Part of Leaphorn & Chee, book 26
First published 2023
Navajo Tribal Police officers Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito discover a seasoned paleontologist frozen to death on a remote road near Bears Ears National Park. The man died within walking distance of his vehicle, raising immediate questions about the circumstances. A second victim emerges when an unidentified man is killed during a home invasion where nothing appears stolen. The deaths pull Chee and Bernie into the world of fossil smuggling around Bears Ears, an area rich with ancient human sites and unique paleontological discoveries. Their investigation uncovers an illegal fossil trade, a valuable fossilized jaw bone, and hints of traditional witchcraft. When a blizzard strikes and someone vanishes, both officers find themselves in escalating danger. The case tests their skills as they navigate threats in the shadow of the twin buttes that give the national monument its name.
Genres: adventure, mystery, crime, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, fast-paced, suspenseful
Tropes: investigation, small-town
Setting: Bears Ears National Park
281 pages · Hardcover · Harper