SERPENT GATE

by Michael McGarrity ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 1, 1998

A long, tense, well-nigh perfect prologue finds former Santa Fe cop Kevin Kerney (Mexican Hat, 1997, etc.) in a New Mexico State uniform, trying to interview schizophrenic Robert Cordova, a crucial witness in the murder of Patrolman Paul Gillespie. Tracking down Cordova is no big problem; holding onto him is, and so is getting anything like a coherent statement out of the man who claims he saw Satan rape his daughter. Just as Kemey's made an unexpected arrest, the real action starts: Thieves break into the Governor's office and make off-with a priceless collection of artwork. Kemey's old buddy Andy Baca, the new chief of the State Police, wants Kemey in charge of the investigation as Deputy Chief. The decision ruffles feathers on every uniform down the line, but it's just fine with Enrique DeLeon, the Jua'rez smuggler who masterminded the caper. His past run-ins with Kemey have whetted his appetite for revenge, and except for murderous attempts to cover his tracks, he doesn't do much of anything but plot Kerney's demise in one sharply drawn, but predictably futile, action scene after another. Luckily, there's still enough life in the Gillespie case, even though it's been solved, to give Kemey more to do than dodge bullets and wait for DeLeon to run out of ammo or underlings. Accomplished, routine work, then, except for that high-octane opening act, which could hook Kemey a big new audience as early as page one.

Pub Date: June 1, 1998

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Scribner

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 1998

Categories: FICTION