The “Almanac of the Dead” by Leslie Marmon Silko is a sprawling novel that connects the lives of several characters across the Americas. Set partly in Tucson, Arizona, it weaves together stories of crime, activism, and ancient prophecies.
Central to the book is Lecha, a woman tasked with preserving sacred tribal manuscripts, while her home becomes a meeting place for people driven by revolutionary plans.
The narrative explores themes of colonization, land, and resistance, grounded in both contemporary struggles and historical roots.
“The Blessing Way” by Tony Hillerman introduces Joe Leaphorn, a Navajo Tribal Police officer. The story centers on a mysterious death in the desert, with elements of Navajo culture woven into the investigation.
Leaphorn navigates a world where ancient beliefs mix with modern crime, uncovering secrets in the rugged Arizona landscape. The book combines the harsh beauty of the desert with the complexity of understanding different traditions and motives.
“Coyote Waits” by Tony Hillerman is part of the Leaphorn and Chee series. The story begins with Officer Jim Chee investigating the murder of a fellow police officer, which leads to the arrest of a seemingly harmless old man.
Joe Leaphorn works alongside him to untangle a case that weaves together Navajo traditions, deception, and personal struggles. The novel explores the landscapes of the Southwest and the cultural conflicts tied to the mystery.
Barbara Kingsolver wrote “Animal Dreams,” a story about Codi, a young woman who returns to her small Arizona hometown to care for her ailing father.
As she reconnects with her past and the people there, she uncovers family secrets and finds herself entwined in efforts to save the environment around the town. The novel explores how personal identity is shaped by place, family, and community.
“The Cactus League” by Emily Nemens is a story centered around spring training in Arizona, where baseball players, fans, and locals intersect.
The book follows various characters, from an aging baseball star to those working behind the scenes, as their personal dilemmas and ambitions unfold against the backdrop of the game.
Set in the Arizona desert, it paints a vivid picture of fleeting fame, human flaws, and the lives connected to America’s pastime.
Edward Abbey wrote “Hayduke Lives!” as a sequel to “The Monkey Wrench Gang.” The book follows George Hayduke, an environmental activist presumed dead, as he resurfaces to continue his fight against industrial destruction of the Southwest.
The story pits Hayduke and his allies against corporations threatening the land, blending humor and rebellion against authoritarian forces. Set against Arizona’s rugged landscapes, it captures the tension between wilderness preservation and development.
Téa Obreht’s “Inland” is set in the Arizona Territory during the late 19th century. It follows Nora, a frontierswoman facing challenges while waiting for her husband to return, and Lurie, a former outlaw haunted by the ghosts of those he’s encountered.
Their lives eventually intersect in unexpected ways, with the harsh landscape playing a central role in shaping their journeys and choices.
Laura Adams Armer wrote “Waterless Mountain,” a story about a young Navajo boy named Younger Brother, who embarks on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual growth.
The book provides a glimpse into Navajo traditions and beliefs, as Younger Brother learns the ways of his people while feeling a deep connection to the desert landscape around him.
Its vivid portrayal of Navajo life and culture offers a unique perspective on the relationship between people and nature.
“La Maravilla” by Alfredo Véa Jr. takes place in the small desert town of Buckeye, Arizona, during the 1950s. The story focuses on a young boy named Beto, who is being raised by his grandmother, an Apache curandera, and his grandfather, a Spanish gypsy.
The book explores Beto’s experiences navigating the cultural richness and tensions in his community, which includes a mix of eccentric characters from a variety of backgrounds.
Their lives intersect in surprising ways, reflecting the struggles of identity, tradition, and belonging in the shadows of the Arizona desert.
The book “The Water Knife” by Paolo Bacigalupi is set in a near-future Arizona where water scarcity has transformed society. It follows Angel Velasquez, a man sent to secure water rights by any means necessary.
The story weaves through a gritty, drought-stricken landscape, revealing power struggles and survival tactics in a world on the brink of collapse.
Barbara Kingsolver wrote “The Bean Trees,” a story about a young woman named Taylor Greer who leaves her small Kentucky town to start a new life. Her journey takes an unexpected turn when she ends up in Arizona, where she becomes the guardian of a little girl left in her care.
The novel explores friendship, resilience, and the challenges of building a family in unconventional ways, all set against the backdrop of the Arizona landscape.
The story, “Brighty of the Grand Canyon” by Marguerite Henry, takes you into the life of a spirited burro living around the Grand Canyon. Brighty helps prospectors, befriends tourists, and even crosses paths with President Theodore Roosevelt.
The book is based on a real donkey, blending adventure and the beauty of the canyon landscape in a way that brings it to life.
Charles G. Finney wrote “The Circus of Dr. Lao,” a story about a strange circus arriving in a small Arizona town. The circus is filled with mythological creatures and bizarre attractions, each revealing deeper truths about the townspeople who visit it.
The mysterious Dr. Lao runs the show, keeping the townsfolk guessing about what is real and what isn’t. The mix of ordinary life and fantastical elements creates an unusual and memorable setting.
“Half Broke Horses” by Jeannette Walls tells the story of Lily Casey Smith, a tough and resourceful woman growing up in the early 1900s.
Lily learns to break horses as a child, rides hundreds of miles alone as a teenager to take up a teaching job, and later runs a ranch in the Arizona desert.
The book is based on the life of the author’s grandmother and portrays her resilience and determination in a rugged and unforgiving landscape.
The book “Modern Ranch Living” by Mark Poirier follows the lives of two characters in a suburban Arizona town. Pella is a teenager dealing with a messy home life and a desire to escape, while Everett is a disillusioned older man stuck in a mundane routine.
Their separate stories capture the monotony and struggles of their lives, set against the backdrop of the desert landscape.
“Territory” by Emma Bull is a novel set in Tombstone, Arizona, during the time of the infamous shootout at the O.K. Corral.
It reimagines the events with a touch of magic, introducing characters like Jesse Fox, a horse trainer who gets drawn into the tension between Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp, and the Clantons.
The story combines the grit of the Old West with an undercurrent of mysterious forces at work in a town on the brink of chaos.
The novel “Good News” by Edward Abbey takes place in a future where society has largely collapsed, and surviving groups struggle to rebuild in an Arizona setting. It follows a group of rebels resisting a ruthless warlord and his attempts to seize control of what remains.
The story explores themes of freedom and human resilience against a harsh desert backdrop.
“The Arizona Kid” by Ron Koertge is about a sixteen-year-old boy named Billy who spends the summer in Tucson. He works at a horse ranch with his gay uncle Wes and befriends a girl named Lew, who has her own wild side.
As Billy learns about life, love, and acceptance, the story explores relationships and personal growth in an honest and heartfelt way.
The book “Goats” by Mark Poirier takes a look at the unconventional life of a teenager named Ellis. While Ellis prepares to leave his desert home in Arizona for an elite boarding school back East, his relationships at home grow more complicated.
His bond with Goat Man, a pot-smoking caretaker who raises goats, offers a mix of wisdom and absurdity. The story captures the quirks of their lives in the Arizona desert, blending humor with moments of heartfelt connection.
The novel “Bad Country” by C.B. McKenzie follows ex-bounty hunter Rodeo Grace Garnet as he investigates the murder of a Native American teenager in Southern Arizona.
Set against a harsh desert backdrop, Rodeo uncovers deep secrets within a tight-knit community while dealing with his own troubled past. The story weaves crime, mystery, and the rugged life of the region into one gritty tale.
“Blasphemy” by Douglas Preston follows a group of scientists working on a massive particle accelerator in the Arizona desert. Their goal is to uncover the secrets of the universe, but things take a strange turn when the experiment doesn’t go as planned.
The story brings in a mix of science, religion, and local tensions, with colorful characters like a fiery televangelist and a curious Navajo deputy. The desert setting adds to the intensity, with its beauty and isolation playing an important role in the unfolding events.
Carolyn Keene wrote “The Kachina Doll Mystery,” a Nancy Drew story set in Arizona. Nancy and her friends explore the desert while investigating the disappearance of some valuable Kachina dolls.
The book touches on local traditions and includes mysterious caves, an ancient cliff dwelling, and a secret related to the dolls. The Arizona setting, with its rugged landscapes and cultural ties, plays a key role in the story.
Zane Grey wrote “Nevada,” a western adventure about a mysterious and skilled gunman named Nevada, who is trying to leave his violent past behind. He finds himself working on a ranch in Arizona, where he faces danger, loyalty, and unexpected connections.
The story explores the rugged landscape and the challenges that life in the West brings. It’s a tale of redemption and survival, set against the harsh yet captivating Arizona desert.
“Potshot” by Robert B. Parker is part of the Spenser series. In this story, Spenser is hired by a woman to solve the murder of her husband in the small town of Potshot, Arizona. The town is being terrorized by a gang called the Dell, led by a mysterious figure.
Spenser brings in some of his old allies to help him face the gang and uncover secrets that the townspeople would rather keep hidden.
The “The Sand Dwellers” by Adam Niswander unfolds in the vast Arizona desert, where an ancient evil is stirred by archaeologists uncovering strange artifacts.
The story follows a group of experts battling supernatural forces tied to these relics, which hint at forgotten civilizations and dark rituals. The harsh desert backdrop sets the stage for a fight against unspeakable horrors that threaten humanity itself.
The book “The Secret of Shadow Ranch” by Carolyn Keene follows Nancy Drew as she visits a ranch in Arizona. While there, she encounters strange happenings tied to an old legend about a haunted horse.
The story takes readers through the mystery of the ghostly sightings and the hidden secrets of the ranch, with danger lurking as Nancy pieces everything together.
“To the Last Man” by Zane Grey is a Western novel set in Arizona during a violent feud between two families. The story follows Jean Isbel, who returns to the Tonto Basin and gets caught up in the deadly conflict.
The rugged Arizona landscape serves as a vivid backdrop for the tale of loyalty, vengeance, and forbidden love, as Jean becomes torn between his family’s honor and his feelings for Ellen Jorth, a woman from the rival family.
Cynthia Kadohata’s “Weedflower” tells the story of Sumiko, a Japanese-American girl who faces discrimination and upheaval after Pearl Harbor. Sumiko’s family is sent to a Japanese internment camp in Poston, Arizona, where she struggles with loss and identity.
Amid the harsh environment, she forms an unlikely bond with a Mojave boy. The book explores family, resilience, and connections in troubling times.