Part of Leaphorn & Chee, book 18
First published 2006
Joe Leaphorn thought his policing days were behind him when he retired from the Navajo Tribal Police. His colleagues still call when they need help with difficult cases, and he usually works alongside officers Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito. This time feels different. Chee and Bernie have just returned from their honeymoon, leaving Leaphorn to tackle his most personal mystery alone. Years ago, he investigated the theft and apparent destruction of an irreplaceable Navajo rug in a fire. The case went unsolved, becoming his final official investigation. Now a photograph in a magazine shows what appears to be that same rug. The man who brought Leaphorn the photo has vanished. As Leaphorn digs into the old evidence, he realizes the original crime was more complex than he understood. Time has erased crucial details and scattered witnesses. Worse, the person responsible may have killed to protect their secret and could kill again. Leaphorn must untangle years of deception while racing against a murderer who has stayed hidden in plain sight.
Genres: suspense, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: amateur-sleuth, found-family
Setting: Navajo Tribal Police
276 pages · Hardcover · Harper