Author, Michael McGarrity

I discovered a new author last week - Michael McGarrity, who writes the Kevin Kerney mystery series. I picked up "Mexcian Hat" on our library's best picks shelf. When I realized it was the second in a series, I decided to read the first one, "Tularosa," first. Another of my favorite authors, Tony Hillerman, highly recommends this mystery series. Other authors who recommend McGarrity's work are Sarah Lovett, Sarah Shankman, Richard Bradford, and Linda Fairstein. I've only read Linda Fairstein before so.....if I ever have enough time to read all the books I want to, here are some more authors for me to check out.

McGarrity is an ex-psychotherapist as well as a former deputy sheriff who lives in Santa Fe, NM, with his family. Both his previous occupations are well put to use in his writing of the Kevin Kerney series. I'm not surprised that he's an Anthony award winning author as well as the recipient of the New Mexico Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts-Literature in 2004. His writing is so believable that I felt I was right there in every scene. Kirkus Reviews says it is "written with a chemistry and a majesty that'll make (it) irrestible to Tony Hillerman fans."

Many of the historical events, people, and places mentioned in his books are based on fact while others are pure fiction or legends he has elaborated on to enhance his fictional work

His protagonist, Kevin Kerney, is an ex-Santa Fe chief of detectives as well as a modern cowboy who saw action in Vietnam. He was wounded so badly in a gunfight in the line of duty that he is now retired. He grew up on a ranch that no longer exists because the government took his family ranch as well as those of several neighbors to be included in the White Sands missile range. His parents were later killed in an auto accident.

In "Tularosa" Kerney is asked by his former partner to find his son, Sammy, who is also Kerney's godson. Sammy's parents are divorced and Sammy is missing and presumed AWOL from the high-security missile range but neither parent nor any of his friends believe he would have gone AWOL.

Kerney contacts some law enforcement friends and gets a temporary assignment that allows him to work with Captain Sara Brannon, a young army officer on the missile range. At first Brannon is somewhat skeptical and antagonistic when it comes to Kerney but, as he discovers clues that no one else has uncovered, she begins to have respect for him and they develop a more cooperative relationship that leads them both into danger and romance. After they successfully solve the case, Sara is promoted and shipped off to a two-year assignment in Korea but not before a fond farewell to Kerney.

The second book, "Mexican Hat," finds Kerney in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness working a seasonal job as a forest ranger as he tries to save money to purchase his dream ranch. However, the summer is not a quiet one as he becomes embroiled in solving the murder of a young Mexican medical student whose grandfather he finds alone, cold, and with a loss of memory. During the murder investigation, Kerney appears to be the target of an assassin - a complex story where everything ties together nicely in the end. He makes some good friends along the way including Karen Cox, the new assistant D.A. who has returned home with her two children to live on her parent's ranch after her divorce. She asks him to stay on to work as his special investigator and there appears to be a romance in the offing.

I've already requested the third book in this series, "Serpent Gate," from the library but I hope it doesn't arrive immediately. I found it hard to put the first two books down so read them both in a matter of 2 or 3 days!

pazt