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juliaem's review against another edition
3.0
All Hillerman's characteristic elements are here: nicely sustained pace without gimics to create suspense, a meandering tour of Dineh geography, and Leaphorn & Chee's observant, analytical minds. I've read these all out of order, so it was fun to see them circling each other warily in this book, not yet accomplices so measuring each other's virtues and vices. There are also some interesting subplots here related to the insufficiency of translation and the ongoing settler-colonialism of academia.
voxlunae's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
linda48's review against another edition
5.0
A straight forward mystery with will developed characters and a fascinating plot with twists and turns. One of the best Tony Hillerman Chee-Leaphorn mysteries.
uncle_remus's review against another edition
4.0
Best Leaphorn and Chee yet. This one was heavy on the mystery(-ies), and less on the Navajo subculture. I imagine it would be difficult to continue writing of the subculture without repeating what was in earlier books, excepting nuances.
Rating 4.5 stars.
Rating 4.5 stars.
therealbookaholic's review against another edition
3.0
I have actually read a number of Hillerman's books and have been a fan for some time. I just like the world he explores, the characters he has created and the way he crafts a mystery. Good stuff.
ncrabb's review against another edition
4.0
This feels like one of the earlier Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn books. They aren’t even friends per se in this book; but they learn to work together, and I suspect this is the beginning of the friendship that eventually fully comes to fruition. I was surprised to learn that this was the 10th book in which the two appear together.
Navajo Nation Officer Delbert Nez has been tracking a criminal, and he at last seems to have the guy. He is thrilled about that, and those listening to the tribal police channel can hear his laughter fading in and out as the signal moves through the vast emptiness of the desert southwest. Jim Chee hears Nez’s call for help, but he hesitates a bit, wondering whether he heard correctly. By the time he reaches the car, it is fully engulfed in flames and Delbert Nez is dead,.
Chee badly burns himself trying to get Nez out, and when he does, he realizes it’s too late. Nez was gunned down before his car was set on fire. Conveniently enough, drunken medicine man Ashie Pinto is shuffling down the road not far from the burning police car. He is entirely booze saturated, and he has the murder weapon tucked neatly in his belt. It looks for all the world to Chee as if Pinto is the killer. Indeed, the case seems rather handily sewn up.
But Joe Leaphorn, who is threatening to retire even in this book, isn’t so sure. He’s convinced Chee and others have rushed to judgment, and he’s eventually certain Pinto isn’t the killer.
I think there are other books in this series that I’ve enjoyed more, but this one is wonderful just the same. You simply can’t go wrong with a Tony Hillerman book, especially if you love mysteries. This one pulls you in from the first sentence, and the undercurrents created by the interaction of all the characters are fascinating indeed.
Navajo Nation Officer Delbert Nez has been tracking a criminal, and he at last seems to have the guy. He is thrilled about that, and those listening to the tribal police channel can hear his laughter fading in and out as the signal moves through the vast emptiness of the desert southwest. Jim Chee hears Nez’s call for help, but he hesitates a bit, wondering whether he heard correctly. By the time he reaches the car, it is fully engulfed in flames and Delbert Nez is dead,.
Chee badly burns himself trying to get Nez out, and when he does, he realizes it’s too late. Nez was gunned down before his car was set on fire. Conveniently enough, drunken medicine man Ashie Pinto is shuffling down the road not far from the burning police car. He is entirely booze saturated, and he has the murder weapon tucked neatly in his belt. It looks for all the world to Chee as if Pinto is the killer. Indeed, the case seems rather handily sewn up.
But Joe Leaphorn, who is threatening to retire even in this book, isn’t so sure. He’s convinced Chee and others have rushed to judgment, and he’s eventually certain Pinto isn’t the killer.
I think there are other books in this series that I’ve enjoyed more, but this one is wonderful just the same. You simply can’t go wrong with a Tony Hillerman book, especially if you love mysteries. This one pulls you in from the first sentence, and the undercurrents created by the interaction of all the characters are fascinating indeed.
meganpbennett's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
3.0
Book 10 in Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee series, Coyote Waits has an interesting premise: a Navajo policeman is shot, and then his car is set on fire. Chee, approaching the scene, sees a car fleeing the scene, and burns his hand badly attempting to get his friend out of the car. Leaphorn, who's considering retirement, gets involved when the family of the drunk Chee arrested come to him, asking for help proving that he didn't do it, despite all of the evidence against him.
The legend of Butch Cassidy makes an appearance, as does Jim Chee's old fling - Janet Pete.
As usual, you don't read Hillerman for the mystery, but for everything else. The way he describes the Southwest, his obvious love for the Navajo people, and his attention to detail.
The legend of Butch Cassidy makes an appearance, as does Jim Chee's old fling - Janet Pete.
As usual, you don't read Hillerman for the mystery, but for everything else. The way he describes the Southwest, his obvious love for the Navajo people, and his attention to detail.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
northerly_heart_reads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-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
jeremiah_scanlan's review against another edition
Fun. Sadly, weak prose means I don't get to really investigate all the ideas I'm excited about (2/5)
omnibozo22's review against another edition
4.0
It's a little frustrating that I'm reading these as I come across them in the used bookstores, rather than in order of publication. The relationships keep jumping around, rather than developing. That's OK. I could just get all the ones I haven't read and start filling in the spots... but I already have several sufficiently large stacks (real and virtual) of books waiting to be read. I'll just pick 'em up as I find 'em. Read them. Pass them on. (I am committed to keeping the number of hard copy books to a minimum. Tired of feeding the damn termites.
Oh, the book... another typical Hillerman. Lots of interesting cultural explanations contained in the story. I have a couple of Navaho friends on FB, and read their posts with an eye to spotting cultural references I've picked up from the Leaphorn/Chee series. OK, rarely do those friends post about skinwalkers or singing the Blessing Way. Doesn't matter at all.
Oh, the book... another typical Hillerman. Lots of interesting cultural explanations contained in the story. I have a couple of Navaho friends on FB, and read their posts with an eye to spotting cultural references I've picked up from the Leaphorn/Chee series. OK, rarely do those friends post about skinwalkers or singing the Blessing Way. Doesn't matter at all.