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Under the Color of Law
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Plot Summary of Under the Color of Law
"

Dutton, Jul 2001, 23.95, 288 pp.
ISBN: 0525946047

    Kevin Kerney returns to New Mexico as the new Chief of police, but before he settles into his new job, he has a major homicide case. Ms. Phyllis Terrell, estranged wife of a US Ambassador is found dead in her home. Before the chief and his men dig too deep, the FBI, claiming national security, takes over the investigation.

    While the FBI whitewash the case, across town at the College of Santa Fe, a second homicide occurs. The victim is a priest who was studying covert actions of the United States in South America. Seeing a clear link between the homicides and an obvious cover up by the Feds, Kerney and his most trusted staff go undercover to try to learn the truth.

    Michael McGarrity has written a fast-paced police procedural that is so action-packed the audience will need an oxygen tank to take a breath. The government's covert operation seems plausible, but Kerney's counter-measure makes David look like a giant going up against Goliath. This improbability does not hurt an enjoyable UNDER THE COVER OF LAW because the protagonist is easy to like and identify with in this SST speedster. This thriller wrapped around a police procedural will keep fan interest from start to finish.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Under the Color of Law
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain? - Very obvious
Time/era of story: - 1980's-1999
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 50%
Special suspect? - lover
Kind of investigator - police procedural, American
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - police/lawman
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - an organization
Profession/status: - government investigator
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an above average amount
Motive of antagonist - power
The antagonists are: - FBI/CIA

Setting
United States Yes
The US: - Southeast

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
Amount of dialog - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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