As a former social worker and decorated cop, Michael McGarrity writes crime novels that ring truer than most, with authentic, flawed characters who are gripped by a constant emotional undercurrent, and the stress of the job, lack of sleep, and the cycles of gritty hope and despair burn like a low-grade fever.
The books also ring true for their Western settings and authentic observations about life—and death—in New Mexico. A longtime resident of Santa Fe, McGarrity routinely sets his stories in his home state. The hero in 14 of his books is Kevin Kerney, a brave and resolute police officer of unfailing integrity who toughs out his injuries to solve violent crime cases across New Mexico. The setting gives McGarrity the opportunity to eloquently describe a variety of stunning Western landscapes. It also allows for commentary on the loss of the American West to those who do not respect the land and instead sprawl across it.
Cowboys & Indians recently sat down with McGarrity to talk about his writing career, the retirement of Kevin Kerney, a new novel, and the author’s love of the American West.
C&I: People see places like New Mexico as wild and untamed, but that definition is changing as
