Rating: 
Summary: Abridged tape doesn't quite click
Review: Having heard all three previous books in the Kevin Kearny series in their unabridged form, this 4.5 hour abridged version left me rather flat. I realize this is the norm for the commercial tapes but I find the orchestrated music annoying. I also am ambivalent about the narrator. His speech patterns are authentic to the New Mexicans I've known. At the same time, it's a clipped speech pattern that was bothersome to me at times.As for the book itself, this isn't as strong an offering as Serpent Gate. It's fun to have Sara Brannon back and to have Kearney struggling with the love thing. But this book (and this may be the fault of the abridgement) lacks much of the charm of earlier stories. I really missed his gay landlord -- tho the dog, Shoe, is fun. Fundamentally, the crimes that he's investigating are rather pedestrian after the sophisticated crimes of Serpent's Gate. Also, I second the comment of the reader that the abundance of place names and players was hard to keep track of - particularly when listening instead of reading. Still, this is a good series. For new readers, I'd strongly advise not starting with this book as there are many references and plot lines that stem from earlier books. And, after reading one too many mysteries with alcoholic or otherwise ugly protagonists, it is so refreshing to have a hero who's basically a good guy.
Rating:
Summary: Not up to the standards of his earlier books
Review: I have read 3 or 4 earlier books of McGarrity and enjoyed them very much, especially the setting in the beautiful southwest. This book, however, has an unbelievable number of characters, most of whom are not important to the plot. I felt I had to diagram them out on a sheet to keep them straight. Kerney is an interesting character, but I was not impressed with Sara. She and Kerney are not going to make it on a long term basis. The crimes to be solved are never a mystery and they are totally unrelated to each other--filling up pages I thought.
Rating: 
Summary: excellent writing and plotting
Review: I read a lot of mysteries and this is one of the best plotted, best written ones I've ever read. In my opinion, Michael McGarrity is one gifted writer.
Rating:
Summary: This is the one he "peaks" with. It's downhill from here.
Review: I'm reviewing the series for the most part. Kerney is pleasent enough although he gets less so in subsequent books. These are "feel good" fluff books. I enjoy the South West and I enjoy well written mysteries so I hoped there'd be something close to Hillerman. There just isn't enough of substance to keep me sustained. I understand McGarrity was a cop in New Mexico and his love of the local country is a major highlight to my enjoyment of the books. However I have to believe that when McGarrity was performing police work, his cases were not solved that easily nor was he shot or injured as often as Kerney is. Kerney pretty much leads a charmed life going from subsistence living in the first book to inheriting valuable acreage in this book from a former teacher who he was nice to. Where are those nice old ladies when we want to have more material possessions in our lives? I'd like to be like Kerney who always knows when someone is a low down varmint and he can therefore treat them like dogs because it's convenient to the plot. I forget which book (they tend to run together) has Kerney bedeviling a young ne'er do well until the kid dies unnecessarily. The impression I got was that the kid was a disposable person and there are plenty of them out there so no one will mourn their passing. The way the kid was portrayed, was he would never be a great asset to society and so we get the impression it's ok for people to die because they'll never be a CEO or write poetry or drive a race car fast. I wanted to like this series. Kerney doesn't need to start drinking or gambling to make himself more interesting, but after a while you need more so you can keep on liking him. Too much black and white, not enough greys. Thin stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Robert B. Parker meets Tony Hillerman
Review: July was Kevin Kerney month. I read all six of his novels and every single one was a keeper with Hermit's Peak being the best. The writing is superb, the characters believable, and the dialogue is without peer. I have to admit I am biased. I worked in Santa Fe, lived in Albuquerque, and know some of the people that received the author's acknowledgements. But wait, that is a good thing because I know what he is writing is real, the places are real, and the cases have a basis in fact. I believe this author has the staying power that some others lack. Good reading and good fun.
Rating: 
Summary: Romance and heartbreak
Review: Kearney finds romance and another officer finds his heart crushed in the worst nightmare possible. A fine episode, well written and filled with interesting secondary characters. If you haven't seen the west in person, the writing in this series will draw vivid pictures, that will send you to the travel office.
Rating:
Summary: KERNEY CONTINUES TO COOK
Review: Kevin Kerney, McGarrity's tough, sensitive cop, is back in a labyrinthine tale set once again in the wilds of New Mexico. Kerney has inherited land from a schoolmate of his late mother's, and he is ecstatic, even though he may not be able to pay the inheritance tax on it. While looking at his new land, he and his friend Dale Jennings, discover the bones of a female, and it looks like homicide. If that weren't enough, a local citizen, Carl Boaz, is found with a bullet in his forehead on a cabin on Kerney's property. These two crimes propel Kerney and his associates into a maelstrom of rape, murder, and burglary. And, Sara Brannon, Kerney's love from a previous book, returns to add romantic complications to his life. A side plot involves a fellow cop's plight with his son and the son's notoriously bad friend.
Again, the dialogue and settings are rich and authentic, and Kerney plows ahead in this excellent series.
Rating:
Summary: KERNEY CONTINUES TO COOK
Review: Kevin Kerney, McGarrity's tough, sensitive cop, is back in a labyrinthine tale set once again in the wilds of New Mexico. Kerney has inherited land from a schoolmate of his late mother's, and he is ecstatic, even though he may not be able to pay the inheritance tax on it. While looking at his new land, he and his friend Dale Jennings, discover the bones of a female, and it looks like homicide. If that weren't enough, a local citizen, Carl Boaz, is found with a bullet in his forehead on a cabin on Kerney's property. These two crimes propel Kerney and his associates into a maelstrom of rape, murder, and burglary. And, Sara Brannon, Kerney's love from a previous book, returns to add romantic complications to his life. A side plot involves a fellow cop's plight with his son and the son's notoriously bad friend.
Again, the dialogue and settings are rich and authentic, and Kerney plows ahead in this excellent series.
Rating:
Summary: Another winner from Michael McGarrity
Review: Michael McGarrity has a wonderful writing style. The pages just fly by. He sets scenes in the beautiful New Mexico landscape that place you there. His books have all lived up to the high standard set with his initial novel, "Tularosa"...no easy trick. His pacing really works...it was like eating peanuts...I had to read "just one more" passage before putting it down. The characters are realistic, well defined and simply a great mix. The protagonist, Kevin Kerney, is unique in the cop/mystery genre in that he is pretty normal. He is not the prototypical flawed man who must ovcercome a myriad of personal demons. A limp resulting from a bullet to the kneecap is his only eccentricity. Kerney is a top cop, but also an excellent manager of people. His staff responds not only to his abilities, but also to the respect he shows all with whom he works. With all his field experience, he has seen it all and is hard to fool. He gets the job the right way and is easy to cheer for. His romantic interest returns, but her sidebar does nothing to detract from the whodunit aspect. She is a strong character, a good addition and we will see more of her. Mr. McGarrity has crafted a strong series with characters that stand out, all placed in a most atmospheric setting. I think he and the Kevin Kerney series are understated and underappreciated gems. He deserves more acclaim and recognition. He was suggested to me with these words: "if you enjoy Michael Connelly, McGarrity is for you." I do and he is. Do not miss this sereis.
Rating:
Summary: Another Great Read from McGarrity
Review: Michael McGarrity's plots are well conceived and tightly written. His characters are well developed and very believable. If you have any familiarity with northern New Mexico it makes McGarrity's great decriptions of that gorgeous area all the more enjoyable. This genre of book is not Shakespeare, but I have read 4 of the Kerney mysteries and they are all great. I highly recommend them.
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