Sequel to: The tale teller.

"This is [Anne Hillerman's] sixth novel and the twenty-fourth in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series, begun by her late father [Tony Hillerman].-- About the author, page [319]

"What begins as a typical day for Officer Bernadette Manuelito -- serving a bench warrant, dealing with a herd of cattle obstructing traffic, and stumbling across a crime scene -- takes an unexpected twist when she's called to help find an old friend. Years ago, Bernie and Maya were roommates, but time and Maya's struggles with addiction drove them apart. Now Maya's brother asks Bernie to find out what happened to his sister. Tracing Maya's whereabouts, Bernie learns that her old friend had 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 information about the astronomer'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 new acting boss, Jim Chee, who's sure Bernie's headed for trouble. While she's caught between present and past, Chee is at a crossroads of his own. Burdened with new responsibilities he didn't ask for and doesn't want, he must decide what the future holds for him and act accordingly. Can their mentor Joe Leaphorn, a man also looking at the past for answers to the future, 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 they seek?"--provided by publisher.