Stargazer
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Don’t miss the TV series, Dark Winds, based on the Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito novels, now on AMC and AMC+! 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?
Series
Series
25 primary books#24 in Leaphorn & Chee
Leaphorn & Chee is a 25-book series with 25 released primary works first released in 1870 with contributions by Tony Hillerman, Steve Levine, and Anne Hillerman.
Series
8 primary books#6 in Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito
Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito is a 8-book series with 8 released primary works first released in 2013 with contributions by Anne Hillerman.
Reviews
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I don't really write reviews but I really wanted to comment on this novel....
I began reading Tony Hillerman's Navajo mysteries more than 30 years ago, shortly before I moved to New Mexico. His descriptions of of the wonderful landscapes and of the traditions of the Diné were one of three things that motivated me to move to the Southwest from the Kansas City area (the others being an ill-fated university “field trip” of sorts that took in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, and – best of all – a day at Chaco Canyon; as well as listening to the wonderful music of Robert Mirabal. After I had been living in ‘Burque for a time, I had already talked to Tony Hillerman at several book signings when he, quite ironically, introduced me to Mirabal (and to Clive Cussler but that is another story for another time).
I was happy to hear that Anne had taken up the heavy burden of continuing the series of novels after her father passed away. By then, I had moved all the way to Thailand and the books were not easy to obtain (shipping being a prohibitive factor). I did manage to read ebooks of her first two and thought they were pretty good. After that, I lost track as my busy life took over. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that that I discovered that Stargazer was being published.
I found an ebook easily this time around and it took me about three days to finish. I had tears in my eyes for much of the final two or three chapters. Not only from the storyline but just little sprinkles of items about the wonderful region this story takes place in as well as actions by characters that I have known for 30 plus years. I never visited one of the settings of this novel while I lived there despite it being about a two-hour drive from my home. Now, I see how wrong I was by not going when I had the chance and would really like to rectify that when I can. I am also craving a Blake's green chili cheeseburger (or, bettrr yet, one from Owl's Café).
Anne has truly done her dad proud and Stargazer may just be the best in her portion of the series at least. Now, I need to track down the two that I haven't read but I am certain I will enjoy those also.
Well done, Anne Hillerman.
ahéhee'
