Hunting Badger by Tony Hillerman

“Hunting Badger” was the fourteenth book published from an infamous writer, Tony Hillerman. Hillerman’s books mostly occurred in the southwest of the United States and centered on Native American people and their customs. Around these two items he wove mystery stories. In the stories he also told about the Native American way of life. His books were always full of fun and offered vast arrays of information.

Tony Hillerman was born in 1925 in Oklahoma, but early in life he became interested in the lives of Native Americans living on the New Mexico reservations. Therefore, his books have their heroes, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Sergeant Jim Chee, of the tribal police. In this novel, Leaphorn has retired from active duty, but is called back in to offer his expertise.

The book centers on an actual 1998 robbery of an Indian casino where the perpetrators made a clean escape, frustrating tribal police and FBI agents as well. One officer was killed and a second injured, which brought him under suspicion. The end result was the case was considered flubbed by the FBI. After the FBI swooped in with their fancy equipment and helicopters and misconceptions, Chee came in to work, giving up his vacation to work with Leaphorn. They, of course as heroes of the story, have an assumption of their own, and ultimately solve the case.

This is another spectacular novel by a wonderful writer, who died last year, quieting his pen forever. Hillerman fans have a large number of books they can read and re-read. Experts recommend that you start with “Skinwalker” or “A Thief of Time,” rather than “Hunting Badger.” The reason being you need to be introduced to the heroes and progress with them as they travel through the books, and gain their knowledge and investigative skills. They will also age, and as with Lt. Leaphorn, retire from active service. Regardless, this novel offers a fantastic storyline that is interesting to follow from start to finish.