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judyward's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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.
sydney_tobin's review
dark
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
2.0
cwmills's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
hannahgrxce's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
govmarley's review against another edition
3.0
Chee. Leaphorn. The beginning of a beautiful partnership.
First we have Joe Leaphorn. Solid cop. Experienced, smart, good husband. Then we have the younger Jim Chee, equally smart, trusts his instincts, a bit outside the rules. Together they make a great team.
This time we are chasing a skinwalker through the Navajo Nation. Lots of twists and turns, and it doesn't necessarily end up where you think it might. Looking forward to the next one.
First we have Joe Leaphorn. Solid cop. Experienced, smart, good husband. Then we have the younger Jim Chee, equally smart, trusts his instincts, a bit outside the rules. Together they make a great team.
This time we are chasing a skinwalker through the Navajo Nation. Lots of twists and turns, and it doesn't necessarily end up where you think it might. Looking forward to the next one.
amarj33t_5ingh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Skinwalkers is a quasi-supernatural foray into the world of Navajo mythology and how it integrates with its more modern universalistic counterpart. It is also the first meeting place between grizzled veteran Joe Leaphorn and upcoming Detective Jim Chee.
A series of seemingly unlinked homicides plague the Navajo reservation. These are largely forgotten when an assassin tries slaying Jim Chee in his own house. Joint investigations see him link up with Leaphorn and discover one chilling fact: the culprits they seek are steeped in Navajo lore and are believed by some to be the insidious human witches known as Skinwalkers.
Terse but also rapid while sacrificing none of Hillerman's trademark clarity of vision, Skinwalkers is one of Hillerman's darkest masterpieces.
A series of seemingly unlinked homicides plague the Navajo reservation. These are largely forgotten when an assassin tries slaying Jim Chee in his own house. Joint investigations see him link up with Leaphorn and discover one chilling fact: the culprits they seek are steeped in Navajo lore and are believed by some to be the insidious human witches known as Skinwalkers.
Terse but also rapid while sacrificing none of Hillerman's trademark clarity of vision, Skinwalkers is one of Hillerman's darkest masterpieces.
_meegan's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
linda48's review against another edition
4.0
Another good book from Tony Hillerman, enjoyable and a fast read. This book has an extra sub-plot - besides introducing the readers to the Navajo Way, religion, witchcraft, the landscape and topography of the Navajo and other reservations, Hillerman touches on the signs of the onset of Alzheimer's. This feels like he is writing from the heart.