A typical day takes an unexpected twist when Officer Bernadette Manuelito is called to help find an old friend. Years ago, Bernie and Maya were college roommates, but time and Maya’s struggles with addiction drove them apart. Now Maya’s brother has asked Bernie to find out what happened to his sister. Bernie learns that Maya has 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 infor- mation about the stargazer’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 acting boss, Jim Chee, who is sure Bernie’s headed for trouble. While she’s caught between present and past, Chee is at a crossroads of his own. Burdened with additional responsibilities he didn’t ask for and doesn’t want, Chee must decide what he wants for the future. Can their mentor, Joe Leaphorn, provide the guidance both Bernie and Chee need? And will the Navajo heroes that stud the starry sky help them find justice and the truth?
