Iain’s Reviews > Skinwalkers > Status Update

The final details are a little different from what I'd figured on, but they're simpler, and I suppose a more down to earth and reasonable explanation of motive and justification. But basically it's how it's looked the whole time: who and how have been obvious, and now we know why.

And Leaphorn has also realized, from what little Chee was able to tell him, about what's going on. It's too late though, they're putting together the pieces that have been obvious for most of the story.

Finally things are coming to a head and Chee is starting to realize what's been obvious.

"This conversation hadn't opened any doors to what that might be. Or had it?" Frikkin of course it has! Omg. Irma was involved in a land rights dispute, believed the person all clues point to had fudged records in some way, had engaged in open hostility with him, and he is a privileged semi-outsider who came back to become prominent. Then Irma is killed. We've had connection, now motive has just jumped at you.

"Now he had what he needed to solve this puzzle. He had no idea how. But he knew himself. He knew he would solve it." Over 70% in, everything still keeps pointing to the answer that seemed obvious in the opening chapters. Every new clue points to it. The obviously vital link that Chee initially withheld was indeed vital. Story is fine, but the mystery is frustratingly more obvious than the characters realize.

Finally getting some real conversation and possible connections. Mary continues to be an unseen ghost in Chee's head, lecturing him on how "exotic" but dumb she thinks his culture is. Fortunately, we're also getting a bit of Chee seeming to have second thoughts. There aren't many women in these stories, but as soon as Chee interacts with an attractive Navajo lady the relative flaws of Mary rise to his attention.

Mary Landon continues to be in these stories only to serve as an example of bad behavior. When Chee drinks the rinse water from his coffee cup instead of wasting it, she has to let him know how weird she thinks it is, and calls it a cultural anomaly. As if it's conserving a resource that's the anomaly, not having the privilege of endless water in Wisconsin. She makes me like Chee less.

Wow the beads are the only solid connection they have between killings, 60% through the book. The beads Chee was reluctant to mention because he's a bad cop and a petulant child now that Leaphorn's sharing screentime. And after all this I'm still saying it's that doctor from the beginning.

Leaphorn is pleased he established that Wilson Sam's killer wasn't from the area. I thought we already knew that. Chee saw a small silhouette shooting at him, then found a bone bead. Bistie also had a bead in his wallet, so Chee feels relieved and is letting his guard down, even though Bistie is too big and it makes no sense. A bead was also found in Endocheeney, but Chee still hasn't told Leaphorn that. Dumb.