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Navajo Autumn by R. Allen Chappell - 3 stars - My Review

I do not read many crime mysteries and picked this one up for a seasonal challenge. It is the first book in the Navajo Nation series. The plot involves the murder of a Bureau of Indian Affairs investigator. The FBI takes over the case from local authorities. Thomas Begay, a Navajo who lives on the nearby reservation, is arrested, but escapes custody. His friend, Charlie Yazzie, a lawyer, believes Thomas is innocent and they work together to figure out what happened.

I particularly enjoyed the author’s vivid descriptions of the reservation, the New Mexican landscape, and the cultural traditions of the Navajo people. I liked the use of contrasting characters. Yazzie as a tribal investigator who wants to put his law degree to use, and Begay distrusts most authorities, especially the legal system. It appears Yazzie is the main character going forward. There are a few plot holes and an abrupt ending, but this book is primarily intended to setup the rest of the series. I enjoyed it more than expected.