Two Native-American boys have vanished into thin air, leaving a pool of blood behind them. Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police has no choice but to suspect the very worst, since the blood that stains the parched New Mexican ground once flowed through the veins of one of the missing, a young Zuñi. But his investigation into a terrible crime is being complicated by an important … archaeological dig . . . and a steel hypodermic needle. And the unique laws and sacred religious rites of the Zuñi people are throwing impassable roadblocks in Leaphorn’s already twisted path, enabling a craven murderer to elude justice or, worse still, to kill again.
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Hillerman is always one of my favorites, this book did not disappoint.
Its well researched when it comes to navajo and zuni people .. and hippies.. and greedy archeologists so that was good and well written… but the mystery, the murder and how it ends is as if put together as an afterthought by a 5 year-old-. To bad cause I could have read it and liked it if 2 kids and an old guy had not died while the main …
Tony Hillerman was a wonderful writer
I loved it
One of Hillerman’s early works and still one of his best.
One of my favorite authors. Hillerman writes mysteries occurring on the Navajo reservation and environment. Good mystery series.
Love all of Tony Hillermans books. The places are real and he knows how to tell a tale. Always get one of his books when I find it on sale!!
Have learned a lot about Navajo and Hopi culture from reading Tony Hillermam.
I guess, for me, this series has lost its charm. Will not be reading any more.
Tony Hillerman draws beautifully the intersection of different ethnicities as he hunts for a child lost. The main character, Navajo Police Officer Joe Leaphorn, carefully pulls each thread to untangle the mystery of why a teacher would be murdered. There is no way you can find this book mundane it it wraps you up and holds to to the very end
Good police procedural mixed with Native American beliefs and traditions. Solid writing.
Love all his work.
Typical Hillerman. A good read.
Tony Hillerman knew his subject matter and told a good story. All of his books are sorth reading. His characters are sonderfully developed and the story line is tight.
Always a pleasure to read these stories. How thought-provoking to consider that different tribes are culturally separate and that there no single profile that covers them.
I am an avid Tony Hillerman fan and have read all of his books. If you like mysteries and are interested at all in the Native American culture in the four corners area of our country, you will love Hillerman. He was one of the best mystery writers ever.
Always enjoy Hillerman
I love all of the Hillerman books. I really enjoy the explanation of the American Indian culture and Joe Leaphorn’s way of solving the problems he is confronted with.
Leaphorn and Chee, mystery and Native American culture – best fiction combinations in literature
Hillerman always interesting