Reviews

A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman

staticdisplay's review

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).

Spoiler

I'm also not sure about this character who has schizophrenia. I guess I'm sensitive about portrayals of mental illness.

some very nice descriptions of scenery and historical notes.

redroofcolleen's review

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.

judyward's review

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.

srash's review

5.0

This has actually been my favorite of the series so far. Hillerman does a good job of juxtaposing an intriguing mystery--a missing academic who may or may not have been dabbling in the theft of ancient pots on reservation land--with Leaphorn and Chee's various personal lives. It's just an interesting story in general, and the one plot twist I should have seen coming completely blindsided me.

cwmills's review against another edition

informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

llkendrick's review

3.0

I had a hard time getting into this book. I didn't care for the first half at all but the last half was interesting and had me anxious to see who the bad guy was. I really wanted to like this book a lot because the setting is near where I live, it's about Navajos, and it's a mystery. It just didn't work for me unfortunately.

geri_reader's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

shiradest's review

4.0

I am really glad I took the time to read this book. The ending made me think long and hard about Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning, and his idea on living For the Love of another, even when that person is dead. It is enjoyable, fairly fast paced with a shifting third and sometimes omniscient narrator, but really good. Lot of nice dramatic irony when the reader knows something that none of the characters no. And I love the conflict around the Blessing Way and his resolution of it at the end. very nice.

stinajohanns's review

4.0

I really enjoyed this book. I've never read anything by Tony Hillerman before but I'd love to learn more about these two cops.

govmarley's review against another edition

3.0

More Leaphorn. More Chee. A partnership made in heaven? Well, I guess we will see.

In book 8 we FINALLY get the boys together on a more permanent basis. It's going to be good. Leaphorn is in mourning at the loss of Emma and wants to retire, but the job just keeps pulling him back in. Chee is still wet behind the ears, idealistic, and his own man. We are chasing illegal pot hunters (as in pottery, not the plant) and murders abound.

Hoping the "full moon" plot thread doesn't get dumped in the next book. Curious to see what happens there. A good mystery, as always. 3 stars.