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Rating: 
Summary: Just like being in New Mexico
Review: I read Hillerman's books because he brings the New Mexico to life. Few writers can evoke the cold, the heat, or the beauty of the New Mexico high desert the way Hillerman does. Fallen Man is a particularly good example. Hillerman's description of the arrival of winter is spellbinding -- I could almost feel the cold wind and see the dark clouds. The plot is almost incidental to Hillerman's wonderful descriptions of New Mexico. Jim Chee is still confused about his love life and intimidated by Joe Leaphorn, who is as inscrutable as ever. The other characters receive light treatment and the plot and homespun justice are somewhat implausible. But, who cares. I can hardly wait for his next book.
Rating: 
Summary: Same elements with a different slant
Review: Looks like a skeleton of a climber was found on a ledge on Ship Rock. Could this solve the mystery of a person missing for many years? Retired Joe Leaphorn is given a retainer to find out the circumstances. He enlists the help of Jim Chee.Chee has his plate pretty full trying to juggle his love life, being acting LT., dealing with an over zealous assistant. On top of that he has to compete with a boring snob of an authority in tracking down cattle rustler(s). As usual all the clue are laid out in the open and if one works at it they may be able to peace the puzzle together before Joe or Jim. It is fun watching how it is reviled to them. We also have plenty of what makes Hillerman famous and that is descriptions of the Four Corners area and the Navaho way. I appreciate this as I have spent many a summer watching Ship Rock from Mesa Verde.
Rating:
Summary: A worthy read simply because it was written by T. Hillerman
Review: The value of Fallen Man for me is in the fact that it has once again revived a mental relationship between myself , Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn. As a longtime reader of Tony Hillerman, the reunion of these characters to his fictional writings was a welcome event. I must admit I did'nt even read his previous book which left out the famous Navajo sleuths I so enjoy. To see his book Fallen Man featuring the tribal dynamic duo was a happy occasion. While some may find fault with it, in comparison to other Hillerman books, I found it did exactly what I desired. It transported me to that great Southwest, the Four Corners region and the read was filled with history, folklore and tribal "stuff" that I thrive on. May'be I bought the book for it's primary characters, but nobody can make these characters live like Hillerman. Nobody can make me want to go to Tuba City, or Gallup, or drive down State route 666 like Tony Hillerman. For about three hundred pages I'm transported out of the ordinary routine and placed into the beauty of the Southwest I love. I only wish he could write three a year. I will do exactly with Fallen Man what I have done with all of Hillerman's books on this topic, when my "Hillerman fix" can't be satisfied with a new book, I'll read it again. If you love the Southwest and have a "sixteenth" of Native American in you, like we all say we do, read one of these books and your are hooked forever.
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