NY, Harper & Row, (1973). Hillerman's third novel, and second mystery featuring Navajo tribal detective Joe Leaphorn. Winner of the Edgar Award for Best Mystery Novel of the Year. Hillerman's success reinvigorated the detective form and opened it to a new generation of writers featuring detectives who not only plied their trades in different locations but brought to their jobs a much wider variety of qualifications than the tough-but-sensitive he-man types of earlier years. After Hillerman's Navajo novels broke the ground, the mystery genre became a primary vehicle for exploring questions pertaining to social and cultural identity, and detectives of every persuasion have populated the field in the last couple of decades. Inscribed by Hillerman: "for Jim & Nan, may it bring them to New Mexico." Fine in a dust jacket with a bit of dustiness to the rear, white panel, else fine. A very nice copy, and uncommon thus, especially signed. [#027625] SOLD