The Wailing Wind by Tony Hillerman

A Southwestern Navajo Police Procedural of Lost Gold, Cold Cases, and Desert Legends

On the Navajo Reservation, Officer Jim Chee investigates an abandoned pickup truck stranded in Golden Calf Canyon, leading to a woman's body inside a desolate tin shed. The victim, Linda Denton, was married to a wealthy man who claimed years earlier to have shot a burglar in self-defense—though no body was ever recovered.

As Chee investigates the crime, retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn joins the case, recognizing ties to a cold case involving missing gold, local rumors of the lost Golden Calf mine, and Navajo legends of the "Wailing Woman." Together, Chee and Leaphorn must untangle desert lore, corporate greed, and long-buried secrets to catch the killer.

Why You’ll Love This Book

Edgar Award-winner Tony Hillerman pairs Navajo cultural traditions with procedural crime solving. Blending Southwestern desert settings, local folklore, and cold-case detective work, this novel is essential reading for fans of Craig Johnson, C.J. Box, and J.A. Jance.