Cave of Bones

When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to speak at an outdoor character-building program for at-risk teens, she discovers chaos. Annie, a camper, has just returned from a solo experience—hours late and traumatized. Gently questioning the girl, Bernie learns that Annie stumbled upon something unspeakable while she was lost. And the beloved instructor who hiked in search of her is still missing.
The action unfolds in El Malpais, the rugged lava wilderness bordering Ramah Navajo Reservation. In Diné stories, the lava caves and tubes are the solidified blood of a terrible monster killed by superhuman twins. The quest for a solution introduces her to the missing man's own twin and exposes Bernie to the chilling face of human evil. The instructor's disappearance mirrors a long-ago search in which the legendary Joe Leaphorn took a crucial role, and Leaphorn's memory and connections come into play.
Meanwhile, Jim Chee tackles what should be an easy assignment to get an update on a Navajo man married to a Tesuque Pueblo woman and neglecting his mother. But, as often happens with Chee, deadly confusion abounds. Before the truth can be revealed, an unexpected blizzard, the possible misuse of tribal funds, an angry Shiprock councilor, and the arrival of a new FBI agent complicate the investigation.
Anne Hillerman takes us deep into the heart of the deserts, mountains, and forests of the Navajo Nation and once again explores the lore and rituals of Native culture in this gripping and atmospheric novel.

ANNE HILLERMAN is the bestselling author of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. The Way of the Bear is her eighth novel in the series, which was created by her father, Tony Hillerman. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Tucson, Arizona, and is at work on her next novel.