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blessing way (Navajo Mysteries #1)
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. And what he must stalk is the Wolf-Witch along a chilling trail between mysticism and murder.
ebook, 201 pages
Published
1970
by Macmillan
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Jul 09, 2009
Bill Kerwin
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
detective-mystery
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 o...more
Feb 28, 2012
Brian
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Navahos and paint ponies
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.
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 cour...more
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 cour...more
The mood of this book is definitely its saving grace. It is a little clumsily written, and the narrative can be confusing, but seen as its Mr Hillerman's first book in what became a well-respected and unique series, it's totally forgivable. Learning about Navajo culture was fascinating, although from what I understand, this book has some misrepresentations that he makes up for in later novels. This is my first Hillerman read and it won't be my last. I'm glad I read the first book first because i...more
Published by Borders/Recorded books in 1990.
Narrated by George Guidall.
Duration: Approximately 6 hours, 30 minutes.
The Blessing Way is the first of the Leaphorn books but, ironically, Leaphorn is a mere supporting character throughout most of the second half of the book. College professor/archaeologist Bergen McKee is the main character - the one who has the most growth and teaches the reader the most about Navajo society and culture.
Nevertheless, The Blessing Way is an enjoyable book. I have...more
Narrated by George Guidall.
Duration: Approximately 6 hours, 30 minutes.
The Blessing Way is the first of the Leaphorn books but, ironically, Leaphorn is a mere supporting character throughout most of the second half of the book. College professor/archaeologist Bergen McKee is the main character - the one who has the most growth and teaches the reader the most about Navajo society and culture.
Nevertheless, The Blessing Way is an enjoyable book. I have...more
Jun 10, 2012
Eric
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Native American readers, readers interested in other cultures, mystery readers
Recommended to Eric by:
Cousin
Shelves:
mysteries
The mystery aspect of this book was weak in many ways because it felt that he handed us the killer on a silver platter, so there wasn't a lot of guessing as to why the characters were in the dire situations that they found themselves in, but what greatly enhances the rating of this particular book is the sheer immersion into Native American culture that it contains. Hillerman does an excellent job of making these scenes feel authentic, which is important when someone is not totally related to th...more
Tony Hillerman does to 'mood' what James Michner does to 'setting'. He really puts you in then heads of his characters. Along with the Southwest setting it is a very enjoyable combination. This is the first of teh Joe Leaphorn mysteries, so there is no Jim Chee yet. You don't have to read them in order, but it helps because the reader goes through a very difficult time in his personal life with detective Joe Leaphorn through the series. (No, I won't tell you what it is.) In this mystery, of cour...more
I found out about Tony Hillerman's Navajo Mysteries thanks to the television movies based on his books and thought it sounded very interesting.
As a mystery, the book falls short. Part of this is because the two characters most involved in it, Bergen McKee and Ellen Leon, are difficult to care about. McKee wallows in angst half the time and his expositions on the mysteries of womanhood are mystifying. Ellen Leon is one of the most annoying characters I've come across (is it just her or were all w...more
As a mystery, the book falls short. Part of this is because the two characters most involved in it, Bergen McKee and Ellen Leon, are difficult to care about. McKee wallows in angst half the time and his expositions on the mysteries of womanhood are mystifying. Ellen Leon is one of the most annoying characters I've come across (is it just her or were all w...more
Somewhat weak mystery offset by illuminating Navaho culture...
We were lucky to glom onto Hillerman's first book as our introduction to his graphic depictions of Navaho life and geography. Set in the mesas and desert lands of New Mexico and Arizona (and a bit of Utah), we agree with the many reviewers who react to much of his stories as though they were travelogues. Indeed, the author's descriptions of the scenery and his illumination of this Native American culture were entertaining and informa...more
We were lucky to glom onto Hillerman's first book as our introduction to his graphic depictions of Navaho life and geography. Set in the mesas and desert lands of New Mexico and Arizona (and a bit of Utah), we agree with the many reviewers who react to much of his stories as though they were travelogues. Indeed, the author's descriptions of the scenery and his illumination of this Native American culture were entertaining and informa...more
I've had several people tell me that if I like Craig Johnson I should try Tony Hillerman. Well, I *love* Craig Johnson so decided to take their advice and try Hillerman. I'm glad I did.
I think this first book, written in 1970 is a little rough around the edges but I see why people compare Craig to Tony. To me it is all about the people, the relationships and the character development. I've read reviews over the years talking about Joe Leaphorn and can see in this book the start of a great chara...more
I think this first book, written in 1970 is a little rough around the edges but I see why people compare Craig to Tony. To me it is all about the people, the relationships and the character development. I've read reviews over the years talking about Joe Leaphorn and can see in this book the start of a great chara...more
I must admit that initially I was so excited to read this book. I grew up in the US and I wanted to read something that I could relate to with all of the Native American aspects of this story. I was sorely, sorely disappointed, however. It unfortunately followed the trend of so many masculine crime novels where there are just too many characters who are alternately referenced by their first and last names making it even harder to develop an understanding of their personalities, relationships and...more
Mar 07, 2012
Brianna
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
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
High on the desolate mesa they found the body. The mouth was filled with sand. No tracks, no clues. Every Navajo knew that nothing human killed like that.
Rumors of witchcraft and the supernatural are nothing new to Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police. He and anthropologist Bergen McKee had stalked
the Wolf-Witch before. Always it had eluded them, vanishing like a ghost on the wind. But never had it left such a horrifying trail of murder. For Lt.
Leaphorn, the case was a baffling challenge...more
Rumors of witchcraft and the supernatural are nothing new to Lt. Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police. He and anthropologist Bergen McKee had stalked
the Wolf-Witch before. Always it had eluded them, vanishing like a ghost on the wind. But never had it left such a horrifying trail of murder. For Lt.
Leaphorn, the case was a baffling challenge...more
Welllllll, I'm not really a mystery/detective novel type. However, this was a fun little book. I started it yesterday morning, and finished it late last night. Hillerman really does evoke New Mexico, and I *love* that - this was really nice for my NM-homesickness. (Not quite as good as a really good tamale with green chile sauce, but, still really good!) And the Indian cultural stuff was interesting. I can't stand it when a storyline gets too far-fetched, and this one had moments that were stret...more
I was travelling to the Southwest recently and thought I'd give Tony Hillerman's series a try to get a feel for the area (hoping, of course, to avoid the murder parts). Hillerman is generally considered to be an excellent author and I feel like that is a well-deserved reputation.
Hillerman's geography is accurate and gave me a better idea of what to expect out West, his characters were people you wanted to root for, and the writing was just good. To use a cliche, it kept the pages turning, which...more
Hillerman's geography is accurate and gave me a better idea of what to expect out West, his characters were people you wanted to root for, and the writing was just good. To use a cliche, it kept the pages turning, which...more
So, Tony Hillerman's very first book? It's certainly different from the couple later ones I've read, but still totally great. I decided to start at the beginning. I gather this is the era that old Hillerman fans like the best. The ways it differed were: it was harder to follow, not as attention-grabby, a lot more action-packed, chock full of academic anthropological tidbits, and with scarce and hollow female characters. Overall, the story seemed like more of a sketch than a defined image. The ma...more
The first of a great career for one of my favorite authors. Loved this one as much as his later works though I wish I had read this one first and then read each book in chronological order...but it didn't work that way. Love traveling around the largest Reservation in the U.U, which encompasses the parts of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico covering 27,635 sq. miles....all locations can be located on the Reservation map as they are real. Navajo traditions are related as near as is they have been pass...more
Jan 18, 2009
Quinn
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-thriller,
tony-hillerman-novels
The first novel by Tony Hillerman. Luis Horseman is wanted by the law and Lt. Leaphorn is looking for him. Horseman turns up dead several hundred miles from where he is suspected of hiding. McKee is a professor trying to learn about Indian witchcraft and if it is real or not. There have been sightings of a wolf that turns into a man and vice versa. Lt. Leaphorn and Mr. Mckee soon discover that things are not how they appear and that their lives are in danger. Tony Hillerman is one of my favorite...more
The Blessing Way (Joe Leaphorn Novels)
by Tony Hillerman
( 4 star )
I enjoyed this book , but I the ending was a bit of a let down . The story starts out on the Navajo Tribal Police with Lt. Joe Leaphorn is looking for a Navajo who has stabbed someone . As he goes to find he is joined by anthropologist Bergen McKee. The two find him dead . So Lt. Joe Leaphorn goes out to find who has killed him . McKee starts to look into the Navajo Witches . Both of there investigations intersect at the end of th...more
by Tony Hillerman
( 4 star )
I enjoyed this book , but I the ending was a bit of a let down . The story starts out on the Navajo Tribal Police with Lt. Joe Leaphorn is looking for a Navajo who has stabbed someone . As he goes to find he is joined by anthropologist Bergen McKee. The two find him dead . So Lt. Joe Leaphorn goes out to find who has killed him . McKee starts to look into the Navajo Witches . Both of there investigations intersect at the end of th...more
Someone is acting as a Navajo witch.
A young man who is running from the law is killed in a strange way and dragged out to be found.
Bergen McKee, a divorced professor of Native American studies is back home trying to get more data on Navajo witches.
Ellen Leon is seaching for her fiancee to talk to him about something important.
Detective Joe Leaphorn must figure out how all these things fit together and find the killer of the young man.
This story is mostly about Bergen McKee and hnis search to fi...more
A young man who is running from the law is killed in a strange way and dragged out to be found.
Bergen McKee, a divorced professor of Native American studies is back home trying to get more data on Navajo witches.
Ellen Leon is seaching for her fiancee to talk to him about something important.
Detective Joe Leaphorn must figure out how all these things fit together and find the killer of the young man.
This story is mostly about Bergen McKee and hnis search to fi...more
A good start to a nice series. A little dry at times, but I really enjoy the explanations of the traditional ceremonies and of "the old way of thinking".
Mar 12, 2011
Kate Savage
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-crime,
series
This mystery features Joe Leaphorn, a Navajo Tribal Policeman, as he investigates a murder that looks like witchcraft.
The story is set in New Mexico. I was reading this during and after a trip to the Four Corners area. I think that helped to get me more into the story. I was able to picture the desolate, yet amazingly beautiful landscape. The text is peppered with Navajo language and customs. At times the relationships between people can be difficult to discern, which points to the complexity o...more
The story is set in New Mexico. I was reading this during and after a trip to the Four Corners area. I think that helped to get me more into the story. I was able to picture the desolate, yet amazingly beautiful landscape. The text is peppered with Navajo language and customs. At times the relationships between people can be difficult to discern, which points to the complexity o...more
My daughter picked this to use for a book project in school, and since it had been ages since I read Hillerman I decided to read it again when she was finished. It is the first in his Navajo series, and while it is good, it isn't as well done as the later stories. And I had nearly forgotten about the 'Leaphorn before Chee' books! Hillerman has a wonderful way of incorporating cultural issues and information into his books; there is always some conflict between the ways of the white man and the N...more
This is closer to 3.5*s but I'm rounding down because there were some parts where I found the action confusing and had to re-read passages a few times to figure out what was going on. That got in the way of the story but not to the point where it really bothered me, just enough to break up the flow. I read some other Hillerman a while ago and I don't remember having that problem so I think it's first book syndrome. I'm glad to start at the beginning of this series again and looking forward to co...more
Hillerman’s first Navaho tribal detective novel. It is a good read to start off the reading of the complete series. It its not the best of the series but to tells the backstory of Joe Leaphorn who is not the main character in most of his books but introduces the thinking of a Navaho who has feet in both the white world and the Indian world. Jim Chee will later be a character with more complex conflicts between these world's but this book introduces us to the idea of a Navaho detective in a socie...more
This was my first Tony Hillerman book, and I was not disappointed! I had been reading Ella Clah books since last year, and the front cover of those books reads, "For Tony Hillerman fans."
Good story of suspected Navajo witches, murder, greed. I enjoyed reading about Navajo culture and traditions, which were aptly presented in the book as part of the story, not as an aside (for example, calling elders "uncle" without having to describe that the elder wasn't a brother of your parent, but how you ad...more
Good story of suspected Navajo witches, murder, greed. I enjoyed reading about Navajo culture and traditions, which were aptly presented in the book as part of the story, not as an aside (for example, calling elders "uncle" without having to describe that the elder wasn't a brother of your parent, but how you ad...more
I loved it. Great vivid scenes, clear and quick descriptions and a great literary addition to mystery solvers in Joe Leaphorn Navajo "Law and Order". It was spooky, educational, and had a real quick tempo. I learned a lot of Navajo philosophies and stories of creation and will defiantly read the next one.
Published in 1970 it had a real old school technology vibe with most of the detecting found in tire tracks, witnesses, and Navajo Witch myth. Reminded me a whole of lot living in New Mexico, the...more
Published in 1970 it had a real old school technology vibe with most of the detecting found in tire tracks, witnesses, and Navajo Witch myth. Reminded me a whole of lot living in New Mexico, the...more
The book is odd in the way a genre author's early books often are, the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning and the characters are not quite firmed up. Still, I couldn't put it down and skipped breakfast to finish the last 100 pages. This is really a Bergen McKee mystery, but there is plenty of Navajo culture included and the action is all about the location on the Reservation. I liked it, but the first 100 pages is a little less likable than the ending. McKee was way too courtly towards Miss...more
This book was a quick read but it covered a lot of ground for a book of its size. The characters were multi-faceted and realistic. The main character was self-deprecating and struggled with self-esteem but you'd never know if from the way he acted; it was purely an internal struggle for him. The antagonists (and one in particular) were distinctive enough to stand out from garden-variety thugs. Leaphorn had a relatively minor part, which was too bad. But this book definitely established Hillerman...more
This is the first Joe Leaphorn novel. His character is introduced matter-of-factly, with no fanfare. In fact his character is not the main focus in this novel. I've read other novels in the series so I decided it was time to go back the the start. The main character is an anthropologist who has returned to the reservation to study Navajo witchcraft, along with a colleague who mysteriously disappears. Is it witchcraft or is there a different explanation? Once again the desert landscape becomes a...more
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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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