Dead or Alive

by: Michael McGarrity

Published by: Dutton (December 26 release

Reviewed by Patricia E. Reid

One mistake made by a jail employee at Bernalillo County Detention Center gives Craig Larson, an embezzler, the perfect chance to escape. Craig’s escape begins his new career as a cold-blooded murderer. Craig is determined that no one is going to capture him and return him to jail. Killing a few people doesn’t bother Craig at all. Craig is just a little sorry that in the beginning he let a couple of his victims live. The more people that he kills sets off something in Craig that only makes him want to kill more.

One of his victims is Riley Burke. Riley was the partner of retired Santa Fe Police Chief Kevin Kerney. Kerney now lives in London with his wife and young son. When informed of Riley’s death by lawman Clayton Istee, his half-Apache son, Kerney returns to New Mexico for Riley’s funeral and to seek vengeance.

Craig is from New Mexico and knows his way around. Vehicles are easy to come by and he doesn’t hesitate to kill the owner of the vehicle. Craig has knowledge of ranches in the area that are vacant at this time of year. If they aren’t vacant he vacates the owner or caretaker and takes what he needs to survive.

Kerney and Istee are determined to take down Larson dead or alive. The chase eventually becomes one out of the old west where the lawmen are following on horseback.

Dead or Alive is a very exciting book and Craig Larson is a man with no conscience–and no remorse. Craig leaves a trail of bodies and broken families in his path trying to escape the law.

This is Michael McGarrity’s twelfth Kevin Kerney book. Each one seems to get more and more exciting.

Armchair Interviews agrees!

Author’s Web site: http://www.MichaelMcGarrity.com