The Paranormal Ranger: A Navajo Investigator's Search for the Unexplained
*A NEW YORK TIMES PICK FOR TOP 22 NONFICTION BOOKS TO READ THIS FALL!*
A Navajo Ranger's chilling and clear-eyed memoir of his investigations into bizarre cases of the paranormal and unexplained in Navajoland
As a Native American with parents of both Navajo and Cherokee descent, Stanley Milford Jr. grew up in a world where the supernatural was both expected and taboo, where shapeshifters roamed, witchcraft was a thing to be feared, and children were taught not to whistle at night.
In his youth, Milford never went looking for the paranormal, but it always seemed to find him. When he joined the fabled Navajo Rangers--a law enforcement branch of the Navajo Nation who are equal parts police officers, archeological conservationists, and historians--the paranormal became part of his job. Alongside addressing the mundane duties of overseeing the massive 27,000-square-mile reservation, Milford was assigned to utterly bizarre and shockingly frequent cases involving mysterious livestock mutilations, skinwalker and Bigfoot sightings, UFOs, and malicious hauntings.
In The Paranormal Ranger, Milford recounts the stories of these cases from the clinical and deductive perspective of a law enforcement officer. Milford's Native American worldview and investigative training collide to provide an eerie account of what logic dictates should not be possible.
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Stanley Milford, Jr., graduated from the United States Indian Police Academy at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico, and worked continuously as a sworn law enforcement officer for over twenty-three years. He served as the delegated Chief Navajo Ranger for over two years through March of 2019. While with the Navajo Rangers, Stan oversaw a section called the Special Projects Unit (SPU), whose responsibilities included the investigation of cases that did not fit within everyday parameters of law enforcement or criminal investigation, many of which involved reports of the paranormal or supernatural. After leaving the Navajo Rangers, Stan served as the senior investigator for the Navajo Nation's White Collar Crime Unit.
"Stanley Milford Jr. masterfully intertwines memoir, Diné creation stories, and true encounters with otherworldly phenomena. As a Navajo Ranger, Milford's path is shadowed by eerie cryptids, mysterious UFOs, and the ever-present trials of his demanding role. His unwavering dedication, bravery, and deep cultural insight transform this narrative into a mesmerizing journey. Bridging the realms of legend and reality, each spine-chilling investigation illuminates the enduring spirit and wisdom of the Navajo people, offering readers a profound and unforgettable cultural experience." -- Shane Hawk, co-editor of Never Whistle at Night: An Indigenous Dark Fiction Anthology
"Stan's life story is a true testament to the reverence that Native American culture has for the paranormal. His passion for investigating the otherworldly really shines. A fascinating read, and highly recommended!" -- Steve Gonsalves, star of Ghost Hunters and bestselling author of A Life with Ghosts
"Many of Stan's experiences recounted in this book parallel what we've seen on Skinwalker Ranch, with an eerie degree of similarity. Getting to learn more about Stan's life and his Navajo-Cherokee heritage alongside these incredible stories is a meaningful bonus." -- Jim Morse, ranch manager and cast member of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch
"Milford interweaves colorful stories from Navajo mythology that illuminate cultural beliefs about the origins of life, monsters, and the spirit world. . . . Engaging reading for adventurous minds." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Equal parts memoir and supernatural record, Milford's book shares how these occurrences enlightened him. He leaves the reader with a unified theory of how paranormal phenomena are connected and what this means for us as human beings. And he demonstrates how experience and open-mindedness can, over a lifetime, build up to unparalleled expertise." -- Booklist
