Legend of the Dead

Sheriff Lansing Mystery #1

by Micah S. Hackler

A THOUSAND YEARS AGO A PEOPLE'S BLOOD WAS SHED ON THIS PARCHED EARTH. NOW THE DYING HAS BEGUN AGAIN.... LEGEND OF THE DEAD A Sheriff Lansing Mystery HIGH ON A DESERT RIDGE, THE WATCHER AWAITS The body in the arroyo belonged to a man who'd made his living plundering ancient Indian sites. And the only witness to the crime would not change his a demon had killed his friend. Sheriff Cliff Lansing has an unexplained death on his hands, and it's only the beginning. In Las Palmas, New Mexico, a U.S. senator is on his way to meet a Zuni shaman who is holding up a land swap involving 150,000 acres in New Mexico and Arizona. Backed by a powerful businessman, the senator intends to push the deal through, but in a long, dark night on the high desert he is led into a storm of violence and shame.... Now Sheriff Lansing is headed out to the Anasazi Strip, where the truth awaits him-in the swirling dust of magic, greed, and murder....

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Westerns, Thriller, Native American, Mystery Thriller, Crime

249 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Dave Weller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I continue to search for books in the style of Craig Johnson's Longmire, and this Sheriff Lansing mystery novel is a close cousin. I enjoyed this book immensely, and all the characters came to life in the central western New Mexico setting. I have been to Santa Fe, and the descriptions of the terrain accurately depict that part of the world. The integration of Zuni and Navajo beliefs in the form of the Windwalker is masterful. I already added the other eight books in this series to my Goodreads' list, and I cannot wait to digest them.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Going back to Jeff Carson books when I start missing my western sheriff stories. Plot was okay, but the writing was just mediocre.

[J.J. Rusz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised how much I liked this murder mystery bound up with Native American history and traditions in New Mexico. The characters are sharply drawn and the tale moves along well, especially for the first novel in a series. No, it’s not Tony Hillerman or Margaret Coel or CJ Box yet. But I’ve liked some of their stories less.

[Linda Pobanz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Legend

It was a great book and I can't wait to read the next one. I couldn't believe the twist at the end. It was extremely disconcerting about the other deputy. I really enjoyed it!

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book just showed up in my Audible account. It was really fast paced and packed with information about the ancient Zuni tribe. I thought the ending was just a little brief. I wanted to know more about what happened to the characters. I will read the next one.

[Randy Daugherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The body in the arroyo belonged to a man who'd made his living plundering ancient Indian sites. And the only witness to the crime would not change his story: a demon had killed his friend.

Sheriff Cliff Lansing has an unexplained death on his hands, and it's only the beginning. In Las Palmas, New Mexico, a U.S. senator is on his way to meet a Zuni shaman who is holding up a land swap involving 150,000 acres in New Mexico and Arizona. Backed by a powerful businessman, the senator intends to push the deal through, but in a long, dark night on the high desert he is led into a storm of violence and shame....

Now Sheriff Lansing is headed out to the Anasazi Strip, where the truth awaits him-in the swirling dust of magic, greed, and murder....
Not exactly Tony Hillerman but still a good read and I plan on reading more in the series.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mystery…

I decided to try this book out because it’s a series and set in the American Southwest. I’ve devoured several serious set in the same place, on the native Reservations.

This book didn’t disappoint as far as the mystery goes. The plot was well done the characters developed… I really enjoyed reading it. The only thing I disliked was that none of the protagonist were native American. How can you have a series set in this part of the world without any native American good guys still sheriff Lansing? Seems like he’ll be a good protagonist for future books and at least I can enjoy learning more more about the native peoples of the area. Well enjoying a good read. It was also fun to learn more about the Zuni and the Anasazi. I would so love if the “shipap” actually exists!

[Bob Grove · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chose this book as its setting is in the four corners region of the American Southwest. The book is number one of a series. I very much enjoyed the first 90% of the book. I enjoyed the treatment of the southwestern setting and the characters. I liked the sorcery of the native American shaman.

I found the last ten present to be a stretch. When Sheriff Lancing and the senator defeat their advisories using an atlatl spear-throwing tool was a stretch for me. The author rounds out the mystery issues with a series of shootouts.

As I said, this is a series. I will try the second book, the Coyote Returns, to determine if I will continue with the series. Maybe I am expecting too much from light summer reading.

[J. Griff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I's very reminiscent of "Longmire". I found the story enjoyable with all the respect given to Native Americans & their culture, but it didn't really feel like a mystery to me. The characters are likeable & the plot was tastefully handled. For a free audiobook I truly can't complain. I would recommend this.

[Ace McGee · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was published in 2018? Reads like a really poorly written drugstore paperback from the 50’s. Amateur style, no attempt at realism. Did anyone in a position of authority read this book before it was printed? Maybe the author is someone’s nephew.

Could not finish more that a few chapters.

[Janet Mahlum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy Southwest murder mysteries and this one is very good. I had to ask my daughter to request an interlibrary loan for me from a library she has access to so I could read book 2 in the series.

[Virginia Adi · Rating 4 out of 5]

improbable, but engrossing. Looking forward to more.

[Patricia Jan Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read...I preordered the new book and got it several days ago. Ca
n't wait to get into it.

[Aeyanna Juste · Rating 2 out of 5]

Limited vocab and sentence structure. Too simplified for my taste.

[Robert D. White · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice integration of Zuni legends with crime in the New Mexico area. I would have like to have more character development of the sheriff and the horse he rode in on.

[Deith Allies · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a surprise right up to the end. I can't say that I saw it comming

Leave it up to two women to twist a person's fate. Indian lore proves strong and overpower ing to the evil.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Very good characterization and interesting take on modern day tales of the Anaszi

Always glad to hear about indigenous people and their culture.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good story of murder and land conspiracy in the North West.

[Tish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting mix of reality and the supernatural. Great story that was easy to get into. I have found a new series.

[Audiobook Accomplice (Gillian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fairly decent, -but- dude! I did it again!
My Full Review →

[Carien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it

[Deborah Mansfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

Loved all the twists and turns. Kept my attention. Read most of it in 2 days. Ready for book 2.

[Anne - Books of My Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this but a few things were beyond belief. I ended up appreciating some of the characters. I liked the sheriff but need to read at least one more in the series to figure out if I want to read the whole series.

Library Love Bingo #7 First in a series

[Kimberly Engelking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

Excellent and interesting. I live in NM and teach NM History. This is the first novel I have seen that has deviated from the typical plots found in books about NM. I live near Bandelier, one of the Anazazi sites and was interested in a different take on their disappearance. I'm looking forward to reading the next book I'm the series.

[Jackie R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little read. Fascinating SW Native American legends and archeology facts with a mixture of interesting characters. I would definitely read more.

[Mary Stenvall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one - the setting, the characters and the little bit of woo woo. On to the next in the series.