Library's review
The last few entries in the Leaphorn Navajo mystery series have fallen into a pattern, not to say rut: Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police is assigned to a new case. As he's investigating, retired NTP Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn starts poking around an old, unsolved case from his time on the
This time around, we've got a confessed murderer, who claimed self defense when he shot a man who may have been trying to scam him about the location of a legendary lost gold mine. His wife disappeared at the time of the shooting, and now that he's out of prison he hires Leaphorn to try to find her.
Chee and his latest ladylove Bernadette Manuelito, his subordinate on the NTP, are investigating the discovery of a man's body in his pickup truck located far off the beaten path. They find out that the newly dead guy was recently poking around the details of the old dead guy case and suspect there may be some sort of link. Oh, and Chee is in love. Again. Not that he makes even half a move, because he'd rather brood about it. Sigh.
It's ... fine? It didn't feel as if there was as much information about Navajo customs in this one, which diminished my enjoyment a bit, although not as much as Chee's inept romance. The final solution seemed somewhat obvious but everything was wrapped up satisfactorily if not happily. Another one crossed off the list.
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force. Eventually, he figures out the two cases are related; Chee and Leaphorn team up to solve both.This time around, we've got a confessed murderer, who claimed self defense when he shot a man who may have been trying to scam him about the location of a legendary lost gold mine. His wife disappeared at the time of the shooting, and now that he's out of prison he hires Leaphorn to try to find her.
Chee and his latest ladylove Bernadette Manuelito, his subordinate on the NTP, are investigating the discovery of a man's body in his pickup truck located far off the beaten path. They find out that the newly dead guy was recently poking around the details of the old dead guy case and suspect there may be some sort of link. Oh, and Chee is in love. Again. Not that he makes even half a move, because he'd rather brood about it. Sigh.
It's ... fine? It didn't feel as if there was as much information about Navajo customs in this one, which diminished my enjoyment a bit, although not as much as Chee's inept romance. The final solution seemed somewhat obvious but everything was wrapped up satisfactorily if not happily. Another one crossed off the list.
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Description
Nothing had seemed complicated about the old "Golden Calf" case. A con game had gone sour. Wealthy old Wiley Denton had shot the swindler, called the police, confessed, and done his short prison time. No mystery there, except why did the rich man's bride vanish? And now, papers found by Sergeant Jim Chee and Officer Bernie Manuelito in a new homicide case connect the victim to Denton and to the mythical Golden Calf Mine.
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2002