Shadow of the Solstice: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel

Leaphorn & Chee #28

by Anne Hillerman

“Anne Hillerman deserves recognition as one of the finest mystery authors currently working in the genre.”—New York Journal of Books

In this gripping chapter in New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, the detectives must sort out a save-the-planet meditation group connected to a mysterious death and a nefarious scheme targeting vulnerable indigenous people living with addiction.

The Navajo Nation police are on high alert when a U.S. Cabinet Secretary schedules an unprecedented trip to the little Navajo town of Shiprock, New Mexico. The visit coincides with a plan to resume uranium mining along the Navajo Nation border. Tensions around the official’s arrival escalate when the body of a stranger is found in an area restricted for the disposal of radioactive uranium waste. Is it coincidence that a cult with a propensity for violence arrives at a private camp group outside Shiprock the same week to celebrate the summer solstice? When the outsiders’ erratic behavior makes their Navajo hosts uneasy, Officer Bernadette Manuelito is assigned to monitor the situation. She finds a young boy at grave risk, abused women, and other shocking discoveries that plunge her and Lt. Jim Chee into a volatile and deadly situation.

Meanwhile, Darleen Manuelito, Bernie’s high spirited younger sister, learns one of her home health clients is gone–and the woman’s daughter doesn’t seem to care. Darleen’s curiosity and sense of duty combine to lead her to discover that the client’s grandson is also missing and that the two have become ensnared in a wickedly complex scheme exploiting indigenous people. Darleen’s information meshes with a case Chee has begun to solve that deals with the evil underside of human nature.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Native American, Thriller, Audiobook, Crime, Indigenous

1 pages, Audio CD

First published April 22, 2025

About the author

Anne Hillerman writes the best-selling Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito mysteries set on the Navajo Nation using characters her father Tony Hillerman made popular and her own creative twists. Her newest novel, "Shadow of the Solstice", is set for release in 2025. The Hillerman stories are the basis for the "Dark Winds" television series.
Her non-fiction books include "Tony Hillerman's Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn," with photos of the country Ton Hillerman visited in his novels. Anne's other non-fiction books include "Gardens of Santa Fe," "Done in the Sun," and "Children's Guide to Santa Fe." When she's not writing, Anne enjoys cooking, walking with her dogs, gardening and travel to the Navajo Nation.

Reviews

[PamG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 10 in the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series brings readers multiple mysteries to solve. In Shadow of the Solstice, Anne Hillerman continues the series created by her father Tony Hillerman featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. However, she has added a third main character, Bernadette (Bernie) Manuelito.

The Navajo Nation police are on high alert when a U.S. Cabinet Secretary indicates they may come to Shiprock, New Mexico in the next few days. This visit coincides with a controversial plan to resume uranium mining along the Navajo Nation border. With planning for the executive’s trip, a body is found in an area restricted for the disposal of radioactive uranium waste. A group also suddenly shows up at a private campground nearby that claims to be a peaceful meditation group aimed at saving the planet. On top of this, vulnerable indigenous people with addictions are disappearing. Can one small police force solve the various mysteries?

The characterization is well-done in this crime novel and mystery. Bernie works hard and is a police officer assigned to the Shiprock station. She’s concerned about her mother’s declining memory and health and tends to turn worry into action. However, she seldom welcomes unrequested advice. Bernie and Chee are married. He’s a lieutenant at the Shiprock police station and misses field work as his job now requires a lot of administrative tasks. He’s well-respected by his colleagues and embraces the old spiritual practices. While Joe is now retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, he is referenced a few times during the novel and makes a cameo appearance near the end. Bernie’s sister Darleen plays a major role in one of the subplots in this novel. Readers gain knowledge of both her personal and professional aspects of her life.

The novel has several subplots and shifts points of view several times, but the flow seemed to work relatively well. There are several twists and a couple of surprises. Additionally, the world-building is excellent. While I should have expected it, it still amazed me that the closest police backup could be one or more hours away. As usual, there are several topics woven throughout the novel that give readers an appreciation of Navajo life and culture. Some are wonderful and others aren’t. Elder care, family, education, poverty, addiction, corruption, and much more are topics of interest.

Overall, this is a suspenseful, heart-wrenching, and compelling novel that immediately grabs readers’ attention and keeps up the intensity throughout the novel with great characterization and fantastic atmosphere and world-building. The author’s note about her inspiration for the book provides valuable information. If you enjoy crime novels and mysteries, then look no further than this series. I’m looking forward to reading book eleven.

Harper along with Anne Hillerman provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for April 22, 2025. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 4.36 rounded to 4 stars review is coming soon.

[Linden · Rating 4 out of 5]

An older lady Darleen works with decides to accompany her 17 year old grandson to a place where he can get clean of his addiction. Unbeknownst to them, it is a Medicaid fraud scam aimed at Navajos, and there will be no real help for the addicts when they are taken to Phoenix. (Sadly, the afterward indicates that this is not fiction.) Another subplot involves an alleged environmental group concerned about uranium mining on the Rez which may be just another scam. The fact that these themes are based on real tragedies for the Navajo nation is depressing, but it's always a pleasure to reconnect with Bernie and Chee. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the ARC.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains crimes involving kidnapping, murder, welfare fraud and ecoterrorism. As with the current trend among some writers, this book contains a main crime and a side crime. It makes for an interesting book, but Hillerman develops both so completely that it could be presented as two different books. Consequently, the ending for both seemed a bit rushed. It was as if a deadline was approaching or the number of pages in the book was limited by contract.

I have liked this series since I began reading it when it was written by her father. Anne Hillerman is a worthy successor. I do believe that she has focused on the female officer a bit more than her father did. This does not detract from the book or the series. In this particular book we find Darleen Manuelito looking for two missing Navaho tribespeople while Chee and Bernadette Manuelito work a murder case that eventually leads them to an ecoterrorist cult.

Hillerman's plot development and suspense in this one are top notch. However as mentioned above, the ending seemed rushed. Another 100 pages or sticking to a single crime would have made this a much better book, or even two books. Despite this, I recommend the book highly for fans of the series.

[Chuck McGrady · Rating 3 out of 5]

The plot (and the book) didn't appeal to me. It really wasn't a Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito novel. Leaphorn only made a cameo appearance. It was a Chee & Manuelito Family novel since much of the plot involves Bernie's mother, sister, and the sister's boyfriend and friends.

The plot was understandable, particularly after learning how the writer came to write this story, but I found the conversation stilted, and there wasn't a lot of subtlety in the description of the plotters who sought to kill a Cabinet Secretary or in the description of the environmental issues.

Bottom line: I didn't enjoy it as much as most of the Leaphorn and Chee stories.

[Dave · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big Hillerman fan. I have read all of Tony's and Anne's books in the series. Tony had the gift of not only good mystery writing, but he also took the time to learn about Diné (Navaj0) culture and traditions, gaining the respect of the tribe. Tony also painted the landscape in a way that made the reader feel immersed.

I appreciate Anne for resuming the series. She is fast approaching her father's total count in the series! However, Anne has had a couple of strikes in the series, and Shadow of the Solstice is one of them. A good mystery keeps the reader wondering and trying to sort through the puzzle until the very end. A twist normally hits the reader at the very end. In Shadow of the Solstice, there are two stories in one book, and they are not related. The story about the cult protest group CUSP has a hint of mystery, but there are no twists. It slowly evolves and the reader knows what is going on and there are no surprises at the end. The separate story about the rehab scam is not a mystery at all. Additionally, Anne does not end the book with closure regarding Droid (Andrew) and is father and grandmother in that story. Additionally, as others have pointed out, there are numerous typos in the book, reflecting very poor editing.

It has been hit and miss with Anne, but I do appreciate the continuation of the series because I have grown with the characters and it is a joy.

[Jody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have all of Tony and Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito, I love the stories, the people, the history, and the scenery. I anxiously await each new books release. There are two real life crimes to solve, along with MAMA aging and Sister’s drama ridden life. This book was kind of jerky, not hard to read, but difficult to feel engaged with the characters. I think there was just too much going on, too many directions, and nothing was ever fully explained. I was disappointed. Unfortunately, not one of my favorite books by these two authors.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

10th in the series by Anne Hillerman . . Not even sure how many were in the series by her father, Tony, but I have read and enjoyed them all.

All the familiar elements are in this novel: landscape, Navajo culture and spiritual beliefs, our longtime Navajo police characters and their families, grandmothers and the struggle to restore people to peace and harmony. There are 2 well developed crime mysteries but one falls apart (to me) at the end, taking an implausible, stereotyped turn. The other one, about fraudulent Medicaid drug treatment claims is very well told and rings true.

I am already looking forward to the next one in series.


,

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first dive into this author and series brought me to Shiprock, New Mexico. As the largest Navajo community in the Navajo Nation, and having visited there, I hoped to learn more about the solstice and current Navajo events. In Anne Hillerman’s Shadow of the Solstice, Navajo investigators Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito promised an intriguing dive into traditional and modern Navajo life, interwoven with the pressing issues facing the Navajo Nation. Shadow of the Solstice predominantly featured Lieutenant Jim Chee and his wife, Officer Bernadette 'Bernie' Manuelito, with retired detective Joe Leaphorn making only a brief appearance. The book's dual plots highlight shameful injustices against the Navajo people. The first is a massive Medicaid fraud exploiting Indigenous people seeking rehabilitation for alcohol and drug addictions. The second involves dangerous uranium mining resuming along the Navajo Nation lands, leaving countless individuals, homes, and their sacred environment contaminated with radiation. This unfolding crisis also coincides with an unprecedented, unwelcome visit by a U.S. Cabinet Secretary to Shiprock. While the plot held potential, its pacing suffered from several melodramatic chapters. The pervasive political tension in the backdrop overshadowed what I hoped would be a deeper exploration of cultural rituals, particularly those surrounding the summer solstice. 3/5

[Jennifer Mangler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked both of the stories in this latest installment, so much so that I wish they'd each had their own book. Both stories deserved more fleshing out, especially the story involving Darleen Manuelito's client Mrs. R. I loved Mrs. R and wanted a resolution to her story. And I missed Leaphorn. Bringing him in at the very end for a short conversation is just not enough Leaphorn for me. He'll always remain my favorite character in the series.

Side note: You really need to read the author's note at the end.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gotta love 💕 a book that is thought provoking and yet entertaining! Based on actual events, this book features the Navaho Nation police department as they delve into the disappearance of an underage man and his grandmother as well as shenanigans by a secretive cult group who are building a sweat 😓 lodge near an abandoned uranium mine.

Themes include treatment of indigenous people, scam artists, Medicaid fraud, and cults.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The advantage of a mystery series in which there are not just one but two highly qualified investigators is that it is possible to focus on two separate crimes and NOT have them merge into a single perpetrator or gang of perpetrators at the end.

Navajo Nation Police Lieutenant Jim Chee has been investigating a rise in disappearances across their jurisdiction. Not that adults don’t occasionally walk away from their lives no matter where they live, but this rise is considerably more than the usual, with more families than are usually left behind in such cases left bereft by the limbo of their probable loss.

At the same time, Navajo Nation Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito is investigating complaints about an unapproved and downright dangerous structure being built by a visiting “meditation” group on land that they have rented from a well-known local family.

This may not sound like all that big a deal, but a) they don’t own the land, b) the owner refused permission for them to build, c) they didn’t get their plans approved and d) the structure is a sweat lodge meant to be used for meditation and healing ceremonies and its construction is so dangerous as to be downright deadly in the wrong circumstances. Which is exactly what they’re planning to hold. That the whole setup not just looks and sounds and more importantly ACTS like a cult setting up for something either dangerous or suicidal or both makes the owners’ feel unsafe and makes Bernie’s hackles rise accordingly.

Into this already potentially explosive mix throw the possible arrival of the Secretary of Energy, probably to give a speech that will run directly contrary to Navajo Nation policy, with all the chaos that a visiting dignitary could bring – as well as the tensions arising from the lack of certainty about whether she will or she won’t.

Chee has been left in charge of whatever is going to happen, if it’s going to happen, because the station captain had a heart attack right after the potential visit was announced. He’s torn between duties, cases and family while his wife, Officer Bernie Manuelito, has turned over a really big rock and a much more dangerous snake than she expected has crawled out to strike at a bigger prize than anyone imagined.

Escape Rating A-: As much and as long as I have loved this series, it took me a bit to get into this particular entry in it for reasons that I think were a ‘me’ thing and may not be a ‘you’ thing. I was looking for more of an escape than I got this time around, as this story took me away in geography but not so much in other ways.

In other words, everything that happens in this story felt very close to ‘real’ life, and I wanted to be further away than that. Also, I was really, seriously worried for one of the characters and I needed to find out that she’d be okay before I could relax into the story. Once she managed to rescue herself, the rest of the story grabbed me and didn’t let go until the end – which was more than a bit of a nail-biter.

What made this one both so real and so fascinating was the way that even though the two cases don’t merge into one in any of the usual ways, they were both motivated by a lot of the same things – none of which were the ostensible causes of the crimes themselves.

Both crimes are about greed and manipulation, about taking advantage of people’s desire for a better life to line the pockets of the perpetrators at the expense of as many people as possible. That one is a Medicaid scam in Phoenix and the other is a cult subjugating its members even as it bilks them of their money is merely window dressing on the true motives of their perpetrators, which are to take advantage of people – and the government in the case of the Medicaid scam – and line their own pockets.

That one perpetrator is coldly, cruelly sane while the other believes he’s getting messages from a higher power – or at least pretends to – doesn’t mean that they’re not operating from surprisingly similar playbooks in the end.

And ending which administers just desserts to both, even though it’s not remotely possible to truly balance the scales in either case. Which comes back, again, to just how closely reality bites this fictional setting.

Over the more than OMG 30 years that I’ve been following this series (the series began in 1970 with The Blessing Way but I didn’t get hooked on it until the early 1990s) the more I’ve enjoyed getting to know these characters and have loved watching them grow and change over the years. When the series began, the ‘Legendary’ Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn was the protagonist and young Officer Jim Chee was his sometimes reluctant sidekick. Now Chee is the lead investigator, his wife and fellow officer Bernie is NOT his sidekick but an investigator in her own right. They face a whole new set of challenges, often separately on the job but together in their relationship, while behind them a new crop of officers is learning the ropes and their world is changing – as the world does. (And if any of this sounds familiar that might be because the original stories are the basis for the TV series Dark Winds.)

But humans are always gonna human, there will always be more problems for them to face and crimes for them to solve, and I’ll always be looking forward to the next book in the series whenever it appears. Hopefully, that will be this time next year.

Originally published at Reading Reality

[L.G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4 stars

I highly recommend this series. I've been reading this Tony/Anne Hillerman series in order for 50+ years (don't ask my age). So, this is either the 28th or the 10th book depending on where you begin your series journey. This entry highlights domestic terrorism and the history of the effects of radiation poisoning on the Navajos who live near or worked and lived around uranium mining. A second plot line features a group of people involved in a fake drug and alcohol rehab program using vulnerable indigenous people in a Medicare scam.

SUMMARY: The Navajo Nation police are on high alert when a U.S. Cabinet Secretary schedules an unprecedented trip to the little Navajo town of Shiprock, New Mexico. The visit coincides with a plan to resume uranium mining along the Navajo Nation border. Tensions around the official’s arrival escalate when the body of a stranger is found in an area restricted for the disposal of radioactive uranium waste. Is it coincidence that a cult with a propensity for violence arrives at a private camp group outside Shiprock the same week to celebrate the summer solstice? When the outsiders’ erratic behavior makes their Navajo hosts uneasy, Officer Bernadette Manuelito is assigned to monitor the situation. She finds a young boy at grave risk, abused women, and other shocking discoveries that plunge her and Lt. Jim Chee into a volatile and deadly situation.

Meanwhile, Darleen Manuelito, Bernie’s high spirited younger sister, learns one of her home health clients is gone–and the woman’s daughter doesn’t seem to care. Darleen’s curiosity and sense of duty combine to lead her to discover that the client’s grandson is also missing and that the two have become ensnared in a wickedly complex scheme exploiting indigenous people. Darleen’s information meshes with a case Chee has begun to solve that deals with the evil underside of human nature.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

The novel starts out interesting, but chapters 33 through 41 are pretty junky. Although she suspected danger, Mrs. Yazee left her husband and grandson to go to her sister's?! Then, Manuelito and Chee both, in superhero fashion, miraculously wake up from being hit on the head (Manuelito ) and drugged (Chee) to save a group of women who are in danger, and catch the bad guys! Much of the action is confusing. The ending is too prescribed - I would rather a little was left to the imagination.

[Nan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook

I swear the last book said that Darlene was engaged to Slim. It was very random at the end since they had taken a cooling off period throughout the book. So confused. Maybe I heard it wrong. Or I got the book order wrong/goodreads has it wrong?

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably a 3.5. I liked both storylines in the book. The writing was good until the dialog at the end of the cult storyline. It seemed too preachy and unlikely. She's still not up to her father's skills, but she is SO much better than the Charlie Moon series.

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start, but well worth sticking with until it all starts to gel.

I always learn something every time I read one of these books. This time around the subjects were uranium mining and medicare fraud; each with their own storyline, both had me shaking my head in dismay.

The blurb sets it up nicely, so I won't try a recap.

I missed Leaphorn, as he didn't show up in person. But Bernie and Chee were in fine form. I especially enjoyed the very real hassles the local law enforcement had with the impending visit of a Washington, D.C bigwig.

As always, the sense of place was fantastic. I relish these visits to Navajo country.

[Sassy Mystic Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome read

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it was only to be expected but it seems the novels are moving away from Chee and Leaphorn, and more to the family dynamics of Chee and Bernie, and her mother, and sister. There are two stories going on here and neither was particularly satisfying for me, although I admire Hillerman for plots that reflect contemporary Navajo issues.

[Sharon L · Rating 3 out of 5]

This installment of the series has a different feel and focus than the others. Instead this novel brings to our attention two historical crimes committed against the Navajo Nation peoples with descriptions of both in the author's note. In doing so, there's not much space in the novel for moving the meta-plot of the MC's forward. Chee, Manuelito, and Leaphorn are involved in the two cases presented in the novel, but their personal lives are only lightly discussed. Also strange in this novel is for a culture so connected to the earth, we're told that the spring equinox is happening multiple times, but not shown how it's celebrated.

It reads more like a side-quest for some minor characters.

Audiobook was excellently narrated. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not up to the standards of most of the rest of the series....the last 50 pages or so unravelled in a timeline that was confusing and some characters seemed to be in two places at one time.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always had great respect for authors like CJ Box, Craig Johnson, Margaret Cole and William Kent Krueger...They all treat Native American culture with the greatest honor and respect...Tony Hillerman was the first author where I noticed this reverence, and his daughter Anne Hillerman, as a legacy author, continues this wonderful course...In "Shadow of the Solstice," we have less Joe Leaphorn, with Bernie and Chee taking the lead as they confront environmental wackos' efforts to disrupt a visit, to the Navajo Nation, by a Washington VIP and scammers taking advantage of some on "The Rez"...Good stuff!!!

[B.J. Burgess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shadow of the Solstice primarily focuses on Lieutenant Jim Chee and his wife, Officer Bernadette 'Bernie' Manuelito, with retired detective Joe Leaphorn making only a brief cameo at the end of the story. The main plot revolves around a fraud scheme targeting the Navajo population, particularly individuals struggling with addiction—a storyline that resonates with contemporary issues. While the plot is effective overall, several dramatic chapters hinder the pacing.

Additionally, there is a subplot about an environmental organization's efforts against uranium mining on the reservation. My speed-reading abilities were put to the test during this narrative thread, as I did not maintain a strong interest in it. This subplot felt like a rehash of similar plots I have encountered in other books, making it somewhat tedious.

There is also a side plot concerning Bernie’s aging mother, who has recently moved in with the couple. While the narration was competent, this storyline seemed to serve as filler material, contributing to uneven pacing throughout the book.

Shadow of the Solstice presented a considerable reading challenge for various reasons. I finished it quickly, but the narrative proved convoluted, with pacing inconsistencies, storyline issues, and complications with the timeline. The final act was especially perplexing, as the characters practically appeared to occupy two distinct locations simultaneously. In the end, I found it disappointing and don't recommend it, not even to loyal Hillerman readers.

Find my full review at https://www.coffeeaddictedwriter.com/....

[Hannah Plourde · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was hard to finish. Poorly edited, words misspelled at one point the character George is spelt Geoge. There’s a scene near the end where one of the characters is on the phone with someone and then one paragraph later it’s written like they are talking face to face. I reread it 5x to make sure I didn’t miss anything…
The idea for the 2 plot lines was the only thing holding me through the book. I’m surprised how many positive reviews there are.

[Ray Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrorism and Exploitation Reaches Ship Rock

A teenage high schooler, Droid is out running when he finds a break in the uranium disposal site fence. A new running route intrigues him. While stopping to catch his breath, he sees a cowboy hat. On closer look, a head is below the hat. Then, he notices the battered face and the congealed blood. The man is dead. He starts to run back home. He vows to himself that he will not drink anymore. He does not want to end up like that man. From this start, a riveting story starts.

This novel has three main storyline threads. The first is the discovery and initial investigation of the dead body. It was murder, and that is the responsibility of the FBI. They provide updates throughout the novel. The second thread follows the teenager seeking rehabilitation services. His grandmother accompanies him to the pickup location. The van is taking mostly indigenous people to Phoenix for treatment. The grandmother is suspicious, so she signs up and goes with her grandson. The grandmother's problems start when the grandson disappears the first night, and she is left hundreds of miles away from home. She has no way to contact anyone back in Ship Rock. The third thread starts with the preparations for a VIP visit by the Secretary of Energy with the threat of protest by a radical environmental group. Lieutenant Jim Chee is suddenly put in charge when his captain becomes ill and is hospitalized. The novel mostly jumps between the last two threads. Whenever the thread changed, a hook at the end of the chapter made me want to get through to where it started again. Unfortunately, both threads did it, so my attention was locked solid throughout the novel.

The background of the two main characters was a little light on the background. I learned about Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito's characters through their current actions and thoughts in this novel. The other Navaho characters were presented with much more background to supplement their current actions and thoughts. This aspect did not add to my reading enjoyment but did not discourage me from reading this novel.

I found the minimal aspects that can cause some readers to stop reading. There are no intimate scenes. My vulgar, rude, and impious word list search yielded zero hits. The violence probably rates a TV-14 listing. I started using my eReader's Internet capability to search for the meaning of the Navajo words. When I was eating in a place without WiFi access, searching for a word revealed a glossary of the Navajo works. I deleted my proposed remark on this issue. I was pretty happy having this glossary available. This novel should not discourage anyone from reading it.

The lightness of the background on Chee and Manuelito is the only aspect that did not enhance my reading enjoyment. I enjoyed the portrayal of the Navajo interpersonal relationships. All the characters were quite believable to me. There were no loose ends at the end of the novel. This novel was my first read from this series. It is preceded by 10 by this author and 18 by her father. Based on the TV series and this read, I have purchased 18 of their novels. I am planning on some good reading. I highly recommend reading this novel, but I would add a caveat that it may not be the best novel to jump into this series. I do not rate an author based on one book, but I did here. I placed her in my Will-Read category. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel and rate it with five stars.

I received this novel's free prepublication e-book version from Harper through NetGalley. My review is based solely on my own reading experience. Thank you, Harper, for the opportunity to read and review this novel early.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow of the Solstice: a Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel Book #28 is written by Anne Hillerman.
The Navajo Tribal Police are extremely busy. Lt. Jim Chee is acting head of the Station, which is expecting to go ‘into overdrive’ as a U.S. Cabinet Secretary is making an unscheduled, unexpected trip to the small town of Shiprock, New Mexico.
Lt. Chee and his wife, fellow officer Bernadette (Bernie) Manuelito, become involved in a cult
presence of agitators and violent protestors that may be threatening the Secretary’s visit.
AND Bernie’s sister, Darleen (she is a student home health care provider), is trying to locate a missing client and her grandson who have become ensnared in a complex criminal scheme exploiting indigenous peoples.
Whew! Lots going on.
The plot is complex, full of interconnecting threads.
The location is beautiful and almost feels like home after reading the books in this series.
There is an incredible sense of place.
The writing is thoughtful and very descriptive.
The characters draw one in, with their kindness, insights, intelligence, ethics, morality and
impart so much Navajo culture and customs.

The title tackles real issues facing the Navajo Nation, indeed all or most of indigenous peoples.
Ms. Hillerman gives us hard-core facts about several topics in her Author’s Notes and Acknowledgements.
There is also a glossary Navajo words and information about the author, Anne Hillerman.
*****

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. This book rests on several issues: the harm uranium mining has done to those living near it and protesting environmentalists and a Medicaid fraud scheme, based on a real Arizona fraud case. Someone finds a body inside the uranium exclusion zone and the FBI soon takes that case. An important person may visit Shiprock so preparations must be made to keep them safe. And a white van picks up substance abusers to take them to rehab. Lots going on in this book but it definitely works. Jim Chee, Bernadette Manuelito and Darleen Manuelito all have large roles to play.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as I am concerned, this is Anne Hillerman's best book yet. It was engaging and timely with content based on actual events. There was plenty of suspense and character growth. My constant complaint still stands, however. The publisher needs to hire better proof readers! There were too many misspelled words, or missing words, and excess words in some sentences where the writer changed her mind on how to get across a point, but failed to remove all the previous thought. These glaring mistakes detract from the reading experience. The phrasing at times was misleading as well causing confusion to the point where some sentences had to be re-read several times to grasp the meaning. Still, I appreciate this series being kept alive and will continue to read it despite the mistakes.

[John Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit of a disappointment. The book was too talky and slow moving. And Joe Leaphorn was conspicuous by his absence, until the very end of the book. I didn't feel the suspense and at least some tension that I would expect in a mystery. Overall, Anne Hillerman has done an excellent job at continuing this series (one of my all-time favorites) since the passing of her father. I'm chalking this up as a minor slip, and will look forward to the next book, which, I hope, will include a lot more of Joe Leaphorn, the "legendary lieutenant."

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume had a departure in style, in that it followed our main characters in their storylines, but also followed two Dine who go to Phoenix, but are connected to our characters & are the impetus for much of the storyline. Bernie & Chee are still dealing with her mother's failing memory issues & the need for constant care for her, but as friends step in to help, they are coping. But big issues arise that require them to work more & juggling work & home life becomes increasingly difficult as events become increasingly dangerous. Great story.

[Lily Morris · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF with about 30 pages left…Maybe just not for me. I thought it was strange the whole sober living home plot line wasn’t even mentioned on the inside cover and yet was like half the book…I think the whole cult plot line was half baked and was disappointed they didn’t really get into it until around the 60% mark, maybe even 70%.

I liked the characters and the mystery of it all, but overall it did not meet my expectations.