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Leaphorn & Chee #7-9
Leaphorn & Chee: Skinwalkers / A Thief of Time / Talking God
Three classic Tony Hillerman mysteries in one volume--Skinwalkers, A Thief of Time, and Talking God--represent the apex of the author's award-winning fiction. 25,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.
536 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 1992
2 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Tony Hillerman
220 books1,852 followersTony Hillerman, who was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma, was a decorated combat veteran from World War II, serving as a mortarman in the 103rd Infantry Division and earning the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and a Purple Heart. Later, he worked as a journalist from 1948 to 1962. Then he earned a Masters degree and taught journalism from 1966 to 1987 at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he resided with his wife until his death in 2008. Hillerman, a consistently bestselling author, was ranked as New Mexico's 25th wealthiest man in 1996. - Wikipedia
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
September 30, 2023
Three of a kind
Skinwalkers
“Sun will be created – They say he has planned it all.”
Skinwalkers are witches in the Navaho legends and can fly or turn themselves into a dog or a wolf. This mystery involves the conflict between Skinwalkers and shamen and belegana medicine. Then again, it may be a straightforward set of independent murders. In any event, it looks as if someone is out to kill Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee and he does not have a clue as to why.
As with all of Tony Hillerman's stories, you have the feeling you are there. If you have visited or live in the area (Four Corners canyons) that the mystery takes part in, you will be better able to identify with the people and landmarks. And as with his other books, there is an overt and covert story.
I have read the book but the addition of the voice of George Guidall adds a dimension to the story by helping visualize the people and correcting the pronunciation of certain words. I suggest you read the book and listen to the recorded version.
I first saw the TV version of Skinwalkers with Robert Redford. He has a habit of redfordizing stories for his agenda. This book was so strongly written that I thought Redford did not have a chance to modify it. I was wrong.
The book is much more in-depth and the motive and additional characters made the mystery much more intriguing.
------------------------------------------------------------
A thief of time is a pot pilferer
As with most Hillerman formulas, we have separate mysteries that overlap in time and place. Almost retired with just a few days to go, Lt. Joe Leaphorn, Navajo Tribal Police, is looking for a missing anthropologist Dr. Eleanor Friedman-Bernal who disappeared, leaving an extensively prepared meal in the refrigerator. And Officer Jim Chee looking for a missing back-ho that he was supposed to be watching due to a chronic thieving problem.
Now do not jump to conclusions. Hillerman thinly veils his mysteries and you can pretty much guess the conclusion. This time it is a waste to try. We get his colorful description of the four corners country. Also, we get an insight into the Navajo culture. You may go a little potty with details.
------------------------------------------------
Leaphorn and Chee together again, maybe.
Once again, Tony Hillerman weaves a great story with many threads intertwining. We get to revisit old friends from previous stories and some new ones. Therefore, the story assumes you have already read some earlier Hillerman's. It mainly takes place in Washington DC. However, we are treated to the “The Night Chant” ceremony, which introduces us to talking God Yeibichai.
This time our story carries us to the Smithsonian Institute. Joe Leaphorn with only a few days left until his retirement is intrigued when they find a body of a man with no teeth off the side of an Amtrak line. Jim Chee is tasked with arresting a grave robber at the ceremony. When everyone else gives up Joe Leaphorn goes that extra step to uncover the mystery of the men beside the tracks. Jim Chee goes that extra step to discover the person who is the grave robber and now hires Jim Chee's ex-girlfriend as his attorney. Will Jim and Joe cross each other’s paths? Moreover, is there a link between these two stories?
You will be introduced to some other Navaho ways and gods. At first, it will seem the story is going on forever but then you may be disappointed because it ends too soon. Either way, this makes a great reading experience.
Skinwalkers
“Sun will be created – They say he has planned it all.”
Skinwalkers are witches in the Navaho legends and can fly or turn themselves into a dog or a wolf. This mystery involves the conflict between Skinwalkers and shamen and belegana medicine. Then again, it may be a straightforward set of independent murders. In any event, it looks as if someone is out to kill Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee and he does not have a clue as to why.
As with all of Tony Hillerman's stories, you have the feeling you are there. If you have visited or live in the area (Four Corners canyons) that the mystery takes part in, you will be better able to identify with the people and landmarks. And as with his other books, there is an overt and covert story.
I have read the book but the addition of the voice of George Guidall adds a dimension to the story by helping visualize the people and correcting the pronunciation of certain words. I suggest you read the book and listen to the recorded version.
I first saw the TV version of Skinwalkers with Robert Redford. He has a habit of redfordizing stories for his agenda. This book was so strongly written that I thought Redford did not have a chance to modify it. I was wrong.
The book is much more in-depth and the motive and additional characters made the mystery much more intriguing.
------------------------------------------------------------
A thief of time is a pot pilferer
As with most Hillerman formulas, we have separate mysteries that overlap in time and place. Almost retired with just a few days to go, Lt. Joe Leaphorn, Navajo Tribal Police, is looking for a missing anthropologist Dr. Eleanor Friedman-Bernal who disappeared, leaving an extensively prepared meal in the refrigerator. And Officer Jim Chee looking for a missing back-ho that he was supposed to be watching due to a chronic thieving problem.
Now do not jump to conclusions. Hillerman thinly veils his mysteries and you can pretty much guess the conclusion. This time it is a waste to try. We get his colorful description of the four corners country. Also, we get an insight into the Navajo culture. You may go a little potty with details.
------------------------------------------------
Leaphorn and Chee together again, maybe.
Once again, Tony Hillerman weaves a great story with many threads intertwining. We get to revisit old friends from previous stories and some new ones. Therefore, the story assumes you have already read some earlier Hillerman's. It mainly takes place in Washington DC. However, we are treated to the “The Night Chant” ceremony, which introduces us to talking God Yeibichai.
This time our story carries us to the Smithsonian Institute. Joe Leaphorn with only a few days left until his retirement is intrigued when they find a body of a man with no teeth off the side of an Amtrak line. Jim Chee is tasked with arresting a grave robber at the ceremony. When everyone else gives up Joe Leaphorn goes that extra step to uncover the mystery of the men beside the tracks. Jim Chee goes that extra step to discover the person who is the grave robber and now hires Jim Chee's ex-girlfriend as his attorney. Will Jim and Joe cross each other’s paths? Moreover, is there a link between these two stories?
You will be introduced to some other Navaho ways and gods. At first, it will seem the story is going on forever but then you may be disappointed because it ends too soon. Either way, this makes a great reading experience.
Displaying 1 of 1 review