Status Updates From The Dark Wind (Leaphorn & C...

Realized while reading it that I'm enjoying this one and glad I'm not even at the halfway point! The last one felt a little repetitive and like we spent 75% of the book knowing where it was going while the story progressed like we weren't supposed to. This one stays more focused on Chee, takes us to interesting places (Hopi mesas), and feels more adult mystery, less YA adventure. Reminds of Dance Hall a little!

If Chee thinks the feds drove up the wash and only stopped briefly at tributaries, how would their tracks not be visible when he went to track the hidden vehicle? Does he *not* truly think they did that then? He knows they didn't, and that's the point? He knows they're the ones who did the hiding maybe? And again, is Cowboy Dashee involved?

For the second book in a row, what is with Chee and driving into dangerous remote areas and leaving all his weapons locked in his truck! Only to encounter danger and have to worry about how to safely get back to the truck! After everything he went through being hunted in the last book, he still sleeps out in the desert with his pistol locked in the glove box? I sure wouldn't.

So the lawyer is one of the bad guys. The trading post magician makes me suspicious: why is he a magician, what does that represent as far as his role in this? Is Cowboy involved in some way too, since he's featured so heavily and presented as such a friend?