The novel The Dark Wind is the second to feature officer Jim Chee. The book was published by Mass Market Paperback. Fresh college graduate, Chee takes a job with the Navajo Tribal Police in Arizona. He is working with Sheriff Joe Leaphorn to keep the peace on the land earmarked for joint use by the Navajo and the Hopi tribes.
The book takes a turn when Cowboy Dashee, sheriff of the Hopi law, finds a decaying unidentified body in the dessert. The body is stripped of it's hand and feet prints, almost as if it was "scalped." It is believed that the body is linked to a recent robbery at the Hopi reservations' trading post. Hopi store manager, Jake West, is convinced that Joe Musket, a Navajo drug dealer, is responsible for the killing. Chee and Leaphorn are looking into the murder, the robbery, and a mysterious plane crash.
The Dark Wind went big screen in 1991 with the help of feature film maker Errol Morris. Morris made his film making debut with this movie. The cast consisted of some big names, and some even bigger names in the credits, which consisted of Navajo adviser Miller Nez. Starring in the roll of Jim Chee was Lou Diamond Phillips. With Fred Ward as Joe Leaphorn and Gary Farmer as Cowboy Dashee, backing Phillips up.
Both movie and book are sure to be enjoyed by any murder mystery enthusiast.
