amberdebo's review against another edition
2.0
I love these books, but this one was a bit of a miss for me. No spoilers, but Bernie pretty obviously overlooks something in the beginning that ends up being the key to the whole crime, which just made the book frustrating. It was too heavy-handed just to make the plot work.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
Cave of Bones by Anne Hillerman is a perplexing mystery with several cases to solve. This 22nd installment in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series can easily be read as a standalone.
Tribal police officer Bernadette "Bernie" Manuelito is only supposed to be giving a talk to the participants of the Wings and Roots program. However, she quickly becomes embroiled in a case in which teenager Annie Rainsong goes missing and staff member Domingo "Dom" Cruz who is searching for her, has also disappeared. Annie eventually returns unharmed but Dom is nowhere to be found. Since Annie is prone to exaggerating, no one but Bernie believes her claims that she found bones in the cave she took refuge in overnight. Bernie is soon swept up in several seeming disparate investigations involving the Wings and Roots program, Dom's search and rescue and possible grave robbing of Native American artifacts.
Bernie's husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, is in Santa Fe for training and he grows concerned for his sister-in-law Darleen who is attending a class at the Institute of American Indian Arts. He is worried that she might be in trouble with her boyfriend Clayton "CS" Secody whose furtive actions make Jim suspicious. Equally dismaying is the discovery that CS is involved with Clyde Herbert, a felon that Jim put behind bars. Jim is afraid Darleen is in over her head since she is unwilling to discuss what is going on with her, CS and Herbert.
Both Bernie and Jim turn to Lt. Joe Leaphorn for background on some of the principals they encounter on their respective investigations. Although Joe still has a few memory issues from being shot, he remains sharp as a tack. He augments his recollections with some research that turns up some very unexpected revelations.
Cave of Bones is a mesmerizing police procedural that takes a few startling twists and turns. The cases are quite interesting and in addition to a wily group of suspects, Bernie must also battle the elements in her quest for answers. Anne Hillerman's descriptive prose brings the New Mexico landscape and Native American culture vividly to life. The novel comes to a satisfying conclusion that neatly wraps all of the story arcs. This latest addition to the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series is sure to be hit with fans of the genre.
Tribal police officer Bernadette "Bernie" Manuelito is only supposed to be giving a talk to the participants of the Wings and Roots program. However, she quickly becomes embroiled in a case in which teenager Annie Rainsong goes missing and staff member Domingo "Dom" Cruz who is searching for her, has also disappeared. Annie eventually returns unharmed but Dom is nowhere to be found. Since Annie is prone to exaggerating, no one but Bernie believes her claims that she found bones in the cave she took refuge in overnight. Bernie is soon swept up in several seeming disparate investigations involving the Wings and Roots program, Dom's search and rescue and possible grave robbing of Native American artifacts.
Bernie's husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, is in Santa Fe for training and he grows concerned for his sister-in-law Darleen who is attending a class at the Institute of American Indian Arts. He is worried that she might be in trouble with her boyfriend Clayton "CS" Secody whose furtive actions make Jim suspicious. Equally dismaying is the discovery that CS is involved with Clyde Herbert, a felon that Jim put behind bars. Jim is afraid Darleen is in over her head since she is unwilling to discuss what is going on with her, CS and Herbert.
Both Bernie and Jim turn to Lt. Joe Leaphorn for background on some of the principals they encounter on their respective investigations. Although Joe still has a few memory issues from being shot, he remains sharp as a tack. He augments his recollections with some research that turns up some very unexpected revelations.
Cave of Bones is a mesmerizing police procedural that takes a few startling twists and turns. The cases are quite interesting and in addition to a wily group of suspects, Bernie must also battle the elements in her quest for answers. Anne Hillerman's descriptive prose brings the New Mexico landscape and Native American culture vividly to life. The novel comes to a satisfying conclusion that neatly wraps all of the story arcs. This latest addition to the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series is sure to be hit with fans of the genre.
acarman1's review against another edition
4.0
I'm so glad that Anne Hillerman took up her dad's series. Tremendous stories of great human emotion against the backdrop of the American Southwest and the plight of the Navajo and Pueblo tribes. If there's a weakness, it's the chronology. It isn't always clear how time is passing. How many days, how many hours, even how many years or the exact time is confusing. But that doesn't stop it from being entertaining and stirring. The mix of Officer Chee pursuing a missing person case while his wife works a serial killer case that end up being totally related. The new series, Dark Winds, have brought the characters to the small screen. And as usual, the Navajo way shines through!
redroofcolleen's review against another edition
3.0
As with all Hillerman books, there is so much to learn about Native and Dine culture, and I appreciate the lessons. It's fun to have a mystery in the mix, too.
writer595's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
claudia2945's review against another edition
4.0
Another good tale from Tony Hillerman's daughter. It was especially fun, because some of it is set in Santa Fe. She manages a complex set of plot lines with ease and keeps her characters interesting.
cj_mo_2222's review against another edition
4.0
I am so glad this series has been continued and really enjoyed the book. The ending/conclusion was a little over-complicated, but still a good book.
alannabarras's review against another edition
3.0
This was a fun light read, with a murder mystery complex enough that I couldn't predict exactly how it would end without being so complex I had to try too hard to keep up. The writing style wasn't my favorite, although that was just as likely purely a difference in opinion as it was an actual lack of quality.
My primary issue reading this book was that this is the 22nd novel in this series, but the first I had read. It felt more like wandering into a stranger's family reunion at times than following an adventure. That being said, I liked the characters - in future I would just pick up books from earlier in the series to get more of the backstory.
My primary issue reading this book was that this is the 22nd novel in this series, but the first I had read. It felt more like wandering into a stranger's family reunion at times than following an adventure. That being said, I liked the characters - in future I would just pick up books from earlier in the series to get more of the backstory.