Status Updates From The Ghostway (Leaphorn & Ch...

While this does feel like an echo of two books ago, with this focus on the stereotypical cold and calculating killer again, I have to admit I'm actually finding this round of it interesting. In a way, this almost feels like an attempt to redo the same trope better, with more depth to the character. I said in my PoD review that we needed to know more or less about the killer, and this one we're getting insight into.

An expensive, methodical, very competent and threatening hitman with a taste for classical music and reading. It's a little jarring how much this feels like People of Darkness, rehashing a formula that I said was worryingly tired the first time around. If this becomes another story of Chee being hunted by a super killer this is going to become difficult to get through.

I'm enjoying the story, it's more focused on detective work and investigating within the landscape. And I'm coming to terms with Mary's role as a presence in his thoughts; she annoys me as a character and relationship, but I recognize the realism in the way she occupies his thoughts despite how much the reality of her troubles him.

"He'd known, he thought now, even on that first meeting, that this white woman was the woman he wanted to share his life with." Geez, this love-at-first-sight retcon on a relationship that was toxic from the moment they met is not the direction I want to see these stories going in. "Mary Landon would not be a Navajo. How could he change that?" Omg, both of them just want the other to stop being who they are. End it.

With dread I find that Mary's back, and she's entrenched in Chee's life, and has remained consistent in her unlikable and utterly selfish demeanor. From the outset she's mad because Chee won't sacrifice his identity and entire life in service to her. Last book got my hopes up she wouldn't be a returning character.