Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed on 3/17/2016 + 1032 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

Second in the Leaphorn/Chee continuation series authored by Anne Hillerman, Tony Hillerman's daughter. Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito head for Monument Valley for a visit with Chee's cousin, but family issues send Manuelito back home almost instantly and Chee gets called to fill in with the local police force to help with a film shoot. Looking for a missing woman, he finds her plus what looks like a grave. Some other discoveries prompt him to email Leaphorn asking for advice. Back home, Manuelito figures she might as well go to work and during a traffic stop, arrests a man who tries to bribe her over some boxes of dirt in his trunk. I liked how Anne Hillerman is using Leaphorn in her continuation. His injury keeps him off to the side, but he's still capable of being a part of the team. And I liked how Manuelito is gaining in confidence as a police officer. There are more family issues in this book - Manuelito is dealing with her elderly mother who can't take care of herself, plus her sister who drinks when she's supposed to be caring for mom. Manuelito knows she ought to be more understanding of her sister but mostly feels angry, a very human failing. Hillerman isn't as good as evoking the vastness of the reservation and the amazing scenery as her dad, but she's getting there; there seemed to be more feeling of that in this book than the previous. Nice convoluted mystery surrounding the film crew, and also the mysterious Miller that Manuelito arrests. But towards the end I thought it became just too much. I didn't buy the motive of Manuelito's villain; while the denouement was exciting I didn't believe in the villain. Hillerman also ties the two cases together right then, but I don't think the plot needed that. Still, it's so nice to be back in Hillerman country again, and I'll happily look for the next.

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