A New York Times BestsellerAnne Hillerman brings together modern mystery, Navajo traditions, and the evocative landscape of the desert Southwest in this intriguing entry in the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series.When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at an outdoor character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a young participant on a solo … she discovers chaos. Annie, a young participant on a solo experience due back hours before, has just returned and is traumatized. Gently questioning the girl, Bernie learns that Annie stumbled upon a human skeleton on her trek. While everyone is relieved that Annie is back, they’re concerned about a beloved instructor who went out into the wilds of the rugged lava wilderness bordering Ramah Navajo Reservation to find the missing girl. The instructor vanished somewhere in the volcanic landscape known as El Malpais. In Navajo lore, the lava caves and tubes are believed to be the solidified blood of a terrible monster killed by superhuman twin warriors.
Solving the twin mysteries will expose Bernie to the chilling face of human evil. The instructor’s disappearance mirrors a long-ago search that may be connected to a case in which the legendary Joe Leaphorn played a crucial role. But before Bernie can find the truth, an unexpected blizzard, a suspicious accidental drowning, and the arrival of a new FBI agent complicate the investigation.
While Bernie searches for answers in her case, her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee juggles trouble closer to home. A vengeful man he sent to prison for domestic violence is back—and involved with Bernie’s sister Darleen. Their relationship creates a dilemma that puts Chee in uncomfortable emotional territory that challenges him as family man, a police officer, and as a one-time medicine man in training.
Anne Hillerman takes us deep into the heart of the deserts, mountains, and forests of New Mexico and once again explores the lore and rituals of Navajo culture in this gripping entry in her atmospheric crime series.
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Boring.
Like the knowledge of the SW and the mystery element.
Anne is every bit the story teller that her father was!
Truly in the Hillerman tradition.
Worthy successor to her father. And now we can see the feminine side more, which is fun..
This book follows in a tradition of Native Police in the mixed world of Tribal and Federal law. The mystery was compelling – what happened to the school girl, what happened to the missing guide? The players confused the scene and forced me to reach and analyze.
Anne has done a skillful job of continuing the characters and story development of her father’s Navajo world.
The characters were up to date reflections of the variety of attitudes held in the western states among native north americans and whites.
Hillerman. No matter the first name still great.
Anne Hillerman learned well from her father, the great Tony Hillerman, how to create interesting stories with engaging characters. Her continuing stories of now retired Detective Joe Leaphorn, Navajo police officers Jim Chee, and his wife and fellow officer Bernadette Manuelito, are wonderful stories in themselves, but great follow ons of the characters created by her father.
Anne is every bit as good a writer as her Papa. I really enjoyed this book as I have enjoyed other books of hers. A good puzzle to try to figure out before the detective does!!
confusing read even though written intentionally considering indian culture
Anne Hillerman continues the tradition began by her father Tony. She is a very good writer in her own right. This book continues her development of the characters of her father but with Bernadette as the protagonist. This story was well developed with unexpected twists and turns in the plot that kept the pages turning. Continuing the tradition begun by her father, she continues to weave in the traditional Navajo lifestyle and religious understanding of life into well executed story lines. I hope she continues to write.
The book was all right, but I think she was trading too much on her father’s reputation. She is another father.
Great Navajo detectives solve the case. Wonderful Southwest story.
I loved Tony Hillerman when he died I mourned the loss of Leaphorn and Chee, so when his daughter started writing the serious I was intrigued and stated reading her’s. They are very much in keeping with her father’s wok and Leaphorn and Chee live on. I was glad to have a new one to read.
I was a fan of Tony Hillerman and I am glad his daughter is carrying on his writing. She has kept to his style to a large degree. I am glad that even though TOny is gone, Chee, Leaphorn, and Mauelita live on.
She writes as well as her father and is carrying on his characters. Good mystery with references to Navajo mythology.
The first book of her’s I have read. I have read all of her father’s books, and I think Tony Hillerman would be proud.
Anne Hillerman’s Cave of Bones is her best yet. This book is entertaining, fast paced and informative. I am looking forward to her next book with her wonderful and relatable characters!