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Leaphorn & Chee #21
Song of the Lion
A deadly bombing takes Navajo Tribal cops Bernadette Manuelito, Jim Chee, and their mentor, the legendary Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, back into the past to find a vengeful killer in this riveting Southwestern mystery from the bestselling author of Spider Woman’s Daughter and Rock with Wings.
When a car bomb kills a young man in the Shiprock High School parking lot, Officer Bernadette Manuelito discovers that the intended victim was a mediator for a multi-million-dollar development planned at the Grand Canyon.
But what seems like an act of ecoterrorism turns out to be something far more nefarious and complex. Piecing together the clues, Bernadette and her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, uncover a scheme to disrupt the negotiations and inflame tensions between the Hopi and Dine tribes.
Retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn has seen just about everything in his long career. As the tribal police’s investigation unfolds, he begins to suspect that the bombing may be linked to a cold case he handled years ago. As he, Bernadette, and Chee carefully pull away the layers behind the crime, they make a disturbing discovery: a meticulous and very patient killer with a long-simmering plan of revenge.
Writing with a clarity and grace that is all her own, Anne Hillerman depicts the beauty and mystery of Navajo Country and the rituals, myths, and customs of its people in a mystery that builds on and complements the beloved, bestselling mysteries of her acclaimed father, Tony Hillerman.
When a car bomb kills a young man in the Shiprock High School parking lot, Officer Bernadette Manuelito discovers that the intended victim was a mediator for a multi-million-dollar development planned at the Grand Canyon.
But what seems like an act of ecoterrorism turns out to be something far more nefarious and complex. Piecing together the clues, Bernadette and her husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, uncover a scheme to disrupt the negotiations and inflame tensions between the Hopi and Dine tribes.
Retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn has seen just about everything in his long career. As the tribal police’s investigation unfolds, he begins to suspect that the bombing may be linked to a cold case he handled years ago. As he, Bernadette, and Chee carefully pull away the layers behind the crime, they make a disturbing discovery: a meticulous and very patient killer with a long-simmering plan of revenge.
Writing with a clarity and grace that is all her own, Anne Hillerman depicts the beauty and mystery of Navajo Country and the rituals, myths, and customs of its people in a mystery that builds on and complements the beloved, bestselling mysteries of her acclaimed father, Tony Hillerman.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2017
1681 people are currently reading
2894 people want to read
About the author
Anne Hillerman
25 books1,651 followersAnne Hillerman writes the best-selling Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito mysteries set on the Navajo Nation using characters her father Tony Hillerman made popular and her own creative twists. Her newest novel, "Shadow of the Solstice", is set for release in 2025. The Hillerman stories are the basis for the "Dark Winds" television series.
Her non-fiction books include "Tony Hillerman's Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn," with photos of the country Ton Hillerman visited in his novels. Anne's other non-fiction books include "Gardens of Santa Fe," "Done in the Sun," and "Children's Guide to Santa Fe." When she's not writing, Anne enjoys cooking, walking with her dogs, gardening and travel to the Navajo Nation.
Her non-fiction books include "Tony Hillerman's Landscape: On the Road with Chee and Leaphorn," with photos of the country Ton Hillerman visited in his novels. Anne's other non-fiction books include "Gardens of Santa Fe," "Done in the Sun," and "Children's Guide to Santa Fe." When she's not writing, Anne enjoys cooking, walking with her dogs, gardening and travel to the Navajo Nation.
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November 19, 2021
In this 21st book in the 'Leaphorn and Chee' series, detectives Bernadette Manuelito and Jim Chee take center stage when a businessman is targeted by killers. The book can be read as a standalone
*****
The alumni basketball game at New Mexico's Shiprock High School always draws a big crowd, and Navajo Police Officer Bernadette Manuelito (Bernie) is on hand to watch the teams play.
An explosion in the parking lot draws Bernie outside, where she sees a car in flames.
Bernie calls for backup, and the police and FBI soon discover that the vehicle was ignited by a car bomb and one man was seriously injured - and soon died.
It turns out the car belongs to Aza Palmer, a Navajo lawyer slated to mediate a conference in Tuba City, Arizona.
The conference concerns a proposed resort at the Grand Canyon - a project that's very controversial. The attendees will include the resort developers; local Indian tribes (Navajo and Hopi); and various environmental organizations. In addition, 'open microphone sessions' are expected to attract a large number of opinionated people, determined to have their say.
Palmer isn't injured by the bomb but the Navajo police think it might have been intended to kill him, to stop him attending the conference. For this reason Sergeant Jim Chee (Bernie's husband) is assigned to drive Palmer to Tuba City and act as a bodyguard.
When the bomb victim is identified as twenty-something Rick Horseman, Palmer is very upset. He's known Rick for years, and tried to help the boy when he was abusing drugs and alcohol.
Palmer can't fathom what happened at Shiprock High School, won't accept that he's in danger, and doesn't want a bodyguard. This negative thinking doesn't help when Palmer and Chee get to Tuba City, and all kinds of trouble erupts.
Someone in a car follows Palmer; the lights go out in the conference venue; the heating malfunctions in the building; demonstrators mill around and cause one ruckus after another; detractors shout at Palmer - claiming he's in the pocket of the builders; a violent protester bangs up a car with his sign; and so on.
Since Bernie has a few days off, she joins Chee in Tuba City, where they cooperate to protect Palmer and investigate the bombing. The inquiry is really the job of the FBI, but the two Navajo cops want to help.
To get needed advice, Bernie contacts Joe Leaphorn, 'The Legendary Lieutenant' who mentored herself and Chee. Leaphorn is retired now, recovering from a head injury that impaired his speech.
The Lieutenant can still email, however, and - when he hears the name Rick Horseman - realizes he knew the victim. In fact Leaphorn rescued Rick from an abusive home when he was a child.
Bernie, Chee, and Leaphorn all make a contribution to the resolution of the case, and the book has a believable and satisfying conclusion. I like that Bernie really shows her mettle at the book's climax.
The original 'Navajo Tribal Police Mysteries' were written by Tony Hillerman, and his daughter Anne is following in his footsteps, continuing to write stories with the same characters. Anne does a creditable job, and provides a nod to Navajo customs, but I liked Tony's books better.
Tony's mysteries had more scenes concerning Navajo culture and beliefs, and - in Tony's novels - Jim Chee was studying to be a traditional healer.....which was very interesting. In addition, Tony's main character was 'The Legendary Lieutenant' himself - an unbeatable detective with a compelling background.
Still, 'The Song of the Lion' is a good mystery with an interesting setting; Bernie and Chee are likable characters; and fans of the series would enjoy the book.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
April 20, 2017
Everything in balance. He smiled. The Navajo Way.
But something is definitely off kilter when a bomb explodes in the parking lot at Shiprock High School during a popular basketball game. Although off-duty, Officer Bernie Manuelito takes charge and keeps the anxious crowd at bay. She comes across a young male victim on the ground near a burned out car. Near death, he struggles to breathe and leaves no clues as to his identity.
The owner of the demolished car, Aza Palmer, shows up. Palmer is a partner in a law firm in Phoenix who is working in mediation in regard to a multi-million dollar development planned at the Grand Canyon. The Hopi and Dine tribes are having none of this on their sacred ground. Palmer tells Bernie that he's already received threats. Could this explosion be a smackin' reminder served to Palmer and the development company to back off? Or are there more devious fingers in this ecosystem pie than first thought?
She'd said, "Check your email," and then, "Be careful, sir. There were some rough players in this case."
And these rough players give cause for Bernie's husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, to be assigned as a bodyguard for Aza Palmer during the negotiation meetings taking place in Tuba City. Chee doesn't take kindly to his new position as he weaves between FBI agents and Palmer's evasive attitude. Bernie decides to join him in Tuba City on her off time from the Navajo Police. And she's gonna be staring into this depth of unexpected crime like loose footing on the Canyon's edge.
This is the third book for Anne Hillerman and I believe that this is her best. Following in the footsteps of her late father, Tony Hillerman, is a daunting task. But this time, Anne leaves her own personal writing impressions laced with fine talent and an accute presentation of the Navajo, Hopi, and Dine cultures. She continues to broaden the scopes of her stellar main characters of Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito.
Song of the Lion can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Hillerman sets the action from the first page and rounds out her characters and situations early on in order to give the reader smooth sailing throughout. Her research is incredible and exhibits a true labor of love.
Anne Hillerman, I'm a solid fan and anxiously waiting the arrival of the next.
But something is definitely off kilter when a bomb explodes in the parking lot at Shiprock High School during a popular basketball game. Although off-duty, Officer Bernie Manuelito takes charge and keeps the anxious crowd at bay. She comes across a young male victim on the ground near a burned out car. Near death, he struggles to breathe and leaves no clues as to his identity.
The owner of the demolished car, Aza Palmer, shows up. Palmer is a partner in a law firm in Phoenix who is working in mediation in regard to a multi-million dollar development planned at the Grand Canyon. The Hopi and Dine tribes are having none of this on their sacred ground. Palmer tells Bernie that he's already received threats. Could this explosion be a smackin' reminder served to Palmer and the development company to back off? Or are there more devious fingers in this ecosystem pie than first thought?
She'd said, "Check your email," and then, "Be careful, sir. There were some rough players in this case."
And these rough players give cause for Bernie's husband, Sergeant Jim Chee, to be assigned as a bodyguard for Aza Palmer during the negotiation meetings taking place in Tuba City. Chee doesn't take kindly to his new position as he weaves between FBI agents and Palmer's evasive attitude. Bernie decides to join him in Tuba City on her off time from the Navajo Police. And she's gonna be staring into this depth of unexpected crime like loose footing on the Canyon's edge.
This is the third book for Anne Hillerman and I believe that this is her best. Following in the footsteps of her late father, Tony Hillerman, is a daunting task. But this time, Anne leaves her own personal writing impressions laced with fine talent and an accute presentation of the Navajo, Hopi, and Dine cultures. She continues to broaden the scopes of her stellar main characters of Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito.
Song of the Lion can be read and enjoyed as a standalone. Hillerman sets the action from the first page and rounds out her characters and situations early on in order to give the reader smooth sailing throughout. Her research is incredible and exhibits a true labor of love.
Anne Hillerman, I'm a solid fan and anxiously waiting the arrival of the next.
July 5, 2017
Hillerman is really getting her stride in her approach to continuing her father’s wonderful series about cases of the Navaho tribal police in New Mexico. Jim Chee, now a sergeant and less of a Boy Scout, still gets a lot of air time, while his old mentor Captain Leaphorn, from his position of retirement and partial debilitation from getting shot in the head, provides sage advice to him when he seeks it out. What Hillerman brings to the table is full appropriation and extended development of the rookie policewoman Bernie Manueleto, now happily married to Chee. From the first of her three volumes so far, Hillerman makes her the star as much as Chee. I just love her energetic personality and hunger to solve cases. She excels at people skills and insights into what makes them tick, but she has a bit of a weakness in taking too many risks. The latter she may share with many of the kickass heroines so popular now, but instead of martial arts she uses her wits and acting abilities to get out of serious scrapes her impetuosity can sometimes bring down on her.
The start of the book is quite exciting and reveals Bernie as a brilliant and brave woman of action. A car bomb goes off in the parking lot at a basketball game she is attending in Shiprock, and she responds takes charge of the scene. She deftly assesses the existence and status of victims, the safety of the environs, and marshals security staff and volunteers to keep the attendees inside until more help comes. In the middle of all that she has the wherewithal to probe for potential witnesses, all the while standing up to people who doubt her authority due to being a young woman dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. Despite this competence, she makes a mistake by missing a body of a man killed in the explosion.
To make up for her mistake she devotes herself to the task of helping the FBI, who are responsible for dealing with serious felonies on the reservation. Once it becomes clear that the body is that of a local troubled youth and the fancy car that of a mediation lawyer who will soon lead a conference among stakeholders for and against a development project near the Grand Canyon, several possibilities come to mind. Her gift of logical thinking leads her to come up with eight different possibilities for motives for the bomb and connections between the dead man and the mediator Aza Palmer.
Meanwhile, Chee is assigned to the security of Palmer until and during the upcoming conference several hours away in Tuba City. Chee hates this “babysitting” task, which is made more difficult by Palmer’s lack of concern for threats on his life and willingness to meet privately with various attendees desperate for him to shape his mediation toward their viewpoint. He, and we, get a decent education on the broad range of organizations that would be invested in the outcome of such a proceeding, including the resort developers themselves, the Navaho, Hopi, and other tribal governments in the region, the National Park Service, wildlife conservationists and other ecological advocacy groups, and organizations concerned with preserving or expanding land use for recreational and hunting opportunities. The story highlights the realistic conflict between tribal interests in both preservation of sacred sites and enhancement of the dismal economical opportunities for the tribes and their people. Radical individuals associated with several of these groups could potentially want to kill Palmer and derail the mediation process.
It touching to have a day-to-day window on Bernie and Chee’s healthy marriage, which is marked by good humor and effective teamwork touched with an element of competition. Once we are witness to the following bit of romance, we are ready to snarl at anyone that thwarts them:
He reached for her, and she felt good in his arms, warm, strong, and soft in the places where soft matters. He loved the texture and smell of her long silky hair, the way her kiss made him forget everything except wanting to kiss her again.
Leaphorn and FBI agent Cordova make significant contributions to solving the case, but Bernie and Jim get themselves in the center of some dangerous scenarios which brings the perpetrator to light. I was happy with most of the presentation and plotting, but I was not impressed with the unrealistic character of otherworldly character and stupid neglect of danger on the part of Palmer. Also, the story surrounding the bad guy in the tale felt contrived.
With the first book, “Spider Woman’s Daughter”, I was impressed with the revitalization of her father’s characters and enthused about Bernie and Jim as a duo. The second one I stayed away from based on friends’ reactions. Thus, I am glad how promising the third one turned out to be, given modest reservations. As much as I appreciate her innovations with a strong female lead, I hope she will work on retaining more of her father’s approach to the characters’ sense of connectivity to nature and to Jim’s earlier ambitions to develop into a medicine man.
The start of the book is quite exciting and reveals Bernie as a brilliant and brave woman of action. A car bomb goes off in the parking lot at a basketball game she is attending in Shiprock, and she responds takes charge of the scene. She deftly assesses the existence and status of victims, the safety of the environs, and marshals security staff and volunteers to keep the attendees inside until more help comes. In the middle of all that she has the wherewithal to probe for potential witnesses, all the while standing up to people who doubt her authority due to being a young woman dressed in a t-shirt and shorts. Despite this competence, she makes a mistake by missing a body of a man killed in the explosion.
To make up for her mistake she devotes herself to the task of helping the FBI, who are responsible for dealing with serious felonies on the reservation. Once it becomes clear that the body is that of a local troubled youth and the fancy car that of a mediation lawyer who will soon lead a conference among stakeholders for and against a development project near the Grand Canyon, several possibilities come to mind. Her gift of logical thinking leads her to come up with eight different possibilities for motives for the bomb and connections between the dead man and the mediator Aza Palmer.
Meanwhile, Chee is assigned to the security of Palmer until and during the upcoming conference several hours away in Tuba City. Chee hates this “babysitting” task, which is made more difficult by Palmer’s lack of concern for threats on his life and willingness to meet privately with various attendees desperate for him to shape his mediation toward their viewpoint. He, and we, get a decent education on the broad range of organizations that would be invested in the outcome of such a proceeding, including the resort developers themselves, the Navaho, Hopi, and other tribal governments in the region, the National Park Service, wildlife conservationists and other ecological advocacy groups, and organizations concerned with preserving or expanding land use for recreational and hunting opportunities. The story highlights the realistic conflict between tribal interests in both preservation of sacred sites and enhancement of the dismal economical opportunities for the tribes and their people. Radical individuals associated with several of these groups could potentially want to kill Palmer and derail the mediation process.
It touching to have a day-to-day window on Bernie and Chee’s healthy marriage, which is marked by good humor and effective teamwork touched with an element of competition. Once we are witness to the following bit of romance, we are ready to snarl at anyone that thwarts them:
He reached for her, and she felt good in his arms, warm, strong, and soft in the places where soft matters. He loved the texture and smell of her long silky hair, the way her kiss made him forget everything except wanting to kiss her again.
Leaphorn and FBI agent Cordova make significant contributions to solving the case, but Bernie and Jim get themselves in the center of some dangerous scenarios which brings the perpetrator to light. I was happy with most of the presentation and plotting, but I was not impressed with the unrealistic character of otherworldly character and stupid neglect of danger on the part of Palmer. Also, the story surrounding the bad guy in the tale felt contrived.
With the first book, “Spider Woman’s Daughter”, I was impressed with the revitalization of her father’s characters and enthused about Bernie and Jim as a duo. The second one I stayed away from based on friends’ reactions. Thus, I am glad how promising the third one turned out to be, given modest reservations. As much as I appreciate her innovations with a strong female lead, I hope she will work on retaining more of her father’s approach to the characters’ sense of connectivity to nature and to Jim’s earlier ambitions to develop into a medicine man.
June 5, 2025
This novel is like a movie where all the fast-paced action takes place in the final 20 minutes. Up till then you are immersed in the mystery of the whodunnit and in the beautiful complexities of Navajo folklore and mythology. It’s a slow burn.
And the lion does make an appearance.
4 stars
an excellent audio version
And the lion does make an appearance.
4 stars
an excellent audio version
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2017
Anne Hillerman’s story features tribal police officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito, who is married to Sgt. Jim Chee. Her mentor is Joe Leaphorn who is recovering from a head injury. Bernie attends a Shiprock High School basketball game while she is off duty. A car is bombed in the parking lot and Bernie is the first on scene. The car belongs to Aza Palmer, an attorney who is the official mediator between the Native American tribes, the environmentalists and a corporation who wants to build a resort on Navajo land near the Grand Canyon. Chee and Manuelito must solve the crime.
The book is well written and researched. Anne Hillerman seems to be getting better with each book she writes. I enjoyed the information about the different tribal affiliates, language, and the conflict between the Navajo and Hopi. The author explains the various Navajo tribal myths and customs which to me makes the story far more interesting. I think most readers will have figured out who the perpetrator is before the end of the book. Somehow, that knowledge only increases the suspense to find out if you are correct and how will they be revealed in the story.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is approximately ten hours long. Christina Delaine does a good job narrating the story. Delaine is a stage actress and voice over artist as well as an audiobook narrator.
The book is well written and researched. Anne Hillerman seems to be getting better with each book she writes. I enjoyed the information about the different tribal affiliates, language, and the conflict between the Navajo and Hopi. The author explains the various Navajo tribal myths and customs which to me makes the story far more interesting. I think most readers will have figured out who the perpetrator is before the end of the book. Somehow, that knowledge only increases the suspense to find out if you are correct and how will they be revealed in the story.
I read this as an audiobook downloaded from Audible. The book is approximately ten hours long. Christina Delaine does a good job narrating the story. Delaine is a stage actress and voice over artist as well as an audiobook narrator.
June 4, 2017
In respect for her father, Tony, I gave her third novel a chance, but I am done. The book was mind numbingly boring until the last 30 pages, and by then I had already figured out who was behind it all. I only finished the book because I felt I had to in order to count it toward my yearly total. Don't waste your time.
April 16, 2017
Read the blurb--it's a good one, so I am not going to do any kind of plot re-cap.
It is always good to visit with Bernadette Manuelito, her husband, Jim Chee and the Legendary Lieutenant, Joe Leaphorn. I really like these people.
Anne Hillerman gives us a nice twisty mystery as well as a close up look at life on the Navajo lands of New Mexico and Arizona. The clues are all there--they just need to be recognized and connected. The light bulb went on for me just about the same time it did for Leaphorn. Well played, Ms Hillerman.
While I generally disapprove of a second author continuing the work of an author who has died, I am happy to make an exception for Anne Hillerman. She does her father proud. May she always walk in beauty.
It is always good to visit with Bernadette Manuelito, her husband, Jim Chee and the Legendary Lieutenant, Joe Leaphorn. I really like these people.
Anne Hillerman gives us a nice twisty mystery as well as a close up look at life on the Navajo lands of New Mexico and Arizona. The clues are all there--they just need to be recognized and connected. The light bulb went on for me just about the same time it did for Leaphorn. Well played, Ms Hillerman.
While I generally disapprove of a second author continuing the work of an author who has died, I am happy to make an exception for Anne Hillerman. She does her father proud. May she always walk in beauty.
March 5, 2021
I’ve read every book by Tony Hillerman, learning about the Navajo traditions through these wonderful mystery novels. Sadly, Tony has passed on, but his daughter Anne has brought back the beloved characters, Chee, Leaphorn, and Manuelito. She is a gifted writer as well, evoking the unique ambiance of the American Southwest with a captivating mystery and well-developed characters in The Song of the Lion. I just couldn’t put it down—highly recommended!
Several years later, I decided to listen to the audio book. Since I loved the book, I was disappointed that I disliked the narrator's (Christina Delaine) attempts to give different weird voices to the characters.
Several years later, I decided to listen to the audio book. Since I loved the book, I was disappointed that I disliked the narrator's (Christina Delaine) attempts to give different weird voices to the characters.
April 18, 2017
How lovely that Anne Hillerman has taken characters her dad created and keep them alive. This book is wonderful. The mystery is sharply drawn and resolved in a way that works so very well. I am loving this series.
June 27, 2017
Another disappointing edition to the Manuelito saga. It has become her story and that of her family while Chee and Leaphorn are just there for their names.
November 19, 2017
Anne Hillerman’s latest mystery is very timely indeed. In the real world (as opposed to the fictional world), the Dinee tribal government, which after decades of spurning casinos had finally succumbed to the enticements of that supposed cash cow about a decade ago, has nevertheless just REJECTED the financial enticements of the so-called “Grand Canyon Escalade.” Controversy surrounding that elaborate venture, which would have added a tramway, a hotel and other tourist amenities to the Grand Canyon’s east rim, drives the plot of Hillerman’s novel, only published in late September. (The “Grand Canyon Escalade” website now proclaims, “Welcome and please be patient as we re-think and re-format our web presence. We have some exiting [sic!] new ideas and information we will be rolling out in the future.” Perhaps our commander-in-chief, on route to Bears' Ears, will send in the cavalry to set things right for the Dinee, too.)
The conflict between tree-huggers and developers, which had only cropped up as a side-issue in A.H.’s previous two mysteries, now takes center stage. The landscape also shifts from the eastern edge of the Rez, Shiprock and the Lukachukai Mountains, to the less familiar west country around Tuba City and the Grand Canyon, 90 minutes away. Bernie Manuelito and Jim Chee’s attempts to negotiate the perils and complexities inherent in competing governmental, entreprenurial, tribal, and personal vested interests seem, perhaps, to allow less time for aspects of Native culture that are a trademark of the Hillerman brand. These also tend to linger around less happy realities such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, and the vexed, decades-old Navajo-Hopi land dispute and relocation. But despite all these distractions, Bernie and Jim’s relationship manages to flourish. (In the tradition of her father, the daughter treats the corporeal romantic aspects of their relationship with appropriate Dinee modesty.) The sidelined Joe Leaphorn, back on his feet and back in his truck, begins to assume a more prominent role. But Bernie seems destined to dominate the stage from now on. (3.5 stars, rounded up)
The conflict between tree-huggers and developers, which had only cropped up as a side-issue in A.H.’s previous two mysteries, now takes center stage. The landscape also shifts from the eastern edge of the Rez, Shiprock and the Lukachukai Mountains, to the less familiar west country around Tuba City and the Grand Canyon, 90 minutes away. Bernie Manuelito and Jim Chee’s attempts to negotiate the perils and complexities inherent in competing governmental, entreprenurial, tribal, and personal vested interests seem, perhaps, to allow less time for aspects of Native culture that are a trademark of the Hillerman brand. These also tend to linger around less happy realities such as alcoholism, domestic abuse, and the vexed, decades-old Navajo-Hopi land dispute and relocation. But despite all these distractions, Bernie and Jim’s relationship manages to flourish. (In the tradition of her father, the daughter treats the corporeal romantic aspects of their relationship with appropriate Dinee modesty.) The sidelined Joe Leaphorn, back on his feet and back in his truck, begins to assume a more prominent role. But Bernie seems destined to dominate the stage from now on. (3.5 stars, rounded up)
March 28, 2018
I loved Tony Hillerman's mysteries set in the austere beauty of the American Southwest's Navajo country, and his daughter is carrying on his tradition with equal talent. (What's the old saying? "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." Seems apropos in this case, and the tree is a strong one.)
If you choose to read this mystery series, I would advise doing so in the order they have been written, as the characters become older and wiser through-out their lives, maintaining some friendships and relationships and releasing others, growing and learning, etc.. (These books are similar in style to the Nevada Barr mysteries in that sense. They are also similar in the sense that they acquaint the reader with the issues and political dynamics of Indian Country in the same way that Barr introduces the reader to the issues and dynamics of the National Park Service -- painlessly and set within an interesting story.)
I will continue to be a Hillerman fan and hope to -- someday -- literally spend more time in the beautiful country of the Navajo Nation. (Though I would prefer not to require the investigative and/or protective services of Officers Leaphorn, Chee, or Manuelito when I do!)
If you choose to read this mystery series, I would advise doing so in the order they have been written, as the characters become older and wiser through-out their lives, maintaining some friendships and relationships and releasing others, growing and learning, etc.. (These books are similar in style to the Nevada Barr mysteries in that sense. They are also similar in the sense that they acquaint the reader with the issues and political dynamics of Indian Country in the same way that Barr introduces the reader to the issues and dynamics of the National Park Service -- painlessly and set within an interesting story.)
I will continue to be a Hillerman fan and hope to -- someday -- literally spend more time in the beautiful country of the Navajo Nation. (Though I would prefer not to require the investigative and/or protective services of Officers Leaphorn, Chee, or Manuelito when I do!)
November 4, 2017
Anne is definitely not her dad. The poetry, the simplicity that mad Tony's prose so hypnotic and soothing is completely absent here. And the mystery just isn't that good.
November 12, 2022
Song of the Lion
Anne Hillerman’s debut effort, Spider Woman's Daughter, a continuation of the series begun by her late father, Edgar Award-winning author Tony Hillerman, proved a great hit; the next novel, Rock with Wings, not so much. But Hillerman has redeemed herself with Song of the Lion, the 21st in the series featuring Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navaho Tribal Police and his mentor, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn.
A car explodes in the parking lot of Shiprock, N.M., high school during the biggest game of the year, an event that brought out thousands. Authorities think that the target was Aza Palmer, a Navajo lawyer bigwig who’s to serve as the moderator of a public hearing on a proposed project in the Grand Canyon. Chee’s assigned as Palmer’s bodyguard, while his wife Officer Bernadette Manuelito keeps looking into the explosion, which left a young man, Rick Horseman, dead. The pair, assisted by the semi-retired Leaphorn, find connections between many of those involved.
Anne Hillerman’s debut effort, Spider Woman's Daughter, a continuation of the series begun by her late father, Edgar Award-winning author Tony Hillerman, proved a great hit; the next novel, Rock with Wings, not so much. But Hillerman has redeemed herself with Song of the Lion, the 21st in the series featuring Sergeant Jim Chee of the Navaho Tribal Police and his mentor, Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn.
A car explodes in the parking lot of Shiprock, N.M., high school during the biggest game of the year, an event that brought out thousands. Authorities think that the target was Aza Palmer, a Navajo lawyer bigwig who’s to serve as the moderator of a public hearing on a proposed project in the Grand Canyon. Chee’s assigned as Palmer’s bodyguard, while his wife Officer Bernadette Manuelito keeps looking into the explosion, which left a young man, Rick Horseman, dead. The pair, assisted by the semi-retired Leaphorn, find connections between many of those involved.
April 25, 2017
Another great novel from Anne Hillerman! Aside from a good mystery set against a background of Navajo culture and the rugged beauty of the American Southwest, I really like the way this author handles the "romantic" side of her stories. Without resorting to "sex scenes" she conveys the love and affection that Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito have for one another in a way that adds to the story and takes nothing away from it. In my experience this is unusual and I consider it a mark of a very good writer.
October 29, 2020
Digital Audiobook performed by Christina Delaine
3.5***
After her father, Tony Hillerman, died, Anne Hillerman took up the series he had begun and continued it. This is book # 21 in the Leaphorn & Chee mystery series (Book # 5 in Anne’s continuation called The Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series), set on the Navajo nation in Arizona and New Mexico.
The action begins at a basketball game where team rivalries have brought out a large crowd. Then a car explodes in the high school parking lot, killing a young man. Officer Bernadette Manuelito is on the scene, and soon discovers that the vehicle belonged to a mediator for a dispute over a multimillion-dollar development planned at the Grand Canyon.
I hadn’t read one of the Leaphorn books in quite some time, and I think they are best read in order, just to watch the relationships develop over time. But I certainly didn’t feel lost or disconnected by reading this one out of order. The Tribal Police deal with real, modern-day crime, but are not averse to listening and exploring the traditional wisdom employed by the elders. Both father and daughter authors seamlessly weave these elements of magical realism into the narrative.
Hillerman has inherited her father’s skill at plotting, and at character development. Joe Leaphorn is long retired, though the younger detectives still seek his counsel, which he’s happy to give. Bernie is a strong female lead; intelligent, disciplined, resolute, cautious, respectful of tradition, but embracing modern technology. And she is more than up for the task of going against the bad guy on her own! And I love the relationship between Bernie and Sgt Joe Chee.
I’ll keep reading the series, but I think I’ll go back and pick up where I left off (somewhere around book # 4, I think).
The audio version is wonderfully performed by Christina Delaine. I loved the cadence of her speech, especially when voicing some of the elderly Native American characters.
3.5***
After her father, Tony Hillerman, died, Anne Hillerman took up the series he had begun and continued it. This is book # 21 in the Leaphorn & Chee mystery series (Book # 5 in Anne’s continuation called The Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series), set on the Navajo nation in Arizona and New Mexico.
The action begins at a basketball game where team rivalries have brought out a large crowd. Then a car explodes in the high school parking lot, killing a young man. Officer Bernadette Manuelito is on the scene, and soon discovers that the vehicle belonged to a mediator for a dispute over a multimillion-dollar development planned at the Grand Canyon.
I hadn’t read one of the Leaphorn books in quite some time, and I think they are best read in order, just to watch the relationships develop over time. But I certainly didn’t feel lost or disconnected by reading this one out of order. The Tribal Police deal with real, modern-day crime, but are not averse to listening and exploring the traditional wisdom employed by the elders. Both father and daughter authors seamlessly weave these elements of magical realism into the narrative.
Hillerman has inherited her father’s skill at plotting, and at character development. Joe Leaphorn is long retired, though the younger detectives still seek his counsel, which he’s happy to give. Bernie is a strong female lead; intelligent, disciplined, resolute, cautious, respectful of tradition, but embracing modern technology. And she is more than up for the task of going against the bad guy on her own! And I love the relationship between Bernie and Sgt Joe Chee.
I’ll keep reading the series, but I think I’ll go back and pick up where I left off (somewhere around book # 4, I think).
The audio version is wonderfully performed by Christina Delaine. I loved the cadence of her speech, especially when voicing some of the elderly Native American characters.
March 26, 2020
(FIRST READ) I thoroughly enjoyed Anne Hillerman’s story about tribal police officer Bernadette “Bernie” Manuelito, who is married to Sgt. Jim Chee. Her mentor is Joe Leaphorn who is recovering from a head injury. Bernie attends a Shiprock High School basketball game while she is off duty. A car is bombed in the parking lot and Bernie is the first on scene. The car belongs to Aza Palmer, an attorney who is the official mediator between the Native American tribes, the environmentalists and a corporation who wants to build a resort on Navajo land near the Grand Canyon. Chee and Manuelito must solve the crime.
The book is well written and researched. Anne Hillerman seems to be getting better with each book she writes. I enjoyed the information about the different tribal affiliates, language, and the conflict between the Navajo and Hopi. The author explains the various Navajo tribal myths and customs which to me makes the story far more interesting. I think most readers will have figured out who the perpetrator is before the end of the book. Somehow, that knowledge only increases the suspense to find out if you are correct and how will they be revealed in the story.
(SECOND READ) Christina Delaine does a good job narrating the story. Delaine is a stage actress and voice over artist as well as an audiobook narrator.
The book is well written and researched. Anne Hillerman seems to be getting better with each book she writes. I enjoyed the information about the different tribal affiliates, language, and the conflict between the Navajo and Hopi. The author explains the various Navajo tribal myths and customs which to me makes the story far more interesting. I think most readers will have figured out who the perpetrator is before the end of the book. Somehow, that knowledge only increases the suspense to find out if you are correct and how will they be revealed in the story.
(SECOND READ) Christina Delaine does a good job narrating the story. Delaine is a stage actress and voice over artist as well as an audiobook narrator.
April 3, 2018
I struggled, really struggled, all the way through this one and think that, sadly, this will be the end of my journey with Chee and Leaphorn and the thoroughly unlikable Manuelito. Lacking the delicious descriptions of Tony Hillerman that were a love letters to the desert southwest and the rich culture of the Navajo, this novel stumbles through a convoluted and thoroughly unbelievable - and unintelligible - plot and kicks around a MacGuffin and chases a red herring. With absolutely no tension or mystery, this is a wooden story with paper cut-out characters. Much to my dismay, Leaphorn has been reduced to a caricature who adds nothing to the story and seems to exist only as a namedrop. Chee, once a brooding, self-reflective character, torn between the world of the Diné and the bilagáana, the tradition and spirituality of being a Navajo and the logic and clinical reasoning of being an officer of the law sworn to uphold laws modeled after the white-man's view of the world, has been deflated to a spear-carrier whose one aspect is that he doesn't like being away from Bernie. A disappointing ending that is more frustration and confusion than conclusion, Song of the Lion is colourless, characterless, uninspired, and uninspiring.
October 19, 2017
Of the 3 books by Anne Hillerman, I think I liked this one the best...lots of interesting details, suspense and well tied together to make a satisfying ending , including the entrance of the Mountain Lion near the end of the story. We learn lots of interesting details about Navajos , Hopis and Paiutes etc.. Two details strike me. It would be nice if Bernie Manuelito could learn to improve her diet, before she develops Diabetes like Palmer and so many other indians. After all Grandfather gave his people vegetables to keep them healthy, not just hamburgers and fried food. Also, if native peoples want to improve their lives and save Nature, such as the Grand Canyon , it would help if they learned to work together better. Overall, an enjoyable read and worth a leisurely read reflecting on many ideas the author introduces.
February 26, 2019
I loved Tony Hillerman novels in my 20s and 30, and his daughter Anne Hillerman, picks up where her father left off. The mysteries continue with Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito against the beautiful backdrop of rugged Arizona. The tenacity and heritage of Native Americans in and around the Grand Canyon is wonderfully captured in this mystery. The cast of characters and twists and turns make for an excellent plot.
April 18, 2024
I believe Anne Hillerman does a credible job following in her father's footsteps with new Chee, Manualito, and Leaphorn. And don't forget Cowboy Dashee. I was so pleased to discover that more books were coming. The only thing that troubled me was so little written about the lion himself. A good read by an excellent storyteller!
June 1, 2017
Unfortunately Anne Hillerman does not measure up to her father as a story teller in this episode. Poorly organized, poorly edited and way too much meaningless filler.
November 7, 2019
I enjoyed this one a lot -- up until the end, which was (I thought) confused and unconvincing. This is the first of Anne Hillerman's Navajo mysteries that I've tried, and other readers feel it's the one where she hit her stride on carrying on her Dad's Leaphorn & Chee legacy. Indeed, she captures the feel of the old books well and updates it -- as always, read the publisher's summary first, nearby. She is very good at economically sketching supporting actors, and I liked Bernie Manuelito a lot -- who was (I think) introduced as a rookie in one of her Dad's last books. And Anne is a good storyteller. But the ending, putting aside the supernatural stuff, was just a bit too pat and convenient for me. I still enjoyed the book. Recommended for Tony Hillerman fans.
October 3, 2017
My Thanks to the Meridian, Idaho library for my copy of this book. I have read all of Tony Hillerman books and now all three of Anne's books. I like the way Anne has added a strong woman character in Bernie Manuelito. She has continued the character of Him Chee and Joe Leaphorn.
Bernie is attending the basketball game when a bomb goes off in the parking. She is the lone Police officer present and her actions in getting help are supreme. She managed to secure the scene until backup arrives. The victim's car is total and he is a mediator in a discussion on a commercial development near Grand Canyon on Navajo land. It around the Hopi land. There are many conflicting views. Jim Chee is assigned to see that The mediator is safe. The FBI takes over the investigation of the bombing. Bernie joins Chee in Tuba city where much of the story takes. Joe Leaphorn is able to remember an old case that helps in the probe. I am looking g forward to reading the next adventure.
Bernie is attending the basketball game when a bomb goes off in the parking. She is the lone Police officer present and her actions in getting help are supreme. She managed to secure the scene until backup arrives. The victim's car is total and he is a mediator in a discussion on a commercial development near Grand Canyon on Navajo land. It around the Hopi land. There are many conflicting views. Jim Chee is assigned to see that The mediator is safe. The FBI takes over the investigation of the bombing. Bernie joins Chee in Tuba city where much of the story takes. Joe Leaphorn is able to remember an old case that helps in the probe. I am looking g forward to reading the next adventure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2017
Officer Bernadette Manuelito is off-duty and attending a students-vs.-alumni basketball game when a car explodes in the parking lot. The plot keeps thickening as her husband, Jim Chee, is detailed as a bodyguard to the car's owner, a local boy made good who is the attorney mediating discussions about a proposed development at the Grand Canyon. Questions of family, the environment, and intertribal tensions come up in Bernie's investigation, and retired Lt. Joe Leaphorn consults and remembers the past. Once again, Anne Hillerman has proven worthy to continue her father's legacy. Very highly recommended.
June 19, 2017
I've given Anne Hillerman a try because I loved her father's books and characters. I wasn't crazy about the first two but this may be the last one. Slow moving and repetitive travelogue with little suspense or plot. By the end, I was ready to get rid of Palmer myself - he is so unpleasant and uncooperative that I could never be worried about his safety. Chee and Bernie keep making basic mistakes like rookies instead of the seasoned professionals they are supposed to be. And someone has to explain to them what SRO means and what a ringmaster is?
September 15, 2017
In the previous Anne Hillerman Leaphorn/Chee novels, I was most impressed with her portrayal of Chee's wife, Bernie. In this one I was moved by the portrayal of an injured Leaphorn. I also loved that last Leaphorn line.
May 1, 2020
This is a multiple POV (more like a third person and going to different people, I think) mystery thriller set on Navajo lands in Arizona; most of the POVs are Navajo. A car bomb resulting in a death sets of concern for the owner of the car--most likely the intended target--a lawyer who is set to act as a mediator in discussions over a possible commercial development project in the Grand Canyon. This is the first Leaphorn & Chee whodunnit I've ever read and it's #21, so I will be careful about naming certain people since it reads as though some people who are married here and other things haven't been this way from the start of the series. Suffice it to say that Chee is ordered to be a bodyguard for said mediator, and it soon becomes apparent that many things aren't necessarily as they seem.
The voicing and style of writing weren't ones that I particularly liked, but the plotting, etc was solid.
The voicing and style of writing weren't ones that I particularly liked, but the plotting, etc was solid.
July 19, 2017
I'm really enjoying Anne Hillerman's books. She picks up where her father left off, telling the stories of LT Leaphorn and Detectives Chee and Manuelito of the Navajo police. I can scarcely tell the difference between the two authors, although Anne does focus more heavily on Bernie Manuelito as the main focus of her novels rather than the two males. In any case, good police work, great descriptions of the American southwest, and always good personal stories that lead to a good finish.
September 11, 2023
I really liked the start of the book. it jumped into the action right away, which was most welcome after the last few in the series, which seemed to take so long to get going. But the momentum died, unfortunately, and the mystery ended up just being sad.
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