Scan barcode
judyward's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
3.0
anninerie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
ptgooty's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Anne Hillerman loves to explain Navajo culture. That way the book is very informative, but her father was better at letting the reader decipher Navajo culture through the characters and plot. The plot here seems contrived but the descriptions of scenery are lovely.
liberrydude's review against another edition
3.0
Manuelito and Chee are visiting Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. Chee is doing some shaman learning and Manuelito is assessing her life and career after being passed over for a detective job. Naturally trouble finds them but I found their acquiescence to an attempt on Bernie’s life rather unrealistic. Remoteness and weather seem to be an excuse for doing nothing when an officer is attacked. As the story progresses I can see why Bernie didn’t get promoted as she misses obvious clues and focuses on irrelevant issues. Body count rises. And it’s all over dinosaur fossils.
cyireadbooks's review against another edition
2.0
The Way of the Bear is the eighth novel in the Leaphorn, Chee, and Manuelito series. Even though it’s the eighth novel, it is possible to read it as a standalone.
I didn’t particularly care for the author’s style of writing. It seemed somewhat detached. Perhaps her journalistic background had something to do with the aloof vibe that I got from reading the book.
The plot lines were a mixed bag and got confusing at times, which necessitated me to backtrack several times to determine its relevance in the scheme of things.
There were a number of new characters. And all of them were pretty generic. Even the established characters didn’t have much to go on. But it maybe due to the longstanding existence that they had. Even so, things and times change so it’s probably time for a character makeover.
Overall, the narrative was somewhat boring throughout. I kept hoping for more excitement. But perhaps my sentiment was due in part to the plot centering around fossils. Too bad the ending didn’t come close to redeeming the lackluster flavor of the novel. Two stars as I somehow managed to finish the novel by a thread.
I received a finished copy of the novel from Harper through the Goodreads giveaway. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thought and opinions.
I didn’t particularly care for the author’s style of writing. It seemed somewhat detached. Perhaps her journalistic background had something to do with the aloof vibe that I got from reading the book.
The plot lines were a mixed bag and got confusing at times, which necessitated me to backtrack several times to determine its relevance in the scheme of things.
There were a number of new characters. And all of them were pretty generic. Even the established characters didn’t have much to go on. But it maybe due to the longstanding existence that they had. Even so, things and times change so it’s probably time for a character makeover.
Overall, the narrative was somewhat boring throughout. I kept hoping for more excitement. But perhaps my sentiment was due in part to the plot centering around fossils. Too bad the ending didn’t come close to redeeming the lackluster flavor of the novel. Two stars as I somehow managed to finish the novel by a thread.
I received a finished copy of the novel from Harper through the Goodreads giveaway. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thought and opinions.
donnalee66's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Every Hillerman novel is an exciting adventure! Can’t wait for her next release!
acarman1's review against another edition
5.0
The chronology has always been somewhat skewed in this series. Tony Hillerman set it in the time he was writing so the books take place anywhere from the late 70s to the late 90s, but the characters don't seem to age much so it's hard to tell. Anne has also continued to simply set her books in the current day. So this, her latest offering, takes place post-Covid and refers to that pandemic as well as to the political strife over the Bears Ears National Park. Bernie mentions being happy when Obama made it a National Park, angry when "the next President" reduced the size and happy again when President Biden restored its boundaries.
This is probably the deepest we go into the personal thoughts of Chee and Bernie. Bernie is reeling from missing out on a job she wanted because of seniority and also a private hurt of her own (which is not revealed to the very end but I won't spoil it). Chee recognizes that she is hurting and tries to get her to talk about it, but she doesn't want to. So they are drawn in, on a vacation trip gone wrong, to a battle over valuable fossils. Bernie is shot at during a hike, then helps deliver a baby on in a truck. Chee stumbles on a home invasion gone wrong where nothing seems stolen and the owner of the house is missing, but a mysterious stranger is found dead in the front yard. Love triangles (and quadrangles), corrupt cops, and impending bad winter weather mar the trip as Bernie and her husband desperately try to find the truth and rely on each other. As always, Anne Hillerman's books just breathe the spirit of the Southwest. This might have been her best one yet.
This is probably the deepest we go into the personal thoughts of Chee and Bernie. Bernie is reeling from missing out on a job she wanted because of seniority and also a private hurt of her own (which is not revealed to the very end but I won't spoil it). Chee recognizes that she is hurting and tries to get her to talk about it, but she doesn't want to. So they are drawn in, on a vacation trip gone wrong, to a battle over valuable fossils. Bernie is shot at during a hike, then helps deliver a baby on in a truck. Chee stumbles on a home invasion gone wrong where nothing seems stolen and the owner of the house is missing, but a mysterious stranger is found dead in the front yard. Love triangles (and quadrangles), corrupt cops, and impending bad winter weather mar the trip as Bernie and her husband desperately try to find the truth and rely on each other. As always, Anne Hillerman's books just breathe the spirit of the Southwest. This might have been her best one yet.
nthurman_dude's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0