Under the Color of Law

Rating:
Summary: Expanded View
Review: McGarrity's hero has to take on a much expanded view of the world, and the law enforcment community, in this outing.
When the wife of a high US government official is murdered
in Sante Fe, the crime scene is quickly filled with various
agents of the US, who all push aside the local police, citing
some vague need for "national security." It all sounds a little
too much like a glossly cover-up, so the hero and his top police
aides dig in and try to uncover the truth, all the while having
to work under the radar of the FBI. And as the investigation goes on, some of the federal investigators seem a bit too cold-blooded, keeping too many secrets, to even be FBI types.
The local cops begin to suspect a conspiracy, and they uncover
the disturbing fact that even they are under surveillance by
the feds.
It's a real law enforcement mess, and the author must know about
jurisdictional arguments and fights, with multiple agencies, and
even over-lapping court jurisdictions, because he does such a nice job of presenting the frustration felt by many local authorities.
The range of the problems explored is a bit large, and it does
take the reader away from the beautiful New Mexico settings
favored by author McGarrity, but it is still a very nice mystery. The pace is good, and the reader will keep wanting to
move forward.

Rating:
Summary: Can we really trust anyone?
Review: Michael McGarrity demonstrates again his command of the crime thriller and police procedural. As in the past, Kevin Kerney, now the Chief of the Santa Fe Police Department, gets involved in a messy murder, which gets messier as his investigation progresses. This book is a page turner of the finest kind. I read all 272 pages in one sitting, and lost a lot of sleep in the process.

Unfortunately, unlike the previous Kerney novels, the reader doesn't get the feeling and flavor of New Mexico as much as in the previous McGarrity novels. As a New Mexican, I became a confirmed McGarrity fan precisely because of the New Mexico flavor of his novels.

In balance, though, as a police procedural, this novel rates at least five stars. As a New Mexico novel, however, it makes me wonder if maybe McGarrity has run out of words to describe our Land of Enchantment. For that reason, I have to rate the book four stars overall.

Rating:
Summary: Huge Disappointment from one of my favorite authors
Review: Michael McGarrity's Kevin Kearney novels have been superb to this point, so I guess he's due for a misstep. The best part of these modern Westerns has been the way McGarrity has weaved the history and different cultures into his stories.

However, here, he goes for an Oliver Stone conspiracy that makes "JFK" look logical. This is one of those plots where the bad guys, to protect their secret, murder people who don't even know that they are a witness to anything, or have an incentive not to talk. As though bodies littering the landscape who all have an obvious connection to one another aren't going to raise unwanted attention. McGarrity is usually very good on procedure, but either doesn't seem to realize how hard it would be to get this kind of authority to kill American citizens, or doesn't care.

The book is far fetched, cliched, and has so many victims and witnesses running through it on the way to being offed, that there are no real characters. And, there is no real ending; which means, unfortunately, that McGarrity might think he has to wrap this plot up in another book before he moves on. Too bad.

Rating:
Summary: Bring back the old Kevin
Review: The sixth book in the series does not do justice to the first three in the series. (There was a noticable change in the fourth book.) The edge is gone along with Kevin's limp. A character that demonstrated such an interesting edge and insight has been regulated to cliche's and a boring plot. There is too much emphasis on Kevin's son and his struggle with the injustices of life, both perceived and real. If the author wants to write about Clayton, then let him create a spin off series, and return Kevin to the original character that he was, for he has become a dull read.

Rating:
Summary: Bring back the old Kevin
Review: The sixth book in the series does not do justice to the first three in the series. (There was a noticable change in the fourth book.) The edge is gone along with Kevin's limp. A character that demonstrated such an interesting edge and insight has been regulated to cliche's and a boring plot. There is too much emphasis on Kevin's son and his struggle with the injustices of life, both perceived and real. If the author wants to write about Clayton, then let him create a spin off series, and return Kevin to the original character that he was, for he has become a dull read.

Rating:
Summary: A page-turner!
Review: This 6th Kevin Kerney mystery is one of the best I've read this year. I didn't find the plot far-fetched, as another reviewer complained. I did read it in one sitting and thought it very well done!

Rating:
Summary: UNDERCOVER COLORS
Review: This sixth entry in the Kevin Kerney series once again demonstrates the talents of writer Michael McGarrity. Kerney is embroiled this time with a huge government coverup. The first victim: Phyllis Terrell, the estranged lascivious wife of ambassador Harrison Terrell. Looks like her murder might have been an act of passion. Kerney's investigation however reveals a close connection with the murder of a priest as well. McGarrity brings back officious undercover agent Charles Perry, a brief appearance by Enrqiue de Leon, Kerney's nemesis from two previous books, and of course, Kerney's wife, Sara. Sara, now pregnant, is considering leaving the service so she and Kevin can build a better life together.
Again, McGarrity uses fellow police officers to aid Kerney, and with his usual flair for scene and substance, pulls off another remarkable entry in this excellent series.
Outstanding!

Rating:
Summary: UNDERCOVER COLORS
Review: This sixth entry in the Kevin Kerney series once again demonstrates the talents of writer Michael McGarrity. Kerney is embroiled this time with a huge government coverup. The first victim: Phyllis Terrell, the estranged lascivious wife of ambassador Harrison Terrell. Looks like her murder might have been an act of passion. Kerney's investigation however reveals a close connection with the murder of a priest as well. McGarrity brings back officious undercover agent Charles Perry, a brief appearance by Enrqiue de Leon, Kerney's nemesis from two previous books, and of course, Kerney's wife, Sara. Sara, now pregnant, is considering leaving the service so she and Kevin can build a better life together.
Again, McGarrity uses fellow police officers to aid Kerney, and with his usual flair for scene and substance, pulls off another remarkable entry in this excellent series.
Outstanding!

Rating:
Summary: Intrigue and Murder
Review: UNDER THE COLOR OF LAW
AUTHOR: Michael McGarrity
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
REVIEWED BY: Barbara Rhoades

BOOK REVIEW: Kevin Kerney returns in this book. He has become the Chief of Police in Santa Fe. A murder has occurred and is no less than a U.S. Ambassador's wife. As Kevin starts his investigation into this murder, he is thwarted by the FBI and warned off, his life is put under surveillance and a good officer is murdered while helping in the investigation.

To learn why all this is happening, Kevin calls in a marker or two and warns his pregnant wife to remain at the Army post where she is stationed. She refuses to listen and between the two of them and a very good police department, the murder comes to some resolution.

From the Jungles of South America to the southwest of Santa Fe, this story holds the attention of anyone who enjoys an intriguing mystery/murder. Be sure to pick up a copy of UNDER THE COLOR OF LAW.

Rating:
Summary: Intrigue and Murder
Review: UNDER THE COLOR OF LAW
AUTHOR: Michael McGarrity
PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster
REVIEWED BY: Barbara Rhoades

BOOK REVIEW: Kevin Kerney returns in this book. He has become the Chief of Police in Santa Fe. A murder has occurred and is no less than a U.S. Ambassador's wife. As Kevin starts his investigation into this murder, he is thwarted by the FBI and warned off, his life is put under surveillance and a good officer is murdered while helping in the investigation.

To learn why all this is happening, Kevin calls in a marker or two and warns his pregnant wife to remain at the Army post where she is stationed. She refuses to listen and between the two of them and a very good police department, the murder comes to some resolution.

From the Jungles of South America to the southwest of Santa Fe, this story holds the attention of anyone who enjoys an intriguing mystery/murder. Be sure to pick up a copy of UNDER THE COLOR OF LAW.