NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERLegendary Navajo policeman Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn takes center stage in this riveting atmospheric mystery from New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman that combines crime, superstition, and tradition and brings the desert Southwest vividly alive.Joe Leaphorn may have retired from the Tribal Police, but he finds himself knee-deep in a perplexing case involving a … Police, but he finds himself knee-deep in a perplexing case involving a priceless artifact—a reminder of a dark time in Navajo history. Joe’s been hired to find a missing biil, a traditional dress that had been donated to the Navajo Nation. His investigation takes a sinister turn when the leading suspect dies under mysterious circumstances and Leaphorn himself receives anonymous warnings to beware—witchcraft is afoot.
While the veteran detective is busy working to untangle his strange case, his former colleague Jim Chee and Officer Bernie Manuelito are collecting evidence they hope will lead to a cunning criminal behind a rash of burglaries. Their case takes a complicated turn when Bernie finds a body near a popular running trail. The situation grows more complicated when the death is ruled a homicide, and the Tribal cops are thrust into a turf battle because the murder involves the FBI.
As Leaphorn, Chee, and Bernie draw closer to solving these crimes, their parallel investigations begin to merge . . . and offer an unexpected opportunity that opens a new chapter in Bernie’s life.
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I’ve read all of Tony Hillerman’s Navajo mysteries. His daughter is a great successor to him. I’ve read and loved all her books too. The Tale Teller has possibly the best mystery of any of the Navajo series, with many twists and turns that kept me guessing. One thing I loved about Tony Hillerman’s books was that he put the reader right into the setting. His mysteries were easy for me to solve, but the whole point of the story was to be in Navajo country. Ann Hillerman’s books are more mystery-oriented. I look forward to the next book in the series.
I love the world that Anne Hillerman builds with details of Navaho art, everyday life, and the wonderful characters. Loved this book and looking forward to the next one!
I’ve always loved the Tony Hillerman books. The stories, the characters and the locations. Anne Hillerman has done a superb job of continuing her father’s work.
Another absorbing tale from Anne who has certainly stepped out of her father’s shadow and has made the characters he created her own. I continue to enjoy the care and craft that Anne has in developing Office Bernadette Manuelito into a well-rounded character. This time around she has also given Lt. Leaphorn a more important role in the story, allowing his story to continue to develop. And as usual, Anne is able to put the reader into the story so that you feel you are walking or driving through the vast expanse of the Navajo Reservation, from Window Rock, to Chinle, to Shiprock. Oh, and the story is also great, with many disparate and seemingly unrelated threads all coming together into a wonderfully complex story.
Anything written by the Hillerman family has just been an excellent read!
I was a regular reader of the Tony Hillerman series of Jim Chee and the Navajo police. His daughter has done an amazing job of taking over the series and the characters and continuing stories of the lives of these Navajo police and life on the reservation. Last summer I drove the Navajo Trail on my way from Mexico to Denver and it was great to experience the actual landscape and towns mentioned in this tremendous series.
Strong memorable positive characters with detailed picture of setting
Another great story about the navajo nation.
I like all of Ann Hillermans books. She writes much like her Father, Tony Hillerman.
She has done well taking over her father’s series! Kept the spirit alive and gives us all a chance to reconnect with our favorite characters of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Cher
Her father would be proud of her. She has continued his wonderful stories with a new twist.
Always learning about Indian culture while being entertained with a who done it. Only problem is that I read faste than she can write.
GReat read!!
It,s like visit info with old friends.
Continuation of her fathers work in illuminating the Navaho tradition
She has kept the Hillerman name as exciting and real.
I loved it!
I think that of all the writers out there that attempt to fill the shoes of the writer before them in the series or genre in which they work to continue, Anne Hillerman does probably the best of them all.
She does bring in more emotional issues than her father did, probably in part just because a woman sees that side of life a bit more clearly than a man. This is a good story, worthy of the Hillerman name. She is able to continue the character development started by her father. I like the fact that still we are able to see more of the character of the Navajo and their historical roots, as well as the society which defines them.
Always enjoy her books. Her description of the area is accurate.
I have always loved reading Hillerman books. The descriptions put you right out in the country where all of the stories take place.