Of this debut mystery, PW wrote: "Blending an air of the old West with some very modern characters, McGarrity delivers atmosphere, action, romance and prime satisfaction." (Apr.)

The noted economics writer pens an analytical follow-up to his classic text, The Worldly Philosophers (1953).

YA-Kevin Kerney is a tough ex-cop turned modern-day private eye. His godson, a soldier assigned to White Sands Missile Range in desolate southern New Mexico, is reported missing. The military authorities believe he has gone AWOL, but Kerney correctly suspects foul play. He travels to Tularosa and joins forces with Captain Sara Brannon to investigate the disappearance. The two face many challenges and risks, including attempted murder, and become romantically involved while determining the innocent soldier's whereabouts. Eventually, his body is discovered. This is a fast read that also informs a bit about the Southwest, the military, and Native American traditions. An engaging mystery.-Mindy Ford, Lorton Library, Fairfax County, VA

Michael McGarrity is a born storyteller....Tularosa xontains enough plot twists and mystery elements to keep the reader turning the pages as fast as possible.

There is not question McGarrity knows his territory...his characters are as memorable as the environment they live in.

Like so many other contemporary heroes, Kevin Kerney is just looking to be left alone. But he's goaded back into investigating the disappearance of his godson Sammy Yazzi by Sammy's distraught father, the former partner who ended Kerney's career with the Santa Fe Police Department when his drinking got Kerney shot into early medical retirement. Sammy's been AWOL from the White Sands Missile Range for six weeks, and the Army investigation, headed by Captain Sara Brannon, is spinning its wheels. So Kerney signs on, and even in the 24 hours he's allowed on the base, he turns up some new leads. A buddy of Sammy's digs up a sheaf of drawings that Sammy could have made only in the off-limits Indian Wells area; Sammy's art teacher reports that some photos he recently left with her have been stolen; and, inevitably, when Kerney and Brannon ride out together in search of new evidence, they find exactly what they'd most hoped to avoid. But Sammy's body is the beginning of a hot trail to a fabulous cache of antique weapons, gold coins, and rare correspondence that's attracted a lively and professional traffic across the border—a traffic that cost Sammy his life, and could be expensive for Kerney and Brannon too.

A lean, stylish debut, with a hero who's equally at home sniffing out evidence and duking it out with the heavies.