I don't really write reviews but I really wanted to comment on this novel....

I began reading Tony Hillerman's Navajo mysteries more than 30 years ago, shortly before I moved to New Mexico. His descriptions of of the wonderful landscapes and of the traditions of the Diné were one of three things that motivated me to move to the Southwest from the Kansas City area (the others being an ill-fated university "field trip" of sorts that took in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Taos, and -- best of all -- a day at Chaco Canyon; as well as listening to the wonderful music of Robert Mirabal. After I had been living in 'Burque for a time, I had already talked to Tony Hillerman at several book signings when he, quite ironically, introduced me to Mirabal (and to Clive Cussler but that is another story for another time).

I was happy to hear that Anne had taken up the heavy burden of continuing the series of novels after her father passed away. By then, I had moved all the way to Thailand and the books were not easy to obtain (shipping being a prohibitive factor). I did manage to read ebooks of her first two and thought they were pretty good. After that, I lost track as my busy life took over. It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago that that I discovered that Stargazer was being published.

I found an ebook easily this time around and it took me about three days to finish. I had tears in my eyes for much of the final two or three chapters. Not only from the storyline but just little sprinkles of items about the wonderful region this story takes place in as well as actions by characters that I have known for 30 plus years. I never visited one of the settings of this novel while I lived there despite it being about a two-hour drive from my home. Now, I see how wrong I was by not going when I had the chance and would really like to rectify that when I can. I am also craving a Blake's green chili cheeseburger (or, bettrr yet, one from Owl's Café).

Anne has truly done her dad proud and Stargazer may just be the best in her portion of the series at least. Now, I need to track down the two that I haven't read but I am certain I will enjoy those also.

Well done, Anne Hillerman.

ahéhee’ ( )

A lot happening in her latest book. Had to keep all the stories straight. The murderer in the main story was easy to figure out and I knew before it was revealed. Goodreads: 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 sceneÂ¥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 LeaphornÂ¥a man also looking at the past for answers to the futureÂ¥provide the guidance both Bernie and Chee need? And will the Navajo heroes that stud the starry sky help them find justiceÂ¥and the truth they seek?

(2021) Very good. A radio astronomer is found dead in his car, an apparent suicide. But evidence does not support suicide and his estranged wife confesses to the murder. Bernie is assigned to help with case as the wife was a former roommate of hers. Bernie finds it hard to believe that Maya could have done it. As she digs deeper she finds that Maya confessed to protect her brother, who Maya thinks had killed the scientist. It is revealed at the end that a fellow astronomer killed the man partly in jealosy and also to keep revelations about shoddy work in the field she was working. The dabbling into astronomy was an interesting twist and the Navaho beliefs of what the stars mean in their lives. Marilyn's Mystery Reads:Frankly, I cannot get enough of Anne Hillerman's mysteries. Stargazer, the sixth in her Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series, once again takes readers to the sovereign Navajo Nation, enhancing the understanding of its culture and customs to those who are not familiar with them.Steve Jones desperately wants a reconciliation with his wife Maya Kelsey, but she is not interested. She tells him that their marriage is over, and to prove it she hands him a copy of the divorce papers she's filed. He becomes furious, threatening to make Maya's life ?a living hell.? And the next morning a young boy finds Steve's lifeless body slumped in the front seat of his Jaguar.That same morning Officer Bernie Manuelito receives a phone call from Maya's brother Leon. He tells her that his sister was supposed to pick up her son at his house, but she never appeared. Bernie and Maya were college roommates, so Bernie has a personal reason as well as a professional one for trying to locate her. In attempting to track Maya down, Bernie receives a call from a detective in another department, Tara Williams, and learns that the dead body the boy found is Maya's estranged husband Steve.Upon returning to the station, Bernie's husband/supervisor Jim Chee greets her with a stunning announcement. Maya had walked into the station a short while earlier and confessed to the murder of her husband without giving any reason. However, Bernie refuses to believe her. ?We have an unsolicited confession without any excuse, motivation, and justification for the murder,? Bernie tells Jim. She can't imagine why Maya would so calmly admit to killing her (almost) former husband, and she is determined to investigate.However, there are other cases to pursue in the Navajo Nation. In addition to the issue of Steve Jones' death, Bernie has become involved in rescuing an abused woman, serving a warrant on a man who hasn't obeyed a summons to appear in court, and dealing with her mother's increasingly fragile memory. Stress is piling up, and the differences between her opinion and that of her husband's about Maya's confession have made their usual loving bond more than a little frayed.Although retired from his position as a detective in the Navajo Tribal Police Force, Joe Leaphorn still acts as a mentor for Bernie and Jim. In Stargazer, Bernie phones Joe and asks if they could talk ?face-to-face, not over the phone.? When she gets to his house, she voices her concerns about whether she should apply to become a detective; she's worried about all the ?official BS? and about how her being called away on cases may affect her relationship with her husband.In this time of non-travel, visiting the beautiful Navajo Nation, even in our imaginations, is a boon. Many thanks to Anne Hillerman for bringing Bernie, Jim, and Joe back into our lives. And as an added plus, the front cover art of Stargazer is absolutely breathtaking.

One has to wonder how long it will take for Bernie to leearn not to go off alone with the murderers to interrogate them. That pattern is really getting old and predictable. ( )

I have loved the Hillerman series for so long, and Anne Hillerman had taken up the mantle so well. Reading one of these is like a wonderful relaxing cup of tea - even if there are sad moments in the story. ( )