Helpful Score: 2
well written New Mexico police procedural novel. Lots of landscape talk but not as much Native American tradtion talk as, for example, the Tony Hillerman books. I am going to read a couple more by this author.
This is the second book in the Kevin Kerney series. I read this one immediately after finishing the first in the series, TULAROSA, which I enjoyed a lot. In MEXICAN HAT, Kerney, the ex-Santa Fe chief of detectives, is working as a seasonal forest ranger in Catron County, New Mexico. He gets involved in the murder of a Mexican man named Hector Padilla who had come back to New Mexico along with his grandfather, Jose, to try to right a wrong that was done to their family sixty years earlier. Unfortunately, the Padillas truck broke down and Hector was shot when he stumbled into someone poaching a mountain lion. Kerney had also been investigating the poaching of a black bear. Could the two cases be related? Then there is also a local family feud related to what happened to the Padillas sixty years ago and that family's involvement in a paramilitary group. Kerney's investigation makes him a target for someone. Is it the poachers or the paramilitary group? Or both?
This was another fast-paced entry in the Kerney series. This series reminds me of two of my favorites, the Longmire series by Craig Johnson and the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box. I enjoy the New Mexico locale and the descriptions of the desert Southwest used by McGarrity. His characters are also interesting and his narrative kept me turning the pages. I have a few others in this series that I'll be reading soon. SERPENT GATE is next on the list.
This was another fast-paced entry in the Kerney series. This series reminds me of two of my favorites, the Longmire series by Craig Johnson and the Joe Pickett series by C.J. Box. I enjoy the New Mexico locale and the descriptions of the desert Southwest used by McGarrity. His characters are also interesting and his narrative kept me turning the pages. I have a few others in this series that I'll be reading soon. SERPENT GATE is next on the list.
This is McGarrity's second effort, following "Tularosa" which introduced the protagonist; if possible, read that book first. While "Mexican Hat" will stand alone, the author makes several references to the first novel; it's not mandatory that you have the entire back story to enjoy this book, but your enjoyment will be enhanced if you do.
That said, I thoroughly liked both books; my late wife and I spent considerable time in NM, and the author's descriptions of the countryside and people brought back a lot of pleasant memories for me. I've decided to try to read the rest of his books; am reading book 3 now and have ordered books 4-7 through PBS. His books seem to be quite popular, but are not keepers so there are lots available in paperback on PBS.
The writing is not deathless prose - not in a class with John LeCarre or Michael Conelly, but fun to read nonetheless. I usually read myself to sleep, and these books make good bed-time reading, enjoyable but not so great you have to be fully alert for every sentence.
That said, I thoroughly liked both books; my late wife and I spent considerable time in NM, and the author's descriptions of the countryside and people brought back a lot of pleasant memories for me. I've decided to try to read the rest of his books; am reading book 3 now and have ordered books 4-7 through PBS. His books seem to be quite popular, but are not keepers so there are lots available in paperback on PBS.
The writing is not deathless prose - not in a class with John LeCarre or Michael Conelly, but fun to read nonetheless. I usually read myself to sleep, and these books make good bed-time reading, enjoyable but not so great you have to be fully alert for every sentence.
Better than the first Tularosa. Has me looking forward to rest of the series.
A tale of a former rodeo star, Vietnam soldier, policeman and now part time ranger for the Forest Service of New Mexico. Kevin Kerney has a dream of buying a ranch and returning to the life of his youth. His investigation of a poacher leads him to meeting an attractive assistant district attorney and her family. Through her family and his fellow employees of the Forest Service he discovers questionable activities which makes for and enjoyable read. I found the book one I would suggest to others.
Time travel
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.
With his dazzling debut, Tularosa, Michael McGarrity was hailed "a born storyteller" (Denver Post) -- and introduced readers to a memorable new hero, ex-Santa Fe chief of detectives Kevin Kerney. Now, featuring his vivid feel for the southwest, McGarrity's second gripping novel hurls Kerney onto the toughest case of his life. Taking a job as a seasonal forest ranger in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness, Kevin Kerney is looking forward to a quiet summer high in the mountains. But the murder of a Mexican tourist, and the discovery of a disoriented old man in the wild, thrust Kerney into an investigation that will carry him back in time to a sixty-year-old feud between two land-rich brothers, Edgar and Eugene Cox. Enlisting young state game and fish officer Jim Stiles to help solve the crimes, Kerney slowly uncovers evidence connecting the ruthless Cox feud with another suspicious death -- and the radical actions of New Mexico's present-day county militia. But new assistant district attorney Karen Cox -- Edgar's alluring daughter -- is torn between hiding her father's long-buried secret and helping Kerney find the truth. Now someone wants Kerney dead -- and the deeper he investigates, the more he may be digging his own
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.
With his dazzling debut, Tularosa, Michael McGarrity was hailed "a born storyteller" (Denver Post) -- and introduced readers to a memorable new hero, ex-Santa Fe chief of detectives Kevin Kerney. Now, featuring his vivid feel for the southwest, McGarrity's second gripping novel hurls Kerney onto the toughest case of his life. Taking a job as a seasonal forest ranger in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness, Kevin Kerney is looking forward to a quiet summer high in the mountains. But the murder of a Mexican tourist, and the discovery of a disoriented old man in the wild, thrust Kerney into an investigation that will carry him back in time to a sixty-year-old feud between two land-rich brothers, Edgar and Eugene Cox. Enlisting young state game and fish officer Jim Stiles to help solve the crimes, Kerney slowly uncovers evidence connecting the ruthless Cox feud with another suspicious death -- and the radical actions of New Mexico's present-day county militia. But new assistant district attorney Karen Cox -- Edgar's alluring daughter -- is torn between hiding her father's long-buried secret and helping Kerney find the truth. Now someone wants Kerney dead -- and the deeper he investigates, the more he may be digging his own
Taking a job as a seasonal forest ranger in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness, Kevin Kerney is looking forward to a quiet summer high in the mountains. But the murder of a Mexican tourist, and the discovery of a disoriented old man in the wild, thrust Kerney into an investigation that will cdarry him back in time to a sixty-year old feud between two land-rich brothers.
From back of book:
Taking a job as a seasonal forest ranger in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness, Kevin Kerney is looking forward to a quiet summer high in the mountains. But the murder of a Mexican tourist, and the discovery of a disoriented old man in the wild, thrust Kerney into an investigation that will carry him back in time to a sixty-year old feud between two land-rich brothers, Edgar and Eugene Cox.
Enlisting young state game and fish officer Jim Stiles to help solve the crimes, Kerney slowly uncovers evidence connecting the ruthless Cox feud with another suspicious death -- and the radical actions of New Mexico's present day county militia. But new assistant district attorney Karen Cov -- Edgar's alluring daughter -- is torn between hiding her father's long buried secret and helping Kerney find the truth. Now someone wants Kerney dead -- and the deeper he investigates, the he may be digging his own grave.
Taking a job as a seasonal forest ranger in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness, Kevin Kerney is looking forward to a quiet summer high in the mountains. But the murder of a Mexican tourist, and the discovery of a disoriented old man in the wild, thrust Kerney into an investigation that will carry him back in time to a sixty-year old feud between two land-rich brothers, Edgar and Eugene Cox.
Enlisting young state game and fish officer Jim Stiles to help solve the crimes, Kerney slowly uncovers evidence connecting the ruthless Cox feud with another suspicious death -- and the radical actions of New Mexico's present day county militia. But new assistant district attorney Karen Cov -- Edgar's alluring daughter -- is torn between hiding her father's long buried secret and helping Kerney find the truth. Now someone wants Kerney dead -- and the deeper he investigates, the he may be digging his own grave.
I requested this book and the previous one in the series at the same time, now I'm sorry I did. In the first book I'd barely gotten to page six before finding four major errors in the writing and tossed it in the trash. This one isn't any better and joined the first one.
Taking a seasonal job as a forest ranger in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness, ex-Santa Fe chief of detectives Kevin Kerney is looking forward to some quiet time in the mountains. Until the murder of a Mexican tourist pulls Kerney into an investigation that reaches back in time to a sixty-year-old battle between two land-rich brothers, Edgar and Eugene Cox.
Aided by a young game warden, Kerney connects the ruthless Cox feud with another suspicious death---and the radical actions of New Mexico's present-day militia. Complicating matters is the new assistant D.A.---Edgar Cox's daughter---whose loyalty to her father is tested when Kerney asks for her help in uncovering the truth. Now, someone wants Kerney dead, and the more he uncovers, the deeper he may be digging his own grave. . .
Aided by a young game warden, Kerney connects the ruthless Cox feud with another suspicious death---and the radical actions of New Mexico's present-day militia. Complicating matters is the new assistant D.A.---Edgar Cox's daughter---whose loyalty to her father is tested when Kerney asks for her help in uncovering the truth. Now, someone wants Kerney dead, and the more he uncovers, the deeper he may be digging his own grave. . .
Book cover is intact but loose, otherwise good shape. Kevin Kerney is a forest ranger in NM, runs onto a 60-year-old murder complete with prominent citizens. Good intro
