Tony Hillerman is the author and mastermind of the captivating and educational mystery novel entitled "People of Darkness." The plot centers on a crime that certain authorities won’t take seriously. The person the crime was perpetrated against calls in Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Captain Chee of the Navajo Tribal Indian Police. These men are chosen because it is believed that the crime involves a radical Indian cult. They dive into the mystery and soon find out things are not as they seem.
As a subplot, Captain Chee has mixed feelings over his acceptance into the FBI academy. It would be a great honor for him except that it presents a conflict between his desire to become a Navajo medicine man. Chee’s uncle, who is a revered medicine man himself, says Chee must choose between the two professions.
There is no time to worry about the decision, as the investigation of the aforementioned robbery soon gets underway. As always with Tony Hillerman’s work, the reader learns more about the culture and beliefs of the Navajo than would be expected. It definitely adds a strong air of mystique to the novel, especially when you find out that there is witchcraft involved. The novel involves religious artifacts, witchcraft, and murder intermingled to create a suspense filled bestseller.
The Indian cult is discovered to be using a very ingenious way of slowly poisoning people. The climax will surprise you and give you a thrilling adventure. As the plot begins to thicken, it is the heroic Captain Chee who figures out why and how the underground cult is operating.
