The Return of the Navajo Tribal Police

As a huge fan of Tony Hillerman and his amazing books, I was crushed to learn that he had died. But lo and behold his daughter. Anne, is continuing the Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee series with the focus on Jim's wife and fellow Navajo Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito in Spider Woman's Daughter.

I happened to meet Anne Hillerman at Malice Domestic last year, and I told her how much her book sounded like Tony's voice. She laughed and said, "I listened to his voice for my entire life."

Spider Woman's Daughter opens with a routine breakfast meeting with Bernie, Jim and Joe. While they wait for Joe, Bernie steps outside the restaurant to answer her cell phone. Suddenly shots ring out and Joe crumples to the ground.

Who would shoot the legendary Lt. Leaphorn in broad daylight with a table full of other cops just a heartbeat away? With Jim in charge and Bernie told to sit this one out as she is an eyewitness, Chief Largo turns a blind eye and Bernie joins the investigation.

Missing is Joe's long-time girlfriend anthropologist Louisa Bourebonette who seems to have left Joe's place in a hurry. What would have caused her to leave so hastily? As Jim and Bernie dig into an old investigation, they find themselves closer to the truth.

I loved this book for many reasons. First, I was happy to have the Tony Hillerman series continued. His books have been favorites of mine for years because of the cultural descriptions and the characters. Second, I was thrilled to see the focus shift to Bernie. As much as I love Joe and Jim, Bernie is a great character as well.

If you want to read the series from the beginning, The Blessing Way is the first book by Tony Hillerman. The next book by Anne Hillerman is Rock With Wings.