between novels, Holland Taylor returns in this fourth installment. The story brings the character back to the center of a new mystery, making it a useful next read for anyone who wants to follow the series beyond its original three books.
5. First, Kill the Lawyers (2019)
Holland returns for another case in which the investigation leads into potentially dangerous territory. The title signals the novel’s connection to the legal world, while the story continues the series’ emphasis on crime, motive and the people who become caught up in it.
6. Girl in a Dumpster (2025)
Henrietta Weller wakes up in a dumpster on a Minneapolis street with no memory of how she got there. She hires Holland Taylor and his partner Sidney Poitier Fredericks to find out what happened and seek revenge, but the search for answers puts them in danger.
Recommended reading order: Penance → Practice to Deceive → Dearly Departed → Darkness, Sing Me a Song → First, Kill the Lawyers → Girl in a Dumpster.
3. David Housewright Standalone Novels
These novels are listed separately from the two main series, so they’re good options if you’d rather try Housewright without starting a long sequence.
1. The Devil and the Diva (2012)
Written with Renee Valois, The Devil and the Diva is a crime novel outside the main Mac McKenzie and Holland Taylor reading sequences. It offers a way to explore Housewright’s crime-fiction style through a separate story rather than a recurring lead investigator.
2. Finders Keepers (2012)
Finders Keepers is another standalone novel published in 2012. Since it isn’t part of the main Mac McKenzie or Holland Taylor sequences, readers can approach it independently without worrying about series chronology.
4. Other Books and Anthology Contributions
David Housewright has also contributed short fiction to crime anthologies, including Twin Cities Noir and other collections. These stories are separate from the numbered Mac McKenzie and Holland Taylor novels, so they aren’t necessary for following either series.
He has also contributed to the multi-author Grifter’s Song series, including Dracula Wine. Since this is a shared series, it is best treated separately from Housewright’s two main investigator series.
Which David Housewright Series Should You Read First?
Start with Mac McKenzie for a long-running mystery series
Choose A Hard Ticket Home if you want a continuing series with a recurring investigator and a strong Minnesota setting. With 23 books through Fear the Reaper, it offers the longest reading journey among Housewright’s main series.
Start with Holland Taylor for the earliest novels
Choose Penance if you prefer to begin with Housewright’s debut and read Holland Taylor’s story in order. It also gives you the chance to read the novel that won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel.
Start with a standalone if you want a shorter commitment
Try Finders Keepers or The Devil and the Diva if you don’t want to begin a multi-book series. Both are listed separately from the main investigator sequences, so there’s no need to read earlier novels first.
Do David Housewright’s Books Need to Be Read in Order?
It’s best to read each series in publication order, but you don’t have to read both series together. Mac McKenzie and Holland Taylor are separate lead characters, and each series has its own starting point.
The Mac McKenzie novels generally center on individual cases, while Mac’s relationships and personal history continue across books. Reading in order helps you follow those ongoing details, even when a particular mystery has its own resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many books has David Housewright written?
His bibliography includes 23 Mac McKenzie novels, six Holland Taylor novels and two standalone novels in the lists above. He has also written short stories and contributed to anthologies, so the total number of published works depends on what is counted.
What is David Housewright’s first book?
His first novel is Penance, published in 1995. It introduces Holland Taylor and won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel in 1996.
What is the first Mac McKenzie book?
The first Mac McKenzie novel is A Hard Ticket Home, published in 2004. It introduces Rushmore “Mac” McKenzie, a former police detective who investigates cases independently.
What is the latest David Housewright book?
As of October 2026, the latest Mac McKenzie novel is Fear the Reaper, released in June 2026. The latest Holland Taylor novel listed is Girl in a Dumpster, published in 2025.
Has David Housewright won any awards?
Yes. Penance won the Edgar Award for Best First Novel, and Housewright has also won three Minnesota Book Awards for his crime fiction.
Are Mac McKenzie and Holland Taylor part of the same series?
No. They are separate series with different lead investigators. You can read either series without first completing the other.
Conclusion
David Housewright is a strong choice for readers who enjoy private-eye mysteries, grounded crime fiction and investigators who work outside the usual rules. For a long series, start with A Hard Ticket Home and follow Mac McKenzie through Fear the Reaper. If you’d rather begin with Housewright’s earliest work, read Penance and continue through the Holland Taylor novels. Either way, publication order is the clearest route through each series, while the standalone novels give you an easy way to sample his writing without a long commitment.
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