The Sacred Bridge (Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Series #7)

by Anne Hillerman

Overview

Don’t miss the TV series, Dark Winds, based on the Leaphorn, Chee, & Manuelito novels, now on AMC and AMC+!  

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“A fine legacy series . . .  in the spirit of her late father, Tony.”—Booklist 

An ancient mystery resurfaces with ramifications for the present day in this gripping chapter in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series from New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman.

Sergeant Jim Chee’s vacation to beautiful Antelope Canyon and Lake Powell has a deeper purpose. He’s on a quest to unravel a sacred mystery his mentor, the Legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, stumbled across decades earlier. 

Chee’s journey takes a deadly turn when, after a prayerful visit to the sacred Rainbow Bridge, he spots a body floating in the lake. The dead man, a Navajo with a passion for the canyon’s ancient rock art, lived a life filled with many secrets. Discovering why he died and who was responsible involves Chee in an investigation that puts his own life at risk. 

Back in Shiprock, Officer Bernadette Manuelito is driving home when she witnesses an expensive sedan purposely kill a hitchhiker. The search to find the killer leads her to uncover a dangerous chain of interconnected revelations involving a Navajo Nation cannabis enterprise. 

But the evil that is unleashed jeopardizes her mother and sister Darleen, and puts Bernie in the deadliest situation of her law enforcement career. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063028647
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	04/11/2023
Series:	Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito Series , #7
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	46,082
Product dimensions:	5.30(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Anne Hillerman is the bestselling author of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito mysteries. The series was created by her father, Tony Hillerman. She is also an executive producer of the Dark Winds television series on AMC. When Anne’s not working, she loves to walk with her dogs, read, cook, travel and enjoy the night sky. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Tucson, Arizona.

Editorial Reviews

"Captivating . . . Series fans will be well satisfied." — Publishers Weekly on The Sacred Bridge

"The Sacred Bridge is further proof that Anne Hillerman continues to produce top-notch mysteries that entertain, amuse, and move us." — New York Journal of Books

"A dual novel about Native American history and the challenges to preserve sacred sites and artifacts, and the battle between profiteering and protection... an exciting and informative tale." " — Bookreporter on The Sacred Bridge

“Anne Hillerman is a star.” — J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author

"Anne Hillerman’s taken familiar characters and locations and struck out on a literary legacy all her own.” — Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Series

“Anne Hillerman brilliantly continues the Hillerman legacy, expanding the mystery genre by making Bernadette Manuelito America’s most popular Native American female law enforcement officer.” — David Morrell, New York Times bestselling author

"I truly love the continuing series of novels by Anne Hillerman featuring Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito—who are, each in their own way, fictional characters for the ages." — Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author

"Gripping." — Bookreporter

“The Tale Teller is more than just a police procedural set in the Southwest; it’s a reading experience not to be missed. Anne Hillerman has reached a new level of storytelling in this one, and she deserves recognition as one of the finest mystery authors currently working in the genre.” — New York Journal of Books on The Tale Teller

“Tony Hillerman fans will appreciate her keeping his fictional creations, Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, alive and thriving. The storytelling gene has been proudly passed on from father to daughter.” — Bookreporter on Stargazer

“Hillerman’s writing becomes stronger with every new installment in the series, deepening the development of each character. . . . The picturesque Southwest, as well as the history of the Navajo, come through on each page.” — Library Journal (starred review) on The Tale Teller

“Hillerman seamlessly blends tribal lore and custom into a well-directed plot, continuing in the spirit of her late father, Tony, by keeping his characters (like Chee) in the mix, but still establishing Manuelito as the main player in what has become a fine legacy series.” — Booklist on Song of the Lion

“The latest from Hillerman continues worldbuilding in a tale that will reward long-term readers.” — Kirkus Reviews on Song of the Lion

“Fans of Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito, characters created by the author’s father, Tony Hillerman, will savor this multilayered story of suspense, with its background of contemporary environmental vs. development issues.” — Library Journal on Song of the Lion

"Anne Hillerman has carried on the franchise of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee mysteries started by her father, Tony Hillerman, with great aplomb and a deft writing style . . . The characters are genuine, the story is compelling and complex, and the writing is gorgeous . . . Mystery lovers will love this one." — Portland Book Review

From the Publisher

03/07/2022

In Hillerman’s captivating seventh Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito mystery (after 2021’s Stargazer), Sgt. Jim Chee of the Navajo Nation police, who’s reevaluating his career, takes time off from his job in Shiprock, N.Mex., and heads for Lake Powell to contemplate his future. He brings with him a map provided by his mentor, Lt. Joe Leaphorn, showing the location of what Leaphorn believes to be a sacred cave containing a trove of ancient sand paintings. On his hike, Chee discovers the body of a young man floating face down in the icy waters of the lake. A severe head injury indicates that the victim, a Navajo, was murdered. The local police ask Chee to join their investigation. Meanwhile, Bernadette Manuelito, Chee’s police officer wife, witnesses an intentional hit-and-run, a crime that leads her to take on a dangerous undercover mission. Never mind that the murder investigation is a bit slow to start and the bad guys are pretty obvious. As usual, what matters are the Native American lore, dramatic descriptions of the western terrain, and the evolution in the personal lives of Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito. Series fans will be well satisfied. Agent: Liz Trupin-Pulli, JET Literary Assoc. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

Anne Hillerman brilliantly continues the Hillerman legacy, expanding the mystery genre by making Bernadette Manuelito America’s most popular Native American female law enforcement officer.

David Morrell

"Gripping."

Bookreporter

The Tale Teller is more than just a police procedural set in the Southwest; it’s a reading experience not to be missed. Anne Hillerman has reached a new level of storytelling in this one, and she deserves recognition as one of the finest mystery authors currently working in the genre.

New York Journal of Books on The Tale Teller

Hillerman seamlessly blends tribal lore and custom into a well-directed plot, continuing in the spirit of her late father, Tony, by keeping his characters (like Chee) in the mix, but still establishing Manuelito as the main player in what has become a fine legacy series.

Booklist on Song of the Lion

"I truly love the continuing series of novels by Anne Hillerman featuring Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito—who are, each in their own way, fictional characters for the ages."

Douglas Preston

Tony Hillerman fans will appreciate her keeping his fictional creations, Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, alive and thriving. The storytelling gene has been proudly passed on from father to daughter.

Bookreporter on Stargazer

Hillerman seamlessly blends tribal lore and custom into a well-directed plot, continuing in the spirit of her late father, Tony, by keeping his characters (like Chee) in the mix, but still establishing Manuelito as the main player in what has become a fine legacy series.

Booklist on SONG OF THE LION

Tony Hillerman fans will appreciate her keeping his fictional creations, Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn, alive and thriving. The storytelling gene has been proudly passed on from father to daughter.

Bookreporter on STARGAZER

The Tale Teller is more than just a police procedural set in the Southwest; it’s a reading experience not to be missed. Anne Hillerman has reached a new level of storytelling in this one, and she deserves recognition as one of the finest mystery authors currently working in the genre.

New York Journal of Books on THE TALE TELLER

Anne Hillerman weaves a wonderful dark tapestry of intrigue.” 

Providence Journal on THE TALE TELLER

09/01/2022

In Hillerman's (Stargazer) seventh "Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Mystery," Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police hikes around Lake Powell. He is ostensibly on vacation but is really searching for a sacred cave that is rumored to contain valuable artifacts. While en route, Jim finds a corpse floating in the lake; the dead man turns out to be the murdered clan brother of his wife, Officer Bernadette "Bernie" Manuelito. While Jim has a wealth of motives and suspects to consider, Bernie is drawn into her own case, an investigation of an intentional hit-and-run accident. Listeners will be intrigued by the additional elements that Hillerman introduces into the story—the government, the cannabis industry, and the characters' personal development and growth. The vivid descriptions of the Southwestern landscape and Navajo culture are absorbing. Primary narrator and Cherokee actress DeLanna Studi provides a strong performance with effective characterizations. Listeners will especially appreciate the glossary of Navajo words, read by Navajo Code Talker Peter MacDonald Sr. VERDICT A solid addition to the series that will satisfy Hillerman's many fans.—Scott DiMarco

Library Journal - Audio

It’s never a surprise to fans of the Leaphorn/Chee/Manuelito series when any one of the characters stumbles across a dead body—but this installment involves two characters and two bodies. Nonetheless, listeners won’t be confused by the dual plotlines. At the outset, Navajo Tribal Police detective Jim Chee’s vacation is interrupted by his discovery of a corpse while hiking. At home, his wife, Officer Bernie Manuelito, witnesses a hit-and-run. As two investigations ensue, narrator DeLanna Studi’s distinct characterizations keep the storylines clearly differentiated, allowing listeners to also absorb the depictions of the story’s physical setting and culture. A glossary of Navajo words narrated by WWII code talker Peter MacDonald provides an excellent reference. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2022 - AudioFile

It’s never a surprise to fans of the Leaphorn/Chee/Manuelito series when any one of the characters stumbles across a dead body—but this installment involves two characters and two bodies. Nonetheless, listeners won’t be confused by the dual plotlines. At the outset, Navajo Tribal Police detective Jim Chee’s vacation is interrupted by his discovery of a corpse while hiking. At home, his wife, Officer Bernie Manuelito, witnesses a hit-and-run. As two investigations ensue, narrator DeLanna Studi’s distinct characterizations keep the storylines clearly differentiated, allowing listeners to also absorb the depictions of the story’s physical setting and culture. A glossary of Navajo words narrated by WWII code talker Peter MacDonald provides an excellent reference. E.J.F. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

APRIL 2022 - AudioFile

2022-04-13
Even though he sorely needs a break from his job with the Navajo Nation police, Sgt. Jim Chee, hiking the area around Lake Powell alone, really misses his wife, Officer Bernadette Manuelito. Little does he know that their separation is about to get much more fraught.

A fresh corpse Jim finds in the lake turns out to be that of Curtis Walker, the younger brother of Bernie’s clan brother, Doug Walker. At first glance Curtis appears to have drowned, and no wonder, since he couldn’t swim. But he’s actually died from head injuries inflicted before he tumbled into the lake. Deputized by Park Service chief ranger Ted Morris to put a sympathetic face on the questions that must be put to Doug’s Navajo connections, Jim finds himself with an embarrassment of riches, since Doug’s work with Laguna Blue Watercraft Sales and Rental, his brother’s Antelope Canyon Tours, and aging archaeologist Dr. Peter Hendrix provide possible motives for his murder ranging from bad romance to ecopolitics. While Jim is talking to a bevy of interested parties, Bernie is plopped into a case of her own when a hitchhiker who’s pleaded for her help is run over repeatedly by a Mercedes that speeds away before she can identify the driver. Because of persistent rumors of skulduggery at Dino Begay Perez’s K’é Hemp Farm, a task force is assembled to investigate possible links between KHF and the dead man, and Bernie’s asked to go undercover as a casual worker at the farm to gather information. What, as even she wonders explicitly, could go wrong?

An overcrowded, overplotted, and depressingly timely mashup of personal and systemic crimes.

Kirkus Reviews