annieb123's Review of Stargazer (A Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito Novel, #6)

by Anne Hillerman

Murder, deception, Navajo tradition, and the stars collide in this enthralling entry in New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman's Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, set amid the beautiful landscape of the American Southwest.

What begins as a typical day for Officer Bernadette Manuelito-serving a bench warrant, dealing with a herd of cattle obstructing traffic, and stumbling across a crime scene-takes an unexpected twist when she's called to help find an old friend. Years ago, Bernie and Maya were roommates, but time and Maya's struggles with addiction drove them apart. Now Maya's brother asks Bernie to find out what happened to his sister.

Tracing Maya's whereabouts, Bernie learns that her old friend had confessed to the murder of her estranged husband, a prominent astronomer. But the details don't align. Suspicious, Bernie takes a closer look at the case only to find that nothing is as it seems. Uncovering new information about the astronomer's work leads Bernie to a remote spot on the Navajo Nation and a calculating killer.

The investigation causes an unexpected rift with her husband and new acting boss, Jim Chee, who's sure Bernie's headed for trouble. While she's caught between present and past, Chee is at a crossroads of his own. Burdened with new responsibilities he didn't ask for and doesn't want, he must decide what the future holds for him and act accordingly.

Can their mentor Joe Leaphorn-a man also looking at the past for answers to the future-provide the guidance both Bernie and Chee need? And will the Navajo heroes that stud the starry sky help them find justice-and the truth they seek?

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Stargazer is the 24th book in the Leaphorn & Chee (& Manuelito) series started by Tony Hillerman and capably continued by his daughter Anne. Released 13th April 2021 by HarperCollins on their Harper imprint, it's 336 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Ms. Hillerman is unquestionably a capable author and she writes intelligently and plainly without flowery prose or unnecessary embellishment. The stories are plotted well and although the narrative meanders a bit in places, the denouements and resolutions are satisfying and complete. That being said, it's *not* Tony Hillerman, any more than even the well written homages with Robert B. Parker, Rex Stout, and others' characters are capable of being the originals (however well written). It does satisfy the craving to visit with old friends and see how their lives are going.

I enjoyed this installment very much and although the writing is recognizably different than the canonical Leaphorn & Chee, it's fine in its own right and definitely worth a read.

Four stars. This is a solid mystery in a long and satisfying series.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

Stargazer (A Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito Novel, #6)

by Anne Hillerman

Reviewed by annieb123 on Apr 13, 2021

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