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pussreboots's review
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
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
4.0
vvijayanti's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
colleenlh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
bjerz's review
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
fscolli93's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? No
4.5
caitz's review
adventurous
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? It's complicated
4.25
meganpbennett's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The Sacred Bridge was my first Anne Hillerman book, though I've a fair number of Tony Hillerman's books. It was very interesting, if a little slow paced for my tastes. Unlike other mysteries, the two separate stories do not appear to be related, but they are good mysteries in their own right. Fascinating look at the Navajo Nation, and I enjoyed meeting Bernie.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Dementia, and Suicide
Minor: Vomit
jennybeastie's review
3.0
I'm starting to think that I should just stop reading ARCs until the pandemic is completely over -- huge salute and appreciation to the many authors who are producing new work in this very hard time, however, this book, like the last 3-4 I've read, just feels like it's not done being written yet. I hope/suspect that will change before publication.
In this case, the dual plotlines need a little bit of tightening up, and most of the action scenes are incomplete -- either not particularly believable (Bernie, moving around the space she's undercover in with no trouble) or just missing pieces (Chee, going from gunpoint to behind a rock to climbing an ancient rock wall as though he's teleporting). It's also strikingly less polished as the book goes on, so I really do think this is an editing process that hasn't finished yet.
In the meantime -- my review of the book as a whole:
One of the things I deeply love is to see characters evolve over time. That's why I enjoyed Tony Hillerman's books, and why I have continued to enjoy Anne Hillerman's works. This book holds the tensions of imminent changes supremely well. It explores both Bernie and Chee's very human desires to find their next path and does it in a believable way. It's kind of hard on the reader, because it feels like the kind of the book where a character might die or change profession or leave as a catalyst for change for the entire series, and that is really well done. It also holds the tension of talking about recent ongoing concerns in the Navaho Nation -- from the effects of Covid-19, to the legalization of marijuana, to the evolving story of the Lake Powell area. It feels relevant, up-to-the-moment and unresolved, just like everything else right now.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
In this case, the dual plotlines need a little bit of tightening up, and most of the action scenes are incomplete -- either not particularly believable (Bernie, moving around the space she's undercover in with no trouble) or just missing pieces (Chee, going from gunpoint to behind a rock to climbing an ancient rock wall as though he's teleporting). It's also strikingly less polished as the book goes on, so I really do think this is an editing process that hasn't finished yet.
In the meantime -- my review of the book as a whole:
One of the things I deeply love is to see characters evolve over time. That's why I enjoyed Tony Hillerman's books, and why I have continued to enjoy Anne Hillerman's works. This book holds the tensions of imminent changes supremely well. It explores both Bernie and Chee's very human desires to find their next path and does it in a believable way. It's kind of hard on the reader, because it feels like the kind of the book where a character might die or change profession or leave as a catalyst for change for the entire series, and that is really well done. It also holds the tension of talking about recent ongoing concerns in the Navaho Nation -- from the effects of Covid-19, to the legalization of marijuana, to the evolving story of the Lake Powell area. It feels relevant, up-to-the-moment and unresolved, just like everything else right now.
Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss.
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