Anne Hillerman

With each new volume she writes, I appreciate Anne Hillerman more and more. She's managed the difficult challenge of maintaining continuity with the Leaphorn and Chee mysteries her father wrote, but also taking the series in new directions. In particular, she's brought female characters to the forefront and depicts them complexly. I'm not complaining about Tony Hillerman's characters. Leaphorn and Chee are remarkable characters. But I am so glad to have Bernie Manuelito, her sister Darlene, show more and Leaphorn's companion Louise Bourbonette. As a woman, I'm delighted to get to know these characters. Lost Birds is a page-turner with multiple plot lines, some connected, some not. As one problem seems settled, another arises—and the characters find ways to manage them. This one really did keep me up past my bedtime, and I have no regrets.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss; the opinions are my own. show less

** spoiler alert **

I've reached a point in reviewing Anne Hillerman's Manuelito/Chee/Leaphorn mysteries that I've also reached with authors Sara Paretsky and Kathy Reichs. I know before I begin reading that not only will each novel be good, but that I'm apt to put everything else on hold when I'm reading them. I may like some more than others, but I'm never disappointed.

The Way of the Bear is the best of Anne Hillerman's novels yet, as far as I'm concerned. (I have a caveat that I'll get to show more in a bit, but aside from that, I have no complaints whatsoever.) As has been happening more and more, Officer Bernadette Manuelto—in her work life and personal life—is at the heart of the novel. Having a central female character and being allowed to share in her perspective has enriched this series.

In The Way of the Bear, Manuelito is accompanying her husband, Jim Chee, who is traveling to Utah for multiple purposes: a meeting with a healer he may study with, attending the presentation of an award to the Navajo Tribal Police, and meeting with a possible big donor to the Fallen Navajo Police Officers Memorial Fund. Manuelito is along to take time for herself and reflect on recent professional and personal disappointments.

On an evening hike as the sky darkens, Manuelito first falls unexpectedly into an unmarked trench that may or may not be part of a permitted archaeological dig. Then as she heads back her vehicle, an off-road pick-up truck tries to run her down, and the truck's passenger attempts to shoot her.

Manuelito hasn't just fallen into a trench, she's fallen into a mystery that rapidly grows in its complexity and danger. The plotting is some of Anne Hillerman's best as she offers twist after twist. And, of course, Chee falls into a case of his own that turns out to be part of the same case Manuelito is now pursuing. The case may involve illicit archaeology, illicit paleontology, witchcraft, or some combination of the three.

One part of this novel that I found particularly pleasing was the introduction of a new character, currently working in private security, but who hopes to join the Navajo Police. He—and his wife and newborn child—make a good addition to the series, and I hope they will be appearing in future volumes.

My biggest disappointment was that this case features a pair of women who are, I believe, the first lesbians ever included in the series—and they wind up being the baddies. If other lesbian or gay characters had been part of previous volumes, this might bother me less—but a first inclusion under these circumstances just doesn't sit right with me. We're past the days when being gay being equated with villainy was an acceptable gambit.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Edelweiss+; the opinions are my own. show less

First, a confession: I was not a fan of Tony Hillerman.

For some of you this means I am an unwashed hooligan, not worthy to hold a book in my clearly pitiful mitts, but there it is.

I think I failed to become a fan because I read one of his books before I could fully appreciate it. Given I cut my teeth on Erle Stanly Gardner and Nancy Drew, it's not surprising it took me a while to recognize and appreciate more subtle, elegant writing.

I confess this terrible flaw for one purpose: I read and show more loved Anne Hillerman's Spider Woman's Daughter and not because it's a continuation of her father's work.

I met Anne briefly at Bouchercon in Raleigh NC when she participated in the Book Buzz promo event. As a reader it was as close to heaven as I've been outside Powell's City of Books or the New York Public Library: authors, two at a time, come to you and tell you about their books.

Anne actually gave me a copy of Spider Woman's Daughter. I was polite of course, but set it aside because (must I confess this terrible sin again?) I wasn't a fan of the Hillerman titles.

Fast forward to this weekend, March 2016, some five months later. I'm knee deep and unfocused rolling in the back of my head eyeballs into edits on a 400 page novel. It's one of those edits that fills up your mind to the point you can't read anything else critically. And any kind of critical eye is gone anyway after revising page after page sentence by sentence.

These are the times one needs a perfectly written, totally captivating books. And not books that are too grim or depressing. And right now, nothing that has to do with politics.

I have more than a thousand unread books in my apartment right now but I'm not sure more than 20 would have suited my reading needs at that moment.

I spied Spider Woman's Daughter in a stack of books from Bouchercon.

"Why not," I thought to myself and picked it up.

And when I lifted my eyes from the page morning had passed to afternoon, I was mortified to discover my stomach making noises that would raise the dead, and I was hooked hooked hooked.

I have no idea if Spider Woman's Daughter is anything like Tony Hillerman's earlier books featuring Leaphorn and Chee. I have no idea if she's brought in new characters or taken established ones in a new direction. All I know is this is a terrific book: captivating, well-written and utterly compelling. I feel like I learned a lot about Navajo culture, and all of it was interesting (interesting means I want to become a Navajo now!)

I loved this book. show less

I'm a long time fan, but this book is a mess. I'm reading an advanced copy, so hopefully it will improve before publication?

My initial thoughts are that the plotline is bizarre and all over the place. The rhapsodic waxing about the beauty of Bears' Ears is so repetitive that it feels like a tourist pamphlet, and the most disappointing thing is that Bernie and Chee have become cardboard cutouts of the characters they used to be. It almost feels like a formula -- Oh no, the snow's coming! show more Brief spiritual moment/ramble about the beauty/importance of Bear's Ears. Introduction of new character under weird circumstances or a death (that doesn't make any sense) or an attack (that doesn't make any sense). Ramble about not being able to communicate/trucks. Repeat.

Honestly, given the body count, I really wouldn't want to see Chee or Manuelito coming. There's almost no detection or even very much police work, unless you count shooting people as police work, and that does seem to be the theme nowadays. It's another story that is more about Bernie or Chee reacting to events because by some weird chance they are in the wrong place at the right time, and their presence is the catalyst for the bad person to do more bad things. I miss the days of Leaphorn following clues and finding the path laid out before him.

Advanced Reader's Copy provided by Edelweiss. show less