- Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
- Publisher: Signet (MM); Reprint edition (May 11 2001)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0451203607
- ISBN-13: 978-0451203601
- Product Dimensions: 17.2 x 10.7 x 2.2 cm
- Shipping Weight: 136 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #525,460 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
A new Kevin Kerney mystery is a bright spot in any publishing season, and in McGarrity's fifth book in the series, he brings Kerney back home to southern New Mexico on the trail of a spree killer who's murdered six victims at remote campgrounds. But something in the crime pattern tells Kerney these murders aren't as random as they first appear. Instead, they seem to be senseless killings meant to cover up the last one, a very personal crime involving family secrets hidden for generations. It's supposed to be the last case for Kerney, whose unexpected inheritance of a vast tract of prime ranchland and recent marriage to a career army officer (Hermit's Peak, Serpent Gate) have him putting in for early retirement from the police force. And it's all mixed up with a stalker seeking revenge on Kerney for his part in an Internal Affairs investigation that got a cop kicked off the force and led to a deadly gunfight that still haunts Kerney.
This is a solid bull's-eye for McGarrity. It leaves the reader hungry for his next, in which presumably Kerney will rethink his retirement plans as he copes with impending fatherhood and the kind of financial freedom most lawmen never experience. What makes this series work is not only its likable hero but also the brilliant evocation of the American Southwest he calls home. --Jane Adams --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Publishers Weekly
McGarrity's novels keep getting richer as they change focus slightly with each new publisher. This novel, the fifth in the series, is the first to be issued by Dutton, McGarrity's third publisher; it's also the most personal book of the series, with Kerney, Deputy Chief of the New Mexico State Police, now married to career U.S. Army officer Lt. Col. Sara Brannon and about to become a millionaire by selling the huge tract of land he inherited in Hermit's Peak (1999) to the Nature Conservancy. The story opens with a slam-bang scene in which Kerney is forced to shoot a crooked cop. The theme recurs, but the meat of the novel involves the murders of six people in quick succession. The police at first think they're "spree" killings, but Kerney soon identifies the last crime as different and its victim, a retired district court judge, as the real target. Most of the action focuses on Kerney's methodical and excruciatingly detailed police work, as well as on his spot-on intuitive hunches. Although this volume moves a little slower than the previous four, it still rivets attentionAnot with shoot-'em-ups and car chases, but by gradually uncovering secrets hidden by a large cast of well-drawn suspects, with McGarrity serving up enough red herrings to sate the population of Stockholm. It's the discovery of the murderer's means, opportunity and psychological make-up that makes this such a difficult caseAand a book that's hard to put down. (July)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Starting sometime after midnight, six murders had been committed along a stretch of highway in south central New Mexico. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Starting sometime after midnight, six murders had been committed along a stretch of highway in south central New Mexico. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
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Most helpful customer reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Exploration of perversion,
By
This review is from: The Judas Judge (Audio Cassette)
This is a Kevin Kerney murder mystery. The book starts off with the investigation of a killing spree, which Kerney immediately assumes is actually a cover-up for a premeditated murder. As Kerney sorts the clues and interviews the subject, he uncovers the disturbing history of a family gone mad.I picked up this book with the intention of reading a light who-dunnit. I was taken aback however, as the theme of the book began to become clear. The book is about perversion, on many levels, involving both individuals and families, from personal life to professional life. While following the lurid details of a family's dirty laundry can maintain interest, it wasn't exactly what I was in the mood for. McGarrity's style is also a bit uneven at times, with jarring switches of points of view from Kerney to other characters, telling not only what they are doing, but what they are thinking and feeling inside their heads. Kerney himself is not always believable as a character, with his instant recognition of the premeditated murder based solely on one victim of the killing spree receiving two shots in the chest instead of one and his exclusive investigation of only this one victim and his family. If you're looking for a light book to keep you awake and pass the time, this one may do, but it's not for everyone's tastes.
5.0 out of 5 stars
HERE COME DA JUDGE,
By
This review is from: Judas Judge (Mass Market Paperback)
Michael McGarrity and detective Kevin Kerney return with a vengeance in this superlative addition to this well done series. Kerney is called in when six murders along a single stretch of highway include a well respected judge. Kerney doesn't think it's just a random sweep killer, but the judge was the intended, and the other murders done to confuse authorities. Along with this, Kerney is now a married man, with his wife Sara off doing her thing, and their long distance marriage causing some strain. Add to this, Kerney had to kill a fellow cop who threatened his life and someone out there doesn't like killer cops, no matter what they did. And on a personal note, Kerney finds out he has a son by a previous relationship years ago..this son is also a cop for the Indian Reservation.As always, McGarrity knows how to write his stuff, once again involving other law enforcers in solving the case. While the murderer's identity is not totally surprising, proving it is worth the effort. Excellent writing.
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good read, not great read,
By
This review is from: Judas Judge (Mass Market Paperback)
Reading along the back trail, I find McGarrity's novels entertaining and worth the effort, but I have become convinced that his newer efforts are great improvements. Yes I would tell myself to read The Judas Judge, but.....Perhaps the framework of familial dirty laundry on the part of the title character also takes some of the spice out of this novel. I don't really want to complain too much, but I also find the bad guys pathetic rather than evil. A reader can only take so many psycho-wimps, wreaking havoc because of their thwarted childhood development. Guess I liked Othello because I just like watch Iago types. Sometimes(especially in novels) out and out evil has a role.
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