Lost Birds

A Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito Novel

By: Anne Hillerman

Narrated by: Jessica Matten

Length: 9 hrs and 48 mins

Publisher's summary

Narrated by Jessica Matten, star of the AMC series DARK WINDS, based on the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito novels

“Anne Hillerman is a star.”—J. A. Jance, New York Times bestselling author

From New York Times bestselling author Anne Hillerman, a thrilling and moving chapter in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series involving several emotionally complex cases that will test the detectives in different ways.

Joe Leaphorn may be long retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, but his detective skills are still sharp, honed by his work as a private detective. His experience will be essential to solve a compelling new case: finding the birth parents of a woman who was raised by a bilagáana family but believes she is Diné based on one solid clue, an old photograph with a classic Navajo child’s blanket. Leaphorn discovers that his client’s adoption was questionable, and her adoptive family not what they seem. His quest for answers takes him to an old trading post and leads him to a deadly cache of long-buried family secrets.

As that case grows more complicated, Leaphorn receives an unexpected call from a person he met decades earlier. Cecil Bowleg’s desperation is clear in his voice, but just as he begins to explain, the call is cut off by an explosion and Cecil disappears. True to his nature, Leaphorn is determined to find the truth even as the situation grows dangerous. Investigation of the explosion falls in part to Officer Bernadette Manuelito, who discovers an unexpected link to Cecil’s missing wife.

Bernie also is involved in a troubling investigation of her own: an elderly weaver whose prize-winning sheep have been ruthlessly killed by feral dogs.

Exploring the emotionally complex issues of adoption of Indigenous children by non-native parents, Anne Hillerman delivers another thought-provoking, gripping mystery that brings to life the vivid terrain of the American Southwest, its people, and the lore and traditions that make it distinct.

©2024 Anne Hillerman (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers

Flat narration + Flabby storyline

I kept waiting for the 3-4 separate storylines/cases to weave together, but they never did. Chee has been relegated to position of "chorus" simply providing a computer or a screwdriver to Leaphorn or Bernie. Entire sub-plot involving Louisa's son felt extraneous to the subject-matter of this novel; might work better in a separate novel?
I'm not sure why this series seems to be so lacking for a decent & consistent narrator. This one sounded like a high-schooler, with awkward pauses and breaths often breaking the phrase/sentence logic, and consistently missing which word should be emphasized to make sense of a sentence (to say nothing of mistaking "conservation" for "conversation").
Both performance & writing would have benefitted from more attentive and careful editing.

Great Characters with page turning story Twists

As always I loved the setting on Navajo lands and liked the modern and ancient cultures that added to character and the story development. A powerful tale with several storyline.

The narration was hard for me to understand and many times I had to replay parts to make sure who was speaking.

Anne is doing a great job continuing her father‘s stories

I am so grateful that Anne is continuing the stories but from the female perspective. I can’t wait for the next book

Lost Bird

Good story, I think this one is my favorite of Anne Hillermans books so far. She’s becoming to be as great an author as her father.

Robotic reading

Narrator may be a wonderful actress but her reading was mechanical. Sounded as though she paused at the end of each line, rather than at the end of the sentence or thought. I found this to be distracting.

LEAPHORN IS BACK! Plots are interesting. Recommended. Good Narrator!

Very well done. Recommended. One of Anne Hillerman's best. Plots are so interesting. A great read with a few Holy Moly twists at the end.
NARRATOR is doing great on voices. Narration only a 4☆ because of a few mispronounced Navajo words, especially for THANK YOU and several small hesitations that should've been edited.
The plot ends being neatly tied up with a bow was .. huh? for me. Seemed like trying to meet the publisher's deadlines? Overall, a good read. MORE WITH THE TRIO, PLEASE.