Hermit's Peak: A Kevin Kerney Novel

Written by Michael McGarrity

Narrated by Ed J Araiza

Hermit’s Peak is a seminal novel in the crime fiction series that places New Mexico lawman Kevin Kerney in the pantheon with Tony Hillerman’s heroes—while carving out territory that is distinctly his own across the American Southwest.

When Kevin Kerney, deputy chief of the New Mexico State Police, inherits an unexpected windfall of 6,400 acres of high-county land, the last thing he wants to think about is work. But while visiting his new property, he comes across an ailing stray dog that leads him to the butchered bones of a murder victim near the rugged mountain of Hermit's Peak.

After assigning the case to his subordinates, Kerney returns to Santa Fe to spend time with a woman he cares about, Sara Brannon, a career army officer who is visiting him on holiday. But his time with Sara must wait, as he is called back to Hermit's Peak when another body is found at a remote cabin. Now, Kerney must unearth the shattering truth about his new land and follow a twisting trail of blood through the majestic landscape of the American Southwest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Jun 1, 1999
• ISBN: 9780743548243

Michael McGarrity

Michael McGarrity is the author of the Kevin Kerney mystery novels including Tularosa, nominated for an Anthony Award; Mexican Hat; and Serpent Gate. A former Santa Fe County deputy sheriff, he also served as an instructor at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy and as an investigator for the New Mexico Public Defender’s Office. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Reviews for Hermit's Peak

[prscott1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Painful

1. Never a fan of abridged books. 2. This abridged version is painful and stilted to listen to. Character development is cut out and story becomes a string of factual statements. 3. The reader of the book makes the story worse and dulles any life the chopped up story had to begin with. This 4 hour reading felt like 10 hours of homework.

I'm a fan of the series but this one misses the mark in a big way. You should probably just stick with reading the full length or skip it altogether.

[debbieaheaton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In McGarrity’s mystery novel, while visiting some high country land he has just inherited, Deputy Chief Kevin Kerney stumbles across the bones of a murder victim near Hermit’s Peak. Before long another body turns up. Kerney will pursue a twisting trail of clues to solve a crime that stuns even him.Another installment to the A Kevin Kerney Novel series that is authentic, detailed, and gritty.

[drled_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Summary: Kevin Kerney, still in his position of Chief, handles a rape and murder. He doesn’t do quite so well handling his involvement with now Lieutenant Colonel Sara Brannon. He also inherits several sections of land from his old friend Erma Ferguson, which leads to more problems than benefits.Review: Once again, McGarrity has provided an excellent story and the ending is slightly unexpected.

[susegordon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kevin Kearney as the deputy chief of the New Mexico State Police unexpectedly inherits land outside of Las Vegas, NM. Finally taking some time-off to ride the property he finds a lost dog and the remains of a body. In the meantime, Col. Sara Brannon drops by to reignite some flames while Kearney juggles Sara and inheritance tax issues as bodies and crimes pile-up during the investigations. A well-paced mystery that leaves entertained with the story, but also wanting to know what the characters will be doing in the next book.