Page 5 - spring 2015 magazine FINAL

By Sharon Schaaf

“Spider Woman’s Daughter” is Anne Hillerman’s I bought “Ill

debut mystery novel. A journalist in her hometown of Wind” in a gift
Santa Fe, New Mexico and a nonfiction author, she is shop near Bryce
the daughter of southwest mystery writer Tony Hiller- Canyon, choos-
man. In this book, Anne continues her father’s series of ing it for its set-
novels set in the Navajo Nation with the characters he ting: Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. In this
created — Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee and Bernie Manueli- third book in the series, Anna works with FBI agent

to of the Navajo Nation Police Force. Fred Stanton to figure out why people are getting ill
Another one bites the dust.
The New Mexico/Arizona border setting of this book while visiting Mesa Verde’s Cliff Palace and who mur-
Photo by Pat Williams
drew me right in. Along with solving the mystery of dered fellow ranger Stacy Meyers and construction
who shot Joe Leaphorn and discovering the motive for worker Tom Silva.
the crime, Anne takes us on a trip through the towns of In most murder mysteries, the

Window Rock, Shiprock and Gallup (and Earl’s Res- setting of the novel is important.
Sue Kolar
Sue Kolar
taurant, one of my favorite places), into Chaco Can- In Nevada Barr’s mysteries, the
yon and the city of Santa Fe. setting is central to the story.
As Agent Stanton and Anna
The book is filled with wonderful descriptions of Na-
discuss Stacy Meyer’s crime
tive American art, artifacts, ruins, tribal traditions and
ceremonies. If you love the American Southwest, you scene, Stanton tells Anna:
will definitely appreciate the locations Jim and Bernie “Other folks find bodies in
visit as they look for clues in the shooting of their friend dumpsters, storm drains,
vacant lots. Yours turn up
and mentor, retired Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn.
in bizarre places.” In this
Another author who writes mysteries set in some of case, the bizarre place is a
Sue Kolar
my favorite places is Nevada Barr. Born in Yerington,
kiva fire pit in the park.
Nevada in l952, she didn’t start off as a novelist; but
For anyone who has been to Mesa Verde National
when her husband got involved in the environmental
Park, Barr’s descriptions of the sites will bring back
movement, Nevada began work as a seasonal park rang-
good memories of a visit to one of our nation’s most
er. It was during her summer job in Guadalupe Moun-
treasured parks. If you haven’t been to Mesa Verde, you
tains National Park in Texas that she created National
Park Service Law Enforcement Ranger Anna Pigeon, will want to pay the park a visit. As Anna Pigeon de-
the main character in her books. All 18 books in the scribes it: “…Mesa Verde was for the visitors. Humans
Anna Pigeon series are set in national parks ranging paying tribute with curiosity and awe to human ances-
from Isle Royale in Michigan to Yosemite in California, try.”
the Statue of Liberty National Monument and many Both books are available at Amazon or your local
more in between. book store.
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