A deadly bombing takes Navajo Tribal cops Bernadette Manuelito, Jim Chee, and their mentor, the legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, back into the past to find a vengeful killer in this riveting Southwestern mystery from the bestselling author of Spider Woman’s Daughter and Rock with Wings.
When a car bomb kills a young man in the Shiprock High School parking lot, Officer Bernadette Manuelito discovers that the intended victim was a mediator for a multi-million-dollar development planned at the Grand Canyon.
But what seems like an act of ecoterrorism turns out to be something far more nefarious and complex. Piecing together the clues, Bernadette and her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, uncover a scheme to disrupt the negotiations and inflame tensions between the Hopi and Dine tribes.
Retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn has seen just about everything in his long career. As the tribal police’s investigation unfolds, he begins to suspect that the bombing may be linked to a cold case he handled years ago. As he, Bernadette, and Chee carefully pull away the layers behind the crime, they make a disturbing discovery: a meticulous and very patient killer with a long-simmering plan of revenge.
Writing with a clarity and grace that is all her own, Anne Hillerman depicts the beauty and mystery of Navajo Country and the rituals, myths, and customs of its people in a mystery that builds on and complements the beloved, bestselling mysteries of her acclaimed father, Tony Hillerman.
I’ve read all of Tony Hillerman’s books and continue with his daughter’s because I was such a fan of his, as is my daughter and her father in law.
The daughter is doing very good writing, following father’s training. Highly recommend both author’s books.
I’ve always liked the majority of Anne Hillerman’s father, Tony Hillerman’s stories and characters, e.g., Navajo Tribal cops Bernadette Manuelito, Jim Chee, and their mentor, the legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. Also the setting, the Navajo nation and surrounding area, the 4 Corners area, AZ, UT, NM, and CO. The settings are realistic, the characters believable and honest, and the Navajo customs and way of life informatively portrayed. Anne has taken up where her father left off (with his death), writing much the same way, in my opinion. Enjoyable and hard to put down.
Ann Hillerman writes so much like Tony Hillerman…it is amazing…dont pass it up!
If you love the dessert. If you love native american lore. And especially if you love a good mystery. Please read all of Ms. Hillerman’s books.
Really enjoy Anne’s books. She keeps you guessing and trying to stay ahead of the detectives.
Good story and character management, the apple fell close to the tree here. Ann manages using the local, culture and characters of earlier Tony’s books but brings her own style to the experiences of today.
Anne has taken her father’s characters and filled them out while weaving a tale with word pictures so clear and colorful that it’s hard to come back to the real world.
It was ok but nowhere as well written as her late father. However, glad to see she is continuing the gendre …..at the price it was a good buy.
Her books read like her father’s and continue with the same well known characters
The Hillerman’s (Anne following in her father’s footsteps) are gifted writers in bringing the realities of life in the 4 corners areas come alive and rich in Native American lore and reality.
I did not care for her writing.
Song of the Lion is the third “Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito” novel written by Anne Hillerman. The story is based on characters created by her father and fans of her father’s work will almost certainly enjoy it. Her writing style is not a perfect copy of her father’s but it is familiar enough to be comfortable. Her treatment of the characters rings mostly true. This is important because the Leaphorn mysteries have always been more about the characters and the flavor of life on the reservation than about solving the mystery. I have enjoyed all the previous Hillerman stories. I did not feel this one added anything new – it was more like visiting with an old friend. If you enjoyed the previous “Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito” stories I expect you will like this one. If you have not discovered Hillerman, I recommend giving it a try (and start at the beginning of the series).
Following in her father’s footsteps!
Trying to make it off of her father’s reputation… doesn’t work.
Anne Hillerman is doing a great job of following in her fathers footsteps carrying on with characters we love.
Especially liked authentic representation of Navajo land and people.
I loved all her fathers books and hers are just as good. They are interesting and informative. I will read all of her books just as I did her Fathers.
Great mystery and good to see Leaphorn involved in a small way.
Another great read in the Hillerman tradition!