Cave of Bones - (Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel) Large Print by Anne Hillerman (Paperback)

About the Book

"When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at an outdoor character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a young participant on a solo experience due back hours before, has just returned and is traumatized. Gently questioning the girl, Bernie learns that Annie stumbled upon a human skeleton on her trek. While everyone is relieved that Annie is back, they're concerned about a beloved instructor who went out into the wilds of the rugged lava wilderness bordering Ramah Navajo Reservation to find the missing girl"--

Book Synopsis

Don't miss the TV series, Dark Winds, based on the Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito novels, now on AMC and AMC+!

A New York Times Bestseller

Anne Hillerman brings together modern mystery, Navajo traditions, and the evocative landscape of the desert Southwest in this intriguing entry in the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series.

When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at an outdoor character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a young participant on a solo experience due back hours before, has just returned and is traumatized. Gently questioning the girl, Bernie learns that Annie stumbled upon a human skeleton on her trek. While everyone is relieved that Annie is back, they're concerned about a beloved instructor who went out into the wilds of the rugged lava wilderness bordering Ramah Navajo Reservation to find the missing girl. The instructor vanished somewhere in the volcanic landscape known as El Malpais. In Navajo lore, the lava caves and tubes are believed to be the solidified blood of a terrible monster killed by superhuman twin warriors.

Solving the twin mysteries will expose Bernie to the chilling face of human evil. The instructor's disappearance mirrors a long-ago search that may be connected to a case in which the legendary Joe Leaphorn played a crucial role. But before Bernie can find the truth, an unexpected blizzard, a suspicious accidental drowning, and the arrival of a new FBI agent complicate the investigation.

While Bernie searches for answers in her case, her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee juggles trouble closer to home. A vengeful man he sent to prison for domestic violence is back--and involved with Bernie's sister Darleen. Their relationship creates a dilemma that puts Chee in uncomfortable emotional territory that challenges him as family man, a police officer, and as a one-time medicine man in training.

Anne Hillerman takes us deep into the heart of the deserts, mountains, and forests of New Mexico and once again explores the lore and rituals of Navajo culture in this gripping entry in her atmospheric crime series.

From the Back Cover

When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at a character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a camper, has just returned from a solo experience hours late and traumatized. The girl stumbled upon something unspeak-able; worse still, the instructor who hiked in search of her is missing in El Malpais, the rugged lava wilderness bordering the Ramah Navajo Reservation.

The instructor's disappearance mirrors a long-ago search in which the legendary Joe Leaphorn took a crucial role, and Leaphorn's memory and connections come into play as Bernie's quest exposes her to the chilling face of human evil.

Meanwhile, Jim Chee tackles what should have been an easy assignment but deadly confusion abounds. Before he can find the truth, an unexpected blizzard, suspected misuse of tribal funds, an angry tribal councilor, and the arrival of a new FBI agent complicate the dual investigations.

Review Quotes

"As Hillerman continues her father's legacy through his beloved characters, she's gradually and gratifyingly finding her own voice." -- Kirkus

"Hillerman seamlessly blends tribal lore and custom into a well-directed plot, continuing in the spirit of her late father, Tony, by keeping his characters (like Chee) in the mix, but still establishing Manuelito as the main player in what has become a fine legacy series." -- Booklist

"Anne's voice is exceptional, the tool of a natural storyteller." -- NewsOK

"Cave of Bones is simply a pleasure to read...Hillerman's best novel yet." -- Comic Book Bin

"This fictional universe now belongs firmly in the hands of Anne Hillerman" -- New York Journal of Books