Coyote Waits

From Publishers Weekly Plumbing more deeply than ever the Navajo culture of Tribal Police Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee, Hillerman ( Talking God ) weaves an understated, powerful tale from strands of ancient Navajo mythology, modern greed and ambition, and, above all, the sorrows and delights of his characters. Although Chee is badly burned in an attempt to rescue fellow officer Delbert Nez, who has been shot and left in his burning car, he blames himself for Nez's death. On medical leave and off the case, Chee tries to facilitate the prompt prosecution of elderly shaman Ashie Pinto, found near the murder site in a drunken stupor, the weapon in his hand still smoking. Leaphorn, too, becomes unofficially involved when he agrees to investigate the charges against Pinto on behalf of the latter's niece, a member of his dead wife Emma's clan. He and Chee follow parallel trails to the killing of a Vietnamese teacher and former ARVN officer, to a revision in the legend of Butch Cassidy and to the case's unexpected resolution. Central to the tale are two women, one Pinto's attorney; the other a cultural anthropologist who helps prize Leaphorn out of his continuing grief over Emma's death. Hillerman's spare and moving story eloquently illustrates Pinto's reminder to Leaphorn that Coyote, "the enemy of all law, and rules, and harmony," waits for everyone. Reader's Digest Condensed Books. Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book Description

Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn are reunited in this intricately-woven mystery from the writer described by USA Today as "flat out marvelous."

Ashie Pinto, a poor Navajo shaman, is charged with the murder of Delbert Nez, Jim Chees best friend and in Apache County sheriff. Janet Pete, attorney for the Navajo tribe's legal aid office, is his counsel, a job made especially difficult by Pinto's refusal to talk. Jim Chee is a key prosecution witness since he arrested Pinto near Nez's burning car while Nez lay inside. Lt. Joe Leaphorn observes the trial at the request of the defendant's family, and is troubled by the number of unanswered and disturbing questions that arise during the hearing. Chee is also goadcd into invcstigative action when Janet Pete feels that lie might not be doing all that he could because the victim was his friend.

The independent trails of the two detectives ]cad them to the core of an intricate conspiracy involving a valuable historical find, and a skinwalkcr ritual responsible for Pinto's silence. They get caught in a web of deceit and the mystical world of Navajo witchcraft in what promises to be their toughest case ever --This text refers to the

Audio Cassette edition.