Rating: 
Summary: Not Hillerman's best, but still an interesting novel
Review: This novel focuses primarily on Jim Chee and Bernadette Manuelito. Joe Leaphorn has kind of a cameo role, and Cowboy Dashee plays a bigger role in this novel than in others. Chee finds himself investigating the mysterious murder of a man who is working under a false identify. At the same time, Bernie, in her new role as a border patrol officer, stumbles on to a suspicious operation near the border of Mexico. Powerful
forces in Washington are trying to stall the investigation and Bernie becomes a target as she gets too close to a drug-smuggling operation. Jim finally finds a way to talk to Bernie about how he feels toward her. The plot is not as intricate as some of Hillerman's other novels, although there are still some surprises. In this novel, the fact that the detectives are Navajo seems to be less important than it is in some of Hillerman's better works. In Hillerman's best works, the Navajo perspective leads Leaphorn and Chee to solve crimes that the FBI and others can't figure out. Still, Hillerman is a master of the mystery, and his fans will find much of his talent on display here.
Rating: 
Summary: Series Finale???
Review: As I read this book, the thought that kept intruding that Tony Hillerman is no longer young (he'll be 78 this year). I strongly suspect that this book, which comes so strongly on the heels of "The Wailing Wind," may well be his last.
Other reviewers have noted that this book adds nothing new to our understanding of the central characters. But it does leave them with fewer unresolved issues than prior books. Rather than being the cynical money-making effort depicted in some reviews below, this book appears to be a parting gift from an aging author who wanted to give the series a more satisfying closure than "The Wailing Wind" had left us with.
That said, it's not a great stand-alone book. The first chapter, which introduces the retiring CIA agent who will soon become the murder victim, is painfully cliched, seemingly cobbled together from bad spy movies and political thrillers. The mystery is obvious (partly because huge chunks of it are told from the villains' perspective), and except for a little bit of magic with maps, Leaphorn and Chee get no chance to show off their detecting brilliance. The setting, in southern New Mexico's "boot heel" region, is rendered generically, without the detail for which Hillerman is famous-as though he'd written it from maps and memory. Plot elements never connect, and there are gaps in the police procedure (most notably involving a car, which is missing in one chapter but has been fingerprinted in another chapter, with no mention that I could find of its being discovered).
The cobbled-together feel of this book, its lack of complexity, and its short length make me suspect that Hillerman's health is failing and that he rushed it to completion while he still could. Hopefully I'm wrong. Regardless, readers of the series this book should save this book for last-it's merely an epilog to a long and honorable series. If you've read all the books, this one is a must read. If you've not, you'll be disappointed.
And if I'm right, thanks Tony, for making the effort to give us a parting gift.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a Good Hillerman to Start
Review: After a road trip through the Southwest, I picked up this latest novel, having been recommended Hillerman by a friend who has read several of his books. Though it was enjoyable hearkening back to some of the places that I recently visited, the rest of the book was rather flat.I keep reading how Hillerman's plots are extraordinarily complex, and how they brilliantly come together at the end. This story doesn't back that statement. In contrast to the Amazon.com editorial review, I disagree that the plot is almost "too complex to summarize". If you read the book, you'll likely agree that statement is too strong. Finally, I was left disappointed with the character development, particularly with Hillerman's female characters in this book. Bernadette Manuelito starts off looking like she'll be a strong woman, but ultimately crumbles into the safe, strong arms of a man. Since this was my first Hillerman novel, I'm giving him another chance with The Fallen Man. 50 pages into the book, it's easy to see that The Fallen Man will be a superior story.
Rating: 
Summary: Drifting in the Desert
Review: How disappointing. Maybe Hillerman needed some fast cash and dashed off a quickie novel. Maybe he had it ghosted. Whatever the case, 'Sinister Pig' has none of the Hillerman hallmarks we've come to admire and expect. Most of the action takes place away from the Navajo reservation, depriving the author of one of his most compelling characters: the reservation itself. The Navajo people and their territory are only tangentially related to what the bad guys are up to. The Navajo police go about their business like any other cops, without the special concerns for culture, tradition and beliefs that have been such key themes in earlier novels. Hillerman's efforts to get his protagonists off the reservation seem strained, as if he can't quite deal with the developing Chee-Manuelito relationship in the context of Navajo mores or his earlier stories. In 'Pig', we learn nothing new about daily life on the reservation, curing ceremonies, creation myth or sacred places. We don't get to know our favorite characters any better. We don't feel the tension between the traditional and the modern, especially in Chee. As a mystery, it is contrived and predictable; as a romance novel it's pretty tame. If you're coming to Hillerman for the first time, please don't start with this one. The earlier books are much more complex, enlightening and fun.
Rating:
Summary: For die hard fans only
Review: Unless you are an absolutely die hard fan -- save your money. Otherwise, this book is bound to be a disappointment. The villain is utterly implausible, much of the plot centers in D.C. and Chee and Leaphorn are peripheral to the story. I have to say that I usually enjoy Hillerman for the descriptions of the landscape and insights into Navajo culture as much as the mystery itself. This time, however, the plot is so implausible and the writing so flat that it detracted from the usual pleasures. I also have to say, having lived in Washington, DC for the past 12 years, that I found the portions of the book dealing with DC and federal politics completely absurd. In fact, Mr. Hillerman so misunderstands the DC political game and his villain is painted in such broad strokes that it made me wonder whether his descriptions of Navajo culture are equally bogus and inaccurate. By the end of the book, I had come to question all his descriptions. I also have to agree with all those who criticized the writing in this book. Many of the scenes read like outlines, particularly in the later chapters. I've noticed that mystery writers with long established series frequently get lazy with the later books in the series (see Martha Grimes), but I do not understand why the publisher or editor does not insist that sparse scenes be fleshed out and that authors adhere to modicum of versimilitude. I know that the authors of Hillerman's stature will make money no matter how dreadful the writing but I would think the embarassment factor would kick in.
Rating:
Summary: Sinister Pig is a something of a departure for Hillerman...
Review: Tony Hillerman does a bit of traveling away from the Navajo Reservation in this outing. Officer Bernadette Manuelito has forsaken the tribal police for a job in the southern most regions of New Mexico, where she is training on the job to be a border patrol agent. Although she is still in love with Jim Chee, she sees only hurt and complications in staying so decides to move on and find solace in her work. Sgt. Chee is much better at police business than he is at expressing the personal stuff in his life, so poor Bernie is under the impression that the attraction she feels is never going to be reciprocated and she needs to get on with her life. Meanwhile, back on the res, a body turns up that is causing a lot more than the usual interest by federal agents. There is no identification on the body but the FBI immediately snatches the case from the local jurisdiction of the tribal police and all inquiries from the locals for progress in the case get a response of "this isn't your problem." Of course, Jim Chee is even more curious when he starts getting that answer and begins to hunt for information on his own. Retired Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn gets drawn into the same puzzle of the unidentified dead man by a different route. As usual, he gives insight based on his considerable years on the force dealing with both criminals and the bureaucracy. And in a final, bizarre twist, Officer Bernie (200 miles to the south of the reservation) finds a piece of the puzzle that has Jim heading down to the border for a visit and a feeble attempt at talking Bernie into coming home. Trouble is, Chee, the great problem solver can't untangle his feelings for this beautiful Navajo girl. Since his past relationships have always ended badly, he has no hope that this young woman just might be his perfect compliment, so unconsciously keeps pushing her away. But, personal relationships aside, the Sinister Pig moves inexorably toward an explosive final solution, tying all the strange coincidences and loose ends into a very nicely wrapped, well planned mystery. It all sounds complicated, but in Hillerman's deft hands, The Sinister Pig becomes completely plausible and thoroughly enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: The Sinister Pig
Review: Juvenile dialog. In one scene a line is attributed to a character not even in the scene. Found that my daughter can write a better and more descriptive story that what I paid $... for. Would not recommend.
Rating:
Summary: Another great Hillerman novel
Review: Thank goodness I didn't rely on other reviews saying that Mr. Hillerman's new book was a disappointment. I thought it was really exciting and developed the character of Jim Chee much further. I am one of the lucky ones who calls New Mexico home. I nod in agreement at the descriptions of the beautiful landscapes...I get to see them every day. If you have come to know Leaphorn and Chee through earlier books, don't miss this one!
Rating:
Summary: Great Summer Read!
Review: Another winner by Mr. Hillerman! The plot is not nearly as complex as Wailing Wind, and perhaps has some unlikely events, but all in all, I couldn't put the book down until I finished it. The aspects of Washington politics are rather chilling, and maybe all too true.
Rating:
Summary: Who wrote this book?
Review: Tony HIllerman may have started writing this book but surely he wasn't the one to finish it. The first few chapters promise another great story about our hero Chee saving the day but in the end it truns into Budge's story (one of the bad guys). Not only is it Budge who saves the lady in distress, but most of the action takes place in Badge's world. The very end is even worst. The last two chapters and the epilog look like they are just the writer's notes and arn't developed at all. I'd like my money back, Mr. Hillerman.
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