Rating: 
Summary: McGarrity can hold your interest...
Review: and "The Judas Judge" is a fast and entertaining read, although not as strong as the prior 4 books in the Kerney series.
Here, the minor faults do not lie with Kerney himself, whose life takes some interesting twists and turns while he continues to pursue his cases with the single-mindedness and coping strategies for the tedium and the detail that are necessary to most murder investigations. New Mexico itself also plays a strong role in the novel, and McGarrity's view and visuals of the southwest continue to provide a successful backdrop. No, here the story breaks down with the eventual discovery of the reasons for the terrible crime, and how they center upon a depraved judge, of whom little evil is known until his death. Generally, those as unsympathetic as Judge Vernon Langsford are known to their surroundings as evil, long before their death. In the book, it takes Kerney quite some time to unearth his secrets, even though it is obvious from the beginning that there are a lot of things that are "not quite right" about his lifestyle. Still, the book moves at a rapid pace and has an interesting new insight into Kerney, when an unknown family is revealed to him. His reactions and conduct make him continue to be a favorite hero in suspense and mystery novels.
Worth the read!
Rating:
Summary: McGarrity can hold your interest...
Review: and "The Judas Judge" is a fast and entertaining read, although not as strong as the prior 4 books in the Kerney series.
Here, the minor faults do not lie with Kerney himself, whose life takes some interesting twists and turns while he continues to pursue his cases with the single-mindedness and coping strategies for the tedium and the detail that are necessary to most murder investigations. New Mexico itself also plays a strong role in the novel, and McGarrity's view and visuals of the southwest continue to provide a successful backdrop. No, here the story breaks down with the eventual discovery of the reasons for the terrible crime, and how they center upon a depraved judge, of whom little evil is known until his death. Generally, those as unsympathetic as Judge Vernon Langsford are known to their surroundings as evil, long before their death. In the book, it takes Kerney quite some time to unearth his secrets, even though it is obvious from the beginning that there are a lot of things that are "not quite right" about his lifestyle. Still, the book moves at a rapid pace and has an interesting new insight into Kerney, when an unknown family is revealed to him. His reactions and conduct make him continue to be a favorite hero in suspense and mystery novels.
Worth the read!
Rating: 
Summary: They don't get better than this!
Review: As a fan of southwestern mysteries, I can honestly say they don't get better than this. Kevin Kerney's character continues to develop with the addition of a wife and the emergence of a character out of his past who has kept a secret from him for many years. He has to deal with his shooting of a police officer, his impending retirement and finding the identity of a spree killer. Throughout the complicated twists of plot we always get a great sense of place. I especially enjoyed this one because it took us back to the Tularosa Basin and Alamogorde where I grew up. The landmarks and cities were all familiar and it was like going "home". I have been a fan of the series since his first book, Tularosa, and I am already anxiously awaiting the next one. In fact, I may reread the entire series before a planned trip to that area next fall!
Rating:
Summary: Another great one
Review: Chief Kerney--an honorable, determined, empathetic New Mexican rancher-trooper--is here up against one of the craziest passels of suspects imaginable, in a return to his natal area of the debut novel, Tularosa. The spree crimes are initially rural and simple, but the detection of the connections is not. Rather than lots of action, ex-cop author McGarrity focuses here on dogged police interviews, a skill rarely presented "on-stage" in thrillers. We see a new hard-nosed Kerney who persistently intimidates female witnesses--key to solving the crimes but somewhat unexplained. Conversely, Kerney's unusually well-developed personal history continues to grow, with surprising new family strains for this sensitive guy. The author spins compelling storiees with great pacing and always an enveloping sense of empty desert places and transient people. Kerney seems real, he has a life apart from his cases; I hope he doesn't retire!
Rating:
Summary: A Juicy Thriller/Mystery!
Review: Deputy sherrif Kevin Kerney is about to retire to the ranch when a serries of grusome murders occurs. At first it appears to be the work of some crazy, but evidence begins to suggest something else? This was a one night read for me, and I am not a speed reader. This is a well plotted mystery, with well developed characters. I especially like Deputy Kerney, he is a real man's man in this day of Alan Alda clones. Wish I could find a man like him in real life! I also recommend "A Tourist in the Yucatan" thriller/mystery
Rating:
Summary: You Be The Judge
Review: I remember the event very well. It's one of those life experiences you don't tend to forget. I was living on the western slope of Colorado in a small mountain town. It was a winter weekend, the weather was cold and blustery, and I had just finished reading the latest Tony Hillerman novel, for the second time. After a cup of coffee and some quiet contemplation it dawned on me; I was without a good mystery book set in the southwest. What to do? After checking with my HMO and finding they would not pay for admission to the local book detox center and facing a long week-end without a literary fix, I did what any self-respecting reader would do, I went to my favorite on-line bookseller for advice and counseling. Thus, it was with great delight that I was introduced to the mystery novels of Michael McGarrity. I have since read all of his works including Hermit's Peak, Serpent Gate, Mexican Hat, and the highly acclaimed Tularosa. You can imagine my excitment upon receiving his latest offering, The Judas Judge. While McGarrity may not yet be on the par with Hillerman, he is surely getting there. Few write as convincingly and accurately using the southwest as as setting as does McGarrity. The Judas Judge brings back our old friend and protagonist Kevin Kerney, Deputy State Police Chief for the New Mexico State Police, and a host of characters. The setting is New Mexico and the beautiful country of the American Southwest. It's all here for the committed mystery fan and those sho just like a good read. Keerney is called on to investigate a multiple murder spree, which culminates in the death of a former judge. Along the way he encounters a complex web of deceit. lies, and some characters right out of, well, Hillerman country. Oh, did I mention the death of a rogue cop, police corruption, and Kerney becoming an instantaneous father and grandfather? The plot is fast paced, the characters are believable, and his description of everyday, routine police work, warts and all, is on target. McGarrity weaves his understanding of Native American culture(in this instance the Mescalero Apache's) with his superb knowledge of the landscape and people of the American Southwest that results in a scene that adds flesh to the bones of the New Mexico landscape. Finally, the question in any good mystery book, Who done it? Well, it may be the judge's daughter and/or son; it could be his former mistress, or maybe the present one. On the other hand it may be someone connected with the rogue cop or the person that killed the judge's wife with a letter bomb six years earlier. However, one must not rule out the hit-and-run driver that killed the judge's son on a lonely stretch of New Mexico highway. It's funny how money, sexual indiscretions, revenge, family secrets, deceit, and other possible motives can lead to a wide assortment of suspects. Ah, that's why we have Kevin Kerney. McGarrity writes with clarity and knowledge of the landscape, both physically and culturally. He is a former law enforcement officer and has worked both sides of the street, both as a Deputy Sheriff and as an Investigator for the New Mexico Public Defender's Office. He knows the territory and it shows. Who Done It? You be the Judge.
Rating: 
Summary: Judge Judas Judge
Review: I started out with the three earlier books by this author, finished them and couldn't wait to get this, the latest. It is a worthy read if you don't have anything else to read, but I felt it was not up to the story line quality and believability as are the others. "Interview all the gun dealers in the state..." sounds kinda suspect to me as did the racists, hostile attitude of the guess what - the unknown son from an high school days (and nights) affair. Interviews a guy to see what cars passed him when he broke down beside the road several years earlier... I think the success of first 3 might have given him excess confidence. I will read his next, but not until it comes out in paper or I can get it at the used book store.
Rating: 
Summary: Weakest of the series
Review: I stumbled onto McGarrity over the holidays with Hermit's Peak. Loved it and proceeded to read the others in the Kerney series. They were really fast paced and enveloped me in the beautiful geography of New Mexico. Judas Judge was a mystery that drew me in and then failed to include that spark. It was too dark and did not take me on that sightseeing tour of New Mexico.
Rating:
Summary: Missed the Mark
Review: I stumbled onto McGarrity over the holidays with Hermit's Peak. Loved it and proceeded to read the others in the Kerney series. They were really fast paced and enveloped me in the beautiful geography of New Mexico. Judas Judge was a mystery that drew me in and then failed to include that spark. It was too dark and did not take me on that sightseeing tour of New Mexico.
Rating:
Summary: The Spark Is Gone
Review: I too am an avid McGarrity fan. As I begin to read this latest installment in the series, I felt the familiar rush of interesting plot building that I have come to appreciate in previous Kevin Kerney novels. Yet this novel doesn't invoke the same excitement and surprises that have been the hallmark of McGarrity's writing. Also, what makes Kerney an interesting character is the fact that he is an everyday man, working hard to materialize his dreams. Something a lot of us can relate to. With Kerney's sudden inheritance and marriage, the entire plot begin to read like a grocery store romance dream novel. The sudden and surprising money does nothing to enhance the character and the marriage line is weak, unrealistic and totally unnecessary. Now with the discovery of a son and a baby on the way with his new wife, I hope that McGarrity will soon retire this series and let Kerney and family live "happily ever after" or free Kerney from his current path and bring back the vibrant hero we fans have come to enjoy.
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