Billy Moon: A Navajo Nation Mystery

by R. Allen Chappell

Book 13 in Chappell’s legacy series of stand-alone novels set in the heart of Diné Bikeyah.
A frantic young girl flees the reservation to escape the horrors of abuse at the hands of her adoptive family. Despising her white father they blame for the death of the girl’s mother. The man is driven out only to be found dead along a lonely stretch of dirt road.
Suffering through a long and desperate struggle on the back streets of Albuquerque, the girl somehow manages to survive, and against all odds, eventually claws her way up from the depths of degradation to a life of success beyond her wildest imagining.
Now, these many years later, the woman’s traumatic past still weighs on her every waking moment. Consumed with dreams of revenge she returns to the reservation. Calling on Charlie Yazzie, the Legal Services Investigator is finally convinced to look into her father’s still unsolved murder. Longtime friends Harley Ponyboy and Thomas Begay are quick to join in, then find they too, have become entwined in the murderous intrigue... Billy Moon is back!

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Fiction

344 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 22, 2023

About the author

R. Allen Chappell, the author of eight novels and a collection of short stories, grew up with the Navajo, went to school with them and later worked alongside them, forging enduring friendships along the way. "Those friendships," the author says, "became the inspiration for this series."

Reviews

[Bonnye Reed]

Kindle Unlimited
This is the 13th 0f 14 in this Navajo Nation Mystery series and is all about middle-aged songstress Billy Moon, a reservation local who made it big in the international music industry and occasionally comes home to rest- and sing - in her extravagant motor home -her only home - along with her security man Tito Alvarez, six foot five and 260 pounds. Security that Billy needs, especially at home after family incidents in her youth taught her many of life's harshest lessons. Part of her mission in Navajoland is to explore the facts around the death of her white father when she was a teenager. There had been rumors around the Rez, but his murder was never solved. And she has an in with the cops - she dated Charlie Yazzie when they were young. Those are connections she's going to need when Tito winds up in the ICU at the local hospital and family members start dying. And why does the young waitress Billy is dating look so familiar? Those very grey eyes...
A hauntingly vivid story, one I thoroughly enjoyed. I hope you will, as well.
REVIEWED on February 4, 2025, at Goodreads, AmazonSmile, Barnes&Noble, BookBub, and Kobo.

[Virginia Adi]

good story

[Jacqui H. Travis]

A longtime fan of Chappell's three main characters in his Navajo Mystery series... Charlie Yazzi, Thomas Began and Harley Ponyboy... this mystery has all three of them working together to solve a series of murders in remote areas on the Rez, and seem to revolve around a Navajo woman who fled the Rez as a teen believing to be abused, and returned years later, for unknown reasons, after a long career as a rock star.

As always, with Chappell's Navajo Mysteries, there are beautiful descriptions of the life and landscapes on the reservation, and a continual growth and development of his main characters.

I think this is one of the best in this series.

[Kristoffer Jost]

Wonderful series!

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the Navajo Nation Mystery series. This author weaves a richly entertaining storyline with compelling characters in each book. One comes to love and care deeply about this cast of characters like dear old friends. They stay with you long after you’ve finished reading. I only recently came across these books and have binge read them from start to this most recent one. The author deserves rich accolades for this inspiring work of fiction.

[David Steinkamp]

I loved this book.

Well, Mr. Chappell has done it again. His wonderful Navajo characters all seem so real I feel I know them well. I love how they have all grown so much since his first story about Charlie and his friends. The story has a sad and unfortunate ending that I wish could have been different but I look forward to reading more about Billy Red Clay and Irene. Please keep the Navajo Nation Mysteries coming.

[Philip]

Great team works together

Mr. Chappell has written another great chapter in the lives of all the characters in his series! He takes the reader through the current story and ties up some loose ends as well. He has continued to let his characters grow and develop in this book as he has in each book before. I am always happy to read and learn more about the Navajo people and the definitions he always includes at the end of each book. Thanks for your efforts!

[Al Decker]

Great series

Began this series a month and a half ago and just finished Billy Moon.
Great stories, with a consistent character base having evolved with growth over the timeline. The series builds on the troubled past of the treatment of native people, but leaves hope for a better future.
Not sure that my next reads will measure up to this series. I am sorrowful to leave the beauty way behind.

[Tena Marie Virden]

Incredible addition to this series!

Highly recommend! I have enjoyed more than words could say how very much I have grown to appreciate and love the main characters of this series. watching them grow as individuals and as dear friends has been a remarkable venture! This one was on the more emotional side, having heart wrenching moments, but in the end it remains true to series

[Jim Bean]

Surprises never cease

You would think that after 13 books written in this series that fresh ideas for a plot would diminish a good story. The author is still creative. Billy Moon was a great tale. The characters of the Navajo Nation Mystery series are aging but still a delight to read about,

I hope you are entertained as you read the Billy Moon story. This was another enjoyable read.

[Vickie]

Billy Moon

I have come to really enjoy the Navajo Nation mysteries. The characters and the characterization of their lives. The different personalities and the inner action between them with regards to the story line. I think this book has been the best one for me so far. I have enjoyed them all but this one went a little deeper emotionally especially with the introduction of new characters. Look forward to reading the next one in line.

[Linda Gettig]

As good as ever

I await each new book and wonder if it will be up to the high standards of the previous works. I'm never disappointed. If you want to know about the people of the Navajo Nation and the land itself, you need to read this series. It will be a most enjoyable learning experience.

[charlotte brinkman]

Enjoyable series

I've read all these books now and found them all highly entertaining. I really liked the main characters and especially the amusing banter between Harley and Thomas. I did miss Thomas in this book but this book had a more serious theme. I hope there will be more to this series and I intend to look for more novels by this author.

[Daniel W. Hamilton]

Very fun read!

Solid story line and imaginative. Didn't want to put it down. Always enjoy books in this series. The editing, as in previous books and Kindle in general was poor. Sentence structure errors and inappropriate comma usage were distracting. Not enough to discourage a potential reader, however. A recommended read for sure!

[Laurie DelSignore]

I loved this book. I read it way too fast. I can’t wait for another book with Charlie Yazzie, Thomas Begay, Billy Red Clay, and Harley Ponyboy. I feel like there is more to write about Billy Moon. I read the last chapter twice. I did not want it to end. I look forward to seeing where all the characters pick up in the next book.

[Mary Ashley]

Billy Moon is another great story in A Navajo Nation Mystery Series. I love all the characters we have come to enjoy reading about. An old friend of Charlie's, Billie Moon, now an international rock star, has returned to the reservation and is asking for Charlie to help look into her father's death/murder.

[Susan D. Robinson]

A touch different

I do love this author. Again I have not been let down. The story was fast moving.The theme of a singer,A star no less gave a different flavor to this one. A good read!

[Joyce Burk]

I have enjoyed all of Allen Chappells Navajo Nation mysteries. All the characters seem so realistic and it is always great to get reacquainted with them in each book. I hope Mr. Chappell will write more such mysteries.

[William N.]

Very good!

Even better than usual, albeit sad. Although predictable, the book is still among the best of the series. I have become a great fan of Chappell and am quite impatiently awaiting the next in this great saga.

[Judy Elliott]

Good, but not as good as previous reads

I had this figured from nearly the beginning. Not as exciting as previous books, but ok nonetheless. Will still continue to read stuff from the author.

[Francis X DuFour]

A very interesting plot that Chappel tied together nicely. His continuing cast of characters (from earlier in the series) have blended into this next story very well and add a nice feel of the Dine people. Highly recommended.

[Michael Jewell]

Absolutely the best book in the series and yes, I could not put it down! The ending was surprisingly final and shocked me. I was hoping for something else but the book is still one of my favorites. I highly recommend reading the series and hope that it continues for as long as I draw breath.

[Sheila McMurdo]

Dreading the end

As the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. I have one more book to read in this wonderful series. I am dreading finishing the series. I love all the characters that seem like old friends..I have enjoyed this series so very, very much!

[Ray York]

Billy Moon

R. Allen Chappell, thank you for another great mystery! Always enjoy your writings. Wishing you the very best and looking forward to your next mystery.

[Johnny Williams]

Billy Moon

Did not disappoint. I developed great mental images of Navajo life, landscape, and characters . Love Harley Ponyboy. Can't wait for the next adventure.

[Alice Ripple]

good reading

I enjoy the Navaho Nation Mysteries some more than others but they are good and the characters are notable and well written

[Lynette]

4.5 good story! A couple of jolting little continuity jumps but really quite excellent

[Sandra Landtroop]

ok

A moderately entertaining story made more interesting by the author’s obvious familiarity with and nice rendition of the novel’s setting.

[Tamara]

Great Read

I love this series and this book is really great, as they all have been. I couldn’t put it down

[Beverly Kee]

Another really good story in this series!

Remarkable storyline that leaves you wishing the book was twice as long! I can only hope there will be many more to follow!

[Vera Rey]

Billy Moon

Life is a roulette sometimes it’s wonderful other times not ,sometimes ur lucky too ! So live life as it goes along