This installment of the series has a different feel and focus than the others. Instead this novel brings to our attention two historical crimes committed against the Navajo Nation peoples with descriptions of both in the author's note. In doing so, there's not much space in the novel for moving the meta-plot of the MC's forward. Chee, Manuelito, and Leaphorn are involved in the two cases presented in the novel, but their personal lives are only lightly discussed. Also strange in this novel is for a culture so connected to the earth, we're told that the spring equinox is happening multiple times, but not shown how it's celebrated.

It reads more like a side-quest for some minor characters.

Audiobook was excellently narrated.