The Way of the Bear: A Mystery Novel (Leaphorn & Chee #26) [B1853]

2023 HCDJ in nice clean condition. Winner of the New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for Best Mystery. Fossil harvesting, ancient lore, greed, rejected love and murder combine in this gripping new installment of New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman's Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series.

An unexpected death on a lonely road outside of Utah's Bears Ears National Monument raises questions for Navajo Tribal Police officers Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito. Why would a seasoned outdoorsman and well-known paleontologist freeze to death within walking distance of his car? A second death brings more turmoil. Who is the unidentified man killed during a home invasion where nothing much seems to have been taken? Why was he murdered? The Bears Ears area, at the edge of the Navajo Nation, is celebrated for its abundance of early human habitation sites and the discovery of unique fossils which revolutionized the scientific view of how early animals dealt with their changing world. Chee and Manuelito appreciate the area's scenery and wealth of human and scientific resources, but their visit to this achingly beautiful place is disrupted by a current of unprecedented violence that sweeps them both into danger. Illicit romance, a fossilized jawbone, hints of witchcraft, and a mysterious disappearance during a blizzard add to the peril. It takes all of Manuelito's and Chee's experience, skill, and intuition to navigate the threats that arise and see justice served.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "I enjoyed the way she connected characters and brought in the culture. It was cozy enough for me but still kept me guessing for answers. Now I have to buy all the previous books in the series . ."; "Another terrific mystery. Every page adds to the suspense."; "I loved Tony Hillerman's books, and his daughter is also an excellent novelist. This book made me want to visit Bear's Ears National Monument."; "An excellent mystery and addition to the Navaho Police chronicles. Paleontology, anthropology, mystery, murder, sociopaths, psychopaths, loyalty, and a peek at what might become a new addition to the staff at the Shiprock police station."