What do you think?
Rate this book
Kevin Kerney #7
The Big Gamble
Michael McGarrity's acclaimed Santa Fe police chief, Kevin Kerney is back-with his estranged son. Two bodies have been found in a burned building. One is a missing person from Kerney's cold case files. The other is a more recent homicide. Both will lead father and son into a vast network of crime...and the darkest places of the soul.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 2002
171 people are currently reading
352 people want to read
About the author
Michael McGarrity
23 books497 followersWith 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).
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).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
October 10, 2021
This was the worst attempt in the series so far (up to #7). Now I'm dubious about continuing.
Body count lower. Plot more complicated and ridiculous. (Although two bodies of different event killings can be found in one place quite often.)
This had a lot of bickering in it. And for the most part of word count it was NOT about Kerney at all. It's a staff and Clifton highlighted druthers and movement epistle.
Honestly, the worst aspect was that the procedural angle has become so outlandish in multi relationships and too many jurisdictions that it has become just ridiculous. There are lots of people, even in New Mexico. Many officers and hierarchy. And people do not switch jobs and entire levels of access in this type of way. If you are going to write fiction, yes it IS fiction- in this genre you need to have SOME semblance toward reality.
Also, Sara, the house and ranch or rental bicker is truly getting old.
But the entire case itself and the pace was terrible here. Not even half as well formed as some of the earlier ones at all.
The very ending puts Clifton solidly in the Kerney box for gun play. Hate endings that work like perils of Pauline to get you to attach to the next novel in the series. This does that as well.
Body count lower. Plot more complicated and ridiculous. (Although two bodies of different event killings can be found in one place quite often.)
This had a lot of bickering in it. And for the most part of word count it was NOT about Kerney at all. It's a staff and Clifton highlighted druthers and movement epistle.
Honestly, the worst aspect was that the procedural angle has become so outlandish in multi relationships and too many jurisdictions that it has become just ridiculous. There are lots of people, even in New Mexico. Many officers and hierarchy. And people do not switch jobs and entire levels of access in this type of way. If you are going to write fiction, yes it IS fiction- in this genre you need to have SOME semblance toward reality.
Also, Sara, the house and ranch or rental bicker is truly getting old.
But the entire case itself and the pace was terrible here. Not even half as well formed as some of the earlier ones at all.
The very ending puts Clifton solidly in the Kerney box for gun play. Hate endings that work like perils of Pauline to get you to attach to the next novel in the series. This does that as well.
March 5, 2015
I like this series by Michael McGarrity and I like his main character, Kevin Kerney--but a a bad trend is developing. As in his last book, the ending seems hurried and formulaic. The beginning and middle are good. There are a lot of characters and McGarrity well details the relationships between the various leads. These are well drawn, believable, and interesting. The plot is complicated and takes a long time to unwind. Also good. It's a real page turner, but you reach a point where it all hurries to the end. It's as if McGarrity got to page 320 and said, “Okay, time to wrap this up!” It all ends too soon for me. The various bad guys are dealt with and the issues between the good guys are resolved, more or less. I like this series and will read the next one but with a hope that the author takes a bit more care with the final chapters.
August 12, 2021
1.5 stars ~ Sorry, but this really wasn't a Kevin Kerney story. It was basically a book about Kerney's supporting staff. Kerney had little involvement in this half-azzed police procedural that actually left out significant chunks of the 'how to' elements of detective work. It read as if the author wanted to throw feelers out to see which of the supporting staff might be worthy of their own subsequent series. Disappointed to say the least. I'll try one (library) free follow-up in this series.
April 4, 2022
From the Goodreads Blurb: When a fire in an abandoned fruit stand in rural Lincoln County reveals the murdered body of a woman gone missing from Santa Fe years ago, Police Chief Kevin Kerney finds himself cooperating with his estranged son, a man he hardly knows, Deputy Sheriff Clayton Istee.
Actually, there are two bodies in the fruit stand. Kerney focuses on the investigation of the missing woman and Istee is lead detective on the new murder. We, the readers, see the investigative paths crossing and recrossing and eventually merging.
Kerney is forced to do something about his bum knee. Istee is pushed to start dealing with his daddy issues.
A compelling read-aloud. This was book #17 on our 2022 Read-alouds List, and book #14 on of 2022 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List. Only six more in the series... sad face...
Actually, there are two bodies in the fruit stand. Kerney focuses on the investigation of the missing woman and Istee is lead detective on the new murder. We, the readers, see the investigative paths crossing and recrossing and eventually merging.
Kerney is forced to do something about his bum knee. Istee is pushed to start dealing with his daddy issues.
A compelling read-aloud. This was book #17 on our 2022 Read-alouds List, and book #14 on of 2022 Read-alouds With Lutrecia List. Only six more in the series... sad face...
October 30, 2018
Seventh Kevin Kerney thriller from author Michael McGarrity. Kerney's son Clayton Itsee spits time in this outing as the protagonist. Clayton is still coming to grips with finding a father and it being Kerney. Both Kerney and Clayton must share leads and information as they attempt to solve several murders including a cold case that has rankled town people for over eleven years. Kerney is also starting to make his team do most of the investigating as he prepares for knee replacement surgery. Author Michael McGarrity spins a fast paced tale that features some incredible characters. Although Kerney and Clayton are dry at times, the bad guys are certainly colorful as they are well developed. With just over 300 quickly breezing pages, "The Big Gamble", is another Michael McGarrity classic. Four stars out of a possible five stars for, "The Big Gamble". I would have gone five stars however the conclusion came out of nowhere and ended the book far quicker than I anticipated. For Michael McGarrity fans another must read without question. I've met author Michael McGarrity several times at the Tucson Festival Of Books, and he's an incredible speaker to listen to as well.
February 4, 2022
Wow! Once everything came together it was quite impressive. Some very bad people have been doing some very bad things for a very long time. Kerney and his son get into the middle of this from different sides and eventually brought their information together in an amazing and quick ending. Still love this series.
May 6, 2022
This one was overly complicated, with too many bad guys, and too much stuff happening. I found the ending a little disappointing as well
July 3, 2023
Hmm - Kearney disappeared but reappeared when it came to his new house and his cranky pregnant wife.
I liked the mystery but this was definitely not a Kevin Kearney book…And some wrote it wrapped up too fast, but that is always what happens at the end. The end of anything - it either comes or goes too fast. And sometimes is just completely unexpected. I get mad about in real life and then take out my frustration in writing reviews of fiction novels…
The first books I read by Michael McGarrity were the the last ones he wrote starting with Hard Country in the Kearney Family Trilogy. The book cover of Hard Country caught my eye at the library and that is the only reason I took it home. And then a couple of weeks later I decided to give it a try. I feel like these Kevin Kearney books are one long epilogue written before the real story and those three books are some of the best I have ever read. He was so subtle but got the point across in all three.
But McGarrity started off with Kevin Kearney novels before writing the Kearney Family Trilogy. I have often wondered if he was sad about starting the first Kevin Kearney mystery with the backstory of his parents dying in a car accident??
I will keep reading this series simply out of respect for what McGarrity’s best writing was in the Kearney Family Trilogy.
I liked the mystery but this was definitely not a Kevin Kearney book…And some wrote it wrapped up too fast, but that is always what happens at the end. The end of anything - it either comes or goes too fast. And sometimes is just completely unexpected. I get mad about in real life and then take out my frustration in writing reviews of fiction novels…
The first books I read by Michael McGarrity were the the last ones he wrote starting with Hard Country in the Kearney Family Trilogy. The book cover of Hard Country caught my eye at the library and that is the only reason I took it home. And then a couple of weeks later I decided to give it a try. I feel like these Kevin Kearney books are one long epilogue written before the real story and those three books are some of the best I have ever read. He was so subtle but got the point across in all three.
But McGarrity started off with Kevin Kearney novels before writing the Kearney Family Trilogy. I have often wondered if he was sad about starting the first Kevin Kearney mystery with the backstory of his parents dying in a car accident??
I will keep reading this series simply out of respect for what McGarrity’s best writing was in the Kearney Family Trilogy.
March 25, 2019
Kevin Kerney, the police chief of Sante Fe is on two cases, two murder victims have been found in an abandoned fruit stand after a fire. One of the victims is unidentifiable though they're pretty sure he's a local Vietnam vet, homeless and a bit crazy, he's been stabbed three times. The second body belongs to a very cold case, Anna Marie Montoya, disappeared 11 years ago. Kerney had been searching for Anna Marie.
The investigator of the second victim is Kerne's estranged son, Clayton Istee. Clayton is a deputy sheriff for the Lincoln county police and the other side of his heritage is Apache. Clay is supporting his wife and two small children.
The tension between the two men is palpable, Clayton's not interested at this point in his life of connecting with the man who left his mom, and neither one has much in the way of empathy for the other, so the awkwardness they go through as they get to know each other is cringeworthy, but so very believable.
A rich and rewarding read. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
The investigator of the second victim is Kerne's estranged son, Clayton Istee. Clayton is a deputy sheriff for the Lincoln county police and the other side of his heritage is Apache. Clay is supporting his wife and two small children.
The tension between the two men is palpable, Clayton's not interested at this point in his life of connecting with the man who left his mom, and neither one has much in the way of empathy for the other, so the awkwardness they go through as they get to know each other is cringeworthy, but so very believable.
A rich and rewarding read. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
December 24, 2019
I like this series for the character development, the small town police protocol and the New Mexico setting but I felt this book was a bit of a letdown.
Spoilers: I think McGarrity tried a bit too hard when he tried too complex a plot. Two bodies are found in a burnt out abandoned fruit stand. One is a down and out homeless vet and the other is a young female that has been buried for at least 10 years. Dogged police work on the homeless body leads to a wide conspiracy of prostitution involving drugs and the highest level of local politics that also solves the other murder. A multi-agency task force of more than 60 agents is put together to round up all the players involved. Unfortunately, that's too many people and crimes for this book to wrap up in the final chapters and I was left unsatisfied at how the plot ended. It's also too many law enforcement figures to keep track off in a short book. Still, this book is one in a series and I hope to catch up with the characters in the next books.
Spoilers: I think McGarrity tried a bit too hard when he tried too complex a plot. Two bodies are found in a burnt out abandoned fruit stand. One is a down and out homeless vet and the other is a young female that has been buried for at least 10 years. Dogged police work on the homeless body leads to a wide conspiracy of prostitution involving drugs and the highest level of local politics that also solves the other murder. A multi-agency task force of more than 60 agents is put together to round up all the players involved. Unfortunately, that's too many people and crimes for this book to wrap up in the final chapters and I was left unsatisfied at how the plot ended. It's also too many law enforcement figures to keep track off in a short book. Still, this book is one in a series and I hope to catch up with the characters in the next books.
November 4, 2021
SPOILER ALERT
Chief Kevin Kerney and his son Deputy Sheriff Clayton Istee are set to see much of each other as they work the same case. With the faith afforded Istee by his boss and the interaction with his father, some of Istee's chip will be worn away. When a fire in an abandoned fruit stand near the Mescalero Reservation reveals a dead body, Istee is at the scene. The surprise is a second body in the cellar, that turns out to be the remains of Anna Marie Montoya who had disappeared from Santa Fe eleven year before. Kevin had worked the case.
So the stabbing of Joseph Humphrey is to handled by Sheriff Paul Hewitt, who assigns it to Istee as lead. The Montoya case will be run out of Santa Fe. Humphrey had been a Vietnam vet who gambled. He had been killed for his winnings by Felix Ulibarri. As Istee hunts for Ulibarri he uncovers illegal gambling at the cabins where Ulibarri's body is later found. At the same time Kerney is determining that there is a prostitution ring that is being run, possibly out of the Bedlow Modeling and Talent Agency, though it appears clean. So they put an undercover cop, Ramona Pino into the agency. She ends up working with Albuquerque PD Vice Sgt Jeff Vialpando. This is a complicated story with a large number of characters both major and small.
Istee finds that his case leads to the Luis Rojas, Big Five Trucking in El Paso. Harry Skaggs, who owned the cabins where Ulibarri's body was found, ends up at Rojas, to seek help, only to end up dead, killed by Rojas' associate Fidel Narvaiz, who gets off on killing. Rojas' girlfriend is a prostitute, Deborah Shea. As they two sides come together, Kerney realizes that they have a major prostitution, drug, and criminal conspiracy. Five people were at school together. Montoya sent notes to the police anonymously, that Tyler Norvell was running girls and drugs. She is killed as a result, buried in the Lincoln County from which a couple of the partners reside. Norvell runs the Five Stars escort and security service. He has the massive Blue Canyon Ranch where he entertains celebrities and wealthy businessmen with their mistresses or prostitutes he supplies. Cassie Bedlow is his sister with the Talent Agency from which she has provided prostitutes for years. Adam Tully runs Five Players, the Players Green Club and Restaurant, where Ramona will get a job undercover (Hiram Tully, his father who kicked him out years before, owns the fruit stand property.). Leo Silver as an attorney is the fifth partner. Gene Barrett is a CPA and management consultant. Kerney obtains the testimony of three of the prostitutes: Helen Pearson (former), Sally Greer and Stacy Fowler (who they hide reporting she died in a car accident). Then they form a task force consisting of Santa Fe PD, the DA "Hat" Moore, FBI, DEA, APD, US Attorney's office, IRS, and the State Police. They agree to complete the investigations and get the warrants necessary in a month. Once accomplished they pick up the players who are indicted. It is a huge win for all wiping out several criminal rings.
The ongoing saga of Kerney and his wife Army Lt Col Sara will be tested greatly as her hormones spike with her advanced pregnancy, and her graduation from the Command and General Staff College nears. She resents that Kevin arranges for the house design and the addition of a swimming pool. He justifies the pool as his new exercise. His anticipated knee replacement that will reduce his pain and limp, will require a softer exercise than running.
Chief Kevin Kerney and his son Deputy Sheriff Clayton Istee are set to see much of each other as they work the same case. With the faith afforded Istee by his boss and the interaction with his father, some of Istee's chip will be worn away. When a fire in an abandoned fruit stand near the Mescalero Reservation reveals a dead body, Istee is at the scene. The surprise is a second body in the cellar, that turns out to be the remains of Anna Marie Montoya who had disappeared from Santa Fe eleven year before. Kevin had worked the case.
So the stabbing of Joseph Humphrey is to handled by Sheriff Paul Hewitt, who assigns it to Istee as lead. The Montoya case will be run out of Santa Fe. Humphrey had been a Vietnam vet who gambled. He had been killed for his winnings by Felix Ulibarri. As Istee hunts for Ulibarri he uncovers illegal gambling at the cabins where Ulibarri's body is later found. At the same time Kerney is determining that there is a prostitution ring that is being run, possibly out of the Bedlow Modeling and Talent Agency, though it appears clean. So they put an undercover cop, Ramona Pino into the agency. She ends up working with Albuquerque PD Vice Sgt Jeff Vialpando. This is a complicated story with a large number of characters both major and small.
Istee finds that his case leads to the Luis Rojas, Big Five Trucking in El Paso. Harry Skaggs, who owned the cabins where Ulibarri's body was found, ends up at Rojas, to seek help, only to end up dead, killed by Rojas' associate Fidel Narvaiz, who gets off on killing. Rojas' girlfriend is a prostitute, Deborah Shea. As they two sides come together, Kerney realizes that they have a major prostitution, drug, and criminal conspiracy. Five people were at school together. Montoya sent notes to the police anonymously, that Tyler Norvell was running girls and drugs. She is killed as a result, buried in the Lincoln County from which a couple of the partners reside. Norvell runs the Five Stars escort and security service. He has the massive Blue Canyon Ranch where he entertains celebrities and wealthy businessmen with their mistresses or prostitutes he supplies. Cassie Bedlow is his sister with the Talent Agency from which she has provided prostitutes for years. Adam Tully runs Five Players, the Players Green Club and Restaurant, where Ramona will get a job undercover (Hiram Tully, his father who kicked him out years before, owns the fruit stand property.). Leo Silver as an attorney is the fifth partner. Gene Barrett is a CPA and management consultant. Kerney obtains the testimony of three of the prostitutes: Helen Pearson (former), Sally Greer and Stacy Fowler (who they hide reporting she died in a car accident). Then they form a task force consisting of Santa Fe PD, the DA "Hat" Moore, FBI, DEA, APD, US Attorney's office, IRS, and the State Police. They agree to complete the investigations and get the warrants necessary in a month. Once accomplished they pick up the players who are indicted. It is a huge win for all wiping out several criminal rings.
The ongoing saga of Kerney and his wife Army Lt Col Sara will be tested greatly as her hormones spike with her advanced pregnancy, and her graduation from the Command and General Staff College nears. She resents that Kevin arranges for the house design and the addition of a swimming pool. He justifies the pool as his new exercise. His anticipated knee replacement that will reduce his pain and limp, will require a softer exercise than running.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2024
The Big Gamble was a decent read; however, I felt it was a bit anticlimactic. This was number seven in the Kevin Kerney series, and I faithfully consumed the previous six. In this installment, two bodies are found in an abandoned fruit stand in Lincoln County, NM. The one body is that of a homeless Vietnam veteran and the other is eventually identified as Anne Marie Montoya, who disappeared more than ten years ago. Deputy Sheriff Clayton Istee takes over the case of the death of the homeless person, and Sheriff Kevin Kerney is notified of the Montoya body, since she went missing from Santa Fe, and the Santa Fe police department had the case file. As it turns out, Istee is the son of Kevin Kerney, although Kerney did not know he had a son until book six in the series. Kerney had a relationship with a native American woman while in college, and she never informed Kerney of his fatherhood until recent times. The author guides the reader through the typical police procedural, and Kerney and Istee eventually cross paths, although Istee is not very accepting of a father who entered his life at a very late stage. The events surrounding Kerney's personal life were actually more interesting to me than the main crime plot, but it was a captivating read that takes place in an area of the west that I have visited and enjoy. I'll be on board for book eight.
March 14, 2021
In this story Kevin is investigating a cold case that he was involved in when a young officer. The case is reopened when the body of the missing woman is discovered at the scene of a very recent murder.
In this story we also meet Kevin's son who is also a police person. However, Kevin has not had a relationship with his son, Clayton, as he did not know he existed.
Anyway, this book was about Kevin attempting to at least be on speaking terms with his son. Especially since he has met the grandchildren, Kevin himself is now married and his wife Sara is expecting their first child.
This story was also text book police investigation. Not that I know anything about text book police investigation but this story was very much what I would call procedural work. I liked it because of that. It seemed to be routine police work from the moment that the bodies were discovered to the solution at the end. Despite the fact that it seemed routine it kept me interested from the beginning to the end.
There were other things that happened that moved along the relationship between Kevin and Clayton and between Clayton and his wife and also between other police persons. All of these things made for an interesting read about Kevin Kerney.
In this story we also meet Kevin's son who is also a police person. However, Kevin has not had a relationship with his son, Clayton, as he did not know he existed.
Anyway, this book was about Kevin attempting to at least be on speaking terms with his son. Especially since he has met the grandchildren, Kevin himself is now married and his wife Sara is expecting their first child.
This story was also text book police investigation. Not that I know anything about text book police investigation but this story was very much what I would call procedural work. I liked it because of that. It seemed to be routine police work from the moment that the bodies were discovered to the solution at the end. Despite the fact that it seemed routine it kept me interested from the beginning to the end.
There were other things that happened that moved along the relationship between Kevin and Clayton and between Clayton and his wife and also between other police persons. All of these things made for an interesting read about Kevin Kerney.
July 2, 2017
Darkest places of the soul
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.
Michael McGarrity's acclaimed Santa Fe police chief, Kevin Kerney is back-with his estranged son. Two bodies have been found in a burned building. One is a missing person from Kerney's cold case files. The other is a more recent homicide. Both will lead father and son into a vast network of crime...and the darkest places of the soul.
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.
Michael McGarrity's acclaimed Santa Fe police chief, Kevin Kerney is back-with his estranged son. Two bodies have been found in a burned building. One is a missing person from Kerney's cold case files. The other is a more recent homicide. Both will lead father and son into a vast network of crime...and the darkest places of the soul.
May 12, 2018
This is one of the best of the Kevin Kerney series. It starts as two murder investigations widely separated in time but connected by the location of the bodies, and proceeds to the point where the two cases are obviously related. The investigations become more and more complicated until it seems that some very big names in New Mexico and beyond appear to be involved. The investigation into the earlier murder is led by Kevin Kearney, now chief of police in Santa Fe County, while the more recent case is assigned to young Native American (Apache) detective Clayton Istlee of the Lincoln County Sheriff's Department, and who happens to be Kearney's son. The investigations are documented in some detail, and watching the whole thing come together is a big part of my enjoyment of this book. The New Mexico settings of the book are depicted accurately and with a familiarity that reflects on the author's obvious love for the state.
February 17, 2024
Overall, I liked it. This is a genre I enjoy. I haven’t read any of the others from this series so I felt like I came in the middle of something. That’s on me.
I found the amount of characters and different agencies a bit all over the place. Lots of names similar to other names. Hard to keep straight. Didn’t feel like any plot line was really ever “finished”. And the random mean outbursts from his pregnant wife? What did these add to the plot?
What could/should have been the most exciting part of the book (the end) was done though a weird montage recap, “and then this happened” sort of way. I was looking forward to the big police bust at then end, but I feel totally let down. The end was not good, and dare I say, a let down.
I found the amount of characters and different agencies a bit all over the place. Lots of names similar to other names. Hard to keep straight. Didn’t feel like any plot line was really ever “finished”. And the random mean outbursts from his pregnant wife? What did these add to the plot?
What could/should have been the most exciting part of the book (the end) was done though a weird montage recap, “and then this happened” sort of way. I was looking forward to the big police bust at then end, but I feel totally let down. The end was not good, and dare I say, a let down.
August 29, 2021
McGarrity has Kerney dealing with a burned out fruit stand that has two bodies located inside. Both victims were killed at different times and the investigation goes into two directions. Yet, there is a circular nature to this and in the end both crimes are linked together to the same syndicate. Kerney is all too human as he has to face many problems both in the field and in his private life. Now, that he is the Chief of Police in Santa Fe, he has to juggle different jurisdictions and watches as his son becomes a skilled investigator in his own right. A good read that leads one into Arizona, Texas, Mexico, and of course New Mexico.
February 15, 2022
3 1/2 Stars: This is the shortest book in the Kevin Kerney series. The novel is about a current murder and a cold case murder and how they are intertwined. What I liked: the characters, including some new promising ones; the relationship development between Clayton and Kerney. What I didn’t like: overall, it felt rushed and not fully played out; there were so many missing pieces and leaps in time; the ending felt like the author was up against a deadline so he shortchanged the whole thing. Disappointing book.
December 14, 2017
Always enjoy reading the Kevin Kerney books. This book almost resembled what's going on in the US in late 2017: politicians and actors getting busted in sex scandals, although the book was written in the early 2000's. I am enjoying the development of the relationship between Kerney and his estranged son Clayton. Can't wait to see what happens with the remaining 2 books I have left to read before the brand new one comes out OCT 2018.
March 23, 2019
Not one of my favourites out of the series simply because I found the ending just a little too pat. Kerney wasn't just the main MC in this one, but other characters introduced in previous novels got to take centre stage, including Kerney's son, Clayton Istee, and several other law enforcement personnel. Still, a good read. This continues to be a very satisfying series. Glad I got to meet Kevin Kerney.
March 20, 2018
One more very interesting page turner by Mr McGarrity. I enjoy his writing style and his ability to keep you involved with his characters. This was the first of the Kevin Kerney series that I had figured out before the last few pages. Even with my guess it was a great read to see how the characters solved the crimes and put the bad folks away.
April 5, 2018
One of his very best!! This may be the smartest homicide procedural yet!! Smart investigators doing gritty, due diligence, multi-county, -state & agency collaborations, & addition of complex characters, growing in depth as they reappear in later books in series. You can tell it's written by someone who has worked in the field, & has had real-life experience with the occasional lucky tip, & adroit interviewing & deductive clues to pursue. It also has all too human interactions of families dealing with a loved one in this line of work. This is really a cut above!!
January 13, 2019
I listened to the audiobook. The narrator sounded like he was out of one of the old western movies. It was a horrible narration. Everything in the story drags until the last hour and a half, then it all gets tied up. I enjoy this series for the setting and descriptions but I’m not as eager to pick up the next book like I do other series.
January 18, 2020
Another winner
Always enjoy this series and this story did not disappoint. Always enjoy the main characters that have goodness and lots of flaws too. My only complaint with McGarrity is that his chapters are too long and rolled together where there should be chapter separation. However, that is a minor thing when the stories are s enjoyable and entertaining.
Always enjoy this series and this story did not disappoint. Always enjoy the main characters that have goodness and lots of flaws too. My only complaint with McGarrity is that his chapters are too long and rolled together where there should be chapter separation. However, that is a minor thing when the stories are s enjoyable and entertaining.
March 7, 2022
This episode gets back to a more realistic storyline than the last couple of books in the series. Credibility is strained some by the premise that a huge drug, prostitution, and murder ring has operated for decades without popping up on law enforcement radar. At least the events are possible in the real world.
June 14, 2024
McGarrity's books fall into the same category for me as Craig Johnson's and Tony Hillerman's books: well-crafted police suspense with a very strong sense of time, place, and character.
This book has a bit less jeopardy and suspense than some others in the series, but the character interactions are quite good and the plot made sense and maintained my interest to the end.
Recommended.
This book has a bit less jeopardy and suspense than some others in the series, but the character interactions are quite good and the plot made sense and maintained my interest to the end.
Recommended.
June 21, 2025
Had this book on my shelf as a hand me down from my dad and finally picked it up. It pulled me in quickly and was a fast read. It’s the only one in the series I’ve read. I liked the back and forth sections between Kerney and Clayton. Other reviewers say they are tired of the Kerney/Sara bickering and I could see how that would get old but since this is my first, it was fine for me.
July 13, 2017
Always love these, but the end had a 1 month gap after following the investigation throughout the book. You lost the last month of it and it just jumped a month. Perhaps he was trying a new style. I was disappointed. But, will read on in the series.
May 5, 2018
Interesting structure to the book. Kevin's son Clay investigates a cold case independently from his Dad. Their interviews prove to be the keys to solving the case. Hard to put McGarrity's book down.
April 30, 2019
Another excellent Kevin Kerney mystery/crime novel by Michael McGarrity. This author's writing style really appeals to me as do the leadership skills demonstrated by the main character. I did think the book ended a bit abruptly though.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews