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A lost gold mine, a corpse in an abandoned pickup truck, and an eerie wailing heard on Halloween are among the delicious plot elements Tony Hillerman cooks up in his 15th novel featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. The two Navajo cops, one old and one young--who originally debuted in separate series but have been collaborating for many books now--are among the most engaging, fully human characters in crime fiction. As usual, Hillerman puts them to work in a suspenseful, satisfying tale that integrates a wealth of Navajo lore plus breathtaking evocations of the American Southwest, all delivered in prose as clear, clean, and easy-flowing as a mountain stream. Longtime readers will be delighted by several developments, including a prominent role for the appealing Officer Bernadette Manuelito and a glimpse at the phlegmatic Leaphorn's testy side. But Hillerman welcomes new arrivals as well, with enough exposition to get you oriented. Many writers have tried to follow Hillerman's trail, setting murder mysteries in Native American cultural landscapes. Many do a fine job. But, as The Wailing Wind beautifully demonstrates, there's only one Tony Hillerman. In this book he's at the top of his game. --Nicholas H. Allison
 Customer Reviews 
Hillerman
Rating: 4
As with all the Tony Hillerman books, a good read, a great mystery, and fabulously accurate background that flows, unnoticed, into the story.
loved the book
Rating: 5
I love the fact that this is a series of books with the same people. very good reading.
As allways, Hillerman writes a darn good tale
Rating: 4
Time goes on and the protagonists Leaphorn and Chee are back for one more puzzling crime. Bernadette Manuelito has messed up a crime scene and Jim Chee is upset with her about it. Leaphorn is finding leads even though he is supposedly retired. The stories of Chee and Leaphorn weave together in a now predictable arc that has pretty much been used in every single Hillerman novel. But in the end, its nice to meet up with two interesting and engaging characters and its easy to overlook a tired plot device.
I have never understood why Hillerman didn't stretch his imagination a little more with these books. The strengths are 100% in the characters and the evocative interactions they have with one another. The mystery is just background noise after a while and takes a second seat to the Navaho country that unfolds throughout every book. I am allways reminded of 'Murder She Wrote' and how Angela Landsburry stumbels across one murder after another and how they are all wrapped up in similar regards. This is in my mind the only thing that holds Hillerman back from being a true master of his craft.
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