Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Review: Cave of Bones (Leaphorn & Chee #22) by Anne Hillerman




  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 1997 KB
  • Print Length: 320 pages
  • Publisher: Harper (April 3 2018)
  • Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers CA
  • Language: English
  • ASIN: B071KYZBT5

Book Description

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.

About the Author

Anne Hillerman's newest book,"Spider Woman's Daughter" debuted at number 10 on the New York Times Best Seller list. The novel continues her father Tony Hillerman's popular Jim Chee/Joe Leaphorn series. The book followed "Tony Hillerman's Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn," with photos by Don Strel of the country the renown mystery author visited in his novels. Her cookbook, "Santa Fe Flavors: Best Restaurants and Recipes" received the New Mexico Book Award for the best cookbook of 2009. Anne's other books include "Gardens of Santa Fe," "Ride the Wind, USA to Africa," and "Children's Guide to Santa Fe." When she's not writing, Anne enjoys cooking, writing restaurant reviews for the Albuquerque Journal, and skiing.

My Review

Cave of Bones is the 22nd book in the Leaphorn and Chee (and Manuelito) series by Anne Hillerman. The first 20 books were written by her father, Tony Hillerman. Anne has done a brilliant job in continuing this fabulous and beloved series. I really appreciate it. Thanks Anne.

Cave of Bones is a great addition to this series. I really appreciate that Anne Hillerman is focusing the stories more from Bernie's point of view. It makes the stories the same yet different from her fathers...distinctive I guess is what I am thinking. 

Everything is not how it seems when a young girl discovers a skeleton on an individual trek while on an outdoor wilderness education experience. Bernie is there to do a talk with the girls but the traumatized young girl takes priority. Lots of twists and turns until we get to the end.

I really liked the story about Bernie's mother heading slowly towards dementia. I have looked after people in my family as they age. The signs were all there. Good reminder for some readers.

I highly recommend Cave of Bones.




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