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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Wonderful New Mexico atmosphere
It was very interesting.
So much in the Tony Hillerman style, much more in depth character development on Chee and his wife interwoven with a taunt plot development. I live next to the Navajo Reservation and this story is loaded with nuances of life on the Dine’ Nation.
I love Anne Hillerman and the Navaho culture and people.
Hard to put down fast read
So very much in the same vein as the Tony Hillerman Chee books. I enjoy that this series is descriptive of location and culture. The characters are well developed and the plots intense and woven into the background.
I think this is the best of the novels Anne Hillerman has written, in the wake of her father’s writing about these characters. She is developing Bernie Manuelito into a much more complex character, which I like. She also includes Joe Leaphorn and her husband , Jim Chee, although he has a minimal role in this story. As in the other books, the Navajo culture is examined and the landscape becomes another character in the story. A camping trip for troubled girls ends in murder, and a cave of bones adds difficulty for the Navajo people involved. A good read.
Anne does a great job of picking up where her dad left off. Like her feminist slant.
This was the first time I have read a book by Anne Hillerman and I really enjoyed it. It was so full of who done its that it kept you guessing. I love to read about the Native American history and folklore. I am sure I will be reading this author again! Thank you Anne!
I enjoy reading these novels and the author has really maintained her father’s voice.
Her father was one of my favorite authors. She is doing a great job of carrying on his his characters and stories.
Always enjoy this series. The characters age as I do and their situations change. The Native American reverence for tradition in a modern setting is admirable.
As good as her father.
Following in her Father’s footsteps. Great picture building with words.
Anne Hillerman does a great job continuing the interrelated stories on and around the Navajo lands of New Mexico and Arizona.
Anne Hillerman has done a wonderful job of continuing her father Tony Hillerman’s series. She focuses more on Bernadette Manuelito and her husband, Jim Chee, but Joe Leaphorn continues as a character. In Cave of Bones, the investigations conducted by Chee and Manuelito slowly become connected. A good mystery and well developed characters.
The author does a wonderful job of carrying on her father’s body of work, while adding her own voice.
Great on continuing the tale started by Tony Hillerman. Enjoyed following the story of Chee and Bernie —the Navaho police. Good characters and interesting plot look forward to next book
Anne writes just like her father and this is a good thing.
great