Hunting Badger is the 14th novel from famed mystery author Tony Hillerman. Like most of his stories, it is a crime drama set in the Navajo lands of the American Southwest. Its main characters will be familiar to any Hillerman fan- retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navajo tribal police force. Leaphorn and Chee must once again come together to solve a murder.
Inspired by a real event involving the murder of police officer Dale Claxton by terrorists in 1998, Hunting Badger not only portrays the crime solving abilities of both Chee and Leaphorn, but also brings into play Ute and Navajo legends. While beginning to solve the crime separately, each in his own way, Chee and Leaphorn team up and share their mental sleuthing to identify the FBI's flawed thinking and solve the case.
Best of all is that Chee and Leaphorn's relationship matures from mentor/protege to one of equals and friends. Each of their personal lives evolves and portends a future of new loves. Chee finally breaks up with Janet Pete and starts looking for a new love interest, closer to home. Leaphorn gets past mourning his lover and begins to see the possibility of refilling that part of his life.
While there is comparatively less Navajo lore and Southwestern flavor in Hunting Badger than some other Hillerman works, the thoughtful crime solving of Chee and Leaphorn make this book a great mystery read. And, because of changes in their personal lives, future Chee/Leaphorn mysteries no doubt will be enriched by new love interests as well as absorbing storylines.
