New York Times bestselling writer Anne Hillerman brings jointly sleek secret, Navajo traditions, and the evocative panorama of the desolate tract Southwest during this exciting access within the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series.

When Tribal Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito arrives to talk at an outside character-building application for at-risk adolescents, she discovers chaos. Annie, a tender player on a solo event due again hours prior to, has simply back and is traumatized. lightly wondering the lady, Bernie learns that Annie stumbled upon a human skeleton on her trek. whereas everyone seems to be relieved that Annie is again, they’re desirous about a liked teacher who went out into the wilds of the rugged lava barren region bordering Ramah Navajo Reservation to discover the lacking woman. the trainer vanished someplace within the volcanic panorama often called El Malpais. In Navajo lore, the lava caves and tubes are believed to be the solidified blood of a negative monster killed by means of superhuman dual warriors.

Solving the dual mysteries will reveal Bernie to the chilling face of human evil. The instructor’s disappearance mirrors a long-ago seek that could be attached to a case within which the mythical Joe Leaphorn performed an important position. yet prior to Bernie can locate the reality, an unforeseen snowstorm, a suspicious unintentional drowning, and the arriving of a brand new FBI agent complicate the investigation.

While Bernie searches for solutions in her case, her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee juggles difficulty toward domestic. A vengeful guy he despatched to criminal for household violence is back—and concerned with Bernie’s sister Darleen. Their courting creates a issue that places Chee in uncomfortable emotional territory that demanding situations him as relations guy, a police officer, and as a one-time drugs guy in training.

Anne Hillerman takes us deep into the center of the deserts, mountains, and forests of latest Mexico and once more explores the lore and rituals of Navajo tradition during this gripping access in her atmospheric crime series.