Anne Hillerman's New Mystery Novel - Shadow of the Summer Solstice

ANew York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman’s new mystery novel - ‘Shadow of Summer Solstice’ a part of the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, the detectives must sort out a save-the-planet meditation group connected to a mysterious death and a nefarious scheme targeting vulnerable indigenous people living with addiction.

The Navajo Nation police are on high alert when a U.S. Cabinet Secretary schedules an unprecedented trip to the little Navajo town of Shiprock, New Mexico. The visit coincides with a plan to resume uranium mining along the Navajo Nation border. Tensions around the official’s arrival escalate when the body of a stranger is found in an area restricted for the disposal of radioactive uranium waste. Is it coincidence that a cult with a propensity for violence arrives at a private camp group outside Shiprock the same week to celebrate the summer solstice? When the outsiders’ erratic behavior makes their Navajo hosts uneasy, Officer Bernadette Manuelito is assigned to monitor the situation.

She finds a young boy at grave risk, abused women, and other shocking discoveries that plunge her and Lt. Jim Chee into a volatile and deadly situation.
Meanwhile, Darleen Manuelito, Bernie’s high spirited younger sister, learns one of her home health clients is gone–and the woman’s daughter doesn’t seem to care. Darleen’s curiosity and sense of duty combine to lead her to discover that the client’s grandson is also missing and that the two have become ensnared in a wickedly complex scheme exploiting indigenous people. Darleen’s information meshes with a case Chee has begun to solve those deals with the evil underside of human nature.

Mike Raccoon Eyes Kinney : “ In your new mystery novel, ‘Shadow of the Solstice’ you have two amazing story boards intertwined. One involving the dangerous side effects of years of
uranium on the residents of the Navajo Nation and the other on the Arizona scam bilking millions of taxpayer’s dollars to help Navajo people and other indigenous Native
people who have entered a so-called drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. Please expand your thoughts of have you approached these two plots from your current mystery novel,
‘Shadow of the Solstice’.

Anne Hillerman: “ After years of the residents and their families suffering from the toxic side effect of nuclear radiation poisoning close to the Grand Canyon going through
the Navajo Nation on its way from Arizona to Utah to a disposal site there in Utah. In 2024, there were still 500 to 1000 abandoned radioactive waste milling sites and open mines
left in going through the Navajo Nation. When transporting radioactive waste through the Navajo Nation, the Department of Energy and the Navajo entered into an agreement
with the DOE on laws calling better notice of better notice of uranium ore shipments being transported through the Navajo Nation, plus requiring transport fees and emergency
preparedness plans. And it was at on these kind of disposal sites that mystery novel begins at.”

“The second plot in my new novel is about Arizona scam artists who bilked 2 billion dollars of taxpayers to help Navajo people and other indigenous people who had
entered so-called drug and rehabilitation programs in Arizona. This scam was widely reported by the media back in 2019, how Navajo people and other Natives were basically
kidnapped in white vans and were taken to Phoenix under the assumption they were going to drug or alcohol sober house to be treated for their drug substance abuse problems. "


" These scam artists would make them Arizona residences, so these scam fake providers would be able to bilk the United States government out of millions of
Medicaid dollars yearly. In these so-called sobrieties homes the scam artists would give their patients more drugs and alcohol to keep them hooked on their drug or alcohol
abuse problems. And this where the story for begins Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito, when they enter this violent and dangerous sober homes industry.”

Mike Raccoon Eyes Kinney: “ What did you enjoy the most about writing your new mystery novel? ”

Anne Hillerman: “ I truly enjoyed writing more this time about Navajo Police Officer Roper Black, Sandra the Navajo dispatcher and Manny’s sister Darlene and
along with Mrs. Raymond , a Dine grandmother, who agreed to become a patient at one of scam sober houses looking for her grandson who had become a victim of one of scam operator’s sober homes.”

“ I enjoyed sharing Roper as a new dad, and how much he enjoyed giving the 4-year-old little boy in police SUV ride to his grandmother’s house and letting the child blare
his police siren. It shows Roper’s soft side of enjoying being a new father to his own new baby and being a good police officer. Developing the characters of Darlene, Manny and
Mrs. Raymond, a Dine woman how knows how to get things done the right way and fights for her grandson. I enjoyed developing the character of Darlene and she played a
larger role in the book which I am certain my readers will enjoy immensely.”

“I speculate that my readers will like my new book for the same reasons I do, the intensity of the action Bernie has and the depth of emotions she experiences in the subplot .
One of the issues I raise in my new novel is the power of community, either for good or harm. Many of us in real life are longing to find our ‘people’ and to figure out
where we belong in the world.”

One of the themes in my book is the need to reach out to others, including those who seem different, to help and accept help if we need it. And to finding peace to
making a positive change. My book has as well, has more action and romance in it too.”