Helpful Score: 5
I went on a tour of the Navaho Nation, Monument Valley, and the Canyon lands. It was beautiful and my tour guide suggested picking of a book my Tony Hillerman because of his true descriptions of the area and the Navaho customs. I enjoyed the descriptions of the slot canyons and other things that I had seem on my tour. However I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the storyline of the book. It kept me guessing all the way till the end. A great book to read whether you have visited this area or not.
Helpful Score: 4
The Blessing Way, March 10, 2006
Reviewer: Tom C. "Tom, an avid reader of mysteries and more, from California" (Elk Grove, California)
This is the first entry in the Joe Leaphorn Novels by Tony Hillerman. I prefer to start series at the beginning, however, I started this series with the Sinister Pig. That book was very enjoyable, so I started at the beginning with this novel, The Blessing Way.
First things first. This novel is not great based on the mystery plot at its center. What gives this novel its "great" status is the way in which it introduces the uninitiated to the Navajo Way. This book made for a very enjoyable read. Although it certainly lacked the complexity of a John Dunning novel, or the eloquence of an Elizabeth George novel, it did stand out on its very own merits. Hillerman does an excellent job of describing the dry and arid landscape. He paints an excellent picture. I was also impressed with the tension in one of the chapters in which the suspense was riveted up a couple of notches.
This book was a great first in this series. I look forward to the rest.
Reviewer: Tom C. "Tom, an avid reader of mysteries and more, from California" (Elk Grove, California)
This is the first entry in the Joe Leaphorn Novels by Tony Hillerman. I prefer to start series at the beginning, however, I started this series with the Sinister Pig. That book was very enjoyable, so I started at the beginning with this novel, The Blessing Way.
First things first. This novel is not great based on the mystery plot at its center. What gives this novel its "great" status is the way in which it introduces the uninitiated to the Navajo Way. This book made for a very enjoyable read. Although it certainly lacked the complexity of a John Dunning novel, or the eloquence of an Elizabeth George novel, it did stand out on its very own merits. Hillerman does an excellent job of describing the dry and arid landscape. He paints an excellent picture. I was also impressed with the tension in one of the chapters in which the suspense was riveted up a couple of notches.
This book was a great first in this series. I look forward to the rest.
Helpful Score: 3
Twists and turns, mystery upon mystery, but patience, listening and insight get Leaphorn to the conclusion and resolution. Great read.
Helpful Score: 1
An excellent book, as usual. Mr. Hillerman was a great author and treated the Native Americans with respect in each of his books -- this one is no exception. Makes for a great read!!
Great thriller
The story is rich in explanations of the history of the area, and details how the hillside ruins were made and used, and allows the reader to be transformed to the nearly desolate area of the Western plans where the Navajo's lived. Hillerman has done his research in explaining many of the Navajo beliefs, and intertwines these into a plausible story where Indian tradition and rich and greedy "white man" come head to head.
At times the story dragged, and felt somewhat disjointed, so I gave it a 4 rating. However, it was the beginning of a series, and I've been told he was setting the backdrop for the next couple of books.
Joe Leaphorn is a Navajo, and PD who tries to solve crimes by and against the Navajo's. He speaks their language, knows their ways, and is respected and known by the Navajo's. Can't wait for the rest.
At times the story dragged, and felt somewhat disjointed, so I gave it a 4 rating. However, it was the beginning of a series, and I've been told he was setting the backdrop for the next couple of books.
Joe Leaphorn is a Navajo, and PD who tries to solve crimes by and against the Navajo's. He speaks their language, knows their ways, and is respected and known by the Navajo's. Can't wait for the rest.
I haven't read any Hillerman in a few years and it's been a really long time since I read this one. First published in 1970, it introduces Lt Joe Leaphorn and the Navajo way of life. Excellent sense of place with its descriptions of the Southwest landscape and the Navajo reservation. It's mostly told from the POV of Leaphorn's anthropologist friend McKee, who is visiting in order to pick up stories about witches. It's certainly a good book although there are some small bits left unexplained at the end, and I wasn't terribly convinced of the potential romance. But as an introduction to Leaphorn it definitely whets your appetite for more. I'm looking forward to seeing how the character evolves as I read the rest of the series, because in my memory the later Leaphorn is a bit different than this one.
good read
When Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police discovers a corpse with a mouth full of sand at a crime scene seemingly without tracks or clues, he is ready to suspect a supernatural killer. Blood on the rocks...A body on the high mesa...Leaphorn must stalk the Wolf-Witch along a chilling trail between mysticism and murder.
Lots of suspense...easy, enjoyable (but a little spooky) read.
Lots of suspense...easy, enjoyable (but a little spooky) read.
Tribal police Lt. Joe Leaphorn must stalk the Wolf_Witch's trail of mysticism and murder
When Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police discovers a corpse with a mouth full of sand at a crime scene seemingly without tracks or clues, he is readp to suspect a supernatural killer. Blood on the rocks...A body on the high mesa...Leaphorn must stalk the wolf-witch along a chilling trail between mysticism and murder.
When Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police discovers a corpse with a mouth full of sand at a crime scene seemingly without tracks or clues, he is ready to suspect a supernatural killer...
When Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police discovers a corpse with a mouth full of sand at a crime scene seemingly without tracks or clues, he is ready to suspect a supernatural killer. Blood on the rocks...A body on the high mesa...Leaphorn must stalk the Wolf-Witch along a chilling trail between mysticism and murder.
When Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police discovers a corpse with a mouth full of sand at a crime sceneseemingly without tracks or clues, he is ready to suspect a supernatural killer. Blood on the rocks... A body on the high mesa...Leaphorn must stalk the Wolf-Witch along a chilling trail between mysticism and murder.
I did not read this one but here is from the cover....
When Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal police discovers a corpse
with a mouth full of sand at a crime scene seemingly without tracks or clues
A chilling trail between mysticism and murder.
When Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal police discovers a corpse
with a mouth full of sand at a crime scene seemingly without tracks or clues
A chilling trail between mysticism and murder.
