A Thief of Time is a Navajo Tribal Police mystery featuring investigators Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. When a renowned anthropologist disappears from a moonlit ruin and looted artifacts and disturbed graves are found, the case quickly turns deadly. Two bodies are discovered, shot with bullets that match the missing scientist’s gun.
As Leaphorn and Chee follow a trail of stolen antiquities and desecrated bones, they are drawn deep into the intersection of modern crime and sacred Native American history. Their search leads through remote desert landscapes, archaeological sites, and the shadowy world of artifact smuggling.
Blending procedural suspense with rich cultural detail, the story explores the psychology of murder as well as the personal cost of obsession. Hillerman also weaves in a moving portrait of love, loss, and forgiveness as secrets from the past come to light.
Perfect for readers who enjoy:
- Atmospheric Southwestern crime fiction
- Detective novels rooted in Native American settings
- Character-driven police procedurals with moral complexity
