Customer Reviews

SERPENT GATE (Kevin Kerney Novels)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

McGarrity and Kerney just keep getting better. I barely made it through "Tularosa" (way too gory for the drive to Santa Fe with my 70 something mother). "Mexican Hat" was an improvement, with great atmosphere but a less than memorable plot. In "Serpent Gate", everything comes together. There's lots of New Mexico (and Santa Fe in particular) for atmosphere. More importantly, there are a pair of interesting plots: the murder of a small town cop whose background isn't pretty; and a major art theft by Kerney's nemesis from Tularosa - DeLeon. Frosting on the cake are a couple of interesting side players including Kerney's landlord/host Fletcher.

McGarrity uses an interesting contrast in writing styles. In the murder case, the reader is left in the dark and stumbles right along with Kerney. Meanwhile, the reader is the fly on the wall for all of DeLeon's planning in the art theft and the subsequent events.

Bottom line: A throughly enjoyable romp -- particularly if you're fond of Santa Fe (one of my favorite places).

Kevin Kerny returns as author McGarrity delicately intertwines two seperate stories in 'Serpent Gate'.

Serpent gate begins with Kerny investigating a deranged man and his possible witnessing of a recent local homicide. But Robert Cordova holds other secrets in his head, whereas most find him crazy, Kerney befriends Cordova and starts to piece together a series of events that spans years and goes much deeper than expected. What is this Serpent Gate he keeps babbling on about?

However, just as this homicide seems to be put to rest and the case is almost shut, Kerny is swiftly reassigned to a burglary case. But not any burglary. It seems the New Mexico's governors office has been robbed of precious art amounting to millions, an officer is killed during a routine traffic stop, a young afficiando woman has seemingly disapeared, and drugs keep popping up. All separate events? Not to Kerney as he starts to sense that something seems strangley familiar.

His arch-nemisis, drug lord DeLeon, (from 'Tulorosa') seems to have his hands all over this, and now Kerney must return the stolen property, solve the disapearance of the young lady, catch the cop killers, and apprehend DeLeon. He must do this why still keeping an occasional tab on Robert Cordova who seems to know something else important in his confused state of existance.

Soon Kerney is racing all over New Mexico seemingly to be both one step ahead of DeLeon, and then one step behind.

Author McGarrity does a fine, and 'believable' job in taking two completely different stories that could stand on their own and weave them together in such an entertaining way. There's just about everything in here for a great mystery: forensics, action, politics, lively charcaters, twists, etc.

I look forward to many more Kevin Kerny novels

This series keeps geting better with each entry. The author is not afraid to let a bad guy get away, he'll come back later in the series, as we've already seen. The author can leave some questions unanswered, because he knows we'll be back for the next installment. A lot like life, we need to come back tomorrow and see how things turn out. Normally this would drive a reader crazy, but with McGarrity enough questions are answered to leaved the reader sated and happy to return.

I have now devoured all 3 McGarrity and I'm wishing for more. Kevin Kerney is sexy, dangerous and moral. Pick up this book ASAP if you have read "Tularosa" and "Mexican Hat", if you haven't read the first 2, BUY all 3 and read them in order.

Good job by Mr. McGarrity. Fast-paced story with some interesting characters. New Mexico State Police Deputy Chief Kevin Kearney comes off as the every man faced with impossible odds. Still he tackles them with pit bull-like tenacity. In this book, he's trying to handle two cases at once. The shooting of a small town cop who turns out to be not a very nice person, and the theft of millions of dollars worth of art from the Governor's office. Behind the theft is a man named DeLeon, a subtlely evil drug lord with connections all over the place and an obsession to kill Kearny. Lots of interesting characters throughout the story. Robert, the schizophranic man who may be a key witness in the cop shooting case, and Kearney's gay, dandy art enthusiast friend Fletcher Hartley. Really enjoyed the rapport with those two and Hartley's enthusiasm over helping out with the art theft case. At times I wondered if the two separate cases would ever come together, but trust me, they do. Big time. Also, McGarrity did a fantastic job capturing the social atmosphere of the Southwest. As someone who lives a state away in Arizona, I could relate to the resentment between old timers and newcomers and the battle between Western tradition and the building of tourist traps. Fine novel. I am sold on Michael McGarrity.

he's done it again!!! usually, the third book is the one that does in new authors but this one is a winner!!! mc garrity is just getting better and better with each book....and i just love his great cast of characters....hopefully, we'll be seeing fletcher again...and the women allllllllll adore kerney, don't they? mc garrity writes such vivid descriptions of every scene that you are there...you feel the winter air or the hot mexican sun on your back...you sense the terror of a shootout...keep 'em coming and i'll keep on enjoying....one book a year is just a perfect pace!!!! also, the cover of each book is so beautiful...thank goodness, what's inside equals the cover!!

Once again McGarrity's knowledge of police procedure enlightens the story. "Serpent Gate" is equal to his first two novels, "Tullarosa" and "Mexican Hat". His characters are believable, his word pictures are masterpieces and the plot is like reading current events. Although I have never visited Santa Fe it is apparent the writer has deep rooted feelings for the area and the inhabitants.

Serpent Gate is one of those page turners with fast-paced dialogue and action. Scenes are wonderfully depicted with McGarrity's keen, accurate knowledge of the place, a beautiful, magical part of New Mexico. It's a truly remarkable book, and Kerney is now (this, Michael's third Kerney book) like an old friend who I want to meet again . . . and again.

Once again, I thoroughly enjoyed the latest installment in the life and times of Kevin Kerney. He is a no nonsense, get it done, sexy kinda guy, with the sensitivy we (women) all long for. I anxiously await the 4th installment...as I know there surely will be!!!

In Mountainair, New Mexico, special state police officer Kevin Kerney investigates the local murder of a police officer. The only possible lead in the case is a psychotic, who might have witnessed the murder. Starting with the mentally ill witness, Kevin begins to piece together a story about a bad cop prone to sexual violence.

As the case of the murdered cop winds down, Kerney starts to investigate the stealing of art worth over $8 million from the governor's mansion. Governor Springer wants this case resolved quickly and quietly. As Kevin begins his investigation he finds a link between a frequent female visitor to the mansion, who has disappeared and an old enemy from south of the border. Kevin knows that if this connection leads him to the missing art, it could also lead him to a deadly confrontation with a man who kills without thinking twice.

SERPENT GATE is the third Kerney mystery and like the previous two (TULAROSA and MEXICAN HAT), the novel is a tremendous southwest who-done-it. Kevin is a great character, whothrough his actions, helps the reader better understand the difference between justice and the law. The support cast helps propel the two investigations forward, and they dexterously blend into a fast-paced story line. Michael McGarrity is no longer a rising star because he has obviously arrived.

Harriet Klausner