Serpent Gate (Kevin Kerney Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Michael McGarrity (Author)

Book Description

Series: Kevin Kerney Novels | Publication Date: June 1, 1999

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

You can smell and feel the crisp air of New Mexico as you read Michael McGarrity's books about would-be rancher and occasional lawman Kevin Kerney, which real- life ex-Santa Fe County deputy sheriff McGarrity fills with his expertise and talent. Like its predecessors--Tularosa and Mexican Hat, available in paperback--this third Kerney story centers on an iconic piece of land. At first Kerney thinks that Serpent Gate exists only in the mind of seriously schizophrenic Robert Cordova, the sole witness to the murder of a small-town policeman. But Cordova's obsessions with rape and murder turn out to have strong links to the real world. Another story thread brings Kerney back to work in Santa Fe, where the obsessions--expensive art, crooked politics, and high-profile crime--are sleeker but no less deadly. -- Dick Adler --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

McGarrity delivers another complex and powerful suspense novel in this follow-up to Mexican Hat (1997). Retired New Mexico cop Kevin Kerney is hired by his friend Andy Baca, now New Mexico State Police Chief, to investigate the murder of Paul Gillespie, a patrolman in the town of Mountainair. Kerney's persistence and seasoned intuition help him follow the convoluted rantings of his only lead?homeless schizophrenic Robert Cordova?about rape and a place called Serpent Gate to a difficult conclusion. When the governor's offices are robbed of $8 million worth of art, Baca appoints Kerney deputy chief and assigns him the case. We know already that Mexican drug lord Enrique DeLeon, Kerney's nemesis from Tularosa (1996), masterminded the theft. His accomplice, a Santa Fe businessman, launders the money through investments in elite real estate development. The governor's nephew and his law partner are also involved, allowing McGarrity to examine the interplay of politics and law enforcement. McGarrity, a former deputy sheriff and an astute storyteller, joins the murder and the theft only tangentially when three DeLeon thugs, sent to murder Kerney, follow him in a blizzard as he's searching for the now-missing Cordova at Serpent Gate. Assembling a large cast of vivid characters in a splendidly evoked locale, McGarrity produces another outstanding mystery, subtle yet full of action, with a chilling closing scene that sets up the next book.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (June 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067102146X
• ISBN-13: 978-0671021467
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #543,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Kerney yet, April 3, 2001

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Serpent Gate (Kevin Kerney Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

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).

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid read. Two good stories become one., January 27, 2003

By 

Jayson (Rancho Santa Margarita, ca, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Serpent Gate (Kevin Kerney Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

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

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A continuing pleasure, October 12, 2001

By 

John Bowes (Oxford, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Serpent Gate (Kevin Kerney Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

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.