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jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
I know I've previously said i want more Manuelito, but not like this! I will not ever get over that. This is the 2nd time (?) the books have revisited a previous mystery, and while I don't hate that, the "bad guy" in this one was really over the top because of the events of the previous mystery. Almost cartoonish. I really did enjoy spending more time with Bernie, though.
Spoiler
I absolutely HATE that Leaphorn got shot and spent most of the book in a freaking coma!hirvimaki's review against another edition
2.0
I really wanted to like this book, and on certain levels I did.
Picking up someone else's legacy, even if that someone is your father, is a difficult undertaking. Anne Hillerman tackled the immensely daunting task of writing, as her debeut novel, the 19th book in a very popular series.
In the vast expanse that is the Leaphorn/Chee universe, I'd say Ms. Hillerman did as well as her father did on the last three novels, though the books which followed "The Wailing Wind" were not on par with Tony Hillerman's earlier works. But those are some big, big shoes to fill.
Anne Hillerman's style is different. It is not just a difference of technique of telling a story or a different point of view - she keeps the story centered around Bernie Manuelito - but her writing lacks the lyrical and poetic descriptions that filled her father's books, descriptions of the desert southwest that often filled me - still fill me - with a kind of melancholy joy. Tony Hillerman's books are painted with the beauty of the southwest, the characters a natural and organic part of that landscape, and that is missing from this book.
Anne Hillerman also lacks her father's gift at building and maintaining mystery. Even unseasoned mystery readers will figure out who the killer is long before any of the characters figure it out. As others have pointed out, the fact that Jim Chee, who has a well established history of having an excellent memory, seems incapable of remembering details and people from previous books. It is a little exasperating.
The ending is sadly unconvincing although thoroughly expected.
All that being said, this is not a bad book. The writing is OK, if not as skilled as her father's was, and does not suffer from a lack of editorial polish. If you are a Hillerman fan give it a read, but keep in mind, and make allowances for, Anne Hillerman's fledgling status. If she continues the series - and by all appearances this looks like that is the intention - and hones her craft this may well be a good series as it matures.
Picking up someone else's legacy, even if that someone is your father, is a difficult undertaking. Anne Hillerman tackled the immensely daunting task of writing, as her debeut novel, the 19th book in a very popular series.
In the vast expanse that is the Leaphorn/Chee universe, I'd say Ms. Hillerman did as well as her father did on the last three novels, though the books which followed "The Wailing Wind" were not on par with Tony Hillerman's earlier works. But those are some big, big shoes to fill.
Anne Hillerman's style is different. It is not just a difference of technique of telling a story or a different point of view - she keeps the story centered around Bernie Manuelito - but her writing lacks the lyrical and poetic descriptions that filled her father's books, descriptions of the desert southwest that often filled me - still fill me - with a kind of melancholy joy. Tony Hillerman's books are painted with the beauty of the southwest, the characters a natural and organic part of that landscape, and that is missing from this book.
Anne Hillerman also lacks her father's gift at building and maintaining mystery. Even unseasoned mystery readers will figure out who the killer is long before any of the characters figure it out. As others have pointed out, the fact that Jim Chee, who has a well established history of having an excellent memory, seems incapable of remembering details and people from previous books. It is a little exasperating.
The ending is sadly unconvincing although thoroughly expected.
All that being said, this is not a bad book. The writing is OK, if not as skilled as her father's was, and does not suffer from a lack of editorial polish. If you are a Hillerman fan give it a read, but keep in mind, and make allowances for, Anne Hillerman's fledgling status. If she continues the series - and by all appearances this looks like that is the intention - and hones her craft this may well be a good series as it matures.
nikkimf's review
5.0
Anne takes up where Tony left off
Anne Hillerman is picking up her father’s reins. But she’s also taking the series in a different direction, focusing on Bernie Manuelito’s (AKA Mrs. Jim Chee’s) story. The writing gets better as she goes along. I look forward to reading more of Bernie and Jim’s stories.
Anne Hillerman is picking up her father’s reins. But she’s also taking the series in a different direction, focusing on Bernie Manuelito’s (AKA Mrs. Jim Chee’s) story. The writing gets better as she goes along. I look forward to reading more of Bernie and Jim’s stories.
greaydean's review
3.0
A pretty good start. Strong enough that I will read the next one.
I hope she blossoms like her father. I'm ambivalent about her taking over, but she has wisely chosen a perspective that is appropriate to her and I think it will work long term.
I hope she blossoms like her father. I'm ambivalent about her taking over, but she has wisely chosen a perspective that is appropriate to her and I think it will work long term.
mg_in_md_'s review against another edition
3.0
As a fan of the Leaphorn and Chee mysteries, I was thrilled to hear about a new installment in this series and enjoyed that Bernie Manuelito played a prominent role in the story. Bernie and Chee are investigating a shooting that is related to a cold case involving the retired Leaphorn, so characters from the past are present in this tale. I felt that the author stayed true to the characters and brought in elements from earlier books in the series that enhanced the story. Even though it had been awhile since I read one of these mysteries, I was quickly drawn back to New Mexico and the world of the Navajo tribal police. It made me want to re-read earlier offerings as I recalled how much I enjoyed them. In the Acknowledgements, Ms. Hillerman suggests revisiting [b:A Thief of Time|425098|A Thief of Time (Navajo Mysteries, #8)|Tony Hillerman|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1388369583s/425098.jpg|2498914], which created the platform for this book, and I think I just may do that. I look forward to seeing where Ms. Hillerman takes the series begun by her father, [a:Tony Hillerman|26917|Tony Hillerman|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1281729229p2/26917.jpg], and getting reacquainted with old friends and watching them continue to grow.
mpetruce's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I'd been catching up on Tony Hillerman's Chee/Leaphorn novels to fill in some gaps and have now moved on to those written by daughter, Anne. I'm a big fan of the Chee/Leaphorniverse and was interested to see how these continuing works expand it.
I liked this novel more or less. Being as it's Anne Hillerman's first, I'm going to give the series a couple more books. I liked the story mostly being told from Bernie's POV, and overall, it moves like a lot of other books in the series where not a lot happens as everyo0ne investigates different unrelated threads and then all of a sudden it comes together. This references a lot of earlier books here and there, with one in particular providing a lot of the framework for the plot, although the characterization that results seemed a little weird.
Other head-scratchers: There's an instance of where Chee could figure it all out except he can't remember one basic detail about a past case that he seems to remember every single other detail about. But I guess that's there for us to figure out whodunnit. Also, there's this FBI agent who seems nice enough -- and he's nice looking Bernie keeps reminding us, which is fine, she's married, she's not dead -- but he just keeps perving on Bernie in a totally unsubtle way. And there is like, no reaction. And he pervs on Bernie TO CHEE WHILE THEY ARE AT A CRIME SCENE! Again, no reaction, one way or the other. Another character pervs on Chee regularly, alone and in front of Bernie even, and again, no reaction. Just weird. I mean, this was published in 2013, so HR was a thing by that point.
I liked this novel more or less. Being as it's Anne Hillerman's first, I'm going to give the series a couple more books. I liked the story mostly being told from Bernie's POV, and overall, it moves like a lot of other books in the series where not a lot happens as everyo0ne investigates different unrelated threads and then all of a sudden it comes together. This references a lot of earlier books here and there, with one in particular providing a lot of the framework for the plot, although the characterization that results seemed a little weird.
Other head-scratchers: There's an instance of where Chee could figure it all out except he can't remember one basic detail about a past case that he seems to remember every single other detail about. But I guess that's there for us to figure out whodunnit. Also, there's this FBI agent who seems nice enough -- and he's nice looking Bernie keeps reminding us, which is fine, she's married, she's not dead -- but he just keeps perving on Bernie in a totally unsubtle way. And there is like, no reaction. And he pervs on Bernie TO CHEE WHILE THEY ARE AT A CRIME SCENE! Again, no reaction, one way or the other. Another character pervs on Chee regularly, alone and in front of Bernie even, and again, no reaction. Just weird. I mean, this was published in 2013, so HR was a thing by that point.
krobart's review against another edition
2.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/day-647-spider-womans-daughter/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/day-647-spider-womans-daughter/
eagriffi's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tayparks's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0