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mpetruce's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
katzreads's review against another edition
It's on my shelf, so I must have read it.
coreysehr's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
acarman1's review against another edition
5.0
Tony Hillerman's series on Navajo police officer Joe Leaphorn and his protege Jim Chee are very exciting and engaging. This might have been the best one yet. In addition to two exciting storylines involving political corruption, murder and accountability, there is a very meaningful discussion of what it means to live between two worlds (the white American and the Navajo) and how competing interpretations of justice can often not be satisfied. Dealing with a hit and run death, Officer Chee discovers he has to decide whether to arrest and throw the book at the guilty party (the white American way) or urge the guilty man to make restitution to the family (the Navajo way). In addition, I learned about a group of bejeweled canes given to the leaders of various Pueblos by President Lincoln during the Civil War to thank them for not joining the Confederacy which are still treasured today. Anyone interested in engaging mystery stories or Native culture is encouraged to check these out.
staticdisplay's review against another edition
4.0
nice to see Leaphorn and Chee working together officially. their relationships continue to grow and develop. I really enjoyed the descriptions of autumn in this book.
gmvader's review
4.0
Every time I read a Tony Hillerman novel I wonder why it took me so long to get around to reading another on. These books are pure entertainment and brilliant writing. The strength of Hillerman is his characters and his obvious love of New Mexico and the native cultures that dwell there.
This book deals with Hopi religious practices and money and environmentalists and the kind of personal justice that makes Tony Hillman so great.
I love the feel of this early book, with Chee uncomfortable in his roll as Leaphorn’s junior and Leaphorn unsure of trusting a new associate. It’s quite a contrast to the later books where they are both veterans of reservation detective work.
In this case there have been a couple of murders, and a counterfeit Lincoln cane. There is also a drive-by fatality with a twist and a cast of characters that are made to inspire empathy and instant recognition. Hillerman also sneaks in a little bit of lessons about Navajo and Hopi cultures.
I would recommend this book to anybody, just like I would recommend any of Tony Hillerman’s books. This early one hasn’t picked up the writing quirks of the later books that make me twitch and the mystery will keep you guessing.
This book deals with Hopi religious practices and money and environmentalists and the kind of personal justice that makes Tony Hillman so great.
I love the feel of this early book, with Chee uncomfortable in his roll as Leaphorn’s junior and Leaphorn unsure of trusting a new associate. It’s quite a contrast to the later books where they are both veterans of reservation detective work.
In this case there have been a couple of murders, and a counterfeit Lincoln cane. There is also a drive-by fatality with a twist and a cast of characters that are made to inspire empathy and instant recognition. Hillerman also sneaks in a little bit of lessons about Navajo and Hopi cultures.
I would recommend this book to anybody, just like I would recommend any of Tony Hillerman’s books. This early one hasn’t picked up the writing quirks of the later books that make me twitch and the mystery will keep you guessing.
voxlunae's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75