Tony Hillerman Prize

On the eve of the Fiesta de Santa Fe in New Mexico, people gather to watch the burning of a huge puppet called Zozobra. The 300-year-old custom represents a new beginning, as the problems of the past year vanish in the flames. This year the event becomes a crime scene when a child's skull is discovered in the ashes. Detective Sergeant Gilbert Montoya works with Lucy Newroe, a newspaper editor and volunteer EMT, to find the identity of the victim. The case takes them to every level of Santa Fe society, from gangbangers to judges, none of whom are happy when the investigators come calling, attempting to tie the skull to a cold missing-person case. Readers will enjoy the Santa Fe atmosphere and the local lore along with an intriguing plot.