A Thief of Time

A Thief of Time is a 1988 mystery novel by Tony Hillerman, part of his popular Leaphorn & Chee series, which follows Navajo Tribal Police officers Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee as they investigate crimes in the American Southwest. The novel blends archaeology, Native American culture, and suspense, making it one of Hillerman’s most acclaimed works.
 
The story revolves around the disappearance of Dr. Eleanor Friedman-Bernal, an archaeologist studying ancient Anasazi pottery. When she vanishes without a trace, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee are drawn into an investigation that reveals the illegal trade of Native American artifacts, grave robbing, and murder.
Their search leads them to a tangled web of looters, scholars, and criminals who are stealing and selling sacred Anasazi artifacts—an act considered a serious crime and deeply offensive in Navajo culture. As Leaphorn and Chee dig deeper, they uncover a deadly conspiracy involving multiple murders and a desperate chase to protect sacred history.