Stargazer: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel (A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel, 6)

When Officer Bernadette Manuelito’s former college roommate, Maya, confesses to the murder of her estranged husband, Officer Manuelito can’t believe it. Maya refuses to give any details of her crime, leaving Bernie to investigate what happened. She isn’t the only one troubled by the confession. Maya’s son Junior insists that she is innocent. Her husband Steve Jones was an astronomer working in a desert laboratory, and his colleagues seem to think he was depressed and likely committed suicide. Bernie’s husband and current boss, Jim Chee, is stuck in the office dealing with heaps of bureaucracy, leaving Bernie to help with Maya’s case. Retired officer Joe Leaphorn is working on his own cases as a private investigator, but he still has time to advise Chee and Bernie if they need it in their attempts to solve their mystery.

Anne Hillerman has written a fascinating mystery incorporating Navajo customs and tribal lore with beautifully vivid Southwest scenery. Her characters are memorable and continue the tradition her father started with Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee many years ago. I love the inclusion of strong female characters in this story. Stargazer has a compelling and interesting storyline, making it hard to put down. To my mind, this is storytelling at its best.