The First Eagle (A Leaphorn and Chee Novel)

The First Eagle is a crime novel by Tony Hillerman, published in 1998. It is part of his popular Leaphorn & Chee series, which follows Navajo Tribal Police officers as they solve crimes in the American Southwest. The book blends mystery, Native American culture, and environmental concerns, hallmarks of Hillerman’s work.
 
The novel follows two parallel investigations:
Jim Chee’s Case – Navajo Tribal Police officer Jim Chee arrests a Hopi man, Robert Jano, near the body of a murdered police officer. Jano claims innocence, but the evidence against him is strong. Chee struggles with whether to trust Jano or believe he’s guilty.
Joe Leaphorn’s Investigation – Retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is hired to find a missing scientist studying the spread of bubonic plague among prairie dogs. His search uncovers a connection between the scientist’s disappearance and Chee’s case.
As Leaphorn and Chee follow separate leads, they discover a larger conspiracy involving illegal activities and environmental issues tied to the spread of disease and the protection of sacred Native lands.