Rating: 
Summary: Contrived ending.
Review: In my opinion, the most satisfying mysteries are those in which the "whodunnit" is drawn from facts and circumstances that are developed throughout the story. Having the solution depend on the introduction of a character (or an unlikely turn of events) introduced right before the end is disappointing. I admire Tony Hillerman and I have enjoyed many of his books. This one, however, left me with the impression that he started without a very good idea of where he was going, and he just ran out of ink.
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Summary: As good as usual
Review: Lives up to all hillerman's books
Rating: 
Summary: A delightful mix of mystery and history.
Review: Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Officer Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police join forces in Hillerman's imaginative series on crimes occurring in or around the four corners country of the Southwest. Leaphorn and Chee track down a killer and along the way travel throughout the vast Navajo nation imparting arcane data on Native American pots, shards, and rituals.Leaphorn and Chee's murder investigation touches on the "thieves of time;" those persons who desecrate and often destroy Native American archaeological sites in their fervor to collect ancient artifacts. The officers decipher clues leading to the identity of a killer who leaves bodies at Anasazi sites which have been looted. The interchange between Leaphorn and Chee, both said and unsaid, forms the main contrast in this book. Both men are interesting but Leaphorn is a more complex person; an aging Indian nearing the end of his career. Known as the ancient ones, the Anasazi have been the subject of numerous studies by academia as to their origin and demise ranging from speculation to sober reality. The end result is conjecture although Hillerman is able to touch on the Anasazi lifestyle and history with a sure and steady hand. There are more than 140,000 Native American sites registered within the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. Registration is required and approval is needed from the U. S. Government before digging can be undertaken by archaeologists at any of these sites. Unfortunately, the vast majority of sites are unidentified and thus unregistered. If they are identified, they are often unprotected and subject to vandalism by anyone. Many of the unregistered sites are located on private land allowing the owner or others to remove aritifacts under cover of law. Some Indian artifact stores in the Southwest have knowingly bought stolen artifacts but the proof required to convict the owners is often lacking. Hillerman introduces a reader to more than murder within the pages of his books. The various facets of the investigation opens the door to a reader's mind. Hillerman's main purpose is to educate a reader to the Navajo and Hopi tribes; their rituals, their people, and the gentle pace of their hard won existence. Read Hillerman's series of books on Leaphorn and Chee. You'll become as addicted as millions of other readers have.
Rating:
Summary: Took me right out of the present and out to the Southwest!
Review: The first Hillerman I ever read - I read it without even taking a break to eat - couldn't put it down - made you smell the night, the trees - if you didn't like mysteries, you could immerse yourself in the Southwest and the Indian culture - the characters are magnificently drawn. The ability to transport the reader so thoroughly is beyond anything this mystery buff has ever experienced.
Rating: 
Summary: Difficult to follow in abridged audio version
Review: The story is engaging, and the historical background is enlightening. This abridgement for audio, however, leaves a little to be desired. Compressed to 2 cassettes, the jumpy action allows insufficient time for character development. Having the author, who is not a trained actor, read the script compounds the editing problems. Hillerman's southwestern drawl, delivered in chesty baritone, is authentic and pleasant to listen to, but it is often impossible to tell which character is speaking. They all sound the same. He also has distracting pronunciation problems (e.g., "heeliocopter") and when he intones "Chee said..." it sounds like "She said...," adding to the confusion. This is one title that is best appreciated unabridged in print.
Rating:
Summary: A Thief of Time
Review: This book is a great read! I have read it twice, the second time in about four hours. I have read all of Tony Hillerman's books and thoroughly enjoyed each one, but this one is the best. I live in Utah and having stayed at the Recapture Lodge and driven through parts of the Big Rez myself, I feel like I have traveled in the footsteps of T.H.'s two heroes, Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. Anybody who is interested in the Navajo culture, archeology, geography, law enforcement, mystery and/or an excellent story will love this book.
Rating:
Summary: great stuff
Review: This book is totally Hillerman. I did not put it down to eat or sleep. I woke up with sacks under my eyes and when my wife asked me why, I said because I read a great book. Hillerman is awesome!
Rating:
Summary: good stuff
Review: This book is truly a dandy. I love Hillerman's sense of mystery. The ending is iffy, but I like the storyline up to that point. I wish Hillerman would have spent more time on the ending and validity of his characters, but what can you do?
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Summary: More Than Just a Mystery
Review: This is one of Hillerman's best. Everything I have read of his has been very good or better, and I have read most of his books. In addition to a good plot and page-turning action, Hillerman gives the reader a look as from the inside at Native American cultures (mostly Navaho). Hillerman has received an award from the Navaho people for being a true friend of Navaho culture. Without being at all preachy, Hillerman has given us an opportunity to see the world thru Navaho eyes, which is sometimes a better world-view than ours.
Rating:
Summary: Very entertaining
Review: This is only the second Tony Hillerman book i read. I am not a huge fan of mysteries, but this one was quite good. I liked the anthropological bits thrown in, the references to pottery and the Anasazi culture. The plot was fairly easy to follow, and i thought the interplay between Leaphorn and Chee was very real. The solving of the mystery was great, as i certainly was not expecting it. If you like mysteries with a twist, this book is for you.
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