The Dark Wind cover

The Dark Wind

Leaphorn & Chee • Book 5

4.44 ABR Score (14.2K ratings)
★ 4.14 Goodreads (12.7K) ★ 4.74 Audible (1.6K)
7h 32m Released 2015 Mystery

Why Listen to This Audiobook?

The real mystery isn't who killed anyone — it's how Hillerman makes the Southwest feel so alive it seems capable of murder.

  • Great if you want: atmospheric noir steeped in Navajo culture and landscape
  • Listening experience: meditative and slow-burn, with sudden unsettling jolts
  • Narration: Guidall's unhurried cadence lets the desert dread accumulate perfectly
  • Skip if: you want a fast-moving thriller over a brooding procedural

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About This Audiobook

Navajo Tribal Police Sergeant Jim Chee confronts a bewildering series of crimes that seem unconnected yet feel bound by an invisible thread of malevolence. When a mutilated corpse appears alongside a downed aircraft in the Arizona desert, followed by an inexplicable assault on a remote windmill, Chee finds himself navigating treacherous terrain where ancient Navajo beliefs about witchcraft collide with modern criminal enterprises. The investigation pulls him deeper into a web where traditional sorcery and contemporary corruption intertwine in deadly ways.

George Guidall's masterful narration transforms Hillerman's atmospheric mystery into an immersive journey through the American Southwest. His steady, contemplative delivery mirrors Chee's methodical investigative approach while capturing the vast, haunting beauty of the desert landscape. Guidall's nuanced performance brings authenticity to both Navajo cultural elements and the procedural aspects of tribal police work. The audio format particularly enhances Hillerman's rich descriptive passages, allowing listeners to feel the wind and isolation of the high desert while following Chee through his complex case.