Everyone Dies

"Today he'd argued with a woman he adored, seen the murdered body of a man he liked, and found a horse he loved maliciously destroyed. It was a crummy way to start a vacation." (Page 19)Being a police officer and a target of a smart killer with a score to settle has long been a hallmark of police oriented mystery fiction. However, rarely has it been done so well as in this novel, latest in the series featuring Kevin Kerney.With Lieutenant Colonel Sara Brannon, his wife, home on maternity leave from the Army, Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin' Kerney's thoughts involve the construction of their new home and the pending arrival almost any day of his son. He is supposed to be on an often delayed and much needed vacation. That is until the killings begin.First it is a prominent attorney, Jack Potter who is shot in the chest and left to die on the sidewalk in front of the county court house. Then Kerney finds his beloved horse, Soldier, dead after being shot three times in the stomach. Then the dead rats and the notes threatening Kerney and his family begin to appear. Killing Kerney fast wouldn't bring the pleasure of making him suffer, as he will while the killer circles closer and closer killing innocent victims. As the killer moves closer, targeting his family and the body count climbs, Kerney and his investigative team lag far behind until the final inevitable violent confrontation.As in most novels of this type the reader is quickly introduced to the killer. The action and the viewpoint move constantly back and forth between the killer, Kerney and other characters. As such there is zero suspense as to who the killer is. What is unknown are the reasons why and whether or not he can be stopped in time.Why this novel works and works so well is the fact that as he has done in his other novels the author once again continues to build on the complex characters already established while creating a complicated mystery with multiple storylines. That coupled with his usual strong sense of pacing, action, and the occasional twist creates another page tuner in the best sense of the concept. This simply may be his best book yet in the series, which just keeps getting better and better.

With a book that's part of a series, there's always the question of whether the book makes any sense at all if you haven't been following the series all along. The "Kevin Kerney" series has a back-story (the background contains evolving information about the lives of the characters which has nothing to do with the plot) but each book is also quite readable on its own. The mystery plot is good enough to carry even the new reader along.Nonetheless, I'd certainly recommend that you read the whole series- they are all interesting. _Serpent Gate_ and _Under the Color of Law_ are especially good, in my opinion. Worth your while to read them.In _Everyone Dies_, we have a continuation of the backstory of Kevin's son, whom he only recently discovered existed. Kevin gets to know his son better - and to work with him, on this case.The plot: a gay lawyer gets murdered, right in front of his office. One of the questions: is it because he's gay, or because he's a lawyer, or some other reason the police have no idea of? One small bit of stereotyping I could have lived without: the lawyer's life partner owns an antiques shop. Personally, I would like to see authors stop casting gay characters in antiques and interior decorating. That's a small quibble, however- it doesn't spoil the book.Besides the gay community in Santa Fe, we also get to deal with the mentally ill community - always a challenge for the police. We have social workers who are sure that their clients are ALWAYS wronged innocents; questions about how well the laws about screening gun purchasers work; and whether police get enough training in how to approach the mentally ill. Where I live, Austin, we've had a couple of incidents in the past couple of years, of a police officer shooting a mentally ill person who turned out to be unarmed. These incidents are still "under review" and nothing much has changed. However, when this happens in the book, Kerney is quickly on the ball about changing his force's policy and vowing to improve training. (Makes one wish reality would learn a few lessons from fiction, sigh.)The next character murdered seems to have no connection whatsoever with the first murder. More murders follow, and some are accompanied by personal notes to Kerney. Eventually, Kerney and his staff figure out the connection - and then the race is to catch the killer before the trend continues. All of this is made more frantic by the fact that Kerney's wife Sara is extremely pregnant. In the course of trying to stop this killer, Kerney discovers evidence of another set of murders by a serial killer. There's an interesting twist here - I won't give it away. This series is slightly different from others set in the Southwest, in that our hero is not a Native American; fans of Tony Hillerman who like those kinds of series specifically because the characters are Native Americans might have been disappointed when they first read one book in this series. However, this book should bring those readers ba

Santa Fe Chief of Police Kevin Kerney looks forward to the vacation with his beloved pregnant wife US Army MP LTC Sara Brannon. The couple is at odds over her next assignment at the Pentagon only six weeks after their baby is due.However, their time alone is put on hold when the murdered body of attorney Jack Potter is found on the streets with the crime scene contaminated by a moronic media menace (oxymoron?). Soon others related either by blood or professionally to Kevin are killed with the brazen culprit leaving the message "Everyone Dies". Kerney and other law enforcement officials in the region put together a massive manhunt seeking to stop a killer who is getting closer and closer to Kevin's epicenter, Sara.Though at times this police procedural feels like Cecil DeMille cast the players, fans will appreciate the energy Michael McGarrity imbues in his hero, support players, and New Mexico that turns a serial killer tale into a personal who-done-it for readers rooting for Kevin. The story line is exciting though the death toll rises rather quickly. The investigation is top rate and the family crisis is fully developed and understandable so that the audience receives a solid episode in a strong series.Harriet Klausner

Michael McGarrity's "Everyone Dies" is an outstanding, intricately plotted police procedural. With his experience at various law enforcement agencies, Mr. McGarrity writes with a most authoritative voice. There is a lot of credibility between the covers.Mr. McGarrity peoples the novel with a host of characters in support of Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kerney. The important and continuing ones are fully developed---you truly get to know and care about them.Ultimately this sophisticated tale is one of revenge. A diabolically clever villain from Chief Kerney's past is out to kill Kerney---but not before eliminating those Kerney holds dear. Kerney's wife and unborn son are among the targets.A massive manhunt with all New Mexico law enforcement organizations involved is mounted. Kerney's reputation for decency, fairness and integrity prevents the usual inter-agency turf battles.You feel the frustration, disappointment and stimulation brought on by the day-to-day info gathering, false leads and cold trails the cops encounter---and the elation felt as the pieces of the puzzle come together.In a wonderful twist, the inventive and resourceful villain shrewdly sets up an unwitting loner to take the fall. It is a brilliant cover up, foiled only by the patsy's own extra-legal activities. One of the best reversals I have experienced.New Mexico is an important character in all the Kerney novels. Mr. McGarrity puts you inside the investigation and the Land of Enchantment.An under appreciated author and series. All eight in the Kevin Kerney series are keepers. Do not hesitate to follow this series.

EVERYONE DIES by Michael McGarrityThe Experienced Crime FighterWhen a former Police Chief who taught at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy and lives in Santa Fe writes fiction about a crime in Santa Fe he don't have to research the location or his subject. He is writing about something he is very familiar with. His lead characters are Kevin Kerney a Police Chief and his wife a very pregnant Lt. Colonel in the military police. His many characters come out whole with their good and bad strengths and weaknesses for the reader to evaluate as part of the story. It a great story for a reader who likes to get involved.A psychopath with a feud against Kevin Kerney and his family has spent his whole live preparing to wreck revenge again Kevin and killing is merely a means of accomplishing his plan to terrorize the family. He starts out by shooting his first victim and uses knives, poisons, and explosives on people and animals before the end of the story. The criminal's idea is to wipe the Kerney family name off the earth. Read and enjoy this story as much as I did.Roger Lee