Hermit's Peak

By: Michael McGarrity

Narrated by: J. Ed Araiza

Length: 4 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

When an old family friend leaves Kevin Kerney 6400 acres of high country land outside Las Vegas, New Mexico, the last thing Kerney wants to think about is police work, taking a rare weekend off from his job as deputy chief of the New Mexico State Police, Kerney sets out to explore the land, a rugged mesa in the shadow of Hermit's Peak.

Before Kenny can get very far, he comes upon an ailing stray dog with a woman's running shoe in his mouth. The dog leads him to the butchered bones of a murder victim, and Kerney finds he's inherited a homicide along with the ranch. Determined not to see his weekend ruined, Kerney turns the investigation over to the state police district office and continues his survey of his windfall inheritance, only to find that the timber thieves have clear-cut a great swath of woodland in a remote canyon.

Unsure of whether he can pay the inheritance taxes, hold on to his land, and realize his dream to ranch again, Kerney returns to Santa Fe. There, he finds that Sara Brannon - a woman he cares deeply about - has arrived to visit him. As Kerney and Sara begin trying to sort out a relationship that means more to both of them than either is willing to admit, Kerney is called back to Hermit's Peak. Another murder victim has been found at a remote cabin next to Kerney's property, and he is soon engaged in a race against time to solve two murders and avert another.

©1999 Michael McGarrity (P)1999 Simon & Schuster Inc., AUDIOWORKS Is an Imprint of Simon & Schuster Audio Division, Simon & Schuster, Inc.

worst narration I have ever encountered

The story is OK a bit short for this point in the series, but an OK yarn. The bumper music is nice guitars with a good sound makes a nice break between chapters, However the reader has the most annoying accent and reading style I have ever heard. The production is awful as well with pauses so long between chapters you think the down load was faulty. Without doubt the worst audible book I have ever listened to. The rest of the series is read by George Guidall..this book deserves to be re issued with him to enhance the continuity of the series .but anything would be better that this production. Awful awful awful!

Disappointment due to audio adaptation of the book

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Another narrator and UNABRIDGED story. The complete story as in the book would have made it more interesting as I know that there was more to the written book than what was in this audio book. There was weird music break between chapters followed by usually long pause that needed to be removed. A simple Chapter 1, 2 etc is just fine.

What could Michael McGarrity have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

Not have let audio book total ruin his book with this audio version.

How could the performance have been better?

George Guidall as narrator. He did the Kerney family series and the first books in the Kevin Kerney series. He is a much better narrator, really disliked this narrator as his voice was annoying and characters not good.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

The Kevin Kerney story is interesting as well as the details about the southwest and New Mexico area are always enjoyable. Good detective story and nice flow of Kerney family life and friends.

Any additional comments?

Audible should sell this book at discount of $3.95 or $4.95 as it is abridged version and not worth the full price of the other Kerney series audible books.

This reader is no George Gudiel.

This book suffered for the lack of George Gudiel.
I want to read all the books in sequince after reading the wonder 3 book prequel. First I could not get most of them unabridged and then this one pops up without Mr Gudiel. Abridged. Sad.

Good Story TERRIBLE Narator

What disappointed you about Hermit's Peak?

The narrator stinks and it is abridged. Also the long silent pauses between chapters are very annoying.

What didn’t you like about J. Ed Araiza’s performance?

The tone and cadence of the narration was all wrong. Maybe I just got use to George Guidall. But I did not like Araiza's style.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

As always Mcgaritys work is great. This story really starts to pull together several backstories.

awful narrator

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

This guys accent, narration style, inability to change character voices... awful, just awful, couldn't listen

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of J. Ed Araiza?

George Guidal, Jonathan Davis,

Any additional comments?

I wish you would refund this book, what a waste of a great writer ruined by a narrator

Prefer George Reading!

The story was good.....too bad it hadn't been read by George Guidall....this reader left nothing to the imagination....may be good at other readings??????
Had a lot of dead air space and not a fan of the music.
Overall enjoyed the story.

Probably a great story, but the narration

What disappointed you about Hermit's Peak?

The narrators voice is monotone and really I'd distractive.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

No

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of J. Ed Araiza?

The narrator who does the Craig Johnson novels

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

It probably is a good story, but hard to tell.

What a find

I was looking for something I could afford in between my premium and came up on this good book. I think itis great for the price and content.

George is really missed

Why would you change Narrators????
JEd is mushy mouthed
When it ain't broke don't fix it.
This is the last of this series I will listen to.

Human Side of a Tough Business

After 25 years in law enforcement I was not interested in detective, mystery, or who-done-it books as lacking realism of the business until I was introduced to Patricia Cromwell, Tony Hillerman, Dana Stabenow, and Jonathan Kellerman. I now am a voracious and critical reader looking for accuracy, detail, and insight into the people in stories. Five stars doesn't seem to adequately rank the intensity and humanity Michael McGarrity has penned into this story - the insight of the individual triumphs and dispair of the characters interwoven with the grandeur of the Southwest, portrayed in the Hermit Peak Region of New Mexico, places this volume equally amongst the best of the authors previously mentioned. I sincerely hope we will soon see another such work by this talented author among the Audible Selections.