Shoot the Moon

by Jake Page

The first (of four) Robin Dana mysteries from this well-known writer, naturalist and director of Smithsonian Exposition Books. A mining company is maneuvering to get access to certain Indian Lands in Arizona which is causing trouble between rival tribal factions. When a New York Times reporter is found murdered in the desert area in question, photographer Robin Dana is drawn into the mystery.

218 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Jake Page was a celebrated editor, science writer, and novelist who made complex topics accessible through wit and clarity. Though he never studied science formally, his role editing Natural History Books at Doubleday sparked a lifelong passion for explaining science to general readers. As science editor and columnist at Smithsonian magazine, he wrote with elegance and humor on a wide range of subjects, from aspirin to Zane Grey. Page authored dozens of books, including works on birds, earthquakes, and Native American history. His fascination with the American Southwest led to a mystery series featuring a blind sculptor-detective. Collaborating with his wife, photographer Susanne Anderson, he produced detailed cultural studies like Hopi and Navajo. His major nonfiction achievement, In the Hands of the Great Spirit, traces 20,000 years of American Indian history. Whether exploring anthropology or writing fiction, Page championed curiosity, clarity, and the belief that science was too important to remain only in expert hands.