The Blessing Way Explained
The Blessing Way is a 1970 novel by Tony Hillerman, his first. It introduces Navajo Tribal Police Lt. Joe Leaphorn, who works with anthropologist Bergen McKee to investigate a series of murders, possibly involving the supernatural, in the Four Corners area.
In his autobiography, Hillerman explained that McKee was the main character, and initially Leaphorn had a minor role. However, at the advice of his editors, he expanded Leaphorn’s role, and in later books Leaphorn would become a main character.
The book has references to the Anasazi and the Hopi, though it is mainly about the Navajo (see: The Blessingway).