Cyndi J. (cyndij) reviewed on 9/8/2018 + 1032 more book reviews

While I still love Hillerman's descriptions of the reservation, plus the characters of Leaphorn and Chee, I felt like this plot was very formulaic. I don't want that to be too much of a criticism; I'm reading this series about one book every 3 weeks, so I am noticing a lot of similarities that wouldn't catch my attention if I read them spaced apart as they were written. But we have Chee deciding to get involved in an investigation while he's off duty, and then add in Leaphorn becoming involved at the request of an acquaintance; this same structure has been used about 3 times before. I guess once Hillerman sent Leaphorn into retirement, there are limited options to introduce him into the puzzle. At any rate, I liked the story's pacing and setting. I enjoyed how Hillerman worked Louisa into the story. I especially liked how he wove the elements of the crimes in and out of the main plot - first they were related, then they weren't, but then they were again. An interesting bit is how he left one of the bad guys out there - a nod to one of the legends told to Louisa, I expect. And Jim Chee has a cat again. I thought he sent the cat to Mary whatsername a few books ago. I expect Hillerman's continuity checker missed that, but I think I like better that there's a new cat.

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