The Blessing Way

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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.