Kevin Kerney is the protagonist of Michael McGarrity’s mystery series, set across New Mexico. A Vietnam veteran and career lawman, Kerney investigates crimes that take him through every corner of the state, from isolated desert communities to the political corridors of Santa Fe.
Kerney ages in real time across fourteen novels published between 1996 and 2020, and his personal life — his family, his health, his connection to the land — develops alongside the criminal cases. His ranching background and his roots in New Mexico give him an understanding of the state’s people and places that outsiders lack. The Kevin Kerney series collects all the books in reading order.
Reading Order#
See the complete Kevin Kerney reading order for all books in the series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kevin Kerney?
Kevin Kerney is a Vietnam veteran and career law enforcement officer in New Mexico. He rises from detective to police chief across fourteen novels, investigating crimes that take him from the Tularosa Basin to Santa Fe to the Mexican border. His deep roots in the state and his ranching family background shape how he approaches both cases and people.
How many books feature Kevin Kerney?
Kerney is the protagonist of fourteen novels by Michael McGarrity, published between 1996 (Tularosa) and 2020 (Head Wounds).
What role does New Mexico play in the Kevin Kerney series?
New Mexico is central to every book. McGarrity uses the state’s geography, from desert basins to mountain ranges to the capital city of Santa Fe, as more than backdrop. The landscape, the cultural mix of Anglo, Hispanic, and Native American communities, and the state’s political dynamics are all woven into the investigations.