zobiecat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Solid easy mystery novel
mpetruce's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
This one had Chee and Leaphorn working a bit more separately, as they kind of just meet finally. The beginning of a long and beautiful, well not exactly friendship but kind of. I wasn’t sure about the motivation for the murders, but I guess the point based on some of the characters is that who knows what can motivate someone to kill. Also: first appearance of a new major supporting character.
acarman1's review
4.0
With this installment I have read all of the Leaphorn and Chee books by the original author, Tony Hillerman. I will continue to read the continuation by his daughter, Anne, who included Chee's wife, Bernadette Manuelito, and has done a fantastic job as well.
This book seemed a little more repetitive than some with the characters repeating many of their thoughts multiple times in a couple of pages. And as the series often displays, chronology is kind of weak. It's never obvious where in their lives these characters are. At various times Leaphorn is still a cop/a retired cop. Chee is any of one of three love affairs before he settles down with Bernie. But that does not detract from its enjoyment.
This story was much more poignant than the others. It is, I believe, the only one where Leaphorn's wife is still alive, albeit in the grips of the brain cancer that will kill her. And this allows us to see Leaphorn's anguish in real time, whereas the other books show him battling with memory. And we also see Chee's drive to become a traditional Navajo singer only to find himself betrayed by people he thought he was helping, also heightened by his white girlfriend attempting to convince him to join her in Wisconsin. When a failed assassination attempt on Chee ties into four other murders Leaphorn is investigating, the legendary lieutenant is convinced he's looking for a serial killer, but there doesn't seem to be anything connecting the victims. In the end, both men are injured pursuing the truth which turns out to be tied to the most secretive of Navajo myths--that of the evil Skinwalkers. But is a Skinwalker stalking the reservation or are otherwise good people being driven to murder because they fear their neighbors are Skinwalkers doing them harm?
This book seemed a little more repetitive than some with the characters repeating many of their thoughts multiple times in a couple of pages. And as the series often displays, chronology is kind of weak. It's never obvious where in their lives these characters are. At various times Leaphorn is still a cop/a retired cop. Chee is any of one of three love affairs before he settles down with Bernie. But that does not detract from its enjoyment.
This story was much more poignant than the others. It is, I believe, the only one where Leaphorn's wife is still alive, albeit in the grips of the brain cancer that will kill her. And this allows us to see Leaphorn's anguish in real time, whereas the other books show him battling with memory. And we also see Chee's drive to become a traditional Navajo singer only to find himself betrayed by people he thought he was helping, also heightened by his white girlfriend attempting to convince him to join her in Wisconsin. When a failed assassination attempt on Chee ties into four other murders Leaphorn is investigating, the legendary lieutenant is convinced he's looking for a serial killer, but there doesn't seem to be anything connecting the victims. In the end, both men are injured pursuing the truth which turns out to be tied to the most secretive of Navajo myths--that of the evil Skinwalkers. But is a Skinwalker stalking the reservation or are otherwise good people being driven to murder because they fear their neighbors are Skinwalkers doing them harm?
coreysehr's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
hooliaquoolia's review
4.0
This was my favorite of the Hillerman novels I've read recently. Great mystery, and I'll read more of Leaphorn & Chee together in the future.
staticdisplay's review
4.0
it was very interesting to read this book now; Jim Chee (a police officer) is shot at, and everyone assumes that he must have done something wrong to deserve it. not a narrative I've seen too much in the media.
aside from that, I really enjoy this series. the preface indicates that putting Chee and Leaphorn together was inspired by a reader who couldn't tell the difference between the two characters. they do have a lot of similarities, as they're both men of above-average intelligence/intuition who work for the police and think frequently about their female partners. they both tend to reflect a lot in solitude and speak little, although Chee will chat people up more as he investigates. socially, they're not as similar. in this particular story, Chee has been shot at and Leaphorn is sizing him up. they're facing a series of homicides that seem to be related, but the connection remains a mystery almost until the end of the story. beautiful descriptions of the natural world.
aside from that, I really enjoy this series. the preface indicates that putting Chee and Leaphorn together was inspired by a reader who couldn't tell the difference between the two characters. they do have a lot of similarities, as they're both men of above-average intelligence/intuition who work for the police and think frequently about their female partners. they both tend to reflect a lot in solitude and speak little, although Chee will chat people up more as he investigates. socially, they're not as similar. in this particular story, Chee has been shot at and Leaphorn is sizing him up. they're facing a series of homicides that seem to be related, but the connection remains a mystery almost until the end of the story. beautiful descriptions of the natural world.
judyward's review
3.0
The mystery involving a series of murders taking place over 120 miles apart on the Navajo reservations of the American Southwest is just part of the allure of this book. Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee join forces to try to link four murders with no seeming connection using both traditional police procedures and an inherent understanding of their traditional Native American culture. The descriptions of the geography of the Four Corners area and sensitive explanation and exploration of Navajo culture makes this series of books stand out. By the way, a Skinwalker is a witch in the Navajo culture and Jim Chee is accused of being one. Makes the investigation a tad harder, especially when there is someone out to kill him.
srash's review
4.0
After reading 3 Leaphorn novels and 3 Chee novels, I was curious to see how Hillerman would bring them together for the first time. And I really liked the approach he used. There's a bit of wariness and a bit of mutual respect there for each of them. Not instant enemies but not also instant friends. Definitely looking forward to seeing how their dynamic unfolds in the next book.
The mystery itself is also a good one, as Leaphorn tries to puzzle together a flurry of seemingly unrelated homicides on the reservation plus an attempted shooting against another tribal policeman named Jim Chee. That being said, I felt like Chee was too clueless, especially since I saw some of the twists and the direction of the mystery coming pretty early on. I like that Hillerman writes smart characters, and the series works for me much better when he leans into that. Still a solid mystery to read, though.
The mystery itself is also a good one, as Leaphorn tries to puzzle together a flurry of seemingly unrelated homicides on the reservation plus an attempted shooting against another tribal policeman named Jim Chee. That being said, I felt like Chee was too clueless, especially since I saw some of the twists and the direction of the mystery coming pretty early on. I like that Hillerman writes smart characters, and the series works for me much better when he leans into that. Still a solid mystery to read, though.