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4th out of 55 books
—
40 voters
Talking God (Navajo Mysteries #9)
A grave robber and a corpse reunite Navajo Tribal Police Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee. As Leaphorn seeks the identity of a murder victim, Chee is arresting Smithsonian conservator Henry Highhawk for ransacking the sacred bones of his ancestors. As the layers of each case are peeled away, it becomes shockingly clear that they are connected, that there are mysteriou...more
Paperback, 338 pages
Published
December 1st 1990
by HarperTorch
(first published 1989)
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I am reading Hillermans novels in order. I’m glad I have nine under my belt because if I had read this one first, it would have been my last. Everyone is allowed a dud or two. The other novels have been so good perhaps he set the bar too high. Nah, this one is just a weed.
Chee and Leaphorn travel to Washington DC in an attempt to uncover mysteries that nag upon their souls. I won't talk very much about the plot because it is so friggin convoluted there will be a few times you will audibly utter...more
Chee and Leaphorn travel to Washington DC in an attempt to uncover mysteries that nag upon their souls. I won't talk very much about the plot because it is so friggin convoluted there will be a few times you will audibly utter...more
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I found this enjoyable to reread--in the twenty years or so since I last read it, I had forgotten everything about it except the Navajo policemen who appear in the series, which is an alarming comment on the state of my memory. In any case, while I was reading, the book kept my attention well, but once I finished it, I wasn't as happy with it. The crime to be unraveled is interesting while still being unraveled, but once everything is figured out at the end, I'm afraid the entire crime setup is...more
Joe Leaphorn is working on a case that involves a dead body found beside the Amtrak rails just outside of Gallup, NM. At the same time Jim Chee is given an outstanding warrant on a white man who is claiming 1/4 Navaho blood, the warrant is for stealing bodies.
Somehow these two very diverse stories both end up in Washington, D.C. where Leaphorn and Chee start working together to try and found out how the two cases intertwine. Since neither really believe in coincidence they are sure it isn't acci...more
Somehow these two very diverse stories both end up in Washington, D.C. where Leaphorn and Chee start working together to try and found out how the two cases intertwine. Since neither really believe in coincidence they are sure it isn't acci...more
I have always said that Tony Hillerman is an excellent author, and I have yet to read a book of his that I didn't like, so I've started just ranking them against each other rather than against other books.
This probably isn't one of my favourites of his, but for niggling and minor reasons: it's one of his earlier books, and I found myself constantly thinking ahead of the characters and their development ("oh, I know this relationship ends up breaking up in the next book..."); and the plot line is...more
This probably isn't one of my favourites of his, but for niggling and minor reasons: it's one of his earlier books, and I found myself constantly thinking ahead of the characters and their development ("oh, I know this relationship ends up breaking up in the next book..."); and the plot line is...more
Hillerman he writes mysteries set largely in New Mexico, on a Navajo reservation, and solved by one or both of his Navajo Tribal Police protagonists, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. The mysteries aren't particularly complex, but the writing is most enjoyable. The real selling point of these books, though, is the depiction of modern Navajo life, holds a good deal of fascination. That being said, this particular installment -- in which Leaphorn and Chee both head to Washington, DC in a plot revolving a...more
Jul 30, 2012
Abby
added it
Because I'm from the Four Corners area, people ask me about Tony Hillerman all the time. Usually they want to know if his books are "accurate." And I have to answer that I have no idea, because I've never read them. I read this one (middle of the series) because it's the one that was discarded from the Kirtland High School Library. Such is my reasoning.
This is solid, middle-of-the-road entertainment, and like most people,I enjoyed it. I'm also intrigued--Mr. Hillerman is one of the few white guy...more
This is solid, middle-of-the-road entertainment, and like most people,I enjoyed it. I'm also intrigued--Mr. Hillerman is one of the few white guy...more
One of my favorite authors. This book is great just like the other Hillerman books I have read. A sick women named Agnes Tsosie is dying. A mystical ceremony called “The Night Chant” is to be performed. Yeibichai, The Navajo “Talking God” of Navajo physics and the grandfather of all the other Gods and the other Gods spokesman is involved. A man is found murdered on the reservation. Joe Leaphorn must find out why and how. Tribal policeman Jim Chee is sent out to arrest Henry Highhawke, a conserva...more
Ahh, such a nice feeling to read a well-written book after that last string of crappy ones.
The plot was a little forced. As always, I enjoy Hillermans's Native American characters. It's an insight into a people I know very little about but greatly respect.
Not that this is a topic covered in the book, but... wow, did the founders of our country screw the Indians. As Chris Rock said, "When was the last time you went out to dinner and saw an Indian (Native American) family?"
Did the British go anyw...more
The plot was a little forced. As always, I enjoy Hillermans's Native American characters. It's an insight into a people I know very little about but greatly respect.
Not that this is a topic covered in the book, but... wow, did the founders of our country screw the Indians. As Chris Rock said, "When was the last time you went out to dinner and saw an Indian (Native American) family?"
Did the British go anyw...more
Clearly I'm skipping around in this series. But that's kind of the mark of a good writer, right? One who doesn't make you feel as if you've necessarily missed anything, but also doesn't do that thing in the first chapter where they recap every single book up to this one.
I liked seeing Leaphorn and Chee out of their natural element, and getting exposed to a different take on "my" culture (even though I'm much more a country mouse than a city mouse). I'm also a sucker for a quirky background char...more
I liked seeing Leaphorn and Chee out of their natural element, and getting exposed to a different take on "my" culture (even though I'm much more a country mouse than a city mouse). I'm also a sucker for a quirky background char...more
I have read a lot of Tony Hillerman books and always enjoy them. Leaphorn and Chee (see description) are the central figures in all his books. They are Navajo police (Leaphorn is a Lieutenant) working on cases involving the Navajo in the Four Corners area. They are headquartered in Window Rock, Arizona.
Most of the stories take place in that area, but this one took them both to Washington, D.C. I think this story was a bit more complex than most of his stories and kept one guessing to the very en...more
Most of the stories take place in that area, but this one took them both to Washington, D.C. I think this story was a bit more complex than most of his stories and kept one guessing to the very en...more
Read by John MacDonald
Duration: 6 hours, 35 minutes
Talking God is good, but not the typical Tony Hillerman(1925-2008) book. Rather than being based in the Four Corners area, this one mostly takes place in Washington, D.C.
Navajo Tribal Police Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee investigate a body found in Gallup, New Mexico. Some digging into the case discovers a trail that leads to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and Navajo artifacts that are on display there...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blo...more
Duration: 6 hours, 35 minutes
Talking God is good, but not the typical Tony Hillerman(1925-2008) book. Rather than being based in the Four Corners area, this one mostly takes place in Washington, D.C.
Navajo Tribal Police Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee investigate a body found in Gallup, New Mexico. Some digging into the case discovers a trail that leads to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and Navajo artifacts that are on display there...
Read more at: http://dwdsreviews.blo...more
For those who don't know Hillerman: he writes mysteries set largely in New Mexico, on a Navajo reservation, and solved by one or both of his Navajo Tribal Police protagonists, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. The mysteries aren't particularly complex, but the writing is snappy. The real selling point of these books, though, is the depiction of modern Navajo life, which (at least for this Midwestern city boy) holds a good deal of fascination. That being said, this particular installment -- in which Lea...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.)
I read many of Hillerman's books in middle school. When I came across several of them at a yard sale I picked them up to see if they held up. Sadly, they didn't. [return][return]The characters are flat and boring. There isn't any real mystery, I feel like I'm waiting for the characters to catch up with me. [return][return]The only thing I find interesting is the parts where it details the modern day Indian culture. Those parts kept my attention and where nicely done.
Mar 18, 2012
Leticia Vega
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
mystery-everything
Of course I liked the mystery and enjoyed seeing how the different cases that Jim and Joe were working on converged to solve the mystery at the end. I will admit that the ending wasn't all that dramatic, but I think that was the point. I loved getting to know Jim and Joe better. These are two great characters. I love their complexity. Hillerman did a fantastic job in creating these two very different men. I'm moving on to "The Fallen Man". I can't wait.
Quite liked one of the guest characters, and certainly wasn't bored with this one, but spent more time rolling my eyes over Chee's foolishness than chuckling, while the plot vaguely reminded me of eight zillion Hardy Boys mysteries in how things came together.
I like the Smithsonian but we're viewing it through Leaphorn and Chee -- from outside, if you will -- which isn't as much fun as viewing it from an insider perspective.
I like the Smithsonian but we're viewing it through Leaphorn and Chee -- from outside, if you will -- which isn't as much fun as viewing it from an insider perspective.
Joe Leaphorn investigates unoffically on the identity of an unknown murder victim. Meanwhile Jim Chee is ordered to find Henry Highhawk for illegally digging up graves. As their investigations deep they realize their cases are linked.
I really liked this book. Even though it was well written, I was disappointed that part of the book took place in Washington D.C. mainly because I love Hillerman's descriptions of the Southwest landscape.
I really liked this book. Even though it was well written, I was disappointed that part of the book took place in Washington D.C. mainly because I love Hillerman's descriptions of the Southwest landscape.
I read this book solely because I was tapped to lead a local library's reading group discussion on it. It's not the kind of thing I normally read, and I've been trained by academia to look down on anything that fits as neatly into a genre as this does, but I enjoyed it immensely and couldn't put it down.
Here's a review from my blog:
http://20thousandroads.blogspot.com/
Here's a review from my blog:
http://20thousandroads.blogspot.com/
Once again I forayed into the world of the Navaho police force. This book seemed to have more action, but I still appreciate the mix of thoughtfulness, and the way the author teaches about the Navaho way of life without sounding like a lecture.
The characters are very rich, and true to the other books by this author, if you have read any of them.
The characters are very rich, and true to the other books by this author, if you have read any of them.
Another book recommended by my Dad. It was a fun read, I really enjoyed it. I thought the plot was fun, how two different cops followed different clues back to the core of the puzzle/crime. Also I thought it was interesting commentary on all the Native American remains in museums and the tribes trying to get them back. Interesting.
Jun 28, 2011
Ellen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
mystery lovers; readers interested in Navajo culture and spirituality
I found this book to be absolutely brilliantly written, and to be among HIllerman's best. Once again, he presents facets of Navajo spirituality and mysticism that I would never have know of if I didn't read his work. If you are fascinated with Navajo spiritual beliefs and love a good mystery, you'll really enjoy reading this book!
Really enjoy these books - this one was one of the best so far. Includes assassination plots and theft plots and expert reproductions at the Smithsonian so most of the book takes place in DC but it's interesting. Leaphorn and Chee work together but not until the end - thought it was great how Hillerman had their paths cross over basically the same problem but from two different angles.
This was an interesting puzzle as Leaphorn and Chee investigate two different cases independent of each other that land them both in Washington, DC at the same time. As they bump into each other, they learn that their cases are intertwined in unexpected ways as they navigate the unfamiliar territory of the East. Well-done.
Another good book by Tony Hillerman. It's an engaging quick read as always, and the mystery is entertaining. I must say that I have enjoyed other books in the series more than this one, mainly because it is set in DC and not the Southwest. Overall though, it was a pleasant read that I'd recommend.
Aug 31, 2010
Austen
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
people who like Modern Native American tales
Recommended to Austen by:
My mom
Shelves:
mystery
My first Hillerman novel. Being a big fan of mysteries such as Robert B. Parker's Spenser series, this tale of Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn was good. There were more references to Native American - especially Navajo - beliefs and interests than the straightforward gumshoe approach. If you're in the mood for more crackling dialogue and straightforward sleuthing, Spenser may be a better read for you. Chee and Leaphorn team up well, but there's not a major cop-buddy-team thing going on here. The contr...more
Leaphorn and Chee are as good as ever and you still want to know what they are going to run into next. The Washington, D.C. setting and culture juxtaposed against that of New Mexico and the Dineh was well done and all the shades of grey in between were apparent. No disappointments here.
I thought I had read all of Hillerman's books but found this story on trip to the Navaho Reservation. A great story although I thought the reasons at the end were a little convoluted. I like the books where Chee and Leaphorn work together
As usual with Tony Hillerman, this book is tightly written and the characters are well-developed. This one was quite exciting as well. There were a few continuity errors with the Highhawk character that a good editor should have caught.
I read this while camping and during plane trip. It was a super-fast read and I enjoyed it! I don't think the plot was all that good in retrospect,but it was worth it to me! In fact I left it at my friend's house for them to read!
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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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Aug 31, 2010 10:04pm