Death Song: A Kevin Kerney Novel

A book worthy of McGarrity. Continues the growing relation between Kerney and Clayton Istee. Good suspenseful plot, fine denouement.

Santa Fe Poolice Chief Kevin Kerney is about to retire and join his wife, an Army MP officer, in the UK. Along with his once estranged Native Amercian son, who is a deputy sheriff, Kerney investigates five apparently unconnected murders. Kerney is not a super hero. He is a late middle aged police administrator who moved from Santa Fe Detective (wounded on duty) to part time Forest Ranger,to the New Mexico State Police, and finally full circle back to Santa Fe PD as Chief. He is aging. He suffers the effects of long ago injuries and advancing age, but he mehtodically plugs away. The police investigation is unglamorous. The techniques employed are real. The book's strength comes from the Kerney family. The characters are well drawn. I found myself caring about Kerney's late in life reconnection with his son,as well as Sara's PTSS from Iraq and eagerly anticipate the next installment. The mystery works well. McGarrity fills the book with fascinating minor characters, some of whom survive and some of whom do not---therein lies the mystery. I recommend it and the others in the series.

In Death Song, Michael McGarrity again creates a compelling story woven into a backdrop of authentic New Mexican settings and characters. McGarrity's extensive law enforcement background adds credibility to the story telling and his ability to write makes the ins and outs of criminal investigation easy to understand and very enjoyable. McGarrity's way of painting a picture in his stories puts the reader smack dab in New Mexico. Readers not familiar with the state can rest assured that the locations he describes are just as they appear in all their beauty or degredation. The Kerney novels are a joy to read and should be in everyone's collection.

New Mexico law enforcement at all levels is stunned with the murders of one of their own and the victim's spouse. Someone assassinated rookie deputy sheriff Tim Riley of Lincoln County and gunned down the man's wife in their Santa Fe home. Although he has one more month on the job before he retires, Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kearney is actively leading the homicide investigation of the wife's murder that occurred in his jurisdiction. His son Lincoln County Sheriff Office Sergeant Clayton Istee is looking into the ambush murder of Riley. He takes it personally as he trained the fortyish officer and sent him out solo on that fatal assignment. Father and son team up as they find a possible link to the killings of two women in Albuquerque. As they follow the deadly clues, they soon find them embroiled with hardened thugs trafficking in drugs. DEATH SONG is a terrific police procedural with double the fun as father and son work together to solve the homicides. Kevin is at his best as he refuses to coast into retirement with a dead cop case unsolved. He also relishes working with his offspring. Fans of the series know that Michael McGarrity always provides a strong New Mexico mystery; newcomers will seek the back list when retirement was a long way off for the hero. Harriet Klausner