Skinwalkers
Joe Leaphorn
& Jim Chee #1
By Tony
Hillerman
Jim
Chee is a policeman on the tribal force at a Navajo reservation.
He lives a simple life residing in a mobile home all alone except
for an occasional visit from a stray cat. His quiet lifestyle is
shattered by three midnight shotgun blasts that are barely slowed
by the thin aluminum skin of his house trailer. Only his mattress
saves his life. Jim has no idea why anyone would try to kill him
and the haunting thought of an unknown assassin lying in wait causes
him to resort to a few radical changes in his habits.
Meanwhile
Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn in another part of the reservation, is investigating
a couple of seemingly unrelated murders in the Navajo community.
Lieutenant Leaphorn is a logical thinker and can't accept the possibility
of a coincidence in a society where murders are a rare occurrence.
He looks at the attempt on Jim Chee's life as being very likely
related to the other killings and begins to look for threads to
tie it all together. In the process Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn forge
a solid working relationship that combines methodical detective
work with an understanding of the Navajo culture with all of it's
customs and religious beliefs.
Skinwalkers
is the first book in a series that brings these two dynamic personalities
together. Hopefully it will be an enduring procession of exciting
and forceful novels. The author has obviously done his homework
in researching the Navajo way of life. He treats the tribe and its
values with respect and reverence while telling a truly thrilling
and fast paced tale.
This
is an extremely well written book that will easily hold the reader's
interest and leave them wanting more. Author Tony Hillerman paints
very colorful word pictures and his characters are human enough
to be one of your own family. I just wish I'd have discovered him
sooner.
Reviews of other titles in this series
Skinwalkers
#1 (Tony Hillerman)
Dance
of the Dead #2 (Tony Hillerman)
People
of Darkness (Jim Chee #2) (Tony Hillerman)
Thief
in Time #8 (Tony Hillerman)
Skeleton
Man #17 (Tony Hillerman)
The
Shape Shifter #18 (Tony Hillerman)
Rock
with Wings #20 (#1 Anne Hillerman)
Song
of the Lion (#3 Anne Hillerman)
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