Rating: 
Summary: "With Beauty It Is Finished"
Review: If you do an advanced search on Amazon for "mysteries published in 1970" you'll first find a lot of Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew books, and some by old reliables Mickey Spillane, Ross MacDonald, and John Dickson Carr. Then there's the newcomer, Tony Hillerman with his first anthropological (or is it "anthropomystical" ?) mystery and hero Joe Leaphorn.
While the cultural/spiritual side of things is never far from the goings-on in a Hillerman story, they overshadow the crime/thriller element in this novel. That's not necessarily a bad thing; the mystery in this case is very slight and makes use of some convenient scapegoating at the end (not unlike secondary character Bergen McKee's theory on Navajo Wolves). The book gives us only the briefest character sketch of Leaphorn (he's absent from a lot of it), and we don't find out much about his wife or co-workers (half the fun - and sadness - of the later books). The transformation of McKee from milquetoasty professor to wilderness he-man is overdone and/or underexplained; fortunately it's a problem Hillerman avoids in the future. Even if things end up a bit too nicely, you've still been entertained for a few hours and learned a thing or two in the process - and bringing things into a harmony is a big part of the story, after all.
Hillerman is a remarkable author. He is able to tell his story in a way that keeps readers engaged while imparting pages of folklore that in lesser hands would put an audience to sleep. Then consider that he's been able to carve out a niche without much competition for thirty-plus years. That means either a) people aren't really interested in this kind of story (not true, or he wouldn't be writing them for three decades), or b) it's a very hard kind of story to write (persuading other authors to stay away and write things with helicopter explosions).
If you're a fan of the Leaphorn series or are looking to make his acquaintance, give this book a read. It's not his best, but it's better than a lot of other things published in 1970 (Three Days of the Condor, excepted, of course - as is Shaft).
Rating: 
Summary: Great Writer
Review: If you have never had the good fortune to visit New Mexico and Arizona, reading a Tony Hillerman novel will have you itching to pack your bag and experience the wonderful vistas he describes. Hillerman introduces you the the Navajo people and their way of life. No other author displays Hillerman's understand and interest in this part of the country. Hillerman seems to get better and better with each new offering.
Beverly J Scott Author of Righteous Revenge
Rating:
Summary: How It All Began
Review: If you're already a Hillerman fan, you already know this is where it all started and you don't need me to tell you how good it is.However, if you're approaching the technically-white but 'adopted'-Navajo master storyteller for the first time, and want to know where to begin, this is the place! You will learn more authentic information about the Navajo culture from Hillerman than from all the academic types who have ever written on the subject. Not to mention Southwest Geography and Climate, along with the uncomfortable relationship between the Navajo tribal police and other law-enforcement agencies in the area. From the creepy opening chapter, to the introduction of the great tribal policeman, Leaphorn, to the satisfying resolution of the mystery, there is no better way to meet Hillerman than in the book that started it all. Here are Arizona and New Mexico as you've always imagined them, complete with tourist-guide detail about places you'll HAVE to go visit after you read this. [The books really do make great travel guides, once you figure out where the locales are by consulting a good map.] The *only* quibble anyone could have with this book is the Title, which is NOT Hillerman's own-- it was imposed on him by his publisher and has nothing to do with the story. Other than that, the book is perfect.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable but Dismissable
Review: Published in 1970, THE BLESSING WAY was Tony Hillerman's first novel--and it received considerable acclaim for originality and its socio-cultural portrait of modern Navajo who continue on the reservation, caught between their ancient traditions and the rising tide of American culture. But although it is a fast and enjoyable read, many readers will feel THE BLESSING WAY isn't all it is cracked up to be.
THE BLESSING WAY introduces Lt. Joe Leaphorn, a Native American at work on Navajo lands in the southwest. The story opens well: a young man has fled to a remote area of the reservation to avoid arrest, and Leaphorn pursues him. At the same time, Leaphorn helps a professor of Native American traditions who has come to the reservation to research Navajo witchcraft lore. But the case takes unexpected turn when the two elements suddenly combine: the young man is found dead and rumors of a witch abound.
All of this sounds good, but there's less to it than you might expect. The basic problem with THE BLESSING WAY is the basic problem with most of Hillerman's work: while he renders his characters and their setting with considerable interest, he pretty much leaves the plot to take care of itself, and the end result feels contrived in a way that makes the overall work feel remarkably thin. The novel's translation of Navajo tradition and lore to a pop-fiction format is intriguing, at times greatly interesting--but in the end it really is pop-fiction and nothing more.
GFT, Amazon Reviewer
Rating:
Summary: Read this Hillerman rather than the recent ones
Review: Read this Hillerman rather than the recent ones. Warm, funny, suspenseful, and full of Navajo and local color. A true experience.
Rating:
Summary: My first TH novel with a wonderful story and history
Review: This was my first book relating the Navajo history.. It was impossible to put down. The mixture of mystery and mystic was tantalizing. I can't wait to read more of his books.
Rating:
Summary: great book with a lot of the Navajo culture thown in
Review: This was my first Hillerman book. It was impossible to put down. The mixture of mystery and Navajo history was perfect. I can't wait to read more of his books
Rating:
Summary: Introducing Joe Leaphorn
Review: Tony Hillerman has written 15 or so novels about Navaho policemen working in the high,dry canyon country of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Published in 1970, this is the first in the series, introducing Joe Leaphorn, who will become well and favorably known in subsequent novels. Witches are about in the Navajo country and Leaphorn -- the most rational of men -- perceives a connection between the tales of the witches and the murder of a young Navajo. Strange things occur: the throats of sheep are slashed, men dressed in wolfskins are seen, a hat is stolen, all of this leading to a confrontation in a cliff dwelling and a chase on a high desert plateau. This is not the best novel of the series. Some of the deeds of a mild-mannered college professor fleeing the "witches" seem improbable. And Leaphorn is not yet fully developed as a unique character and master detective. But "Blessing Way" is a strong beginning to what would become a masterpiece series. Hillerman's strengths are authenticity and atmosphere. Elements of Navajo culture, religion, and folkways are woven into the fabric of his novels. His landscapes are harsh and spectacular. Nature is magnificient, but also menacing. In this exotic setting, the supernatural seems almost possible and little chilly fingers tickle your spine. If you are a urbanite, you may not like Hillerman; but if you are drawn to big, blank spots on the map you will likely love him. Not the least of his accomplishments is that he has probably taught more people about the Navajo -- and generated more interest in Navajo culture -- than any other writer.
Rating:
Summary: Introducing Joe Leaphorn
Review: Tony Hillerman has written 15 or so novels about Navaho policemen working in the high,dry canyon country of New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. Published in 1970, this is the first in the series, introducing Joe Leaphorn, who will become well and favorably known in subsequent novels. Witches are about in the Navajo country and Leaphorn -- the most rational of men -- perceives a connection between the tales of the witches and the murder of a young Navajo. Strange things occur: the throats of sheep are slashed, men dressed in wolfskins are seen, a hat is stolen, all of this leading to a confrontation in a cliff dwelling and a chase on a high desert plateau. This is not the best novel of the series. Some of the deeds of a mild-mannered college professor fleeing the "witches" seem improbable. And Leaphorn is not yet fully developed as a unique character and master detective. But "Blessing Way" is a strong beginning to what would become a masterpiece series. Hillerman's strengths are authenticity and atmosphere. Elements of Navajo culture, religion, and folkways are woven into the fabric of his novels. His landscapes are harsh and spectacular. Nature is magnificient, but also menacing. In this exotic setting, the supernatural seems almost possible and little chilly fingers tickle your spine. If you are a urbanite, you may not like Hillerman; but if you are drawn to big, blank spots on the map you will likely love him. Not the least of his accomplishments is that he has probably taught more people about the Navajo -- and generated more interest in Navajo culture -- than any other writer.
Rating:
Summary: Much more than a mystery!
Review: Tony Hillerman's The Blessing Way is much more than a mystery - it is a book that allows a close up look at the Navajo and the southwest. The mystery is great and holds the readers interest, but the reader is also taken to a place of enchantment, where one can almost feel the wind and see the beautiful, but barren, landscape. Hillerman is a master of creating characters that seem absolutely lifelike in their mannerisms, approach, and emotions. The culture is presented in a unique, passionate way, that teaches the reader and places a yearning to know more about the Navajo. I would warn the perspective reader of one thing - if this is your first Hillerman book, be prepared to purchase others. The Hillerman mysteries will grab a hold of you and not let go!
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