Back in Santa Fe, Mexican crime lord Enrique DeLeon masterminds the theft of priceless artwork from the governor's offices. Called in to oversee the investigation of this high profile case, Kerney soon recognizes the connection to his old enemy. DeLeon and Kerney have crossed swords before, and this time DeLeon is determined to destroy Kerney before he can again thwart his plans. Kerney will not back down, and with his life, his home, and his friends threatened, he must use all of his courage and determination in a confrontation with killers.

This is good, good stuff. I like the characters, the setting, and the fast-paced mixture of police procedure and suspense. Third in an excellent series, Serpent’s Gate would read well even without knowledge of the previous books, but I'm of the "can't get too much of a good thing" school of thought myself, so I say read them all.

The characters are well drawn, three-dimensional, and very real. Kevin Kerney, in particular, is a compelling protagonist; with a strong sense of honor, a readiness for action (and violence), and a quick-witted intelligence that makes watching him unravel a mystery very satisfying.

I also enjoyed the strong sense of place. Michael McGarrity's picture of the Southwest is vivid, and the geography becomes part of the story without intruding upon it. The plot is complex, the suspense keeps up, and the villain is evil without falling into one of the over-the-top stereotypes that have become so tiresome. If I have any complaints at all, it is that the ending includes an obvious setup for a future book, but enough loose ends are tied up to make for a satisfactory conclusion.

--Jeri Wright