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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Anne Hillerman has picked up her father’s writting rhythm and special knowledge of the Navaho and Hopi people. She has varied the viewpoint and story lines to some extent, but is wonderful in her ability to hold my interest. This book is a great story.
A good read. Not up to Tony Hillerman’s standards for my money, but a close second.
This book was ok but don’t expect a TONY Hillerman book. Somehow really couldn’t connect with the writer and characters.
I love this cast of characters. I looking forward to the next book.
Very good
Very enjoyable book. Native American culture included.
I really enjoy the Detective Leaphorn books
Great extension of of some of my favorite characters. Tony would have been proud of you Anne.
Another Hillerman on the loose
Great book, Love all of Hillermans books.
The author picked up where her Father left off when he passed away. The characters are excellent: The culture comes alive. Allows us to be entertained and educated on a culture that most of us would never come into contact with any other way. Hopefully she will continue to be successful so I can continue to read about the culture and characters.
I enjoyed it . It’s a good mystery and a credit to her father’s legacy. None of us want to see his characters die. She is addressing some of the contemporary problems of well educated but poorly informed authority figures. It helps to learn how to clean the barn before you ride the horse. It’s a good story.
Anne does a great job picking up where her dad Tony left off with these familiar characters. Always a pleasure to revisit the locale. We hope she’ll.keep.turning,them out.
I love Anne Hillerman’s writing. She gives us characters who spend more time thinking than most mystery writers. Bernie Manuelito reflects on what she is doing and how the problems she faces fit into the Navajo view of the world. And she is eternally curious – the mark of a great detective.
Not as good as her father, but still a fairly enjoyable read.
She does her father proud! Can’t wait for the next one!
Great writing. Anne is as good an author as her father.
This is the adult daughter of the late Tony Hillerman, trying to cash in on the popularity of the iconic Navajo mysteries her late father wrote.
She doesn’t do it well at all.
Tony Hillerman knew so much about Navajo traditional life, beliefs, culture, language, and so on….this woman appears to have gotten through her life with NO KNOWLEDGE of any of it. She may as well write about suburban people in any area of the U.S.
Love this author, she’s as good as her father.
I loved it. She writes as well as her father. I enjoyed the plot that was well constructed and well written. I like that she continues her father’s characters.