Book Review: TULAROSA

TULAROSA The first Kevin Kerney mystery 

Michael McGarrity

W.W.Norton, 1996

ISBN 978-0-393-33399-2

Kevin Kerney, Santa Fe chief of detectives, was wounded in the line-of-duty due to the carelessness of his partner, Navajo Terry Yazzi. Three years later, he’s still battling back from the wounds and from resentment toward his former partner. However, when Terry begs Kevin's help in finding his lost son whom the army says has gone AWOL, he agrees to look for the young man. Sammy, after all, is Kevin’s godson, too. The trail leads Kevin into mortal danger yet again as he follows scant leads. Mostly, he finds a cover-up by the army officers who should be helping, except for Captain Sara Brannon. Together, they discover an international band of smugglers who’ve found a treasure in Civil War loot on the White Sands Missile Range. Murder is the smuggler’s favorite way to keep a secret.

Though written several years ago, the story still seems up-to-date, as though it could be happening right now. Description of setting is excellent, the characters, even secondary ones, are fully realized, and the plot itself provides for real page-turning excitement.