The Blessing Way

Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police is called to investigate a baffling murder in the desolate Many Ruins Canyon. The victim, a young Navajo man, is discovered with sand painting tools nearby, suggesting the involvement of witchcraft or a terrifying 'skinwalker' – a shape-shifting witch in Navajo lore. This unsettling possibility immediately places the investigation at the crossroads of ancient spiritual beliefs and modern law enforcement. As Leaphorn navigates the vast, sacred landscapes of the Navajo Nation, he encounters a tangled web of traditional superstitions, rational skepticism, and deeply personal motives. His inquiry leads him to a diverse cast of characters, including an anthropologist researching Navajo witchcraft, a suspicious hippie, and members of a secretive religious cult. Leaphorn must decipher cryptic clues, understand complex cultural nuances, and confront his own skepticism to uncover the truth behind the murder, battling not just a cunning killer but also the pervasive fear and paranoia that tribal legends can evoke. This debut novel masterfully introduces a detective who relies as much on his profound understanding of Navajo culture as on conventional police work to solve crimes that straddle the line between the natural and the supernatural.