In his tenth mystery novel, Tony Hillerman weaves a spellbinding tale of suspense, vividly capturing the stark beauty of the Southwest and the rich traditions of the Navajo people. When Smithsonian conservator Henry Highhawk—a man of Navajo descent—mails a coworker the bones of her distinguished ancestors, it's a desperate protest against the museum’s refusal to return Native American remains. The stunt leaves Highhawk facing federal charges, and Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee executes the arrest during a sacred ceremony in New Mexico. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn investigates a seemingly unrelated murder nearby, where the victim has been meticulously stripped of all identification. As both officers pull at the threads of their respective cases, they uncover a dangerous web of deception. Highhawk is involved in far more than grave robbing—and he's being hunted by people far more dangerous than the police.