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Leaphorn & Chee #1
The Blessing Way
Alternate cover edition for ASIN B000FC10VQ.
Homicide is always an abomination, but there is something exceptionally disturbing about the victim discovered in a high lonely place, a corpse with a mouth full of sand, abandoned at a crime scene seemingly devoid of tracks or useful clues. Though it goes against his better judgment, Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn cannot help but suspect the hand of a supernatural killer. There is palpable evil in the air, and Leaphorn's pursuit of a Wolf-Witch is leading him where even the bravest men fear, on a chilling trail that winds perilously between mysticism and murder.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1970
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17638 people want to read
About the author
Tony Hillerman
222 books1,872 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 - 30 of 1,920 reviews
October 7, 2013
Hillerman is chocolate. Read him at the beach, read him before bed, but read him. Then you too will belong to the high plains, the canyons and mesas of the desert Southwest. You will think and speak differently, quietly, thoughtfully. You will find the wound in the floor of the kiva, a melody which is a wound in silence, and you will follow, like Alice down the rabbit hole.
March 27, 2019
This first book in the Joe Leaphorn series features an exciting conclusion, but it also features two heroes instead of one (Ethnologist Bergen McKee gets more pages than Leaphorn), and I don't think it is always clear where the focus of the novel is supposed to be.
The ethnic information about witchcraft beliefs among the Navaho is interesting, but not always properly integrated into the narrative. This is, however, his first detective novel. It is well-written, I hear he is one of the masters of the form, and I look forward to reading more of him in the future.
August 8, 2018
4 stars
This is the first book in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee series by Tony Hillerman. Jim Chee does not appear in this book and Leaphorn plays an equal role as protagonist against murderers with ethnologist Bergen McKee. Leaphorn is looking for Luis Horseman, who cut a Mexican in Gallup, New Mexico. Horseman turns up dead with few clues as to how he got there. Leaphorn and McKee keep hearing rumors of a Wolf Witch roaming the reservation. They both try to track down the Wolf Witch, McKee because of his research, and Leaphorn because it may have something to do with Horseman's death. I like the way Leaphorn gathers clues about the Wolf Witch.
There is a great deal of information about Navajo traditions and the way their build their hogans, following the Navajo way.
I strongly recommend this series to mystery fans and Native American fans. Hillerman received the Navajo Tribe's Special Friend Award.
This is the first book in the Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee series by Tony Hillerman. Jim Chee does not appear in this book and Leaphorn plays an equal role as protagonist against murderers with ethnologist Bergen McKee. Leaphorn is looking for Luis Horseman, who cut a Mexican in Gallup, New Mexico. Horseman turns up dead with few clues as to how he got there. Leaphorn and McKee keep hearing rumors of a Wolf Witch roaming the reservation. They both try to track down the Wolf Witch, McKee because of his research, and Leaphorn because it may have something to do with Horseman's death. I like the way Leaphorn gathers clues about the Wolf Witch.
There is a great deal of information about Navajo traditions and the way their build their hogans, following the Navajo way.
I strongly recommend this series to mystery fans and Native American fans. Hillerman received the Navajo Tribe's Special Friend Award.
January 19, 2025
🐺 Fantastic. Not even in the horror genre but it spooked me out. The Navajo Wolf Man. Exceptional writing and storyline with an amazing narration by George Guidall 💀
May 16, 2021
First in series for Leaphorn & Chee. Fascinating glimpse of Navajo culture. A blend of mystic and mystery.
April 30, 2025
Gave this a try years ago, but never got beyond the intro. Gave it another go because I was inspired by the Dark Winds TV show, which I love. I now plan to continue on with the book series.
September 14, 2024
A quick read with interesting characters and an action packed story, The Blessing Way is a compelling mystery set in Native American territory.
March 25, 2024
This was my first Hillerman book, it will not be my last. I have to admit, I was at a total loss during the first third of the book. So many names, different geographical sites, Ghost chasing, murder and people disappearing. I was so confused I almost put the book on the DNF list. It was the reviews of other GR readers that encouraged me to push on. Now, I am glad I did for it was well worth it. The action that began to take place when McGee’s partner disappeared became an avalanche of excitement. The ending I did not predict which always pleases me. So what was going on the DNF pile is now receiving a 4/5. I look forward to the next book in this series.
August 14, 2025
During my college years (way back in the early ‘90s), I was really into grunge, which, besides listening to Nirvana and Pearl Jam and Soundgarden constantly, also meant wearing lots of flannel, ripped jeans, and black combat boots. (Whatever. It was a cool look.) It also meant really long hair.
I haven’t had long hair in decades, but when I grew it out, it was long, black, and straight. Chicks totally dug it, and I rather enjoyed having the chicks run their hands through it, but it was a pain to maintain. The cool thing was, I was often mistaken for Native American, and I didn’t always disavow the thought. (In reality, I’m half-white and half-Korean.)
I remember reading a lot of literature on Native Americans. I also read a lot of contemporary Native American authors popular in the ‘90s, like Sherman Alexie and Louise Erdrich. But my favorite Native American literature was a series of mysteries written by a white dude who set his novels in modern-day Navajo Nation in New Mexico.
Tony Hillerman was of German-English stock who grew up in rural Oklahoma and went to school with children of the Potawatomi tribe. He grew up with great respect for, and love of, Native American culture.
His series follows the cases of Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and NTP Sergeant Jim Chee, who conduct homicide investigations on tribal land that falls outside of state and federal jurisdiction, although there is always some confusion about whose jurisdiction is whose.
There are about 15 books in the series. In 2013, Tony’s daughter, Anne, continued the series after her father’s death. She has written seven books in the series.
Anyway, I had thought that I read every book in the series written by Tony, but I was apparently wrong.
“The Blessing Way”, originally published in 1970, was the first novel to introduce Joe Leaphorn. The novel did not ring any bells for me.
The main character is a college professor of anthropology named Bergen McKee, a thinly-veiled Hillerman, who is on a research trip in Navajo country to study Navajo “witches”. His friend, Joe Leaphorn, is a Navajo Tribal Police officer investigating the murder of a young man.
McKee drives to his base camp one day to find that his partner is missing. His partner left an enigmatic letter, which convinces McKee that something nefarious might have happened. As it happens, he witnesses a real Navajo witch try to sneak into his base camp. He tries to escape the mountains but is quickly embroiled in a deadly situation.
Meanwhile, Leaphorn investigates the murder of the young man, and his investigation gets him closer and closer to Mckee. Tension mounts as the two men’s situations converge.
“The Blessing Way” is a terrific thriller that sets the scene for future Leaphorn/Chee novels by giving readers a real sense of the land and culture of the Navajo tribe. Modern audiences may feel that it is slow-moving at points, and it is. There are a lot of scenes in which the protagonists stumble through caves and rock-climb through the Lukachukai Mountains. There are also a lot scenes of elders sitting around campfires telling stories of their ancestors. It’s a very different type of thriller.
It’s very cool, though, and it makes me miss my long hair.
I haven’t had long hair in decades, but when I grew it out, it was long, black, and straight. Chicks totally dug it, and I rather enjoyed having the chicks run their hands through it, but it was a pain to maintain. The cool thing was, I was often mistaken for Native American, and I didn’t always disavow the thought. (In reality, I’m half-white and half-Korean.)
I remember reading a lot of literature on Native Americans. I also read a lot of contemporary Native American authors popular in the ‘90s, like Sherman Alexie and Louise Erdrich. But my favorite Native American literature was a series of mysteries written by a white dude who set his novels in modern-day Navajo Nation in New Mexico.
Tony Hillerman was of German-English stock who grew up in rural Oklahoma and went to school with children of the Potawatomi tribe. He grew up with great respect for, and love of, Native American culture.
His series follows the cases of Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn and NTP Sergeant Jim Chee, who conduct homicide investigations on tribal land that falls outside of state and federal jurisdiction, although there is always some confusion about whose jurisdiction is whose.
There are about 15 books in the series. In 2013, Tony’s daughter, Anne, continued the series after her father’s death. She has written seven books in the series.
Anyway, I had thought that I read every book in the series written by Tony, but I was apparently wrong.
“The Blessing Way”, originally published in 1970, was the first novel to introduce Joe Leaphorn. The novel did not ring any bells for me.
The main character is a college professor of anthropology named Bergen McKee, a thinly-veiled Hillerman, who is on a research trip in Navajo country to study Navajo “witches”. His friend, Joe Leaphorn, is a Navajo Tribal Police officer investigating the murder of a young man.
McKee drives to his base camp one day to find that his partner is missing. His partner left an enigmatic letter, which convinces McKee that something nefarious might have happened. As it happens, he witnesses a real Navajo witch try to sneak into his base camp. He tries to escape the mountains but is quickly embroiled in a deadly situation.
Meanwhile, Leaphorn investigates the murder of the young man, and his investigation gets him closer and closer to Mckee. Tension mounts as the two men’s situations converge.
“The Blessing Way” is a terrific thriller that sets the scene for future Leaphorn/Chee novels by giving readers a real sense of the land and culture of the Navajo tribe. Modern audiences may feel that it is slow-moving at points, and it is. There are a lot of scenes in which the protagonists stumble through caves and rock-climb through the Lukachukai Mountains. There are also a lot scenes of elders sitting around campfires telling stories of their ancestors. It’s a very different type of thriller.
It’s very cool, though, and it makes me miss my long hair.
July 4, 2015
It's been mentioned in other reviews, but this particular book does seem to suffer from a bit of an identity crisis: it doesn't quite seem sure of its main protagonist. You'd think it would be Joe Leaphorn, but it just may not be after all.
That said, it's certainly a rather interesting book. Navajo symbolism and mythology permeate the writing to such an extent that I initially found it somewhat difficult to follow the story, but once you get used to the writing style it actually reads quite fast.
It's a fairly sinister story too, with some scary characters prowling around in the desert. I would have liked to rate it a bit higher, but it isn't quite there yet. There's a lot of promise here, though, and it has atmosphere in spades. This is only book 1, after all, so the characters are still finding their feet at this point.
I'll definitely be looking into the next instalment in the series (Dance Hall of the Dead) and in particular Skinwalkers since it seems to be the book that made Joe Leaphorn "famous" (so to speak).
Recommended to mystery readers who are looking for something unique, as far as setting is concerned.
That said, it's certainly a rather interesting book. Navajo symbolism and mythology permeate the writing to such an extent that I initially found it somewhat difficult to follow the story, but once you get used to the writing style it actually reads quite fast.
It's a fairly sinister story too, with some scary characters prowling around in the desert. I would have liked to rate it a bit higher, but it isn't quite there yet. There's a lot of promise here, though, and it has atmosphere in spades. This is only book 1, after all, so the characters are still finding their feet at this point.
I'll definitely be looking into the next instalment in the series (Dance Hall of the Dead) and in particular Skinwalkers since it seems to be the book that made Joe Leaphorn "famous" (so to speak).
Recommended to mystery readers who are looking for something unique, as far as setting is concerned.
April 18, 2017
I usually don't do this, but DNF on page 106. I can't make heads or tails out of what's going on, and I'm bored stiff.
UPDATE: 10/23/2015
Okay, I finished it. Still stand by my original opinion.
UPDATE: 10/23/2015
Okay, I finished it. Still stand by my original opinion.
July 18, 2022
This is the first in the Leaphorn & Chee mysteries set in the Navajo nation in the Southwest United States. I have been wanting to start this series for the longest time and I was not disappointed. Jim Chee does not actually appear in this book, but the plot is helped along by Joe Leaphorn's friend, Professor McKee. Leaphorn is looking for Luis Horseman, who turns up dead. Is Luis's death attributed to a Wolf Witch rumored to be roaming the reservation? Luis has seen him and so have others. McKee wants to find this Wolf Witch because of the research he is doing and Leaphorn as he feels it has something to do with Horseman's death. The way Leaphorn collects clues is meticulous and the real backstory of the Wolf Witch is very interesting.
There is a lot of history and a lot about the Navajo culture. It is woven into the story, but the reader learns a lot in addition to being entertained by the mystery itself. I see why Tony Hillerman was so respected by the Navajo and received the numerous honors and awards throughout his life and career.
There is a lot of history and a lot about the Navajo culture. It is woven into the story, but the reader learns a lot in addition to being entertained by the mystery itself. I see why Tony Hillerman was so respected by the Navajo and received the numerous honors and awards throughout his life and career.
April 9, 2007
I actually read this quite a long time ago and I don't remember the details, but I've never read a Tony Hillerman I didn't like.
This is the first of Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee/Navajo Reservation mysteries, and I read in an interview that it has so many inaccuracies about Navajo culture that it now makes him cringe. Apparently, though, the Navajo people were quite pleased with his respectful interest in their culture, and they liked the book despite whatever weaknesses it may have. Of course, he did his homework later, and most of his books are considered to present a pretty accurate picture of traditional Navajo culture. And they're good stories, too!
This is the first of Hillerman's Joe Leaphorn/Jim Chee/Navajo Reservation mysteries, and I read in an interview that it has so many inaccuracies about Navajo culture that it now makes him cringe. Apparently, though, the Navajo people were quite pleased with his respectful interest in their culture, and they liked the book despite whatever weaknesses it may have. Of course, he did his homework later, and most of his books are considered to present a pretty accurate picture of traditional Navajo culture. And they're good stories, too!
April 14, 2018
Many years ago I read several of Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee books. Around eight books in the series I believe. When I saw the Kindle version on sale at Amazon a while back I decided to buy it and check it out again. Although the title indicates "Leaphorn & Chee" there is no Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn often takes a backseat. In fact the main protagonist appears to be Bergen McKee, a college professor who returned to the Reservation in order to continue his research of Navajo witchcraft.
The story opens with a Navajo in the desert of Arizona fearful for his life. Something he has seen or become aware of. He is fearful of a Wolf-Witch. Is it superstition? Whatever it is his body is later found, his mouth full of sand. Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is called in to investigate the death, a death where there are no tracks or other clues as to what happened.
Bergen McKee is a tenured college professor who is still recovering from his divorce five years ago and returns to the Reservation to continue his research of Navajo witchcraft after receiving an invitation from his friend Joe Leaphorn. McKee is a patient man and he needs to be if he wants to learn about the secretive world of the Navajo. When he questions Old Woman Gray Rocks he learns about the comings and goings of various Navajo and outsiders.
In the meantime Joe Leaphorn observes a two-day Enemy Way ceremony that is supposed to turn the witchcraft back on the witch. The ceremony is quite elaborate and expensive. It requires singers, special performers, feasting and gifts. Leaphorn concludes that there must be something behind the wolf-witch rumors for the family to pay for this ceremony. It also proves, to Leaphorn, that the witch must be an outsider. If it were another Navajo a different ceremony would be performed.
What really sets this novel apart is Hillerman's knowledge of the geography of the desert and Navajo customs and beliefs. It was his first novel and therefore may not be the best. It was still interesting and an enjoyable read. It may be a little confusing, with regards to Navajo customs, at first but it is well worth sticking with as the ending is exciting and when it was over I gained some knowledge about a different culture.
The story opens with a Navajo in the desert of Arizona fearful for his life. Something he has seen or become aware of. He is fearful of a Wolf-Witch. Is it superstition? Whatever it is his body is later found, his mouth full of sand. Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn is called in to investigate the death, a death where there are no tracks or other clues as to what happened.
Bergen McKee is a tenured college professor who is still recovering from his divorce five years ago and returns to the Reservation to continue his research of Navajo witchcraft after receiving an invitation from his friend Joe Leaphorn. McKee is a patient man and he needs to be if he wants to learn about the secretive world of the Navajo. When he questions Old Woman Gray Rocks he learns about the comings and goings of various Navajo and outsiders.
In the meantime Joe Leaphorn observes a two-day Enemy Way ceremony that is supposed to turn the witchcraft back on the witch. The ceremony is quite elaborate and expensive. It requires singers, special performers, feasting and gifts. Leaphorn concludes that there must be something behind the wolf-witch rumors for the family to pay for this ceremony. It also proves, to Leaphorn, that the witch must be an outsider. If it were another Navajo a different ceremony would be performed.
What really sets this novel apart is Hillerman's knowledge of the geography of the desert and Navajo customs and beliefs. It was his first novel and therefore may not be the best. It was still interesting and an enjoyable read. It may be a little confusing, with regards to Navajo customs, at first but it is well worth sticking with as the ending is exciting and when it was over I gained some knowledge about a different culture.
May 19, 2024
In my continuing pursuit of “cleaning out the closet”, I’ve really been excited about getting to this one. I didn’t add it to my to-read list until after I saw the first season of the tv show, Dark Winds, back in early 2023. So far, this first installment hasn’t been covered in the tv show where the first two seasons covered books three and four. So, starting from the beginning will be a new story for me. This installment doesn’t include Jim Chee either; Chee doesn’t show up until the fourth installment. Like the show, the book included a lot of info and passages on Navajo life, including their beliefs and practices and locations (the reservation).
The book summary is pretty vague and just basically introduces one of the storylines. A Navajo man, Luis, gets into a fight and beats the guy so bad that he believes he killed him. However, the guy survives so Leaphorn attends an enemy ceremony on the reservation where he lets everyone know that Luis didn’t kill anyone, but he still needs to talk to him. The next day, Luis turns up dead in ravine, a long way from where he was last seen by a girl at the ceremony. For most of the story, this particular storyline actually seems like a secondary storyline.
There is another storyline, that seems more like the primary storyline and that is about Professors McKee and Canfield, who are on the reservation doing some research on the Navajo belief of a Navajo Wolf Witch. McKee, who is an old college friend of Leaphorn’s, attends the enemy ceremony and learns the Wolf Witch is an outsider who has come to the reservation and is killing off their livestock. After the ceremony, McKee heads up to the mountains, where Canfield is waiting for him so that they can finish their research.
The story flips back and forth between Leaphorn and McKee and well into the second half it takes a turn for the worse and becomes a battle of life and death for McKee and the fiancée of another Professor, Hill, with some intense and scary scenes. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this story, that doesn’t play out as well in the tv show, is the Navajo folklore and history. This story was steeped in it, while also incorporating a story of the outside, the white man’s problems/activities, coming in, to the reservation and Navajo land, and wreaking havoc.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by George Goodall, who also narrates the Walt Longmire audiobooks. Goodall is a wonderful narrator, and his narrations always add so much to the storytelling. It truly sounded like Walt narrating the story, which is really not that much of a stretch. Walt is a dedicated devotee of Native American history, beliefs, and folklore. The characterization was a little thin for most of the characters, even Leaphorn’s characterization doesn’t go into any great depth and seemed, most often, like an ensemble character. The pacing and storyline were good and interesting. However, it’s the writing style of Hillerman that takes over this story and pretty much carries it to the finale. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.6 and I am rounding up to a 4star rating. As is often the case, the book is so much better than the tv show. I’m looking forward to the next installment of the series.
The book summary is pretty vague and just basically introduces one of the storylines. A Navajo man, Luis, gets into a fight and beats the guy so bad that he believes he killed him. However, the guy survives so Leaphorn attends an enemy ceremony on the reservation where he lets everyone know that Luis didn’t kill anyone, but he still needs to talk to him. The next day, Luis turns up dead in ravine, a long way from where he was last seen by a girl at the ceremony. For most of the story, this particular storyline actually seems like a secondary storyline.
There is another storyline, that seems more like the primary storyline and that is about Professors McKee and Canfield, who are on the reservation doing some research on the Navajo belief of a Navajo Wolf Witch. McKee, who is an old college friend of Leaphorn’s, attends the enemy ceremony and learns the Wolf Witch is an outsider who has come to the reservation and is killing off their livestock. After the ceremony, McKee heads up to the mountains, where Canfield is waiting for him so that they can finish their research.
The story flips back and forth between Leaphorn and McKee and well into the second half it takes a turn for the worse and becomes a battle of life and death for McKee and the fiancée of another Professor, Hill, with some intense and scary scenes. One of the things that I really enjoyed about this story, that doesn’t play out as well in the tv show, is the Navajo folklore and history. This story was steeped in it, while also incorporating a story of the outside, the white man’s problems/activities, coming in, to the reservation and Navajo land, and wreaking havoc.
I listened to the audiobook, narrated by George Goodall, who also narrates the Walt Longmire audiobooks. Goodall is a wonderful narrator, and his narrations always add so much to the storytelling. It truly sounded like Walt narrating the story, which is really not that much of a stretch. Walt is a dedicated devotee of Native American history, beliefs, and folklore. The characterization was a little thin for most of the characters, even Leaphorn’s characterization doesn’t go into any great depth and seemed, most often, like an ensemble character. The pacing and storyline were good and interesting. However, it’s the writing style of Hillerman that takes over this story and pretty much carries it to the finale. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.6 and I am rounding up to a 4star rating. As is often the case, the book is so much better than the tv show. I’m looking forward to the next installment of the series.
September 6, 2025
After reading and enjoying several of Hillerman's great Leaphorn/Chee novels in no particular order, I decided to check out from the library an online copy of the first book in the series, The Blessing Way and to hopefully read the rest of the series in chronological order at some point. This novel was originally published in 1970 and although it was definitely dated, it was still an exciting and thrilling page-turner that I enjoyed a lot. This is the first outing for Leaphorn who in the novel is a young Navajo Tribal policeman working for the "Law and Order" as the police were called by the Navajo. When a young Navajo man is found dead by the side of a road, Leaphorn is hard-pressed to find clues or a motive for his murder. The man had been suffocated like he was buried in sand. But why leave him out in the open to be found when he could have been buried in the vast wilderness of the reservation? The locals feel that a wolf-witch is to blame. An entity had been sighted by some that appeared to be a wolf but then turned into a man. Why are sheep being wantonly slaughtered and is the supernatural to blame? Into the mix comes Bergen McKee, an ethnologist who is trying to put together a case for the existence of the wolf witch by interviewing members of the tribe. But then when he meets up with an archaeologist in a canyon with many Anasazi ruins, another murder takes place. So what is really happening here and how does the mysterious wolf/witch come into play? Is the supernatural to blame?
This one was a really fast-paced story that kept me guessing up till the end. As usual, Hillerman did an excellent job of describing the landscape of the desert southwest to make you feel like you are there as you read the story. He also provided a good amount of Navajo legend and ritual that made the book all the more interesting. Jim Chee does not show up in this novel; I guess I'll need to read more to see when his character is introduced. And although Leaphorn is the main protagonist of the novel, McKee actually has a somewhat bigger role in the story. He was a great character and maybe he'll show up again in future novels? Anyway, glad I finally read this first in the series and I'll look forward to more.
This one was a really fast-paced story that kept me guessing up till the end. As usual, Hillerman did an excellent job of describing the landscape of the desert southwest to make you feel like you are there as you read the story. He also provided a good amount of Navajo legend and ritual that made the book all the more interesting. Jim Chee does not show up in this novel; I guess I'll need to read more to see when his character is introduced. And although Leaphorn is the main protagonist of the novel, McKee actually has a somewhat bigger role in the story. He was a great character and maybe he'll show up again in future novels? Anyway, glad I finally read this first in the series and I'll look forward to more.
December 30, 2017
Read this book when it first came out. (Yes I'm old!) Did a re-read, here's my review...
When it comes to writing descriptions of the southwest, none can compare to Mr. Hillerman. He can set a scene with a saw-whet owl, a fading sunset, and a distant outcropping of gray-streaked red sandstone. He's magnificent at this, does a better job than any painting or photograph.
Add to that the detailed descriptions of various native American rituals, along with insight into the cultures, the nuances, even the way certain native Americans speak, the writing is amazing.
Those two compliments being said...
You can see why it's No. 1 in the series - the MC just isn't there yet. This is Joe Leaphorn, Hillerman's No. 1 man, but there is no clear sense of who Joe is - or why he is, etc. - in this book. I've read a few others in the series and I think the picture of Joe does becomes clearer. But Joe seems missing in this first novel. Most of the 'doing' and the 'talking' are left to other characters. Perhaps, seeing this is a re-read for me, I expected too much.
The story involves Joe's investigation of a man found dead, his mouth full of sand, in the desert.
The poor dead guy had been on the run believing he'd killed a man, but Joe wants word sent out - through the dead man's friends and family - that the victim is still alive, hence: come in and talk to the law. In the course of sending out this message, Joe interacts with several native Americans from various tribes and with different outlooks and cultures, which, IMO, is the high point of the book. At any rate, we soon lose Joe to a host of other characters, situations, problems, and scenes replete with high tension, some of which are located in the high cliff dwellings of earlier southwest peoples. That part is fascinating, too.
So one star off for the fact Joe is the MC, or maybe not. He's def. not the star of this show, just there at the start and near the end.
Still, a great book and fascinating beginning of a wonderful series.
When it comes to writing descriptions of the southwest, none can compare to Mr. Hillerman. He can set a scene with a saw-whet owl, a fading sunset, and a distant outcropping of gray-streaked red sandstone. He's magnificent at this, does a better job than any painting or photograph.
Add to that the detailed descriptions of various native American rituals, along with insight into the cultures, the nuances, even the way certain native Americans speak, the writing is amazing.
Those two compliments being said...
You can see why it's No. 1 in the series - the MC just isn't there yet. This is Joe Leaphorn, Hillerman's No. 1 man, but there is no clear sense of who Joe is - or why he is, etc. - in this book. I've read a few others in the series and I think the picture of Joe does becomes clearer. But Joe seems missing in this first novel. Most of the 'doing' and the 'talking' are left to other characters. Perhaps, seeing this is a re-read for me, I expected too much.
The story involves Joe's investigation of a man found dead, his mouth full of sand, in the desert.
The poor dead guy had been on the run believing he'd killed a man, but Joe wants word sent out - through the dead man's friends and family - that the victim is still alive, hence: come in and talk to the law. In the course of sending out this message, Joe interacts with several native Americans from various tribes and with different outlooks and cultures, which, IMO, is the high point of the book. At any rate, we soon lose Joe to a host of other characters, situations, problems, and scenes replete with high tension, some of which are located in the high cliff dwellings of earlier southwest peoples. That part is fascinating, too.
So one star off for the fact Joe is the MC, or maybe not. He's def. not the star of this show, just there at the start and near the end.
Still, a great book and fascinating beginning of a wonderful series.
July 28, 2018
Picked this up because I was looking for something different from the murder-in-a-small-English-town-thing. Though it took a while to really get going, I found the people and setting interesting, and liked Joe Leaphorn.
November 19, 2020
4.5 Stars for The Blessing Way (Leaphorn & Chee #1) (audiobook) by Tony Hillerman read by George Guidall. This was an interesting step back in time. I really liked that it’s set in northern Arizona. I’m familiar with a lot of the place names. I’ve already checked out the next book in the series.
May 11, 2013
Interesting book. Purports to reflect the Navajo culture, but I don't know enough about it to judge. A book club selection.
February 9, 2024
This author is a favorite! This may be my 4th time, and it still answers all my questions and prefs when it comes to best engagement in mystery reads. . .
August 31, 2025
As a mystery fan, I had been meaning to check this series out for a while. But it wasn't until I spent a rainy weekend in Napa and took temporary shelter in a lovely used bookstore that I saw a paperback copy and finally picked it up. It may be my best used bookstore impulse buy ever, and I have made quite a few of those.
There is not much new I can add to the conversation about the mystery handled by Arizona Navajo Tribal Police Lt. Joe Leaphorn in this novel, being that was originally published in 1970, but I will say two things. First, this holds up really well considering it was written forty-five years ago. Second, this is a really tight mystery — while there is some minimal character development, and the setting gets an occasional nod — the focus is almost entirely on the mystery at hand, which also ties into the Navajo customs of Leaphorn and the people he polices. The minimal style, which tells a complete, satisfying story in under 300 pages, reminded me of some other twentieth century writing legends — Richard Stark (a.k.a. Donald E. Westlake) and Elmore Leonard, in particular.
There is not much new I can add to the conversation about the mystery handled by Arizona Navajo Tribal Police Lt. Joe Leaphorn in this novel, being that was originally published in 1970, but I will say two things. First, this holds up really well considering it was written forty-five years ago. Second, this is a really tight mystery — while there is some minimal character development, and the setting gets an occasional nod — the focus is almost entirely on the mystery at hand, which also ties into the Navajo customs of Leaphorn and the people he polices. The minimal style, which tells a complete, satisfying story in under 300 pages, reminded me of some other twentieth century writing legends — Richard Stark (a.k.a. Donald E. Westlake) and Elmore Leonard, in particular.
February 2, 2018
This first book in the Leaphorn series, really isn't that great.
There's a corpse with sand in his mouth, and a hunt for a missile.
The story is pretty simple, really only enough here for a novella, and it drags along. Leaphorn really isn't in it very much, either. Sort of hard to believe it heralded a series that would last over 40 years.
There's a corpse with sand in his mouth, and a hunt for a missile.
The story is pretty simple, really only enough here for a novella, and it drags along. Leaphorn really isn't in it very much, either. Sort of hard to believe it heralded a series that would last over 40 years.
June 1, 2022
Once upon a time, you'd find recommendations for new authors in the bookshop, or local library. This provided plenty of options, but a lot of books and authors particularly from other countries would never come across your radar. Then along came the internet and via reviews, discussion threads, links to books that links to other links and so on, a whole world of reading is opened up. This book is one I'd be very unlikely to have come across in the UK in the pre-internet days, but when I came across a detective series featuring the Navajo Tribal Police, I was intrigued and ordered a copy of the first book, The Blessing Way. I'm glad I did.
The Blessing Way is the first book in the Leaphorn & Chee series, which currently runs to 25 books, the first 18 by Tony Hillerman, and the last 7 by his daughter, Anne Hillerman, who continued the series after his death. This book, written in 1970, features Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn who investigates the death of a young Navajo man found in a lonely, remote place with no clues or tracks. The book also features an academic, Bergen McKee, who is researching evidence of Navajo witches, because there's a Wolf Witch been sighted. These two stories run mostly separately throughout the book, but obviously do link up.
When reading the first book in a crime/detective series, I'm looking to see whether there's something in it to make it worth my while carrying on with the series. Book 1 is rarely the polished article, and this is certainly the case here. Firstly, while this features Leaphorn, there's no sign of Chee, who is presumably the other half of the detective duo (I've since read that Chee arrives in Book 4). Secondly, Joe Leaphorn is something of a secondary character in this book, as McKee gets significantly more of the page time. I believe after the first book, the author & publisher decided to focus on Leaphorn as the main character. So with that in mind, what did I think and was there enough here to make me want to carry on with the series?
There's definitely an intriguing mystery in this book - what happened to the victim, Luis Horseman, and what on earth is going on? Mystery there might be, but there isn't a huge amount of detecting by the main detective, as much of the narrative is with McKee and this is more of an adventure than a crime mystery. It did take a while to work out what was going on, as there was a lot of Navajo terms, including their rituals and mythology. However, this was part of what was wonderful about the book, it gave a wonderful glimpse into a really different culture not normally seen in crime fiction, and which I'm almost entirely ignorant of. The writing was really atmospheric in places too, you really felt like you were in the high mesas and the deep canyons of the Navajo nation.
This was a really interesting and enjoyable book, definitely worth persevering through the early parts until you get into it (it's also quite a quick read so won't take you long). I'll certainly be sticking with this and will read the next book soon.
The Blessing Way is the first book in the Leaphorn & Chee series, which currently runs to 25 books, the first 18 by Tony Hillerman, and the last 7 by his daughter, Anne Hillerman, who continued the series after his death. This book, written in 1970, features Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn who investigates the death of a young Navajo man found in a lonely, remote place with no clues or tracks. The book also features an academic, Bergen McKee, who is researching evidence of Navajo witches, because there's a Wolf Witch been sighted. These two stories run mostly separately throughout the book, but obviously do link up.
When reading the first book in a crime/detective series, I'm looking to see whether there's something in it to make it worth my while carrying on with the series. Book 1 is rarely the polished article, and this is certainly the case here. Firstly, while this features Leaphorn, there's no sign of Chee, who is presumably the other half of the detective duo (I've since read that Chee arrives in Book 4). Secondly, Joe Leaphorn is something of a secondary character in this book, as McKee gets significantly more of the page time. I believe after the first book, the author & publisher decided to focus on Leaphorn as the main character. So with that in mind, what did I think and was there enough here to make me want to carry on with the series?
There's definitely an intriguing mystery in this book - what happened to the victim, Luis Horseman, and what on earth is going on? Mystery there might be, but there isn't a huge amount of detecting by the main detective, as much of the narrative is with McKee and this is more of an adventure than a crime mystery. It did take a while to work out what was going on, as there was a lot of Navajo terms, including their rituals and mythology. However, this was part of what was wonderful about the book, it gave a wonderful glimpse into a really different culture not normally seen in crime fiction, and which I'm almost entirely ignorant of. The writing was really atmospheric in places too, you really felt like you were in the high mesas and the deep canyons of the Navajo nation.
This was a really interesting and enjoyable book, definitely worth persevering through the early parts until you get into it (it's also quite a quick read so won't take you long). I'll certainly be sticking with this and will read the next book soon.
May 13, 2021
Recently I found myself thinking about Hillerman again, so I decided to reach for this, his first novel. Surprisingly enough, it is his most popular book here on GR, even though he wrote many more, and others that garnered more awards and the like. So, just to begin my review, I would like to say - wow. What a fantastic novel. This is much more than a mere murder mystery. One of the pleasures of many great mysteries is that, in addition to keeping you guessing and turning the pages, they introduce you to a place and take you into a culture. Hillerman is possibly the epitome of this, and the world he takes us into is that of the Navajo country along the New Mexico-Arizona border.
The author's style is clear and careful. He does not rush anything, and takes his time describing things and introducing characters. Unlike with most mysteries, there is much to learn here, and the details that he shares with us, of life in the Indian reservations and their cultures, are not just decoration, but essential to the narrative. The book is told in third person omniscient, but much is withheld (naturally) until the conclusion.
The story is actually a fairly simple one. A troubled young man disappears, and then turns up murdered, but for unknown reasons, his body has been moved. We already have some idea what occurred from the opening section of the book. A Navajo policeman, Joe Leaphorn, is called on to lead the investigation. Leaphorn is a clear-thinking, rational type. He understands the superstitions - apparently there are quite a few of these - of his fellow Navajos, but does not buy into them. So when talk starts going around that this killing was done by Navajo "wolf" - a type of evil spirit or warlock, he is skeptical. What develops is more howdunit than whodunit, but there are elements of both.
Other characters come into play soon, particularly an academic researcher named Bergen McKee, who soon finds himself a target of the wolf's hostility. The revelation/showdown section of the book is masterful - as good as I have ever read. Not one to throw down a quick and bloody conclusion, Hillerman instead draws out the suspense and confrontations over many pages, bringing in much description and a surprise development or two before things finally wind down. Not all of it is convincing - the scene with the jerry-rigged javelin slingshot is hard to accept - but most of it is. Overall one cannot fault this author on plausability. Or on much else, in my opinion. If you like "literary" (i.e. well-written) thrillers, add this to your reading list.
I listened to an audio version of this on Scribd, well read by George Guidall. I don't mind giving Scribd a little plug here - as of this writing, they offer a wide selection of audio books and e-books for a very reasonable price.
The author's style is clear and careful. He does not rush anything, and takes his time describing things and introducing characters. Unlike with most mysteries, there is much to learn here, and the details that he shares with us, of life in the Indian reservations and their cultures, are not just decoration, but essential to the narrative. The book is told in third person omniscient, but much is withheld (naturally) until the conclusion.
The story is actually a fairly simple one. A troubled young man disappears, and then turns up murdered, but for unknown reasons, his body has been moved. We already have some idea what occurred from the opening section of the book. A Navajo policeman, Joe Leaphorn, is called on to lead the investigation. Leaphorn is a clear-thinking, rational type. He understands the superstitions - apparently there are quite a few of these - of his fellow Navajos, but does not buy into them. So when talk starts going around that this killing was done by Navajo "wolf" - a type of evil spirit or warlock, he is skeptical. What develops is more howdunit than whodunit, but there are elements of both.
Other characters come into play soon, particularly an academic researcher named Bergen McKee, who soon finds himself a target of the wolf's hostility. The revelation/showdown section of the book is masterful - as good as I have ever read. Not one to throw down a quick and bloody conclusion, Hillerman instead draws out the suspense and confrontations over many pages, bringing in much description and a surprise development or two before things finally wind down. Not all of it is convincing - the scene with the jerry-rigged javelin slingshot is hard to accept - but most of it is. Overall one cannot fault this author on plausability. Or on much else, in my opinion. If you like "literary" (i.e. well-written) thrillers, add this to your reading list.
I listened to an audio version of this on Scribd, well read by George Guidall. I don't mind giving Scribd a little plug here - as of this writing, they offer a wide selection of audio books and e-books for a very reasonable price.
August 6, 2015
This is the first book in the Lt Joe Leaphorn, of the Navajo Tribal Police mysteries. It was recommended to me in one of my Goodreads book clubs. I enjoyed this very much, reminded me somewhat of the Longmire books, except from the perspective of the Native Law and Order. Leaphorn isn't in the story all of the time, quite large portions follow his friend McKee, an archeologist who is researching Navajo witches. Joe is trying to solve the murder of Luis Horseman, a Navajo, who is hiding out in Navajo country after stabbing a man in Portland. I enjoyed the view of Navajo culture and how both of the storylines tied in together. There is nice tension in the story as we get deeper into solving the case and I liked both Joe and McKee, plus the other characters that populated the story. It's definitely made me interested in reading more of this series.
March 18, 2020
Mid-20th Century North American Crime Readathon
1970
HOOK = 1 star: The opening pages deal with Native American songs, customs, food (a porcupine is prepared and cooked), clothing and more. "Far to the west, Bearer of the Sun had moved down the sky..." Hillerman writes. The first chapter (8 pages) is dense and a bit difficult as the author assumes readers will understand terms like 'hogan'. It's an odd way, I think, to begin a series and I almost set this one aside. But that would have meant neglecting an entire and well-regarded series, so I plowed onward.
PACE = 2 stars: Glacial for the first 2/3rds. But eventually the action kicks in...if you can hang on long enough.
CRIME = 3: A character is found dead: his mouth and nose full of sand. Then a second character is found dead, killed in the same way. Is this a cultural issue? I found it fascinating the author never doubts a certain belief, nor any beliefs or customs. In this book, there are witches, for example. . No questioning of beliefs. No explanations. This is the Navajo universe, one that doesn't even have a word for 'time'.
PEOPLE/CAST = 2: Joe Leaphorn works in the "Law and Order" building and has a case file for Luis Horseman, who may have killed a man south of the border. Bergen McKee has achieved tenure at the University of Mexico, in the anthropology department. For some reason, students have named him "Monster Slayer" but we never find out why. We meet "Big Navajo" in a trading post buying a new hat. But overall we learn very little about anyone.
PLACE/ATMOSPHERE = 4: This is the main event: obviously the set-up for continued character development in future installments of the series. A final set piece among canyons and cliffs is terrific. I had to look up some terms, but that's never a bad thing on a limited basis. This is a hot and dry and deadly place full of fear: the kind of place that can kill a man in a day.
SUMMARY = 2.4. I am disappointed in this, the first in a series. That said, Hillerman could be building a wildly fascinating world. I'll read at least one more. I do want to know about this "Monster Slayer". And I do wonder if porcupine taste like chicken.
1970
HOOK = 1 star: The opening pages deal with Native American songs, customs, food (a porcupine is prepared and cooked), clothing and more. "Far to the west, Bearer of the Sun had moved down the sky..." Hillerman writes. The first chapter (8 pages) is dense and a bit difficult as the author assumes readers will understand terms like 'hogan'. It's an odd way, I think, to begin a series and I almost set this one aside. But that would have meant neglecting an entire and well-regarded series, so I plowed onward.
PACE = 2 stars: Glacial for the first 2/3rds. But eventually the action kicks in...if you can hang on long enough.
CRIME = 3: A character is found dead: his mouth and nose full of sand. Then a second character is found dead, killed in the same way. Is this a cultural issue? I found it fascinating the author never doubts a certain belief, nor any beliefs or customs. In this book, there are witches, for example. . No questioning of beliefs. No explanations. This is the Navajo universe, one that doesn't even have a word for 'time'.
PEOPLE/CAST = 2: Joe Leaphorn works in the "Law and Order" building and has a case file for Luis Horseman, who may have killed a man south of the border. Bergen McKee has achieved tenure at the University of Mexico, in the anthropology department. For some reason, students have named him "Monster Slayer" but we never find out why. We meet "Big Navajo" in a trading post buying a new hat. But overall we learn very little about anyone.
PLACE/ATMOSPHERE = 4: This is the main event: obviously the set-up for continued character development in future installments of the series. A final set piece among canyons and cliffs is terrific. I had to look up some terms, but that's never a bad thing on a limited basis. This is a hot and dry and deadly place full of fear: the kind of place that can kill a man in a day.
SUMMARY = 2.4. I am disappointed in this, the first in a series. That said, Hillerman could be building a wildly fascinating world. I'll read at least one more. I do want to know about this "Monster Slayer". And I do wonder if porcupine taste like chicken.
October 25, 2025
I almost quit reading this after the first bit, because it was a lot of Indian folklore and superstition, which isn't really something I enjoy much of. I just wasn't really following it. There was one Indian called Horseman, another was The Wolf, and then there were the Wind People, etc.
So, I went back and reread/skimmed over the part I'd read in a written version instead of audio, and figured out what was happening; it was more than just stories about strange beliefs, chants and ghosts, although they were important to the story. The real story was that someone was killed, and there were strange things about the killing. The Horseman was actually simply the guy's last name, and he was a petty criminal on the run. The Wolf was some dude with a wolf skin over his head, which had meaning to The People (as the Navajo call themselves). The Wind People were just thrown in for color.
There were two main characters - one was Lt. Joe Leaphorn, from Navajo Law and Order, as they call the police there, and the other was Professor Bergen McKee, a white professor specializing in Indian folklore and primitive superstition in Alburquerque. He had previous contact with Leaphorn about his classes, and they were friends somewhat. He was waiting for an opportune time to go back for more information.
In this first book of the series, McKee was featured somewhat more than Leaphorn, although Leaphorn was shown to be a very capable investigator, and figured out most of what was going on.
After getting over the initial hump, I began to like this book a lot. It was exciting, plus it was educational about the Navajo ways. I look forward to reading more of this series.
So, I went back and reread/skimmed over the part I'd read in a written version instead of audio, and figured out what was happening; it was more than just stories about strange beliefs, chants and ghosts, although they were important to the story. The real story was that someone was killed, and there were strange things about the killing. The Horseman was actually simply the guy's last name, and he was a petty criminal on the run. The Wolf was some dude with a wolf skin over his head, which had meaning to The People (as the Navajo call themselves). The Wind People were just thrown in for color.
There were two main characters - one was Lt. Joe Leaphorn, from Navajo Law and Order, as they call the police there, and the other was Professor Bergen McKee, a white professor specializing in Indian folklore and primitive superstition in Alburquerque. He had previous contact with Leaphorn about his classes, and they were friends somewhat. He was waiting for an opportune time to go back for more information.
In this first book of the series, McKee was featured somewhat more than Leaphorn, although Leaphorn was shown to be a very capable investigator, and figured out most of what was going on.
After getting over the initial hump, I began to like this book a lot. It was exciting, plus it was educational about the Navajo ways. I look forward to reading more of this series.
June 15, 2022
revisiting this old favourite.
There's a lot of characters and names to remember. But I find if I don't worry about it, it all gets sorted anyways.
My dad and I read these 30 years ago and I find it is holding up to the test of time.
Superstition makes it difficult for Joe Leaphorn to investigate the death of local young man who was hiding from the law.
The bulk of the action however, revolved around Professor Bergen McKee, a friend of Leaphorn's.
And it was nail biting and full of twists and turns and even a little romance.
I love the landscapes and cultural descriptions that give life to TH's mysteries. Joe Leaphorn is like a modern day Sherlock Holmes with his shrewd observations and ability to predict human nature.
There's a lot of characters and names to remember. But I find if I don't worry about it, it all gets sorted anyways.
My dad and I read these 30 years ago and I find it is holding up to the test of time.
Superstition makes it difficult for Joe Leaphorn to investigate the death of local young man who was hiding from the law.
The bulk of the action however, revolved around Professor Bergen McKee, a friend of Leaphorn's.
And it was nail biting and full of twists and turns and even a little romance.
I love the landscapes and cultural descriptions that give life to TH's mysteries. Joe Leaphorn is like a modern day Sherlock Holmes with his shrewd observations and ability to predict human nature.
June 11, 2018
A murder victim is found in a remote place with his mouth filled with sand. Lt. Leaphorn comes to suspect that supernatural forces may be involved.
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