It is hard to believe, but it was a little over twenty-five years ago that Tony Hillerman first introduced us to Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. Hillerman, in the intervening quarter-century, has provided his ever-growing legion of readers with novels involving Leaphorn, the improving-with-age Navajo policeman who has both feet planted firmly in the ways of tradition, and Sergeant Jim Chee, who, uneasily at times, has straddled the line between the old ways and the new. In the past, Hillerman has featured each of these characters in separate books, and several years ago began pairing them up in an uncomfortable alliance where each has come to a grudging, but gradual, respect for the other. This year, Hillerman has blessed us with HUNTING BADGER, in which Leaphorn and Chee find themselves working together on a case which they are both reluctant to pursue.
HUNTING BADGER has its basis and inspiration in the "real world" murder of Officer Dale Claxton of the Cortez, Colorado Police Department, who was murdered in cold blood in 1998 while attempting to apprehend three terrorists who had stolen a water truck. One of the three thugs apparently killed himself; the other two escaped, partially as a result of interagency bumbling, and have never been apprehended. HUNTING BADGER concerns the subsequent, and similar, murder of a policeman during the course of a robbery of a tribal casino.
The three robbers, who have links to survivalist groups, disappear into the canyons of the Utah-Arizona border. Sergeant Chee, in the middle of a two week vacation, is reluctant to become involved, in no small part due to the presence and demonstrated ineptitude of Federal law enforcement personnel. As he gradually becomes drawn into the matter, however, Chee conducts his own investigation and keeps the information to himself, making more headway than those with the might and majesty of the Federal government behind them.
Leaphorn, meanwhile, is attempting to continue to enjoy the peace that comes with retirement. An acquaintance, however, imparts information to him which is crucial to the investigation. This information leads Leaphorn to one of the suspects --- dead of an apparent suicide. Gradually, Leaphorn and Chee find themselves working together again, and gaining new and increasing respect for each other. While Chee pursues leads anchored in the here and now, Leaphorn discovers an eerie connection between one of the suspects and a decades-old Navajo legend --- a connection which could lead to the apprehension of the suspects. Their investigation, however, is hindered, rather than helped, by the overbearing and incompetent Federal bureaucrats assigned to the matter, who have no knowledge of or interest in the traditions or realities of indigenous life in the American Southwest.
HUNTING BADGER is a welcome addition to Hillerman's continuing saga of Leaphorn and Chee, and, at the same time, a perfect introduction to fans of the mystery genre who are unfamiliar with Hillerman and his creations. The draw to these tales is definitely cerebral --- the explosions, gunfights, and car chases are kept to a minimum --- as Hillerman's understated but prosaic descriptions of the Southwest, its people, and their way of life are worth the price of admission alone.
While Hillerman continues to develop and refine his characters and their situations, he also reliably and masterfully presents classic mystery situations and lets the reader puzzle it out along with the characters. The dialogue between Leaphorn and Chee in HUNTING BADGER, as they slowly and painstakingly attempt to ascertain the whereabouts of the robbery suspects, is some of the best writing I have read this year. For those lovers of solid mystery novels who have never met Leaphorn or Chee, HUNTING BADGER is the ideal opportunity to become acquainted.
--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub
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