The Dark Wind is a Navajo mystery novel written by author Tony Hillerman. His first mystery novel involving the Navajo land was written back in 1970. The Dark Wind has gotten mixed reviews. Some reviews have stated that the story has a slow pace, and others have enjoyed the mysteries taking place amongst the Navajo tribe.
The Dark Wind is the second mystery in a series of novels that takes place in the Arizona desert and involves Sergeant Jim Chee. They bring the native cultures and religious beliefs of the Navajo and Hopi tribes to life. The main characters are policemen for the Navajo Tribe, Sergeant Jim Chee and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. This specific land in the desert of Arizona belongs to both the Navajo and the Hopi Indian tribes. The Navajo policemen have joined forces with the Sheriff from the Hopi law enforcement to solve the mysteries that have occurred on the tribal land.
There are three cases that are being investigated in The Dark Wind: the robbery at the Trading Post on the Indian Reservation, the reoccurring vandalism at a local windmill, and the death of a pilot. A small plane crashes mysteriously in the open Southwestern desert on the Hopi land, killing the pilot. Sgt. Jim Chee investigates the background of the pilot to see if he is involved in the operation of smuggling drugs. The sheriff, Cowboy Dashee, discovers a dead body that has already started decaying in the desert sun that he believes was involved in the robbery. As the plot continues, these three events turn out to be related.
If you are not into reading novels, The Dark Wind was made into a movie starring Lou Diamond Phillips. If the mystery and adventure of the Navajo tribe interests you, Tony Hillerman has written over ten other novels for you to read. Some of his other novels have also been made into movies starring well known actors.
