mpetruce's review against another edition
3.0
Hillerman is one of my favorites. This is his first Navajo mystery and it isn't so much a Joe Leaphorn novel as a Leaphorn/McKee novel. I have not read all the early books, so I don't know if McKee keeps coming back. This is darker to me than the later books, and a little more uneven, but still was a great read.
emlizzy's review
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
jbleyle63's review against another edition
4.0
A recent family trip to northern New Mexico and Mesa Verde National Park finally spurred me to tackle the Hillerman Navajo mystery series long on my reading wish list. Though this novel marks the first appearance of Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn, he is mainly a supporting character as this novel focuses on a college friend Bergen McKee who is a professor of anthropology at the University of New Mexico. A research project in remote areas of Navajo reservation land brings McKee into contact with some shady characters. The novel works more as a suspense piece than mystery puzzle and was a very quick enjoyable read with interesting background information on Navajo culture. Have already dusted off my long held paperback copy of "Dance Hall of the Dead" to read second volume of this series before year is out.
linda48's review against another edition
4.0
I love Tony Hillerman's books. I love the way he draws you in to the Navajo's lives, their lands and their customs. You can feel the sun in the high mesas, the arid lands, the wind and the spirits. Good mysteries.
cleheny's review against another edition
3.0
I first read Hillerman's Leaphorn and Chee novels in the 80s, and read new ones as they were published. Until I re-read The Blessing Way, I had forgotten that Leaphorn isn't the main protagonist; it's Bergen McKee, the anthropologist who finds himself in the middle of a terrifying mystery. Fortunately, Hillerman realized that Leaphorn is the more interesting character, and didn't split his attention so drastically in future mysteries. Because McKee isn't that interesting a character (he's been depressed for 5 or more years because of a failed marriage, and that personal loss seems to be his defining characteristic), The Blessing Way suffers when it spends time on his story.
Hillerman's strong sense of place and culture, which is a hallmark and strength of his mysteries, is apparent here. For me, the high point of the novel is the Enemy Way ceremony that Leaphorn attends; it not only advances the story, it opens up a window on Navajo culture--both the traditional ritual and how the community changes in response to external pressures.
Hillerman's strong sense of place and culture, which is a hallmark and strength of his mysteries, is apparent here. For me, the high point of the novel is the Enemy Way ceremony that Leaphorn attends; it not only advances the story, it opens up a window on Navajo culture--both the traditional ritual and how the community changes in response to external pressures.
sapphire_mayo's review against another edition
3.0
The pacing was so fast that I didn't realize we were in the thick of it until a page later, but I enjoyed maybe because of that. It was my first crime read, so I'm glad that it was fast paced. I was a bit hesitant at the start but adjusted within the first three chapters once I realized I could keep track of the characters.
xkay_readsx's review against another edition
3.0
First in series for Leaphorn & Chee. Fascinating glimpse of Navajo culture. A blend of mystic and mystery.
amylynn1031's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0