“I love Tony Hillerman Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee novels, but this one was really hard on the emotions for me. The story as always is gripping as Joe Leaphorn invistigates the disappearrance of a Navajo boy in the Zuni tribal territory. Joe feels inferior to the Zuni people because of his Zuni roommate in college. I think that's what I like about Joe and Jim. They have insecurity and sometimes screw up. They aren't super cops. These men have deep feelings and respect for all beliefs. They also struggle with their own religious beliefs. I also like how Hillerman shows that sometimes the law of the Navajo or Zuni is a better path than white man justice. This book in particular shows that Zuni justice is more appropriate in the end.
In this story, the Zuni are about to celebrate a particular religious event and the taboos are powerful. Someone breaking a strong taboo is using the Zuni religion to cover a secret. You don't figure out what the secret is until the end when Joe finally struggles through the logic to find it. Unfortunately it is too late for the Navajo boy. The Zuni boy already paid for the secret. ”
PaytonLee wrote this review Saturday, August 11 2007.
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