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Mackenzie & Mackenzie P.I. #3

Sleuthing for the Weekend

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A mother-daughter PI team, a cold case, and a little bit of luck...

It’s St. Patrick’s Day in Beantown, and Mackenzie Elizabeth Taylor needs the Luck of the Irish to solve her latest mystery—namely, who was the mysterious Uncle Al, the man who left her his apartment building as well as his PI business? But that personal investigation has to take a backseat to raising her teenage genius Mac, and dealing with her immature baby-daddy and demanding mother. Not to mention taking on a job that will actually produce some green.

The case is a gnarly dispute by two Irish pub owners who happen to be brothers as well as rivals over a missing inheritance. With the entire city out pub-crawling, Mackenzie goes hunting for a pot of gold...but winds up with a body instead.

With an assist from Mac, Mackenzie must slip into her gumshoes and go toe-to-toe with Detective Hunter Black, her neighbor, protector, and main squeeze, in order to solve her case. this case and claim the reward before someone else. Can the mother daughter team successfully investigate in the middle of a city-wide chaos? Or is their luck about to run out?

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2019

98 people are currently reading
66 people want to read

About the author

Jennifer L. Hart

72 books474 followers
Sign up for my author newsletter and never miss a new release at authorjenniferlhart.com

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer L. Hart writes about characters that cuss, get naked, and often make poor but hilarious life choices. A native New Yorker, Jenn now lives in the mountains of North Carolina with her imaginary friends. Her works to date include the Cougars and Cauldrons series, the Silver Sisters series and the upcoming Legcay Witches of Shadow Cove.


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5 stars
113 (53%)
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63 (29%)
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32 (15%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
Profile Image for Tammie.
1,599 reviews174 followers
September 25, 2020
This has been a fun series so far. It's kind of a cozy mystery I guess. Sometimes I have trouble categorizing those. The mother/daughter dynamic still reminds me a lot of Gilmore Girls. At times Mac is more mature than her mother, and if this wasn't fluff it would probably bother me more than it does.

So far I think the first book, Sleuthing for a Living is the best one, but books 2 and 3 were pretty good as well. I do find it unreal that a P. I. owned a very expensive car (that got passed down to Mackenzie when the P. I. died). I don't think private investigators make that much. I mean he wasn't like Thomas Magnum living on Robin Masters' estate. He lived in, and owned a sort of rundown apartment building.

I also had some issues with this book in regards to the timeline of certain happenings, and also in regards to a couple of things that were a stretch to believe, but I'm not taking these books too seriously. These are light reads for when you just want brain candy.

Review also posted at Writings of a Reader.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,397 reviews24 followers
October 30, 2020
i love mackenzie and mackenzie. i think this series is very well written
Profile Image for Bookgyrl.
1,342 reviews23 followers
December 21, 2018
After the bomb her mother dropped at the end of the last book, Mackenzie is still mulling about it and hasn’t told anybody.
She is asked by her dad to investigate something as a favor and is sucked into a murder case.

Another well written story. I like the fact Mackenzie seems to mature and grow with each story (even when Mac seems the mom sometimes) and how the cases she investigates as a PI for lawyer Len are also learning her life lessons.

There was not enough Hunter in this story, but I like their relationship and hope for more in the next.

Profile Image for Sandy Bartles.
1,395 reviews38 followers
March 5, 2019
This is.a fabulous book and I have enjoyed the whole series. The team of Mackenzie and Mackenzie keep you wanting more!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
1,382 reviews17 followers
March 22, 2019
This has become one of my favourite series! This one is all about families and their secrets. It starts right after the revelations at the end of the last book and secrets continue to be revealed and explored throughout this book. It turns out the well-managed dysfunctions of her own life extend back into the previous generation. The main mystery revolves around the dysfunctional relationship of two brothers from an Irish family (it is St. Patrick's Day weekend), the subsequent murders and a treasure. This book is jam-packed with story, action, and laughter.
Profile Image for Kathleen.
1,209 reviews60 followers
July 12, 2019
Sleuthing for the Weekend earns 5/5 Quotable Quotes…Clever and Entertaining!

Yoga…what could be worse? Delayed coffee fix? Family disfunction? A plea for help from estranged parent? Mackenzie’s official business is directed through a law firm, but her dad needs her immediate attention. His close friend and business partner, Michael O'Flannigan, needs Mackenzie to find a family treasure dating from the 1700s and rumored to be in connection to a failed marriage pact. This is the emergency! A treasure hunt! Their business needs renovations, and without an influx of capital, they will go under. The only clue isn't an “X marks the spot” map, but a poem on an old piece of parchment passed down to the eldest son these past seven generations. Along with a more recent codicil of inheriting a pub that's been in the family for one-hundred years, the family “pot of gold at the end of the rainbow” has eluded them. The immediacy is Daniel O'Flannigan, Michael’s brother and business competitor, is set on finding the treasure and keeping it for himself. Ok, it's an emergency…especially when a dead body is discovered. But, it's not so clear about the motive, and the treasure just may be too long hidden to be uncovered.

This third book in Jennifer L. Hart’s Mackenzie & Mackenzie PI Mystery series is an absolutely entertaining gem! Her signature style is very engaging with vivid language, and clever, sometimes snarky, banter. This book has quite a compelling mystery, realistic characters with flaws and strength, fascinating g’mother/mother/daughter dynamic, and twists, turns, and Wow! ending. Jennifer uses a first-person narrative from Mackenzie’s perspective sharing her inner thoughts and feelings about family, her new relationship and, no spoilers, dealing with a personal revelation sprung on her at the end of book 2, “All Sleuth and No Play.” I really enjoyed the unique way each chapter begins with a quote from Uncle Al’s “The Working Man's Guide to Sleuthing for a Living,” illustrating a key consideration or skill set of a successful PI. Although I began with book three and many revelations, connections, and relationships have happened, I was never out of the loop. Newbies can start here and go back to the other books like readers do when a prequel is written. You'll really enjoy this series!

FYI - I also name things. Cars, of course. Mackenzie has Helga a Challenger Hellcat, and my first car was Vladimir Volkswagen followed by Maximilian Mazda, and Horacio Honda. Stuffed animals have all been christened: Karl Koala, Felix the Cat, and Joey Gorilla. But, there's also Izzie iPad, Willy WiFi, and Frank Heater (only when it's not working). Is it quirky? Maybe, but also fun…

Disclosure: I received an ARC. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
Profile Image for Andrea Stoeckel.
3,094 reviews131 followers
February 22, 2019
"Be careful, Red. Don't shoot yourself in the foot by doing favors for people."

Mackenzie Taylor’s at it again! This time she’s involved in another family’s “situation” involving brothers, the two bars they own, and a historical treasure that may be somewhere in Boston. And then, there’s a politico, a cat, some shady dealings and musicians....and if that’s not enough add Boston on St.Patrick’s Day, and the “usual suspects” that live in her Brownstone and, if you can find your way around all that, she needs to figure out just who’s sleeping in Hunter’s bed!

In typical Mackenzie fashion, will she and Mack come out unscathed? And, why, pray tell is her father involved? No matter what, it’s Mackenzie Elizabeth Taylor’s world, and we’re happily along for the ride!

I just love Jennifer L. Hart’s tongue-in-cheek attitude about her books. I’ve read almost everything she’s written, and whether it is fantasy or mystery, she’s seriously got it going on and I’m a big supporter of whatever’s next! Highly Recommended 5/5

[disclaimer: I received this book from the author and voluntarily reviewed it]
Profile Image for krysley.
297 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2020
I received a free review copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I love this series so much and I'm so sad that this is the last one in the series so far. (Please, Ms. Hart, please continue writing this series and producing the audiobooks. I need more of Mackenzie, Mac, Hunter, and company in my life.)

Honestly, I think this is the perfect listen right now during these COVID-19 times. It's fun, lighthearted, but has a bit of danger and darkness mixed into the mystery. It's not a cozy mystery, but it's also not a psychological thriller either. Maybe think more along the lines of Stumptown. Like I said, the entire series hit the perfect note for me and I binged them in about two weeks.

I though this was another great mystery for Mackenzie, though I figured out who the bad guy was a little in advance. I also wanted more of Hunter in this book. In my opinion, we never get enough Hunter or enough Mackenzie/Mac antics.

Just as an aside, Gaelic Storm served as my soundtrack in the hours I wasn't listening to Sleuthing for the Weekend. I think it'd be pretty obvious why. *grin*
501 reviews
May 17, 2023
This is a wacky, zany, funny story featuring a mother daughter private investigator duo. The main character Mackenzie Elizabeth Taylor became a single mother at the age of 16 and is currently raising a teenage daughter while solving PI cases in Boston together. It’s often difficult to tell which Mackenzie is the mother since the daughter acts more mature and responsible throughout the story.

The characters are all colorful and bring a zany zest for life to the story. Four generations of Mackenzie women live together in a house they inherited from Mackenzie’s biological father on separate floors with the second floor rented to the main characters boyfriend and cop, Hunter. Each character is funny and quirky adding to the light mystery as they go about their daily lives.

Things get complicated when the hostess of a popular Irish bar is found dead by Mackenzie during her investigation into a family treasure. Surprising details emerge as the dead woman’s life is revealed. Who killed her and why?

A mad cap investigation filled with delightful characters is definitely an enjoyable story to indulge.
Profile Image for Judy Johnson.
836 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2019
Wow, such a fun book! If you are looking for a great cozy, here it is! This is one of those books that you don't want to put down, I just kept thinking, okay, just one more chapter. No spoilers in this review, but the twists and turns keep your interest as do the characters. Some interesting and long-kept secrets come to light, and could they be the reason the murder was committed? The relationships between the characters are tested at times (but then aren't all family relationships?) but don't you need that to keep it interesting? You'll find a couple of generations of pure snarkiness and laugh out loud situations that raise more questions than answers at some points in the book! You just have to get this book and join the quirky cast of characters in a whodunit that certainly stands with the best of them. Fast-paced, pure entertainment, exactly what any cozy mystery lover is looking for. BTW, does just fine as a standalone, even though it's the second book in the series (although this book will totally make you want to read the first one).
492 reviews
January 16, 2019
This is a fun cozy mystery! The characters and plot are carefully woven into a tangled web of possibilities that will keep you reading every page until the very end. The cast of characters is large and Mackenzie has to stay on her toes to juggle all the information in this one. Along with that are some startling personal discoveries that have Mackenzie reevaluating her own life including her parents, her Uncle Al, and even her relationship with Hunter. Meanwhile, it's St. Patrick's Day in Boston, there is a murder, a treasure hunt, and a band named "Under Irish Skirts".

I really enjoyed reading this book. Jennifer L. Hart is a new author for me and I look forward to picking up the other books in the series. You can definitely start with this book if you haven't read the previous ones. (I was provided an ARC of this book by the publisher for my honest review.)
Profile Image for Biggs_bookshelf.
1,574 reviews27 followers
June 22, 2021
Every time I start a series by Jennifer L. Hart I can’t help but consume them and end up sad when I get to the end of the ones available. I adore her witty charm and just the craziness that’s totally believable she puts in her books. Like other series this one has its own feel and cast of crazy characters that burrow into you heart and crack you up with their antics. A wonderful
Cozy mystery with all the qualities that make up a great read including drama, mystery, humor and heartfelt moment that get you in the feels. Mackenzie is a magnet for trouble and it finds her once again in this one! Narrator brings the story to life and makes a wonderfully entertaining story even better!!!
1,962 reviews7 followers
May 3, 2023
Audiobook: I enjoyed book 3 of the "Mackenzie & Mackenzie PI Mysteries" series as much as the first two. Gripped by the tale, I had to listen to the audiobook in one sitting. I liked that the characters were relatable and that their actions seemed reasonable. I liked that I could use the clues to figure out the mystery. I enjoyed the flashes of humor that percolated throughout. If the author created more stories featuring these characters, I would be happy to read them. Suzanne Cerreta's narration was enthusiastic, and her performance was easy to experience. I was given a free copy of the audiobook, and I have voluntarily posted this review.
4,423 reviews38 followers
March 7, 2019
Mackenzie and Mac are solving murders again in Sleuthing for the Weekend. This mother and daughter team is amazingly effective. Sometimes you wonder which Mackenzie is the parent, but I would hire them in a heartbeat. There is a large cast of characters so there are plenty of suspects. I am always thrilled when I do not figure out the ending. Very exciting mystery with lots of family drama as well.
20 reviews
April 29, 2019
Sleuthing for a weekend or so

I really like this series of books.. the characters seem real, not perfect with the perfect body and life. The mother/daughter Macs are lovable. Hunter is a detective who is very solid with a screwed up childhood until he was adopted. Mac, the mother is becoming a PI after reading her uncles journal. These stories are about her family, neighbors, adventures in learning of be a PI, and coffee addiction.




Profile Image for Kathy Randol.
68 reviews1 follower
March 9, 2019
Such a wonderful series! Book 📖 3 was as enjoyable as books 1 and 2.....
My only wish would be.....it seems to take forever for the next book in the series. That’s the good thing about this author, her writing is Superb you never want it to end!

Another Well Written Wild Ride Of a book!!📚
Looking forward for book 4
1,409 reviews
February 1, 2022
This audiobook was a doozy. My comments are similar to those I made about #2 of the series.
The characters and their interactions continue to evolve, more background info is shared and the mystery element was twisty. The narration adds depth and fits the tenor of the story. Well done Jennifer L. Hart and Susanne Cerreta! More, please.
7,741 reviews49 followers
April 23, 2020
MacKenzie’s Dad ask for a favor, that got her involved into another murder
She is once again the older mom to her mom, and we missed Hunter. These are good easy to read or listen to. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
Profile Image for E.
1,865 reviews
March 6, 2019
Each book I this series is awesome. Really liked this one. I look forward to reading more.
Profile Image for Charlene.
1,283 reviews36 followers
March 10, 2019
a really fun read! I loved this book! I received an ARC from the publisher for purposes of an unbiased review
Profile Image for Julia.
294 reviews6 followers
March 10, 2019
Another exciting fun read and compelling mystery.
Profile Image for Shannon Binegar-Foster.
2,651 reviews18 followers
March 12, 2019
Another great one. I really love the characters. The storyline is awesome. I look forward to many more in the series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Kristin Whitehouse.
1,441 reviews52 followers
March 13, 2019
I love this series. The way the main characters interact remind me of the Gilmore Girls. It always has a good mystery and it has a perfect romantic hero. One of my favorite new series.
918 reviews6 followers
April 8, 2019
Great book

Don't miss this one. I was in the edge throughout the story. Storyline exceptional as well as character development. This series is fabulous.
Profile Image for Marjorie.
374 reviews1 follower
July 1, 2021
These sleuthing books have great humor! They keep me laughing.
1,373 reviews5 followers
April 2, 2025
This one was just ok, as far as cozy mysteries go. But unfortunately I can’t seem to ‘love’ the characters like I want to.
Profile Image for Barbara Hackel.
2,736 reviews44 followers
March 5, 2019
When Mackenzie gets a call from the Captain, she resents him calling for help, but she goes to see what he needs. It turns out he is a silent partner in a tavern that is tanking. The two co-owners know of a hidden family treasure that they want Mackenzie find so they can put the money back into the business and become successful again. But there is more to this than meets the eye. The original owner has a brother who owns a competitive bar, and his bar is flourishing. As a favor to her father, Mackenzie agrees to try and figure out where the treasure is.

Before long Mackenzie is in the midst of a murder, fortune seeking, and looking out for her mother and elderly tenant as they are dragged into the fortune hunting. To add to the confusion, Hunter (Mackenzie's boyfriend) is undercover on police business, yet there is someone (female) staying in his apartment. Then there is that spark of interest in another man-what's that about? Throw in a funeral, another murder, and a shocking revelation about her Uncle Al, and you still won't be ready for the stunning conclusion of this case. You will be ready for a green beer and a chance to celebrate St. Patrick's day, however! Don't miss this funny, non-stop action story written by an author who excels in her craft.

Merged review:

The PI business of Mackenzie Elizabeth Taylor is back with more sleuthing and computer assist from her daughter, Mac. Honestly I get worn out trying to keep up with her! Between allowing her mother to dictate Hot Yoga classes and yoga mat folding to chasing all over the city looking for treasure information or murder clues, Mackenzie hardly has time to see her daughter, let alone ever get clean sheets on her bed! When she pretends to be a friend of a dead lady so she can snoop for clues, she deserves to be "stuck" with the lady's nasty cat, even though it means her only hope eating is gone since she just closed the cat out by the food!

The story is full of hilarious moments, and plenty of serious ones as well. I love the way Mother and Daughter have such a great relationship. The story is fast paced with plenty of possible murderer suspects to make it challenging to figure out who killed the lady and who killed the man, and who is trying to kill Mackenzie! Throw in a US Senator, a father who is going to loose the family home, and a squatter in the apartment across the hall, and that is just the start of all that is going on in one very enjoyable book.

I requested a copy of this book to read, and voluntarily wrote this review. All opinions expressed are mine only.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews

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