After binge watching the first two seasons of Dark Winds with my granddaughter, I wanted to see what the Hillerman books are like. I chose this one hoping for the mystery and intrigue seen in the TV rendition of another novel in the series, “Listening Woman,” which comprised the basis for the first season.
The story centers around three murders that Navajo Tribal Police Lieutenant, Joe Leaphorn, is trying to connect and solve. Someone has also tried to kill Officer Jim Chee by firing a shotgun into his trailer. Strange bone beads are found in the victims, one of which is also found in Chee’s trailer, which are what introduces the possibility of witchcraft into the story.
While I enjoyed it, it lacked the creepy sense of magic I expected. It had plenty of plot twists and the usual suspense regarding “whodunnit” but didn’t quite measure up to what I was hoping for, especially with such an intriguing title. Very little was mentioned about those entities, much less sorcery and the dark side of the Navajo culture, other than in a vague, informative way. All it touched on was the belief that such existed and that it may have been behind the murders. Needless to say, this is something that Navajos don’t like to talk about, but makes fascinating stories.
There were a few good tidbits about the Navajo culture, however, such as not mentioning the name of the deceased and “wearing out their name.” The significance of the bone beads was likewise fascinating, but not as creepy or scary with paranormal implications as they could have been described.
No doubt the TV show “The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch” on the History Channel, which is indeed fascinating, gripping, and usually creepier and scarier than this book, is going to send readers to this series and more specifically this particular book. If that’s your motivation, be warned you are likely to be disappointed, as I was.
I may try another book in the series, perhaps a newer one written by Anne Hillerman, Tony’s daughter, who assumed writing the series upon her father’s passing. Far be it from me as a fellow author to criticize books that are best sellers, but as a reader it did not measure up to what I expected. (The problem with being an author yourself is you’re not an unbiased reader anymore, but part editor and part critic.)
This book was written in 1986 and they’ve updated the cover, but I don’t know if they’ve also reprinted it. The hardcover copy I received from an Amazon vendor was clearly used and had a pricetag on it from Goodwill for $4.99 while I paid $17.62.
You can pick up a copy on Amazon here:
or try https://www.bookfinder.com for a better deal on books that are out of print or been around for awhile.
The Curse of Dead Horse Canyon 