Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook free of charge, from Haper Collins via EdelweissPlus, for review purposes on this blog. No compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it, all opinions are my own
Synopsis:
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:
Anne has done an amazing job of taking over this series, after her dad passed away. She has added in more of a woman's perspectove, and that has allowed us to see ALL the main characters in new ways. In this 6th book of the Chee and Manuelito series, she also explores the possibilities of change for the characters, while working temporarily in charge of Manuelito and the other officers, Chee has to decide is he likes his new role, meanwhile Manuelito thinks on the idea of leaving for bigger department with more opportunities. While each are deep in their own duties,, once again 6 degrees of separation come to play, as cases cross over and Manuelito starts to find her footing as a solid detective. i love how this book allows each of them to grow, yet to remember what is important and to hold on to it. Add a case that takes modern issues in a different, directions, with a few Native twists, and you have another solid mystery from Anne! Make sure to read this one!
About the Author:
Anne Hillerman, the author of the Leaphorn-Chee-Manuelito series, began her career as a journalist and writer of nonfiction books. The daughter of New York Timesbestselling author Tony Hillerman, she lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. This is her sixth novel and the twenty-fourth in the Hillerman series.
