They say that confession is good for the soul. Assuming that's true, I will admit that I was a big fan of Tony Hillerman and his Navaho series Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and the rest. BUT I was disappointed in the last few novels in the series. When Mr. Hillerman left us, I thought that would be the end of the line for my special glimpse into life on the Navaho reservation and that my last memories would be of average work from a writer who typically turned out extraordinary stories.

A great big THANK YOU to his daughter, Anne Hillerman. Not only did she pick up her father's mantle and provide us with another story in the series, BUT she also restored the quality that the name Hillerman had come to represent. One of Ms. Hillerman's tricks perhaps the secret of her success with this book was to put the spotlight on Officer Bernadette Manuelito (finally married to Jim Chee), who was never more than a supporting character when her father documented the series. That's not to say that Leaphorn, Chee, and the rest are not present but that there are other talented and interesting characters worth some time in the sun.

I hope this is NOT a one-shot, and that this excellent series has found a new life with Anne Hillerman.

RATING: 4½ stars, rounded up to 5 stars out of appreciation for the return of these beloved characters and the excellent job in doing so.

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