Book Review: Song of the Lion by Anne Hillerman

Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this ebook, free of charge,from Harper Collins Publishing, via Edelweiss,  for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or in kind, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it


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, in this new novel.

song of the lion cover

Synopsis:

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. 



Review:

I have to admit, that having Anne take over for her father's series, left me as a huge fan of it with some trepidation. But rest assured, Anne learned at his knee, and has not only done the series justice, but given it new life, by allowing the female characters more room to breathe, and to show more of the inner workings of the tribal police. Having Leaphorn recovering from devasting injuries has allowed more understanding for him, as well as allowing the other characters to flex their 'little grey cells' more. It's an interesting change, and in this novel, but to very good use as Bernadette and Chee approach what seems very different cases, in different ways, yet are able to know when the other needs their assist, and how their past work experience can benefit the cases at hand. It's probably the best in the updated series, and I look forward to Anne's next book in it!


About the Author::

Anne Hillerman is an award-winning reporter, the author of several nonfiction books, and the daughter of New York Times bestselling author Tony Hillerman.  Following in the footsteps of her acclaimed father, Anne Hillerman was awarded the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for Spider Woman’s Daughter, a prize Tony received twice in his lifetime. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Song of the Lion is her her third novel, since taking over her father's series..


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