amberdebo's review against another edition
5.0
Chaco. How could I not love a book about the first national park I ever worked in? Being a Park Ranger at Chaco Culture NHP changed my entire life and set me on a lifelong career in the National Park Service. Of course I loved this book.
bizzerg's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
acarman1's review against another edition
5.0
A thief of time is a person who steals historical artifacts. This detective novel delves into the crossover between what those thieves and the respectable archaeological community. When an archaeologist goes missing on the quest for ancient Anasazi relics, Lieutenant Leaphorn joins the hunt, if only to distract him from his great grief over the recent loss of his wife. Meanwhile, Jim Chee pursues a thief of time who has also stolen Navajo digging equipment. When the thief's body turns up surrounded by ancient Anasazi skeletons and relics, Chee's case and Leaphorn's case collide. Set against the rich tapestry of the Southwest and involving a deep dive into the underbelly of academia and a brush with a Mormon serial killer, the novel also accomplishes the great personal rapprochement between our heroes as Leaphorn makes peace with Chee's double life as a cop and medicine man and Chee recognizes for the first time how much he wants Leaphorn's respect.
coreysehr's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
mquater's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
roshk99's review against another edition
3.0
An excellent mystery with insights into the Navajo culture and the relations between the Navajo people and the Westerners in the area.
staticdisplay's review against another edition
4.0
between 3.5 and 4 stars. an academic goes missing, and there's a connection with the somewhat shady "pot" business -- as in archaeological pottery finds. the character development for Leaphorn in particular was enjoyable; the mystery was less compelling (a lot of things seemed obvious). some very nice descriptions of scenery and historical notes.
Spoiler
I'm also not sure about this character who has schizophrenia. I guess I'm sensitive about portrayals of mental illness.redroofcolleen's review against another edition
4.0
"...it was no more than a breeze, still from the southeast but almost too faint to stir the sparse gray sage and the silver cheat grass of the Nokaito Bench. The sedan rolled across the San Juan River bridge below Sand Island in a dead calm. Only the smell of dust recalled the wind."
T H I S ! ! Hillerman makes me fall in love with words and the Southwest over and over again.
T H I S ! ! Hillerman makes me fall in love with words and the Southwest over and over again.
judyward's review against another edition
3.0
Thieves of Time are individuals who despoil ancient Native American sites looking for artifacts to sell on the highly active art black market. This novel featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Cree is one of Hillerman's best. Hillerman is able to evoke the desert and geography of Arizona and explain the complexities of Navajo culture.