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april_does_feral_sometimes's review against another edition
3.0
The book is odd in the way a genre author's early books often are, the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning and the characters are not quite firmed up. Still, I couldn't put it down and skipped breakfast to finish the last 100 pages. This is really a Bergen McKee mystery, but there is plenty of Navajo culture included and the action is all about the location on the Reservation. I liked it, but the first 100 pages is a little less likable than the ending. McKee was way too courtly towards Miss Ellen Leon, and crap that was annoying.
dogearbone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
archivistj's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
rissr's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
mrbrant's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this book up when I was at Monument Valley in the gift shop. I got really interested in Navajo mythology when I read the Iron Druid novels.
The book was entertaining overall, characters were likable, but it was more of a detective / murder mystery than the urban fantasy that I was hoping for.
The book was entertaining overall, characters were likable, but it was more of a detective / murder mystery than the urban fantasy that I was hoping for.
kalahari13's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
sarahrigg's review against another edition
4.0
This is the first in Hillerman's long-running mystery series set in the American southwest, among the Navajo people. The story tells the inter-locking tales of academic Bergen McKee, who is looking for stories of Native American witches, a young woman named Miss Leon who is looking for her boyfriend out in the desert, and McKee's friend, detective Joe Leaphorn, who is looking for the person who killed a young Navajo man. The threads all come together as McKee and Miss Leon try to flee from a killer.
I enjoyed Hillerman's descriptions of the countryside and the details about traditional Navajo life and religion. In some ways, this did feel like a first book, and that Hillerman was still "finding his feet" in writing fiction, but it also feels kind of fresh for the same reason. My one big criticism is that the novel focuses so heavily on Bergen McKee, the academic, and Leaphorn's role in solving the mystery is almost secondary, which is an unusual choice for a murder mystery novel.
Overall, though, I liked this and see why Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels became so popular. I'll likely read more by this author.
I enjoyed Hillerman's descriptions of the countryside and the details about traditional Navajo life and religion. In some ways, this did feel like a first book, and that Hillerman was still "finding his feet" in writing fiction, but it also feels kind of fresh for the same reason. My one big criticism is that the novel focuses so heavily on Bergen McKee, the academic, and Leaphorn's role in solving the mystery is almost secondary, which is an unusual choice for a murder mystery novel.
Overall, though, I liked this and see why Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee novels became so popular. I'll likely read more by this author.
wildflower010's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting characters and mystery, good writing, beautiful scenery. Kept pulling me back in. Look forward to future reading and seeing more of Leaphorn.