Serpent Gate

Kevin Kerney #3

by Michael McGarrity

After receiving a call from the newly appointed chief of the New Mexico State Police, ex-Santa Fe chief of detectives Kevin Kerney is thrown into an investigation of a small-town cop-killing no one has been able to solve. His only a homeless schizophrenic's ramblings about rape and an uncharted place called Serpent Gate. Meanwhile, back in Santa Fe, priceless art is stolen from the governor's offices and a beautiful young blonde is murdered in a millionaire's mansion. Kerney follows a trail of clues to Mexico, where he faces off against an old nemesis with powerful government connections. Unwilling to back down, Kerney must use all of his tenacity, raw courage, and knowledge of the criminal mind in a bloody showdown that may cost him his life.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Westerns, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Audiobook, Thriller

338 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 1998

About the author

With the publication of Tularosa in 1996, Michael McGarrity turned to writing full time. Many of his novels have been national best sellers. He holds a BA with distinction in psychology and a master's degree in clinical social work. As an undergraduate, he held a Ford Foundation Scholarship at the University of New Mexico. Additionally, he is an honor graduate of the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy.

His career in criminal justice spanned over twenty-five years and included creating treatment programs for drug offenders, supervising outreach services for at-risk juveniles, and re-establishing mental health services for the Department of Corrections after the infamous 1980 riot at the New Mexico Penitentiary. As a Santa Fe County deputy sheriff, he worked as a patrol officer, training and planning supervisor, community relations officer, and was the lead investigator of the sex crimes unit, which he established. Additionally, he taught courses at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, served as a caseworker and investigator for the Public Defender's District Office, and conducted investigations for a state government agency. In 1980 he was named New Mexico Social Worker of the Year and in 1987 was recognized by the American Legion as Police Officer of the Year.

In 2004 he received the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts -- Literature. He is also the 2015 recipient of the Frank Waters Exemplary Literary Achievement Award and the 2015 Santa Fe Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts – Literature. He has been instrumental in establishing the Hillerman-McGarrity Creative Writing Scholarship at the University of New Mexico, the Richard Bradford Memorial Creative Writing Scholarship at the Santa Fe Community College, and the N. Scott Momaday Creative Writing Scholarship at the Institute of American Indian Arts.

He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife Emily Beth (Mimi).

Reviews

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

These just get better and better. So happy I found this series and already off to the next; number four.

[Jeff Dickison · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good entry in the Kevin Kerney series. Kerney must solve the death of a policeman while also trying to recover artwork stolen from the governor's office. Good action, well written. Recommended.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Serpent Gate", is the third Kevin Kerney novel in series coming from author Michael McGarrity. Written in 1998, story picks up from a now retired Kerney who is recovering from a badly damaged knee thanks to his last case. However, his best friend Andy Bacca who is the new Chief of New Mexico's State Police, needs an tough investigator for his first criminal investigation. Someone has cleaned out the Governor of New Mexico's office of art work worth millions. Bacca appoints Kerney as Depty Chief and gives him total control of the investigation. Kerney's appointment as deputy chief really angers the senior officers from the State Police. Deputy Chief is a promotion several notches higher than Kerney's previous rank before forced retirement. Kerney grapples with some very interesting characters. First is Robert Cordova, an escaped mental patient with the likely key to a police officer's murder. Cordova really puts on a show and makes his disdain for cops beyond obvious. Bacca has also insisted that Kerney work with Sergeant Gilbert Martinez as "partners". Martinez very weary of Kerney, unsure about the new politics created within the state police. Kerney also battles familiar foe, Mexican drug and criminal kingpin Enrique DeLeon, and his trusty assassin Carlos Ruiz. Complete with a wild shoot out in a blinding snow storm this story blazes. Author McGarrity's Kevin Kerney character is a throw back to another time. Kerney is similar to some of the cops who came from the old west. Kerney goes by his own rules some times but is always aware of the big picture. I really enjoyed the amazing characters in this book. Michael McGarrity never fails to become a solid story teller. Incredibly difficult to put down, this one seemed to fly by at the speed of light. I was actually bummed when it ended. I'm going to have to find the next Kerney book from author McGarrity. This series is excellent for those who love a good action suspense thriller. I'd highly recommend "Serpent Gate", to anyone who hasn't read Michael McGarrity yet. They are marvelous to get lost into. Don't miss out.

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sept. 2019 What a find! I thoroughly enjoy McGarrity's style and characters. I jumped in at #3, now on #4. Eventually I'll go back, like reading a prequel.
Entertaining story.

[Jeanette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is number 3 and I think the best one so far. Reading these in order only and it makes much more sense than some other series. This one has sharp progressions in his life work and style and doesn't encompass chapters of repetition. So the lengthy backstories are deeper connote and ambiance by far. Some series you can easily read out of order. Not this New Mexico locale or Kevin Kerney. Too many changes in advocation, vocation and climate/ altitude etc.

This one had 2 or 3 different pivotal action spots and crisis points. Loved that because they also made sense to the entire picture of cartel and governmental involvements. Corruption alive and well on all fronts. Kerney merely the new appointed interim "hired from away" pecking order 2nd rung boss. That was good and partially believable for the set ups of authority (not only policing) in New Mexico.

That someone who Kerney likes and understands in a positive manner is going to be tried for murder because of him is also an excellent dichotomy. Just my guess, but Addie is going to get off fairly easy for a police end misdeed oops? I bet we see more of her in future novels. This is only 3 and I think there are a dozen or more now. But the continual deaths of police officers also leaves me feeling quite the opposite. And they "get it" while doing Kerney's rote deed assignments on top of it. You'd think Kerney would figure that out and get some better security around him or at least a "heads up" to the officer substituting for Kerney? I guess that doesn't make as real of a book? He knew how much danger Fletcher was in too. Why not Gilbert?

Regardless, the body count from all angles gets considerable. The mesa and arroyo areas in winter are superb and some of them are core. There is an under character that is prime called Robert. He is mentally ill and the village fixture crazy and was done to a 5 star excellent degree.

This one was so good, I am pretty sure I will read all of them. But I did note a trend. One I dislike. Michael McGarrity has more than considerable bias politically and gets more than 1/2 the generalizations of labels not only wrong but almost hysterically so at times. I do realize that this is a time before such common tech and media distortion as exists now. And also Kevin can get mightily arrogant when asked some of these same opinions and within quips he makes. Especially since, as in this case, the real true corrupt in the government he is working for seemed to be the only individual (also his peon cronnies) which did NOT get taken down in this entire case or ploys related to it. The art is back where it belongs but so are the cretins of pay and play in the very same office. To me, that is little to be so arrogant about that you are leaving "gotcha stuff" notes for the cartel leader. "To egg him on?" That seemed almost juvenile considering Kevin's usual appropriations and methods. Inconsistent. This attitude approach is not in accord with the life/ cases/ temperament and action pattern. Also there are points that Kevin guesses things that I could not see most any path to have determined as fact; with him being so sure as to travel there for information. But McGarrity made up for that by his portrayal of Carlos.

We shall see. Would be that the border could be like it was in this book now. Disgusting abomination scenario been played out in brutality and dire conditions by the "empathetic" bunch.

[Russ · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kind of liked the main character, Chief Kerney. He’s not an indestructible superhero--he’s respectable, dedicated to the cases he’s working, and compassionate toward those he meets along the way. But the plot was so-so, feeling bifurcated between plot A dealing with a cop killing that is basically solved halfway through, and plot B following an art theft from the governor’s office which dominates the second half. The two parts sort of came together but not really. Neither part was bad and it wasn’t quite as awkward as I’m making it sound, but it did have an episodic feeling to it.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of this author until he appeared at our local library. This is book three and it was well written with a good pace for the narrative. Keven Kerney is a compassionate cop who is not above breaking rules and the law in the pursuit of justice. We meet him investigating the death of a police officer in Mountaineer, NM. He quickly solves that crime and is immersed in political intrigue in Santa Fe involving the governor and a nemesis from his past, a Mexican drug lord who is ruthless. Lots of action and changes of scenery as Kerney patrols the state looking for answers to two different crimes. I will have to start at the beginning and read all of these stories. Kerney is the type of cop you want for your boss, a fighter who will have your back.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Former Santa Fe Police Officer Kevin Kerney is brought out of retirement to find the killer of a police officer. A mentally disturbed man and a beautiful vet are involved in the case. Then an art theft occurs from the governor's office. In the investigation Kerney uncovers corruption, money laundering, and murder. This is an interesting read that I had to finish once I started.

[Janet Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Several excellent plot lines, not really related, but combined make a good story. I like Kearney. He’s a character with a deep history that each book reveals a bit more of. Looking forward to the next one.

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

After valuable art pieces are stolen from the office of the governor of New Mexico, Kevin Kerney is called in to help investigate. Another great addition to this series.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another entertaining novel by Mr McGarrity. I enjoy the way he weaves a tale. His style so far has not become repetitive. He will on occasion remind a reader of a little character history. As long as it is just a reminder it is worth the few lines it takes. I hope he is not like some authors who insult avid readers by retelling histories just to fill pages. Some serial writers do that which is an insult to faithful readers.

This is a very interesting series. I look forward to continuing the journey.

[ML Couch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great adventure

I love this author and this series. Never a dull moment. Characters are very human with goodness and flaws. Always leaves me wanting more and ready for the next book in the series.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

George Guidall is a wonderful narrator--loved him in the Leaphorn series. This book is placed in Santa Fe... and somehow, his voice "suits" the land.
story intriguing--several stories seemingly disparate yet weaving together at the end.

[Karen Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Michael McGarity's books.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why it took me so long to learn about Michael McGarrity's books, but I can't get enough of Kevin Kearny!

[Arlene Shulman/Lichtman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I discovered this book while on vacation in Santa Fe area. It was a delight to read about the surrounding towns and people who occupy it. I like McGarrity’s style and hope to read his other books.

[Russ Leavitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy this character. Good character development. Looking forward to more books in this series.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoy the author and his characters. A good read.

[Tom Gorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

An early Kerney book...somewhat muddled as I think he tried to compress too much into one story but still exciting and of course beautifully descriptive of New Mexico.

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT

Again Kevin Kerney is faced with the dangerous Enrique DeLeon as he serves on the State Police. He is on the hunt for the killer of a police officer, Paul Gillespie, who it turns out was a nasty piece of work. He is confronted with pulling information from the homeless and filthy Robert Crodova, who suffers from schizophrenia, and who likes to reside in the warm jail cells and get fed. When Kerney is led to a high school girl who was raped by Gillespie, Addie Randall, and is pregnant, then to a veterinarian who was talking to both Robert and Addie, he finds the killer. Nita Lassiter, the mother of Addie, was also raped by Gillespie, and Addie is his daughter. A very good reason for murder. When she attempts to kill herself, he shoots her, and takes her in. Then he proceeds to find ways to support her defense.

At the same time there is a major theft of all the art in the Governor's office. The collection was put together by Amanda Talley. It included three Georgia O'Keeffe paintings as well as pieces by Joseph Henry Sharpe, Maynard Dixon, and a bulto of the Virgin of Guadalupe, totaling eight millions dollars. In the investigation he is aided by Sgt. Gilbert Martinez who finds the development in Santa Fe for the rich has some questionable dealings starting with the use of water for the golf course, and involving the Governor's nephew, Roger Springer, Bucky Watson, who also has an art crating business, and Sherman Cobb, an attorney, the descendent of a man who had taken the land of Martinez's family. He is also helped by Fletcher Hartley, who invites Kerney to stay at his home, and Hartley knows much about the art community. After delving into the finances of the development, it is determined that the money going into it is probably being laundered. A CPA for the State delves into the financial papers of Rancho Caballo, Bucky Watson and others to find the vast funds flowing through the State. The picture of one of the property owners of Rancho Caballo is Vicente Fuentes, who is DeLeon. DeLeon is a drug lord who is constantly under investigation but always escapes. He has obtained diplomatic immunity, is buying up US property and is running drugs through Watson, who uses his art crating to disguise the drug shipments. They manage to get a building inspector into his Victorian building and find a huge amount of drugs which he had held back from the total the DeLeon had told him to ship to Chicago. He intends to increase the cost of the drugs, on the basis of supply and demand, and skim from the proceeds. In the process of finding the drugs and other evidence they search DeLeon home and find the stolen art minus the bolto. DeLeon has him killed. He also sends men after to Kerney who has been a thorn in his side, but they first kill Martinez who is using Kerney's car, and has returned to Hartley's home. Kerney then kills the last three assassins including Carlos Ruiz, DeLeon's right hand man (who was to be killed by the other two as he had killed Martinez instead of Kerney). They had followed Lassiter and Kerney as they looked for the missing Cordova at Serpent's Gate. DeLeon escapes to Mexico, but his assets are seized and his diplomatic status reversed. He is now on the run, and intends to hire another assassin to kill Kerney.

The story demonstrates the power of politics as a number of the players are not able to be prosecuted in the end. The Governor has an ally in the State Police who keeps him informed and manipulates events when possible, Capt Vance Howell, head of security. Amanda Talley is murdered and her body is taken to Mexico to disappear early in the story. A nasty police officer who has it in for Robert Cordova and beats him badly is found by Kerney and arrested in the cleanup. Nita Lassiter decides to go to court hoping the well substantiated story and evidence will get the jury to acquit. The final event has Kerney travelling to Mexico to the estate of DeLeon, breaking in and getting the bolto, and the US Army saber and scabbard, that had been traded in the last story back, then returned to the museums.

Once again McGarrity has provided a fascinating and well-told tale, with well-developed characters and a few twists.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art thieves and death

Very attractive series based on a lawman in New Mexico and his family. This is part of the series called the Kevin Kerney Novels. This paragraph applies to all books in this series. The story’s are great, but what makes this series stand out is how the country is worked into the story, It’s almost as if you are there. The author is a gifted story teller.

Do you need to read this series in order: Yes, it helps a lot. Note that Hard Country and Backlands (and one pending maybe) are the prequels.

Triggers: Cops and police situations, there are rapes, homicides, and crime.

After receiving a call from the newly appointed chief of the New Mexico State Police, ex-Santa Fe chief of detectives Kevin Kerney is thrown into an investigation of a small-town cop-killing no one has been able to solve. His only lead: a homeless schizophrenic's ramblings about rape and an uncharted place called Serpent Gate. Meanwhile, back in Santa Fe, priceless art is stolen from the governor's offices and a beautiful young blonde is murdered in a millionaire's mansion. Kerney follows a trail of clues to Mexico, where he faces off against an old nemesis with powerful government connections. Unwilling to back down, Kerney must use all of his tenacity, raw courage, and knowledge of the criminal mind in a bloody showdown that may cost him his life. After receiving a call from the newly appointed chief of the New Mexico State Police, ex-Santa Fe chief of detectives Kevin Kerney is thrown into an investigation of a small-town cop-killing no one has been able to solve. His only lead: a homeless schizophrenic's ramblings about rape and an uncharted place called Serpent Gate. Meanwhile, back in Santa Fe, priceless art is stolen from the governor's offices and a beautiful young blonde is murdered in a millionaire's mansion. Kerney follows a trail of clues to Mexico, where he faces off against an old nemesis with powerful government connections. Unwilling to back down, Kerney must use all of his tenacity, raw courage, and knowledge of the criminal mind in a bloody showdown that may cost him his life.

[Frank · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good entry in the Kevin Kerney series. This is the 3rd book in the series which I have been reading in order. I have enjoyed the first two books and this one seemed to be even better. In it, Kerney has been appointed chief of the New Mexico State Police. This takes him to a small New Mexico town called Mountainair where he is called to investigate the murder of a local police officer. This brings him into contact with perhaps the only witness, a local homeless schizophrenic named Robert who rambles on about Jesus, Satan, and rape at a place called Serpent Gate. But where is Serpent Gate and can the ramblings of a mentally troubled man be relied on? Then back in Santa Fe, an art heist occurs at the office of the Governor. The heist nets millions in valuable artwork including some priceless paintings by Georgia O'Keefe. This leads Kerney to the Mexican drug lord he encountered in the first book in the series, TULAROSA. And this also puts Kerney in grave peril from the drug lord who has his sites set on Kerney.

This was another gritty page-turner with lots of action that I enjoyed a lot. The supporting characters in the novel were very well written by McGarrity as well as the descriptions of the New Mexico landscape. I have the next two books in this series and will be reading them very soon.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

My F2F book group read book #10 from this series more than a decade ago, and I liked it enough to go back and start from book #1, then book #2. I never moved on to book #3, though, and I wasn’t sure why, so I decided to read it now to determine whether I wanted to keep the series on my list or drop it.

The MC, Kevin Kerney, is a detective in New Mexico who is dealing with a career change as well as a few personal issues. He reminds me a bit of Craig Johnson’s Walt Longmire, and not just because the same man narrates the audio version of both series. Kerney is not above bending the law if it means learning the truth, but he’s also compassionate and caring. He carries a few grudges from previous cases, but he gets the job done.

Almost from the first page, we know who the killer is and who he works for, so most of the book is spent following Kerney as he uncovers clues that lead him to those people. The big confrontation scene made it hard to put the book down, although I was disappointed by some of the things that happened afterward. Those events will probably be important in other books in the series, and I’ll keep reading them to find out.

[Jennifer Bolton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 3 in the Kevin Kerney series has Kerney recruited by Sante Fe Police Chief and longtime friend Andy Baca to solve the murder of a deputy sheriff that seems to have everyone stymied. Kerney's main lead in the case is a mentally troubled schizophrenic who may or may not have seen something. Throw in the multi-million dollar theft of priceless art from the Governor's office, and Kerney's got his hands full. As someone who doesn't play the political game, Kerney's style of policing has him butting heads with those that do, and his promotion to Deputy Chief has him rubbing a few important and influential people the wrong way. Not only that, but Kerney's investigation has put him back in the sights of Mexican drug cartel leader Enrique DeLeon, a man who would like nothing better than to put a bullet in Kevin's head.
Exciting, fast-paced, this is another great addition to the Kerney series.

[Dave Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Serpent Gate was an excellent western thriller. I love the Kevin Kerney character, and in this third installment he fills the role of the New Mexico chief deputy working for the overall head of enforcement. A treasure trove of art gets stolen from the governor's office, and Kerney is assigned the job of tracking it down and bringing the perpetrators to justice. Concurrent with this major investigation he is asked to identify the killer of a policeman in a small town south of Albuquerque. While the two threads are not related, they consume Kevin Kerney's resources. As with the earlier Michael McGarrity novels in the Kevin Kerney series, suspense becomes the name of the game. I am familiar with Santa Fe, so it was fun to follow the action through known sections of the city. The development of the supporting characters was excellent, and especially the villains. I suspect we have not seen the end of Enrique DeLeon. I look forward to number four in the Kevin Kerney series.

[Richard Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kerney has been hired by Andy Baca, the new head of the state police, to investigate the murder of a police officer in Mountainair NM, a cold case that turned up no suspects in the original investigation. While Kerney is busy with that case, someone steals eight million dollars worth of art work from the Governor's suite in the capital building in Santa Fe.

Enrique DeLeon and Carls Ruiz who we met in TULAROSA are in play again in this book.

It takes Kerney a while to find a way into murder case, but once the action gets under way, there is lots of it. Lots of bad weather. Several good side characters.

A fun bit of synchronicity: one of the New Mexico artists some of whose work was stolen, was woodcut artist Gustave Bauman... a couple of months ago we had purchased a 2022 calendar... featuring the art work of Gustave Bauman.

This was book #31 on our 2021 Lutrecia Read-alouds List and #55 on our 2021 Read-alouds List.

[Ken Finlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many times an author runs out of steam after a couple of books in a series - not so with Michael McGarrity, each book is at least as good as the last, if not better.
McGarrity is a master when it comes to running several crimes at once, they may or may not be linked but chances are that one will lead to another.
This time round it is murder(s), art theft, and a case of a serial rapist which I found both disturbing and moving. There's also another appearance of Kevin Kearney's recurring criminal opponent, Enrique DeLeon.
Kearney has a knack of surviving against the odds, as does DeLeon's handyman, Carlos. For reasons that are unclear to me I quite like Carlos as a character, even though he has few redeeming characteristics.
The landscape of New Mexico is a constant backdrop, and is not just static - playing its part in the unfolding stories.

[Jana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel set in New Mexico and reminiscent of Tony Hillerman's detective novels. The author is a former Sante Fe policeman and is intimately familiar with NM locations, foods, customs. His characters are fairly well developed and his plot has twists and turns. That is where the similarities to Hillerman end. He is not as subtle about developing his twists and so they are telegraphed to the reader. His ending to this novel felt as though he had missed a deadline and had to end the book quickly. It was neither satisfying nor logical in its conclusions. He has written a series of novels with this main character (just as Hillerman did with his Jim Chee series) but I think reading one may be enough. Oh well, the Hillermans of the book world are hard to replace.

[Max · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first quarter or so of this book was irritating because of two idiosyncrasies of the author's writing. First, after a character appears in a scene and is introduced by first and last name, the narrator usually calls him or her by first name thereafter – while invariably calling the main character Kerney. Second, while each new character is given a physical description, nearly every female character between 20 and 40 years old is suggested to be sexually attractive. The reader tends to assume that she will soon wind up in bed with Kerney, but no, this simply seems to be the way the author views women.

That said, the story gradually gathers momentum, is full of action, and builds to a satisfying conclusion.

[Viva · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. The continuing saga of Kevin Kerney. It's highly recommended that you start from book #1 and read the whole series all at once to get the full benefit of the development of the series. The writing is easy to read and get into and it's a joy to read. I also really like the setting of country New Mexico and its inhabitants and culture. The characters are also easy to like and dislike.

In this book, Kerney is tasked to find a cop killer - his dogged investigations leads to a darker secret. The second story in the book is about an art heist which takes place at the governor's own office and drug cartel boss's personal vendetta against him.