Book Review: Hunting Badger

Reviewed By: Woodstock - RAM

Hunting Badger     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Tony Hillerman
Class/Genre:   Mystery   Ethnic
Series: Joe Leaphorn & Jim Chee # 14
...

Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn return in a very satisfying entry in Hillerman's series of books set in and near the Navaho tribal reservation in the high dry deserts of New Mexico and Arizona.

The events are loosely based on an actual 1998 case in which a group of survivalists murdered a policeman and disappeared into the canyon country in the area. The accepted wisdom is that manhunt was severely hampered by the intervention of various Federal agencies in 1998 and their reluctance to rely on the wisdom and experience of local law enforcement familiar with the area.

Hillerman probably couldn't resist getting his licks in in support of the Navaho Tribal police, but this book is very enjoyable in any event.

A robbery at an Indian casino, the escape of the robbers, several murders, and more than one red herring are all present. By coincidence, Chee and Leaphorn are each working outside the bounds of their normal responsibilities - Leaphorn in retirement, and Chee still utilizing vacation time, and in the course of events, nursing an injured ankle. As in earlier books, the two don't always see eye to eye, but as the story unfolds, they begin to build a successful working relationship.

Woodstock - RAM

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Woodstock - RAM