Category Archives: Anne Hillerman

April 22, 2022 · 12:02 am

Review: The Sacred Bridge by Anne Hillerman

Title: The Sacred Bridge by Anne Hillerman
Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Series Book Seven
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

An ancient mystery resurfaces with ramifications for the present day in this gripping chapter in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series from New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman.

Sergeant Jim Chee’s vacation to beautiful Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell has a deeper purpose. He’s on a quest to unravel a sacred mystery his mentor, the Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, stumbled across decades earlier.

Chee’s journey takes a deadly turn when, after a prayerful visit to the sacred Rainbow Bridge, he spots a body floating in the lake. The dead man, a Navajo with a passion for the canyon’s ancient rock art, lived a life filled with many secrets. Discovering why he died and who was responsible involves Chee in an investigation that puts his own life at risk.

Back in Shiprock, Officer Bernadette Manuelito is driving home when she witnesses an expensive sedan purposely kill a hitchhiker. The search to find the killer leads her to uncover a dangerous chain of interconnected revelations involving a Navajo Nation cannabis enterprise.

But the evil that is unleashed jeopardizes her mother and sister Darleen, and puts Bernie in the deadliest situation of her law enforcement career.

Review:

The Sacred Bridge by Anne Hillerman is a suspenseful mystery. Although this latest release is the seventh installment in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, it easily stands on its own.

After a much-needed vacation, Navajo Nation tribal police Sergeant Jim Chee stays for a few extra days while his wife Officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito and her sister Darleen return to their home in Shiprock. Jim is at a bit of a crossroads as he decides whether or not he wants to remain in law enforcement.  While out hiking, he spots a body floating in Lake Powell. Although he is out of his jurisdiction, Jim agrees to assist Park Ranger Ted Morris and Sheriff Bo Carter in the investigation into Curtis Walker’s death.

While her husband finds himself in the midst of an unexpected case, Bernie is on her way to work when she spots a man who appears to be in some kind of trouble. Before she can get any helpful information from him, he becomes the victim of a deliberate hit and run. Fully invested in finding out who murdered the unidentified man, Bernie becomes involved in an investigation of a local hemp farm run by Dino Begay Perez. But the case is quickly complicated by Dino’s friends and family’s concern about his whereabouts. Then there is an unexpected discovery in the hit and run victim’s belongings. Bernie goes undercover at the hemp operation in order to uncover the truth about Dino’s whereabouts and the suspicious goings on the farm.

The Sacred Bridge is an intriguing mystery with fascinating story arcs. Jim, Bernie and Darleen are well-drawn, multi-layered characters who continue to grow and evolve.  The various settings are interesting and  spring vividly to life.  As in previous novels, the Native American elements provide readers with riveting details about the Navajo culture. The storyline is engrossing and while some elements are easy to predict, this does not lessen the story’s enjoyment. As a dangerous situation heats up, Anne Hillerman brings this brilliant mystery to a breathless conclusion. Old and new fans enjoy this latest addition to the stellar Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series.

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April 19, 2021 · 12:01 am

Review: Stargazer by Anne Hillerman

Title: Stargazer by Anne Hillerman
Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Series Book Twenty-Four
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 336 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Murder, deception, Navajo tradition, and the stars collide in this enthralling entry in New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, set amid the beautiful landscape of the American Southwest.

What begins as a typical day for Officer Bernadette Manuelito—serving a bench warrant, dealing with a herd of cattle obstructing traffic, and stumbling across a crime scene—takes an unexpected twist when she’s called to help find an old friend. Years ago, Bernie and Maya were roommates, but time and Maya’s struggles with addiction drove them apart. Now Maya’s brother asks Bernie to find out what happened to his sister.

Tracing Maya’s whereabouts, Bernie learns that her old friend had confessed to the murder of her estranged husband, a prominent astronomer. But the details don’t align. Suspicious, Bernie takes a closer look at the case only to find that nothing is as it seems. Uncovering new information about the astronomer’s work leads Bernie to a remote spot on the Navajo Nation and a calculating killer.

The investigation causes an unexpected rift with her husband and new acting boss, Jim Chee, who’s sure Bernie’s headed for trouble. While she’s caught between present and past, Chee is at a crossroads of his own. Burdened with new responsibilities he didn’t ask for and doesn’t want, he must decide what the future holds for him and act accordingly.

Can their mentor Joe Leaphorn—a man also looking at the past for answers to the future—provide the guidance both Bernie and Chee need? And will the Navajo heroes that stud the starry sky help them find justice—and the truth they seek?

Review:

Stargazer by Anne Hillerman is a truly spellbinding mystery. This twenty-fourth addition to the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the previous installments as well.

Officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito makes a horrifying discovery when she tries to find the owners of wandering livestock. After knocking on the door of the house, she begins hearing noises that she is compelled to investigate. Once inside, Bernie finds a woman who has been tied up and beaten and  tragically, a deceased baby. The FBI soon take over the case but Bernie’s husband Sergeant Jim Chee enlists retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn to try to identify the baby’s parents.

In New Mexico, Socorro County Detective Tara Williams begins investigating astrophysicist Steve Jones’ death. He has been found in his car with a gunshot wound to the head. Despite a few puzzling details at the scene, Tara believes he died by suicide. But just as she is preparing to close the case, his estranged wife Maya Kelsey walks into the Navajo Tribal police station and confesses to killing him. Maya is Bernie’s former college roommate and she is convinced her friend is lying. But Bernie cannot fathom why Maya would confess to a murder she did not commit.

Bernie assists Tara with the investigation since the tribal police officer closest to the scene is currently unable to work due an injury.  Tara and Bernie are frustrated by Maya’s refusal to reveal her motive for killing her husband. Bernie heads to the lab where Steve has been working and she learns interesting information from Dr. Kathy Mwangi and his project collaborator Dr. Joy Peterson. She is surprised to hear they believe Steve had been depressed over problems with a former co-worker.

Since Bernie still disbelieves Maya’s confession, she ignores everyone’s advice for her to drop the case. She continues tracking down leads and with just one more day to investigate, Bernie turns to Joe Leaphorn for guidance.  Armed with his advice and a couple of new pieces of information, Bernie believes she knows who killed Steve.

Stargazer is a brisk moving mystery with a clever plot and beautiful setting. Bernie is an intelligent woman with well-honed instincts and a keen eye for details. Jim is under extreme stress as he fills in as the police chief. Under pressure and bored with bureaucracy, Jim and Bernie’s interactions are occasionally rather tense. Bernie and Tara make a good team but it is Bernie’s experience in the field that prove to be invaluable during the murder investigation. Despite his retirement, Joe is a valuable source of information and advice for both Jim and Bernie. With some well-placed red herrings and ingenious misdirects, Anne Hillerman brings this intriguing mystery to an exciting conclusion. This newest installment in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series is a fresh and innovative mystery that old and new fans are sure to enjoy.

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April 8, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Tale Teller by Anne Hillerman

Title: The Tale Teller by Anne Hillerman
Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Series Book 23
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

Legendary 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 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.

Review:

The Tale Teller by Anne Hillerman is a perplexing mystery with three distinct cases. Although this newest release is twenty-third installment in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is a private investigator and consultant to the Tribal Police. At his live-in companion Louisa’s request, Joe is working to find a few missing items from a recent donation.  The bequest is anonymous so Joe is faced with the daunting task of trying to figure out what happened to a dress that is an extremely important part of Navajo history. A bracelet is also missing and Louisa is certain she knows who crafted the beautiful piece of jewelry. With her assistance, Joe begins the arduous task of tracking down who donated the items to the museum.  Early in his investigation, Museum Director Daisy Pinto’s assistant Tiffany Benally dies under very mysterious circumstances. Joe cannot help but wonder if her death is somehow related to the missing relics, but will he unearth the connection between the two cases?

Officer Bernie Manuelito is out for a jog when she discovers a dead body on a popular trail.  Quickly realizing his death was not accidental, she preserves the scene while waiting for the FBI to arrive. Although she is not officially assigned to the case, Bernie is curious about the victim’s identity and the motive for his murder. FBI Agent Sage Johnson is surprisingly pleasant during their conversations, and she does reveal a few interesting facts about the case to Bernie.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Jim Chee is working on a series of bewildering burglaries in which elderly people in the community have been targeted. The thefts are clearly the act of a pro since there is absolutely no evidence left the crime scenes. Chee finds it very intriguing that the thief zeroes in on where the items are hidden and does not damage the homes.

The Tale Teller is a riveting police-procedural that is fast-paced. The various investigations are interesting and through slow but steady investigations, Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito uncover the truth. As always, the desert and surrounding are vibrantly detailed which makes it very easy to visualize the different settings. With some unexpected twists and a few surprising turns, Anne Hillerman brings the the various investigations to satisfying conclusions. Old and new fans are sure to enjoy this outstanding addition to the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series.

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April 4, 2018 · 11:58 pm

Review: Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman

Title: Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman
Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Series Book 22
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

New York Times bestselling author Anne 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 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.

Review:

Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman is a perplexing mystery with several cases to solve. This 22nd installment in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series can easily be read as a standalone.

Tribal police officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito is only supposed to be giving a talk to the participants of the Wings and Roots program. However, she quickly becomes embroiled in a case in which teenager Annie Rainsong goes missing and staff member Domingo “Dom” Cruz who is searching for her, has also disappeared. Annie eventually returns unharmed but Dom is nowhere to be found.  Since Annie is prone to exaggerating, no one but Bernie believes her claims that she found bones in the cave she took refuge in overnight.  Bernie is soon swept up in several seeming disparate investigations involving the Wings and Roots program, Dom’s search and rescue and possible grave robbing of Native American artifacts.

Bernie’s husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, is in Santa Fe for training and he grows concerned for his sister-in-law Darleen who is attending  a class at the Institute of American Indian Arts. He is worried that she might be in trouble with her boyfriend Clayton “CS” Secody whose furtive actions make Jim suspicious. Equally dismaying is the discovery that CS is involved with Clyde Herbert, a felon that Jim put behind bars.  Jim is afraid Darleen is in over her head since she is unwilling to discuss what is going on with her, CS and Herbert.

Both Bernie and Jim turn to Lt. Joe Leaphorn for background on some of the principals they encounter on their respective investigations. Although Joe still has a few memory issues from being shot, he remains sharp as a tack.  He augments his  recollections with some research that turns up some very unexpected revelations.

Cave of Bones is a mesmerizing police procedural that takes a few startling twists and turns. The cases are quite interesting and in addition to a wily group of suspects, Bernie must also battle the elements in her quest for answers.  Anne Hillerman’s descriptive prose brings the New Mexico landscape and Native American culture vividly to life.   The novel comes to a satisfying conclusion that neatly wraps all of the story arcs. This latest addition to the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series is sure to be hit with fans of the genre.

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April 10, 2017 · 11:58 pm

Review: Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman

Title: Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman
Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Series Book 21
Publisher: Harper
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through Edelweiss

Summary:

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.

Review:

Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman is an absolutely riveting mystery about a car bombing during an alumni basketball at Shiprock High School. Although this latest release is the twenty-first installment in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, it can easily be read as a standalone.

Navajo Tribal Police Officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito is off duty at the basketball game when she hears an explosion that sounds close by. Rushing to the parking lot, she discovers one of the vehicles has exploded and she quickly takes charge of the situation.  After discovering the owner of the car is Aza Palmer, a lawyer who is mediating a proposal for a controversial  resort that will be built on the Navajo Reservation, Bernie’s husband, Sergeant Jim Chee is assigned to guard Aza during an upcoming forum. When the identity of the man who was killed at the bomb site is discovered, Bernie hopes retired Lieutenant  Joe Leaphorn might help fill in the blanks about the deceased man’s past.  With tensions running high between protestors who are hoping to kill the resort project, will Jim and Bernie figure out who wants to kill Aza before it is too late?

Although the bombing case is quickly turned over the a variety of federal agencies, Bernie continues trying to understand the connection between the deceased, Richard Horseman, and Aza Palmer.  Both men grew up on the reservation, but their lives took dramatically different turns.  Aza is a very successful lawyer based in Arizona and this is not the first time he has worked as a mediator. Richard, on the other hand, has a bit of a checkered past which includes brushes with the law and an alcohol problem. According to his grandmother, Marie Nez, her grandson has left his problems behind and has been diligently working on steering clear of trouble. If Mrs. Nez’s assertions are true, then Bernie wants to know why he was near Aza’s car the night of the explosion.  Could the reason be completely innocent?

Meanwhile, Jim has his hands full trying to protect Aza.  The biggest threat to the lawyer at this point is his stubborn refusal to heed Jim’s pleas to maintain a low profile and stop going off on his own.  Jim is also rather troubled when a young man keeps appearing on the scene and his questions to Aza about the man’s identity go unanswered.  As the protestors  step up their efforts  to sabotage the public discussion, Jim is grateful for the extra help when Bernie unexpectedly decides to spend her days off with him. But even with the both of them keeping an eye on Aza, can they keep him out of harm’s way?

Despite the injuries that still plague Joe Leaphorn, he is still a vital resource with a formidable amount of information from his years on the police force.  Bernie hopes Joe will be able to provide background information about Richard’s past and her patience pays off once he begins searching through old records. Does Joe hold the key which will break the case wide open?

Song of the Lion is a fast-paced and intriguing police procedural that is quite compelling.  Anne Hillerman does an outstanding job providing readers with fascinating information about Native American culture.  The investigation moves along at a brisk pace and there are several unexpected twists and turns that will keep readers invested in the resolution of the case. Although the identity of the perpetrator is rather easy to surmise, the novel comes to an action-packed and rather dramatic conclusion. Old and new fans of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series will be absolutely delighted with this latest outing which features a topical storyline and a fascinating mystery.

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