Death Song

Kevin Kerney #11

by Michael McGarrity

Police Chief Kevin Kerney and his Mescalero Apache son, Sergeant Clayton Istee, reunite to investigate the ambush killing of a Lincoln County deputy sheriff, and the brutal Santa Fe murder of the deputy's wife, a probe that leads to a major drug trafficking scheme, a double murder in Albuquerque, and the search for the slain officer's troubled teenage son. 40,000 first printing.

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

293 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2007

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

[Tim · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's too bad that such an excellent story is nearly ruined by a less than stellar ending. In fact, it easily cost 1 star. Instead, a superb end would have generated maximum enjoyment. 6 of 10 stars

[Joe Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This engaging page turning police procedure is full of the details and processes that make up a police investigation of a crime and none of it bogs the story down. While solving the crime is the purpose of the story, it is the relationships between the characters and their banter that is the most interesting and fun part of reading this mystery. The relationship between Clayton and Grace, his wife, is particularly touching, as is the warming relationship between Clayton and Kerney. As with the other books in this series, the New Mexican landscape plays an important role in the telling of the story.

An interesting part of the story is how facets of Apache values are deftly presented through Clayton’s associations with other characters and his internal reflections.

[Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best Kerney novels

I've read most of McGarrity's books and this is one of the best. It is an easy reading book with a captivating plot and interesting characters. I was a little worried about the ending based on some prior reviews. While the ending was wrapped up a little quickly it was just fine. After all, I would rather a writer dedicate the bulk of the book to the actual mystery rather than the ending anyway.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of action as usual in a Kevin Kerney story - really enjoying this series. It opens with the killing of a policeman - and it goes downhill from there for the folks on the wrong end of the gun.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This eleventh book of author Michael McGarrity's outstanding series, "Death Song", makes a huge Kevin Kearney comeback from tenth book of series which was huge dud. ("Nothing But Trouble", #10 th Kevin Kearney). Having read more than a dozen of Michael McGarrity's novels he's one of my very favorite writers. I've met Mr. McGarrity several times over the past nine years at Tuscon Festival Of Books. He's a real character as well. I think he must know everything about New Mexico there is to know as well. A great read in a great series. Without question a must read series. "Tularosa" is first book in series. Check it out if you haven't found this incredible series.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best in the Kevin Kerney series. Hard to put down.

It begins with a deputy Sheriff being ambushed at about the same time the deputy's wife is killed. Kerney is due to retire but partners up with his half-Apache, deputy, son to solve the case. It soon appears to be drug related and after two women are murdered in Albuquerque, they realize the only connection they have is the slain deputy's son, Brian Riley.

While Istee tries to find Riley, Kerney looks for a motive. Complicating things is the fact that the first murdered woman is the sister of a close friend.

Much of the book is a police procedural but there are enough exciting moments to keep the action moving. The descriptions of New Mexico are excellent and accurate. McGarrity also does a good job of weaving family matters into the narrative.

The only criticism, I have of the book is that the ending was a little too abrupt and pat. Nevertheless the entire story is believable and well written.

[Pamela Clark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this series

I read McGarrity's books so fast , Then I'll be able to read them again and they'll almost be fresh to me. Garrity is excellent at describing locations, people's descriptions, and drawing you into the story so that you care about these people. You also feel his love for the country and I can't wait to be able to travel and see New Mexico after reading his books. The mysteries are solid, one book threw me off a little bit because he bounced around more than usual, but this book was solid and steady and I like the mystery. It had an ending I did not expect. You don't need to read McGarity's books from book one through book 11 you can bounce around, but it makes it a little easier if you read them consecutively so you understand his family and how they grow and especially his relationship with his grown son. Definitely read and enjoy these books

[Tom Gorski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting that the late Tony Hillerman wrote one of the praise items on the book jacket as, in this particular novel, the primary characters (Chief Kevin Kerney and his Mescalero Apache son Clayton Istee) bear a strong parallel to Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. That does not detract at all from the book and, in fact, enhances the narrative (both Istee and Chee wrestle with their Native American backgrounds - Apache and Navaho respectively - as the interact with the wider world.

As to the story itself - simply another excellent one in terms of both the mystery itself and the development of the individual characters.

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

fairly complex plot. Why should first 2 murders NOT be coincident,, but the crime within a crime theme tells a lot. The trail through various parts of NM is good, but i think the book a lot longer than it needed to be, and frankly something about the family connections on both parts the SO+ the victims- seemed rather contrived to fit the story line.

i suppose for me there were a few unanswered questions at the end which is why i went bACK to the document expert, for a 2nd reading and that chain of evidence seems a little unlikely. the third +fourth, and fifth murders seemed a little over the top plot wise.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

McGarrity's writing style is deceptively dry. He tells his story in a Dragnet manner, with each activity carefully described, but once you get started you realize how wonderfully he draws his characters -- they seem all the more alive for that careful dry rendering. Kevin Kerney is close to retiring, so much of the story is devoted to his son Sargent Clayton Istee. McGarrity has always described his New Mexico landscape in compelling style, too. Those who are fond of the books of Tony Hillerman will find a lot to like about this series.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

The beauty of a mystery series is that the reader becomes well-acquainted with the main characters. That was my mistake in reading the eleventh book in this series. I lacked the back story on these characters and perhaps was unable to appreciate the story because of it. The mystery was fairly pedestrian.

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone is killing police officers and their families and it’s up to Chief Kevin Kerney and his son SGT Clayton Istee to learn why.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great series. I like that some of the younger cops are getting to be front and center as Kearny starts to wind down his career.

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

SPOILER ALERT

This is no doubt one of my favorite series. McGarrity does not fail to come up with new creative plots and continues to grow the characters. Sara has returned from Iraq with PTSD and depression, after being wounded by an IED. She had repelled an insurgent attack, credited with saving the lives of her fellow soldiers, thereby showing her former CO who was a complete prick and had hoped to get her out of the Army that she cannot be crushed. She is awarded the Silver Star, a Purple Heart and is promoted to full colonel. She is home on a two-month recovery, after which she will be sent for a three-year tour to London as attache' to the Court of St. James. Kevin and Patrick will be going with her, Kevin having retired by then.

First Kevin is pulled into a murder case in Santa Fe, the wife, Diane Muiz Riley, of a policeman in Albuquerque, and the youngest sister of Helen Muiz, his assistant. She was three months pregnant, though Tim had had a vasectomy. Clearly the perfect looking marriage had problems. As they are into the case, they find out that her husband, the Deputy has also been shot and killed. Kevin's son Sgt Clayton Istee, Mescalero Apache, is in charge of that case. It becomes a stateside case as various law enforcement groups are brought in. They also begin looking for the couple's son, Brian, who has been estranged and wandering for some time. They don't know whether he is a suspect or may be another intended victim. The killings appear professional, no evidence, no motive. While Diane was a rebel and had spent twelve years away from home, supposedly travelling throughout the world, research reveals that no American passport was ever issued in her name. However, she had sent more than 90 letters home, which Kevin takes to a documents expert for analysis. They were written by her and the postal information is authentic.

As they go over the house and property of the Riley's in Santa Fe, they find a dilapidated shed and find a gold Krugerrand and a St-Gaudens coin, that is in a cover that has a fingerprint. Brian had seemed to have a lot of money, and they speculate that Diane had had some he had found.

Unfortunately, he is running and will not stop for Kevin. He hides at a closed ranch owned by a friend of Kevin's Clifford Talbot. When he shows up to check on the place and finds Brian there, with the pistol Brian had found at the ranch, and in his lap, Brian is shot by Talbot as Brian raises the gun to shoot Talbot. It is ruled justifiable, self-defense. The coins are from high end heists in other countries. It appears that her boss, John Culley, an insurance salesman, originally from Britain, was bi and her lover, and had been her partner in the thefts. He had been a Royal Marine and had been trained in special ops. He had killed Diane because she would not get an abortion. Then the others because of what they might know. Three foreign passports are found at Culley's home along with other stolen items.

This installment gives the author the opportunity to deepen the relationship of Kerney and his Apache son Clayton Istee, and Istee's family with Kerney's wife and son Patrick. Complex and interesting story.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

By no means did this really pick up from the last book like it was expected. So, it appears all the questions I had last book are still out there.
Clayton Istee, Kerney’s older son, is working a case that takes him into Santa Fe jurisdiction and becomes a dual effort between father and son.
Tim Riley, a new deputy, is found murdered and so is his wife. The wife, Denise, is the sister of Helen Muiz who works for Kerney. Missing is Tim’s 18 year old son Brian.
So Clayton and Kevin work with both the Lincoln County and Santa Fe forces to try and find the killer and Brian.
In the background, Sara is dealing with her PTSD and preparing for their transfer to London.
This book was developing nicely and I was really enjoying it. But I kept looking at the pages left and thinking to myself, either the ending is going to be quick and uneventful, or it’s a cliff hanger. Well…it was not a cliffhanger. It was a rush job. The pace through out the book was slow but steady. And then all of a sudden, everything is figured out at the end with absolutely no fanfare. It left me scratching my head. Not because there were questions. But because it was not satisfying at all.
This has happened before in this series and it places this series fair to middling in my list of series that I read.

[Viva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I follow this series because I'm too far into it to stop. The writing is easy to read and I like the characters but the mystery part is ho-hum. You have to read the series from the first book because plots flow from one book to the next and you'll be lost if you haven't read the previous book(s). This wasn't the case at the beginning but it's gotten worse.

The other thing which has gotten worse is the proliferation of law enforcement characters in the books. Most mysteries have a few (just enough to move the story along). Starting with a few books ago, McGarrity has started to throw LE characters into his books like there's no tomorrow. In my humble opinion, far more than is needed. Sometimes you have state police, sheriffs and deputies from multiple counties, police from different cities, Feds, ATF, even rangers. Why?

Spoiler: This particular book actually starts pretty well with a sheriff's deputy getting whacked, then his wife, then more people associated with the case. It got a pretty good buildup with me wondering how this was going to end. Then like most of his books, it ended with one whimper. Overall, I still like the series, but mainly to catch up with the characters. Let's see what the next book brings.

[Richard Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the Goodreads Blurb: The bushwhack killing of a deputy sheriff in Lincoln County and the brutal murder of the deputy's wife in Santa Fe bring Police Chief Kevin Kerney and his Mescalero Apache son, Sergeant Clayton Istee, back together in a double homicide investigation.

A convoluted plot that involves players from the Albuquerque police department, the New Mexico State troopers and the Santa Fe police. Kearney has a personal stake in solving the crime, partly because the woman who was killed was the younger sister of Helen Muiz, a woman has worked with for many years, and because this is looking like Kearney's last big case before he retires and moves to London with Sara and Patrick.

Clayton Istee has a big role. Bad weather has big role. Ramona Pine and Matt Chacon are part of the team...

This was book #28 on our 2022 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List and book #36 on our own 2022 Read-alouds List.

[Rosemary Dreyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another interesting novel in the Kevin Kerney series. This one involving cop killings, a mysterious past, and stolen coins. What I liked: all the usual good characters; the writing (mostly); the vague descriptions of the impact of war on Sara (wish there had been more); the relationship developing between Kerney and Clayton. What I didn’t like: the leaps in the investigation; the jerky cops (especially APD); the “wrap it up quickly” ending. Overall, a good book.

What I really don’t like: this author’s (and other authors) misuse of adjectives. Plus there were more typos and errors in this Kindle version.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second Michael McGarrity book I have read and enjoyed. It isn't a literary masterpiece, but very easy to read and entertaining. It is part of the Kevin Kerney series which takes place in New Mexico, mostly in or near Santa Fe, an area where I have spent some time. I enjoy reading about areas that I am somewhat familiar with. I wish I had started with the first book in the series, but don't think it really matters. This is the type of book that is nice to read between deep/intense books, as an alternative to chick lit. I will read another.

[Andrew Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

McGarrity has written a very good who dun it for the murder of a local police officer and his wife. As Kerney digs deeper into this crime, he enlists the help of his son, an Apache Mescalero named Clayton Ishtee. The book takes you into a number of twists and turns with many people appearing at first as the perpetrators of the crimes. It is a rip roaring old time tale which will hold you in suspense. A very good read.

[Janie Prim · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's amazing to me that McGarrity's Kevin Kearney books just get better and better;Kearney is on the brink of retirement, when his estranged son and he become involved in the murders of a deputy in temporary quarters in Lincoln County, and his wife, in their home in Cañoncito, a small town close to Santa Fe. It's a great story, with a satisfying ending, and lots of good stuff inbetween. If you love New Mexico, like mysteries, and police action, read McGarrity!!

[Doug Sundseth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid police procedural without a lot of suspense. Some decent character development, particularly for Clayton Istee, who is the closest thing to a real protagonist here.

There are several major events in the story that are not neatly tied up, which is probably normal for a real investigation.

Not a lot of Kerney in this book, which is unfortunate, since he is a more interesting character than Istee (at least so far).

[Jeanette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, but not one of the best at all. It's complex with a lot of extra padding of introductory character police officer who gets killed off nearly immediately upon joining the company in his new job.

I sped read after about page 100 because of so much action and as it was way too complicated and long winded at the same time. Yet the ending was 2 star at the most. This hasn't aged well either, IMHO. Or perhaps I don't like Kevin as I once did either.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

At least McGarrity stays away, again, from the international intrigue, mostly, that he attempted in earlier episodes. Reviewers faun over his descriptions of New Mexico, but they pale next to Hillerman's, which he manages to reference directly in the story. Only a couple more to read in the series, so I'll keep going.

[Gretchen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had such a hard time staying interested in this. I might be reading too many police procedurals that I am beginning to be bored. The writing was fine. I think the crime solving was taking me one way and then BOOM how did they get to this ending. Relistened at least three times and still missed it.

[Dave Delsigne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good mystery story … but, what I like most about Michael McGarrity is his character relationships. The interactions they share and the support they give each other is refreshing in the world we live in today. If the American West and Native American customs intrigue you … read McGarrity. The Apache beliefs are presented throughout. Looking forward to reading the next Kevin Kerney novel.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another enjoyable "Who Done It?" by Michael McGarrity. He is at his best when he fleshes out his characters as he weaves the reader through the latest contorted evidence and suspects. I enjoy not knowing who the culprit is till the end.

[Rich Buickerood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started out thinking I would not like this book as, initially, it was more about Kerney's adult son, Clayton, than it was about the main characters in this series. However, this turned out to be a very well written mystery, with the big reveal not coming until the very end of the book

[Karen McCormick · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisted plot

The story was fascinating but very convoluted to keep you reading into the night. Great police procedural & wonderful character development. I really enjoy this series & the description of place puts you into the New Mexican vista itself.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, but some professional editing would improve it.

We see a number of wrongly used words, typos and other errors. Two examples:
- "reoccurred"
- "criminal statues"

You would think that after this author's success, he would engage a real editor for his books.