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Jim Chee and his fiancee Bernie Manuelito find themselves stuck in the middle of a cold case turned deadly in this 19th southwestern mystery from Hillerman. Years ago, two small planes collided over the Grand Canyon, killing everyone aboard. For the Indian nations, it was of little importance other than a story to tell. Outside the reservation, a very little girl lost her father, who had been flying home to marry her mother. Joanna Craig grew up hearing tales of the beautiful diamonds in the case her father had handcuffed to his arm -- but what she wants more than anything is the arm itself, which could provide DNA proof of paternity and wrest control of her father's millions from the charity that is being mismanaged in his name. One day, Billy Tuve tries to sell an extremely fine diamond on the reservation for $20. He is arrested on suspicion of theft, but when news that one of the Craig diamonds had been recovered reaches Joanna, she flies out determined to do whatever it takes to find her father's bones. The man who currently controls the charity also sends an emissary, with orders to recover the diamonds and the bones before they can be used against him. Jim, who is trying to clear Billy's name, finds instead that Billy is the witness that everyone wants to control or eliminate. SKELETON MAN isn't as thick as previous Hillerman adventures, and a little too much of the space is taken up with characters repeating the Craig story or the myth of the kachina Skeleton Man. But the repetition isn't too annoying and the plot itself moves quickly. This isn't so much a whodunit as an adventure book with a little bit of character development for Jim and Bernie on the side, and that works nicely. Characters, actions, and scenery are all well-described in Hillerman's effectively understated style. Leaphorn fans might quibble that he is barely used, but Chee fans will find plenty to be happy about. And there's something for new fans as well, as SKELETON MAN is an excellent place to be introduced to this series if you haven't already been reading it.
Reviewed by Linnea Dodson, May 2006
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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)
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