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160th out of 3,395 books
—
7,828 voters
Skinwalkers (Navajo Mysteries #7)
Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee and Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn investigate murders that lead them into spine-tingling and mystical world of Navajo witchcraft. Three unsolved homicides and an attempt on Chee's life have left the Navajo Tribal Police baffled. Are the murders somehow connected, although they occurred 120 miles apart? Or are they random acts of violence? Ch...more
Mass Market Paperback, 282 pages
Published
April 1990
by HarperPaperbacks
(first published 1986)
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Am just beginning yet another mystery that will be totally engrossing....
And I finished reading this book I was thinking yes, it was totally engrossing! Initially, Officer Jim Chee is shot in his trailer. As the story continues, Chee begins working with Lieutneant Leaphorn on a murder investigation. This is no ordinary murder investigation - it is one that involves Navajo skinwalkers! As you are reading their journey through their investigation, you learn about what the Navajo beliefs are on wit...more
And I finished reading this book I was thinking yes, it was totally engrossing! Initially, Officer Jim Chee is shot in his trailer. As the story continues, Chee begins working with Lieutneant Leaphorn on a murder investigation. This is no ordinary murder investigation - it is one that involves Navajo skinwalkers! As you are reading their journey through their investigation, you learn about what the Navajo beliefs are on wit...more
Officer Jim Chee, of the Navajo Tribal Police, tosses and turns one night in the airstream where he lives in the desert. When his closest neighbor, a feral cat, shoots through the pet door, Chee gets up to peer out the window at what might have scared it so badly. Probably a coyote, he thinks. For a moment, thinks he sees a shape in the darkness. Then the night explodes. Three shotgun blasts tear holes in the trailer just above the bed where Chee was sleeping moments before.
In the morning, as he...more
In the morning, as he...more
I haven't read a murder mystery in years, probably not since I was into Agatha Christie as a teenager, but, after reading Hillerman's Skinwalkers, I might start reading more. Hillerman is clearly a master of setting, with the gathering storm in the southwestern desert reflecting the gathering momentum of the unsolved murders at hand on the Navajo Reservation. I liked both Chee and Leaphorn as the two police officers tackling the case of three seemingly unrelated homicides; they were smart, level...more
I read mystery novels to unwind. Someone had left one of this series, Coyote Waits, in the place we were staying in New Mexico, and since it's set locally I thought I'd read it. So, have now discovered another good author! Have now also read a couple of the other novels in the series and will read more (only problem with them is I get the titles mixed up). They're not spectacular literature, but they remind me of the desert Southwest - kind of like Nevada Barr, only not quite as descriptive - yo...more
This is a pretty standard hard-boiled detective novel, the two main differences (which are the reasons that I read the book) are that it 1)takes place on the Navajo Nation, and 2)is about Skinwalkers. Sadly, it's not really that much about skinwalkers, and I don't know much more than I did when I started, except for the bone stuff. Abby, do you have any other skinwalker book recommendations?
All that aside, I did enjoy the book and went through it very quickly. Chee and Leaphorn are fun character...more
All that aside, I did enjoy the book and went through it very quickly. Chee and Leaphorn are fun character...more
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The mystery involving a series of murders taking place over 120 miles apart on the Navajo reservations of the American Southwest is just part of the allure of this book. Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee join forces to try to link four murders with no seeming connection using both traditional police procedures and an inherent understanding of their traditional Native American culture. The descriptions of the geography of the Four Corners area and sensitive explanation an...more
Apr 02, 2009
Susan
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who enjoys murder mysteries and/or Navajo culture
Recommended to Susan by:
book club read
Shelves:
adult-fiction
I don't usually read murder mysteries, but I guess that is the point of book clubs to get you to read what you normally wouldn't. I found this particular mystery to be well written, just enough plot to keep me interested in the homicide cases that develop between two officers of the Navajo Tribal Poilce, Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee.
Both of these men main characters in other Tony Hillerman novels, but he brings them together in this multiple homicide thriller about the dark and siniste...more
Both of these men main characters in other Tony Hillerman novels, but he brings them together in this multiple homicide thriller about the dark and siniste...more
Hillerman features a policeman out west in and around Indian territory. His policeman is absolutely respectful of Indians and their cultures and traditions. He is able to solve the murder because he respects and uses Indian methods. He is able to the Indian population to cooperate far more than an average cop who usually steps on the Indian beliefs and scoffs at the gentle and respectful Indian appreciating detective. I always learn something from Hillerman - he paints a picture of a fascinating...more
I'm pretty sure I read most of these early books in the Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee mysteries, but it's been many years and I don't remember much for details. I enjoyed this one a lot! Leaphorn and Chee are just getting to know one another as they investigate several deaths that are somehow connected, but they can't quite get a handle on how or why. Leaphorn also believes the attempt on Chee's life--someone pumped three shotgun blasts into his trailer where he should have been sleeping--is tied in...more
Finally! This is the book where Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee meet and start working together, well at least they start working together once they stop working against each other. The contrasts between the old (!) man Joe and the young up-and-comer Jim is fun to read about.
Skinwalkers are witches and someone is killing people so the first thought of many is Skinwalkers. When Chee becomes a target Leaphorn is tasked with saving him as well as solve the other murders.
As usual there is a complicated pl...more
Skinwalkers are witches and someone is killing people so the first thought of many is Skinwalkers. When Chee becomes a target Leaphorn is tasked with saving him as well as solve the other murders.
As usual there is a complicated pl...more
Mar 02, 2012
Brianna
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone interested in crime, murder mysteries, Native American culture
In high school I was basically obsessed with Tony Hillerman books. Not really sure why, but I was. I tried to read all of his books in my school's library. The only thing I didn't like what I couldn't really figure out the order of the books, and so I read them out of order.
These books are great. They are from a point of view from a cop who is caught between two words: Navajo and white. He treads back and forth between those lines, trying to find a balance while solving murders.
Tony Hillerman...more
These books are great. They are from a point of view from a cop who is caught between two words: Navajo and white. He treads back and forth between those lines, trying to find a balance while solving murders.
Tony Hillerman...more
How would you like to be a detective when you are looking for someone who tried to kill you. It would be fricken sweet and scary. Jim has to find the person who shot a shotgun at his trailer with bone marrow in it. The reason bone marrow was in it is because they where trying to kill a spell. Jim has this case and 5 others and they all end up with the dead guy with bone marrow in him. Jim meets up later with the person again and they try to shoot Chee. This time they hit him. Chee is injured and...more
Tony Hillerman detective series of books weaves old and modern Indian culture, folklore and superstitions into solving murder mysteries on the reservation in the southwest. The setting for 18 of Hillerman's books are the Navajo reservation and the main characters leading the investigation are the Tribal police. Having lived in northern Arizona for a number of years, Indian culture and folklore are very near to my heart. Hillerman does an great job weaving a modern murder mystery into cultural tr...more
Apr 28, 2008
Jessica
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Mystery fans looking for a setting different than dark alleys and secluded mansions
I've read several Hillerman novels. My mom is a big fan and got me reading them.
While I'm not that big a fan of murder mysteries, I like Hillerman's book mainly because they are set in Navajo territory. They are rich with Navajo culture, religion and mythology. The stories aren't that in depth (I can usually figure out whodunit before all the clues are revealed) but the descriptions are amazing.
In this specific book, two of Hillerman's main characters meet up for the first time to work on solvin...more
While I'm not that big a fan of murder mysteries, I like Hillerman's book mainly because they are set in Navajo territory. They are rich with Navajo culture, religion and mythology. The stories aren't that in depth (I can usually figure out whodunit before all the clues are revealed) but the descriptions are amazing.
In this specific book, two of Hillerman's main characters meet up for the first time to work on solvin...more
My love of this mystery novel comes not from the story itself, which I found somewhat trite and uninspired, nor from the setting (I have no vast outpouring of love for the wild places of this land). Rather, my enjoyment of this novel comes strictly from the vast fodder for literary discussion it can engender.
This book was one of several novels read for a class I took in which we discussed mystery novels. The basic storyline goes as follows:
Two Navajo police officers are on the hunt for someone w...more
This book was one of several novels read for a class I took in which we discussed mystery novels. The basic storyline goes as follows:
Two Navajo police officers are on the hunt for someone w...more
Hillerman’s collection of mysteries set in the Navaho/Hopi lands of Arizona/New Mexico/Utah. One side benefit of reading this stories is what the reader learns about historical and contemporary Hope and Navaho culture. Hillerman has created two attractive sleuths, former fabled Navaho tribal policeman Joe Leaphorn and current policeman and apprentice “medicine man”/ shaman Jim Chee. (Be careful with this series: some of the books feature rather explicit violence and abuse.)
Feb 15, 2010
Kathy Petersen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
x-feb-10-thru-jan-11,
read-mysteries
Navajo culture is full of mysteries that the Navajo themselves don't understand but accept. Hillerman wisely avoids explaining too much and even leaves some motivation out of the solutions - or rather, the semi-solutions - to three seemingly unconnected murders and the twice-attempted murder of Jim Chee himself. As usual, Hillerman catches the extraordinary landscape of the Dine and unobtrusively includes extraneous details like Emma Leaphorn's illness and Chee's interaction with the stray cat.
Hillerman’s collection of mysteries set in the Navaho/Hopi lands of Arizona/New Mexico/Utah. One side benefit of reading this stories is what the reader learns about historical and contemporary Hopi and Navaho culture. Hillerman has created two attractive detectives, former fabled Navaho tribal policeman Joe Leaphorn and current policeman and apprentice Jim Chee, who is also studying to be a traditional medicine man.
Tony Hillerman's evocative yet terse writing inspires visions of the vast western landscape that also acts as a character in his novels. I like his explorations of philosophy and religion, and the convergences and differences between traditional Native American belief systems and Western European values. His novels leave me with a feeling of disquiet, like wanting to scratch some unidentified itch.
A nice quick mystery about witching and the people that are convinced to do one person's killing in the name of witchery. The ultimate reason for the killings is one of the oldest motives in the book and Chee and Leaphorn do figure it out...almost too late for Chee but since there are so many others in this series I'm not giving anything away to say that Chee survives to work another case or two.
2 likes · like · see review
This book was at least better than the last bok i read which was The life history of a star. Wel this book is about a guy named Jim chee working for the navajo tribal police office, but he works with a girl named jane and they basically hunt motorcycle gangs and chees best friend was actually shot in his leg seven times and was in the idian hospitial. So I give this a 4/5 for stars.
More than the plots, what makes Hillerman's novels so engrossing is the way he describes the high desert of Arizona and the poverty in which the Navajo live. I also found the way Hillerman told of the Navajo taboos and ceremonies to be both interesting and instructional. Any author that both entertains me and teaches me is worth reading.
A New York literary agent once told the then-unpublished Hillerman that "This (his manuscript) would be a pretty good mystery if you left out all that Indian stuff."
I'm kind of the opposite. Hillerman would get five stars from me every time if his whodunits were more compelling.
Skinwalkers is no different. A very good, but not great, book.
I'm kind of the opposite. Hillerman would get five stars from me every time if his whodunits were more compelling.
Skinwalkers is no different. A very good, but not great, book.
I was pretty sure I had read this before, but I couldn't be sure. Oh dear. I have turned into my mother! Personally, I find a good mystery has to have more than just a good plot; it has to have engaging characters as well. This much I do remember about Tony Hillerman novels in general: I like Jim Chee and I always enjoy learning about the Navaho culture and life on the reservation (even if I forget it later!).
Jul 09, 2012
Myrra
added it
We read this in my college English class, and I have to say this really got me excited. It was the best book I can recall reading in an English class that wasn't something I picked out for myself. Once I finished this book (and I devoured it quickly), I searched for more of Tony Hillerman's work and haven't stopped reading him since.
another very good mystery , about Native Americans and the way the the believe in the supernatural. I found this very interesting I wish the writer would have put more in the story about the villian and why they did what they felt they had to do, and explained more about what a Skinwalker is. I enjoyed all the characters in this story
Jun 28, 2011
Ellen
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Mystery lovers, readers interested in Navajo culture.
I enjoy nearly every one of the Tony Hillerman Navajo mysteries i read, and this was no exception. The characters are always true to themselves, the plots nicely pulled together, and at the end the reader feels quite satisfied with the outcome. I'd recommend this to mystery lovers as well as those of us interested in the Navajo culture.
I very seldom stop reading a book before I'm finished with it, but I read about 50 pages of this and was bored out of my mind, so I gave up. There's so much repetition and useless character background info that I felt as though I was never going to find an actual story. I was very disappointed, because the synopsis made it sound really good.
Tony Hillerman is absolutely fantastic! Once you read one of his books, you will not believe he is not Navajo. He so completely draws you into the modern day reservation and the world of the tribal police.
Mr. Hillerman recently died and I'm still mourning that there will be no more books from his fine mind.
Mr. Hillerman recently died and I'm still mourning that there will be no more books from his fine mind.
As a first time reader of Tony Hillerman, I must say I am a fan now. I did enjoy this book and it's native American characters. Set within the boundaries of the nations largest Native American reservation...the Navajo, which comprises an area of four states of the 4 corners area. History and a mystery all in one. Love it!
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Tony 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, wh...more
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