::READERS REVIEWS::

Skinny Woman - SETUP
In Skinwalkers "legendary lieutenant" Joe Leaphorn and detective Jim Chee work in tandem for the first time to solve three seemingly disconnected murders in the area. Early in the investigation, Chee brings in Roosevelt Bisti. Bisti, who is dying of cancer, readily admits to one of the murders (a shooting), but the victim had died of stab wounds. A baby has been born in a clinic with anencephaly, a hopeless condition, but its desperate traditional parents believe that there is a cure. Chee himself barely escapes death when his house trailer is shot up, by someone who suspects Chee of being a "Navajo wolf", i.e., a witch (aka skinwalker). That's the setup.

SIDESTORIES
I don't normally mention sidestories in reviews, but they are important in "The First Eagle" and a few other novels in the series. In these, the mystery (and associated plot) is almost secondary, almost just a vehicle, for the poignant and insightful "sidestories".

Leaphorn's wife, Emma, is apparently succumbing to Alzheimer's. Chee's fiancee ("white" teacher) Mary Landon, writes him advising him of her decision to go to graduate school in Wisconsin, but Chee meets the no-nonsense "firecracker" public defender, (half-Navajo) Janet Pete who is defending Bisti. Chee is taking care of a semi-wild cat, which turns out to be pregnant.

COMMENTS ON SKINWALKERS
The proximate "mystery" in "Skinwalkers" is actually revealed at an early point (trust your sleuthing instincts), but the ultimate motivations remain a mystery until the end.

COMMENTS ON THE SERIES
In his Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee novels, Tony Hillerman, creates an almost "alternate reality", a world alien to most readers, but vividly filled with fascinating individuals and intriguing mysteries. The major "good guys", are very believable, likeable and admirable individuals (despite normal human flaws), who are easy for the reader to become emotionally attached to.

In addition to being younger and more impetuous (or hotheaded and impatient, in Leaphorn's view), Jim Chee differs from Joe Leaphorn in being a more traditional Navajo. Indeed, he has trained to be a "singer", that is, a shaman or healer. In "Skinwalkers" Chee is offered his first commission to perform a "sing" (other than a sorta "advertising" sing he did for a niece).

I suspect that many readers, like myself, privately wish that Hillermans novels were more lengthy. The ending always comes too soon. But that's a key to good writing--to leave the reader wanting more. Hillerman is a very "economical" writer. His novels are almost "long short stories" in which every word in the novel has a purpose. There is no filler. This is particularly important to mystery lovers--virtually every detail is a real clue--there are no "red herrings", per se. Although I would more than tolerate some filler, I still venerate Hillerman's sytle as that of a master--and superbly appropriate to his subject matter.


VERDICT
One of the best in a series of masterpieces.

Navajo mystery - Jim Chee - Joe Leaphorn - Tony Hillerman is one of the most readable authors of Native American mysteries. There is a lot of history/lore/meaning including in his books.

An attempted cop killing sets off this interesting story - Jim Chee barely escapes becoming the fourth of a string of strange homicides plaguing the NTP. His investigation into the crimes takes him all around the reservation. Lt. Leaphorn is also trying to figure out this puzzle. Witchcraft and a shady doctor add elements to the story, making it significantly different than most murder mysteries.

What got me, were the touching moments where Leaphorn was with/thinking about his wife, describing how he was losing her to the unexplained folly of the human brain. This secondary storyline shows the Legendary Lt. in a place where many of the readers have been or will be in, making him an extremely compelling character in this volume.

Skinwalkers - Anything Tony Hillerman does in my opinion is well worth reading. But I am a big fan of the Leaphorn, Chee mysteries anyway.

Fabulous suspense! - And the setting is marvellous too. The book is set right smack in the middle of the Large Reservation in the State of Utah. This is the first book in the Joe Leaphorn/Jimmy Che series, and it certainly is a good one. These two wonderful detectives are caught in the middle of a bunch of murders that seem to lead back to witchcraft in the Navajo nation. Hillerman makes his setting come alive and the people in his books are real. In it we learn a lot of Navajo folklore. I think it will certainly be worth pursuing the other books in this series since Hellerman seems to make this world his own.

Indeed, with Hillerman, "You Are There!" - I have enjoyed the mystery works by Tony Hillerman. I have read them, from "Fly On the Wall" to "Skinwalkers", in (almost)chronological order. This particular story took a different form than "The Ghostway", where more was said in the plot about the "bad guys" working together. Here in this thriller we have Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee working together for the first time. There is realism in their first encounter, which is refreshing. Hillerman does nothing in a predictable way. The characters live, move and have their being in a very well-described Navajo world. In Hillerman's words one hears the thunder, sees the ominous cloud formations, feels the oppresive heat of a day in New Mexico, endures the rain during the rescue attempt, etc.

The story moves quickly, yet never comes apart. And again I am educated about some aspect of the Navajo culture. My only disappointment is that this story lacked the excitement of "Ghostway". I recommend it highly, nonetheless.

"Sun will be created - They say he has planned it all." - Skinwalkers are witches in the Navaho legends and can fly or turn themselves into a dog or wolf. This mystery involves the conflict between Skinwalkers and shamen and belegana medicine. Then again, it may be a straightforward set of independent murders. In any event, it looks as if some one is out to kill Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee and he does not have a clue as to why.

As with all of Tony Hillerman's stories, you have the feeling you are there. In fact if you have visited or live in the area (Four Corners canyons) that the mystery takes part in, you will be better able to identify with the people and landmarks. In addition, as with his other books there is an overt and covert story.

I have read the book but the addition of the voice of George Guidall on recordings adds a dimension to the story by helping visualize the people and correcting pronunciation of certain words. I suggest you read the book and listen to the recorded version.

I first saw the TV version of Skinwalkers with Robert Redford. He has a habit of redfordizing stories for his own agenda. This book was so strongly written that I thought Redford did not have a chance to modify it. I was wrong.

The book is much more in depth and the motive and additional characters made the mystery much more intriguing.

The Dark Wind (Jim Chee Novels)

A Great Series - Those looking for a great mystery series who have yet to discover Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee are in for a treat with Skinwalkers. Tony Hillerman created an entire genre with these novels, and though they've been copied, no one has ever quite found the blend of Native American beliefs and traditions and modern day mystery Hillerman perfected. Skinwalkers is one of Hillerman's finest pairings of young Navajo Tribal Police Officer, Jim Chee, and the legendary Lt. Joe Leaphorn. This one begins when a shotgun blast into Jim Chee's trailer brings he and Leaphorn together in an effort to figure out how the attempt on Chee's life ties together with two other murders in the sprawling Indian territory they have jurisdiction over.

The seasoned Leaphorn begins to have respect for young Chee as they work on different ends to solve this mystery. Leaphorn has his own personal problems to deal with as well in this entry; his beloved wife may have the onset of Alzheimer's disease. It is a distraction he can't afford when things become more and more dangerous. Sprinkled throughout this complex and entertaining mystery novel are insights into the Navajo people, from the way they speak to their customs and broad family ties. But the thread that may tie everything together is something the older Leaphorn despises, and the younger Chee embraces. That aspect of the investigation is the complex mythology of Navajo witchcraft. You see, the killings may involve something very ancient in the Navajo culture, called a Skinwalker.

This is simply a great read. It starts in a languid pace which takes on an urgency as the body count starts to rise and the good police work of Leaphorn and Chee may not be enough to save either of them. Chee is getting noticed for his smart police work in the New Mexico desert, but he is also getting noticed as an Hataalli (Medicine Man) who can perform The Blessing Way, and it will play an integral part in this great book. Skinwalkers is like an orange soda on a hot day in the New Mexico desert. A fine entry in a series mystery fans will devour.