Stargazer: A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel

Written by Anne Hillerman

Narrated by Darrell Dennis

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

Murder, deception, Navajo tradition, and the stars collide in this enthralling entry in New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman’s Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, set amid the beautiful landscape of the American Southwest.

What begins as a typical day for Officer Bernadette Manuelito—serving a bench warrant, dealing with a herd of cattle obstructing traffic, and stumbling across a crime scene—takes an unexpected twist when she’s called to help find an old friend. Years ago, Bernie and Maya were roommates, but time and Maya’s struggles with addiction drove them apart. Now Maya’s brother asks Bernie to find out what happened to his sister.

Tracing Maya’s whereabouts, Bernie learns that her old friend had confessed to the murder of her estranged husband, a prominent astronomer. But the details don’t align. Suspicious, Bernie takes a closer look at the case only to find that nothing is as it seems. Uncovering new information about the astronomer’s work leads Bernie to a remote spot on the Navajo Nation and a calculating killer.

The investigation causes an unexpected rift with her husband and new acting boss, Jim Chee, who’s sure Bernie’s headed for trouble. While she’s caught between present and past, Chee is at a crossroads of his own. Burdened with new responsibilities he didn’t ask for and doesn’t want, he must decide what the future holds for him and act accordingly. 

Can their mentor Joe Leaphorn—a man also looking at the past for answers to the future—provide the guidance both Bernie and Chee need? And will the Navajo heroes that stud the starry sky help them find justice—and the truth they seek?

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Apr 13, 2021
• ISBN: 9780063067110

Anne Hillerman

ANNE HILLERMAN is the bestselling author of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. Lost Birds is her ninth novel in the series, which was created by her father, Tony Hillerman. She lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Tucson, Arizona, and is at work on her next novel.

Reviews for Stargazer

[Turid Oftenes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a Good book! So very well written by Anne Hillerman. The dialogue sounds natural. Sometimes it flows, other times it's stilted, as in RL. The plots are interesting, and l love to follow the life of the main characters! Also l like to learn about Navajo culture, especially since it doesn't come across as forced upon me, in any way. Back in the day, l used to enjoy the first instalment of these characters. I liked the great depictioning of the landscape and the way Tony Hillerman let us get to know some of the Diné culture. So l resisted listening to the daughters novels, they would inevitably let me down, was my reasoning. And l also wasn't sure if listening to a story would be as good as reading one, either. Cause l also could see well enough to read, back then! And l had even seen the land, once upon a time in nineteeneightytwo, so yeah, l was highly sceptical. I am lucky and grateful that l chose one of Anne Hillermans novels, just in case it was worth the time. Boy, was it ever! I've listened to them all, thoroughly enjoying them. They are maybe even better than the old series. I don't want to revisit the old ones, too often l feel let down by how dated the values are in older mystery novels. Some are flat out brimming with misogyny and matter-of-fact racism. I don't think Tony Hillermans novels reads like that, not at all! But l fear they would seem somewhat old, and l wish to keep on thinking of them with fondness. Now, one letdown; in this 6th novel it is no longer the wonderful vocal artistry of Christina Delaine l hear! Darrell Dennis does the job admirably, but l sorely miss the voice of Christina Delaine. I don't know any spoken Navajo, so l haven't any way of judging their cadence or pronunciation. I just felt like l was hearing Bernies voice in the first books, and that one was getting familiar to me. Someone l would've liked to know, in RealLife, too! I live in Norway, and having lived past three score years now, l doubt l will get another chance to see the beautiful land of the People again. And that is OK, somewhat. At least as long as there exists authors like Anne Hillerman, who can transport me so fully, and so easy, to other places.

[bgknighton · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Solid entry, more on the characters lives, mild mystery. One of Officer Bernie’s friends confesses to a murder of an astrologer, her almost ex-husband.

[jennybeast · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I persist in enjoying these books, despite my growing wish that they were written by a Native author instead. I appreciate that Hillerman is taking the stories further away from Navaho religious practices and concentrating more and more on the authentic lives of her characters -- it's interesting to see where they go with their various relationships to law enforcement and each other and to the greater New Mexico community. A solid addition to the series.

Advanced Readers' Copy provided by Edelweiss.

[lewilliams-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Stargazer is a good addition to the Leaphorn-Chee-M.anuelito series. There are several story lines that are all tied up neatly at the end. The Navajo culture sprinkled through out the story is an added bonus.

[drapple_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is another solid installment in Anne Hillerman's followup to her father's novels featuring Chee, Leaphorn, and Bernie Manuelito. An old friend of Bernie's confesses to a crime, but Bernie does not believe she did it. There are some nice red herrings along the way and you learn a bit about astronomy as well.

[lbswiener · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stargazer is a good book with lots of stories that all conclude at the end. The best part was the author's note at the conclusion of the story. The book gives insight into the extremely polite Navajo culture. A good suspenseful police story and thereby receiving four stars in this review.

[diana.hauser · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

STARGAZER by Anne Hillerman is a Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito novel. STARGAZER is the sixth book written by Anne Hillerman who took over writing about these engaging characters after her father, Tony Hillerman, passed away. It is the twenty-fourth in the series.I always enjoy the ‘Author’s Note’ and ‘Acknowledgments’. The Glossary includes Navajo words and their meanings. This title also includes ‘Star Terms’ - in the Navajo language and their meanings.I am quite taken with these books and have read every one. They transport me to an area of the world that I am not very familiar with. The titles are all extremely culturally sensitive, respectful, interesting and educational.The characters are down-to-earth, hard-working and very clever police officers. I like the increased presence of Bernie Manuelito (Jim Chee’s wife and fellow officer). I also like the characters of Jim Chee, Joe Leaphorn and his friend/partner Louisa.It is a crime drama; a police procedural, but with a Navajo twist.STARGAZER is a terrific read. ****

[waldhaus1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Although just an incidental facet of the story, the concern forabused and exploited single women is clearly an important issue for Anne Hillerman. She presents it nicely with being preachy. Including radio astronomy in the story adds an interesting dimension. Joe Leaphorn seems more human and endearing than every. The reader - or at least this reader is left wondering whether Bernie’s friend murdered her husband until things are made clear at the conclusion.

[brangwinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another enjoyable book in the Leaphorn and Chee series brings the clear night sky of New Mexico into the storyline. Bernadette Manuelito of the Navajo Police finds herself exhausted as she works to solve the mystery of a dead man. Her friend, a teacher, is claiming responsibility for the murder, but Bernadette does not believe her. Along with this she’s stumbled upon a dead baby and beaten-up woman on a search for the owners of some stray cattle. Add in that her husband, is not her temporary boss, and her mother’s dementia is causing her guilt and Bernadette is one exhausted woman.