Hunting Badger (1999) is one of Hillerman's mysteries that really 'digs into' the geography. If you have a fairly good topo map, you can follow the story pretty closely. We're not sure if indeed there was an old story of a man disappearing as a badger, but the terrain certainly would support it. If you need a good excuse to visit up there, also stop by Hovenweep National Monument. The ruins there are truly exquisite.

Maps below: the area from Southern Utah south to Window Rock, the Bluff Utah area, and a detail map of the Gothic Creek drainage area.

Finding Hillerman is designed to help you understand story locations, while reading his mysteries. Plus, you learn about the Navajo Nation and Hopi!