The Tale Teller

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Retired Navajo Lt. Joe Leapborn is hired by a Navajo Museum director to find some missing artifacts. In The Tale Teller by Anne Hillerman, Joe, still recovering from a head wound and struggling with the English language, sets out to discover what has happened to the priceless biil or woven dress worn by the legendary Juanita during the dark time for Navajos.

The museum director wants the case solved before she retires in two weeks. Tiffany had been the staffer assigned to inventory the anonymous donation when she became ill. Joe and Mrs. Pinto, the museum director,think she is a suspect in the missing inventory. But when she dies mysteriously, the case takes on a new urgency.

Louisa suggest they might be able to track the jewelry maker from a bracelet she has that is similar to the one stolen. They head for the Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site to speak with the trader.

In his trademark detail-oriented way, Joe slowly pieces together where the anonymous donation came from and who sent it to the museum.

Meanwhile Bernie discovers a body on the running trail, and she finds herself interacting with the new FBI agent Sage Johnson. Johnson is reluctant to give Bernie any information about the victim. Bernie tries to ignore the case and sets out to work on a series of burglaries at the home of seniors.

In a parallel story Jim Chee is following up on stolen items at a flea market. Before long, all three cases intertwine and together they work to find the answers.

Another enjoyable mystery featuring Tony Hillerman's beloved characters brought to life again by his daughter Anne.













Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher.

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.