Friday, November 9, 2007

Death Song-Michael McGarrity

Death Song
Michael McGarrity
Dutton, Jan 2008, $24.95
ISBN: 9780525950363

New Mexico law enforcement at all levels is stunned with the murders of one of their own and the victim’s spouse. Someone assassinated rookie deputy sheriff Tim Riley of Lincoln County and gunned down the man’s wife in their Santa Fe home.

Although he has one more month on the job before he retires, Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kearney is actively leading the homicide investigation of the wife’s murder that occurred in his jurisdiction. His son Lincoln County Sheriff Office Sergeant Clayton Istee is looking into the ambush murder of Riley. He takes it personally as he trained the fortyish officer and sent him out solo on that fatal assignment. Father and son team up as they find a possible link to the killings of two women in Albuquerque. As they follow the deadly clues, they soon find them embroiled with hardened thugs trafficking in drugs.

DEATH SONG is a terrific police procedural with double the fun as father and son work together to solve the homicides. Kevin is at his best as he refuses to coast into retirement with a dead cop case unsolved. He also relishes working with his offspring. Fans of the series know that Michael McGarrity always provides a strong New Mexico mystery; newcomers will seek the back list when retirement was a long way off for the hero.

Harriet Klausner

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